Search Results for: Backfire
The “Kid-Friendly” Meal That Backfired
I like to think of myself as a fairly good cook. When the children were younger, before they were old enough to take part in every extra-curricular activity known to man (and I am serious about that, my daughter just joined the Ping-Pong team at school after my lecture about the importance of being involved in things at school so your college resume looks good), I would make a big dinner every night which always included a meat, a starch, and two vegetables. Fast forward a decade and although I st
GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR ONLY CHILDREN: How Pressure to be Perfect Can Backfire
Families are getting smaller, and have been since the early 1960s, giving parents more time to devote to each child. As a result, parents today all seem to be pushing for star progeny. Children would benefit if parents could temper their dreams. With parents of only children, the tendency …
Five Best Practices for School Success
“You don’t have to make it perfect, but you can make it great.” – Alessio, my 5-year old son, advising his frustrated little sister on why her squiggly lines are okay in her first attempts at writing the alphabet
It’s back-to-school time again. In families across America the homework showdowns have already begun. Parents struggle with homework almost as much as kids do. After a full day at school, it’s hard to get …
How to Be a Superhero (Magic Not Required)
Anyone looking for a light, breezy read today might feel the urge to click elsewhere when I mention that September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. But wait! If you stick with me, you’ll soon see that this is an article about health, hope, and happiness — and how you can achieve each of those…
The Effects of Academic Parental Pressure on Kids
As a parent, there are few pleasures greater than your child succeeding at school. However, if you put too much academic parental pressure on kids to do well, it can backfire severely and end up affecting them negatively in a number of different ways. Albert Einstein once said, "Education is what remains after one has…