Inside: Words of encouragement for kids to help them develop a growth mindset. Many of us who have or work with children are committed to equipping them with the tools needed for success. Having a growth mindset is one of the main tools we want to pass on to kids. A growth mindset is the…
Inside: Why we need to stop praising kids and encourage a growth mindset instead. You’re so smart! Great job! You’re amazing! Many of us are guilty of lavishing these praises on children at one point or another. The self-esteem movement of the 80’s and 90’s encouraged praising kids. It was widely believed that doing so…
Inside: A guide for teaching children the decision making process steps to help them make responsible decisions. Have you ever been in a store with a child and asked them to pick out a treat? It can be like pulling teeth! Granted, they have many racks of chips, cookies, and other assortment of empty calories…
Inside: Strategies to encourage a growth mindset in children so that they can take on challenges with confidence. “If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.”-Carol Dweck As parents, we…
Every now and then I will stalk visit the social media profiles of the tweens and teens in my life. They try to hide a lot of dirt through acronyms and slang, but I’m not that old. I get it. One day I came across one popular acronym that really made me cringe. TBH. To…
As we go about our daily routine, our inner voice is constantly interpreting our experiences and interactions with others. It’s that voice in your head that’s always commenting on your situation, coming up with ideas, and questioning your decisions. Psychologists call this inner voice your self-talk. Your self-talk is a mixture of your conscious thoughts…
Developing a positive self-image can be an uphill battle for many children. This is especially true when they enter puberty. Adolescence is a time of self-exploration. It’s when kids get to explore who they want to be and how they want to show up in the world. The problem is that this self-exploration isn’t done…
It’s the end of the day and I just met with my last student. My shoulders tighten up as the day’s events play out in my head. The concerned teacher, worried about bruises she saw on one of her students. The panic-stricken mom, desperate to get in to see a therapist for her son who…
Three year old Jessica is at the grocery store with her mom. While they are checking out, Jessica notices her favorite candy bar. “Mom can I have that?” asked a delighted Jessica. Her mom is hesitant, but eventually concedes. “Sure. But you’ll have to wait until we get home to eat it.” At first Jessica…
Adolescence is a challenging time for many children. Hormones are running wild and there’s intense pressure to fit in and belong. Their school work gets more challenging and much is expected from them because they are older. In addition to all this, adolescents are trying to figure out who they want to be. All of…