How can a bunch of colorful plastic bricks help your child learn how to communicate, collaborate, and cultivate relationships? Two reasons: it’s familiar and it’s fun. Think about the times you’ve played with LEGO® as a child or as an adult. I bet your brain is flooded with fun, positive, and creative memories. “Children learn best when they are having fun” is not just an old adage. Indeed, brain-based research has shown that learning, as evidenced by bursts of electrical act

October 31 is a night full of fun for a lot of families. Before the excitement begins, perhaps right after school or the night before, use these talking tips to keep your trick or treating memories happy not haunting…. Remind your little spooks of your family rules for the night as they may be different than their friends. “Some kids may run through the yard to the door, remember we take the sidewalk.” “Your friends may eat candy all night long but remember we are saving ours

All children need guidance. They learn new skills by observing and mimicking a caregiver’s actions, listening to set rules and expectations, and engaging in discussions with those who have experienced similar problems and struggles. Also, all children need space to explore their innate, internal voice. With a trusted mentor, children can process their natural response to a problem and learn to cope with the uncomfortable feeling(s) associated with it. The most important co

Being a parent is tough, especially when it comes to helping your child in school! We all want our children to be successful, whether that be on the soccer field, on the stage, or in the classroom, but often it can be challenging to figure out how exactly we can support our children in these endeavors. Even though our heart is always in the right place, sometimes these efforts can backfire on us, leading to stress, tears, and anxiety at home from the child. How many of you

Losing a loved one, such as a parent, sibling, or family member is catastrophic and terrible. Unfortunately, too many people experience this type of loss. In fact, 1 in 7 Americans will lose a parent or sibling before the age of twenty. When our own family experiences this intense loss, sometimes we find ourselves out of words. Our own grief combines with our hearts breaking for our children who remain, and we become confused about how we can support our child through thi

No one grieves the same way. The grief process is not the same for everyone and may look quite different in children as opposed to adults. It is important to remember that just because a child is not outwardly displaying the signs you may associate with grief, they may still be grieving. Children may display grief symptoms intermittently; these symptoms may even seem to come and go as if in waves of emotion. Periods of intense sadness may be immediately followed by outward

In today’s society we don’t have to wait very often. Our lives are growing in convenience, whether it’s two-day shipping, your favorite restaurant delivered to your door, or your weekly groceries waiting for you at the store. However, learning to wait is a critical life skill. When we face life’s challenges we try to fix our problems, but unfortunately, many of these situations we can’t fix. We must endure them. The same is true for adolescents. Waiting for a date to pr