Helping Children Cope With Disaster
From Newtown, Connecticut to Boston, Massachusetts, our world has been turned upside down during the last several months. And with the onslaught of media coverage, no one is untouched by these disasters–including children. Parents, teachers and other caregivers are left wondering how to help children cope with these events, as evidenced by the number of […]
What Parents Can Do to Help Foster Healthy Self-Esteem in a Child
Looking for ways to help to foster healthy self-esteem in a child? Here are some tips that can make a big difference: Watch what you say. Children are very sensitive to parents’ words. Remember to praise your child not only for a job well done, but also for effort. But be truthful. For example, if your […]
Psychological Fallout from Boston Attack
In an interview on the Joel Riley Show 610 WTVN, I talked about acute stress reaction in response to the bombing in Boston. Here’s the full podcast. http://www.610wtvn.com/cc-common/podcast/single_page.html?podcast=joelriley&selected_podcast=4-22.lowenstein_1366631738_25038.mp3
Signs of Unhealthy and Healthy Self-Esteem
Self-esteem fluctuates as a child grows. It is frequently changed and fine-tuned, because it is affected by a child’s experiences and new perceptions. It helps for parents to be aware of the signs of both healthy and unhealthy self-esteem. A child who has low self-esteem may not want to try new things. She may frequently speak […]
What Is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is the collection of beliefs or feelings that we have about ourselves, or our “self-perceptions.” How we define ourselves influences our motivations, attitudes, and behaviors and affects our emotional adjustment. Patterns of self-esteem start very early in life. For example, when a baby or toddler reaches a milestone, he or she experiences a sense of accomplishment […]
Your Child’s Mental Health: Building Self-Esteem in Children
Most parents have heard that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and it’s especially true with self-esteem in children. All children need love and appreciation and thrive on positive attention. Yet, how often do parents forget to use words of encouragement such as, “that’s right,” “wonderful,” or “good job”?Regardless of your child’s age, good […]
20 Discipline Tips for Parents
1. Look for underlying needs. A great example of how this works is to give your child something to play with while waiting in line. 2. Give information and reasons. If your child colors on the wall, explain why we color on paper only. 3. Look for underlying feelings. Acknowledge, accept and listen to your […]
What’s Your Discipline Style?
“My child never listens to me! “She won’t pick up her toys!” “He won’t clean his room!” Expressions of frustration like these are all too familiar for many parents. Yet when these same parents try to address the problem with behavior management, they tend to focus on how children control (or do not control) themselves. […]
Addressing the Challenges of Dual-Income Families
Since February is the month for romance, and because I’ve been talking about the role of families and parenting, it seems appropriate to broaden the discussion to include dual-career households. Truth is, women are pursuing advanced degrees at an ever-increasing rate. In 2011, females accounted for 46.6 percent of the labor force. Households where both […]
Make Time for the Family Meal
In an effort to enrich their children’s lives with daily activities that take place outside the home, parents often spend a great deal of time transporting their kids from one activity to another. In the end, they lack the time and/or the energy to find out what’s really happening in the lives of their children. […]
