The following resources should help you create a healthy and nurturing family dynamic so all family members experience the family unit as more of a safe haven from stress than a major source of it.
Coping with a major change, stressor or crisis can be very taxing for adults; for kids, such things can be overwhelming. Here are some ways that parents can help children develop coping skills and, in doing so, develop better coping skills for themselves.
Because todayÂ’s moms are wearing so many hats, learning how to delegate tasks is a must. That doesnÂ’t mean it comes easily. Find help and make life manageable with these tips on learning how to delegate tasks!
Whether you’re trying to coax an antsy toddler to stay sitting (and quiet!) or answering the endlessly asked question, ‘How much longer now?’, travel with kids can be stressful! The following tips can help you reduce the stress of travel when you have children in tow.
One of the great benefits of motherhood is the personal growth that comes with it. While there are many life lessons to be learned through the process of raising kids, mothers who educate themselves on the particulars of motherhood are at an advantage. The following are some ways parents can educate themselves on parenting.
As any parent will tell you, even the best children can create stress for their parents at times. While lifestyle factors play a role, and self care strategies are important, it's also essential to have some stress relievers up your sleeve that can be done with your children, so you can both relieve stress at the same time. The following are stress relieers for parents that can be done while caring for children.
We all want the best for our children. Normally, parents work hard to help their children learn what they need to know about math, english, science and other important topics in school. However, we don't always remember to teach them life skills like stress management. Do children need stress management training? If so, what should parents teach their children? Read on; we have answers!
Teaching children optimistic thinking patterns can set them up for a happier life. Optimists experience better health, increased longevity, more success in life, and less stress, among other benefits. Fortunately, though many personality traits are inborn, you can influence your child's tendency toward optimism or pessimism. Here are ten tips to help your child develop optimistic thinking patterns for a healthier, happier life.
As schedules become intense, parenting becomes more competitive and educational standards become higher, time for unstructured play is being replaced more and more by focused academic and extracurricular activities. In response, the AAP has issued a report detailing the importance of playtime for healthy child development, resilience and stress management.
A person’s temperament—inborn personality traits that affect how they respond to their environment—affects their behavior from infancy on. Learn about the different distinguishing features of temperament, how these traits affect a child’s behavior, and how to effectively deal with a child who has a more difficult mix of personality traits.
There are more- and less-effective strategies for disciplining a child with rewards and punishments. About’s guide to parenting K-6 children, Kimberly L. Keith, has some great discipline suggestions as well as an overview of what needs to be in place for these strategies to work.
Your child may push your buttons, but giving big reactions to bad behavior may send the wrong message. Showing that you can control your feelings and avoid meltdowns yourself models appropriate behavior for your kids, and leaves you feeling better, too. Terri Mauro, About’s guide to parenting special needs children has some excellent advice for all parents.
Here’s a great article explaining the effective use of consequences—rewards and punishments—to help children change their behavior, by Kimberly L. Keith, About’s guide to parenting K-6 children.
We all have times we wish we had a magic wand to make our children behave: car rides, waits in the doctor’s office, or any time boredom might arise. While there’s no wand, here’s a bag of tricks that might work just as well to keep kids amused and distracted so behavior doesn’t become problematic.
This article discusses the origin and effects of optimism, a trait that allows people to stay healthier and lead happier lives. Learn the hallmarks of optimistic thinking, and teach them to your children!
This is a great resource for parents of ‘high need’ babies, who need far more care and thus cause more stress for their parents. Included are some tricks on dealing with these babies, plus some tips for avoiding parental burnout.
Here’s an informative summary of some research that examines how stress and other factors impact the harshness of parental discipline. Included are explanations of why some parents are more reactive and harsh, and some recommendations on how to help parents who use excessively harsh discipline.
Here’s a very informative resource that explains family dysfunction in relation to family stress. All families experience stress, and this resource can help you recognize if your issues are healthy, or characteristic of unhealthy dynamics, and can supply better methods of dealing with family problems so that all family members feel valued, accepted and safe.
This article discusses the origins of anger and its effects within families, as well as the role stress plays in the expression of anger. Useful tips are included to help you cope more effectively with anger and have healthier relationships as a result.
Could your stress be affecting your child’s development? Here’s a summary and full text of research designed to see if there’s a link between stressed-out parents and children who have communication problems.
Doesn’t it seem like the ‘experts’ contradict each other? Learn what advice is backed up by research and what is merely the opinion of the advice-giver, so you can reduce the stress of wondering who to believe. This article discusses the advice of parenting gurus Banjamin Spock, John Rosemond, James Dobson, T. Berry Brazelton and Panelope Leach.
This study shows that a technique called ‘emotion coaching’ can help children become less aggressive, depressed and withdrawn, even in families where there is domestic violence! Reduce stress in yourself and your child, and learn more about emotion coaching and its effects.
