School bullying has become a serious public health issue for children of all ages. In a new book by Dr. Michele Borba, recognized educational psychologist and school bullying expert, insight and advice are readily at hand. Weeks prior to the Columbine High School shootings in 1999, Borba made a presentation […]
Integrity
What is emotional intelligence? How do parents and teachers nurture it at home and in the classroom? What methods are working? Emotional intelligence (EI for short) has become a popular term since Daniel Goleman authored his book with the same title in 1995. Several decades of research not only confirms the […]
Sociability
Childhood trauma often occurs from distressing events or relationships that exceed a young person’s ability to understand or process a traumatic experience. Most of us link trauma with tragedies like mass shootings, rape, accidents, war, or natural disasters. But childhood trauma is also associated with “adverse childhood experiences” (ACES) including […]
Resilience
Each of us wants our children to develop positive relationships—to experience the power of unconditional love, support, friendship, and encouragement throughout school and life. But we also know that creating and sustaining relationships is hard work—effort that requires a cooperative ability to interact with others. Psychologists call this capacity sociability, […]
Sociability
I often speak to parent groups about the challenges of parenting a child with ADHD. One of the most common questions asked is “How can I get my child to do what I ask him to do?” While many parents come to my presentations to hear about how to help […]
Sociability
Every parent with more than one child knows how sibling rivalry can abruptly interrupt the peaceful coexistence of the entire family. Sociability is the capacity to understand and express feelings and behaviors that facilitate positive relationships. Children learn sociability every time they manage to put their own emotions into words […]
Sociability
I hear many complaints these days about the younger generation’s lack of civility. And indeed, times have changed. But where do we draw the line when it comes to respectful behavior in children? How do we teach them to live considerately of others? While driving through Seattle recently, I saw […]
Sociability
The term positive parenting is becoming more widespread as the practice of parenting becomes influenced by research in the new scientific field of positive psychology. Everyone wants to be a positive parent. But what does that mean? Simply put, positive parenting behaviors are those that nurture the development of children’s […]
Compass-Inspired
For parents seeking advice and insights on child rearing, the Information Age can be a mixed blessing. Every conceivable parenting challenge can be found via search engines and refined to your exact specifications. You can share your experiences with “Mommy or Daddy Bloggers” and get feedback from almost anyone willing […]
Compass-Inspired
“Honestly, I sometimes truly wish that ‘tools’ such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadn’t been invented. Sure, they’re great, incredibly useful, and fun time-killers. But the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful.” At first glance, you […]
Sociability
You’ve likely heard the term entitlement, defined by the American Psychiatric Association as “unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with expectations.” In today’s college environment, a new term has emerged called academic entitlement. It refers to a student’s expectation that they receive high grades, regardless of performance. While it’s […]
Resilience
It’s easy to think that parents of smart kids have it easy. After all, their kids have the potential to achieve their dreams. Right? Well, not so fast. Fostering true potential in bright children isn’t as stress-free as it may look from the outside. If you are parenting a bright […]
Sociability
