I love a good movie—one that moves me in some way—to tears, joy, or both! Usually I am “into” the Academy Awards. But COVID and, now the war in Ukraine, put a damper on these types of frivolities for me. I used to love seeing the fabulous gowns and hair … Read More
Happy Interdependence Day Living System Humans!
This morning my husband hugged me, wishing me a Happy Independence Day. Then we both looked at each other and in unison said, “Happy Interdependence Day!” Laughing, we both know how much we depend upon another. And in fact, we acknowledged and then discussed the fact that ever living being—human, … Read More
Why This ONE Summer Screen-Free Activity Occupies and Educates Your Kids—Without You!
Summer brings more opportunities for family fun in the sun but it also brings more unstructured time, a major dilemma for many parents. Gone are those 6-8 hour blocks of time to accomplish pressing chores—not to mention your own self-care. You sure don’t want to hear the constant refrain, “I’m … Read More
Grow Children’s and Teens’ Image Making Capacities
Recently my husband and I saw a young father down on one knee talking to his four year-old, “First we are going to zip up your jacket, and then we will take that walk after we drop this off to the car.” Dad and son, and mom with baby were … Read More
Screen-Free Week: And What About Next Week?
I raised my sons without TV until they were ages nine and seven. As toddlers, I had seen how their behaviors changed so profoundly with even thirty minutes of screen time. And as fate would have it, during that time I had plowed into the research on the effects of … Read More
AAP’s New Screen Guidelines: Not Brain-Compatible for Toddlers
The updated screen guidelines for young children, birth-age 5, recently released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are not fully in alignment with what brain science tells us is in the best interests of young children. Amending their previous caveat of no screen technology before the age of 2, … Read More
3 Types of Play: What Kind and How Much?
Jerome Bruner, the esteemed cognitive psychologist (who turned 100 on Oct. 1, 2015) stated in a 1976 Psychology Today article: “Play is the serious business of childhood.”1 And ever since, child advocates, educators, developmental specialists—even Mr. Rogers—often echoed Bruner. Why? Because he’s right. Since 1976 there have been hundreds of … Read More
Parent Coaching Resolves Media-Digital Dilemmas
Disclaimer: I believe parent coaching helps to solve/resolve any parenting challenge, not only media-digital dilemmas–that’s why I created the Parent Coach Certification® Training Program in 2000. I was, and still am convinced, that a coaching process holds the key to unlock and activate parenting strengths leading to greater confidence and … Read More
Be a Front-Stage Positive Digital Parent
Dan Sullivan, CEO of Strategic Coach, uses the concepts of “front-stage” and “back-stage” to explain the need for boundaries between customer service (front-stage) and staff concerns (back-stage). Like a theatrical production, the back-stage activities are often, messy, chaotic, and seemingly endless. The performance, however, goes on seamlessly—(hopefully)—most of the time. … Read More