Head & Heart Parents

Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event “Adult support and reassurance is the key to helping children through a traumatic time” A GUIDE FOR PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND TEACHERS  Children and youth can face emotional strains after a traumatic event such as a car crash or violence.1 [...]

First, it is important that children contribute to the household. Not only does it send an important message to our children – “You are a valuable member of this family and we count on you to make our family function” – but it gives them a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.  Studies also show that [...]

Kendra and Mom were walking through the mall when Kendra spied the most “spectacular” pair of dark glasses. “Oh, Mom, they are perfect. They’re just what I need to complete my collection of eyeware. I’ve got to have them, but I don’t have the money. Will you loan me some? Pleeese! I’ll pay you back.” [...]

How can you use the Love and Logic skill of enforceable statements to get kids to cooperate? When kids hear “No,” they hear fighting words. Their defenses come up and the battle starts. So instead of saying “No,” say “Yes” to something else. Say what you’ll do, what you’ll allow, or what you have control over. [...]

After reading Parenting with Love and Logic™, Tim’s mom instituted a new bedtime policy. She told Tim that picking a sleep time was his decision. He was expected to be in his room at 8:00 each evening, but he could decide when to go to sleep. In addition to this, everyone in the family was [...]

It might be comforting to know that you don’t have to be able to provide a good reason for saying no to your kids. Our kids are not our supervisors. If something doesn’t feel right to you, that’s a good enough reason to say no. The best parents have the courage to say no when [...]

Many of us have the idea that we need to deliver immediate consequences when our children misbehave. That misconception can lead to many problems for the parent and the child. As a parent, when we react with anger to our child’s misbehavior and shoot off the first thing that comes into our head, e.g., “That’s [...]

Teenagers often pull out the trust card defense. It sounds like, “Don’t you trust me?” or “You don’t trust me.” Believe me. When they say this they have something to hide. So the best parental response is, “You’re right. That’s my job. You can trust that I will do everything I can to help you [...]

“Hey, Mom. Did you and Dad do drugs when you were young?” Look out, parents! This is not a simple question. This is a kid looking for some leverage and a way to get some tacit approval for drug use. This is a kid looking for the opportunity to say, “Well you did it too.” [...]

After several discussions about the dangers of giving out any personal information on the Internet, Mom designed her own secret email address pretending to be an older boy. To her amazement she was able to contact her own daughter, who not only gave out her personal information, but sent a picture. All of this was [...]