Parenting
From toddlers to teenagers, and even empty-nesters, parenting can be rewarding, exhausting, and overwhelming. Parenting is often a delicate balance of providing warmth, love, and nurturance, with structure, guidance, and discipline. While there are no magic manuals, we provide numerous research-based information related to practical principles that can help parents know what to do when things go wrong as well as tips for helping things go right.
Related Content — Commonly Asked Questions
Co-Parenting During the Summer: Tips for a Successful Summer
During the school year, children have routines and scheduled activities, so by making a summer schedule, including planned summer camps and events, children will have some consistency between both households.
The Balancing Act of Work and Family
There is no one size fits all when it comes to balancing work time and family time. Remember that work-family balance is a process, not a one-time achievement (Lupu & Ruiz-Castro, 2021). Consistent small steps of improvement ensure that changes can be mai
Adjusting to Challenges of Later-Life Stepfamilies: Tips for Parents and Adult Children
Many families with adult stepchildren go through the same difficulties as those with younger stepchildren. Adjusting to later-life stepfamilies can be challenging, but there are some steps that both parents and adult children can take to ease the transiti
Helping Children Manage Their Emotions
Have you ever been in a situation where your child has a meltdown that includes crying, screaming, or lashing out at objects or other people? Often times these behaviors occur when a child is tired, hungry, or frustrated, and isn’t able to communicate how
Finding Competent and Affordable Childcare
Let’s discuss how to find someone you believe to be competent in the care of your child and the affordability of care.
Building Family Relationships Through Volunteering
Family volunteer projects are a powerful way to build family relationships by accomplishing a common goal together. Family volunteering provides members a way to grow relationships as they learn more about each other, see each other giving service, and h
Becoming a Better Parent Through Self-Care
While it can be challenging to not feel guilty for taking time for self-care, we can’t effectively offer love, support, and connection when we are tapped out.
Avoid Overscheduling Burnout with Your Child by Creating Opportunities for Downtime
Parents want their children to succeed in life and hope that participation in these activities will help them do that. Enriching a child’s life is a good thing, however, overscheduling can take a toll on you, your child and your family.
Building Independence In College Aged Kids
The move to college is like standing on the end of the high dive. Students are assured that once they’re in the water life is great, but the fall still seems incredibly scary. Watching a child take this leap can be equally terrifying for parents.Here are
Improving the Parent-Child Relationship through Quality Time and Play
How can we avoid the guilt and better balance our child’s needs with life’s demands? Quality time and some good old fashion play.
The Power of Family Mealtime
Research shows there is power in families eating together. The physical benefits of a healthy meal are important, but emotional health and family wellness are also developed by consistently enjoying meals together (Lawrence & Plisco, 2017).
The Positive Impact of Parental Encouragement
Parents want the best for their children, including giving them needed emotional support. While positive encouragement may seem like a good parenting concept, research has shown that encouragement actually improves children’s behavior.
Talking with Teens
For many parents the teen years are frustrating as their children’s mood and attitudes change and progress to maturity. But there are some things parents can do to encourage teens to be more open.
Using Active Listening to Enhance Your Relationships
Essentially, it means being fully engaged in the interaction, and just like any other skill, it requires patience and practice. Using active listening can help us avoid frustration and confusion in our relationships with others, and has a number of other
What Do Children Need Following a Parental Divorce?
Divorce can be a difficult process for both parents and children, so it is important for parents to be aware of the effects of divorce on children. By understanding the needs of children following a divorce, parents can help their children become resilien
Helping Children Learn to Self-Regulate to Improve Behavior
Emotion Coaching is a five step method to help parents learn about their child’s range of emotions. With proper emotion coaching, children learn to form stronger friendships with other children, calm themselves more quickly, do better in school, handle th
A Little Play Goes a Long Way: The Importance of Playing with Your Child
Engaging fully with your child in play offers a wonderful opportunity to build your child’s self-esteem. Imagine how your child must feel, knowing that the most important person in their world likes them enough to take the time to play with them. Additio
Using Summer Break to Build Family Relationships
Consider making plans in the following three areas. Involving every family member in the discussion and decisions can increase the commitment to and excitement for family summer plans.
How Do I Talk to My Kids About Sexuality?
Have you ever felt concerned about how to answer a question like “where do babies come from?” in a developmentally appropriate way? Most people who live or work with young children wonder how to best answer children’s questions about sexuality (Stone, Ing
Building Stepfamily Relationships
Stepfamilies are complex and diverse and becoming a thriving stepfamily is a process that takes time and patience. A strong foundation of trust and communication buffers the challenges that arise from stepfamily life, and a loving and well-adjusted stepfa