Moral IQ Tip: Children are likely to be more empathic if they understand why empathy is important and how it affects others. So point out the positive impact empathy can have on others in daily experiences. One strong characteristic of morally intelligent children is that they are empathic. These kids can identify with and feel [...]

The first time I realized the power of involving kids in social justice projects was when one of my sons was just four. The two of us had gone to see the movie The Bear, and because it was rated as family oriented, I wasn’t prepared for the scene in which a bear is brutally [...]

REALITY CHECK: Parents who raise moral kids don’t do so by accident. They are purposeful and deliberate in their efforts. They are also aware that they are the single greatest influence over their child’s moral development. Don’t let these seven deadly myths stand in your way of raising an ethical child with solid character. Educators, [...]

As the holidays approach, it is time to share some of these family recipes – all thoroughly researched and proven delicious for today’s parenting. Part of your child’s character should be gratitude. As Thanksgiving is fast approaching, let’s review some of Dr. Borba’s proven advice on character building with gratitude.  : Thank you ABCs. This one is [...]

Here’s a deep, dark and true secret: Teachers usually admit that there are some students they will never forget. Well, I swear the same is true about some parents. I vividly remember a mother of one of my students because of the way she conveyed respect to her child. She did so beautifully in how [...]

Of course we want our kids to be compassionate and sensitive to other people’s feelings. The problem is that many kids’ empathy potential is greatly handicapped because they don’t have the ability to identify and express emotions. They have tremendous difficulty feeling for the other person simply because they may not recognize the other person’s [...]

Hello New Jersey Parents! This Tuesday October 13 @ 7 pm – 9 pm I’m speaking at the Montessori Children’s Academy in Chatham, New Jersey. Parents from all over the area will be there. Hope you can join me. Details are below. REALITY CHECK: Ever wonder what  really matters in raising a productive, responsible child [...]

REALITY CHECK: Did you know that a child today is ten times more likely to be seriously depressed compared to a child born in the first third of this century? Beware: Pessimistic thinking clouds our kids’ view of the world and affects their emotional and mental health. Michele Borba Note to Readers: This week I’m [...]

Here are the tips I’ll share  on the TODAY show on Wed September 9 at 9:43 am Michele Borba Sending your kid to the movies these days is a lot more than just buying the ticket and a bag of popcorn.  It’s also about knowing those movie ratings and even then deciding whether the content [...]

Michele Borba REALITY CHECK: Columbia University studies led by Carol Dweck found that praising effort helps create a positive mindset (or a “I can do it” belief) that also increases persistence and achievement while emphasizing inherent intelligence (“You’re so smart”) does the reverse.  One of the most important traits our kids must develop for successful [...]

Michele Borba REALITY CHECK:  “Results-Driven Parenting” is what I call using how you choose to respond and reinforce in your daily interactions with your child to produce real and lasting change in social, emotional, moral, cognitive, behavior or guide health. The technique is based on solid psychological principles, is simple to use, and yet is [...]

Michele Borba REALITY CHECK: “I should have won.” “They ought to fire the coach.” “I could have gotten the right answer. The teacher doesn’t like me.” “If I were on a better team I’d win.” Sound familiar? They’re all symptoms of a deadly youth ailment called “Poor Loser” and it’s spreading among our youth. Watching any kid [...]

Michele Borba REALITY CHECK: Research shows that our children are born with the marvelous gift to care and be concerned about others. But unless we nurture those glorious virtues they will lie dormant. A new study shows we may not be doing such a great job. San Diego State professor Jean Twenge (author of a [...]

Michele Borba REALITY CHECK: A recent Time/Nickelodeon survey of 991 kids ages nine to fourteen revealed some troubling facts: 36 percent of the middle schoolers surveyed feel the pressure from peers to smoke marijuana; 40 percent feel pressure to have sex; 36 percent feel pressure to shoplift; and four out of 10 sixth graders feel [...]

Michele Borba REALITY CHECK: One strong characteristic of morally intelligent children is that they are empathic and concerned about others. An important point to remember is that while our kids are born with the potential for empathy and generosity, those traits aren’t guaranteed. Researchers have discovered that a strong commonality of those kids who acquire [...]

Michele Borba, Ed.D. REALITY CHECK: How do we help students develop strong character? The answer is found in this premise: Character traits are learned; therefore we can teach them. It means that educators have tremendous power because they can teach students critical character traits. And how to build students’ character involves a few steps. Teachers [...]

I recently worked with PARENTS magazine to conduct an online survey of over 2400 moms. One question: “How do you hope your child turns out?” Next to health and happiness, most parents hoped their children would grow to be adults with solid character and strong morals. One thing is certain: parents who raise moral kids [...]

By Michele Borba REALITY CHECK: Parents don’t raise moral kids by accident. They know what they stand for and pass those values onto their children deliberately and purposefully. So here’s your Reality Check: If you sat your child down right now and asked: “What do we stand for in this house? or What values matter [...]

by Michele Borba Reality Check: Did you know that today’s American youth are displaying intolerant actions at alarming rates-and at younger and younger ages? Did you  know that almost one third of all hate crimes involve youth under the age of eighteen? The vast majority of these crimes are committed by males. Importantly, the data documented [...]

Wondering what can you do to help your kids counter negative influences and stand up for what they know is right? The answer is to nurture a solid moral core that will guide them to stand up for their beliefs and act right without us. And the best news is that we can teach kids [...]

Yesterday on the Today Show, I spoke with Natalie Morales about clingy kids. Natalie asked me to come on air and offer her sister tips for dealing with her three-year-old daughter’s clinginess. Here are a few tips I gave. (The whole Today segment is available on MSBNC or Today.com to view).  Excessive clinginess is a common [...]

I’ve had so many requests from workshop participants asking how to start a Adopt-A-Student program I decided to include them here. There are no right or wrong ways to implement the program as long as the goal is to create genuine relationships with students you deem are more “at risk.” Here are the basics: 1.Introduce [...]