10 Secrets to Help Kids Share,Take Turns and Join the Human Race “It’s mine.” “But I had it first!” “I want a turn!” Sound familiar? All parents want their kids to “play nice” by sharing, taking turns, and cooperating with their friends. After all, it means their child is learning how to socialize and get [...]

Advice to help you pick your battles, upgrade your strategies,boost a stronger relationship and keep your teen safer  Let’s face it, parenting a teen is sometimes like walking through a minefield. They’re usually moody, stressed and sleep deprived. Then add those hormones kicking in, and it’s enough to throw up your hands. Well don’t. The [...]

Parenting advice to curb irresponsibility, excuses and “blame games” and boost trustworthiness, accountability and kid responsibility Any of these sound familiar? “I forgot.” “Take care of this for me.” “It wasn’t my fault.” “I did some of it, but I left it on the bus.” “I don’t know where I put it.” They are statements [...]

Do’s and don’ts when it comes to dealing with other parent’s ill-mannered and ill-behaved kids in a modern-day sometimes too-litigious world When I was growing up and misbehaved I was set straight by the parent in charge, and if my friends misbehaved at my house there were held accountable by my mom and dad. But [...]

Anti-Bullying Policy Developed by the U.S. Army Garrisons in Europe and Department of Defense Dependents Schools – Europe (DoDDS-E) Signed  Last March I visited four US Army and US Air Force Garrisons in Germany and it has been a thrill. I was invited by the Installation Management Command (IMCOM Europe) to train school, child and [...]

Picky Eaters. Tantrums. Sleepless. Time out! Whining. Top questions moms asked me last week on  Dr. Drew Lifechanger’s and my answers If you didn’t get the memo here is it is: There is no perfect parent. This I promise. We’re all in this extraordinary role of trying to raise good kids together and we all [...]

Kid (and adult) vulgarity is on the rise with breakdown of respect and civility as consequences. Here are solutions at home and school to stop profanity and bring back civility! We generally equate childhood with innocence, so it can come as quite a shock when a foul word escapes from the mouth of our sweet [...]

REALITY CHECK: 64% of adults now favor “kid free zones” in restaurants, theaters, and planes. Time for an honest check – how are your kids behaving in public? You’ve spruced up the kiddos for a family night out at a restaurant. You intentionally chose one that hascloth tablecloths and fresh flower arrangements figuring it would [...]

Want to be a calmer parent? Here’s how to break your kid’s annoying habit—whining As any parent knows, whining is one of the most irritating of kids’ habits. And although the behavior usually peaks at around 4 years of age, it can continue well into the school years. But take heart: as a mom and [...]

Parenting advice that helps reduce little ones’ frustrations and temper those tantrums (work for grown-ups, too!) that I shared on Dr. Phil REALITY CHECK: Did you know that research shows that the most active (and aggressive) time EVER in our lives is between the ages of two and four? Now you know why you’re tired! Toddlers [...]

Worried about your child’s behavior? Not getting the results you hope? Then maybe–just maybe–the strategies you’re using aren’t based on solid research. Bad behaviors can be changed if parents remember to apply ten basic and proven principles. Here are my “Top 10” that I repeatedly share with parents who are trying to alter their kids’ [...]

Let’s play “Back to the Future” and pretend it’s twenty-five years from now. Your kids are grown and they’re healthy and happy. They’ve now come back for a family reunion. Here’s the key question: What character traits do you hope to see most in your grown child? Here’s a hint and critical parenting point: Character [...]

Checked that calendar lately? If not, here’s the memo: “Summer is coming…and soon!” That’s the good news..(for the kids anyway). More “down time”…. playing in the parks … swim meets … family renunions and game playing…summer camp…Monopoly…AYSO summer league….sports….playing with the neighbor kids. Sounds like all fun so far, right? Sure..if your kid is a [...]

One thing has never changed: kids will be kids and that means that do sometimes misbehave. Though there are no quick-fix behavior cures or sure-proof ways to raise well-behaved kids, research shows certain strategies do increase our odds.  In fact there are a few basic psychological principles that are proven to change behavior not only [...]

Learn the sneaky tactics kids use to get her way—and what to do about them. “Dad said I could.” “I promise I’ll do it tomorrow.” “My stomach hurts; I can’t go to school.” Do these manipulative tactics sound rather familiar? I’ll bet. As a mom, educational psychologist and former teacher, I know all too well [...]

Let’s face it, raising kids is never easy, and especially so these days. We lie awake agonizing over our parenting skills and questioning our choices. (Okay.. not you, but the parent next door, right?) But there are a few secrets that will make parenting less stressful and help our kids act the way we want [...]

REALITY CHECK: Did you know that the average kid whines or nags nine times–and then we give in? The lesson: Watch out – our kids know which buttons to push. Don’t let your kid get into this annoying habit! Here are four simple steps to curb your kids’ whines, nags or complaints Rest assured, all [...]

You may be surprised to discover what you’re doing wrong to turn that behavior around Michele Borba Note to my readers: over the past years I’ve been on a mission to find the best solutions in child development — tips that really do enhance our children’s character, behavior, emotional, social and cognitive development. I combed [...]