Big Kid
Are My Children Jerks?
A parent has a question about raising kids to be kind and thoughtful people because she is fearful that despite best efforts, they are raising jerks. It’s a common fear.
Big Kid
Feeling Blue in a Red State: Teens, Politics, and the Party Line
A reader asks how to handle a teen who buys into majority politics in what she sees as extreme state, but really, the issue is teaching both critical thinking and tolerance.
Big Kid
When Other Kids Suck the Joy Out of Beloved Activities
A reader asks how to help a teen stick out a difficult activity when the other kids are making things unpleasant.
Big Kid
Bullying. When Should A Parent Intervene?
When a kid is getting bullied, there are times when parents and educators need to get involved. Because children often need to be taught kindness.
Big Kid
Tell Me a Tale: Everyday Storytelling and Story-Changing
I tell stories for a living, but we all tell stories to ourselves and others all day long. How can we learn to make them ones that work for us?
Big Kid
Teens, Politics, Kindness: Being Compassionate, Even When It’s Hard
There’s nothing quite like a contentious election cycle to make you realize your kids are hearing and watching everything.
Big Kid
How to Immunize Your Kids From the Insanity of Election Year
How are we, as parents, supposed to keep our kids believing they should do the right thing when they see how rewarded the bad things are?
Parenting
So, About Kids And Religion…
A recent study says religious kids aren’t as nice as non-religious ones. As a somewhat religiously-confused parent, I’m not sure what to think.
Parenting
Alpha Mom Must List: Read “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio
Wonder, the novel about a boy with severe craniofacial deformities who starts middle school, by R.J. Palacio is a must-read for children and their parents.
Big Kid
When Your Teen’s Friend Has Mental Health Issues
No one wants their kid to be unkind to others, but when it comes to issues of mental illness, are you teaching your kid kindness or fear?
Activities
26 Acts of Kindness
Inspired by Ann Curry, why we’re publicly pledging to do #26Acts of Kindness in honor of the 26 lives lost in Newtown, CT.
Young Child
8 Ways to Raise Thankful Kids
This is the time of year when we all start to thinks about being thankful. It is the time when we reflect on the past year and consider where we want to go in our lives in the upcoming one. How have you helped your children be thankful for all they are blessed with?
Big Kid
Raising Kind Children in a Honey Boo Boo World
I don’t want my kids to become desensitized. I don’t want them to think it is okay to make fun of other people or feel superior to other people.
Big Kid
9 New Year’s Resolutions for a Happier Family
Last year was a tough for me on many levels. I lost my joy. This upcoming year I am determined to get it back and make my family happier in the process.
Young Child
Kindness Matters
We have one rule in our house. But it is more than just a rule it is a way of living. It is two simple words. Be Kind.
Big Kid
Caught, Not Taught
I’ve been thinking about the qualities that people most often comment about in my children and how they learned those things.