Friends

By: Michele Timmons

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ~Dr. Seuss

Childhood is sometimes wonderful and sometimes totally awful. Most of us remember times when we just didn’t fit in. Those can be some of the most painful memories of our youth. As parents, we always want our children to be happy and to feel connected and loved. When our children hurt, we hurt for them and want to do something to make it better. However, when it comes to fitting in, there is no magic bullet. While I can’t offer a quick fix, here are some strategies to help your child build the self confidence and resiliency skills to help overcome this problem AND prepare him for life’s many setbacks. Read more >

By: Steve Palmer

When our youngest daughter reached speaking age, we began to notice a concerning pattern. She had always been a shy child during her toddler years, but as she continued to develop, we started to realize that her tendency to hold back in interactions with others was becoming more pronounced. Specifically, she would not speak to anyone outside the immediate family. She never said anything. Not a word. Yet, while at home (where she was comfortable), she would gab away. Read more >

By: Jolene Roehlkepartain

How can you make a sleepover a successful experience for your child? It all depends on your child’s age and the steps you take to ensure a good experience. Read more >

When we add up the different types of diversity (religion, disability, sexual orientation, income, gender identity, primary language spoken, and others), we can see that our kids are growing up in a richly diverse world. It’s important we help them embrace and thrive in the midst of diversity!

When I was in high school, the only teenagers elected to the homecoming court were the popular people, the best-looking people, and the star athletes.

We can learn a lot about the power of diversity from our kids.

Who are your kids’ online friends?