Parenting

Most parents nowadays try not to use physical punishment. Many have been advised instead to use modern child management: timeouts. But any child can explain to you that timeouts ARE punishment, not any different than when you were made to stand in th...

Most parents nowadays try not to use physical puni...

You've probably heard that kids need limits. I myself used to question this premise. But what I learned by watching kids is confirmed by research findings in neurology. As children are faced with the necessity to rein in their impulse toward somethin...

You've probably heard that kids need limits. I mys...

Most good parents hate the idea of causing their child grief. They don’t want to incite a tantrum, and they certainly don’t want their child to be angry at them. But setting limits is an important part of good parenting. Infants' wants are identical...

Most good parents hate the idea of causing their c...

Were you spanked as a child? Then you may think it's a good way to guide a child. Or maybe you don't want to spank, but you find yourself doing it because you don't know how else to get through to your child. Interestingly, adults who were not spanke...

Were you spanked as a child? Then you may think it...

Research show that most people think strict parenting produces better-behaved kids. However, research studies on discipline consistently show that strict, or authoritarian, child-raising actually produces kids with lower self esteem who behave worse ...

Research show that most people think strict parent...

Discipline has nothing to do with punishment. Punishment is imposing something unpleasant on a person in response to behavior deemed wrong by the punisher. Discipline comes from the Latin verb to teach or guide, as does the word Disciple. Positive Di...

Discipline has nothing to do with punishment. Puni...

Life is full of difficult discussions we need to have with our kids, from explaining to our four year old why Grandma died, to hearing from our ten year old that he was bullied on the playground, to confronting our sixteen year old about missing her ...

Life is full of difficult discussions we need to h...

Almost from the time our kids can talk, there are tough conversations we need to have with them, from an impending move ("I'm not going!") to Grandpa's illness to our teens' more serious infractions. If you can control your emotions and keep the situ...

Almost from the time our kids can talk, there are ...

"Most families tend to rush through dinner, especially the kids. They can't wait to get back to their computers and cell phones and iPods. But they'll stick around if the conversation is interesting. And the biggest determinant is YOU. If you see you...

"Most families tend to rush through dinner, especi...

"By far the most important form of attention we can give our loved ones is listening... True listening is love in action. - M. Scott PeckDid your family have great discussions when you were growing up? Were people interested in hearing and learning f...

"By far the most important form of attention we ca...

Kids don’t just come up to a parent and say things like “I know you want me to get As in school and I have a chance to cheat on the test; what should I do?” or “I’m bulimic.” Parents have to earn that kind of trust. How? 1. Listen to your little ones...

Kids don’t just come up to a parent and say things...

Fewer than half of all sixth graders describe their family communication as positive. Worse yet, only 22% of high school seniors do. What would your kids say? Most tweens and teens regretfully report that there are things about which they can’t talk...

Fewer than half of all sixth graders describe thei...

I know, you think you hate playing with your child. But what if I gave you permission to set a timer and forget about your To-Do list and just connect with your child for ten minutes? What if I promised that if you do this on a regular basis, your ch...

I know, you think you hate playing with your child...

Intimacy is the glue that holds families together. It's what connects us over the years, and across the miles. It's what gets us through the hard times. It's the grease that smooths the rough interactions of everyday life, and the honey that makes it...

Intimacy is the glue that holds families together....

Scientists have found a way to predict which couples will end up divorcing: those who don’t insure that they have at least 5 positive interactions for every negative one. It turns out that maintaining this 5 to 1 ratio is effective insurance in every...

Scientists have found a way to predict which coupl...

Want to be a great parent? Want to raise a happy, healthy, well-behaved kid? Want to live in a home where discipline becomes unnecessary? The secret is to create a closer connection with your child. "What do you mean? Of course I love my kid, and I t...

Want to be a great parent? Want to raise a happy, ...

My child-rearing techniques are directly influenced by being a Muslim. Islam touches all parts of my life and as such I try to raise my children in the most Islamic way possible. My children came into this world as Muslims, innocent and submissive to...

My child-rearing techniques are directly influence...

Some Muslim parents are willing to let the children stay with the grandparents or others for a few hours or overnight, but it isn't often. Muslim parents feel very responsible and have so many things they want controlled in their children's environme...

Some Muslim parents are willing to let the childre...

The surveys indicated that both parents were involved in the care and training of the children. Reference was made to rights of children and parents from the aspect of rights that need to be extended to the children by the parents and from the childr...

The surveys indicated that both parents were invol...

We had taken our children with us to the church campgrounds for annual family church camps during the years our children were growing up. Jodi also went to these campgrounds for youth camps. These were the grounds where many good growing experiences ...

We had taken our children with us to the church ca...

Among Muslims children are very much loved and wanted, a precious gift and trust from God. Although contraception is not prohibited, many couples have large families by choice because they genuinely love and want several children, and couples who are...

Among Muslims children are very much loved and wan...