This 7-minute podcast focuses on the Top 10 considerations when addressing a child’s tantrum during family pictures 

(1)   When parents take the short cut and reinforce the child’s refusal beahviors and tantrums with sour patch candy, a snickers bar, a twix, or some kind of gummy, this has the following consequences: 

a.     Reinforces tantrums and other misbehavior.

b.     Teaches a child that candy is the only solution to stress management.

c.      Delays a child’s learning about how to delay gratification.

d.     Delays a child’s learning of key tenets of Emotional intelligence such as self control. 

e.     Sets a precedent that a family is unwilling to communicate with creativity.  This can cause problems for siblings who ideally want to learn creative ways to solve problems. 

 

 

 

Boredom Reduction Skills tend to develop as a result of three phases: (1) Being bored, (2) Tapping into resources and energy that propel them to engage in activities with creativity, (3) Full engagement without boredom.  This process is something that most young people used to go through.  Nowadays, with kids as young as 2 being baby sat with a smart phone, the average 4-year old with their own TV, and teenagers averaging nine hours of media per day (excluding use of computer and other things for homework); this over-exposure to media limits opportunities for young people to go from being bored to being less bored.  

Specific strategies are provided.  (1) Limit exposure/ screen free zones in the house, (2) get the TV's out of all bedrooms, and (3) have family dinners.  

What makes a successful family?  (1) An occasional family meeting with open dialogue about how the family is doing.  (2) Regular family dinners.  (3) SCREEN FREE ZONES

 - Each house needs screen-free zones.  This starts with the bedrooms.  Behavioral sleep experts recommend that adults get the TVs out of the bedroom.  Kids need their TV's out of their bedroom.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screen-free zones.

I traveled around the state of Wisconsin this week.  I met some wonderful professionals – teachers, principals, school

counselors and psychologists, mental health counselors, psychologists in

private practice, social workers, occupational therapists, and speech

pathologists.    So many people are

working hard to make a difference and collaborate with teachers and parents to

help kids achieve an excellent education, mental and emotional health, and

quality relationships.

A key focus was trying to help parents regulate their anxiety and stay calm.  This week's podcast gives an example of how we can heighten our child's anxiety with our own anxiety.  

Beyond knowledge, strategies are needed.

Today's parenting podcast is a tribute to a movie favorite -- Back To The Future.  

Parenting nuggets are discussed -- consistency, warmth, engagement...

All siblings argue and engage in conflict making sharing difficult sometimes.  Positive households with warmth, good communication skills, and unconditional acceptance by parents make repair attempts and subsequent sharing easier.  But, sharing can still be difficult.  The One-Child Mentality ("Syndrome") makes sharing even harder to develop.   Still, sharing is hard for everybody.  We can help children be overcomers with regards to problems with sharing.  Both short term common sense strategies and long-term solutions are provided.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed as a parent?  Do you ever feel like you have lost control or are on the verge of "losing it" in the face of chaos?  If that is you, you seem normal to me!!  But, we know that maintaining poise is key in the face of the pressures of life and parenting.

Here are two techniques that can help you keep it together and regain control.  Most importantly, these techniques can help your kids regain control of themselves.  The 5 Senses Strategy is useful in bringing down the sympathetic activity and anxious energy.  It increases focus and reduces anxiety.  The mindfulness grounding (countdown) technique helps kids (and parents) regain control when things seem chaotic, overwhelming, and out of control.  This technique can help kids regain control and get grounded again.

Protective Parents: Five Nights at Freddy's?  I taught seminars with approximately 100 educators and mental health clinicians this week in Alabama.  One of the issues that came up this week is the issues associated with video games.  Parents use video games for baby-sitting purposes.  We've known for decades that video games increase aggression.  Lately, there have been some games that are increasing psychiatric symptoms.  I heard several reports this week from professional therapists in a variety of capacities and teachers who observe significant sleep issues, distressing dreams, sleep terrors, and sleep walking after playing Five Nights at Freddy's.  Recommendations are provided.

Protective Parents: Five Nights at Freddy's?  I taught seminars with approximately 100 educators and mental health clinicians this week in Alabama.  One of the issues that came up this week is the issues associated with video games.  Parents use video games for baby-sitting purposes.  We've known for decades that video games increase aggression.  Lately, there have been some games that are increasing psychiatric symptoms.  I heard several reports this week from professional therapists in a variety of capacities and teachers who observe significant sleep issues, distressing dreams, sleep terrors, and sleep walking after playing Five Nights at Freddy's.  Recommendations are provided.

We have seen the devastating effects of parental uninvolvement.  And, we have seen the research and media identify the concerns regarding over-involvement (i.e. snow plow parenting, helicopter parenting).  What about Pivotal Moment Involvement?  Common sense parenting tells us that Pivotal Moment Involvement (PMI) is critical in child development.  This podcast emphasizing the value of pivotal moment involvement in parenting.  These are those important moments in the life of your child.  The idea "you won't get that moment back" is true. Listen to today's podcast and be reminded, encouraged, and stimulated with five simple reminders on how to approach pivotal moment involvement.