We started having private coaching with Cynthia in the spring of our son’s sophomore year in school. We were concerned that he wasn’t doing his homework the best that he could. We kept trying to give him advice and he would always get angry at us telling us to leave him alone. We wanted him…
DetailsDecide on Your Parenting Role: Director, Collaborator, or Supporter / Confidant In order to guide our children toward success, we need to understand our role in each challenge we encounter with them. There are basically three parental roles: 1) The Director: Sets rules, guidelines, and expectations; 2) The Collaborator: Discusses challenges with children and decides…
DetailsMindShift KQED has an informative article about girls getting the message that they are either good at math or not. I know I believe I’m not great at math. Because of this belief, I never pushed myself to become better at math. My daughter sent me this article link and said, “I’m glad I’m good…
DetailsI have had clients who don’t give allowance because they buy kids what they need automatically. Behind every action we do, we are teaching kids beliefs and what we value. If children are always provided for without offering their own money, then they are learning that the world takes care of them and it takes…
DetailsTo answer this question, I divide chores into two categories. The first category are the basic daily/weekly chores that must get done for the family to function. These include picking up toys, cleaning the bedroom, feeding the animals, setting and clearing the table, doing the dishes, sweeping and vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, doing and folding…
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When you try to “help” kids solve their problems and you get an “I don’t know” in response, then you are heading down the wrong path. You have tried to get to the answer way too quickly. Even though the quick-solution directive road seems fastest, it is not because it is filled with strong resistance from your…
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Teaching My Kids How to Solve Problems Works My wife and I have three children ages 14, 10, and 9. We had taken some parenting classes from Cynthia and tried applying her strategies on our own, without her guidance. It wasn’t too effective because we couldn’t see what we needed to change. Then we decided…
DetailsYour child comes home from school visibly upset. Sadness, anxiety, confusion, or hurt may be lurking below the surface. Perhaps your child had a disagreement with a friend or didn’t do well on a test. The natural response is to start asking questions to find out what is wrong. Your child may gladly talk with…
DetailsParents get stuck being able to see new solutions because they continue to view the problem in the same light. Often they state the question in this format: “How do I get my child to: not talk back, do their chores, do their homework not have a tantrum not be disrespectful not hit their sibling…
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Even though I am not a fan of homework for children under 5th grade, it seems like it’s here to stay. It can cause great strife in families and often doesn’t allow time for relaxation and fun between parents and children. With that said, here are some thoughts on how to create a home environment…
DetailsTerms of Use: The articles in my blog are a matter of my opinion and perspective, offered to help stimulate parents' thinking about their child raising and common concerns, conflicts, and changes that typically occur. They are meant to be educational only. Because they are general in nature, they should NOT be used as a substitute for getting qualified professional psychological, medical, or legal help should serious need arise. The resources I recommend are mostly consistent with my parenting approach. Use them at your own discretion as you would my articles. The parents’ success stories are particular to their family situation. This does not mean that you would get the same results. They are to be used for inspiration that by you changing first, you have the greatest chance of creating a positive change in your family.