Most parents admit they want their children to be more empathic, compassionate and appreciative. Not only are these virtues cornerstones of Emotional Intelligence, (EQ), but they are also critical for the development of other important skills such as conflict resolution, effective communication and leadership. So, how do parents teach these critical values to their children when we live in a culture of overindulgence? Here are five practical tips parents can use to build empathy and gratitude within their children.

From the time that babies become aware of the world around them, they begin to form important relationships with the people in their lives. They quickly learn that certain people are vital to their happiness and their survival. Babies don't have the ability to understand how the world works, so they don't know what makes these people appear or disappear. When their special people are out of sight, they have no way of knowing if their loved ones are gone forever, and they express their concern: usually by crying and clinging. Here are a few tips to help your baby learn to adapt to separations without the anxiety.

A life filled with friends, family and prosperity are gifts every parent wants for their child. One of the many roles parents take on is to teach their children how to assume responsibility as functioning adults: to take disappointment calmly, care about others and demonstrate self-control. ‘Relationships’ could be the fourth ‘R’ after Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic. One tried and true method that helps your child grow into a caring, responsible adult focuses on developing good behaviors and relationship skills: SNAP.

My definition of a playdate is a desperate attempt by the stay-at-home caretaker to connect with persons speaking full sentences. Most likely, this will be unsuccessful due to constant interruptions by tattling, potty accidents and eerie silence. For stay-at-home moms or dads, the playdate is essential to our sanity.