Last summer, my husband and I combined our preschoolers’ two bedrooms into a joint bedroom to make the unused room a fun-filled play centre. Although our children adored sharing a room (and I adored designing my dream playroom), my husband and I felt something missing after only a day. We quickly realized the source of our discontent: less one-on-one time with our children.
While TV commercials and retail ads proclaim the holidays as a time for peace and joy (and lots of gifts), many feel that it is the season for family obligations and unpleasant visits with contentious relatives. That feeling of discomfort is compounded for single dads, who many times face awkward gatherings with former in-laws or touchy ex-wives who request or require ‘family time’ with their children. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The holidays don’t have to be loaded with rough patches for single dads, and with a few key tips, you can show your children a happy holiday season.
You're all getting a bad rap. Helicopter parents do a lot of good things for their kids. You can act fast, swoop in to protect your child at a moment's notice and swoop away really fast (great skills for parenting a teenager). And that bird's-eye view of the big picture really comes in handy. Best of all, helicopter parents have met two great parenting qualifications: They show a lot of love to their children, and they spend plenty of time with them, often pulling the night shift. So, if helicopter parents are so great, why all the negative publicity? Here's why...
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.
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