Parenting Tips

Empathy is a skill – one that we can cultivate and strengthen with practice. Empathy means that we can imagine what someone else is thinking or feeling and then respond in a caring manner.

One of the most powerful ways to develop your child's literacy skills is also the easiest: talk to your kids! At age eight, children begin to use language to explain both their outer world (what they see) and their inner world (what they think, feel and imagine). When they talk to caring adults, they can expand their vocabulary and learn more about the give-and-take of conversations — including taking turns and building on someone else's ideas.

With the help of a frilly dress, tiara, and magic wand, your 3-year-old becomes the queen of a magical universe and rides a winged unicorn. When you're asked to taste the pink clouds, you agree that they're a lot like bubblegum.

It’s important to carve out quality time to spend with your kids each day. But there are some days when that’s easier said than done!

When my son was 5, he came home from a neighbor’s yard upset. “All the kids want to play soccer and I hate soccer!” He began to stomp up to his room. But then he paused on the stairs, and I could see he was thinking things through. He didn’t want to play soccer, but he did want to play with other kids. So what other options were there?

From taking their first steps to learning how to read, children gain self-confidence as they master new skills. This gives them the courage to continue to explore and expand their abilities. Seven-year-olds can set goals and make a plan for mastering new academic and physical skills – from math facts to soccer kicks. As you encourage their interests and independence, you may also need to help them talk through their frustrations and fears. They may be discouraged when a new skill doesn’t come easily to them or when a classmate or sibling seems "better than me" at a task.

Sometimes it's easy to notice when kids seem to feel good about themselves — and when they don't. We often describe this idea of feeling good about ourselves as "self-esteem."