Creating Rituals and Traditions - December 2010
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
Most families have rituals and traditions. Research shows that when families engage in more shared activities and keep rituals and traditions, they have less conflict and a greater sense of family cohesion and belonging.
Expressing Love - February 2011
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
When my children were very young, we used "love rocks." We would find a rock, squeeze it to fill it with love, and then give it to another person to cheer them up. The love between parents and children is the foundation of a strong and healthy relationship. They not only feel positive emotions, but learn how to express love. The ways we show love are limited only by our imagination and creativity.
Live Long and Smile; Keep Smiling, Be Healthy
Article courtesy of Natural Life
Being an optimist could help you live longer, according to a Dutch study published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Article by Illisa Cohen (From Working Mother - November, 2008)
The iconic song title "Don't Worry, Be Happy" may seem overly simple, but it does send a valuable message about being optimistic — one that applies even to little kids. While research on optimism suggests that it's at least partly genetic, experts also say that we can learn to be more positive, no matter how we're wired.
Strengths in Action - March 2011
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
Several important findings have emerged from research on character strengths in parents and children. For example, the strengths of character that most consistently relate to life satisfaction among adults are gratitude, hope, zest, curiosity and love. In children over the age of seven, gratitude, hope, zest and love are most strongly related to life satisfaction and happiness. In addition, the character strengths of perseverance, gratitude, and hope predicted academic achievement, even after controlling for a student's IQ score. That is, these character strengths were a greater influence on a student's achievement in the classroom than measured intelligence.
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 5 & Up
Article By Kyla Boyse, R.N, University of Michigan Health System
Sibling rivalry is the jealousy, competition and fighting between brothers and sisters. It is a concern for almost all parents of two or more kids. There are lots of things parents can do to help their kids get along better and work through conflicts in positive ways.
New Pressures on Working Moms, Families
Article By Mary Dulaney (From CareerBuilder.com– May 7, 2009)
In these trying economic times, moms are finding the balancing act between family and work is more challenging than ever.
"Optimism" — Embrace the Future
Mental Health Foundation Australia
Optimism, in the context of resiliency, refers to a sense of a positive future, to a tendency to find positive meaning in experiences, and a belief in one’s ability to impact positively on one’s environment. It has many benefits for mental health, including protecting against depression and anxiety. It also increases the likelihood of effective problem solving.
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 5 & Up
Fight Back to Bounce Back - October 2010
Why is it that when someone else unfairly accuses or criticizes us we are ready to fight back, but when we accuse or criticize ourselves, we act as if it must be true? You can help your children learn the skill Fight Back to Bounce Back so that they will stay resilient and positive in the face of challenges and stress.
101 Things to Do Before the End of Summer - May 2011
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
We tend to have a lot of free time in the summer, and it can be all too easy to let the summer drift away without using the time wisely. So this summer, try making a list of things your family wants to do, not has to do.
Socializing Our Children to Social Responsibility - June 2011
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
There are plenty of opportunities to teach our kids that we, as people, are in this together. Start raising socially responsible children by doing a simple service project as a family.
Self-Efficacy versus Self-Esteem
Article by Dr. Karen Reivich
When our children are upset, our first instinct is often to soothe them with what I call a “self-esteem enhancer:” praise to immediately make them feel better. These statements are often very general, like “you were great!” or “you’re the best!”
Temperament Characteristics: From Low Reactors to Big Reactors
Article by zerotothree.org
Low Reactors are children who seem less demanding than others. At the other end of the spectrum are Big Reactors who tell the world how they feel in a voice that's loud and clear.
- Pre-K and Younger
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
Positive Education: positive psychology and classroom interventions
Article by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman et al. — Oxford Review of Education
"Positive Education: positive psychology and classroom interventions" by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman et al. (Oxford Review of Education) – The theory that skills for happiness can be taught in school is explored.
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 5 & Up
Go with the Flow - September 2010
Flow is the mental state in which your focus is laser like; you are in the zone. But the tricky thing is that you can't force it. There are certain conditions that are critical for flow.
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 5 & Up
Savoring Spring - April 2011
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
Savoring is an important part of happiness. It helps you take a fleeting positive emotion and make it linger for a while. By slowing down and focusing on the positive—like the first crocus of the season—you can transform an “Oh, how nice” moment into a “Wow, how beautiful” moment. You can turn a passing feeling of happiness into a deep feeling of awe and joy. Basking in our positive emotions is important because it helps build resilience and counteract the stress so many of us feel on a daily basis.
What is a Highly Sensitive Child?
Article by hsperson.com
A highly sensitive child is one of the fifteen to twenty percent of children born with a nervous system that is highly aware and quick to react to everything. This article discusses how to tell if your child is sensitive and what to do about it.
From the University of Maryland Medical Center.
If you or your children are having trouble sleeping, try these relaxation techniques with them to get a good night's sleep: Progressive Relaxation, Toe Tensing, Deep Breathing, Guided Imagery, and Quiet Ears.
KidsHealth.org
The #1 site devoted to children’s health takes a look at stress, offering an explanation of the response and ways in which parents can help children manage it.
Happiness is contagious in social networks
Article by Elizabeth Landau (from CNN)
If you're feeling great today, you may end up inadvertently spreading the joy to someone you don't even know. New research shows that in a social network, happiness spreads among people up to three degrees removed from one another. That means when you feel happy, a friend of a friend of a friend has a slightly higher likelihood of feeling happy too.
Praise That Builds a Child's Self-Esteem
Article By Joan E. LeFebvre, University of Wisconsin
In an effort to enhance their children's self-esteem, parents often use praise to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of their children. Obviously, recognizing our children's positive behavior is more likely to build self-esteem than dwelling on problems. But praise is not always uplifting.
14 Little Ways to Encourage Kindness
Article by Kristine Breese, parents.com
These simple ideas teach your children to be nice, generous people, one good deed at a time. Great thinkers from Martin Luther King Jr. to the Dalai Lama to my daughter, Addison, all have had something to say about the importance of helping others.
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
Think about how you and your kids pursue long-term goals. The mental trait of perseverance and passion for long-term goals is called “grit”. Research shows that individuals with grit are more likely to succeed and outperform those with less grit. In fact, research shows that grit is a better predictor of success than intelligence or self-control.
Raising a sensitive child
Article by Sue Douglass Fliess, education.com
He cries at the drop of a hat – or a toy, in this case. She crumbles if you raise your voice at her, even slightly. He seems to have a bionic sense of smell. Before you write your child off as a drama queen, consider the fact that this behavior may be innate.
Article by Gershom Gorenberg, Parents.com
Why an upbeat outlook is the #1 secret to kids' success.
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 5 & Up
Optimism: A Key Ingredient to Happiness
Article by Dr. Karen Reivich
Optimism is the belief that things will turn out well. It is the expectation that good things will come your way and that you have the ability to control the direction of your life.
Resilience: Ingredient List
Article by Dr. Karen Reivich
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, to learn from failure, to be motivated by challenges and to believe in your own abilities to deal with the stress and difficulties in life.
Setting and Reaching Goals
Article by Dr. Karen Reivich
I'm writing this on a Tuesday. Last Thursday I announced to my husband and my kids that "Starting tomorrow I'm back to going to the gym. I'm going every day." I said it with a great deal of enthusiasm. I was convinced. I felt more fit already. Guess how many times I've been to the gym since my proclamation? Yep. You got it: Zippo. I thought about it many times. And I really wanted to go. I enjoy going to the gym. It's not something that falls under my "have to do" list; it tops my "want to do" list. Yet despite all of that, it's Tuesday and I still haven't gone.
Relaxation Techniques: Essential for Reducing Stress
Study Tells Parents: Let Your Kids See You Fight
Article By Shannon Firth (From Finding Dulcinea– April 4, 2009)
A new study says fighting in front of your children may not be as destructive as experts once thought. Some quarrels may even provide developmental lessons.
Writer Jonah Lehrer examines the virtue of “grit”, and the role it plays in success.
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 5 & Up
The Power of Family Rituals
Article by Barbara Biziou, Parents.com
Creating celebrations and ceremonies — even for life's smallest occasions — gives your kids memories to last a lifetime.
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 5 & Up
How Not to Talk to Your Kids
Article by Po Bronson (from New York magazine—February 2007)
According to a survey conducted by Columbia University, 85 percent of American parents think it’s important to tell their kids that they’re smart.
Dealing with a Child's Anger
Article by Rose Allen, University of Minnesota Extension
Anger. It's one of our feelings, and it's an okay feeling to have. Just as children have a right to be happy, sad, lonely, or bored, they also have a right to feel angry.
Monsters Under the Bed: Understanding Kid Fears
Article by Reshma Memon Yaqub on parents.com
Many of kids' fears seem mystifying and irrational, but to them the world is full of threats. Many of kids' fears fade as kids develop, but if your child's fear persist and totally preoccupy him, he'll need your help to overcome them. We've got the top soothing strategies for his biggest fears — real and imaginary.
Raising Kids with Character
From Parenting.com
Paula Spencer shares her simple tips for raising kids with character.
Encouraging Random Acts of Kindness - August 2010
There are no limits to the way you can practice kindness; the key word is practice. As a family, parents and children make the practicing of kindness a positive habit.
The Highly Sensitive Child: Parenting Strategies
Article by FamilyEducation.com
A very sensitive child is not an easy child to raise. Fortunately, certain parenting patterns can help this child mature into a creative, insightful person.
Emotional Training Helps Kids Fight Depression
Article by Allison Aubrey — NPR.org*
Resilience training can be as powerful as taking antidepressant medicines. Studies show that the habit of reacting negatively can lead to depressive thinking. If a person tends to see small disappointments as catastrophes or failures, they can become depressed or anxious. But once thoughts are more aligned with reality, emotional responses can change for the better.
*NPR is not associated with and does not endorse FishfulThinking.com
Raising a Kid Who Bounces Back
Article by Jane Meredith Adams (courtesy of Parenting magazine—March 2007)
Disappointments come fast and furiously for kids. The park is closed. The play date is canceled. Grandma can't come to the birthday party.
Back talk: It stings, it shocks, it embarrasses, and it can turn your home into a battleground. You won't ever be able to avoid disagreements with your kids, but you can learn how to fight fair.
How to Teach Kids Perseverance and Goal-Setting
Article by Marie Faust Evitt, Parents.com
To encourage perseverance, teach preteens how to set goals and work to meet them.
Article by Dr. Karen Reivich
This morning my 3-year-old daughter was trying to tie her shoe. No matter what she did, she couldn't make a pretty bow. She felt frustrated.
Joy Multiplier - November 2010
Karen Reivich, Ph.D.
You're likely very attentive when your children come to you with a problem, but what about when they come to you with good news? With Fishful Thinking skills, you can actively respond to your children’s good news and enhance joy.
Article by Robert Barnett (from Parenting magazine—January 2007)
Ask a mom if she's happier now that she has a child and she'll usually say yes. In fact, around the world, children top the list of the most enjoyable things in life.
Article by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Back talk--when your teenager rudely tells you that you are a tyrant or an idiot--has to be one of the hardest things for parents to deal with. Respect for parents is highly valued in every culture. Ways of showing respect differ from family to family.
Article by Dr. Shane Lopez
The essence of hope is having the drive to set and pursue goals, to take risks, to initiate action. Hope fuels problem-solving and it helps us develop personal strengths and social resources.
Using Positive Psychology in Your Relationships
Article by Lindsay Lyon (USNews.com)
Psychologist Shelly Gable explains how positive reactions can strengthen relationships.
Parenting Tips for Anxious Kids
Brought to you by The Children's Center for OCD and Anxiety.
Tips for parents on how to help children who struggle with anxiety, such as setting expectations, building your child's strength, letting children learn to do things on their own, helping children handle feelings on their own, how to work together as parents, and more.
Stress Management for Parents
Article by ChildDevelopmentInfo.com
Parenting can be very stressful. Whether you are a stay at home parent or a working parent, a single parent or a married parent, mother or father, parent of one child or several children; remaining cool, calm and full of energy can help get you through the day.