We all want our children to have strong self-regulations skills such as impulse control, judgment, focus, and flexible thinking.  The efficiency of these skills, functions of the prefrontal cortex known as executive functions, is a solid predictor of success in various areas of life.  Researchers studying executive functions have followed subjects for decades, noting that the subjects who had shown impulse control as children did better academically, reported less drug use, and had greater satisfaction in their lives as adults.

Read more on From a Mothers Perspective:Teaching Children Impulse Control and Other Skills for Lifelong Success…

As the youngest of five children, I had plenty of chances to practice losing. And, when I became an aunt, my brothers reminded me, “Remember—only let our kids win fair and square. They need to learn to lose!”

Read more on Tuesdays with Jane: Does Your Child Know How to Lose?…

Our newest Kidtelligent video interview with a parent focuses on understanding differences. Listen as this father explains to Gerry Barnaby how his daughter is more like his wife and understanding the way they respond to things has been a huge benefit to him as a father and a husband!

Read more on My Kid Is Not Like Me How Can I Understand What They Are Going Through?…

“How could you possibly lose something as big and as important as a jacket?” my mother lamented—more than once. I lost sweaters, raincoats, even my winter jacket. How? Well, to wear it home, I’d need to remember that I wore it in the first place. I was seldom aware of such realities as a grade school child, whereas my mother never misplaced anything in the first 80 years of her life!

Read more on Tuesdays with Jane:Does Your Child Lose Things Constantly? (Reframing)…

My 11 year old nephew plays travel baseball.  I don’t mean travel to the nearest baseball field and play a game.  I mean, travel the country every weekend for 12 weeks and play baseball.  Pack up your family and go, every single weekend.  While I respect the decision that the parents of my nephew and every other ball player’s parents to be so involved in this sport, I often wonder if it’s for me.  My husband and I have this conversation every year around the time my nephew starts his fundraising.  Do we really want our kids to be this involved in sports?  I was a three sport athlete, so my first inclination is absolutely!  But I have to wonder, is it more for the parent or the child?

Read more on Kids and Sports, how far do you go and is it a good fit?…

Last week my husband asked me when our children could start doing their own laundry.  I laughed out loud, but quickly stopped as I realized he was serious.  We have three children – under the age of four!  While I think it is adorable to watch my 16 month old twins try to help me dust and fold laundry by throwing it on the floor, I do sometimes wonder when is the right time to have my children help with chores?  I would love nothing more than for my three little angels to start washing, drying, and folding their own laundry as this is my least favorite chore.  As a parent, I know that I can’t be the only one with this question, or better yet, how do we get them to do chores when they are of the appropriate age?

Read more on How To Get Your Kids To Do Chores From A Moms Perspective…

Everyone’s had moments in their lives when they’ve felt as though no one else understood them – and it can be a very vulnerable and scary feeling.   If your child is having difficulty fitting in with their peer group, it can be very distressing for both the child and the parent.   It becomes even more painful if your child is picked on or bullied for being different.  With stories of bullying peppering the news, this is a very real issue that needs to be addressed.  On the Empowering Parents blog, James Lehman, MSW gives seven tips to help give your child the tools they need when faced with this situation (http://www.empoweringparents.com/When-Your-Child-Says-I-Dont-Fit-In.php).  Lehman elaborates on the following tips in his article:

Read more on What if My Child Really Doesn’t Fit In? Seven Tips to Help Your Child When He Feels Different From Everyone Else…

If you answered, “Of course not,” your child may be in danger of failure. If you answered, “Of course,” you may be succeeding at “Good-Enough Parenting.”

Say what?

Well, as Edison put it, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.” Michael Jordan points out that he failed 26 times when trusted to take the game-winning shot. Learn to fail, or fail to learn, is a new phrase that is catching on with educators.

Read more on Tuesdays with Jane: Are You Allowing Your Child to Fail?…

As a mother of three young children, I have often wondered what my husband and I need to do to ensure our children are raised with good morals, values, don’t do drugs, etc.  Aside from having their police officer father threaten to arrest them, it haunts me often as I see so many children and families struggling.  Where did they go wrong, and how can I steer my children in the right direction?  I’d like to keep them sheltered, living in a bubble, monitoring all of their conversations, and chaperoning every event I possibly can.  I know I can’t do that.  My parents didn’t do that to me and I turned out just fine.  So what’s the secret?  How do we, as parents, raise the best and brightest kids in today’s tough world?

Read more on How your emotions impact your child, from a mothers perspective…

All too frequently, both parents and children say, “Yech!” when someone mentions homework. It’s the source of way too many battles across kitchen tables. If your children obediently sit down after school with smiles on their faces and complete their homework without complaint, you can skip this blog. The rest of us have frequent episodes of wondering, “How involved should I be?”

Read more on Tuesdays with Jane: What’s a Parent’s Role in Homework? Kidtelligent Can Help……