It’s clearly a new day when it comes to planning out our kids’ summer. My memory may fail me, but I can’t remember one time when I overheard my parents discussing which camps their three kids were going to attend, coordinating dates to ensure we had friends with us, and...
© 2018 – 2021 GWEN DEWAR, PH.D., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Is childhood rebellion inevitable? Not really. Most kids are ready to be cooperative. But they recognize limits to our power: They resist when they perceive us as trying to control their personal lives. So what’s the solution? Be fair-minded. Listen...
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Egalitarian, cooperative, and fiercely-protective of their personal freedoms, hunter-gatherers are also very practical. They know that parents can’t afford to raise kids without help. So everybody pitches in — and society thrives. Family subsidies. Childcare help. Support for parents struggling to make...
Rewarding children for good behaviour works better than criticising and punishing children for unacceptable behaviour. Positive attention and praise are the best rewards parents can give to a child of any age. Even small children really want to please their parents.
Rules for Staying Sane Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have perfect parents? Well, think about it now. Imagine your parents had been faultless when you were growing up (I’m betting they weren’t).* Suppose they were textbook parents—that your mother was always right. Sound like...
Ever noticed how your voice shoots up a couple of octaves when you see a baby? For most of us, this change in tone is seemingly involuntary. While research varies on whether or not using a baby voice when speaking to your baby is beneficial, they do agree that babies...
A person’s name is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Selecting a baby’s name is essential, but an often difficult decision for many parents. Follow our guide for a simple process in selecting your baby’s name. Most people have some ideas for useful baby...
