In the late 1990s, author J.K. Rowling invented the term “muggle” as a derogative term for the normal people of … More
Category: Discipline
Parenting is Regulating
Every parent should regulate their children’s behavior until they are ready to regulate their own. It will likely be a … More
Advice for Middle School Kids
Recently, I asked my Facebook friends to give me advice for my 7th graders. Here’s what my friends have learned … More
Tips for Motivating Young Teens
It takes more than a poster to motivate kids. Ask any schoolteacher. Early in their careers, young teachers will spend … More
Motivate. Don’t Manipulate Your Kids.
Once again, his room isn’t clean, not by any standard. Her backpack, jacket, and shoes are scattered about the floor … More
Why Young Kids Should Learn to Use Dangerous Things
A friend recently posted on Facebook a picture of her three young children helping their dad build a deck. The … More
Raising Resilient Children
Resilience is the capacity to recover from adversity and return to well-being. Paul Tough, in his book How Children Succeed, … More
Families Should Be Tough
My wife is kind and compassionate, but she is one of the toughest people I have ever known. She does … More
The Peril of Productionism
My wife and I struggle with what I call productionism. It is a variation of perfectionism. It is the … More
Connect With Your Young Teen
First Connect, Then Guide The best parents are the ones who are deeply connected with their children and offer support … More
Career Guidance for Young Teens
The Need for Early Guidance A few kids know from a very early age what they want to pursue as … More
Be the Parent!
Found on Facebook. Whoever wrote it, thank you!
Raising Boys to be Real Men
Boys are misunderstood. Too often, they are disciplined and shamed by their teachers, parents, or grandparents because it is falsely … More
I Wish You Failure
Once again, I offer an article from NPR’s This I Believe. Jon Carroll started at the San Francisco Chronicle editing … More
The Power of No (Part 3)
Young teenagers often “cross the line.” It’s inevitable, so it should not surprise us. Yet, we should not just acquiesce … More
The Power of No (Part 2)
Sometimes a bad example is as motivating as a good one. I had just such an experience last Saturday: Guitar … More
How to Negotiate with Children
In a recent panel discussion about parenting on National Public Radio, “When No Means No” (11 minutes of audio), some … More
Failure’s Top Ten List
1. Not Everybody Gets A Trophy Somewhere along the line we became a society that preached instant gratification. Like a … More
Prepare Them for Life
Protection and provision are not enough. “Here’s the paradox: If we protect our children too absolutely, we actually end up … More
Father or Friend?
Father’s Day. We give Dad something like a pocket knife or a round of golf. We remind him that we … More
Kids Should Work Alongside Adults
“Unfortunately, many of today’s teenagers make no meaningful contribution to their families. They have nothing more to contribute to the … More
Mean Moms
Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as … More
Our Friend, Failure
I once heard a speaker named Dan Miller at an educator’s conference tell the audience about how he learned to … More
Loyalty and Love Personified
John Wooden, the most-successful and most-revered basketball coach of all time, is a role model for so many men — … More
Active Parenting Works Best
Teenagers do listen Parents who set boundaries find their influence pays off Your Health By Kim Painter (USA Today 2/8/2010) … More
Slowing Down for Kids’ Sake
On the way home from soccer practice last night, my son asked if he could join a track and field … More
The Power of Choice
Children lack power. They can control very little in their lives, until they get a license to drive and the … More
Discipline vs. Punishment
Heart-to-Heart Connection A long time ago, in a land far away, I was the principal of a small elementary school. … More
