Loving Grandpa

One of my favorite 7th grade essays ever is this memoir about a grandfather. Ashley Aucker, is now a 25 … More

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

Doodling

My wife, my 13 year old son, and I went to see The Taming of the Shrew outdoors last night … More

Parenting With and Without Fear

Fear is universal. Columnist Dave Barry writes, “All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears — of … More

I Believe in Encouragement

By Lauren Baum, in her senior English class at Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis (Class of 2011). Without any hesitation, … 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

The Power of No (Part 1)

Anthony Bourdain, is an American chef, author, and television personality. He is well-known as the host of the Travel Channel‘s … More

Family Matters

Imagine two American families, living on the same street, both successful in pursuing the American dream. Their Christmas cards are … 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

Questions Kids Have But Don’t Ask

Here are some of the big questions kids (10-14) have, although they will rarely, if ever, vocalize them. Understanding the … More

Raising the Perfect Parent

Always Kiss Me Good Night: Instructions on Raising the Perfect Parent (compiled by J.S. Salt) is the best advice that … 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

Video Games

I grew up with the Atari 2600 video game system. It was the cultural phenomenon of 1978, right along with … 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

Kindness Matters

Now and then, the tables are turned, and an everyday kid doing a good deed gets some attention. Let’s all … More

Chess Builds Brains

Chess is one of the best educational games of all time. Even the most casual player will admit that the … More

Too Much Internet, Too Soon

What was the most popular Christmas gift this year for 5th graders? The Apple iPod iTouch. What is the most … More

Helicopter Parents

D.H. Lawrence, the literary giant, advised parents and teachers a century ago: “How to begin to educate a child. First … More

Faith Like a Child

Tonight, my 11-year-old son voiced one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard. As we sat on the … More

Social Skills Needed: Apply Here

There is a social epidemic that has swept the nation. While it used to be contained to young teenage girls, … More

Kids Need Community

“No man is an island,” said John Donne, in reference to the ripple effect of the death of one man … More

If (Rudyard Kipling)

. If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If … More

Just Believe in Yourself

“Just believe in yourself, and you can achieve anything.” “Pursue your dream, and don’t let anyone tell you that you … More

Well-Mannered Teen Rebels

With the decline of civility and manners in public life, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that so many young people lack … More

Time Management for Kids

As preteens enter the hallways of middle school for the first time, they often feel totally overwhelmed by the amount … 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

Training Up Independent Kids

Embracing Mistakes; Developing Problem-Solvers Thomas Edison believed that failure was not a bad thing; it merely directed him closer to … 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