Reducing Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Every human … More

Raising Countercultural Kids in the United States of Addiction (Part 2)

Raising Countercultural Kids in the United States of Addiction (Part 2) In the previous post, we looked at how young … More

Raising Countercultural Kids in the United States of Addiction (Part 1)

In the late 1990s, author J.K. Rowling invented the term “muggle” as a derogative term for the normal people of … More

Taking Control of Your Digital Life

Part 3 in the series on becoming “tech-wise” The first two posts in this series laid down a philosophical framework … More

Why Technology Worries Us So Much

Since 2010, human behavior has changed. In these last 7 years, we have experienced the complete integration of smartphones, the … More

The Holidays Are a Magnifier

The Holidays — the six weeks of Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, and New Years — are a magnifier. In general, happy … More

Your Family. Your Culture.

The most common theme among parents of young teens lately is that they want to live differently than the culture. … More

Living on 1 Dollar Per Day

Young people in America need to know more about real poverty, and this video is possibly the best I have … More

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

The Power of Kindness

Josh was a normal teenager whose father died. His mother moved them from their home in the country to the … 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

The Distance Run

I coach middle school cross country, which is not a glamorous job, but it is uniquely rewarding. For young distance … 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

Kids in Cars Talking Life

The car is where the best stories have a chance to run and really stretch out their legs freely. It’s … 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

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 Connected Family

2014 is the first year in American history in which everybody has a mobile device. We are at the saturation … 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

Middle School Sports – The Good Stuff

Helping Your Teen Deal with a Sports Injury

So, your teenager is injured and is out for the rest of the season. Of course, his or her initial … More

Teach Your Children Compassion

No matter the age, our children need to be trained to be compassionate. It does not come naturally. Kids are … More

Preparing for the Storm

If you have ever sat with a weather radio in a dark basement or closet during a tornado warning, or … 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

From the Mouths of Babes

This from a 6th grade teacher who I respect a great deal: I teach a class titled Emerging Leaders, and … More

Weak Language

  We often chastise young people for using “strong language,” but there is an equal or greater problem with kids, … More

It’s Never Too Late to Reconnect With Your Child

I could tell that things weren’t right with me and my boy. He was avoiding me. I was annoyed with … More

Mister Rogers

I’m a huge Fred Rogers fan, so I was skeptical when I heard about the video remix recently done about … More

Protecting Kids From the Inside Out

Unlike consumer products, parenting comes without instructions or guarantees. We all want our children to grow up happy, healthy, successful, … More

What Does it Mean to Grow Up?

This is the time of year when I start to see some signs of maturity in my 7th grade students. … More