If you spend much time on EmpoweringParents.com, you’ve probably noticed that we talk a lot about "accountability." But have you ever wondered what it means to hold your child accountable? It’s an excellent question and one that we receive often during online parent coaching. When we talk about accountability with our kids, we are most... Read more »
Why do some kids try to become the so-called "alpha dogs" of their families? The answer lies in an old saying: nature abhors a vacuum. And in my experience, if there's a power vacuum in a family, somebody's going to try to fill it. And too often, it's a bossy or domineering child. "If your child... Read more »
If you give in to every little want and need your child expresses, you create and nurture a false sense of entitlement, which can lead to significant problems later on. Almost as soon as your child begins to talk, you'll start to hear him ask for things. For example, when an infant cries, he's asking to... Read more »
What do you do if you find out that your child is a bully? Perhaps you received a phone call from your child's school. Or maybe from another parent. Either way, if you think your child is bullying others, it’s very important to start working with him or her now. This behavior is already hurting... Read more »
I believe parents go through something similar to the stages of grief when their kids go through adolescence. The family that once had a loving and eager son or daughter, someone who would spend as much time with you as you let them, is gone now; it’s as if it has died. In its place... Read more »
Dear Coaches: I am at my wit's end. I have been trying to get my 19 year old son to get a job for months now. He says he's trying, but I can't be sure, as I am not home during the day to supervise him. I also just found out that he has been... Read more »
Whether we like it or not, kids change. Their behavior, their attitudes, their likes, and their dislikes. These changes occur throughout childhood but are most pronounced during adolescence. Kids can suddenly lose interest in the things they used to play with. One day your child is playing with dolls or trucks, and the next, they... Read more »
I've worked with many parents who are frustrated because their child won't accept 'no' for an answer. Too often, these parents feel it's important to explain their reasoning in an attempt to get their child to understand. Unfortunately, wanting your child to understand can easily shift into wanting their approval or acceptance of your reasons.... Read more »
Does your child often perceive himself as being right when he's wrong and wrong when he's right? Does he wonder why everyone is always mad at him? Some children have a hard time reading social cues and it has a profound impact on their behavior. Misreading social cues can include not understanding other people's words,... Read more »
In part two of this series on running away, James tells you how to handle it when your child is on the streets, and what to say when they come home—including giving them consequences for their actions. [Editor’s Note: The intent of this article is to support parents in situations where their child uses running away... Read more »