In uncertain times, it’s time to get back to basics. Time to build on what we know and have to help create stronger and better kids. This is a hard call for parents who are dealing with their own fears and frustrations. The fact is though, that what we do now – the routines
Jack was a happy baby with a big belly laugh he used with great regularity. He was a curious and adventurous toddler with a booming personality and the voice to go with it. His first few years of school were filled with curiosity and the desire to learn. Then, his voice became quiet, his
That frantic search for a pencil or pen as I grab my bag, sunnies, keys and granddaughter in the race to get out the door and pick up her older sister from school. That’s me at least once a week. Why the pencil or pen? To go with the little granddaughter’s drawing book –
Creativity has become a buzzword – the Holy Grail that will help us be happier, healthy, more productive and better equipped to deal with life in general. We mourn the lack of creative programs in mainstream schools and businesses fork out thousands of dollars every year on creative thinking exercises for their employees. There
It’s interesting that the first part of the word ‘optimism’ spells ‘opt’ because being optimistic is a choice that you can opt in or out of. That’s probably the most important thing we can impress on our children. Optimism is a choice. And choice is a superpower. We all become discouraged at times. For
When talking about strong kids, I’m not referring to their physical condition. I’m talking about inner strength, known as resilience. Resilience is the word used to describe coping skills – people’s ability to bounce back from adversity. As it’s impossible to avoid challenges in life, the only way to survive is to learn
You want your kids to be creative, right? If you don’t, you should. There is a ton of evidence proving the importance of creativity for wellbeing – of children and adults. The future looks particularly bright for creative thinkers, according to almost all the forecasters. The training for that begins with the creative play
As parents and grandparents, we work diligently to keep our children safe and out of danger. What if exposing them to a bit of danger was, in fact, the best way to ensure their safety? Don’t worry. I’m not suggesting we get our five-year-olds to skydive. However, allowing kids a bit of risk-taking can
You’ve probably already heard that encouraging our kids to be creative thinkers is a must to help them cope with our fast-changing, technology-driven world. There is evidence all around us of human jobs becoming obsolete as technology takes over and changes our very way of living. Creative thinkers will have the edge over others
There are a lot of conflicting feelings among grandparents when it comes to giving gifts to their grandchildren. Some rejoice in the fact that (not burdened with their financial support as they were as parents), they have the money and freedom to go a little overboard. Others feel self-conscious that their budget doesn’t allow
