Doesn't Need a Response

Image by angel_shark via Flickr

With an older child, a certain amount of mouthiness is to be expected.

Just don't respond, or else say, "I know this is hard for you, I don't expect you to like it, but the family rule is..."

- David Walsh, PhD. No: Why Kids - of all Ages - Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. Free Press, Toronto. 2007. pg 41

Nice Advice!

Teachers can use the same script but replace "family rule" with "class rule."

Know The Ledge

Image by antonychammond via Flickr

"Kids with brains that make self-regulation difficult or impossible cannot control themselves once they get past a point of no return. I call this point 'the cliff.'

Once they go over the cliff they are incapable of managing the free fall.

The goal, therefore, is to prevent them from going over the cliff in the first place."

- David Walsh, PhD. No: Why Kids - of all Ages - Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. Free Press, Toronto. 2007. pg 207

Kids Need Stress

Image by timojazz via Flickr

"Good stress is energizing and motivating. We know this when it comes to muscles but we somehow forget when it comes to building self esteem.

Muscles grow more powerful when we use them. Each time they recover from stress, they get stronger and more responsive.

Self-esteem works the same way. Kids need some stress to develop their psychological muscles of resilience, stamina, determination, commitment, confidence, diligence, and perseverance."

- David Walsh, PhD. No: Why Kids - of all Ages - Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. Free Press, Toronto. 2007. pg 41

Lola is Free Falling

I like the sound of this performance a lot. I hope the finished record sounds this nice!

Here it is, Lola Maxwell "Free Falling."

Disappointment Isn't Always Bad

"Disappointment, discouragement, and frustration help build character and self esteem. Life deals disappointments to everyone and at some point children have to stand on their own two feet. They have to learn how to handle setbacks and get through tough times of feeling discouraged.

How will kids ever build the internal resources to cope with life's ups and downs if they never get any practice?

When you shield your kids from everything that hurts, you are not doing them any favours."

- David Walsh, PhD. No: Why Kids - of all Ages - Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. Free Press, Toronto. 2007. pg 64

Inspiration

This song has a beautiful and tragic story. When I spoke to Classified about it last year, he told me that it was true as well.



- Classified "Inspiration" from the album "Self Explanatory"

Don't Rush In and Rescue

Image via Wikipedia

"Kids need to figure things out for themselves. When parents rush in and rescue them, thinking that we are helping them on the road to success, we are actually teaching them a kind of helplessness"

- David Walsh, PhD. No: Why Kids - of all Ages - Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. Free Press, Toronto. 2007. pg 63

I completely agree with this sentiment.

Kids need to make mistakes.
They need to find their own path.
If we help them too much, they will never be able to do so.