I was recently interviewed by the Detroit Free Press about what to do when your children want to wear something and you don't think they should. It's a common battle between parents and children (especially if you have daughters which, BTW, I have two of)) and one, I argue in the interview, that should rarely be [...]
I was recently interviewed by a Canadian parenting magazine (thus the title's reference to Sidney Crosby) on the challenges of being a sports parents. There are some interesting perspectives that the parents of young athletes will appreciate and learn from.
A not-surprising finding from a recent study of teenagers has revealed that extra screen time hurts their grades. Specifically, one hour extra each day in front of a screen resulted in a two-grade decline (about 10 points) on exams and two extra hours produced an even greater drop in grades. Usually these studies don't allow [...]
This question torments every parent who wants to support their children’s efforts as they pursue their own personal greatness in a sport. It is also one of the most frequently asked questions I get from parents of young athletes. This question isn’t just one of professional interest to me. Rather, it’s personal for two reasons. [...]
A truly tragic story of Madison Holleran, a U. of Penn student and track athlete, who committed suicide in early 2014. On the surface, she was a happy, and successful young woman. But inside there was turmoil. It reminds me of Sarah Devens, another star student-athlete, this time at Dartmouth (I wonder if the fact that [...]
A really painful article about how the hyper-achievement culture of 'only the best is good enough' that is engulfing America's children is causing real problems for young people these days. An important read for every parent who wants their children to be successful (which is pretty much every parent). How and how hard are you pushing your children? At what cost?
Here's an unsettling infographic from Northwestern University researchers that describes the benefits and significant costs of raising children in an affluent environment. It also offers some useful tips on how parents can prevent their children from catching 'affluenza.'
A truly eye-opening and painful article in The Atlantic describing how many coaches are the real bullies in school and, by extension, youth sports. Moreover, this abusive behavior is applauded by many parents who see this treatment as character building. These parents have seen too many so-called inspirational movies (such as the recent film Whiplash about [...]
One of the best ways to communicate any message to your children is through regular rituals that are woven into the fabric of your family’s lives. The consistency of intention and action help ingrain the messages you want your children to get most. The use of rituals is very effective in teaching your children about [...]