Kids tell little lies every day - about who spilled the juice and whether they brushed their teeth - but they don’t always mean to deceive. “Lying is a self-protective device that children learn to use at different ages and stages," says education professor Sally Goldberg, developer of the blog Parenting Tips with Dr. Sally. “It’s perfectly normal, but how you handle it is important.” Learning why kids lie is the first step in getting them to stop.The Age: Toddlers Why Kids Lie: Kids as young as 2 and 3 may tell simple lies (e.g., “I didn’t try to sit on the ...
Research shows us that adults who are grateful report having more energy, fewer health problems, and a greater feeling of well-being than those who complain. Most studies show that the more gratitude we show the healthier and happier we are. The same goes for children. Children who express gratitude are more appreciative, more empathetic, kinder, more enthusiastic and generally happier. Grateful children look outside themselves and understand that others have needs too. They are more polite, usually better behaved and generally more pleasant to be around. Kids who are not taught gratitude are forever disappointed and fight feelings of entitlement. They struggle ...
Keeping kids safe is top on the minds of most parents, but sometimes hazards are just not that obvious. Introducing foods to infants and toddlers can be great fun, but it also brings opportunities for danger. A little knowledge about how to avoid choking can go a long way in avoiding serious emergencies. I wrote in a previous post about using pixie stix to get kids to take their medicine. I am going to co-opt this old favorite treat for our lesson about choking hazards. What does a powdered candy have to do with choking hazards, you might ask? The text and ...
Maybe I am sensitized to the topic, but it seems like everywhere I turn these days people are talking about special needs kids. Sometimes it's sad, like the Canadian boy who took his own life, and sometimes it's joyful, like the radio DJ who asked, "What can we do better to help kids with special needs in our community?" Clearly kids with special needs is a hot topic. I hope this is a trend toward acceptance.Additionally just this past weekend, U.S. President-elect Joseph Biden Jr. said the following in his acceptance speech: “We must make the promise of the country real ...
Last updated on November 8th, 2020 at 03:00 pmSince 2007, AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other special needs “Sensory Friendly Films” every month – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fun new films in a safe and accepting environment. Saturday, Frozen II is Sensory Friendly at AMC. The movie auditoriums will have...
by Aviva Patz
Kids tell little lies every day – about who spilled the juice and whether they brushed their teeth – but they don’t always mean to deceive. “Lying is a self-protective device that children learn to use at different ages and stages,” says education professor Sally Goldberg, developer of the blog Parenting Tips with Dr. Sally. “It’s perfectly normal, but how you handle it is...
Last updated on May 4th, 2020 at 11:49 amAs a former prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes in New York City for 22 years, I often encountered children who were sexually abused for lengthy periods of time and suffered in silence. One case in particular had a profound impact on me and compelled me to write a children’s book called My Body Belongs to Me. I prosecuted the case of a 9-year-old girl...
Last updated on August 8th, 2019 at 07:02 pmIn 2008 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) convened a working group of representatives from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Emergency Medical Services for Children, the American Ambulance Association, and other key organizations and started a project called “Solutions to Safely Transport Children in Emergency Vehicles”. Finally...
