Category Archives: Our Children

The Fear Factor: When School Kids Commit Suicide

It is a sad day when you hear of the number of kids taking their life before end of school exams because of a genuine “fear of failure”.  These are not kids who have failed, these are kids who fear they may fail.  How have we created such a fear of failure in our society that school kidsContinue reading “The Fear Factor: When School Kids Commit Suicide”

Strict Parenting vs Permissive Parenting: Finding a Middle Ground

Of all the necessary ingredients that parents add to the mixture called childrearing, rules and limits are among the most vital. Complicating this task, though, is the fact that excessive limits leads to the boiling over of resentment and defiance, but inadequate limits interfere with adaptation to rules and the willpower needed to resist unhealthyContinue reading “Strict Parenting vs Permissive Parenting: Finding a Middle Ground”

Ask, Listen, Clarify, Understand

Before a confrontation with your teenager, take the time to think…”has screaming and yelling worked?”. We all know the answer, No. Why not? A teenager can shut down and turn off his hearing faster than anything else he does. He knows he did wrong. Ask him to explain. A deep breath and conversation is worthContinue reading “Ask, Listen, Clarify, Understand”

Tips and Tools for Helping Yourself or a Friend

The teenage years can be tough, and it’s perfectly normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then. But if these feelings don’t go away or become so intense that you can’t handle them, you may be suffering from depression. The good news is that you don’t have to feel this way. Help isContinue reading “Tips and Tools for Helping Yourself or a Friend”

Why Words Can Hurt at Least as Much as Sticks and Stones

Just as the digital age has ushered in new ways of enhancing human connection, it’s also opened up the scope and range of social rejection. Unfriend—as in, un-Facebook friend—was the word of the year in 2009, joining its older cohort “cyberbully,” amid the advent of the text breakup or the Facebook status change as waysContinue reading “Why Words Can Hurt at Least as Much as Sticks and Stones”

Five Tips to Help Parents Prevent Bullying

Parents and guardians are among a school’s best allies in bullying prevention: Talk with and Listen to Your Children Everyday Ask questions about their school day, including experiences on the way to and from school, lunch, and recess. Ask about their peers. Children who feel comfortable talking to their parents about these matters before theyContinue reading “Five Tips to Help Parents Prevent Bullying”