As parents, we spend so much time helping our kids succeed on the outside — teaching them words, setting routines, and encouraging good behavior. But there’s one skill that quietly shapes whether they’ll be successful in life: self-connection, or the ability to tune into one’s own emotions, needs, and inner voice. When kids feel safe…
Parents know all too well what it’s like to deal with a kid who refuses to listen: It’s frustrating. But after years of studying over 200 parent-child relationships, I’ve noticed something fascinating: Parents who rarely deal with defiance don’t make threats, bribes or harsh consequences. They use language that makes children actually want to cooperate. Traditional parenting phrases…
I’ve always been fascinated by families whose children seem to be on some kind of unusual streak, reaching the top of their career ladders, or, even more interesting to me, blazing trails or following their passions with spectacular results. What did their parents do differently to empower them? What do researchers really know about what’s…
Parents want their kids to trust them. They want to be the first person their child turns to with the big stuff, the hard stuff, and the exciting stuff. They want their kids to feel safe enough to ask questions and share emotions. But none of that happens automatically, and trust doesn’t come from simply…
Parenting advice has gotten really complicated. There’s something new every day, and it’s filled with contradictions. Every time you think you understand something, it changes. All of this is a huge source of anxiety for many parents. As a psychiatrist on the front lines of healthy youth development, I’ve worked with over 3,000 young adults….
