Why Chores Matter (And What Your Kids Can Start Doing Right Now)
Andrea Ramsay Speers
For most of us, cleaning the house is hardly the highlight of our day. We can, maybe, at least appreciate a clean house…but our kids are often far less motivated by the idea [...]
Read more Why Chores Matter (And What Your Kids Can Start Doing Right Now)
“Screen-Smart Parenting”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
I’ve just finished reading the book Screen-Smart Parenting by Dr. Jodi Gold. It’s a fantastic resource for parents – insightful, educational, practical, and relevant. If [...]
Read more “Screen-Smart Parenting”
Look Out For Number One
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Have you noticed that your teen doesn’t seem to notice — or care — too much about you? You’re struggling up the driveway with an armful of groceries, [...]
Read more Look Out For Number One
Turn Down The Volume
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Do you yell too much? I think probably every parent I’ve worked with has admitted to yelling more than they like. You may have been raised in a family of yellers, so when [...]
Read more Turn Down The Volume
The Shower Is This Way
Andrea Ramsay Speers
If you’re a parent of a pre-teen, you’ve probably struggled with the hygiene issue. Now that he’s too old to be dumped by you into the tub, you may find [...]
Read more The Shower Is This Way
How To Get Your Kids To Clean Up
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Parents today are in the habit of doing too much for their kids. Whether it’s cleaning up after them, taking over a school project, or just generally expecting too little [...]
Read more How To Get Your Kids To Clean Up
Dealing With Strong Emotions
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Kids say a lot of stuff over the course of a day. Some of it we listen to, some of it we hear and dismiss, some of it we ignore. But what we listen to and how we respond can [...]
Read more Dealing With Strong Emotions
Assertive Communication: 20 Tips
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Most of us know that assertiveness will get you further in life than being passive or aggressive. But few of us were actually taught how to be assertive. Here are some helpful [...]
Read more Assertive Communication: 20 Tips
“Children Don’t Really Misbehave”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
This great article was brought to my attention by Alyson Schafer’s email update (Alyson, if you don’t know, is a parenting expert regularly featured on CTV News, the Ask An [...]
Read more “Children Don’t Really Misbehave”
Sass, Back Talk, and Smart Mouths
Andrea Ramsay Speers
When your child says something spiteful and hurtful to you, how do you handle it? Our response is key to determining whether or not your child will use that behaviour again, [...]
Read more Sass, Back Talk, and Smart Mouths