Catch Them Being Good
Andrea Ramsay Speers
It seems to be in our nature to notice the bad. Whether we’re cataloguing the things we would change about ourselves, the mistakes we have made, or why life isn’t perfect, we [...]
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Mistakes Happen
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Nobody’s perfect; we all know that. But it would appear that the best way to motivate children and get them to modify their behaviour is by paying less attention to their [...]
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Keeping Cool: Avoiding Anger In Parenting
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Anger gets a lot of attention. Everybody, it seems, is angry about something, whether it’s road rage, public policy, or kids’ sports. Anger in itself isn’t a bad thing. As [...]
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Parenting Spirited Kids
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Some kids are just a little more than others. More energy, more tantrums, more persistence, more highs and lows…just more. If you’ve got a “spirited” kid in your family, you [...]
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Are The Inmates Running The Asylum?
Andrea Ramsay Speers
When parents learn some of the basic principles of Democratic Parenting, those with a background in more traditional “do as you’re told” parenting styles [...]
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The Truth About Effective Parenting
Andrea Ramsay Speers
When I’m working with parents, as we’re discussing some possible responses to kids’ misbehavior, they will often sigh and tell me just how hard it is, or how [...]
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“What Do I Want Them To Learn?”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
The truth of parenting is that every interaction with your children is an opportunity for them to learn. Kids are like little sponges, picking up bits and pieces and putting [...]
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A Parent’s Best Friend
Andrea Ramsay Speers
If there’s only one tip that parents should take to heart, it’s this: be consistent. Regardless of what behavior you’re trying to change or what routine [...]
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Making Change Happen
Andrea Ramsay Speers
If you’ve ever resolved to be a “better” parent or partner (and who hasn’t?) you may have felt a moment or two of frustration over your lack of [...]
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Surviving Sleep-Overs
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Sleep-overs are an important rite of passage for teens and pre-teens. But any parent who’s ever hosted one will tell you that the potential for disaster (spills and [...]
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