Just like adults, children sometimes fail. And when they do, parents too often do not react. They figure that failure is a part of life—that it teaches an important lesson. But that may not actually be the case. While tough love worked fine for parents when they were children, we know more now about child psychology. And we have a better understanding of what methods truly help children learn from failure.
Does this scenario feel familiar? Marisa is 12-and-a-half years old. She has become moody and irritable, wants much more private time alone in her room, but spends it all socializing with friends on social media. She has little time for the family. She will “agree” to eat dinner with her mother, father and younger brother but retreats to her room as soon as she finishes eating but before the meal is over.
Getting your children to stop lying even in normal circumstances is challenging in part because there are many influences in their lives (including TV, movies, video and other games and some great books) where lies and deception are shown as examples.
Studies show that spanking doesn't work, yet most Americans still believe in it. Here's why it persists and what works better. While much is made over a racial divide in the use of discipline-by-force, the truth is, in large numbers, Americans of nearly every type approve of some form of corporal punishment. They use it, [...]