Smarter Parenting Blog

How to keep kids safe online | 6 safety tips for kids
Internet access is available to children all around the globe. It can be a positive thing and also dangerous. Because most children are naive, innocent and gullible, most parents ask themselves how they can keep their kids safe while they are online.

Many children today are exposed to computers at a very early age. Mothers and fathers may not even be aware of the online dangers and how to avoid them.

There is much good to be found online. […]

Reduce anxiety in children through Role-play
Anxiety in children is classified by persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worrying about future events. This can manifest in physical, behavioral, and emotional ways making it difficult for your child to function normally in various environments. One way to help children cope with their anxiety is by preparing for the event they are worried about. Role-play provides the perfect opportunity to practice how to appropriately calm down before a situation occurs. […]

Help teens gain body confidence through communication
Negative body image is a topic that often troubles teens. Their awareness of it can have a significant impact emotionally and physically if not addressed correctly. Some teens become so consumed obtaining the perfect body ideal that they set unrealistic goals for themselves and forget what is healthy. So much money and time are wasted on poor body confidence.
When discussing difficult topics it is important to use the steps of Effective Communication as it allows your teen to feel like they are being listened to and not lectured too. […]

5 things to know about Trauma in kids
When children are exposed to trauma, they usually look to their parents or caregivers for reassurance. These adults provide security and stability to help reassure their children of their love and support. A traumatized child will obviously affect the parents and cause pain for them also.
Parents do not normally have an understanding of the effects of trauma in kids. But, they can increase their understanding of trauma to help support their child’s healing, keep a good relationship with the child, and also help the whole family. […]

Viral Video Dare | Tide Pod Challenge […]

5 ways to teach self regulation strategies to children
Developing emotional self regulation strategies is an area I am currently working on with my own children. With a five-year-old and an almost three-year-old it can feel like a never ending cycle of progress, meltdowns, and more teaching. However, what I’ve come to realize is that children will have large emotions and occasional tantrums even when we teach them the right way to behave when frustrated or angry. As parents, we are teaching them to balance extreme negative emotions, but there will still be highs and lows. […]

What age should a child get a cell phone?
Many parents ask what age should a child get a cell phone. This is a difficult question to answer because there are a lot of factors. I discuss things parents should consider.

The age of kids having cell phones seems to get younger and younger.
What age should I get my child a cell phone? It depends on many factors. The child should be able to demonstrate that they are responsible for their age. Their needs to be open and ongoing communication with you and your child. […]

When a child hates the sound of no: Parenting ODD
We often think of defiant behavior as a problem for those parenting ODD children, but no child likes to hear the word “No.” Even adults don’t like when they aren’t able to do or have something they want. When adults ask for time off at work or for a better deal at a store, they expect to be told “Yes” and will occasionally argue to avoid the “No” answer. […]

Parenting defiant behavior in an ODD child
Parenting defiant behavior can seem like an impossible task. In this post, we discuss helping those who have been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). An ODD child can be one of the most frustrating and exhausting experiences for parents and caregivers. We offer suggestions on what you can do.

What is ODD?
Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a pattern of angry and irritability that has been consistent for at least six months. This behavior includes vindictiveness, argumentative and defiant posturing to authority. It is more than just defiant behavior. […]