Environmental influences
by Betsy on Jan.11, 2012, under Adolescents, Behavior, Environmental influences, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting, Safety
The thought of getting a driver’s license is thrilling to teens. To most parents, it’s terrifying. Attached to the little paper that brings wheels and freedom to your child is an expanded list of worries for you. Not only are all the other drivers on the road...
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:Teens; Driving; Learning to Drive; Modeling; Parent modeling; Distracted driving; Safe Driving; Driving safety
by Betsy on Dec.31, 2011, under Child development, Communication, Environmental influences, Holidays, Parent modeling, Parenting, Relationships
I don’t like New Year’s resolutions. They scream failure. It doesn’t start that way. But inevitably the best laid plans… Two weeks into that new diet, that exercise routine, that tidy bedroom, and it’s back to square one and self-flagellation. Oh well, maybe next year.
That doesn’t mean...
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:parenting; mindful parenting; active parenting; new years resolutions; resolutions; TED talks; Louie Schwartzberg;
by Betsy on Aug.07, 2011, under Character traits, Environmental influences, Parent modeling, Parenting, Toddlers
Young children notice difference. As they try to make sense of their world, they pay attention to regularity and irregularity, what is familiar and what is not. And there is no judgment involved, just recognition of difference. Truth be told, most people notice difference. It’s no big...
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:Beliefs, Compassion, Gender Orientation, judgement, kindness, Parent as teacher, Parent bad behavior, Parenting, tolerance, Values
by Betsy on Jan.17, 2011, under Environmental influences, Expectations, Learning, Parenting
Was your parent one who asked, when you brought home an A-, “Why didn’t you get an A?” So many adults have a version of this tale to share. They have never forgotten it, twenty or thirty years later.
Most children really do want their parents to be proud...
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:Perfectionism, Pressure, Stress, Tiger Mother, Values
by Betsy on Sep.15, 2010, under Environmental influences, Expectations, Learning, Parenting, School
For months I’ve waited for the chance to see Race to Nowhere, an incredible documentary film. The trailer was circulated around the web ages ago and caught my eye. I tell you now, run, don’t walk, to see it. (www.racetonowhere.com). That’s how important it is.
When...
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:classes, Down time, Enrichment classes, extra curricular activities, Homework, New school year, Overscheduling, Pressure, Race to Nowhere, School, Stress
by Betsy on Jul.19, 2010, under Communication, Environmental influences, Parent modeling, Parenting
“Coach Accused of Punching Son” The headline in the LA Times caught my eye. A youth baseball coach is facing a simple assault charge for punching his 9 year old son in the face after the boy was ejected from a game. Are they kidding? I read...
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:Anger, Anger management, Parent bad behavior, Parenting, Respect, Values
by Betsy on May.13, 2010, under Attachment, Environmental influences, Parent modeling, Parenting
It’s hard not to love the movie Babies. That’s what I chose to do for my Mothers’ Day observance. It was kind of like eating chocolate… all good! There were none of the not-so-fun parts of babies, like colic and diarrhea and sleepless nights. Just one...
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:babies, Modeling, overparenting, Overscheduling, Parental attachment, Parenting
by Betsy on May.06, 2010, under Communication, Environmental influences, Holidays, Parent modeling, Parenting
A Mother’s Day blog should be meaningful, perhaps profound, poignant, maybe a little sappy, and really chock full of platitudes about the importance of mothers. It should be, but I am on a different journey.
I was sitting in Disney Hall, watching the dynamic Gustavo Dudamel and listening to...
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:Education, Modeling, Mother's Day, music, Passion
by Betsy on May.01, 2010, under Behavior, Character traits, Communication, Discipline, Environmental influences, Expectations, Parenting
While I cannot take credit for inventing the expression lousy local conditions, I use it all the time. It’s just so right-on-the-button.
Lousy local conditions refers to those times when a child’s less than perfect behaviors are magnified or even created by the conditions of his environment. The...
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:Compassion, Empathy, meltdowns, Misbehavior, Patience, Tantrums
by Betsy on Apr.16, 2010, under Environmental influences, Learning, Parenting, Peers, Relationships, School
What an amazing experience I had last weekend when I lunched with two women with whom I went to elementary school, one of whom I have not seen since I graduated from 6th grade. Seriously! Keep in mind that I graduated from Seeds UES in Los Angeles,...
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:Peers, Relationships, School, Teachers
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