Betsy Brown Braun

Child Development and Behavior Specialist. Parent Educator. Best Selling Author

Behavior

Do You Love Your Child Enough?

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Expectations, Parent modeling, Parenting, Relationships

Seems like a ridiculous question, I know. But since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, it feels fitting. One of the lessons our children will learn as they mature is that are lots of different kinds of love… the love for chocolate; the love for your favorite song; the love for your most comfy jeans; the love that grown up partners feel for one another; the love you have for your best pal; …And the deep, enduring love that a parent feels for her … [Read more...] about Do You Love Your Child Enough?

Teaching Civility: What the Queen’s Funeral Taught Me About Raising Kids

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Character traits, Communication, Elementary School Children, Expectations, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting, Public Behavior

  I was transfixed by the coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s death and funeral proceedings.  The pageantry, the ritual, the lock steps, the salutes, the uniforms…I was mesmerized. The English loved their queen. Her passing marked the end of a 70 year relationship, and so many were really sad.  Children watched their parents weep, curtsy, and bow their heads in silence. Their parents’ motions were the language of their feelings as they demonstrated their respect for the crown. While the … [Read more...] about Teaching Civility: What the Queen’s Funeral Taught Me About Raising Kids

What’s Wrong with “I’m Sorry?”

by on , under Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Character traits, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Expectations, Parent modeling, Parenting, Peers, Relationships

Years ago, I walked into the 4 year olds’ nursery school classroom and watched Mimi, a fabulous, feisty, third born child, collect all the playdough from the other three children at the table. The three were shocked; one protested loudly. Mimi looked up at me and said, “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”   “Mimi,” I said, “Sorry isn’t enough.” Every time I hear a parent insist that her child apologize to another, I cringe, and I think about Mimi. Sorry is not enough. Teaching a child to say I’m sorry … [Read more...] about What’s Wrong with “I’m Sorry?”

Helping to Smooth the Transition Back-to-School

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Parenting, Relationships, School, Transitions

It’s mid-August… that means summer vacation is creeping to an end, depending upon your child’s first day of school. For some it starts as soon as next week. Summer time and the livin’ was easy. Going, going, gone. For some students the thought of going back to school is exciting.  They can hardly wait to start. For others, just the thought of school and summer ending feels kind of sad.  Different kids, different feelings. On top of that, different age kids consider school-starting … [Read more...] about Helping to Smooth the Transition Back-to-School

Oh No! Another Shooting to Talk to Kids About

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Parenting, Safety, School, Sensitive Topics

Can this really be happening?  Again? Every parent I know is feeling the same thing. The anxiety we already feel about our children’s safety when they are away from us is just getting worse and worse.  The horror of the school shooting in Uvalde is, simply put, overwhelming. Too many times I have written blogs about how to talk with your child about shootings, school shootings in particular. This difference for me this time is the extent of my anger, my fury, my disgust, and my frustration. … [Read more...] about Oh No! Another Shooting to Talk to Kids About

Your Children and the War in Ukraine

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting, Safety, Sensitive Topics

When something “big” happens—a current or natural event-- I always write a blog, sharing with parents how to talk to their children about it. My website is filled with blog responses from over the last twenty years. I came very close to not writing a blog about the war in Ukraine, feeling like I have said it all. But I haven’t.  My job is to help you help your children. This war in Ukraine is not going away quickly, as I prayed it would.  The whole world is reacting.  Children, elementary … [Read more...] about Your Children and the War in Ukraine

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