“It’s not fair!” Can’t you just hear the whiney tone that delivers that exclamation? I’ve yet to meet a parent whose child hasn’t at some point or other protested “That’s not faaaiiiiiirrrr?” (Note the drawn out faaaiiiirrrr, added for extra impact on you, the parent.) As common and grating as the phrase is, parents never figure why it doesn’t go away. Their response is to use logic. Upon hearing the cry, Mom uses logic, explaining why something is fair. Oh yes, it is fair because … [Read more...] about The Problem with “It’s Not Fair.”
Brat-Proofing
Empathy is a Two Way Street
Cultivating empathy is a hot topic in the parenting world. Current research has demonstrated that children under a year not only have the capacity for empathy but actually exhibit empathy. (Regarding infants: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201306/empathy-appears-in-infancy-varies-age-and-gender Regarding toddlers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX6krHsZA_w .) But parents, usually not educated to recognize and encourage this trait in their very young children, are … [Read more...] about Empathy is a Two Way Street
Kids in Restaurants, Part 2: Lousy Local Conditions
Kids in Restaurants, Part 2: Lousy Local Conditions On Friday I lunched with a colleague at a “grown up” restaurant. The atmosphere was quiet and refined. Seated right next to us was a family of three—mother, father, and, in-between them, their adorable 18 month old child. We wouldn’t even have known he was there were it not for his occasional giggles. Mom and dad quietly spoke to him, played with him, included him in conversation, and redirected when things started to go south. It was a … [Read more...] about Kids in Restaurants, Part 2: Lousy Local Conditions
Kids in Restaurants?
Our dinner at a local sushi restaurant was a bit earlier than we usually dine. So I casually mentioned to my husband that we might overlap “family time” at the eatery. But we decided that it wouldn’t be a problem; we both love kids. Little did we realize it was the parents who would ruin our dinner out on a Friday night. This blog is not about parents who use tech devices during meals. I have previously complained about that. (https://betsybrownbraun.com/2010/10/16/join-the-family/) Nor … [Read more...] about Kids in Restaurants?
The Trouble With “Whyyyyyyyyyyy?”
You tell your child it’s time for bed. Instead of the pitter patter of feet running up the stairs, you get “Whyyyyyyy?” All parents have heard it. The funny thing is, you know your child isn’t really looking for an answer. “Well, dear, your body needs sleep in order for the all the cells to grow…” certainly isn’t what your son is expecting to hear. To the child, Whyyyyy? can serve many different purposes, the least common of which is actually finding out information. Why? is most often … [Read more...] about The Trouble With “Whyyyyyyyyyyy?”
Why You Should Watch the Olympics with Your Kids: Olympic Lessons
Olympic fever is starting to rise, and here is the good news: There are enough benefits to watching the Olympics as a family that you can throw your standard TV rules out the window. Beyond sheer entertainment, there’s much to be learned by watching the games on the demon screen—exposure to different sports and their rules, learning about other cultures, and experiencing the more subtle points of competition like effort, loss, and sometimes winning. Let’s start here: The Olympics provide a … [Read more...] about Why You Should Watch the Olympics with Your Kids: Olympic Lessons