Betsy Brown Braun

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

Child development

Children and Mistakes

by on , under Behavior, Character traits, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Expectations, Sensitive Topics, Toddlers

Recently, I heard from a parent about her child who over reacts to his mistakes and accidents. The child is highly sensitive about doing something the “right way” or is worried about doing something wrong. Mistakes are a part of life and everyone makes them.  Parents have a hand in helping their kids to get comfortable with this reality. What a critical lesson this is. The manner and degree to which a child processes and reacts to his mistakes, accidents, and missteps sometimes can be seen … [Read more...] about Children and Mistakes

Gratitude in the Pandemic…and how to grow it all year long.

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Character traits, Child development, Elementary School Children, Expectations, Holidays, Parent modeling, Parenting, Toddlers

It’s hard to feel grateful these days. Between the Pandemic, the election and state of our government, our divided country, civil unrest, fear of the future, and parenting kids who have been locked down with virtual school and virtual life, gratitude is not top of mind. Until today. I received an email from a longtime client, thanking me for all I taught her about cultivating gratitude in her children way back when.  She included a photo of the same “Gratitude Jar” she has pulled out every … [Read more...] about Gratitude in the Pandemic…and how to grow it all year long.

Another Follow UP…New News for Making School Decisions in the Pandemic

by on , under Adolescents, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Parenting, Safety, School, Toddlers

I received a tsunami of comments about my last post. Most were so grateful for the information, and all were confused, undecided, and in a real pickle. Of course you are! This is one of the most difficult decisions any of us has ever had to make. There is NO one answer to this question.  There is no right or wrong.  The answer depends upon each child, each family--nuclear and extended , and what is going on in each community. In my continuing effort to feed you information, today I send … [Read more...] about Another Follow UP…New News for Making School Decisions in the Pandemic

Deciding on Schooling During a Pandemic

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Child development, Elementary School Children, Learning, Parenting, School, Toddlers

With school fast approaching, many parents are faced with having to make a big choice.  My email box is overflowing with requests for help in deciding what to do about school this fall.  And the fact that many private and charter schools in California are now applying for waivers in order to open, makes the decision even more difficult. Virtual or in person? For parents of younger children--preschoolers or rising kindergartners--it is just as difficult:  Should my child start kindergarten? … [Read more...] about Deciding on Schooling During a Pandemic

TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE RIOTS, RACISM, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (in light of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis.)

by on , under Adolescents, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Parent modeling, Safety, Sensitive Topics

Today it feels like our kids’ VIRTUAL SCHOOL is a good thing:  Classrooms and school playgrounds are not exposing our young children to the shocking riots that erupted across the country in response to the horrific killing of George Floyd. But our elementary school age children and older will likely hear about it. And we must address what is going on. I certainly don’t have “the answer.” I do know that there are many complicated elements to consider, try to explain, and discuss. Too many … [Read more...] about TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE RIOTS, RACISM, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (in light of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis.)

So Many Disappointments; It’s Time for Lemonade

by on , under Adolescents, Attachment, Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Character traits, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Expectations, Parent modeling, Parenting

Raising triplets came with all kinds of challenges. It was 1978, and I had never known anyone who had triplets. So, we muddled through the best we could. That included making sure our three kids had three separate lives, including separate birthday parties each year, being in separate classes in school, separate sports teams, followed by attending three different high schools and, finally, three different colleges all over the country. You can imagine our parental horror to learn that two of … [Read more...] about So Many Disappointments; It’s Time for Lemonade

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