Betsy Brown Braun

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

Parent modeling

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?”

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

How Do You Know When You’re in Love?

by on , under Adolescents, Behavior, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting, Relationships, Toddlers

“How do you know when you are in love, I mean in love for real?” my daughter asked when she was about 13 years old. I have never forgotten the question nor my answer. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, what better time to discuss? Over the years in my practice (and through my own kids’ growing years,) the questions of how children learn about love and relationships and what it’s all about have come up many times in many ways.  Nothing is new. Parents have been teaching kids this … [Read more...] about How Do You Know When You’re in Love?

A Master Class: The Summer Olympics

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

The Goat, Simone Biles, took herself off of her USA Olympic team this morning, The news swept over me in a wave of disappointment. Like so many Americans, I was looking forward to watching Simone mine for Gold and hit the jackpot. Instead of gold, I got let down. Disappointment is a part of the Olympics and of life. While Olympic fever is hardly over 98.6 degrees this year, there are so many reasons, beyond the sports, to watch the events with your children. (In fact, there are enough … [Read more...] about A Master Class: The Summer Olympics

Page 1 of 16
1 2 3 … 16