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Inasmuch as it has been proven through research that kids that are not socially connected are more prone to isolation and depression, being connected to the wrong social group can be quite detrimental. Having bad friends can lead to risky decision-making, bad behaviors, and poor academic performance. However, finding good friends can be hard for teens who struggle socially, and falling into the wrong crowd is easy. Trying to pull a teen away from these potentially destructive relationships can be like trying to separate two powerful magnets. Once teens find peer acceptance, they don’t want to let it go. They will do whatever it takes to fit in, even if it means going against their parents' wishes. Funnily, in some cases, these teens seem to have nothing in common with their new friends, but desire something different. These teens will often abandon their good friends in search of new and exciting relationships. Adolescence and the tyranny of extremes can truly leave parents in a quandary about what to do next. Long gone are the childhood days of arranging play dates and orchestrating friendships. Teens, as opposed to young children, like to be in the driver's seat. But if the teen is a reckless driver, parents may be left frantically searching for ways to keep the teen on the straight and narrow path. So, what can a parent do? A lot of people would advise that in this case, it is best to let the teenager learn from his or her experience. But how long can a parent sit and just watch her child fade away slowly? So how do you take actions and at the same time not come off as an overbearing nanny to your kids? First, it's important to identify if there is a reason to be concerned about who your child is associating with. These are some signs your child may be hanging with the wrong crowd: 1. Suspicious behavior Teens who are up to no good usually sneak behind their parents' backs and behave suspiciously. 2. Tanking grades Teens who get involved with the wrong crowd often begin to neglect academic responsibilities. Their homework assignments don’t get completed, projects don’t get turned in and they may arrive to class late or even skip classes. 3. Snarky attitude It's certainly not out of character for many teens to roll their eyes, sigh loudly or do other things to show when they're annoyed. But add a group of snarky teens to the mix, and the result can be a back-talking disrespectful tirade. 4. Avoiding interests and hobbies When teens hang out with peers who are a poor influence, they tend to withdraw from what they once enjoyed doing. They become more interested in impressing their new friends and doing the things their friends like instead. 5. Dissing old friends Teens who find a new peer group tend to neglect old friends in favor of the new and may jeopardize positive relationships. Of course, if you determine your teen [...]

Because we live in a world of technology, our children are taught to use computers at a very early age. This has been deemed a good thing because the world as we know it now would cease to operate on many levels if it was taken away. But it becomes a huge problem when addiction sets in. Spending too much time in front of a screen has been linked to a lack of sleep, speech delays, and poor social skills. But research out of the University of Michigan has found that the bigger issue “is whether screen use causes problems in other areas of life or has become an all-consuming activity,” says the study’s lead author Sarah Domoff, assistant professor of psychology at Central Michigan University. When this happens, it’s considered screen addiction. Signs that show that your kids have a screen addiction: Researchers developed a tool to measure screen addiction among kids ages: 4 to 11. Classic signs of addiction include things like an inability to stop using the substance or when the use of that substance begins to interfere with your life and relationships. When it comes to kids and screens, the symptoms aren’t all that different. Here are the red flags to watch for that suggest your kid might have a screen addiction. 1. Your child can’t control their screen use The researchers call this “unsuccessful control,” when kids have trouble stopping using devices. If you’ve tried to impose limits on screen time, but your kiddo just couldn’t deal, this could be an issue. 2. Loss of interest in other activities If “tablet time” is the only thing that motivates your child (books, toys, and sports don’t get them nearly as excited), they might be too invested in screen use. 3. It preoccupies their thoughts If even when your kid isn’t playing video games, he’s talking about Minecraft, wondering what his favorite YouTuber will post next, or be acting out scenes from Angry Birds, this could be a sign of addiction. 4. It interferes with socializing Is your child bringing a phone to the dinner table? Sneaking peeks at his tablet while his grandmother tries to make conversation? When screens interfere with family activities, they could be problematic. 5. Screen use causes serious family problems Have you had any blowout arguments incited by screen use? Or behaviors problems related to something they’re watching? This could be a sign of an unhealthy relationship with screens. 6. Your kid shows signs of withdrawal When it’s time to turn off the TV for bedtime or put mobile devices away for a screen-free family time and your kid gets frustrated, they may actually be experiencing withdrawal. 7. Their tolerance is increasing If your child used to watch 30 minutes of YouTube after school each day but now she’s even watching it on a phone on the way home from school, her tolerance is on the rise. 8. They’re deceptive about it If your kiddo is sneaking a tablet into bed at [...]

As a parent, you have great dreams for your kids. You dream that they’ll grow and be successful in whatever they do, be able to provide for themselves and their families and probably even take proper care of you when you’re grey and old. But then, you realize that your kid just dislikes studying and you just can’t understand why. Normally, most kids naturally would prefer doing other things to studying but when it comes to a point where your child actually “hates” studying, then something needs to be done. How do you handle such situations without making matters worse? Well, read on to learn more. Note: It is important to note that studying isn’t just about school. It has been scientifically proven that reading helps to shape your mind and helps you in other aspects of your life outside of school. What to do when your child hates studying: 1. Understand The Cause For Dislike Your first step should be to find out why the kid exactly your kid dislikes reading so much. Is it that the book not stimulating his brains or his senses? Is the child having difficulty remembering things learned in school? Is the kid absorbed with something else? Are the child's interests at loggerheads with the studies? With a carefully charted conversation, make sure you try your best to understand why your child does not like studies at all. Once you get to the root cause, creative solutions can be formulated to deal with the issue. 2. Plain Reading Is Boring The truth is that children in school are at their peak of creativity. They derive pleasure in imagining things and knit stories around them. So if you want to teach them to learn, don’t just sit there and force them to learn. You have to give wings to their imaginations. Try to make use of colorful pictures, videos, and presentation to teach them. 3. Interactive Study Is Good For Memory When it’s few weeks towards exams and your child has to memorize a lot, don't give them a sheet of questions to write the answers. They’ll just find that boring and sometimes even irritating. What you want to do is look for a more creative and interactive way to have them remember. Have a role play activity. Let your child be a celebrity and you interview him or her. Frame your question to mimic a real interview and let the child answer. This will ensure that the child has learned the chapters and it does not resemble a boring study routine. 4. Don The Role Of A Student From research conducted in schools, involving students and their teachers, it was found that children love to enact their teachers. So why not use that as an opportunity to have them learn more. You become the student and try to involve other family members in this imaginary classroom. Tell your child to be the teacher and teach you the lessons of the day. You ask a [...]

Inasmuch as it has been proven through research that kids that are not socially connected are more prone to isolation and depression, being connected to the wrong social group can be quite detrimental. Having bad friends can lead to risky decision-making, bad behaviors, and poor academic performance. However, finding good friends can be hard for teens who struggle socially, and falling into the wrong crowd is easy. Trying to pull a teen away from these potentially destructive relationships can be like trying to separate two powerful magnets. Once teens find peer acceptance, they don’t want to let it go. They will do whatever it takes to fit in, even if it means going against their parents' wishes. Funnily, in some cases, these teens seem to have nothing in common with their new friends, but desire something different. These teens will often abandon their good friends in search of new and exciting relationships. Adolescence and the tyranny of extremes can truly leave parents in a quandary about what to do next. Long gone are the childhood days of arranging play dates and orchestrating friendships. Teens, as opposed to young children, like to be in the driver's seat. But if the teen is a reckless driver, parents may be left frantically searching for ways to keep the teen on the straight and narrow path. So what's a parent to do? A lot of people would advise that in this case, it is best to let the teenager learn from his or her experience. But how long can a parent sit and just watch her child fade away slowly? So how do you take actions and at the same time not come off as an overbearing nanny to your kids? First, it's important to identify if there is a reason to be concerned about who your child is associating with. These are some signs your child may be hanging with the wrong crowd: 1. Suspicious behavior Teens who are up to no good usually sneak behind their parents' backs and behave suspiciously. 2. Tanking grades. Teens who get involved with the wrong crowd often begin to neglect academic responsibilities. Their homework assignments don’t get completed, projects don’t get turned in and they may arrive to class late or even skip classes. 3. Snarky attitude It's certainly not out of character for many teens to roll their eyes, sigh loudly or do other things to show when they're annoyed. But add a group of snarky teens to the mix, and the result can be a back-talking disrespectful tirade. 4. Avoiding interests and hobbies When teens hang out with peers who are a poor influence, they tend to withdraw from what they once enjoyed doing. They become more interested in impressing their new friends and doing the things their friends like instead. 5. Dissing old friends Teens who find a new peer group tend to neglect old friends in favor of the new and may jeopardize positive relationships. Of course, if you determine your teen [...]

Every parent’s dream is that one day their kids will grow up into responsible men and women and be able to get a good job to take care of themselves and their families. This looks plausible until your kids start failing in school. This can be frustrating and scary. After all, failed classes could mean a lower GPA, trouble getting into college, and perhaps even trouble to graduate from high school on time. When high school students fall behind in their classes, catching up can be quite difficult. When grades begin to plummet, many teens give up. If your teen is failing a class—or he's already failed the entire semester—take action. There are several things you can do to address the issue and we’ve taken out time to highlight them below. 1. Identify the Problem If your teen has a failing grade or is in danger of not passing, sit down and discuss the problem. Ask your teen for help uncovering the reasons he’s not passing. Sometimes students who start out strong get sidetracked while other students just aren’t motivated to stay on track. Have a chat with your teen and examine whether or not any of these issues have contributed to a failing grade. Make sure to find out the answers to the following questions: Are the classes too hard? Sometimes teens sign up for classes that are just too difficult and they become overwhelmed. Is your child not doing the homework? If your teen isn’t doing homework, it will be extremely difficult to pass a class. Find out if homework isn’t completed, not turned in on time, or if your child doesn’t understand how to do it. Are low test scores a problem? Some students struggle with test anxiety or aren’t sure how to study for tests. Has your child had a lot of absences? If your child has missed school due to illness or other issues, it can severely interfere with grades. Is your child under a lot of stress? If your teen is stressed out, he may have difficulty concentrating and completing his work. Could a mental health issue be part of the problem? Mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety often contribute to failing grades. Substance abuse issues can also be a factor in declining grades 2. Talk to the Teachers Although your teen may not want you to talk to the teachers, it’s important to speak with them to help determine the problem. Your teen may not be aware that he’s not paying attention in class or that he’s missing a lot of work. Ask for teachers’ opinions about what your child needs to do differently to pass the class. Consider whether your child may have a learning disability as well. Sometimes learning disabilities or ADHD go undiagnosed until the high school years. Inquire about whether or not educational or psychological testing could be helpful. 3. Problem-Solve with Your Teen After your research and you now have a better idea of why he [...]

The truth is that, as parents, when your kid is in the middle of a tantrum, it can be hard for you to keep yourself from having your own meltdown, as well. "Meltdowns are terrible, nasty things, but they're a fact of childhood," says Ray Levy, PhD, a Dallas-based clinical psychologist and co-author of Try and Make Me! Simple Strategies That Turn Off the Tantrums and Create Cooperation. "Young kids—namely those between the ages of 1 and 4—haven't developed good coping skills yet. They tend to just lose it instead." And what exactly sets them off to begin with? Every single tantrum, Levy says, results from one simple thing: not getting what they want. "For children between 1 and 2, tantrums often stem from trying to communicate a need—more milk, a diaper change, that toy over there—but not having the language skills to do it," says Levy. "They get frustrated when you don't respond to what they're 'saying' and throw a fit." For older toddlers, tantrums are more of a power struggle. "By the time kids are 3 or 4, they have grown more autonomous," Levy adds. "They're keenly aware of their needs and desires—and want to assert them more. If you don't comply? Tantrum city." So the big question here is: How can you stop these outbursts? No need to start brainstorming. We’ve got you covered. What follows are 7 freak-out fixes that both parenting experts and other moms swear by. Take time to read, and understand carefully, each one of them. 1. Take Steps to Prevent Tantrums Set aside regular playtime with your preschooler. Let him take the lead in choosing the activity, and give him your full attention. Having that shared positive experience will give your child a better foundation for calming himself down the next time he gets upset. Look for opportunities to point out his good behaviors, even the small ones. The more favorable attention he gets for the desired behavior, the more likely he is to do it again. You can also model healthy ways to handle frustration in the heat of the moment, such as taking deep breaths. Equally important, fess up after you lose your temper by saying something like, “Oh, Mom really overreacted.” Your child needs to see and hear that it’s okay to make a mistake sometimes. Finally, set your little one up for success. Be aware of situations that tend to end in a tantrum, and plan accordingly. If he loses it when his tummy’s rumbling, pack a healthy snack. If he throws a fit when overtired, make naptime a top priority. 2. Don’t Try to Calm Him Down This is one mistake that most parents make. Ignore him unless he is physically endangering himself or others. By taking away your attention completely, you won’t reinforce his undesirable behavior. Walk out of the room and set a timer for a few minutes to check on him. If your child starts hitting, kicking, biting, or throwing things during a meltdown, [...]

Kids can be little loveable angels at times, other times, they can do things that would have you wondering what actually came over them. In some of these cases, the kids aren’t aware that they’re being mean. In other cases, they’re actually very aware of what they’re doing. In any case, you still need to take seriously when you see your child being mean. Why Are Kids Mean? Over the years, psychologists all around the world have been doing studies to discover some of the underlying reasons why kids tend to be mean, especially to other kids. What makes little kids mean, and why are some meaner than others? Is it in their DNA, the media they consume, or their home environment? There’s no one answer to this question, but there are a few things we know about what brings out the dark side of little kid behavior. 1. Testing social dynamics In the preschool years, kids begin to figure out social structures and learn how to be effective in a group. If close attention is paid to kids during school hours, it’s clear that a lot of the insults, grabbing, and put-downs are part of this experimentation with social dynamics. If I do x, will my friend do y? So kids get to learn that meanness can draw attention and wield power. If a child rises to the top of the pack by intimidating or putting down others, it’s a technique that might just stick. 2. Television We’ve all heard that violent screen time make kids more physically aggressive. But surprisingly, educational TV (which most of our kids watch regularly) seems to make kids mean in a different way. Shocking, right? Studies have shown that the more educational television kids watch, the more relationally aggressive (manipulative, insulting, and so forth) they are to their peers. Shows like PBS’ Arthur seem innocuous, but the lessons aren’t as desirable as we think. Researchers say that children’s programming contains a heavy dose of name-calling and put-downs that parents would never condone if it happened in real life. Even though the end of a show might have a nice moral conclusion, if 90 percent of the screen time is rude and hurtful, that will be the takeaway. Listen to the content of your kid’s shows to see how they stack up when it comes to relational aggression. How often does a character insult or boss another around? It’s hard to find media that doesn’t hinge on this type of banter (in fact, researchers have found that most kids shows do). 3. The home front There’s no doubt that kids learn a lot about how to treat others from how they are treated at home. Harsh parenting, including verbal and physical aggression, increases the likelihood that a kid will, in turn, be aggressive (although for kids who are wired sensitively, this seems to not be the case — they tend to internalize their struggles rather than lash out, so they may not be the [...]

Reading does more to the human mind than meets the eye. It doesn’t just end at the knowledge you acquire but goes beyond that to giving you a more open mind and giving you an edge over your companions. So when your kids hate reading, it is actually kind of a big deal. Don’t see it as one of those things that they might just grow out of, even though it’s possible that they might on their own. But a child’s reading habit shouldn’t be one of those things that a parent leaves in the hands of the teacher or society. 10 Reasons Why Reading is Important For Kids: 1. It expands their vocabulary When kids read, they might come across words they have never heard of. This will further lead them to try to find out what these words mean. As a result, they add it to their vocabulary. 2. It makes them better at it As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, right? The best way to get better at reading is just to do it! 3. It helps build independence and self-confidence Are you looking for an additional way to help build your kid's confidence? Getting them to be good readers is one way you can successfully do that. Also, as they learn how to read, they no longer have to depend on others (parents or older ones) to read things to them. They now develop a sense of independence. 4. It keeps them safe Being able to read can help keep kids safe as they can read traffic signs in cases where they're lost or to help them avoid danger. Reading allows kids to understand when something says it could harm them. 5. It helps them make sense of the world around them The better they are at reading, the more they are able to tell what things around them say. They can understand what stickers or labels are trying to say. 6. It leads to their future academic success It's quite obvious that a child can only progress through school if they're able to read well. Reading is important to enable kids to be able to follow instructions on the test and being able to even understand or answer the questions. 7. It enhances their imagination A child's ability to read helps them enhance their imaginations. They might even create their own little world, as well. Reading enhances their imagination by forcing them to picture what the character actually looks like and who they are. 8. It entertains them It gives them something good to do – especially once they can start reading chapter books with no pictures, forcing them to really get into their imagination and therefore, really get into the book as well. 9. It improves their grammar Through reading, they can see how the author composed their sentence structure and grammar. This can also help improve their communication skills as they determine how it should be read using clues such as punctuation. 10. It improves [...]

Our education system is put in place to prepare young people to build successful lives. They should be ready for the broad range of possibilities ahead of them, which includes working for others, starting their own ventures, and doing a whole lot of things in the community. All of these options require a depth of knowledge in their chosen discipline, as well as creativity, problem-solving ability, leadership skills, experience in working with effective teams and being adaptable to an ever-changing world. It is not a coincidence that these are the same capabilities that employers say they want in college graduates. According to research, they are also the deciding factors when employers compare candidates with equivalent backgrounds. Entrepreneurship education will prepare to identify a problem, address challenges and opportunities. It is clear that the world needs more innovation and more entrepreneurs. And the skills of entrepreneurship are also good life skills. So how do we teach kids business to nurture that next generation of dreamers? Does the World Really Need More Entrepreneurs? Small businesses are actually the back bone of the economy. Almost half of the private sector workforce is employed by small business and in recent years, small businesses have created a lot of jobs. Two out of three jobs are created by small businesses. Most of the innovations and technology in this century have come from sketchy entrepreneurs. For example, Steve jobs started apple in his basement and it is now one of the world’s leading tech companies. The world sure needs doctors, accountants, and lawyers but we also need entrepreneurs too, they are the ones that play a vital role in developing the world. This is why we need to think about how we can pay it forward and help inspire, mentor, and empower young girls and boys to think like early entrepreneurs. The Issue with School Grading is one thing that highly discourages entrepreneurial thinking. The school system wants students to focus on the task assigned, not go off and dream up their own projects or become child entrepreneurs. The school system forces the kids to follow on direction, it limits their ability to explore and look beyond things to find opportunity following direction is rewarded, and deviating from it or coloring outside the lines is met with punishment. The kids are encouraged to pursue traditional caress, ones that will require a university education or some type of institutional training. I am not saying education is not important, or that I’m representing every teacher in every school system in the world. Math, English, and science are important, and of course, plenty of teachers inspire kids to follow their dreams. I just think that the school system discourages entrepreneurial thinking, I think that all they do is prepare students to grow up and become employees and this is not bad, I mean not everyone can be an entrepreneur. How Do We Teach Kids Entrepreneurship? Teaching your child to be an entrepreneur will take patience, time and you will [...]

Kids that show a strong interest in business at an early age should be encouraged to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. One of the best reasons that child entrepreneurs should be encouraged is because their business desires require them to obey their parents and be respectful of others if they want to succeed. There is a great deal of discipline that goes into being an entrepreneur, especially at a young age. When a child decides to go out and start a business, that child will need the guidance and support from their parents. Parents should also take the time to find the types of resources that they need to guide their children to financial success. Parents, your kids want more money and they are willing to work for it. Kids are always looking for ways to make extra money. So, why not empower your kids to create wealth by launching their own business. Helping your child start a business is a good way to teach them the value of money and introduce a profitable moneymaking mentality that they will use for the rest of their lives. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you assist your child in starting a business 1. Talk with your child about their passions Talk about their favorite things and what they are good at doing. There’s at least one thing there that they can monetize right now. For instance, if your youngster loves playing with kids and watching over the babies, they should consider running a babysitting business. Or if he is really handy around the house and likes the outdoors, maybe he’ll be interested in running a lawn care service. Maybe your kid is incredibly outstanding and already tossing around some business ideas, talk with your teens and young children about their business ventures and encourage them to pursue their dreams. As a parent, it’s good to stay open-minded about your kid’s passion. It is better to allow them to pursue their dream than to force your own dream on them. You have to keep in mind that they are kids and they are still learning about the ups and downs in life and they are still getting used to the world, so while helping them it is advisable to let them make their own decision and deal with the results, this helps them learn to think and also get back on their feet if something does not go their way. 2. Keep an open mind and remain supportive I have seen a lot of young entrepreneurs whose parents tell to get a real job. If your child is showing passion to launch his/her own business let them proceed, they’ll figure it out eventually. Do not discourage their drive. Let them go out there and see what they’ve got. Support their decisions by getting them business materials to help them run their business better. Several successful entrepreneurs have gotten their first business loan from parents. If this option fits, go for it. Whatever [...]