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High-Tech Tools in Schools
Too Much Tech at School? Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a popular trend sweeping schools this year. Schools with BYOD policies will be asking students to bring an Internet-Connected Mobile Device...
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Weak Language
We often chastise young people for using “strong language,” but there is an equal or greater problem with kids, especially girls, who use weak language. Consider the use of the following “words”...
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From the Mouths of Babes
This from a 6th grade teacher who I respect a great deal: I teach a class titled Emerging Leaders, and we talk about “self awareness” to start the quarter. For the lesson I was doing, I decided that...
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Embracing Parenting
Here is a sample from my latest project. It’s a chapter from my not-even-close-to-being-finished book. Feel free to give me some feedback. Be the Parent I believe that there is neither “The Way” nor...
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New Book: Growing Up Well in the 21st Century
Coming Soon: Fall 2013 Growing Up Well in the 21st Century: Raising Today’s Middle School Children Middle school is a time in life when many parents adopt a hands-off parenting style. They shake their...
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Connect With Your Young Teen
First Connect, Then Guide The best parents are the ones who are deeply connected with their children and offer support and guidance all along the path of life. They’re the ones who care enough to say,...
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The Story of the Book
Everyone has at least one book in them. Critical Connection is mine. Ever since I was ten, I wanted to grow up and have a happy family. Since I was sixteen, I wanted a career in which I could help...
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Phone for the Holidays
Watch this video first, then read on. I applaud Apple for making a video that affirms the family. This ad does an excellent job of showing how wonderful family can be. Yes, it’s sentimental and pulls...
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The Connected Family
2014 is the first year in American history in which everybody has a mobile device. We are at the saturation point with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and TVs. They are in our pockets, purses, cars,...
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Fun = Connection
Have Fun with Your Child ASAP Good parenting has an order of operations. Insides come first. A child should feel connected to his or her mom or dad in a profound way, first and foremost. Then, and only...
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Raising Resilient Children
Resilience is the capacity to recover from adversity and return to well-being. Paul Tough, in his book How Children Succeed, explains that even kids who grow up in the most difficult situations of...
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What Kids Can Learn About Disabilities
My 7th grade students just finished the disability unit in English class. Every year I am amazed at how all the kids love to learn about disabilities. They are fascinated by it. I think part of that...
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Play Well This Summer!
Summer School. Summer Job. Summer Reading. Yes, parents need to keep kids mentally active and productive in the summer. Growing up well requires hard work and intellectual development year round....
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Workbook is in the Works
Since the release of Critical Connection, a number of people have requested a workbook for small groups. It is only natural that some parents who are already in a book club, dinner group, or church...
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Educational Resources
Here are a few educational resources for children and young teens. Bookmark this page for use during the school year. Sometimes even the best of us need some help… Websites for Homework Sweet Search is...
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Take Your Kids Outdoors
Screens are ruling teens; kids spend well over forty hours per week in front of electronic screens, but less than forty minutes per week in nature. Delayed Gratification A major component of growing up...
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Connect + Guide + Enjoy = Good Parenting
You are never done parenting. There is never enough time, energy, money, or wisdom to do it all right. Parenting is incessant, and perfection is impossible. No professor will give you an A for all that...
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Why Young Kids Should Learn to Use Dangerous Things
A friend recently posted on Facebook a picture of her three young children helping their dad build a deck. The seven year-old boy was using a power drill to sink a deck screw. Another woman posts a...
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Talk With Your Kids in the Car
The car is where the best stories have a chance to run and really stretch out their legs freely. It’s where sarcasm bursts up out of nowhere and cracks everyone up. It’s where kids break into tears...
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Conversation: Parenting Young Teens
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Ken Van Meter on KFAX, a Christian radio station in San Francisco. We spoke for almost 40 minutes about parenting young teens. Our conversation ranged a...
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