We begin evaluating children in school very early on. Even before the first grades are given teachers often use stickers, stamps and other signs of approval or disapproval. How does this early assessment shape children’s self-esteem, self-motivation and how does it affect parents’ perceptions of their little ones? More importantly, how should a parent respond to these early evaluations and later to their children’s grades to cultivate motivation towards learning rather than f

With summer here before you knew it, many parents wonder how to occupy their children during the break. Some have solved this problem by signing the kids for summer camps. Others decided to keep them home and incorporate some travel into their summer routine. No matter what the best choice for your family was, here are some useful ideas for keeping the children busy during school free time. Learning new skills If your child has been asking to learn how to sew, build a birdhou

Although I usually write about useful ways to handle the challenges of parenthood to help parents shape their children’s behavior, today I want to talk more about the inner experience of parents with the extra weight of responsibility for other human beings on your shoulders. As I often say, parenting is a very challenging job, a task with no defined end goal (children remain our kids for the rest of our lives and theirs). Oftentimes we as parents feel anxiety, insecurity, an

A step-by-step guide for raising art lovers When I was little, I had the privilege to grow up in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was not until my family immigrated, that I felt the void that the majestic city on the Neva river left in my life. Our family life always included visits to museums, theaters, and royal palaces designed by the greatest architects, painters, and sculptors of all times. Every weekend, we would dress up and g

Everyone loves polite, well behaved children. Children who listen, follow adults' direction, behave well in class, always get along with peers and don't fight. These kids are convenient and are the desired product of effective parenting. Moreover, these kids appear content most of the time. But the key word unfortunately is "appear". Because inevitably at some point in their lives, this complacent and obedient nature of theirs can become a breeding ground for many problems. I