Science Daily: Child Psychology

I browsed through the internet on "child psychology articles", and I found this nice website. Surprisingly, it offers more than what I was looking for. I have added it to my blog list.

Check it out here.

ANGER IS NOT DISCIPLINE

By Dr Bill Maier

A friend remembered sitting in a restaurant next to a father and his toddler.

The boy was obviously tired of waiting for his food, because he kept squirming and screaming, all the while trying to escape from his high chair. The young boy threw his fork on the floor, so the father picked it up and slammed it on the table.

"Stop that," he said in a loud whisper.

Again the boy grabbed the fork and tossed it. The father repeated his actions, this time shouting "no".

This went on for about 10 minutes before the father completely lost it. He grabbed his boy and stormed out of the restaurant.

You cannot expect to keep children in line if you cannot even keep your own temper in control. The key to discipline is calm and consistent authority, backed up by clear consequences.

From TODAY, Voices
Friday, 27-March-2009

Learn to delegate chores and live with lower standards

From TODAY, Voices
Thursday, 26-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier

Show me an overworked, worn out mum, and I'll show you a woman who's trying to do too much.

The solution is often as simple as learning to delegate! Remember the first rule of housekeeping: No one is too young or too male to pitch in and help.

Begin by listing all the regular household chores, and then dividing up the tasks accordingly.

Younger kids can be taught to dust, or do laundry. Older kids can wash dishes and clean the kitchen and bathrooms. And don't forget dad – he may be busy, but he's also part of the family.

Remember that you may need to adjust your standards – especially when your kids are young.

They may not do things as well as you'd like, but resist the urge to do the same chores over again. They'll get better in time – for now, relax and learn to live with it.

Pregnant? Relax...

From TODAY, Voices

Wednesday, 25-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier

 

Finding out that you’re pregnant can be exciting, but it’s the beginning of a rollercoaster ride that many women aren’t prepared for.

Some women experience a lot of fear and anxiety.

They start to read books about all the things that can go wrong during pregnancy, and worry about whether their baby will be healthy.

For those with a compulsive personality, these thoughts can become an outright obsession.

And the physical changes aren’t much easier to deal with.

A ballooning belly can bring out a lot of insecurity in a woman who has worked hard all her life to stay thin.

These are normal emotions, and almost all women go through them.

The key is to relax, and to focus instead on how much joy your baby will bring.

Peer Pressure

From TODAY, Voices
Tuesday, 24-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier


Peer pressure is a powerful force in a teen’s life. But not all peer pressure is bad for them.

Almost all teens get to an age where they pull away from mum and dad and look to their friends for acceptance and approval.

When that happens, they can often be pressured into doing things they know are wrong. We’ve all heard horror stories of good kids going bad because they got caught up with the wrong crowd.

But peer pressure is a two-way street. There’s such a thing as “healthy” peer pressure — where kids encourage each other to take the high road when tempted, and to excel instead of settling for mediocrity.

Instead of pulling each other down, good friends hold each other accountable. And they look for ways to set an example to others.

That is why it is so important to steer your kids toward the right kinds of friends. Because peer pressure could be the best thing that ever happened to your child.

Memories That Last

From TODAY, Voices
Monday, 23-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier


Not all families can afford long vacations a couple of times a year. But it doesn’t take a lot of money to have meaningful family times together.

Think back to the things you remember most about your childhood. It probably isn’t the trips to Disneyland, or the car drives around the country, or even the expensive gifts you got. What you remember most are the times you had fun with your parents. Like wrestling on the floor with your dad, or baking cookies with your mum.

If you really want to invest in the lives of your children, spend time building real memories. Sing in the car, or go for a bike ride. Have a family game night, or just sit on a comfy sofa and take turns reading aloud.

It’s the little things that make childhood special. Kids seldom remember how much you spend, but they never forget the time you spent with them.