Bill Corbett

That's what one adult wrote in an online forum about the condition of parenting today, that "parents have lost their spine and kids now rule the roost." He went on to say, "The world is falling apart and it's all starting in the home. Gone are the days when parents were in charge and children knew their place. Parents no longer get the respect they deserve and kids aren't made to show it. What happened to the good 'ole days when parents had spines and kids behaved? The world didn't need parent educators back then; parents knew what to do and they did it." He's right that parenting has changed and to those who don't understand why, it probably does appear as if the world revolves around the child now. I don't agree that it really does, but I will agree that we do treat children differently these days then our parents and grandparents did. As in anything that requires developing skills, parenting requires new skills and knowledge th...

Asking Questions .  Our children are smarter than we give them credit for.  We are so worried that they are not going to do what is right, or we are in such a hurry that it just seems easier to give our children marching orders.  But asking them questions is a far more effective teaching tool.  Often, they know exactly what to do and when they come up with solutions to their own questions or challenges, it builds their problem-solving skills.  I always encourage parents to refrain from telling their children what to do or from answering their questions so quickly.  Instead, ask them questions such as “what do you think?” “what will you do now?” “what did you notice?”  Asking children questions also builds their own confidence and strengthens their faith in themselves.   Coaching .  Taking the art of asking questions one step further, coaching adds two more elements that teach a child greater problem-solving skills: Telling a child what you...