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Savvy Parenting

A strategy for each (parenting) moment

Parenting
Cognition
Five Parent Behaviors That Role-Model Effort and Luck

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on March 16, 2014

How parents communicate the concept of "luck" factors into whether children view their successes as attributable to luck or effort. Although luck may play some role, parents need to emphasize the relationship between a strong effort and a positive outcome and downplay the impact of luck when parenting children who naturally gravitate towards magical thinking.

How parents communicate the concept of "luck" factors into whether children view their successes as attributable to luck or effort. Although luck may play some role, parents need to emphasize the relationship between a strong effort and a positive outcome and downplay the impact of luck when parenting children who naturally gravitate towards magical thinking.

Visual learning
Memory
Knowing a Child’s Learning Style Improves Memory Skills

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on March 8, 2014

When parents understand and can accommodate a child's learning style, their memory skills and abilities will improve. A child's ability to recall and feel competent at memory tasks and rote learning will boost self-esteem and enhance their self-image as a successful student and learner.

When parents understand and can accommodate a child's learning style, their memory skills and abilities will improve. A child's ability to recall and feel competent at memory tasks and rote learning will boost self-esteem and enhance their self-image as a successful student and learner.

Sleep
The Impact of Chronic Co-Sleeping With an Older Child

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on March 3, 2014

Parents and older children are co-sleeping as a way of managing older children's nighttime anxiety. Results are chronic sleep loss and disruptive sleep patterns.

Parents and older children are co-sleeping as a way of managing older children's nighttime anxiety. Results are chronic sleep loss and disruptive sleep patterns.

Empathy
Using Celebrity Downfall as a Teachable Moment

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on February 3, 2014

Youth are highly suggestible to celebrity success and failure. Adults can use celebrities' dark and negative acts as teachable moments to help guide youth and teach them about the complexities of talent, stardom and human nature.

Youth are highly suggestible to celebrity success and failure. Adults can use celebrities' dark and negative acts as teachable moments to help guide youth and teach them about the complexities of talent, stardom and human nature.

Stress
Parents Should Tell Their Children When They Lose a Job

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on February 2, 2014

Parents are overwhelmed in the aftermath of a job loss. And yet how they communicate to their children about the loss and impact on the family effects how children process and react to it. Parents need to communicate in a manner that is direct, positive, and simple.

Parents are overwhelmed in the aftermath of a job loss. And yet how they communicate to their children about the loss and impact on the family effects how children process and react to it. Parents need to communicate in a manner that is direct, positive, and simple.

Family vacation camping
Parenting
Having a Great and Imperfect Family Vacation

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on January 19, 2014

In our over scheduled world, families often look forward to vacation as a blissful panacea to the stresses of everyday life. With hopes high, disappointments can be higher. Here are some suggestions for parents to consider before next family vacation adventure.

In our over scheduled world, families often look forward to vacation as a blissful panacea to the stresses of everyday life. With hopes high, disappointments can be higher. Here are some suggestions for parents to consider before next family vacation adventure.

Parental connectedness
Motivation
Children Change When They Feel Connected and Understood

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on December 29, 2013

During this season of New Years resolutions we are reminded of how difficult it is to change. Children have additional challenges in that they often do not see that change is necessary.
Parents will be most effective in helping their children to change when they can take a step back and focus on connecting with their child instead of trying to control their behavior.

During this season of New Years resolutions we are reminded of how difficult it is to change. Children have additional challenges in that they often do not see that change is necessary.
Parents will be most effective in helping their children to change when they can take a step back and focus on connecting with their child instead of trying to control their behavior.

Miley Cyrus
Identity
Miley Cyrus: Is She Lost in Translation from Child to Adult?

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on November 25, 2013

Miley Cyrus from innocent girl to sexual icon? Even though Miley may not agree or even care, over-sexualization doesn’t free girls from adult control. It only solidifies stereotypes that females then have to grapple with as they become independent women.The choices your teen makes now can make it easier or harder when entering adulthood.

Miley Cyrus from innocent girl to sexual icon? Even though Miley may not agree or even care, over-sexualization doesn’t free girls from adult control. It only solidifies stereotypes that females then have to grapple with as they become independent women.The choices your teen makes now can make it easier or harder when entering adulthood.

Parenting
Empathic Parenting Versus Rescue Parenting, What's Better?

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on October 21, 2013

Parents today are confused about the difference between empathy for children and rescuing children from disappointment. Studies have shown that children build resilience by learning to cope with disappointment. Should parents support this process by helping children avoid failure or by being there to support children when they do in fact fail?

Parents today are confused about the difference between empathy for children and rescuing children from disappointment. Studies have shown that children build resilience by learning to cope with disappointment. Should parents support this process by helping children avoid failure or by being there to support children when they do in fact fail?

Parenting and promoting healthy competition
Sport and Competition
Parents’ Competitive Drive Is Not For Child’s Play

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on September 25, 2013

Some parents are sports enthusiasts and can get disappointed when their child loses a game. Parents who react this way are often unaware of the negative impact they can have on their child’s ability to succeed.Coaches are the best people to guide a child when it comes to playing team sports. Parents can provide the support without focusing on the score.

Some parents are sports enthusiasts and can get disappointed when their child loses a game. Parents who react this way are often unaware of the negative impact they can have on their child’s ability to succeed.Coaches are the best people to guide a child when it comes to playing team sports. Parents can provide the support without focusing on the score.

Parenting to avoid back to school Burnout Syndrome
Burnout
Back-to-School: Parenting Strategies to Avoid Burnout

Kate Roberts Ph.D. on September 3, 2013

In today’s pressured and fast-paced modern world, many parents are either on the verge of burn out or already suffering from what I describe as "parent burnout syndrome". Parents, are not routinely taking care of their needs in an effort to put their children first. How can parents, care for their children’s emotional and spiritual needs when their own aren't being met?

In today’s pressured and fast-paced modern world, many parents are either on the verge of burn out or already suffering from what I describe as "parent burnout syndrome". Parents, are not routinely taking care of their needs in an effort to put their children first. How can parents, care for their children’s emotional and spiritual needs when their own aren't being met?