ScottCounseling

In the United States at least one child in five is overweight and the number of overweight children continues to grow. Over the last 2 decades, this number has increased by more than 50 percent, and the number of “extremely” overweight children has nearly doubled (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995: 149: 1085-91). A doctor determines if children are overweight by measuring their height and weight. Although children have fewer weight-related health problems than adults, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults. Overweight adults are at risk for… Continue Reading

Peer pressure is a tough issue for every child to manage. Everyone wants to have and keep friends. Parents need to help their child realize that peer pressure is a normal part of life and child behavior. Parents also need to help their child cope with peer pressure. The following brief steps are written to help you, the parent, begin to assist your child with this important issue.
Help your child to become more assertive with his or her friends by:

Teaching your child to use a calm but firm voice. Say, “No, I don’t care to be with you guys when you do that stuff.”

Role-play with your child: The parent plays the part of the negative influence… Continue Reading

As your child is growing and developing physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually, it’s important for parents to recognize what stage of development their child is at. Parents who recognize the differences in the developmental growth stages are often more successful in parenting. Read through the developmental differences listed below. Keep in mind that children grow at different rates with different degrees of success and failure. As always, it’s important for parents to check with their pediatrician while their child is progressing through the developmental stages described in this article.

Physical Development

Physical development in this age group includes steady growth patterns.

Gross motor (large muscles) are more developed than fine motor (small muscle). Elementary children are able to run and… Continue Reading

Hockey practice- 5:30 a.m. Cramming for a final exam- 7:00 a.m. Presenting a science power point assignment- 8:45 a.m. Joining the advance geometry study group- 10:25 a.m. Lunch with 800 other students- 11:45 a.m. Auditioning for the select choir- 12:30 p.m. Reporting cell phone stolen- 1:25 p.m. Missing English class- 2:15 p.m. Hockey endurance training- 2:45 p.m. Meet with boyfriend- 5:00 p.m. Miss super- 6:00 p.m. Piano lesson- 7:00 p.m. Homework 8:30 p.m. Instant messaging time with friends- 10:45 p.m. Bedtime- 12:30 a.m. Hockey practice- 5:30 a.m. and, here we go again!

Jeanne Sather, author of this article, challenges many of us parents to take a good look at… Continue Reading

All parents often search for some helpful hints to improve their relationship with their child before, during and after a discipline issue arises. ScottCounseling established some helpful parenting guidelines that most parents can agree upon. Parenting and child development specialist recommend that parents meet often to discuss expectations, values and family guidelines with their child and how missed expectations will be handled . Here are some helpful suggestions that often lead to successful outcomes.

Try to set a side time on a regular basis to do something fun with your child. Allow your child to be in on the planning. Developing a good relationship with a child before a discipline issue arises will make solving the problem with the child easier. Never give an

Dending on the child development or parenting author that you follow, you may hear a variety or mixed opinions on “praising” a child for an approprite action as a positive parenting strategy or a harmful parenting strategy. Author, Jan Faull, presents some thoughts and suggestions that both sides can agree upon. Children need positive attention in the form of subtle and overt praise. Praise comes in a variety of forms, and should be used to affirm your child’s positive intellectual, social, and physical abilities. This includes appropriate behavior as well.

Follow these seven guidelines on when and how to praise your child:

BE SPECIFIC
When your child paints a picture, rather than offering a judgmental form of praise–”beautiful picture”–offer a more detailed description… Continue Reading

The following article by author, Patty Wipfler, challenges parents who believe that they have control over all of their child’s actions and behaviors. Although parents have an enormous power of control in developing values, traditions and expectations in the development of their child, much of the control over time, falls into the the hands of the maturing child. Wipfler shares the following parenting “in control” points:

Parents are expected to stay “in control” of their lives, their children, and themselves. Some major parts of this expectation are impossible to fulfill! But because there is no way to learn parenting skills and truths ahead of time, we parents struggle and worry when we don’t seem to be “in control,” or when being “in control” means being harsh with our children. Let’s… Continue Reading

How many times have you decided to stay home and avoid going into public places for fear that your child may act inappropriately? Taking children into places or situations that they are not familiar with can be a challenge; especially places that offer food, toys and other distracting objects. Author, Patricia Wipfler, provides parenting tips that will get you out of the house and on the road to public places with your child. Her parenting suggestions include child development situations and parenting hints that will help you have a successful experience with your child outside of the home.

Children in Public Places

We live in a society that has a demanding and judgmental attitude toward parents and young children. Often… Continue Reading