Study: “Good Enough” Parenting is Good Enough

Parents are human, and all humans make mistakes. Some parents worry that if they are not perfect parents, it could result in lasting harm to their babies. A study from Lehigh University debunks that idea. “Good enough” parenting is actually good enough. A study titled: “Secure Base Provision: A New Approach to Examining Links Between Maternal Caregiving and Infant Attachment” was published in the journal Child Development. It was co-authored by Susan S. Woodhouse (an expert on infant attachment), Julie R. Scott (of Pennsylvania State University), Allison D. Hepsworth (of the University of the Maryland School of Social Work), and … Continue reading →

How to Raise an Optimistic Child

Would you like your child to have the ability to see the bright side of things? Do you want your child to have a happier attitude – and life? It is possible! There are things parents can do if they want to raise an optimistic child. Be a Good Example Children tend to imitate their parents. If you want to raise an optimistic child, you need to teach them how to be optimistic. Pay attention to how often you complain about things. The more a parent does that, the more their kids learn that they should look at life in … Continue reading →

The Pros and Cons of Intensive Parenting

Intensive parenting is becoming a trend. It has some similarities with helicopter parenting, but is not damaging to children. It could be considered the opposite of free range parenting. A study titled: “Social Class, Gender, and Contemporary Parenting Standards in the United States: Evidence from a National Survey Experiment” was published in Social Forces. It was done by Patrick Ishizuka. He analyzed data from more than 3,600 study participants who were parents. The participants read about various scenarios in which a mother or father interacts with a child between the ages of 8 and 10. The stories focused on the child’s leisure … Continue reading →

How to Avoid Being a Lawnmower Parent

You may have heard of helicopter parenting – a parenting style in which the parent hovers over the child (or teen, or young adult offspring) and swoops in to solve their problems for them. There is now a new version of helicopter parenting. It is called lawnmower parenting. Lawnmower parenting take things further than helicopter parents do. Helicopter parents hover nearby, and swoop down to solve their children’s problems before the child can act. Lawnmower parents mow down all potential problems, discomforts, and hurt feelings before they happen. In general, lawnmower parents are doing this because they honestly believe it … Continue reading →

Overparenting Can Hinder a Child’s Development

In today’s world, it is completely understandable why parents would want to make extra effort to protect their kids from harm. Overparenting (which is also called helicopter parenting) isn’t a good solution to that anxiety. A study found that parents who become too heavily involved in homework are possibly hindering their child’s development. Science Daily pointed out a study from Queensland University of Technology (that was done in 2016). The study involved 866 parents from three Brisbane Catholic/independent schools. They found that those who endorse overparenting beliefs tend to take more responsibility for their child doing their homework and also … Continue reading →

How to Set Boundaries with Fortnite

Do your kids play Fortnite? Many parents are finding it difficult to get their kids to put down the controller and pick up their homework. It is possible for parents to set effective boundaries with Fortnite. In order to do that, it helps to learn some things about the game. Fortnite is a multi-player game apocalyptic survival video game. Fortnite: Battle Royale is free to play. The goal of the game is to stay alive longer than all the other players. This can be done as an individual or as part of a team. The game begins with 100 players. … Continue reading →

Birdnesting is a Parenting Style for Divorced Parents

Have you heard of “birdnesting”? It is a parenting style that fits the unique needs of parents who are divorcing or who have already divorced. The main focus of birdnesting is keeping the lives of the children as intact as possible. Some celebrities are using this parenting style. Birdnesting is an arrangement between two separating or divorced parents for the purpose of making their children’s lives more comfortable and secure. Typically, children of divorced parents have to move from one parent’s home to the other. Birdnesting turns this concept around and requires the parents to do the traveling. It starts … Continue reading →

What is “Lazy Parenting” ?

There are a variety of parenting styles to choose from. Most people pick the one that their own parents used, or they select a style that they feel best fits their family. “Lazy parenting” is an option. It may sounds neglectful – or even dangerous – if you are unfamiliar with how it works. Oddly enough, so called “Lazy Parenting” may actually be more intensive, and difficult, than other parenting styles. No one wants to be called “lazy”. The word has a very negative connotation! One might assume that “lazy parenting” is a style selected by slacker parents who don’t … Continue reading →

Pizza Night Might Undermine Healthy Eating Habits

Parents want their kids to grow up strong and healthy, and generally strive to provide healthy foods and encourage kids to eat their vegetables. On Friday nights, or during the weekend, many families have a pizza night that includes sodas and unhealthy deserts. There appears to be some indication that this switch can actually harm children’s health. There is a survey titled: “Friday Night is Pizza Night: A Comparison of Children’s Dietary Intake and Maternal Perceptions of Feeding Goals on Weekdays and Weekends.” It was done by three people from the Department of Psychology at Bowling Green University: Debra A. … Continue reading →

Strength-Based Parenting

There are a wide variety of parenting styles to choose from. Parents can choose to raise their kids with the parenting style that they were raised with. Or, if they want something different, they can select a parenting style that matches their values and the needs of their kids. One option is called strength-based parenting. Lea Waters is the chair of positive psychology at University of Melbourne. She has written a book called “The Strength Switch”. The full title continues with “How The New Science of Strength-Based Parenting Can Help Your Child and Your Teen to Flourish”. The book is … Continue reading →