Gifted children are often thought to grow up and be highly successful adults. However, this is not always the case. Gifted adults may not be as successful or well-rounded as one might think. A small percentage of the population is gifted, but most adolescents feel disconnected from society and depressed. While it's not clear if gifted adults are more likely to be depressed, not … [Read more...]
How Exercise Can Improve a Child’s Behavior and Mood
A lot of research has been conducted on the subject of exercise and how it affects mood in adults, and it has been shown that exercise helps reduce stress and leads to better sleep and weight management. But what about kids? How does exercise affect their mood? In this article, we will look at the research to see how exercise can improve mood in children and help them develop healthy … [Read more...]
How to Give Kids High Expectations in a Healthy, Nuturing Way
Many parents want their children to grow up to be successful and they try to provide them with opportunities they may have not had themselves. This can often mean having high expectations for their children. Having high expectations means that a parent is hoping for their child to improve or do better than they are currently doing. Parents may have high expectations for their children … [Read more...]
Positive Emotions and Well-Being
Historically, psychologists have tended to focus on negative aspects of human behavior. For years, the focus of psychologists investigating emotions was primarily on negative emotions, such as anxiety, anger, and depression. One question that was unanswered was what good positive emotions are. The article, 'Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions', argues that positive … [Read more...]
Building Resilience in Children – 20 Practical, Powerful Ideas
There is no single gene responsible for happiness, success, or exceptionalism; rather, every child has the potential to excel in different ways. While challenges and obstacles are inevitable, it is possible to equip children with the skills to overcome them. By building resilience, we can help them thrive in the face of adversity. Resilience allows people to recover from difficult … [Read more...]
Teaching Kids Independance Step by Step
While they were waiting for their older brother Logan to pick them up in his four-wheeler, Jamie Moffitt's kids would play a game where they would stand in designated spots in the yard, pay a fake fare, and head off on imaginary journeys. Even though the girls are getting older, they still enjoy doing childhood activities together like walks and bike rides. In their town of Grantsville, it's … [Read more...]
Teaching Children Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and feel what others are feeling or would be expected to feel. There are two main types of empathy: cognitive empathy and emotional empathy. Cognitive empathy is the ability to understand another person's perspective and feel their pain. It is also called role-taking. This kind of empathy allows you to immerse yourself in the experience of another person … [Read more...]