‘What should I do to make sure my child turns out well?’ This is the question every parent asks. It has taken several decades of research to come up with the answer, because there were so many different variables to study. But we finally have a good answer- and it’s a short one. …... READ MORE
The pace of each child’s development is pre-programmed. It moves along in the forward direction, step by little step. No matter how you slice it- the basic skills must come before the complex ones can kick in. You can’t speed up the pace. You can help your child at each step, to learn the skill…... READ MORE
In almost every study of child development, one factor pops up again and again- the importance of regulating children’s distress. We all have negative emotions such as sadness, loneliness, feeling rejected, anger, boredom, shame, and guilt. Negative emotions serve an important function. They are signals to ourselves and to others that we are in a…... READ MORE
Reflective Parenting emphasizes Reflective Thinking– a powerful communication tool that underlies all healthy parent-child relationships. Reflective thinking is the multi-purpose human capacity for Understanding others Understanding our self Being able to self-regulate: emotions, behaviors, impulses. Being a Reflective Parent is the only way to teach your child how to be a Reflective Thinker! Benefits of being a Reflective…... READ MORE
Skill #4 Reflect on the meaning of the behavior, your child’s and yours. Reflecting means: understanding that people’s outward behavior is motivated by something in the mind- such as emotions, intentions, beliefs, desires, plans and goals. Because every person’s mind is separate, private and has its own unique perspective… Being reflective requires: Trying to understand your child’s…... READ MORE
As a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, I have been in private practice for over 35 years, with a special interest in parents and couples.