Relationships with Relatives

Posted on May 9, 2014

Relationships, especially with close relatives and extended families, can guide children as they grow and learn about themselves. The connections they develop with their relations are ships carrying them through the sometimes rough waters of childhood. By spending just a tad more time with relatives, we give them tools of growth and prepare them to be more socially and emotionally intelligent. These are both keys to life success. But in this modern and spread out world, it is not always…

Chasing Perfection: The Effects on the Parent/Child Relationship

Posted on October 21, 2014

How does our chase to be the “perfect” parent fit in to the parent/child relationship?  We’re probably all guilty of looking at some parent and child and asking, “How could they do that? I’d never treat my child that way.” After all, from the moment parents finds out they will have a baby, they naturally begin setting themselves up to do it right. They want to do their very best for this new life that they are going to bring…

Close Enough to Kiss: The Power of Touch

Posted on April 25, 2014

  This week’s post is written by TOG team member and mom, Elizabeth Y., whom you’ve previously met in our post about routines. You’re on, Elizabeth Thanks so much for the introduction and opportunity Roma! After the birth of my second baby, I worried about how I would keep up with an active 2 1/2 year old. I came across babywearing. And two years later…I’m still babywearing (toddler wearing now) with no plans to stop. But why has babywearing become…

Role Models as Rule Models!

Posted on April 21, 2014

My well behaved niece Vaani, 7 years old at the time, had come to spend a couple of days with us during her summer break last year. I decided to go over some basic rules with her like picking up her plate after a meal, keeping shoes off the couch and furniture, etc…you know, the usual list of rules that us parents like to impose on our kids. She carefully listened at first. When I was done, she asked, ”…

Abolish Rules?

Posted on April 18, 2014

As part of a study conducted by Auckland University of Technology, a school in New Zealand abolished rules for safety and behavior on the playground! The outcome was both informative and controversial: Bullying and serious injuries decreased and children were actually able to concentrate better during class. The principal of the elementary school said, “The kids were motivated, busy and engaged. In my experience, the time children get into trouble is when they are not busy, motivated and engaged.” Dr. Shefali Tsabary, psychologist and…