Great Step-parents are Consultants

I’m often asked the following question by step-parents:   “When can I begin to start disciplining my step-children when they misbehave?”   Here’s my response:   It’s more a matter of how we discipline than when we ought to begin.   Successful step-parents understand that the Love and Logic Consultant style of parenting allows them [...]

Let Them Figure It Out

Some day your kids are going to need to figure things out for themselves. Wouldn’t it be unfortunate if they found themselves in a dangerous or tempting situation when they get their first opportunity? Universities report that this is often the case. Young adults are known to speed dial their parents, hand the cell phone [...]

Give Your Kids an Emotional Insurance Policy

The most fortunate folks on Earth have a strong voice in their hearts, reminding them that they have what it takes to make it through the tough times. Because they possess this “emotional insurance policy” they face life with optimism instead of anxiety. They understand that the resources they have inside can never be taken [...]

Turning Star Bucks into Big Bucks

An excerpt from MILLIONAIRE BABIES OR BANKRUPT BRATS? by Jim Fay and Kristan Leatherman, M.S. Darren, 16 years old, begins his school day as often as he can with his favorite drink – triple mocha espresso, extra foam, extra hot.  Not a big deal from Darren’s perspective, but a VERY BIG DEAL from a financial [...]

Boredom

Ah, the sounds of summer! Birds chirping, the sound of the ice cream truck, and kids moaning, “I’m bored! There’s nothing to do.” Despite popular kid opinion, boredom is essential for the development of healthy problem-solving skills and creativity. Can you imagine the world today if Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford had never [...]

Getting Kids to Talk About Their Day

Conversation between a parent and child: “Hi, Jamie. How was your day?” “Okay.” “How was school?” “Fine.” “What did you do today at school?” “Nothing.” “Well, you must have done something.” “Just regular stuff.” “How was your lunch?” “I don’t know. Okay, I guess.” Does this sound familiar? Would you like your kids to be [...]

Divorce: Helping Your Kids Cope

If you’ve ever gone through a divorce, you certainly don’t need anyone to tell you how painful and confusing it can be! Although I’m certainly not proud to admit it, I’ve been there. After years of reflection on my own experience, as well as work with many other families navigating this pain, I humbly offer [...]

Curfews: To Set Them or Not

Those of you familiar with Love and Logic have probably already noticed that we are rather old-fashioned codgers. We believe that parents should run the home rather than the kids. Now for the shocker: In our book, Parenting Teens with Love and Logic, we teach that parents are typically better off if they allow their [...]

Don’t Let Your Kids Play Divide and Conquer

Since the beginning of time, kids have devoted themselves to the creative testing of parental limits. I suppose it’s our job to set the limits, and it’s their job to take them for a test drive. If they rev their motors, and our boundaries come crashing down, we’re in big trouble…and so are they! One [...]

Finishing the Race…and Enjoying It at the Same Time

Have you ever met a “sprinter parent”? Like athletes competing for the gold in a fifty-yard dash, they throw every erg of their energy into trying to deal with each instance of misbehavior. Determined to raise great kids, they spend almost every moment trying to correct their youngsters’ behavior. Here’s the problem: Parenting is a [...]

Toddlers and Sleeping

Every toddler is different from birth.  Some need a lot of sleep while others don’t seem to.  Trying to reason or lecture them into sleeping leaves them wider awake.  Even if they won’t sleep, they can still remain in their crib, playpen or bedroom for some “quiet” time.  Even if they are not quiet during [...]

Raise Great Employees

It’s getting harder to find good, responsible employees. While a problem for employers, this provides a great opportunity for parents! If we can teach the following skills and attitudes, we can practically guarantee that our youngsters will become financially secure adults: • The ability to complete tasks without reminders • The desire to be proud [...]

Raising Children Who Don’t Need Us

I’ve learned over the years that the best way to get a crowd of parents to gasp in shock is to tell them that their most important job is to raise kids who don’t need them. While tough for some of us to choke down, this may be the single most telling important distinction between [...]

The Problem With Sweet Kids

Do your kids rarely argue, do what you tell them to do, and love to please you? Yes! There are kids like this, and I’m betting that plenty of you have at least one. While they’re great fun to be around, these kids can lull us into using ineffective techniques. I worry about sweet kids. [...]

Are Your Kids Making Enough Mistakes?

Have you noticed that it’s pretty easy to “slip” out of the Love and Logic habit? If you’re like most of us, you’ve already noticed how easy it is to start forgetting the “new” and sliding right back into the “old.” A major part of the “old” for most folks is the belief that “good” [...]

When to Rescue

One chapter in Parenting with Love and Logic emphasizes the importance of not rescuing kids from their mistakes. However, this is not an absolute. This does not apply when the matter has to do with loss of life or limb. And there are some other times when I would be willing to rescue a child [...]

A Great Reminder

Originally published 11/16/05 by the Love and Logic® Institute. This week’s tip comes in the form of a note we received from Larry Anderson, who works in the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Dear Jim, Your article in the July issue of the Love and Logic Journal, Immune From Responsibility, is on the mark! I have [...]

When is it Okay to Rescue?

Originally published 4/12/06 by the Love and Logic® Institute. Those who know Love and Logic know the damage done by C.H.P.S . “Chronic Helicopter Parent Syndrome.” Parents who chronically rescue their kids from the consequences of their poor decisions create kids who`re chronically irresponsible, and chronically unhappy. “You are so weak that you can`t survive [...]

How is Your Parenting Style Working for You?

So how is your parenting style working for you?  If you’re like most parents, you could use a few new tools in your parenting toolbox.  The Love & Logic Parenting program provides some great ideas for simple, easy to use techniques that can make a difference in your family. Were you raised by a “Drill [...]