Creative Development

Growing a child's unique gifts

Maureen Healy is a child development expert and author of the forthcoming book 365 Perfect Things to Say to Your Kids. See full bio

July 5, 2009

The nature of emotions

Delving into the emotional world of a child is akin to riding a roller coaster. One moment you are feeling the exhilaration of being at the top of the ride only to plunge to the depths of your fear in another second. Feelings change fast. And kids feel so incredibly intensely since nearly, every experience is occurring for the very first time. Read More

June 22, 2009

Learning with Horses

Every since I can remember animals have trusted me. Even before I took my Tibetan Buddhist vows of no killing. Such beasts of our land appear to have finely tuned instincts, and can sense a person's presence (i.e. intentions, trustworthiness). It is their sixth sense developed perhaps out of survival. And they unerringly trust it. Read More

June 15, 2009

Empowering Kids

The oak sleeps in the acorn
James Allen

Similar to the acorn that holds the latent potential of the oak tree within, each child holds his or her greatness. Read More

May 2, 2009

Positive Parenting

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
Elizabeth Stone

Isn't that the truth! Having a child somehow cracks your heart open further than ever imagined. And parents today are parenting from the heart. It is shift towards authentic parenting. Read More

April 20, 2009

Kind Kids

Kids can be so unkind. Words do hurt. Jacob (age 3) cried to me after being called stupid. It rattled him to his core. Anna (age 6) has been called a crybaby repeatedly. It stung deep. Addison (age 7) was seen kicking my dog. Ouch. Kindness apparently doesn't come naturally to every kid. Read More

April 7, 2009

Optimism

"For everything this disease has taken, something of greater value has been given"
Michael J. Read More

March 24, 2009

Peace Education

"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children" - Gandhi

Gandhi knew the future of our world's peace is held in our children's hands. Educating children about the theory and practice of peace is important work. Read More

March 11, 2009

Confidence in Children

Sitting across the table from my Aunt and Uncle at a post-funeral lunch my Aunt blurts out "I wish my daughter was more confident." Hmm I think. Her 8 year old seems happy but shy. There's nothing wrong with being shy but I understand her wish for her daughter to really emerge from childhood feeling confident. So I began thinking what is confidence? What is the root causes of confidence? Read More

February 25, 2009

The age of emotion

"A growing body of scientific evidence tells us that emotional development begins early in life, that is a critical aspect of the development of overall brain architecture and that it has enormous consequences over the course of a lifetime"
- National Scientific Council of the Developing Child -

Emotional development, to me, is at the core of a child's well Read More

February 17, 2009

Mindfulness

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
- Buddha -

It is no different for children. Just today, I had Erin (age 6) tell me that she was "listening to her feelings think" at school today. I found that an interesting mix of words. Erin was certain that her feelings were sending her a message. Read More

Child Development Basics

The speedy physical and psychological changes that children undergo from birth through adolescence often leave parents wondering how best to care for them at each stage. From how to talk so kids will listen to when to back off and allow them to fail, PT's experts weigh in.

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