Child Development

Babies need to acquire knowledge about the limits of their own agency, and they do this by acting on the world. In this post, I suggest that this is a version of the problem that we all face when trying to establish our identity in a new context, such as a video game. Read More

The role of being a stepparent has some inherent challenges. Read More

Giftedness is revered in our culture; inborn talent-whether intellectual, athletic, or artistic-ensures that children will be successful. How many times have you heard "Tiger Woods was born to play golf" or "Sarah Chang was destined to be a brilliant violinist"? Well, let me clear something up: No one is born to do anything, certainly not to swing a golf club or play a violin. The only thing that can be reasonably said is that some children are born with certain abilities that can help them excel at a particular activity. However, giftedness is no guarantee of success; the world is full of gifted failures. Yet so many parents hope beyond hope that their children are gifted. Read More

Autism research.  Having a vested interest, I watch it closely.  But looking at the latest batch of "newsworthy" releases -- I find myself frustrated.  Is this the best we can do? Read More

Although holiday time means presents and no school for most American kids, it can also be a stressful time—particularly in families facing financial challenges, in split or blended families, and in families where a loved one has recently passed away. Here are 7 simple holiday stress-reducing strategies that can make a difference. Read More

"For parents who insist on taking the laissez faire approach, they run the risk of their teen never coming to terms that their actions were indeed wrong, even worse such parents may be unintentionally raising a sociopath."

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You may be surprised.
Last week twenty-year-old Jim told his mother that he has always been leery of his younger, but larger brother, Andrew. Jim's cautiousness around Andrew dates back to the time Andrew shoved him off a dump truck breaking both of Jim's wrists.   Read More

Most of us are pretty sentimental about mothers and babies. If they're animals, they're cute; if they're humans, they are charming, admirable, even noble in their deep connections with each other. And somehow, it's pretty easy for us to make the assumption that all mothers and babies, of every species, have a lot in common with each other. Read More

Why do certain diminutive descendants of humankind get to act like little green monsters?

Actually, I shouldn't say that because it gives green monsters a bad name.

There are kids who hold court like Henry VIII--or, to be more precise, like Richard the Third.

These children will neither have fun nor be fun as they grow up. Their parents do them no favors by indulging them and regarding their selfish behavior as "independence" and their nastiness as "personality." Read More