Category: Positive Parenting

The Power of the Human-Animal Bond

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD Antoine and Veronica, 5 year-old twins, had not seen their mother in 6 months. Mom had developed an alcohol problem which resulted in a car accident with the children in the car. She was charged with child endangerment, a DUI, and enrollment in a 1 year intervention […]

Written by on September 24, 2020

Thoughtful Understanding Begins with Parents

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   For better or worse, children learn from everything and everyone around them. They are sponges, soaking up knowledge through listening and observing. One of the strongest methods of learning for children is role play and imitation. They also learn by carefully observing what and who their […]

Written by on September 23, 2020

Protect Quiet Routines

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   All of our lives are hectic – full of demands that create the need for quick assessment of complex issues and equally swift changes in direction. Sometimes the changes are physical, sometimes mental and other times emotional. Sometimes the changes are something that we were anticipating […]

Written by on September 23, 2020

Mold Natural Opportunities

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   Effective parenting doesn’t just happen. Neither do good grades, good friends, good relationships, or a good life. Sure, sometimes luck and fate conspire to present us with a chance at something special. But for the most part, we create our good fortune by molding the natural […]

Written by on September 22, 2020

The Art of Listening to your Child

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   No matter what, we must listen to our children – actively and closely. Positive parenting requires the willingness to consistently listen to your children. And that’s not easy sometimes. First, our little ones speak a different language from us. They speak in metaphors, symbols, and animalese. […]

Written by on September 22, 2020

Deliver Encouragement Frequently

by SUSAN GRIFFIN, LMFT AND DENNIS WONG, PHD   Encouragement is an important element of positive and effective parenting. Deliver Encouragement Frequently is so obvious, yet difficult to do in the midst of our busy daily lives. We know our children need support from us. And we want to provide both emotional and physical nurturing […]

Written by on September 4, 2020

Guide your Child to Independence

Children can imagine incredible possibilities long before they can handle reality. Whether it is a 2-year-old contemplating a huge flight of concrete stairs with the thought of climbing them all alone, or a 12-year-old contemplating the same steps with the thought of jumping down them on a bicycle, the impulse for challenge, growth, and independence […]

Written by on September 4, 2020

Action Before Conversation

For the sake of our children, it is actually better for parents to take action and talk less. Act first and talk later. Parents spend far too much time explaining and reasoning with kids, rather than taking action. Try “get off the top of the refrigerator NOW” instead of “how many times have I told […]

Written by on August 28, 2020