The Innovative Dad
A psychologist’s blog about raising and educating children through the lens innovation.
Kids, Masks, and COVID-19
One of the challenges of re-opening is the requirement that face masks be worn in a variety of settings. Sending kids out in masks is going to be more complicated than getting them to put on sunscreen or wear a hat. https://youtu.be/KaYGqqZ7BhY
Answer a Question with a Question
With our kids at home all the time now due to COVID-19, helping them build better executive functioning skills is incredibly important. These skills will help them build more independence and will serve them well at home and at school. Here's one strategy to help you...
Surviving the Summer of COVID-19
At this point, school is out across the United States. After the initial wave of relief of no more remote learning, a sense of dread is building in many parents' stomachs as they realize that there are more than two months of childcare to fill before a possible return...
Better Verbal Praise
How we talk to our kids can impact how they respond to us. Praise is important, but kids are great at detecting when we aren't authentic. Here are some ways to up your verbal praise game without being fake. https://youtu.be/DQrfLxCsrHk More Resources Do You Praise...
Resources on Talking to Kids about Race, Racism, and Diversity
Like many over the past few weeks, I have been doing a lot of listening and learning. Topics like race, racism, and diversity are fraught with complexity and mired in decades and decades of our society not getting it right. I've been hesitant to wade into this...
Preparing for an IEP Meeting
Any meeting at school can be intimidating. Each of us comes to school with her own baggage, good and bad, from our own education which can make serving as our child's advocate just a little tricky for us. Special education meetings or IEP meetings are even more...
“He Pushed Me!”: Responding to Tattling
There is often a fine line between tattling and telling. And our kids don't always realize where that line is. Helping them understand the difference between tattling and telling can help them develop stronger social problem-solving skills. Join me for a conversation...
Making Date Night Work When You Can’t Leave the House
Let's face it. With almost everyone impacted by stay-at-home orders, getting a babysitter to help make date night happen is going to be a bit tricky. In fact, it's probably impossible and not recommended, either. Yet, a regular date night is important to help maintain...
Dealing with Fighting Siblings
Having brothers and sisters in closer quarters can make for lots of tense moments. Kids don't always know how to resolve conflict and things can escalate pretty quickly. Learn some strategies for intervening and not making things worse. https://youtu.be/F4GZbm_PvcA