A Fine Parent

A Life Skills Blog Exclusively For Parents

3 Key Takeaways From the “Screen Kids Masterclass” With Arlene Pellicane

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(This article is part of the PPC 2022 series. Get free article updates here.)

Is screen time a constant battle in your home? At the upcoming Positive Parenting Conference 2022, be sure to check out the Screen Kids Masterclass.

Based on the book Screen Kids: 5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World, this masterclass is an interview with Arlene Pellicane, one of the book’s authors. Arlene is a writer and a public speaker, and perhaps most importantly she’s also a mom of three beautiful children. So, Arlene absolutely understands the struggle.

I was lucky enough to be a researcher for this masterclass, and I was deeply impressed with Arlene’s knowledge, empathy, and expert advice. She has a wealth of insight into this topic and has such a friendly, personable way of educating and informing us that it’s easy to walk away with lots of new information and ideas. 

While the Screen Kids Masterclass was packed with ideas, what really stood out to me was the reality check that Arlene gives on the impact of screen time on our child’s brain development, as that’s been a concern of mine since I first started letting my oldest child watch cartoons. Another growing issue in my own household has been anger management (for both my child and myself!), so I was also interested to hear her discuss the connection between screen time and anger management. But equally important to me was Arlene’s emphasis on the importance of books on building attention spans; we’re big readers in this household!  [Read more…]

3 Key Takeaways from the “Camp-Inspired Parenting Masterclass” with Audrey Monke

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(This article is part of the PPC 2022 series. Get free article updates here.)

It’s not long now until the launch of the 2022 Positive Parenting Conference! Many years ago, this was the conference that overhauled my parenting style, giving me the confidence and tools to help my family thrive. I’m excited to hear from more experts and to get more practical parenting gems of advice. 

As a member of the AFineParent Academy, I was thrilled when it was announced that we’d get early access to the masterclasses, well before the conference. One of the masterclasses we got early is this inspiring session with Audrey Monke. Audrey is mother to five children and an adored Camp Director with over 30 years of experience working with thousands of children, young adult staff, and parents. 

Her book, Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults, shares a wealth of research and practical tips to bring the joys of summer camp into everyday life. It was a pleasure listening to someone who clearly believes and practices the wisdom she shares.

While Audrey shared many great ideas in her Camp-Inspired Parenting Masterclass, what really stood out to me was her insight around connection, kindness and grit. Not only does she teach us why these areas are so important, but she also shows us how we can all build these skills in our families.

Here are my 3 key takeaways from this masterclass –

[Read more…]

3 Key Takeaways from the “Discipline Without Damage Masterclass” with Dr. Vanessa Lapointe

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(This article is part of the PPC 2022 series. Get free article updates here.)

In just a few weeks we will have the opportunity to open ourselves up to a wealth of learning at the 2022 Positive Parenting Conference. If you are anything like me, you might try to build in a little extra time that week to be able to watch as many of the masterclasses as possible and let the ideas sink in. In preparation for the conference this year, we are giving you a little sneak peek at some of the masterclasses and some key learning moments to anticipate! 

One expert, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, gives us a heartfelt take on how we can show up for our kids in the ways that they need. In the Discipline Without Damage Masterclass, Dr. Lapointe gets beautifully personal in her examples of how important the work of knowing what our kids need is for our families. 

Dr. Lapointe is a registered psychologist, parenting educator, best-selling author and international speaker. Having founded The Wishing Star Lapointe Developmental Clinic and also serving as its director, she has been supporting families and children for over 20 years. She is also–very importantly–a mom; her work comes straight from her heart. 

I was the masterclass researcher for Discipline Without Damage: How to Get Your Kids to Behave Without Messing Them Up, which is the inspiration book for this masterclass. So, I got an early look at Dr. Lapointe’s masterclass interview with Lisa Hoashi from our AFineParent Team. I am excited to share my favorite takeaways with you today! Take a look below to see if this is a masterclass you want to add to your “Must-Watch” list so you can tailor your conference experience to your family’s needs! [Read more…]

Ten Questions to Inspire Meaningful Dinner Conversation with Your Children

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(This article is part of the Positive Parenting FAQ series. Get free article updates here.)

meaningful-dinner-conversation-main imageYour family is sitting at the table, with plates of food in front of them. Conversation is flowing naturally, your children are happy and smiling, freely sharing the details of their school day. 

Wait, what?!

For most parents, the movie-perfect dinnertime is a farfetched fantasy. Let’s be real: school, work, homework, sports, after school activities, and a million other commitments often interfere with the family eating together, much less having the time to converse during it! In fact, recent studies have shown that while 84% of parents agree that eating together is important, only about 50% of meals are actually eaten together as a family.

Finding ways in which to increase opportunities throughout the week in which the entire family can eat together may look like a complex jigsaw puzzle of scheduling- and that’s only part of the struggle!

Even if your family does not eat together as often as you’d like, think about the times in which you do. What does it look like? Are there conversations and eye contact or are all eyes and ears focused on phones, iPads, or the TV? Are there connections being made or is everyone retreating to their own worlds?

While you may want conversation and connection to happen amongst the family, it may not come as easy as you would like, especially after a long, hard day of school and work. The next time you find yourself around the dinner table struggling to prompt conversation, remember that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. [Read more…]

What is the “Mean Girl Problem,” Why You Should Care, and What You Can Do About It

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(This article is part of the Positive Parenting FAQ series. Get free article updates here.)

mean-girl-problem-main imageI still remember getting my first perm in middle school and smiling from ear to ear when the most popular girl in the school touched my hair and told me it “looked great.” That compliment felt like a rite of passage, at an age where acceptance was constantly sought out by most girls–even at the cost of meanness.

Once I started playing sports, I found a group of girls that were supportive and caring, many of whom I still keep in touch with today. But even while my team gave a sense of belonging, I still witnessed how very real the mean girl problem was. As I look at my young daughter, so devoted and loving to her friends and peers, I can’t help but cringe at the thought of her eventual experience with the mean girl problem.

The National Center for Education Statistics reported in 2019 that an average of 22 percent of students ages 12 to 18 reported being bullied, with girls reporting significantly higher (25.5%) than boys (19.1%). 

Studies show that bullying can occur amongst any gender, race, socio-economic class, and even age (Do you know a bully in adulthood? Yeah, me too). We also know that there is importance in understanding the role that gender stereotypes play in bullying. Gender identity can impact how children adapt and interact with their peers; gender stereotypes can influence bullying as they impact the socialization of children into gender roles. 

Yes, even in 2021, young boys are still socialized to be strong and independent, while females are socialized to be sensitive and understanding. Children who don’t act according to their expected gender roles are at higher risk of bullying by their peers. [Read more…]