amy@daretoparent.com

For many kids, back to school means higher levels of anxiety. Learn about the "silent worries" kids won't talk about and what

I recently spent a morning talking about parenting with a local MOPS group. I have to tell you, it was a blast! These moms were totally engaged, asking questions, sharing suggestions, being open and honest and speaking from their hearts. One of the best lines I heard that day was, "I don't have dust bunnies, I have dust dinosaurs!" The room burst into laughter because so many of us could relate. It got me thinking about how some parents have really high expectations of

Parenting...sometimes the struggles have NOTHING to do with the kids! Jim says, "If she would just set the rules and stick with them, the kids would behave better." To which Sue replies, "Me?! How about you stop nagging at everyone? The kids will get their chores done eventually." Parenting isn't easy, especially when each parent has a different parenting style! Each parent believes they are right, so what can we do to settle this conflict? Going backwards to move forward...

We all worry about the safety of our family. Of course, we begin talking to our kids at an early age about stranger danger and keeping themselves out of harms way. When our kids go off to live on a campus, we remind them over and over to always be careful of who they are with or where they are going. I've noticed a few new apps being discussed on the news and I thought I'd gather a list of them to share with you. These apps are a precaution we can take as an additional safety

"How can I get my kids to listen the first time I ask them to do something?" This is a question I'm asked time and again! Parents want their kids to do something right away, kids will put it off until the yelling begins. 1. Get his attention If we make a request while a child is fully engaged in another activity, he may not realize we're speaking to him or he's only half listening because he is focused on something else. Politely ask your child to stop what he is doing, wait

As a parent, I look at technology as both a blessing and a curse. Our generation is the first one to raise kids with sources of instant information, texting and endless YouTube videos. Unfortunately, it can also give our kids instant access to inappropriate information as well. After I shared "7 Dangerous Apps Kids are Using" I received an overwhelming response from parents wanting to know what more they can do to keep their kids safe. As a parent educator, my focus is alway

Technology is a typical part of every teen’s day. They wake up and check messages, text with friends and post selfies throughout the day. While all this screen time may annoy parents, it is the center of their child’s social life. Keeping up with the latest ways kids are using technology is time consuming, but it’s our only way to keep our kids safe. While speaking with a group of middle school parents, many parents admitted they were unsure what apps their own child is using