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Along the side of my parents' house in Arizona, oranges and lemons grow on the trees year-round. These trees produce large, juicy, edible fruit but, as good as they are to eat, I have come to believe that this is not where you find the best flavor that the fruit has to offer. The best flavor is deep within the fruit and has to be intensely squeezed to get it all out. Many of the nutrients found in fruits are found in their juice. If we didn’t squeeze it, we would miss important nutrien …

When it comes to children and their entertainment preferences, books are like cilantro. Some children fully take to reading and embrace every opportunity to sprinkle it into their day. Some children balk at the notion of reading for fun. While reading for pleasure may feel like a polarizing concept, the fact that reading is fundamental for whole-child success, is not. Establishing a love of reading in children will set them up for multi-level success. Amongst other invaluable essentials, …

Have you ever asked yourself, “How many friends do I have?” Of course, there are many different levels of friendship. You have your “Bestie Super Close” friends that are a part of your soul, your “Kinda Close” friends that bounce in and out of your life often, your “Hi – Bye” friends (called acquaintances), and finally those friends who don’t really fit into any of your categories other than “Friend.” Regardless of the friendship level, one rule stands constant: In order to hav …

The middle school years can be an exciting time. Preteens are becoming more independent and meeting so many new kids. Unfortunately, not all changes are exciting. Changes in friendships are common, but so difficult. Your child will need your support during this time. Many middle school students will struggle with their identity.  Who am I? Who do I want to be? When your child explores her identity, this will also impact her opinion on the types of kids she wants to spe …

The middle school years are arguably the most challenging time for children, mainly due to friendship struggles. Friendships can change from day to day, sometimes even from hour to hour. This can be so confusing and frustrating for preteens who have always relied on their friends for camaraderie throughout their school day. When your child feels like his friendships are at risk, it can make him distracted with worry about his role in the conflict and that he may end up losing friend …

We’ve all heard or been a part of conversations like this, which is why it can be hard as a parent to know when the right time is to start helping or have an evaluation for your child. While kids’ academics are monitored closely and there’s readily available data to show when there is a deficit, other areas like social skills fall into a grey area. Many parents aren’t sure what exactly the norm is, and they don’t want to take away their child’s individuality. While it’s true that you …

We all have busy lives. Between sports practice, running errands or finally taking that road trip, it often feels like there isn’t time for everything. Something has to give. Usually, that something is the extra social skills practice or speech homework. However, don’t work harder, work smarter. Language and social skills are actually some of the easiest pieces to incorporate when you are on the go. In fact, you’re probably already doing it to an extent without knowing it. Here are fo …

What’s your superpower?I’m not talking about reading minds, flying, or - my personal favorite - teleportation. The power that all of us have, and that we can choose to use, is the power to help.When I was a school counselor giving guidance lessons for elementary-school children, this was a fun lesson to give. My office walls would be filled with paper superheroes that the students colored and cut out. We would talk about how we all have personal power, and we choose whether we want to help …

In The Good, the Bad, and the Backstory, we learn about how Ryan’s mom dealt with an abusive relationship and how she finally was able to leave. Another character in the book, Andrew, has a volatile relationship with his father. He never knows what to expect - what’s going to set his dad off - and he regularly witnesses his father treating his mother poorly. For Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, let’s look at intimate partner violence: some statistics, red flags, the …

We all want our children to become successful and reach their fullest potential. Accomplishing this goal is going to require help from endless amounts of people along the way. A parent, coach, or neighbor are just a few of the people who may support your child. As much as I wish I could read my boys’ minds to help know what they need, that isn’t possible. This is why it is so important to teach the skill of being a self-advocate to children. As a father of two boys, there h …