July 9th, 2026
If you really want to do something…
Originally posted 2016-07-16 08:18:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
July 2nd, 2026
How to avoid power struggles with stubborn kids
When kids get stubborn, adults are tempted to turn up the heat by making demands, raising voices, making threats, and showing we mean business. To stubborn kids, that’s a challenge they would love to take you up on.
To reduce the chance of a power struggle, here’s a Love and Logic tip:
1. Approach slowly as if you haven’t a care in the world.
2. Ask nicely, “Will you ______________, just for me? Thanks!”
3. Act cool, turn tail, and slowly walk away.Research has demonstrated that the odds of getting into a nasty power struggle with a kid dramatically decrease when we’re no longer around them. The true science has to do with expectations and the fact that people will live up to…or down to…the ones we communicate. What expectation do we send when we ask someone to do something and then stare at them? The message is clear: “You’re not going to do this for me.”
In contrast, what expectation is sent when we make the very same request yet move away? The message is far more positive: “This is a win-win situation. I know you’ll help me out.”
Originally posted 2016-01-27 17:06:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
June 25th, 2026
Daily Homework Time
If homework is not automatic in your home, if it causes some battles, if you know there’s “got to be a better way,” consider Daily Homework Time. Your student will usually have only two kinds of homework: (1) stuff from class they didn’t finish, and (2) stuff they should work on at home to get better and smarter.
The second thing is called Daily Homework Time. The basic idea is for you set aside about 30-50 minutes Monday through Thursday for your student to get smarter; 30 minutes for 3rd graders, 40 minutes for 4th graders, or 50 minutes for 5th graders. Each night, they should practice some math, do some writing, and finish class homework. Other things might be to work on cursive, practice math facts, or work on spelling. There’s no such thing as, “I have no homework,” because there is always something to get better at, such as math practice or writing.
Your student probably won’t do this on their own. But with your guidance, you can help your student get into good habits of doing something every day to improve themselves (not to mention their grades).
Originally posted 2016-09-20 17:36:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
June 17th, 2026
When kids say, “I’m stupid”
There are few things that tear at our hearts more than hearing our kids say, “I’m stupid.”
At first glance the following parent seems to be right on track:
No you are not stupid. Honey, think of all of the things you are good at. How about reading? You’re good at that! And, remember how much you improved in baseball last summer. Stupid kids don’t learn how to hit curve balls like you did. And your art is wonderful. If you were dumb, would you have been able to learn how to create those drawings with such wonderful three-dimensional perspectives? I don’t think so.
At second glance, we realize that this well-meaning parent is actually lending credibility to their child’s “I’m stupid” remark… by spending so much time and energy addressing it.
The Love and Logic approach is much simpler…just ask your student, “Aren’t you glad that I don’t believe that?”
The same response is fitting when a student says, “I can’t do this.” Rather than trying to convince the student that they are wrong, just ask the student, “Aren’t you glad I don’t believe you?” Said with a positive voice and a smile, a student has no choice but to agree with you!
Read more about how to handle these types of negative comments.
Originally posted 2013-10-11 16:53:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
June 10th, 2026
Right, not easy
Originally posted 2017-04-19 18:56:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
