“Why?” Because I’m your father/mother and I said so! If you recognize that this age-old parenting retort is a poor answer to a good question, then you are tapping into one of the most important ways that humans can use their intelligence: to understand the...
The increasing number of mass shootings, often labeled “hate crimes", is profoundly disturbing to most adults. The impact on children and teens is probably much greater. Whether the shooting occurs far away or closer to home, it’s a parent’s job to act as a filter...
by Michael Popkin Research from De Montfort University in the UK showed that parents who praised their children five times each day saw an improvement in the child’s behavior. A “Five Praises Campaign” was even launched to help parents learn to be mindful of the need...
by Michael Popkin On May 14, 2019, my wife, Melody, and I became grandparents of an 8½ pound baby boy. Our daughter, Megan, whom some of you may remember as the ten-year-old girl reciting the Ages and Stages poem in our earlier version of Active Parenting:...
Courage is such an important character trait in today's complex world of choices that it forms the very foundation upon which a child constructs her personality. Here is a poem I wrote a while back exploring the struggle between Courage and Fear. (Click to download...
From the French word coeur, meaning heart, courage is at the forefront of all the qualities of character that we would hope to instill in our children, because it is the one upon which all others are built. This has been at the center of...
Download this flyer When tragedy strikes, it's a parent's job to act as a filter for their children. Hours of emotional news coverage can create a distorted understanding of the world, and children are not intellectually equipped to assess the facts. A very young child, for...
Active Parenting founder and president Dr. Michael Popkin explores the joys and challenges of a "spirited" child. Forrest Gump might have observed that kids are like a box of chocolates: you never know what you are going to get. Some are born with a peaceful temperament while...
by Dr. Michael Popkin Founder and President, Active Parenting Publishers For over 34 years, Active Parenting skills have proven effective with almost all children. However, those who have worked with special-needs children know that how these skills are applied and modified to fit their needs can make...
by Michael Popkin, Ph.D. Founder and President, Active Parenting Publishers Why do some parents abuse their children? The short answer is that it is an interaction effect brought about by a number of factors, including outside stress (more stress equals shorter fuses); psychological issues in the parent...
