By Pam Siegel and Leslie Zinberg

In today’s rapid-paced society, many grandparents have become more and more involved in the day-to-day care of their grandchildren. So…when we became grandparents we had no idea what to expect. We had a vision of what we thought grandparenting would look like — have fun, say yes to everything, and then of course, at the end of the day, hand the kids back to their parents. However, we now know grandparenting is so much more.

As a result of dual-career and single-parent families, many of our adult children depend on us to help them navigate their complicated lives. We carpool to school and other activities, help with homework, and, if necessary, step in to handle discipline issues. At the same time, we must keep our comments to ourselves, especially when our grown children’s wishes and rules differ from our own. This can be tricky. (more…)

How to find the right camp for your kid.

By Jill Levin

A recent Forbes article (“The Best Bootcamp for Soft Skills May be the Best Camp,” by Ryan Craig, July 26, 2019 issue) discussed how overnight camps do a great job teaching kids the soft skills they need to flourish as adults. Sleep-away camp, as well as away-from-home programs for teens, are multi-layered experiences that prepares children and teens for college and beyond.

Teamwork, conflict resolution, problem-solving, leadership and communication skills, resilience, decision-making, empathy, and friendship-building are just some of the ways students can grow when they attend camp or a summer teen program. Each day provides so many opportunities for growth – setting a goal, learning a new skill, trying a new activity, navigating friendships, being a team captain, earning a reward for a job well done, comforting a bunkmate, completing a chore, and more. (more…)

By Carolyn Mahboubi

I come from a family of high achievers. My work as a Life and Leadership Coach has me in constant conversation with leaders who would proudly carry this label. But in pushing the borders of exploring what it means to live a happy life, it has become clear to me that being a high achiever is no longer a badge of honor or a marker of life satisfaction.

Achievement by its nature is about doing. As a Coach, I am committed to helping my clients create sustainable action plans to reach their desired goals. I also help them stay on the path that has them knowing they are moving in the right direction, no matter how long it takes. Naturally “doing” is a big part of this work. (more…)

By The National Association of School Pyschologists

Natural disasters can be traumatic for children and youth. Experiencing a dangerous wildfire can be frightening even for adults, and the devastation to the familiar environment (i.e., home and community) can be long-lasting and distressing. Often an entire community is impacted, further undermining a child’s sense of security and normalcy. Wildfires present a variety of unique issues and coping challenges, including the need to relocate when home and/or community have been destroyed, the role of the family in lessening or exacerbating the trauma, emotional reactions, and coping techniques.

Children look to the significant adults in their lives for guidance on how to manage their reactions after the immediate threat is over. Parents, teachers, and other caregivers can help children and youth cope in the aftermath of a wildfire by remaining calm and reassuring children that they will be all right. Immediate response efforts should emphasize teaching effective coping strategies, fostering supportive relationships, and helping children understand their reactions. (more…)