Sunshine Parenting

It is really important to shine the light on actual bullying behavior when it is toxic, relentless and cruel. But if we mistake things that are rude, joking or even mean and over-label them as bullying, then we are going to stop paying attention to bullying just as fast as it came into the spotlight.… The post Ep. 66: Is it Rude, Is it Mean, or Is it Bullying? with Signe Whitson appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

Kids need time in adolescence to answer the questions: Who am I? Where do I belong? Am I normal? They need reflective spaces, quiet time, time for daydreaming, time to listen to music on the couch, not having anywhere to be. We need to protect this time for our kids. Mary Hofstedt, Challenge Success  … The post Ep. 65: Raising Engaged, Happy Kids with Mary Hofstedt appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

I think when you’re talking about your kids coming home for a longer period of time, whether it is for Christmas or summer, setting that expectation up is really important because otherwise, you get frustrated with them on the couch and we don’t always use our best parenting skills when we are frustrated. Maria Horner… The post Ep. 64: Home for the Holidays: Preparing for Your College Kid to Come Home appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

Enjoy the little things because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things.   In Episode 63, I’m chatting with my friend Sara Kuljis of Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp and Emerald Cove Day Camp. We talk about family gratitude practices and lessons from camp for having more grateful families. At Thanksgiving, it's easy to remember to be grateful, but the habit of gratitude -- practiced at camp, at home, and in the world -- helps us to be happier all year long. BIG IDEAS Gratitude is a muscle. We can build it with practice. Research has shown that those who express gratitude daily have a more optimistic view of life and a healthier well-being. Developing relationships with the people around us makes it easier to share authentic gratitude. Model respect by thanking others, especially those who serve us. Use their first names when possible. Make eye contact Ways to show gratitude at camp or at home : Flower Sunday -- the practice of handing a daisy while sharing an affirmation or gratitude wi

When the (campers) get home, parents and teachers, without knowing who’s been to camp, can always tell. Their whole attitude changes. They have more confidence. Phil Lilienthal In Episode 62, I’m chatting with Phil Lilienthal of Global Camps Africa. We talk about his early Peace Corps experience in Ethiopia, forming Camp Langano, spending the next… The post Ep. 62: Creating Change Around the World Through the Power of Camp with Phil Lilienthal appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

Creativity is not (just) writing songs or painting a picture. It is figuring out what to do when you have a situation, which is not learned in structured play where adults tell kids what to do. They need informal, intentional free play. Andy Pritikin   In Episode 60, I’m chatting with Andy Pritikin, camp owner-operator… The post Ep. 60: The Importance of Outdoor, Child-Directed Free Play with Andy Pritikin appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

“We need to prepare our kids for a future world that is changing. The economy is changing so fast and the corporate ladder is dissolving.  We need to get out of our kids’ way and allow them to try new things, figure out what they like and don’t like. Let them fail and learn in… The post Ep. 59: 5 Ways to Help Kids Thrive During Their School Years and Beyond with Pam Roy appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

At Authentic Teacher we are dedicated to helping students learn using culturally relevant lessons, best teaching practices and state of the art technology to help parents and teachers provide the best education possible in the 21st century! Jackie Beyer Episode 58 features Authentic Teacher website and podcast founder Jackie Marie Beyer. Jackie is an experienced educator… The post Ep. 58: Authentic Teaching with Jackie Beyer appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

“The strong bond of friendship is not always a balanced equation; friendship is not always about giving and taking in equal shares. Instead, friendship is grounded in a feeling that you know exactly who will be there for you when you need something, no matter what or when.” Simon Sinek Our adult friendships are really… The post Ep. 57: The Importance of Adult Friendships with Sara Kuljis appeared first on Sunshine Parenting.

  In Episode 55, I'm chatting with Anne Driscoll, owner of Branches Books & Gifts in Oakhurst, California. We talk all things books, including: Reading Levels Getting the parent and the child on the same when choosing books. Getting the right books in the hands of each child. The pros and cons of the reading level system. Asking for teacher input when choosing a book. "Let the child read what they want to read" - Anne Driscoll Why some children at high levels are embarrassed. AR (Accelerated Reader) Choosing a book  "I gently try to encourage them to let the child read what they want to read." Anne Driscoll Why audio books can be great when a child is struggling with content Audio Books: https://libro.fm/branchesbooks Knowing your child and what books are appropriate Graphic novels for reluctant readers Encouraging reluctant readers to choose books with a TV show or movie that might be familiar "Sometimes parents want to shield their kids from sad stories or tragic endings, but those are the ones that r

"Chores give children a sense of purpose and accomplishment." -Dr. Jim Sears In Episode 51, I'm chatting with my long-time friend and camp colleague, Dr. Jim Sears. I've known him as Camp Doctor  "Bones" for the past 14 years, but he is better known by his patients at his family's pediatric practice as "Dr. Jim." Dr. Jim spent several years as a co-host on the Dr. Phil hit spin-off series called, The Doctors, a nationally syndicated hour-long daily talk show that is informative and entertaining! Dr. Jim earned his medical degree at St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1996 and completed his pediatric residency at Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine, Tod Children’s Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio in 1999. During his residency, he received the honor of “Emergency Medicine Resident of the Year.” Dr. Jim has been featured on Parenting.com’s “Ask the Experts,” and has written for “Parenting” and “BabyTalk” magazine. Dr Sears’ medical advice has been featured on “Dr. Phil” and the PBS parenting ser

In Episode 50, I chat with K.J. Dell'Antonia, author of How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute. From KJ's website: I believe each of us is responsible for our own happiness. I believe happier parents are better parents and better people. I believe family should be a source of joy and refuge, not another stressor in a busy life. I believe we can be happy even when things aren’t great. We can raise our families, live our lives, and love (almost) every minute of it — if we let go of the idea of parenting as a direct route to a destination: success, and decide to meander along our own merry way. This former New York Times reporter is taking on the rug rat race — join me! I wrote and edited the Motherlode blog for the Times from 2011 until 2016 and was a contributing editor to the Well Family section from 2016-2017. Ten minutes in my kitchen would convince you that, while some parts of my family life are enviably together (the Rice Krispie treats on the count

In Episode 49, I'm chatting with Michelle Kinder, Executive Director of the Momentous Institute in Dallas, Texas. Michelle has worked in the field of children's mental health for more than 20 years and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and the University of Texas with a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology. Michelle is a fellow of the OpEd Project and has articles featured in TIME, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, Mindful Magazine, Huffington Post, PBS’ Next Avenue, and Scary Mommy.  She is a nationally recognized speaker on trauma, parenting, social-emotional health, and emotionally intelligent leadership.  Michelle is a member of the Stagen Leadership Academy, the North Texas Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association. Michelle grew up in Guatemala and is fluent in Spanish. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Patrick, and their two daughters, Maya and Sop

Something I always talk about is the parent child relationship. It is so important, especially at this age. Reid Broudy Reid Broudy is a rising senior who attends Wildwood School in Los Angeles. Reid has been coming to Gold Arrow Camp since 2014 and recently completed the Junior Counselor program. His camp nickname is REX. Some of Reid’s extracurricular activities include serving as student body president, running his own club called Teens Make a Change, and being on the Common Sense Media Teen Council. What is Common Sense Media? Common Sense Media is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.  CSM provides accurate information and tools, as well as an independent forum so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume. Find out more at www.commonsensemedia.org. CSM’s Los Angeles Teen Council is d

For this episode of the Podcast, I talked with five 17-year-old Junior Counselors who've been going to camp for a long time: Will (10th year); Jackson (7th year); Caroline (7th year); Blake (6th year); and Quinn (3rd year). Below are some quotes from our talk. How have you changed or grown because of your time at camp? Will: "When I'm at camp, I realize that being yourself is the best thing to be." "The best friends to have are people that accept you for who you are." "Camp has made me a kinder person." Jackson: "When I first came to camp, when music was playing, I'd be the one just sitting down, not participating in the dancing, but as I've come back every year, I started participating more and more. Now whenever there's music playing, I'm up dancing and having a great time." "I feel like camp definitely helped me just be able to be myself all the time." Caroline: "I think that camp has provided me with a new perspective on life. It helps me go back home and know that I shouldn't care about what others thin

In Episode 46, I chat with Tom Rosenberg, CEO of the American Camp Association about summer camp, accreditation, and #CampKindnessDay. Big Ideas #CampKindnessDay Partnering with Kindness Evolution to promote #CampKindnessDay. Empathy and kindness need to be taught Practicing Kindness at Home The Importance of Story Telling Tom: "Camp is a place where we put those phones aside, we leave them home, literally - 91% of ACA camps do not allow technology to enter their campers' life while they are at camp. So at camp we have an opportunity to learn to live and work and play and communicate with other kids and young adults from different perspectives from our own." Tom: "I hope that on #CampKindnessDay ... campers will share stories of how they've learned to be kind." Tom: "Showing appreciation for other people, and helping them feel valued and part of the community - that's kindness. But that's also the way we lead." Tom: "When kids are in an environment where they feel appreciated and included, then they

It’s much more than getting you into college. It’s more about asking questions that we don’t ask kids early enough and if we did, it might help them navigate some of the tough parts of being a teen or tween in the US today. -Ana Homayoun In Episode 45, I talk with Ana Homayoun, a nationally recognized counselor and consultant specializing in strategies for junior high and high school students. I invited Ana on the podcast because I found her book Social Media Wellness: Helping Tweens and Teens Thrive in an Unbalanced Digital World (Corwin Teaching Essentials) to be an extremely timely and helpful book for parents, teachers, and others who work with youth.  Ana's Bio When Ana Homayoun was a senior in college, she had a professor ask her what qualities she wanted in a career. “I want to write, I want to travel, and I want to help people,” she said without missing the beat. Fifteen years later, she does all of the above. Ana Homayoun is an author, educator, and coach who helps teens and young adults grow into re

So many times as parents we get caught in our ego about what level my kid should be or how good they are, what team they're on, and 'if they're on this team, it must mean I'm a good parent.' It has nothing to do with your parenting skills!-Kirsten Jones In this episode of the podcast, I'm talking with Kirsten Jones, co-host (with Susie Walton) of the #RaisingAthletes Podcast. Kirsten is a former college and professional volleyball player. In addition to providing life coaching to athletes and parents, Kirsten is also raising three athletes of her own, including a son who plans to play college basketball. We talk about some of the biggest challenges for parents raising athletes including parental expectations based on early athletic achievements, keeping sports in perspective, intrinsic motivation, the "sweet spot" for sports participation, and what to do when your kid wants to quit their sport.   Quotes from Kirsten "If your kid gets chosen for the 'B' team and they're ten, ask them some good questions. A lo

In Episode 43, I talk with Jessica Lahey, author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. Jessica is a teacher, writer, and mom. She writes about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Atlantic, and Vermont Public Radio. She is a member of the Amazon Studios Thought Leader Board and wrote the educational curriculum for Amazon Kids’ The Stinky and Dirty Show. Jessica earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts and a J.D. with a concentration in juvenile and education law from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two sons and teaches high school English and writing in Vermont. Related/Resources Jessica Lahey's Website Ready for Adulthood Check-List for Kids  

"Don't use the power of your voice, use your feet" -Maria Horner   In Episode 42, Maria Horner is back with the final installment of her Jedi Mom Tricks. This is Part 3, the final installment of our series! Listen here if you missed Jedi Mom Tricks (Part 1) and (Part 2)! These Jedi Mom Tricks are important lessons Maria has learned as a parent and as a summer camp director for the past three decades. She passes these tricks along to her summer staff each year during counselor training at Catalina Island Camps. Maria Horner with husband Tom, son Nick, and their dog, Boo. Jedi Mom Tricks (Part 3) Jedi Mom Trick #9: Recognize the importance of the words we choose – being intentional about what we say, our tone and our delivery. Jedi Mom Trick #10: Answer questions with questions as an empowerment tool. Jedi Mom Trick #11: Use your feet, instead of your volume. Jedi Mom Trick #12: Tap into the subtle power to influence behaviors. I asked Maria to share another one of her favorite parenting resources, and one