by Dennis Coates | Apr 25, 2022 | Adolescence, Adolescent Brain, Parenting, Parenting Books, Teen Success, Teen Suicide
Across the street lives a beautiful family: a nine-year-old boy, a four-year-old girl, and parents who spend a lot of time with them outdoors teaching them things. A lot of fun. A lot of love. I’ve enjoyed watching the kids grow up. I sometimes wonder what the...
by Dennis Coates | Mar 15, 2022 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Critical Thinking, Encouragement, Inspiring Quotes, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books, Personal Strength
As I write this, Vladimir Putin has decided that he wants Ukraine to become a part of Russia. The people of Ukraine don’t want this; they want to remain their own nation, separate from Russia. But rather than enter into peaceful relations with Ukraine, Putin has...
by Dennis Coates | Feb 24, 2022 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books
In Chapter 4 of my book, Connect with Your Kid: Mastering the Top 10 Parent-Child Communication Skills, I place special emphasis on the skill, “Listening to Understand.” The main reasons is that a parent’s ability to listen well is crucial in so many...
by Dennis Coates | Jan 17, 2022 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Education, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books, Teen Success
I often reflect on what my life was like as a kid. My early childhood happened in the 50’s and my adolescence happened in the 60’s. It was, I think, a typical lower-middle class upbringing. I had five brothers and two sisters and a father and mother who...
by Dennis Coates | Oct 18, 2021 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Programs, Teen Success
A common consequence of parenting an adolescent child: the alienated teen. It’s natural for a growing child to seek more independence. After all, becoming an adult and creating a happy, successful life of their own is the goal. But you want your child to remain...
by Dennis Coates | Sep 27, 2021 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Education, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Teen Success
The book, Connect with Your Kid, is a how-to manual for improving the 10 most important parent-child communication skills. And listening to understand is at the top of the list, for several reasons: When your child is trying to express something, you need to hear it....