Parent-child Communication | Dr. Denny Coates

Listening Well to a Teenager Can Be Hard – Some New Encouragement

by Dennis Coates | Oct 12, 2015 | Adolescence, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Strong for Parenting

You may have heard it said that “Few people are good listeners.” While this may ring true, I know you’d like to be a better listener for your teen. The benefits to your relationship are enormous. What you find out! The amazing way it strengthens the...

Help Your Teen Become a Critical Thinker

by Dennis Coates | Oct 12, 2015 | Adolescence, Adolescent Brain, Critical Thinking, Education, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Teen Success

These days, parents hear a lot about the “teen brain” in the popular media. The message is that the “prefrontal cortex” (PFC), the area of the brain in charge of controlling impulses, is still under construction – that this a big reason...

Movies, Popcorn, and Wisdom

by Dennis Coates | Oct 5, 2015 | Adolescence, Critical Thinking, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Teen Success

In another article, I made the point that to prepare for the significant challenges of adult life, a child has to learn a lot more than what is taught in school. Among other things, wisdom. When I grew up, I was fairly smart in school, making straight A’s every...

For Your Child – The Best Feedback in the World

by Dennis Coates | Sep 28, 2015 | Behavior Change, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting

Compliments. Praise. Recognition. Affirmation. Gratitude. Appreciation. Positive feedback. Positive strokes. Pats on the back. Constructive feedback. Good stuff! Unfortunately, most of the feedback we give our kids is negative. You know – CRITICISM. When...

7 Ways to Promote the Parent-Child Bond

by Dennis Coates | Sep 14, 2015 | Guest Blog Posts, Parent-child Communication, Parenting

Thanks to Maureen Denard at FindaNanny.net for this guest post. The adolescent years can stress a parent-child relationship. This article has several practical ideas for helping the bond to grow stronger. In a world where there never seems to be enough time to get...

The Secret to Connecting with Your Teen: Effective Communication Skills

by Dennis Coates | Sep 8, 2015 | Adolescence, Drugs, Parent-child Communication, Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, Strong for Parenting

A teenager made a dumb mistake and damaged a tool. His father, angry, shouted at him about carelessness and irresponsibility. No love, understanding or respect was communicated in the heated interchange. The boy felt like a failure and resented his father for putting...