Posts by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker
Understanding How to Use Natural Consequences vs. Logical Consequences vs. Punishment
There are thousands of parenting books out there, and sometimes it seems like they each coin their own terms just for the sake of being unique and trendy. But do…
Read MoreStop Bad Behavior Before It Starts
The most effective way to stop anything negative is to prevent it from starting in the first place. This is especially true of your child’s behavior. Once poor choices and…
Read MoreWhy Badmouthing the Other Parent Hurts Your Child
When you get a divorce, it’s easy to think about all of the mistakes your partner made or the ways they may have changed for the worse. And to some…
Read MoreIntroducing Stepfamilies the UnBrady Way
When it comes to stepfamilies, happy-go-lucky Brady’s are hard to come by – the complex nature of blended families typically involves loss, change, confusion, anxiety and distrust – not quite…
Read MoreHelping Your Child Cope with a Difficult Divorce
Unfortunately, most divorces are not exactly amicable. Affairs, abandonment, substance abuse, incarceration or hostile arguments may characterize the road to your divorce. In those cases, how to you talk to…
Read MoreHelping Your Child Cope with an Amicable Divorce
As a parent, how do you tell your child that his or her parents are no longer going to be together? Even if the divorce is a mutual or amicable…
Read MoreHelping Your High Schooler Cope with Loss
Though a teenager’s understanding of death and grief may be similar to that of an adult, it is important to remember that they are not yet adults. The teen years…
Read MoreHelping Your Middle Schooler Cope with Loss
Children who are nearing adolescence will have a greater understanding of the concepts associated with death, such as the irreversibility of death and the potential causes. They will also begin…
Read MoreHelping Your Elementary-Age Child Cope with Loss
Children ages six to ten will exhibit greater curiosity about death than during previous developmental stages. Some of their questions and words may seem frightening to you as a parent,…
Read MoreHelping Your Preschooler Cope with Loss
Preschoolers’ understanding of death is in a tricky developmental stage. With infants and toddlers, physical affection and consistency are key; while this is also true with preschoolers, the verbal aspect…
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