assertiveness

How to Help Kids Handle Big Feelings

168
14 years
by in anger, assertiveness, Being a Mom, kids, Parenting

This is a great post from Kidlutions: Solutions for Kids.  It talks about how easy it is to say the wrong thing, even when you have the right intentions…but also how simple it can be to validate a child’s big feelings and teach him or her how to cope with them.

 

Personally, as a mom of a girl whose intense temperament makes her a force to be reckoned with–in both good and challenging ways–I can”t wait to read the follow up Part 2!

 

http://www.facebook.com/notes/kidlutions-solutions-for-kids/you-dont-really-feel-that-waypart-i/10150290610751889

Waking Up Full of Awesome: Pigtail Pals

240
14 years
by in assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, kids, media messages

This is one of the best, most girl power-ful posts I have ever read.  Love it, love the organization!

Please check them out:

http://blog.pigtailpals.com/2011/08/waking-up-full-of-awesome/

What Moms Can Do About Mean Girls

6
14 years
by in assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, bullying, cyberbullying, friends, kids, Parenting, parents

Not only is Maggie Lamond Simone a hilariously funny writer with great insights into parenting, but she’s also a redhead.  What’s not to love?

Check out her great article on “Mean Girls” from the Huff Post.  Apparently, she and I have more in common than just the hair; in her article and in Friendship & Other Weapons, we both write about parents helping kids cope with bullying by teaching them critical skills, such as standing up for themselves, reaching out to others who are being bullied, championing what they like about themselves, and not tolerating meanness.

 

“If we help our girls develop/retain their self-esteem, there’s a better chance they will be neither bully nor victim.”

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maggie-lamond-simone/mean-girls_b_937810.html?icid=maing-grid10|htmlws-main-bb|dl16|sec1_lnk3|92426

Win a FREE Copy of The Angry Smile!

387
14 years
by in anger, angry smile, assertiveness, counter-passive aggression, Levels of passive aggression, Life Space Crisis Intervention, passive aggression, passive aggression by children, passive aggression in families, passive aggression in relationships, passive aggressive, passive aggressive behavior at work, passive aggressive behavior in families, passive aggressive behavior in relationships, passive aggressive co-workers, passive aggressive revenge, passive aggressive signs, passive aggressive TV clips

Hello all–

I’ve got a busy Fall planned, with several training workshops featuring The Angry Smile.  Although I’ve got a good number of stories about sugarcoated hostility, excessive civility, defiant compliance, and plain old passive aggressive behavior to share, I am always looking for fresh, new examples.  If you have a good example of passive aggressive behavior from a friend, family member, co-worker, parent, child, mother-in-law (those are the best!), boss, on Facebook, via e-mail, on a post-it note, or all of the above, I would love to hear it!

Please e-mail me your story to Signe@SigneWhitson.com or better yet, leave it here via the Comments section.  Be sure to leave me your e-mail address; I will be sending a free copy of The Angry Smile: The Psychology of Passive Aggressive Behavior in Families, Schools, and Workplaces, 2nd ed. to the best example I receive.

Spread the word.  It’ll be great for my collection of real-life examples of passive aggressive behavior and probably worth several laughs for you as well, as you hear about the hilarious lengths some people go to avoid expressing their anger directly and assertively.

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: By submitting this story to www.signewhitson.com, you grant Signe Whitson a permanent, royalty-free license to use and/or reproduce this story for any purpose.

3 Ways to Help Your Daughter Understand & Withstand Media Influences

1290
14 years
by in assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, bullying, internet, kids, media messages, online, Parenting

Messages embedded in song lyrics, video imagery, and advertising influence the ways girls think about themselves and their relationships with others. You can help your daughters–and other young girls–become aware of media messages that violate values and degrade girls, using these engaging conversations and activities: (more…)

How to Help Your Daughter Develop Leadership Skills

937
14 years
by in assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, Parenting

Check out this great article from Dr. Michelle Borba, based on research from the Girl Scouts of America.  Great tips, practical strategies, and important reminders for parents on how to help our daughters become confident leaders.

Most importantly: Be the change you want to see in your daughter’s life.

http://www.micheleborba.com/blog/2011/07/05/michele-borba-helping-girls-become-confident-leaders-based-on-the-girl-scouts-research/

Do Anti-Bullying Programs work?

488
14 years
by in assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, bullying, cyberbullying, Parenting

I love this post by blogger Sue Scheff and agree 100% with her thought that the most effective anti-bullying programs are those that aim to teach social and emotional coping strategies for handling bullying, rather than those that rely on “zero tolerance” policies or focus exclusively on the bully. (more…)

How to Cope with Mean Girls

703
14 years
by in assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, bullying, kids, Parenting

In my little neck of the woods, we are all a-buzz with thoughts and wishes about the postcards scheduled to be mailed from our local elementary school tomorrow, letting us know who our kids’ teachers will be for the coming school year.  While I have hopes for a specific teacher with a reputation for inspiring creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, what I am really wishing for most is that my daughter’s class be filled with nice kids.

The little voice inside my head nags that that expectation is too high.  We are approaching the third grade year–girls are getting meaner.  I hate to say it.  I don’t want to give in to stereotypes.  But I know it to be true.  The bullying that “peaks in middle school” according to statistics, grows very strong roots in elementary school. (more…)

5 Ways to Talk with Your Daughter About Technology, from Rachel Simmons

488
14 years
by in assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, bullying, cyberbullying, Facebook, internet, kids, media messages, Parenting

In her newly revised and updated  book, Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, author Rachel Simmons suggests five conversation starters for parents to use to get their daughters to open up about social media use.  “Opening lines” and areas ripe for discussion include:

1.  What’s your favorite thing to do online or on your phone?

2. Would your friendships be better or worse without technology? Easier or harder? (more…)

Win a copy of How To Be Angry!

9
14 years
by in anger, assertiveness, Being a Mom, building self-esteem in girls, Parenting

Click below to visit ParentCentral.net and register to win a free copy of my book, How to Be Angry: An Assertive Anger Expression Group Guide for Kids & Teens.

How To Be Angry on ParentCentral

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Signe Whitson is an author and educator on bullying, crisis intervention, and child and adolescent emotional and behavioral health. In her articles, books, and training workshops, Signe provides down-to-earth, practical advice for professionals and parents on navigating the daily challenges of living and working with children, tweens and teens.

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