If they are, remember your position. You're there to be an encourager, not to be overbearing. No child wants to be embarrassed by a parent who's screaming and yelling uncontrollably. I was coaching my son's baseball game a few years ago and I got frustrated with the umpire's calls. So, what did I do? I got mad…threw my hat on the ground and walked off the field. Youth sports can bring out the best…or the worst in...

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. There's a great need for loving, adoptive families. Children in the U.S., and around the world, are waiting for a family to call their own. A survey by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption found that 4 out of 10 adults have considered adopting a child, but many families don't pursue it. Misconceptions about adoption sometimes deter them from taking the next step…...

Talking to your kids about sex is probably as uncomfortable for you as it is for them. But if you think it's ok to avoid that discussion—think again. The January 2011 issue of Seventeen Magazine interviewed teens for a national survey on sex, and the findings are disturbing. Teens are increasingly putting themselves at great physical and emotional risk by having pre-marital sex. And sadly, almost a fourth say...

One way you can get involved is by starting an All Pro Dad's Day or iMOM Morning chapter at your child's school. These once-a-month breakfast gatherings for parents and their kids are fun and informative. After breakfast, there's lively discussion on a topic that's relevant to school age children, and plenty of interaction. It's a great way for kids to connect with their mom or dad in a meaningful way, and to...

The best way for your child to learn to be a good decision-maker, is to involve them in your everyday decisions. For example, if you are in the market for another car, ask your child to research it with you on the Internet, go with you to the car dealer to look at cars, discuss with you the options…new or used, lease or purchase, low or high mileage. Sure, you'll ultimately decide, but bringing them into the...

That's a question children hear all the time. And we enjoy hearing their answers…a doctor, a teacher, a fireman, a ballerina. But what if the question was not about what they wanted to do for a living but who they wanted to be as a person? Less about career and more about character. Imagine your child answering, "I want to be a person of integrity…of wisdom…of courage and conviction. I want to be...

It's the sound of a whining child! Parents will do almost anything to make it stop. But yelling or responding harshly to a whining child is one of the worst things you can do. Instead, try this. First, ignore it. If you do, your child will learn that whining doesn't work. Second, when your child begins to whine, simply leave the room. Third, remove the cause of the whining. Fourth, name it…say something...