An elephant never forgets.  When they are too small to escape, we train elephants in captivity by shackling their ankles and staking them down.  They try to tug away from their bonds, but eventually learn they can't get loose. That’s when their “elephant memory” takes over.  For the rest of their lives, they remember they can't get away.  Likewise, when someone makes a careless comment to a child, like, “You’re...

It’s not some high-tech gadget you can pick up at a store… it’s a sense of belonging. So how can you instill that in your kids? At home, let your kids know they’re important to you, and to your family. Affirm their positive character traits, encourage their unique gifts, and let them know their thoughts and opinions matter. Then, when you’re out in public, praise them to others – and proudly claim them: “This is...

Every parent wonders, sooner or later, if the values they are teaching their kids will actually stick with them. Personal experience and visits with hundreds of parents have convinced me that planting certain seeds in your child’s life will strengthen your positive influence on them.  Here are a few of those seeds. First, focus on making memories that will last. Camping, fishing, hiking, biking, family...

Jeff Foxworthy has been making people laugh for years.  But he takes his role as a husband and father very seriously.  So much so that he'd often hire a plane to get back from a late gig so he'd be there to take his daughters to school the next morning.  In the same way, are you doing everything you can make sure that you spend as much time with your family as possible?  It's very important to provide for your...

One of the best things you can do as a parent is to strive to live a model life that is worthy for your child to follow. Here are 5 things you should model for your child. First, model consistency. Whether you’re with your family, friends, or coworkers, your child needs to see that you are the real deal…that you’re same person wherever you are and whoever you are with. Second, model self-denial. It’s easy to live...

I think most parents have moments of uncertainty or even fear about sharing their mistakes with their children. But we shouldn’t let our bad choices, or the fear of looking like a hypocrite, stop us as parents. Here’s why you shouldn’t be afraid to share your mistakes with your kids. First, history is a good teacher. Your past bad choices don’t disqualify you from opposing those choices now. Being transparent...

I’ve been a dad for 26 years now. So with nearly 3 decades of experience under my belt, I’ve learned a few things about effective parenting. Here are just a few. First, applaud your child. Don’t get so caught up in discipline that you forget to applaud your kids when they do well. Second, be available to your child. Make sure your child feels like a bigger priority than your hobbies, your favorite TV show, and...