Have you noticed a higher incidence of asthma occurring in both children and adults these days? Pollution, particularly in large cities and industrial corridors, is causing an increase in respiratory illnesses as high as 50% in some areas. When the quality of our air is poor, we tend to breathe shallowly, and we absorb more toxins in the process. Rapid or shallow breathing leads to poor oxygen supply, respiratory disease, fatigue or heart disease. Poor breathing also robs us of energy and mental alertness.  More...

Home-based businesses are the wave of the present and the future. According to Home Business Magazine, home-based businesses are a trillion dollar industry. These ventures vary wildly in their scope, and attract people from all walks of life. Working from home is attractive to men and women; single and married people; as well as those fresh out of college, career switchers, and retirees.  More...

From the moment a pregnant woman intuitively strokes her growing belly, a bond forms. In response to this gentle massage, the unborn child will move her arms, legs, and head. This exchange of movement and the mutual feelings it evokes initiates a bond between mother and child. Bonds, such as this, that start with touch can be one of the strongest and most influential for infants and children of all ages.  More...

The preschool years are an exciting time for both children and parents. It is the time when children pass through babyhood and enter childhood. During their third and fourth years, children enjoy a great deal of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. They become stronger and more in control of their bodies, emotions, and environment. It is in this stage that many pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, and parents begin to catch glimpses of the person their child is becoming.  More...

We are all aware of what a positive self-image can do for a person. It gives him the confidence to achieve more. It picks him up when he is down. It makes it possible for him to enjoy life to the fullest. The same holds true for families. Like individuals, every family has its ups and downs. Situations such as illness, separation, divorce, and parent-child power struggles can dent a positive family-image. One way to offset the effects of these situations is to involve the family in a group project. More...

Each of us has our own style. Personal style is a natural predisposition toward time, stress, people, tasks, and situations. It is also the foundation on which preferences, reactions, and life values are built. When parents understand their child’s personal style, communication and interaction become easier and more effective. This can help parents achieve the behavioral results they want, and the harmony they desire.  More...

The enduring physical and emotional impact of the recent terrorist attacks on America and the ensuing war is reflected in the words of two children reported in a Tucson daily newspaper. "It hurts my heart" and "There is a big hole in my heart," the children said. Sadly, these children may not be alone.  More...

Whether a personal trauma or a national tragedy, like the one we have recently endured, our children suffer. Whether their suffering manifests as overt misbehavior or in quiet reticence, we can help children cope so they do not feel alone. While we cannot shield children's innocence, we can help them feel safe.  More...

Teaching children to care can start with any service project of your family's choosing. When our family moved across the country from our parents, siblings, and cousins, our first holiday was lonely without the conversation and company of three generations. Determined to start our own tradition, my daughter, stepson, husband and I discussed what we wanted to do, why we liked it, and made our list. These activities were some of our best times. Here is our list to get your family started on their caring opportunities.  More...

In a world where violence and bullying seem to be common, some parents are wondering how we help our children be happy and successful. Happy children have good self-esteem, demonstrate resilience, and feel valued in their families. Experts agree that happy children share certain characteristics like optimism and a sense of control. How can parents create a supportive family atmosphere to create happy and successful children?   More...

What gifts will your children receive during the holidays? If they include insight into their well-being, then Santa Claus has been looking out for them.  More...

Ninety per cent of your children's success in life depends upon emotional responsiveness. Can your child respond to life without hesitance and fear? You have a wonderful opportunity to help your child develop and use strong inner resources.  More...

Lawrence J. Greene, author of Helping Your Child Make Wise Decisions, says children solve problems, bounce back from setbacks, and learn from mistakes by following their parents’ actions. Simply stated, parents do it and children learn it.  More...

What do thumb sucking, sleeping with a doll, and eating a peanut butter sandwich everyday have in common? These are topics of questions sent to Inspired Parenting about behaviors of two-year-olds. These typical behaviors demonstrate the desire for soothing and the need for structure or routine as the two-year-old's brain is connecting the neural dots in one of their fastest growth spurts.  More...

Gifts are good wishes topped with beautiful bows. Giving thanks is how we return those good wishes. Nothing shows appreciation more than a heartfelt thank you. Likewise, nothing is more embarrassing than hearing, “Yuck, socks!” come from your child’s mouth. This holiday season don’t cross your fingers and hope for the best. Show your children what the best is.   More...

Parent: "Okay, you're grounded because you didn't take out the garbage. That's it; I've had it."

Ten-year-old Tommy: "What do you mean? You didn't tell me to take out the garbage. I'm not a mind reader."

Parent: "Do I have to yell at you every time? It's your job in this family. Don't you get it?"

Is this a familiar scenario in your home - a dialogue that shows you're just not communicating?   More...

Saturday, January 28th, I had the privilege to watch the premier screening of a new film called The Indigo Revolution which was sponsored by CosmiKids and Children of the New Earth Magazine. Thrills and chills ran through me as I watched the story unfold yet another time of children born from 1980’s forward and who exhibit in their early years a connection to the wisdom of the universe, or God. Parents, educators, doctors, philosophers and the children themselves shared their stories of knowing of their previous lives, direct inspiration to paint haunting images, or telepathic communication.   More...

Suppose your six-year-old son Eric has just broken his brother's toy fire truck. You react with anger, shouting, "Eric, why can't you behave? You're always breaking things."  More...

The renowned Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung understood that people have a natural approach to life and learn in different ways. If you understand your innate style to interactions with people and the environment, then you plan for and control your life in a safe, easy way.   More...

In today's fast-paced world that bombards the senses with sounds and mechanical vibrations, your body can easily shift into an unnatural rhythm. You might say you're "out of synch" or "out of harmony" while science would call that feeling "stressed."   More...

Did you ever wonder about our spiritual nature? Is it inherent? Do we learn it? How do we ever develop a sense of something greater than ourselves that we eventually call God by so many different names. Is God intangible? Concrete? The mysteries of life, and the vast array of universe above us, make us pause and respect the unknown.  More...

My daughter had three bouts of strep throat in first grade. In second grade, she was starting on her second round of throat infections when we sat quietly in the doctor's office and held hands. She looked up at me with tears dangling in her long lashes and said, "I'm sorry I'm sick, Mommy. I promise I'll get better."  More...

Millions of children and parents are reading the high-fantasy stories of hero Harry Potter. The popularity of the Harry Potter books is both disturbing and exciting for us parents. It is disturbing because it shows us how little encouragement our children receive to develop their dreams and vision. It is exciting because Harry makes us stretch and revolutionize our thinking in the way we support our children's inner world of imagination, dreaming, and story telling.  More...

At the International Breath Institute, we've worked with many people suffering from stress-related illnesses. We coined the term “stress addiction” after studying and compiling data and research on stress and its effects. Simply stated, stress addiction is working at an intense or prolonged pace, suffering a traumatic experience, and always being on the edge. It is like being in a state of hyper-arousal all the time.   More...

Ever wonder what happens when your young children respond in unexpected ways to the words you say?

It's because the words they hear differ from the emotional messages they receive at the same time. Consequently, they feel mixed up so their responses are mixed up.   More...

Parents wear many hats. Among them are role model, doctor, and chauffeur. Often their most difficult role is that of disciplinarian. Disciplining children is complex. It requires patience and understanding. For centuries, spanking was the primary discipline tool. Unfortunately, it is ineffective and can be harmful. Countless studies have shown that spanking does little more than perpetuate aggression and violence. This is only one reason to not spank your child. Here are ten more.  More...

While having breakfast with friends at a restaurant one Saturday morning, I noticed a thirty-something father sharing a meal with his son, about three years old. As he waited for his food, the boy became restless and moved around on his side of the booth. Then he slid under the table and sat on the floor. This action seemed to embarrass his father who kept demanding, "Get up. Don't do that. Get up now." When the boy didn't respond to these orders, the father started kicking him to urge him to come out from under the table. The father's large foot struck his son squarely at the base of the spine with considerable force.  More...

Every morning, six-year-old Josh and his mom clash at breakfast just as Mom is ready to walk out the door. A daydreamer by nature, Josh moves through life at a slower pace than his task-oriented mom who values organization. Their distinct ways of relating to the world reveal their obviously different personal styles.   More...

We all know that money cannot buy happiness. Nor is it the root of all evil. Learning how to manage money, however, is important to ensuring a sense of security and self-worth. No matter whether your child wants to be a stockbroker or a school teacher, learning how to manage money gives them the key to financial success. A success that comes from knowing she has the skills and the knowledge necessary to take care of herself.   More...

In my book, Nurture Your Child's Gift, I asked if you were willing to join a parenting revolution by the way that you view and interact with your children. Can you view parenting with mindfulness, as one of the joys that you chose in this life--to provide guardianship and direction to a new soul seeking expression of its dream?  More...

A cornerstone for children's success in the world today is self-esteem - a hearty dose of perceiving yourself as A-OK! No argument about it. Research proves it. Educators and therapists agree: Self-esteem is important. Yet...  More...

Traditionally, childhood is a time of carefree summers spent with best friends, trips to amusement parks and Saturday matinees at the movies. But for many children, it's also a time of great stress. In fact, stress—those overwhelming feelings of doubt about ourselves or our ability to handle things—is as common in children as adults. The greatest challenge to parents today is teaching children to manage stress effectively.  More...

How do we fulfill the needs of the whole child? What is the foundation for whole child parenting? And what are the building blocks for wholeness?   More...

In my joy of the last thirty years as mother, stepmother, teacher, and therapist, I have observed that two things hold families together: values and vision.   More...

With today's heightened fear about war and the constant threat of terrorism, parents are concerned about the well-being of their children. Children can't help but be affected by what is going on in the world around them-and world events do affect them. We took the time to talk to 60 children, ages eight through eighteen, to find out what they are thinking and feeling about war and terrorism. The results were sometimes expected, many times surprising, and always a clear reminder about the profound effect of war and terrorism on children's lives.  More...