Here are some great links for encouraging us to live with generous love in our families:
Love:
Raising a Baby Well Is Like Climbing Mount Everest: Just like mountain climbing, wise parenting takes preparation, focus, and practice.
Tiger Moms and Her Critics Are Both Right: Fascinating. This article looks at research which suggests that whether or not “tiger mothering” (pushing, pressuring, even nagging a child in order to get her to succeed) is beneficial is dependent upon the child’s culture. Children raised in an Asian culture where community-identity is valued do okay while Western kids where individuality is valued do poorly. Note: in neither Asian nor Western cultures did children do well in critical, authoritarian households.
Gentle Discipline:
Raising a Moral Child: If you want to raise a kind, helpful, compassionate child, this NY Times article argues that a parent should 1) avoid making the child feel like a bad person through shaming and 2) focus on the child’s good character rather than her actions.
Kids with Strong Bond to Parents Make Better Friends: When kids enjoy a warm, loving relationship with their parents, they are more responsive and caring in their childhood friendships.
Play:
Outdoor Play More Important than Indoor Play for a Child’s Development: In this article, Darcia Narvaez looks at research which suggests that outdoor play is imperative to a child’s mental and physical well-being — even more critical than indoor play. I would be cautious about the suggestion that indoor play is “detrimental” for children. Indoor play is very different from outdoor play. The article cites the dangers of video games on a child’s development, but there are so many more ways our kids play inside. Indoors a child can build wooden block castles, make forts with his siblings, and play board games with his parents. These are wonderful play experiences. It’s the balance that matters: kids need both outdoor play and indoor play; they need both self-directed free play, and family play which might be more organized.
Why Play with Your Child?: A superb overview of the benefits of parent-child shared play.
A Strong Marriage
The Spirituality of Sex: A great article from Dr. Greg Popcak about the true Catholic view of sexuality.