Just as adults benefit from talking about their challenges with friends or a therapist, many children benefit from processing upsetting experiences during pretend play. Perhaps you’ve noticed that when children freely play with blocks, stuffed animals, dolls or action figures, they frequently create pretend worlds. They craft exciting tales that...

The World Health Organization has been drawing attention to pandemic fatigue, a natural response to a prolonged public health crisis. Pandemic fatigue involves decreasing motivation to follow health-related directives, including engaging in pandemic protective actions like eating well, exercising and decreasing tobacco or alcohol consumption.

People have told me many stories of difficult mother-daughter relationships that healed through caregiving. Their stories have given me the gift of healing. Forgiveness, compassion, acceptance, and love grow through empathy for and understanding of the experiences of others...

In order to reach the summit of your own personal mountain, your mandate must be to love, inspire, and serve others in whatever you do -- not in some lofty purpose "over there," but in your daily life, right where you are right now. Every night before you go to bed, it helps to...

Each of us has thoughts, feelings, opinions, preferences, and needs that won’t necessarily jibe with those of important others. Sometimes there will be inevitable conflicts to navigate. The presence of conflict doesn’t mean a relationship has...

Junk emotions, such as anxiety, jealousy, anger, obsession, short-temperedness, greed, hatred, and so on, are neither good for us nor are they good for other people with whom we come into contact. They need to be inventoried, just like...

Many parents spent at least some months this year supporting their children to learn from home (and still are). This already substantial challenge was complicated by children not being able to go out and play with other children.

Easter can be a challenging and anxious time for children with food allergies and their families. First, there are the foods we commonly associate with Easter — chocolate and...

Conversations are beginning about Generation C, the COVID-19 kids. While exactly which ages should be included in this generational label is under debate, what’s clear to researchers of child development is that COVID-19 has led to global shutdowns that have rattled economies, communities and families, and will affect children for years to come.

There may be no more important component of personal happiness than your interpersonal relationships. Think about it: When things are going well with your spouse or significant other, your friends, your associates at work, or your family, you feel robust, cheerful, positive, content.

In the far reaches of Canada’s North, there’s a different type of social distancing happening this year. Amid the lingering snowdrifts and bowed branches of spruce trees, a small mammal yells a ferocious “stay away!” call that can be heard more than 100 metres away.

We found no evidence to support a genetic explanation," says Alexandra Burt. "The differences in the harsh parenting each twin received predicted differences between the twins in antisocial behavior, even when they shared 100% of their genes

The desire to make a dream come true has been a part of cultures throughout history. The ancient Peruvians drew their goals in symbols. The Egyptians created elaborate rituals to move from desire to actualization. Here are a few simple steps to follow to help set goals successfully...

Trust evolves. We start off as babies with perfect trust. Inevitably, trust is damaged by our parents or other family members. In order to heal, we must learn when and how trust can be restored. As part of this final step, if we cannot fully trust someone. then we...

Don't be hard on yourself or anyone else, but see that some of these games have been handed down for centuries like family heirlooms. Every one of them can be righted, and often the first major step is to recognize them and refuse to...

Canadian media have reported on concerns that due to pandemic school closures students are falling behind in learning, and specifically in reading.  

The spread of misinformation – in the form of unsubstantiated rumour and intentionally deceitful propaganda – is nothing new. Even in antiquity, Antony and Cleopatra were were cast as villains through fake news shared by Octavian.

While listening to the radio today, I heard someone suggest that the best way to deal with divorce was to never have one! I suppose there is some truth to that; however, it's a bit unrealistic. In America, close to 50 percent...

Why do we project our repressed parts? Why can't or don't those parts just remain peacefully buried -- or asleep in the basement -- and let us go on undisturbed with our "normal" lives? Apparently there is no way to avoid it even while there are limitless ways to ignore or deny it...

This generation of children will face a range of challenges, including the impacts of climate change, increasing globalisation, and the consequences of rapid technological change. 

Difficulties we are having in our relationships often mirror parts of ourselves that we need to heal. Such difficulties may involve a family member, a close friend, a coworker, or even a clerk in a store. If you are having difficulty with a relationship take...

What do kids really need to be successful and happy people? Parents, educators, and society as a whole couldn't ask a more important question. How you answer this question will determine how you will raise your child, and, ultimately, what kind of adult he will become... 

Excitement and stress are the two most common reactions to starting school. It is telling that a large part of this emotional response is social.