Articles
Where's The Bully?
If you’ve spent any time watching TV, reading a newspaper or magazine, or talking to colleagues who work with kids, the topic of bullies has surely come up. Among the important issues to address:
Good Programs Don’t Just Happen
There are countless books, articles, and videos about the importance of being mindful and living in each moment. Authors before me have written about the many benefits of being in the
Youth Development
When conducting an online search for “positive youth development,” one will likely find a wide range of definitions and approaches.
Slip-Resistant Thinking
In the last few years, I have frequently had uncomfortable conversations about performance and job status with individuals who had previously been thought of as stellar employees.
A Positive Spin
“The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” – Peggy O’Mara
As a parent of three young children, I have to second-guess so many things I’ve said to my kids. Was I too tough? Not tough enough?
Adopt A Reflective Mindset
Those readers who have spent time working with young people are likely familiar with the phrase “teachable moments.” And those who have heard the term probably embrace the idea
Squash It!
Too often, park and rec or youth-development professionals become inadvertently paralyzed by fear, and programs and participants suffer. While apprehension and fear are perfectly normal feelings,
The Trouble With Labels
We live in a time when the terms “normal” and “abnormal” are used far too often to describe the news, politics, and, unfortunately, even our young people. While the idea that some terms
Tell it Like it Is!
If you’ve read my columns in the past, you might remember me quoting a presenter I saw several years ago at a conference (unfortunately, I remember the statement but not the
Get Something For Nothing (Or Very Little)
No matter what types of programs you offer for youth, parents are the best marketing tools. Whether at the grocery store, on the sidelines, or on social media, parents listen to other parents
Science Says
No matter what our place is on the political spectrum, if we live and work in the United States, we exist in a world of facts, and “alternative facts.”
Engaging Preschoolers
“Daddy, you be Simba, and I’ll be Nala,” says my almost 4-year-old daughter as I try for what feels like the hundredth time to get her to take a bite of her oatmeal.
Imagine The Unimaginable
The other day I was helping my 3½-year-old take a bath, and she started acting out a scene from one of her favorite programs with an ensemble of toys.
Learn To Share
How many times have you learned about something happening in your program, department, or community and thought to yourself, “Wow, I wish someone would have talked to me before they made that choice”?
When To Chime In
We’re very lucky working in parks and recreation because most of what we do with young people is focused on building skills, character, and sportsmanship, and just having fun.
Reevaluating Staff Evaluations
For most program supervisors, preparing and delivering staff evaluations is about as much fun as getting a root canal.
Styles, Stages, And Stress
Whenever I hear the phrase, ТEveryone knows (fill in the blank),У I flinch. The reality is that there is a sizeable group of people who still believe the world is flat, so Тcommon agreementУ hardly constitutes proof of fact.
Consider Ages And Stages
If you were to visit any college campus and ask a junior or senior education major about at what stage a 5-year-old should be developmentally, you would likely hear all about Piaget, Erickson, Vygotsky, and their well-known theories of development.
What Are We Forgetting?
When it comes to selecting staff and volunteers, the list of ideal skills and traits is supplanted by the reality of who we determine has enough of what we're looking for to be Тtrainable,У and who will accept the job for what we're able to offer.
In Need Of An Attitude Adjustment
A few months ago, I wrote about motivation and referenced the famous Nike ТJust do it!У slogan, which got me thinking about some other 1980s and 1990s advertising campaigns and their celebrity messengers.