A really important NY Times article about the influence of excessive technology use on children, in this case, using iPhones and iPads to placate kids when they get bored or cranky. If you want to read my take on it, read my post about what I call iPhone Syndrome.
A great NY Times article describing research demonstrating the importance of face-to-face time in children connecting with others and developing relationships. What's fascinating about this article is that it doesn't just explain the importance of "real" connection with other at psychological, emotional, and social levels, but rather its role biologically and even neurologically in our [...]
Here is a NY Times article about a 25-year-0ld French ultramarathoner who is performing remarkable feats of endurance. Definitely worth a read.
Technology, such as the Internet, smartphones, and social media, can have great benefits in helping your children form and maintain relationships. At the same time, if not used with limits and guidance by your children, such use may prevent them from developing the essential relationship qualities and skills that have allowed us to make real [...]
As your children develop and enter the social world outside of your home, their peers’ importance to them will grow. In fact, as your children progress through high school, their peer group will exert a sometimes dismayingly great influence over them as you feel your own relationship with them diminish. Basically, being accepted and liked [...]
Over the last few decades, I have worked with many athletes, from juniors to weekend warriors to pros and Olympians. One thing I have noticed is that the most powerful work I do with them isn’t your typical mental training where I teach them about positive thinking, mental imagery, routines, and how to stay intense and focused (though I certainly do that). Instead, the most valuable work I do seems to involve the attitude that athletes have toward their sport. No matter how good your mental skills are, if you don’t have the right attitude, you aren’t going to perform your best. This article is going to focus on several key ways you should think about your sports participation to not only perform your best, but, perhaps more importantly, to enjoy the competition and gain the most benefits from your athletic experiences. I see athletes express many different emotions after competitions. After a good performance, I see joy, excitement, pride, and inspiration. But, after less successful competitions, I see frustration, anger, and sadness. Yet, the one emotion that I consider to be perhaps the worst of all emotions for athletes to experience is regret.
It’s mid March and the end of the race season is in sight. Most of the big races, including U16 and U18 championships, are in your rearview mirror. A few of you may still have U.S. Nationals or Whistler Cup to look forward to. But most of you may be inclined to think of your [...]
Nowhere is the impact of popular culture and technology on children’s relationships more noticeable than in families. Both influences have contributed to a growing divide between the traditional roles that children and their parents play while, at the same time, blurring those same lines between parents and children. Over the past two decades, children who, [...]
I was asked recently by a parent of a young cyclist, “What does it take to make a champion?” I thought for a moment and then responded with three words: “Genes, motivation, and support.” So let’s explore these three essential components (pun intended) to cycling development and success. Genes Genes are the foundation of all [...]
Selflessness and empathy are two of the most important ingredients for children to develop healthy relationships. Selflessness involves the capacity for children to place the concerns of others appropriately ahead of their own. It allows others to sense that, whatever children do, their interests will be considered. Empathy is the ability for children to understand [...]