Be Your Ski-Racing Children’s Wings, Not Their Weight Vest
Parents play a powerful role in the psychological development of ski racers, whether they intend to or not. What you say, how you react emotionally at races, and even what you do not say sends constant signals to your child about expectations, performance, and self-worth. Most parents want to help. Many unintentionally make the mental […]
Read MoreAre Your Expectations Helping or Hurting Your Young Ski Racer?
Setting expectations for your children is an essential responsibility of being a ski racing parent. Expectations communicate messages to your children about what’s important to you and establish a standard toward which they can strive. But expectations can be double-edged swords. They can be a tremendous benefit to your children’s ski racing and personal development, […]
Read MoreFour Problems When Parents’ and Children’s Emotional Styles aren’t Aligned
I have seen an interesting pattern emerge over the last few years with the young (meaning typically under 25 years old) clients with whom I work. On the plus side, all are thoughtful, deep, well-liked, and nice people. They are accomplished students, athletes, and performing artists. These young people are driven by generally healthy values […]
Read MoreHow NOT to be a Bad Ski Racing Parent
In my last ski racing post, I shared with you recommendations on how to be the best ski racing parent you can be during the upcoming race season. In general, I much prefer to focus on the positives of behavior and, in that article, emphasized what you can do to help your ski-racing children have a great […]
Read MoreHow to be the Best Ski Racing Parent Possible
In my recent ski racing articles, I’ve been focusing on how racers can use the fall to get maximally prepared to ski their best when race season begins. Well, with winter approaching, there’s another stakeholder in our ski racing community who also needs to get ready for the demands of the race season: Parents! As […]
Read MoreParents!: Watch or Listen to My MindsJournal Podcast on Positive Pushing
Last night, I spoke to an international audience on TheMindsJournal.com‘s “Expert Mind Talks” series about my very first parenting book, Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child (still relevant after all these years). My presentation was followed by a Q&A with the audience in which some very challenging, and all too common, […]
Read MoreMindJournal Podcast with Dr. Jim Taylor: Q&A about Positive Pushing
On Thursday, February 9th, at 7:30pm PT, I have been invited by TheMindsJournal.com as part of its “Expert Mind Talks” series to speak about and answer questions on my very first parenting book, Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child on Facebook. To register (it’s free!), listen, and participate, click here.
Read MoreFive Powerful Forces that Shape Our Lives (and Where Does Free Will Fit in?): Part I
Choices, options, alternatives, preferences, opportunities, decisions; these are all words that have a powerful impact on our collective psyches as human beings. They evoke free will and self-determination, the ability to become whomever we want to become, and the ability to opt for whatever road we choose in our life’s journey. Yet, whether we actually […]
Read MoreOffer Zoom Parent Education Workshops to Your Sports Program or School
As many of you know, a big part of my passion for sports and education is helping parents to support their children in the most positive way. Also, as both a sport psychologist and a parent of two young ski racers, I empathize with the challenges of being a sport parent. Particularly during the Covid-19 […]
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