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Shannon is a licensed professional counselor and a national certified counselor and owner and clinical director of Tender Hearts Child Therapy Center in Cape Girardeau. He and several therapists at the center specialize in treating child and adolescent mental health issues in Southeast Missouri and work with parents using family therapy to develop parenting/discipline skills to deal with misbehavior and defiance. In his blog Shannon provides education on children's mental health topics and uses a question-and-answer forum for local parents to ask questions related to his field. For more information or to reach Shannon, visit www.tenderheartschildtherapycenter.com
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When the Family Pet Dies: Tips for Parents
Posted Sunday, January 18, 2015, at 3:27 PMOne of our family cats died not too long ago. My daughter is 3 and really could care less about the cats. They're old and not too interesting to her. Explaining the cat's death to her was pretty easy, but for many parents helping their children deal with the loss of a family pet can be quite stressful. ... -
The Thanksgiving Peanut Butter Sandwich
Posted Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at 6:33 PMIt's a scene that plays out around Thanksgiving gatherings all over the country. The extended family sits down together for a meal that the family has slaved over the stove for hours. All is perfect--except for the lone child eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!... -
New Pencils and Notebooks--NowTears: How to Deal with Separation Anxiety
Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2014, at 9:50 AMThe beginning of school often means many new challenges for parents. One of which may be that your child has developed separation anxiety. It's common this time of year for younger children to suddenly be fearful of leaving mom or dad. For children starting preschool or kindergarten, the beginning of the school year is particularly stressful. ... -
Summer Childhood Memories!
Posted Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at 11:15 PMWhen I stepped out of the office today to grab some lunch, I couldn't help but notice that summer is in full swing. And let's just say the hot, humid dog days of summer are far from my favorite time of year! But, as I began thinking about the heat and my dislike of it, I also began daydreaming about past childhood memories that occurred during those long, hot, humid days of summer just like the ones we're experiencing now. ... -
Positive Parenting Suggestions for New Step-fathers/Step-mothers
Posted Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 11:02 AM1Our culture has more and more blended families everyday. While blended families bring some great new experiences to life, they also present some challenges. So what do you do when you suddenly become a new step-parent? The first step in learning to discipline a new step-child is to NOT discipline the child. ... -
Parenting the Strong Willed Child
Posted Friday, March 14, 2014, at 1:07 PMIt seems like some children are just born strong willed. From the moment they are born, some children are just harder to manage than others. The strong willed child is a challenge to his or her parents, but it doesn't have to always be a power struggle. Here are some parenting tips for parents with a strong willed child... -
Time-ins
Posted Friday, February 28, 2014, at 12:33 PMSo you've heard about Time-outs. What about Time-ins? Time-in refers to the positive side of parenting. Children often see their parents as people who set limits and punish them for misbehaviors. In order to develop a strong parent-child relationship, parents should also be seen as supportive, loving, and a source of positive attention... -
3 Olympic-Inspired Family Fun Nights
Posted Friday, February 7, 2014, at 7:50 PMIt's frigid outside! Time to hibernate indoors until spring, right? Maybe watch some TV--maybe the Olympics?? Instead of mindlessly watching the Olympics, why not use the Winter Games as a springboard for some great family interaction time? Here are 3 great ideas for family Winter Olympic fun... -
Preparing your High School Senior for College
Posted Saturday, October 26, 2013, at 9:10 AMIn my last post, I began discussing tips for parents of high school seniors who are planning to go away to college next year. In this post, I've got a few more suggestions. 4. Set the contact rules. Discuss with your child how often he wants you to call. ... -
For Parents of High School Seniors
Posted Friday, October 4, 2013, at 9:20 AMFor parents of high school seniors, this school year is a momentous occasion. Senior year is a bittersweet time for your kids. They're at the top of the social ladder at school, and enjoying the benefits that come with being seniors. They're also realizing that each school event that passes is the last one for them. ... -
For Parents of College Freshmen
Posted Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at 11:12 AMOur culture recognizes the back to school blues for parents of Kindergartners, and even for that matter for parents of high school seniors, but we rarely take the time to speak to parents about the challenges they face when their children begin college. ... -
Tips to Improve Your Child's Social Skills
Posted Monday, July 29, 2013, at 12:59 PMDo you have a child who struggles with social skill? Or do you simply want to encourage better social skills with your child? Children with a social skills deficit often need help in the areas of eye contact and reading other's emotions. Eye Contact is a very important social skill because it lets other people know that we are interested in what they have to say. ... -
Squeeze in Some Summer Fun!
Posted Saturday, July 13, 2013, at 8:55 AMThe countdown to the start of the next school year has begun. Already stores are stocking up with school supplies. It's time to squeeze in the last bit of summer fun with your kids. Looking for cheap things to do? Try going on a nature walk. Our community has tons of great walking trails, and since this summer has been milder than usual (at least so far!), it's a great opportunity to unplug your kids from electronics for a while and enjoy some quality time together. ... -
Make a Summer Bucket List
Posted Monday, May 13, 2013, at 9:10 AMSchool is just about out for the summer. The kids are excited. You're looking forward to spending some quality time with the family. During this time of the year most of us have the best of intentions for the summer break. However, before we know it the stores are displaying school supplies and it's time to schedule the "back to school haircuts."... -
Little Kids, Big Fears Part II
Posted Monday, April 29, 2013, at 5:03 PMSo it's been a while since I posted the first part of this thread. Here's the rest of this series. Now that we've discussed many of the sources of toddler fears, how can parents effectively deal with these fears? The first thing parents should do is acknowledge the fear. Fears are real to toddlers, no matter how irrational they may be. Ignoring or dismissing the fear will not help your toddler overcome the fear... -
Little Kids, Big Fears: Dealing with Toddler Fears Part I
Posted Saturday, March 23, 2013, at 11:16 AMFear is fairly common among toddlers. However, as parents, it's important to know how to properly handle toddler fears so that they don't become phobias as the child grows older. In order to most effectively deal with toddler fears, it's important to understand why toddlers develop fears. ... -
Teens and Part Time Jobs
Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at 12:30 PMOne question parents often have for us is the question of teens working part time jobs. If your teen wants to get a job outside of the home, parents need to keep a few things in mind. First, consider your teen's after-school activities. If you want your child to continue participating in these activities and still learn a few business skills, consider allowing your child to work at an after-school job for less than 10 hours a week. ... -
More on Allowances
Posted Monday, February 11, 2013, at 9:18 AMIn my last post I started discussing strategies parents can use when giving their children an allowance. The following are some additional tips and suggestions regarding allowances... -
Allowances
Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at 12:17 PM1In my previous posts, I began a conversation about teaching your children financial responsibility. I'd like to spend the next few posts discussing the pros and cons of allowances. Parents often have concerns about offering allowances to their children. ... -
Financial Responsiblity Part 2
Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at 2:23 PMLast time I started a post on teaching financial responsibility to your children. One very important aspect of financial responsibility is creating a budget. Don't be afraid to show your child your family's budget. Explain to your child how you keep track of expenses. ...
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