Raising Mentally Strong Kids Quotes

“Sincere empathy: When we respond to children’s mistakes or misbehavior with anger and frustration, we take ownership of their problem, making ourselves an easy target for their blame. When we respond with empathy, we make it harder for them to see us as the source of the problem.”
― MD Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“Decades of research shows this combination of firmness and kindness to be one of the primary factors differentiating successful from unsuccessful parents.[1]”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“Connections that are used repeatedly in the early years become permanent, while those that are not used are pruned. So, if a child does not play sports when they are young, then those nerve tracks get pruned. Or if a child does not learn to play a musical instrument, then the brain cuts those connections. That’s what makes it harder to learn new activities later in life.”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“B is for Blood Flow. Engage in physical exercise (30 minutes a day), practice meditation and/or prayer, and eat foods such as pomegranates, citrus fruit, and walnuts (they increase blood flow).”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“Loving relationships: Nothing works without healthy, loving relationships. When we parent according to the first four principles of Love and Logic, this fifth becomes more or less automatic.”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“3. Shared thinking: The brain becomes strong only when we encourage children to own and solve the problems they encounter or create. When we bark orders at them and describe exactly what they should think and do, we stunt their development. The results are similar when we operate in a permissive manner and rescue them from the limits and consequences they face. In contrast, when we remain firm and loving, guiding them toward developing solutions to the dilemmas they encounter, their brains become strong and capable of facing bigger, real-world problems—and parenting becomes easier. 4. Sincere empathy: When we respond to children’s mistakes or misbehavior with anger and frustration, we take ownership of their problem, making ourselves an easy target for their blame. When we respond with empathy, we make it harder for them to see us as the source of the problem.”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“1. Mutual dignity: Children largely learn how to treat others and themselves by how we treat them and how we allow them to treat us. Both require that we set limits that allow us to take good care of ourselves and the people around us. 2. Shared control: When we try to hoard control, we lose it, but when we share some, we gain it. Children become happier and more respectful when we allow them to learn responsibility, give them plenty of small choices, and let them live with the consequences of their choices. Kids also become stronger when they learn they can handle these consequences.”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“When their brains are troubled, children, teens, and young adults are sadder, sicker, and less successful in all they do, including schoolwork, sports, and relationships. A troubled brain means a troubled life, whereas a stronger and healthier brain means a stronger and healthier life.”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“As we all know at heart, real joy comes from authentic relationships, a sense of purpose, helping others, and pursuing healthy challenges that lead to feelings of competence. We also know that a life filled with unhealthy distractions always leads to disappointment, anxiety, and deep depression.”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids

“El cerebro es uno de los mejores ejemplos del principio «lo que no se usa se pierde». Las conexiones que se usan reiteradamente en los primeros años se vuelven permanentes, mientras que las que no se usan se recortan. Por lo tanto, si un niño no hace deportes cuando es joven, esos circuitos nerviosos serán recortados. O si una niña no aprende a tocar un instrumento musical, el cerebro corta esas conexiones. Es por eso que es más difícil aprender actividades nuevas más adelante en la vida.”
― Charles Fay, Cómo criar hijos con fortaleza mental: Combinando el poder de la neurociencia con amor y lógica para que crezcan confiados, responsables, bondadosos y resilientes

“Aim for 11–14 hours for toddlers, 10–13 hours for preschoolers, 9–11 hours for elementary and junior high schoolers, 8–10 hours for teenagers, and 7–8 hours for adults. Turn off tech devices 1–2 hours before bedtime.”
― Daniel G. Amen, Raising Mentally Strong Kids