How The “ICEBERG” PHYLOSOPHY Can Help Parents
How The "ICEBERG" PHYLOSOPHY Can Help Parents Let’s look at the situation as this—when we see an iceberg or a picture of one floating on the surface of the water, we see this huge Mass [...]
Peer Pressure! It is not just about the Children!
Peer pressure is almost always associated to the children. I see it this way, you might agree. I am sure many parents will. Parents are under enormous multiple social pressures. Peer pressure by their peers—friends, [...]
Life Signs vs Road Signs
It was said that life is a journey, not just a destination. And along our journey, there are signs in life, our life, our inner voice to help us find our path, stay on our [...]
The children of this generation are referred to as digital natives. Children and young adults, on the other hand, this is all that they know. They could not imagine what it was like to not have Internet, cell phone, and texting, listening to music on the radio and phonograph, having to change a record every time you wanted to hear something different. They have everything at their fingertips, instant gratification, no waiting. Imagine having to find a public phone or having to go to someone’s home to use a phone, being without a form of communication for hours on end (OMG). Or sitting in their room spending time with just themselves with no electronic devices (OMG). Communication today is now 24/7. The information is overwhelming. Gone are the days that calling after 10:00 p.m. would be impolite or inappropriate. And maybe they, some, still won’t call after 10:00 p.m., but they will surely text. There is no rest for the weary. May I quote a seventeen-year-old, “I spend about half of my day texting.” Even if it is not an accurate time measurement, their perception is their reality. So when we discuss stress and the anxiety-laden culture we live in, how could it be any different? Try smiling a real smile when you are very stressed. Some statistics say one out of every two Americans prefers communicating through an electronic device instead of face to face—sad. Being that it takes longer to type, email or text, rather than speaking, I find it an interesting conflict for those who are always in a rush, that do not have enough time. If nonverbal communication (body language, facial expression, energy, tone, etc.) is considered to be 85% to 90% of our communication skills for accuracy, what does it say about texting, which is the number 1 method of communication for our children and young adults? The direct impact of texting as the number 1 form of communication is the loss or non development of the number 1 form of communication, the use and understanding of nonverbal! A powerful tool needed for a greater sense of self-awareness (how you are being interpreted) and social awareness (how you are interpreting others)! Two of the skill sets of social/emotional intelligence