Dr. Cale’s Blog

Here’s the bottom line: Lots of words…means the words get diluted.
The tendency is to think that words change behavior. Let’s be real about this…if words worked…I (and all other Psychologist) would be out of business…
If words are constantly flowing out of your mouth…you will find several things unfolding over [...]

Are You Really Ready To Help Your Kids Have Fun?  It’s time for summer fun…and we are all outside a bit more, going places with the family more, and ultimately…having more time with the kids. Many of us make a critical mistake however…as we begin to plan the summer.I am often working with parents who [...]

Two weeks ago, a 5 year old tantruming about apple juice forced an emergency landing of a flight headed for North Carolina out of NYC.   See details here:
http://www.nbc10.com/news/13575254/detail.html
Okay, this is where I have both compassion, and shock. 
 It is likely that this child was so far out of control…that no one felt that they knew what [...]

      I have tried a variety of things to get my three year olds sleep regulated and it seems she is in between needing and not needing a nap. I have tried to get her up earlier, intending to get her to bed earlier, but usually she can’t make it to bedtime. Then if she takes a [...]

I applaud your parenting! It is a very hard thing to admit “our babies” can be less than perfect, but by recognizing it, you now have the opportunity to emphasize the valuable lessons you are focusing on. By accepting the criticisms of those in proximity of your kids (when offered in a caring mannor) you were modeling [...]

I just wrote an article for a local publication, and thought you might be interested. It’s about the disturbing trend toward cyber-bullying. It’s especially prevalent with the 12-15 year old teenage girls.

Since September, my next door neighbor has been watching my 2 sons (8 & 9 yrs) after school.   My neighbor is deaf, she easily reads lips and can speak – somewhat.  She also has a 3 year old daughter.    A few weeks ago she sent the following e-mail to me at work: (condensed version)

I receive quite a few questions from worried parents asking how to best help their children to be happy. It is clear that they want what we all want for our children…happiness.

Unfortunately, happiness isn’t something we can give our children, any more than we can give them victory or success; they have to attain those things on their own. But what we can do is notice, celebrate and build on moments of joy as they occur and so plant the seeds of optimism, joy, emotional health and resiliency.

I’m posting with regards to the family that was thrown off of the airplane due to their three year olds’ tantrum. The posts I’ve read regarding this incident (and believe me, there are THOUSANDS) are really disturbing. The majority believe that the airline acted appropriately, which in it of itself may be fine, but the [...]

I often get questions similar to this one by Janet, single mom of two children.
Dear Dr Cale, my daughter tends to get very upset… very easily. As she is getting older (now 8), it seems like everything is a big drama for her. Is this really a problem, and will she grow out of it? [...]