Ep. 178: Connecting More Deeply
HAPPY CAMPERS: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults is now available on Audible! Visit Sunshine Parenting for more episodes & resources. Subscribe for resources and ideas for happier, more connected families. In Episode 178, my daughter Gretchen and I share a few tips for connecting more deeply with friends, co-workers, family,…
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7 Simple Steps to Teach Kids to Introduce Themselves
Hi! I’m Audrey Monke. Thanks for visiting my little corner of the internet here at Sunshine Parenting! Watch this 1-minute video to learn why I wrote this post about the importance of teaching kids how to introduce themselves to others: Because of my research on the importance of good social skills and positive relationships for a…
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10 Friendship Skills Every Kid Needs
As parents and adults who work with youth, we can positively impact kids’ lives through helping them build good social skills, which are, I believe, more important than academic or athletic skills. At school, very little—if any—time is spent teaching these important skills, but for youth who struggle with social skills deficits, this attention is…
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Camp Secret #1: Connection Comes First
If you enjoyed listening to Camp Secret #1: Connection Comes First (the first chapter of my book), consider purchasing Happy Campers at Audible & Apple Books.
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36 Questions to Get Closer to Someone You Love
The art of asking good questions, and listening carefully to the person’s response, is an important skill for forming and maintaining positive, close relationships. Our social connections are the most important predictor of life-long happiness and health. Watch Susan Pinker’s TED Talk if you need convincing! Arthur Aron, a prominent social psychologist, discovered that he…
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10 Fun Ways Teachers Can Help Kids Connect with Other Kids
2020 Update: Educators who are interested in access to my ongoing webinars, chats, and resources related to creating connection, celebrating strengths, and cultivating character in students, check out GATA (Gold Arrow Teacher Academy) for community, support, and resources! September, 2017 My oldest daughter started her first teaching job about a month ago. She’s teaching high…
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Coach Kids to Better Friendships
Watch this one-minute video to learn about being your kid’s social skills coach:
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4 Friendship Concepts to Share with Girls
In researching and planning for a talk I gave a few weeks ago about girls’ friendships, I read through some excellent resources, including these books. I also wrote this post about ways to help your daughter become a thriving adult. While many concepts I write about friendship apply to both boys and girls, there are…
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Is Kindness the Secret to a Successful Life?
Being a considerate, kind person who thinks about others is a character trait that helps children form good relationships and leads to a happier life as an adult. What does this mean for super competitive parents who want their children to succeed at all costs, even if it means cheating and being mean to others?…
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5 Ways to Encourage Empathy in Kids
Sometimes we need someone to simply be there. Not to fix anything, or to do anything in particular, but just to let us feel that we are cared for and supported. Brené Brown Why is Empathy Important? Of the skills required to have positive, lasting relationships, empathy is one of the most important and one…
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The Magic Relationship Ratio
View recording here I recorded this month’s One Simple Thing during a retreat this weekend at 1440 Multiversity I attended with my daughter, Gretchen (see video below or on Facebook). We were at Shasta Nelson‘s Frientimacy seminar where we focused on learning about the crisis of loneliness and how to develop closer friendships and help others develop…
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