"Your children need your presence more than your presents."

While I doubt many people would argue with this quote from Jesse Jackson, I think it is still worth contemplating what it means to be "present" for our children and whether or not we follow through with that intention fully.

That issue is the subject for Week 19 in my book, "52 Weeks of Parenting Wisdom," and was also the topic of my recent interview on Australian ABC Radio. In this month's feature below, you can access and listen to the interview, in which I talk about what it means for child development when we, as parents, are distracted. I share important related research findings and discuss the need for children to learn to entertain themselves at times. I also give suggestions that all parents can put to use immediately.  I hope you'll click on the link below, listen, and let me know your thoughts.

I want to help you be the best parent you can be!  So, if you are ready to commit to taking your parenting to the next level but haven't grabbed your copy of "52 Weeks of Parenting Wisdom" yet, you can find both the paperback and e-book versions for sale on Amazon.com.