IN OUR "busyness" our loved ones are often "neglected". While that may not always happen, our 24/7 nature of work today unfortunately does create that tendency to do so. Thus we all need to be reminded about the importance of setting aside time for our family. In this context, the Centre for Fathering highlights some of the National Family Celebrations 2010 programmes organised by the National Family Council as part of the June holiday family activities.

OUR tweens and teens are at an age when the roller coaster of emotions are in high gear, coupled with a constant struggle with self-esteem. Thus it may not take much to cause their world to seemingly crash especially when as parents we are insensitive to this developmental stage via our words or even by being stingy with affirmation and praise. So build, not tear down! In this continuing series on Fathers as Coach, co-founder Edwin Choy of the Centre for Fathering provides insights on how parenting and educational stakeholders can help power their children to greater heights of achievement in life's endeavours.

ONE popularly subscribed saying is "a family that eats together stays together". For such families, the potential is higher for increased family bonding, for stronger relationships, for brighter family outlooks and there is so much more optimism for progress in all the areas that pre-occupy a family. With regards to our children, critical areas are communication channels, academic progress and character building. For this year's EAT WITH YOUR FAMILY DAY (EWYFD), check out the activities arranged starting 27 May 2010.

SELF-esteem is a critical component of goal-focused confident individuals. As parents, seeking to build self-esteem in our children should be one of our key performance indicators (or KPI in business-speak). A strong self-esteem can spur your tween/teen to work wonders in their life. But how do we help to facilitate this in our child? The Centre for Fathering (CFF) continues its series on the Father as Coach to focus on the building of self-esteem. Writer Edwin Choy, a Certified Solution Focus Therapist, and Co-founder of the CFF goes on to discuss a tool parents could use to in building self-esteem in our tweens/teens.

ONE principle for solution-focused coaching is to do something different if what we do is not working! Fathers coaching their tweens/teens need to stop using problem talks that lead to nowhere but create more anger and anxiety in our children. This story in the continuing "Fathers as Coach" series by the Centre for Fathering touches on how to initiate solution talks with our tweens/teens. Writer Edwin Choy, a Certified Solution Focus Therapist, and Co-founder of the Centre for Fathering goes on to discuss what we can do when our tweens/teens approach us for help with their problem.