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Author: Linda Westbrook

26 Jun 2025

Why Cheering Matters: Kids Notice More Than You Think

This summer, the sidelines will be full.

From soccer fields to baseball diamonds, basketball courts to swim meets—everywhere you look, kids will be running, jumping, skating, throwing, kicking, dancing, and giving it their all.

And behind the action? Parents. Sitting. Standing. Watching.

Some fully present—clapping, smiling, cheering. Others half-scrolling, half-listening, missing the moments their kids will remember.

Here’s why cheering matters: our kids notice.

They see who’s paying attention. They hear who’s cheering. And when they do, they feel something powerful—supported, encouraged, seen, valued.

I asked my son and his friends if they like hearing people cheer. Their answer was a resounding: “YES.”

What they don’t want to hear are negative comments or criticism—shouting at referees, over-celebrating every move, or yelling about mistakes. It can leave them feeling discouraged or self-conscious, which takes away the fun.

This is what I know: When you cheer, you’re not just supporting a game—you’re supporting their growth, their confidence, and their joy. You’re supporting your connection to them. It’s a powerful reminder why cheering matters.

Until next time…

4 Jun 2025

Who Your Kids Hang Out with Matters

Kids don’t always realize that the people they spend time with influence their choices, behaviour, and how they’re perceived — by peers, adults, and even authority figures. Friends influence choices in ways that can affect a child’s confidence and sense of self.

That’s why it’s so important to have conversations about who they’re choosing to hang out with — and why it matters.

Here’s something I tell my son: “You don’t need to be the one making the poor choice to face the consequence of it. Just being there can make you guilty by association. That’s why it’s so important to choose friends who not only respect themselves and others, but also bring out the best in you.”

Some friends motivate us to grow, stretch, and become better. Others keep us stuck. It’s hard to learn that at a young age — but it’s a seed worth planting. Remember, friends influence choices, sometimes without us even realizing it.

Start by helping your child tune in to how they feel around certain friends.

Do they feel…Respected? Encouraged? Stressed? Pressured to make choices just to ‘fit in’?

It’s easy to get swept up in what others are saying or doing — even when it doesn’t feel right.

Here are a few questions you can ask to spark reflection:

  • How do you feel about yourself when you’re with this person?
  • If something went wrong, would they stand with you — or walk away?
  • Do you feel comfortable to sharing your real opinions?

This is what I know: You’re not choosing their friends — you’re helping them notice how those friendships make them feel. That kind of awareness helps them recognize how they’re being treated, speak up when something doesn’t feel right, and choose friends who make them feel valued, respected and safe.

Until next time…

28 May 2025

Kids: Talking Back or Speaking Up?

We say we want our kids to be resilient.
To have confidence.
To take a stand.

But what happens when they talk back, disagree or express frustration to us, our first reaction might be: “That’s disrespectful!”

What if it’s not talking back…what if it’s speaking up?

Since they’re still learning how to express themselves, their words won’t always come out the right way. They might speak louder or sharper than we’d like—not because they’re being disrespectful, but because they’re still figuring out how to speak in a way that gets heard.

If we want our kids to speak up with confidence and share what they feel, we can’t shut them down the moment it’s hard for us to hear.

What if we paused before reacting?
What if we asked ourselves: “Are they being rude… or are they trying to be real?”

Instead of seeing defiance, we see courage.
Instead of shutting it down, we see an opening—for connection, and maybe even conversation.

This is what I know: When we give kids space to speak up—without fear of being shut down—we’re helping them build the very skills we say we value: Confidence. Courage. Character.

Until next time…

15 May 2025

How to Help Kids through Anxiety

Help kids through anxiety- and remember – it doesn’t just affect kids— it shows up in all of us when life feels uncertain, overwhelming or just too much to handle.

The night before a school presentation, my son was feeling really anxious. He was quieter than usual and snapped at me over something small. Instead of going straight into fix-it mode, I sat beside him, put on my detective hat and asked, “Could it be that you’re worried about the presentation tomorrow?”

He nodded.

Then I followed up with, “Is there something you’re feeling uncertain about?”

That gave him the space to open up. He told me he was scared he’d forget what to say in front of the class—and that people might laugh at him.

Saying it out loud didn’t make his anxiety go away—it just made it feel a little less overwhelming.

That moment reminded me that when anxiety shows up, it’s not answers we need first—it’s connection. And sometimes, the right question makes that connection possible.

These two questions help when anxiety shows up for me or my son:
1. What do I fear I don’t have control of?
2. What am I feeling uncertain about?

This is what I know: These questions don’t fix everything. They do bring clarity when life feels overwhelming, messy or tough to manage. If you’re looking for a simple way to help kids through anxiety, try starting with a pause and the right question. It can make all the difference—for you, and for your kids.

Until next time…

1 May 2025

Confidence vs Self Worth: Know the Difference

It’s easy to confuse confidence and self-worth—but they’re not the same. Understanding the difference makes it easier to stand strong in who you are. Confidence changes, self worth never.

Confidence is about your abilities—how you feel about what you can do, your skills, and how prepared you are. It shifts and grows as you face new experiences and challenges. 

Self-worth? That’s something deeper. It’s about how you value yourself as a person, regardless of what you do or how you feel at any given moment.

There was a time when I believed my worth depended on my achievements, the praise I received, and how many likes I got on social media. I’ve learned that when you define your value by outcomes, you give your power to things outside your control.

Confidence changes, self worth never. It’s constant—no matter the situation

This what I know: You won’t always perform the way you want—and that’s okay. You’re still worthy.

You’ll make mistakes along the way—and that’s part of it. You’re still worthy.

Until next time…

16 Apr 2025

Pausing – Your Secret Super Power

Sometimes kids say things that hurt—words that feel disrespectful. In those moments, it’s natural to react. But here’s something to consider:

When we don’t react—when we take a pause instead of reacting—a shift can happen—our kids reflect on what they’ve said. And in that reflection, they often come back with something like, “I’m sorry I said that.”

What happens when we do react? The focus shifts. Their reflection turns into defensiveness. Instead of thinking about their words, they’re now thinking about ours. And often their question becomes: “Well, are you going to say sorry too?”

This is what I know: Next time your child says something disrespectful, try taking a pause instead of reacting. Giving the moment space doesn’t mean you’re okay with the behavior. It means you’re giving them a chance to think about what they said—and that’s often when the apology comes.

Until next time…

3 Apr 2025

Eye rolls, yelling, arguing…sound familiar?

Have you ever looked at your child in the middle of an emotional meltdown and thought, ‘This isn’t who you really are?’ We’ve all been there.

Maybe they yelled at you in frustration, rolled their eyes and walked away. Maybe they started crying over something that seemed small to you but felt big to them, or argued over something insignificant, using anger to cover up their disappointment or sadness.

In those moments of frustration, anger, or sadness, it’s easy to lose sight of seeing beyond emotional reactions and forget – they are not defined by their emotions. They’re still a kind and thoughtful person, even when their emotions feel overwhelming. Because they’re still learning to navigate their feelings, those emotions can sometimes overshadow their true character. We must remember—they just haven’t learned how to regulate them yet.

As adults, we’ve had more time to learn—often through trial and error—how to manage emotions in a way that aligns with who we truly are.

Our kids? They’re still figuring it out. It’s our job to help guide them through these emotional reactions, teaching them how to process and respond to their feelings in a healthy way.

The next time you see a child struggling with an emotion, pause. See beyond the emotional reaction. Remind yourself who you know they are. Then ask yourself: ‘How can I help them recognize and work through this feeling?’

This is what I know: Parenting can be challenging, especially when a child’s emotions feel overwhelming. But beneath those emotions is a child still learning—one who needs our support, empathy, and understanding as they navigate life’s ups and downs.

Until next time,

20 Mar 2025

When Kids Want to Give Up

For two years, fear held me back from trying out for Canadian Idol. The third year, I finally said yes. I made it through two rounds, but when I stood in front of the celebrity judges and sang, they said, “You can’t sing! Do something else!”

I was embarrassed, devastated, and angry. I went home thinking, Maybe they’re right. Maybe I should give up. I started to doubt myself.

After a day of feeling sorry for myself, I made a choice: No. I love to sing. I’m going to work harder and improve.

Today, I’m a singer and speaker. If I had let their words define me, I would have quit on something I love.

But how many kids do give up on something they love because someone tells them they’re not good enough?

When I ask students, “How many of you have given up on something you love because of someone’s opinion?” hands shoot up—including the hands of educators.

Two ways to help kids overcome doubt:

1. Support your child in completing this worksheet

2. Encourage them to ask, “Do I love this?” instead of “Am I good at this?”

Too often, kids measure their worth by others’ opinions. Help them focus on what brings them joy, and remind them that skills improve with effort.

This is what I know: Encouraging kids to keep going, even when they face criticism, helps them build resilience that lasts a lifetime. What matters most is believing in themselves!

Until next time…

26 Feb 2025

The #1 Mindset that Helps Kids Win in Life

Winning brings success—so does learning. When kids embrace a win-or-learn mindset, they recognize that every experience has value. Whether they achieve their goal or gain new insight, both outcomes help them grow stronger, wiser and more confident.

This perspective teaches them that success isn’t just about crossing the finish line—it’s also about the skills, knowledge and resilience they develop along the way. When kids understand this, they become more willing to take on challenges, push through difficulties and trust in their ability to improve.

Encourage them to reflect on these questions:

✔️ What worked well for me?

✔️ What new skill or understanding did I gain?

✔️ How can I use this experience to keep improving?

A win-or-lose way of thinking can create fear and self-doubt, making kids hesitant to try. But a win-or-learn mindset develops courage, motivation and perseverance.

This is what I know: Whether in school, sports or friendships, remind your kids that every challenge, setback or loss is progress on the path to success.

Until next time…

19 Feb 2025

How Connection and Awareness Help Kids Thrive

As parents and those who support kids, we all want to see them thrive—not just in school, but in life. Sure, teaching curriculum and life skills is important, but what really helps kids thrive is connection and awareness.

Connection builds trust, and awareness helps you see the world through a child’s eyes—their interests, emotions, and the way they learn. When you pay attention to what excites them, what challenges them, and what makes learning click for them, you not only unlock their potential, but you also create a space where they feel truly valued.

Take my son, for example. He struggled with math until he started working with a tutor who really ‘gets him.’ The tutor connects through my son’s love for sports, using hockey and baseball to explain math, which makes it a lot more engaging. The result? A huge boost in his confidence and grades.

This is what I know: When we take the time to recognize and nurture what makes each child unique, we’re not just supporting their education—we’re helping kids thrive by creating a space where they feel valued.

Until next time,