Dr. Wendy Rice Archives | Rice Psychology

Your Child, Their Talent, and Helping Them Develop It

on January 16, 2019 at 11:44 am /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. As soon as I found out Brianna and I were having a boy, I was over the moon! Of course, I would be happy with any healthy baby, but having a boy really excited me. I immediately started daydreaming about holding him, watching him grow, and sharing all that I know with him. But what if he isn’t interested in any of those things that I love? What if he takes up drawing, bowling, or something equally foreign to me? How will I feel about that? For ages, parents from around...

Solo Holidays: What You Can Do to Feel Less Alone During This Time of Year

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 20, 2018 at 12:46 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I knew moving to Canada would be a huge change, but I always feel it the most during the holidays. Money is tight, so traveling back home to be with the family isn’t exactly an option. On top of that, I work so much that I don't have very many friends! And none of them are close enough for me to spend Christmas with. I guess I should consider myself lucky that it only lasts for a couple of weeks, but I still can’t help but feel a bit...

A Few Dos and Don’ts to Consider if Your Child is Feeling Lonely

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 28, 2018 at 5:59 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. When I was a kid, I wasn’t very popular in elementary school, middle school or high school. I had a few friends, but I remember feeling jealous of the more popular kids because I was rarely invited to parties. And because I felt so awkward and out of place, I always avoided school events like pep rallies, football games and dances. Things changed in college and now I’m married with a teen son. I’m noticing, however, that he’s very much like I was back then. What can I do to...

To Spank or Not to Spank: What’s the Best Way to Discipline Your Child?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 15, 2018 at 12:54 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I met with my friend Mary recently and she mentioned that she and her husband had just had a disagreement. They were discussing their views on discipline and she said she’d never lay a finger on her baby girl, but her husband thought light spanking would be okay if she misbehaved. Mary believes corporal punishment could affect a child and brought up many good points. Is there a better way to discipline kids? Almost all children act up when they’re young, and many have probably been spanked as a result. But...

Thanksgiving: The Food, The Bad and the Ugly

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 8, 2018 at 12:48 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and knowing that there will be plentiful amounts of food isn’t helping my anxiety. I tend to overeat when I get anxious, so you can see the problem I’m having. I try my best to keep a level head during this season, but it seems to get harder each year. I’m considering skipping Thanksgiving with my family this year, but at the same time, I want to try and figure out how to not let my anxiety get the better of me so...

Taking a Stand: My Personal Thoughts on the Tree of Life Synagogue Attack

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 1, 2018 at 3:35 pm /

Dr. Wendy Rice

While speaking with a college student on Thursday morning, I reflected on the fact that I did not take a stand or speak out publicly about the recent horrific attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. I shared my sadness and outrage on my personal Facebook page and spoke about it with friends and family, but I did not take a public stand as a mental health professional. I am now left to ponder what stopped me. As a psychologist, someone who is invested in the safety of all people, and as a Jewish woman, why did I choose...

Election Tension: When Families Flare Up with Politics

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 1, 2018 at 11:47 am /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Since I was a kid, I’ve taken pride in spending time with my entire family. I’m talking aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins! That is, unless elections are on the horizon. I try to keep my political opinions to myself, but it’s getting increasingly difficult to ignore the loud and heated arguments my family members have lately. It’s bothering me to the point where I’d rather not go to our family gatherings because it’s guaranteed that a political argument will ensue. The political landscape of 2018 has been incredibly contentious, to...

Halloween Jitters: 5 Tips for Parents to Make October 31st Fun and Not Scary

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 24, 2018 at 4:32 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. My youngest son is 5 and this will be his first Halloween to dress up and go trick ‘r’ treating! He’s very excited and I’m happy that he’s looking forward to it. What I’m worried about is that he’s afraid of the usual things for a kid his age; the dark, creepy noises, scary masks, etc. I really want to make his first Halloween experience a fun one while cutting down on as much scary stuff as possible. If you’re the parent of a young child and are dreading Halloween,...

The Grey Area: Shedding Light on Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on October 10, 2018 at 4:52 pm /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. Karen has been a fan of paintings and portraits since before we began dating. I enjoy them, but art isn’t my cup of tea. Because I love Karen, I try to get excited when we go to museums and she tries to get me to understand what makes a specific piece so great. One day, at a museum, she finally stopped me in my tracks and told me I was confused about the concept of visual learning. She then confused me even further by telling me I was mistaken...

To Play or Not to Play: How Different Video Games Can Affect Our Kids

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on September 28, 2018 at 10:46 am /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. At Diana’s party last weekend, the topics of conversation over dinner varied wildly, and you could say that a few were about some pretty touchy subjects. For example, we talked about how teachers have so much less time to be creative in their classrooms because of all the testing, how many families we know who have been touched by drug addiction and whether we should be tracking our kids by their cell phones. Surprisingly enough, however, the topic that hit a nerve with most of us was video games...