Danny just turned three years old and he used to be that kid. That kid that bites, hits and screams at playgroup…The kid everyone kind of sighs about when he arrives. That kid that ends up being placed in time out several times or taken home mid activity. Danny isn’t that kid anymore! Here is a glimpse of what… Continue Reading
Do you ever feel badly that a parenting tool everyone thinks is oh so great isn’t working for you? Or just frustrated in general that a tool you would like to use doesn’t seem to work? No matter how great a parenting tool may seem, in truth, parenting tools are not one size fits all. Sometimes… Continue Reading
A new resource for managing family screen time Screen time has become part of the daily routine for many families. Children of all ages seem to be spending time with tablets,TVs, computers and games these days. While screens can be a source of entertainment, fun and learning, too much screen time can leave families disconnected… Continue Reading
IT IS GLUE! IT IS STICKY! MAMA LOOK!!!”
What a beautiful process this was, to watch my daughter lead the way in her own learning. Direction has a place, instructions sometimes are needed but moments like this remind me that our children often, very often, have the answers within themselves. Continue Reading
As parents, we wish to have influence with our children. We wish for cooperation. We want our children to follow directions and accept guidance. Yet, how often do we take the opposite path to get there? We insist on control and demand obedience from our children. We speak of battles and power. We shush emotions… Continue Reading
When we let go of punitive parenting and authority over the child style of parenting, setting a limit with kindness and consistency and then actually holding it may at first feel similar to punishing or being authoritarian. With time and practice though, it is possible to be confident, calm and consistent in a way that conveys that the limits are about creating safety, building trust and guidance. Continue Reading
Finding the right words when children are disappointed isn’t always easy. I’ve learned over the years that although it is hard to see our children feeling upset, distracting, reasoning, lecturing or otherwise trying to fix their feelings usually just backfires. So how do we find the right words to say when children are disappointed? The words that express… Continue Reading
Natural Consequences are often talked about as the go-to gentle alternative to punitive actions like time-outs or removing privileges. Using natural consequences can, in fact, be an excellent parenting tool, but sometimes resorting to natural consequences may be ineffective and downright dangerous. When used properly, children can learn a lot from natural consequences, however… Continue Reading
Getting children to cooperate and listen is probably the most shared concern I hear from parents. Similar themes repeat themselves, over and over.
“How do I get my kids to do their homework?”
“How do I get my kids to listen to me? I’m so tired of yelling…for nothing…it makes no difference!”
Our job as parents can be tough as the balancing act of encouraging cooperation positively and needing to get things done unfolds each day. Let’s be honest, what we want and what our children want are often out of synch. It’s easy, alright, a lot easier when everyone is smiling, cooperating and listening. Fostering cooperation reduces the need to yell, nag and demand. Continue Reading
No matter how good you get at calming yourself, being mindful, being positive and working towards harmony and cooperation, there will be moments where you will feel overwhelmed or not sure how to “handle it”. Our job as parents isn’t to get it right every single time, our job is to be there, trying, getting… Continue Reading
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