My arms were still sore from scrubbing the dark streaks of marker my toddler had happily scribbled, off our porous pine dining table. I turned toward my oldest daughter. “I just told you not to leave your special (read; nonwashable) markers out where your little brother can reach them!” Had I been talking to a… Continue Reading
Inside: Using positive parenting makes it possible to encourage better behavior without resorting to punishment and yelling. A few years ago, my 3 year old daughter ripped her brothers’ picture. She did it on purpose and with the intent to get back at her brother. Many parents believe that such “acting out” needs to be managed… Continue Reading
To encourage better behavior, make sure you are taking this important step after disciplining your child. Books went flying down to the ground. Screams filled the dining room. My heart skipped a beat as I quickly assessed the situation for injuries and damages. You know that feelings when you aren’t so sure if all your kids… Continue Reading
My then 3-year old son and I were at our favorite family camp one summer. My son loved to play in the woods – grabbing handfuls of red earth, and throwing them up in the air like fireworks. The beautiful color and sound filled him with joy as the dirt rained down over his head… Continue Reading
Inside: Learn how to Avoid Power Struggles and problem solve when you and your child have conflicting opinions. The bathroom is getting steamy. The water has been flowing for minutes, and your child is still fully clothed, refusing to budge. Every night it’s the same battle. You say that he needs to shower. He refuses… Continue Reading
Use the Division of Responsibility In Feeding To Help Your Child Transform Picky Eating into a Healthy Relationship with Food It’s pretty normal for children to be selective about what they eat. Picky eating can be just a phase, especially in the toddler and preschool years. Even if it’s normal, picky eating can bring up worries, frustration… Continue Reading
Inside: Understanding regression and misbehavior in your child after the birth of a baby sibling. I’m having a very trying time with my three-year-old at the moment. He is a very bright, highly spirited and sensitive little boy. His baby brother was born just a month ago so I appreciate he has had a lot… Continue Reading
Have you ever told your children not to hide in a clothing store, not to touch dangerous things, or not to run in the parking lot? Have you had to say it more than once, only to find that they repeat the same behavior three minutes later? Why is this happening? Prohibition (like saying DON’T)… Continue Reading
Even if we can’t parent in the most nurturing ways all the time, the more often we can, the more our children get what they need, the better they will be able to weather the times when we parent in less nurturing ways. Learning to recover when we make a mistake really does help restore connection, models really important skills to our children and helps things shift back into the positive. It takes just 3 steps towards restoring connection. Continue Reading
So how to handle over-wound, exuberant, annoying behaviors in a positive way? Everyone has their own personality and style. Embrace your child for who they are, that kind of acceptance alone will help you see that their behaviors are often just an expression of who they are and how they approach the world, not things done to annoy you. Continue Reading