Bringing some creativity into our daily parenting efforts can lead to so much laughter, harmony and happiness. Sometimes it may not come so naturally or it may feel like there just isn’t enough time in our busy days. Infusing our parenting with a bit of creativity though doesn’t have to be complicated or messy.For me it… Continue Reading
Our children are capable, competent beings from birth. Often the struggles we find ourselves caught in with our children can be eased by recognizing and honoring their age appropriate capabilities. And with their capable, competent selves appreciated and affirmed, we can now build a strong foundation for the future independent and successful adult we all hope for. This continuing… Continue Reading
This is a guest post by Olga Mecking I am a shy person and an introvert. I have three children one of which can be considered shy. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are six tips, both from my own experience and from what I read on parenting a shy child: 1) … Continue Reading
Transforming Trash into Toys this summer turned out to be a wonderful experience for my children as well as a huge reminder that simple is often more than good enough!! Continue Reading
Sometimes we get caught up in complaining that our children are not responding to us when we would like them to. We think they are dawdling, or taking their “sweet time,” or “dragging their feet” or just being “selfish.” Here’s the thing though, how long does it take for us to respond to a… Continue Reading
Creating and using family rules can be a positive and family oriented activity. Family rules do not need to be a long exhausting list of “can’t dos” to be effective either. Here are some ideas to consider when writing up family rules: Continue Reading
Now, at the ages of 4 and 6, our two intrepid cyclists are faster than mum and dad, do an 8-10 mile run no problem and positively look forward to bike trips. So what have we, as parents, learned about making our family bike rides successful? Here are our top 6 tips. Continue Reading
Boundaries or limits will often vary from family to family but when we set boundaries, it’s important to think about how those boundaries will protect or affect feelings, behaviors, thoughts and physical safety. Boundaries are supposed to provide security and guidance, not to make a child feel locked in and controlled. Continue Reading
Speaking forcefully with threats, bribes, empty promises or lies seldom gets us any closer to “getting” children to willingly do what we hope them to do. When we speak kindly, with the intent to connect, explain or share, our ideas become appealing and interesting and the other person can feel welcomed into the conversation and welcomed into potential solutions. Continue Reading
A sense of family matters to children. It doesn’t matter if it is a small family or a large one, single parent or two – what matters is that the child feels like they belong and have a place in their family. Children that feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves tend to be… Continue Reading