The holiday season can be a big trap for stress and parenting self-sabotage. For the next several weeks, you may have high expectations for good, cooperative behavior. You may get tired of fielding requests for big, expensive or so very many gifts. Comments from relatives at family gatherings may trigger self-doubt. Little elves on shelves eagerly waiting to report… Continue Reading
If you have a child that is getting into power struggles with you, you also have a child that is ready and able to stand up for themselves. This is a good thing. A really good thing. Children that are assertive, critical thinkers are more successful in life. While it might be great down the… Continue Reading
Inside: Understand why siblings fight with each other and for attention and learn sibling conflict reduction parenting tools. “You are being mean!” said my son. His face filled with disappointment. “I’m never sharing my truck with you ever again.” He added, walking away with a deep sigh. I had been listening to my son and… Continue Reading
focusing on their abilities/strengths/qualities–things you want to encourage for they help our children become more confident, feel more capable, able to take risks, to rally from mistakes, to move through struggle. To know “I can really use my brain” sets a child up to work through a tough homework problem in an empowering way. Hearing “You are so smart!” can leave a child at a loss when they don’t do well on a test, or when they can’t figure out a problem. Using “You CAN be” instead of “You ARE…” gives a child the chance to be something else. Empowering! Continue Reading
I’m sure you know the drill—buttons pushed, kids not listening, fighting in the backseat of the car. Whining, sassing, talking-back, door slamming. And how about that frustrating “last word”? You know, when you have a child who is ultra good at getting in the last word, and it drives you nuts because you want (and… 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: 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
When our kids are messing up or misbehaving, it’s so easy to slip into responses that are just the opposite of encouraging. Unlike praise, you can give encouragement any time at all, even when your child is failing, and that is often when they need it most. Continue Reading
Toddler brains are just not mature enough to really know safe from unsafe just yet. Not even at age three or five are children’s brains fully mature enough to really respond well to distress, real or imagined. Clingy toddlers, don’t cling forever. When reassured, loved, and cared for in this stage, toddlers may blossom into confident, capable, happy children. Continue Reading
Inside: Positive ways for encouraging more cooperation from toddlers One very challenging task in the early years of parenting is finding ways to encourage cooperation and listening. Toddlers and pre-schoolers are notorious for saying “NO!” “I can’t” and “I don’t want to!” especially in moments when we would like to hear “yes mama!” and “OK” In… Continue Reading