Latest From The Blog
Scared Out of Our Minds: What To Say When a Child is Afraid
There are many things that can scare a child: a loud noise, an angry parent, a barking dog, a hospitalization, witnessing violence. Sometimes we know children are afraid because they tell us so, but at other times, it comes out in their behavior. They act out, they...
“No, We Can’t Send Her Back”: Five Keys for Preparing Your Family for the Birth of a Sibling
Two days after my son was born, his five-year old sister carefully and quietly carried his bouncy chair to a room in the back of the house that wasn’t used much. When I walked back into the living room and found him gone, she said, “He has gone to the baby dungeon,...
The Secret to Helping Your Baby’s Brain Grow
Although we parents might feel like we spend every moment with a new baby, our days are also filled with the work it takes to run a family. There is laundry to be done, meals to prepare, diapers to change, showers to slip into when we have a moment, and errands to run when we can. And so we get busy around our babies. Even when we’re with our babies hour after hour, sometimes 3:00 p.m. rolls around and we haven’t actually connected with them yet.
There is More to Sharing Than Taking Turns
Sometimes children love to share. A child passes out a cupcake to each friend at a party; offers his baby sister the toy he knows she’ll love; or asks grandma to buy something for her siblings in addition to her own gift when they are at the toy store together.
But sometimes…children are not so generous or loving. All children have trouble sharing at times. A child might hoard all of the “best” sandbox toys for herself, or run to snag the best seat in the car before his siblings get there.
Your Fear Toolkit: How to Help Your Child with Fear and Anxiety
When children are afraid, they can be inflexible, stubborn, aggressive, or timid. You might remember being in a similar state, yourself…
Contradicting the “Mama’s Boy” Myth: Strategies to Support Your Son as He Grows
Messages about how to parent your son are everywhere: “Don’t coddle him.” “Push him out into the world.” “He’s being a crybaby.” “You better let him go.” Feeling a cultural pressure to disconnect with their sons, many mothers feel conflicted about how to stay close,...
The “do-nothing-say-nothing” Challenge
OK, that’s it! Time out! And no more screen time for the rest of the week! Have you tried time outs, punishments, or rewards lately? The problem with these parenting techniques is that they tend to increase your children’s anger and resentment. Your kids are actually...
Avocado Throwing Fit and 4 Other Times to Use this Sanity Saver Tool
Did it take your kiddo forever to get his pajamas on last night or did she flat out refuse to brush her hair in the morning? Or maybe he always puts up a fight when it’s bath time. Wouldn’t it be great to have a ten minute tool that can turn your child’s worst...
Ten Minutes of Special Time Can Change Everything
What if I told you that with ten minutes of your undivided attention: Your child will be more cooperative—more likely to pick up the toys when you ask them to or get their pajamas on at night. You’ll build trust in your relationship with your kid so they rely on you...
Grocery Store Meltdown Part II—When the Sh*%t Hits the Fan!
You’ve tried everything to ward off the tantrum at the grocery store (see this post if you haven’t): You connected through Special Time before you left the house, You kept that yummy connection when you got to the store, and You tried some playful moves when they were...
Stop the Grocery Store Meltdown Before it Starts…Or Any Other Public Catastrophe!
You knew it was a bad idea. But the pantry was bare, your kid squeezed in a nap, and you hoped a trip to the grocery store would be quick and painless. But you were wrong. Tears and a tantrum were not on your list. A smooth trip to the grocery store is possible but it...
From Holiday Hell to Holiday Happy
Tips to Reduce the Stress of Parenting When the Celebrations Start The holidays are here and as wonderful as a happy holiday would be, the reality is not always that joyful. Your little one asks you to play every thirty minutes, but you keep saying no because the...
The Secret to a Better Vacation
For kids, one of the best things about vacation is that they have more of their parents’ attention. We may be able to let go of some of the worries and distractions that consume us during the week and put more time and attention into our children when we’re away with...
Children Hunger for Play and Laughter with You
Stresses of all kinds, loneliness, isolation, and criticism erase a child’s sense of connection, and make it harder for a child to love and learn. But I'm always amazed at how a little play full of laughter can quickly restore a connection between a parent and a...
Want to Get a Handle On Your Child’s Difficult Behaviors? Try this first.
Is hitting, spitting, whining, slamming doors, or nasty back talk driving you to the end of your rope? One of the first things you can do to resolve a child’s difficult behavior is to observe. Put on your detective hat and simply notice. Notice when that pesky...
