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communication | sibling rivalry | discipline | emotions | positive parenting
Check out my latest post on Positive Parenting Connection: As a mom to three girls and as a child therapist, I’ve read piles of parenting books. My parenting philosophy has changed dramatically over the years. When I landed in the realm of “Positive Parenting,” I was hooked. I knew instinctively
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There’s old parenting advice that tells us to give attention and praise when our kids do something good. Unfortunately, going overboard with “Good Job” may be making things worse, rather than better. Learn why it’s OK not to praise your child for every.little.thing. My kids love to color. They can
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Out of the blue, my daughter announced: “Ashlyn and Tyler don’t talk to me on the bus.” Shocked and caught off guard, I accidentally made a great parenting decision: I didn’t say anything. She continued, “I know I’m quiet. Maybe they don’t hear me talk, but I feel left out.”
Continue ReadingCheck out my guest post on Positive Parenting Connection: “Kelsey wanted to play house at recess, but Fiona wanted to play tag.” My first grade daughter is talking a mile a minute about the drama that unfolded at recess today. “Fiona said that anyone who plays house is a baby.
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The house is a mess. There are toys everywhere. The garbage needs to be emptied. The dishes are piled in the sink. And there are your 3 kids. Watching TV, playing on their phones, coloring. Absolutely not helping around the house. You’ve tried chore charts, you’ve tried bribing, you’ve tried
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Another day, another fear. Spiders, making a mistake on a math test, wearing the wrong socks. If you live with a child who suffers from anxiety, you know this all too well. Some days it feels exhausting. Some days you feel like yelling, “IT’S NOT A BIG DEAL! GET OVER
Continue ReadingHeading out the door to school, I noticed my daughter didn’t have her backpack. Rather than have her dawdle in the house, I volunteered to go in and get it. As I was returning to the car, I stopped, “What am I doing? How will she ever learn to remember
Continue ReadingYelling is not the end of the story. You are not defined by the fact that you lost your cool. Next time you’re feeling guilty for yelling at your child, take a deep breath. Then, follow these steps to move in a positive direction. You just yelled at your kids.
Continue ReadingMy most recent guest post on Positive Parenting Connection is about helping our kids through disappointment (and tips for managing our own reactions too!) The van is packed, and you’re about ready to head out the door. Suddenly, you hear thunder in the distance. No! It can’t be! You checked
Continue ReadingYour child is starting to meltdown. You can see the tantrum coming like a runaway train. “It looks like you need a hug!” You say, getting down to their level. “NO!” Your child backs away. “Well, then it looks like you might need a RUNNING hug!!” You reply, energetically. You
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