"Settle down," you say above the screaming. It sounds more like a threat than a caring suggestion. "I don't know how!" your child jeers back. You shake your head, sighing. How many times do you need to remind her to take a deep breath when she's upset? Obviously, something's missing here. Big Feelings. Big Confusion. Big feelings like … [Read more...]
Aggressive Kids: Positive Discipline for Amazing Results
Learn how shame impacts the behavior of aggressive kids. These positive parenting tips will help you get to the root of the problem and begin to free your child from negative self-talk, anger, and acting out. The meticulously created Lego creation smashes against the wall and shatters into a hundred pieces. "That's enough!" You yell, … [Read more...]
3 Tips to Help Kids Cope with Anxiety (Storms, Darkness and Spiders – Oh My!)
I'm thrilled to welcome Janine Halloran back for this guest post. If your child struggles with anxiety, stress, or anger, you need to check out her new workbook: Coping Skills for Kids, which includes 75 strategies and ideas to try at home. It's close to midnight when the storms that have been threatening all day finally arrive. The rain … [Read more...]
Does My Child or Teen Need Therapy?
Red, scratchy throat. Strep test. Squinting at the chalkboard. Time for glasses! Obsessive worry about spiders. Angry outbursts at the drop of a hat. Constant arguing with teachers. Umm... Many parents have a “feeling” that their child is struggling but don’t know how to help. Instead of hoping that things blow over or brushing it … [Read more...]
How to help your anxious child: a guide for parents
The bedtime battles. The doctor's office meltdowns. The tears. Parenting a child with anxiety can be hard. You wish you could wave a magic wand and make all of their worries disappear. There is hope! Use these posts to help you parent your child through their worries, teach a variety of coping skills, and explore your own … [Read more...]
Do you make this mistake with your anxious child?
Sam has been afraid of dogs since he was 2 years old. A dog knocked him over on the playground and he felt scared. Now, 5 years later, he still avoids every dog he sees. Since you hate for him to feel anxious, you've taken the role of "dog-remover" for him. When you bring him for play dates, you request the family put … [Read more...]
How To Parent Well When You Worry Too Much
Thanks to Dirt and Boogers for allowing me to guest post about parenting through anxiety and worry! Being cautious is a good thing; caring about your kids is what parents do. The problem comes when the worry begins to negatively affect your parenting. Your marriage. Your friendships. When worry becomes too much. If … [Read more...]
13 Helpful Phrases to Calm Your Anxious Child
Thanks to Lemon Lime Adventures for allowing me to guest post about childhood anxiety today! If your child struggles with anxiety, you know the challenge of finding the right things to say when he or she is worried. It's not easy to connect without making the fears worse, while at the same time offering support and … [Read more...]
How to Respond When Your Child is Disrespectful
The playdate is over. It is time to head home. You gave a 5-minute warning. You expect everything to go well. Suddenly, it happens. Your child responds disrespectfully. "No! I don't want to go! You never let me do anything fun!" You feel the anger rising inside you. You yell back, "How dare you talk to me like that!" He … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Your Kids Don’t Talk To You
"I try to talk to him, but he just grunts a one-word reply." "I never know what's going on in school, my kids never say anything more than, 'fine' or 'ok.'" So frustrating, right? You make the effort and are met with silence. Unfortunately, we can't change our kids, but we can change the way we interact with them. Take a … [Read more...]