"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...]
The Absolute Best Way to Respond when Your Child’s Acting Out
To say that it's been a long day would be putting it mildly. The power-struggles have been endless. The whining has been constant. And, of course, there was the "I'm-not-leaving-the-store-without-a-toy" meltdown in aisle 9. No matter what you do, it seems that your child's main goal is to make your day miserable. And it's … [Read more...]
How to Help Your Aggressive Toddler or Preschooler
At preschool pickup, the teacher pulls you aside. She has some concerns about your child's behavior. She reminds you that there is a zero tolerance policy for biting and aggressive acts like kicking and hitting may result in suspension. You're a little shocked to hear the news, but you know what she's talking about. There are times when he … [Read more...]
When to praise your child (and when to skip it)
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 spend hours creating detailed pictures of … [Read more...]
Showing Your Child Support with Silence
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." I glanced her way to let her know I was listening but stayed … [Read more...]
One Tip to Get Your Kids Helping Around the House
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 taking things away until they complete their tasks. … [Read more...]
Loving Your Anxious Child
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 IT!" Even though you know it's not that easy. You love your child, you … [Read more...]
How to Be a Flexible Parent
Heading 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 her backpack if I rescue her like this? She's supposed to be responsible for her own … [Read more...]
I’m Feeling Guilty for Yelling at My Child! 5 things you need to do now
Yelling 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. And I mean, yelled. Despite your best efforts at calm, peaceful parenting, you … [Read more...]
How to break the cycle of anxiety in your family
You call out to your toddler who is scrambling up the jungle gym, "Be careful, honey! Watch out!" He decides it is too scary to climb and decides to go to the sandbox instead. You check your teen's grades online and realize there is missing work, "Don't you have math homework to do? Colleges look at these grades, you know!" She makes excuses and … [Read more...]