How to Prepare for Your Intense Child's Next Meltdown Glancing at the clock, you mentally cross your fingers. You’re parenting alone tonight and your energy is running low. It would be great if your child made it to bedtime without a meltdown. For your sake. For your other children’s sake. You know he can’t help it. Some nights are … [Read more...]
How to Reduce Sibling Rivalry: A Parent’s Guide
They are the best of friends and the worst of enemies...they are siblings. Managing sibling rivalry can feel like a full-time job! Here are some helpful tips for managing sibling jealousy, sharing, competition among siblings and much more. You're starting to wonder if it's possible to have a car ride without an argument in the … [Read more...]
How to reduce competition between siblings
Anything can turn into a competition between your kids. Who has the tallest french fry. Who has the most homework. Who brushed their teeth more efficiently. Seriously. Nothing is off limits for those two. And, no matter how hard you try to tell them “it doesn’t matter who has the longest pinky toenail” they aren’t interested in … [Read more...]
Sharing toys with siblings: How to stop the arguments
Sharing does not come naturally to some kids...which means you're constantly dealing with arguments about "who's turn it is" and "who had it first." Rather than forcing them to give up their favorite toy or engaging in a power struggle, use these 10 "sharing rules" to help your kids practice sharing toys with siblings. “I feel like I need two … [Read more...]
Using Empathy to Avoid a Power Struggle
The bus drove away before we could get to the stop. Sighing, I turn to my daughter, “I guess I’m driving you to school today.” Panic filled her eyes. “No way. It’s embarrassing to be a car-rider.” Confused, I brushed aside her remarks. “It’s not embarrassing. Come on, let’s go.” “I’m not going to school … [Read more...]
Helping Your Older Child Cope When Their Sibling Becomes Mobile
You've read the books. You bought the "I'm a big brother" t-shirt. You have a basket of fun activities for him to do while you're nursing. You're prepared to smooth the transition from singleton to sibling once you arrive home from the hospital. But, a few weeks in, you feel confused. Didn't the books say this was going to be a difficult … [Read more...]
A simple phrase to eliminate tattling.
"Mom! Sam won't turn off the water in the bathroom!" "Mom! Sarah took my iPod without asking...and now she won't give it back!" "Mom, Mom, MOM!" Like nails on a chalkboard, most parents have come to dread the sound of a child tattling. It seems so needy, so desperate. Why can't they just work it out on their own? Because it is. And … [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...]
5 Questions to Help your Unique Child Thrive
Special thanks to April Finley for guest posting this week! Read more about her in the bio below. My diaper bag was packed according to the list I’d written before I’d given birth; it was well stocked with clean clothes, burp cloths, washcloths, pacifiers, receiving blankets, diapers, and any number of other things I wasn’t likely to need in … [Read more...]
9 Positive Parenting Alternatives to Time Outs & Grounding
The concept of positive parenting has many parents feeling baffled. There's no strict manual. No "if this, then that" list of appropriate consequences. Even parents who are on board with skipping time outs or grounding scratch their heads and ask, "What do I DO instead?" Positive parenting doesn't always call for us to "DO" … [Read more...]