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...]
Help Your Child Express their Mixed-Up Feelings
If you've ever been the guest of honor at a surprise party you can relate to mixed-emotions. The flood of feelings can be overwhelming...surprise, joy, excitement, maybe shy because you didn't expect it or even a little upset that your friend didn't tell you. As adults, we understand that mixed-up feelings are part of a surprise party. In … [Read more...]
Love Past the Behavior
Your kids are curled up on the couch reading their new library books. No one is bickering. The silence is amazing. Your heart fills with love as you admire their sweet, innocent faces. Fast forward ten minutes. A fight breaks out over who has more of the blanket. You rush into the room, trying to help them make peace, but instead, your … [Read more...]
Teaching Your Impulsive Child to “Pause”
All kids are impulsive. They hit, bite, kick and yell without thinking through the consequences. They feel a feeling and act on it. We can blow this off as "kids will be kids" or send them to the corner until they "learn their lesson." Or, we can introduce our kids to the PAUSE. Your Child's Brain Research shows that your child's brain is … [Read more...]