The car seat never used to be a problem. You'd plop your infant into the seat, and away you'd go. Suddenly, going anywhere in the car means that you'll first have to endure an epic toddler tantrum. What happened? Where did your sweet little baby go? Toddler tantrums can start much earlier than parents expect. It seems that as … [Read more...]
Why Flexibility is More Important than Consistency in Parenting
For many years parents have been told to be consistent. To follow through with the consequences we set. Not to back down when we've set a limit. This is a good strategy in theory, but it also binds us as parents. We make an impulsive decision to take away TV for a week, then feel stuck when we realize that there is no way to enforce … [Read more...]
How to persevere through parenting challenges
I sat in the room with my daughter as she screamed. She was WAY overtired and beyond comforting. I scanned my brain for any tidbit of parenting advice that I'd forgotten. Any other way to get through to her in that moment. Only one word came to mind: Persevere. Really? Persevere is not my favorite word, and I bet you don't … [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...]
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...]