After school meltdowns are quite common for children from preschool to middle school. Here is what you need to know to handle these after school meltdowns and help your child feel better again. Children can experience quite the emotional ups and downs while away from you. Maybe a classmate didn’t want to share a toy, an… Continue Reading
Encouragement is about process and effort and can facilitate the development of a growth mindset. Encouragement offers an opportunity for a child to recognize their strengths, and allows them to grow an internal gague for how they are doing. Continue Reading
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin Children are mirrors; they reflect back to us everything we say and do. We now know that 95% of everything children learn, they learn from what is modeled for them. Only 5% of… Continue Reading
Inside: Children with positive self-esteem recognize their abilities and feel proud about what they are able to. You can actively help build your child’s self-esteem by fostering connection, being encouraging and welcoming mistakes. After jumping down from a tree at the park my son stood up, did a little victory dance and then ran off… Continue Reading
Your son is on the floor, arms and legs flailing. Crying and screaming at the top of his lungs. He’s been like this for 10 minutes already. If you could read his mind in this moment, he might be thinking, “Mom! Please help me! I’m feeling so disappointed. I want to stop crying, but I… Continue Reading
Having just turned ten, my daughter is on the verge of becoming a full-fledged tween. We are having more “talks” as her friends and classmates bring more and more interesting tidbits to her attention such as which feminine products are better, who “likes” whom, oh-the-girl-drama and more. The hormones are also beginning to take over… Continue Reading
We are walking up the stairs to school. It’s been a difficult morning. I am feeling drained by the need to repeat myself over and over. The feeling that I’m doing everything for everyone. That no one else in the family is doing their share and once again I am over functioning for all of… Continue Reading
When children don’t listen, being calm and confident can take extra effort, but really it is the key to getting kids to listen. To encourage children to listen more, and stop yelling you can try these three steps. Continue Reading
Techniques galore. Time outs. Behavior charts. Chore charts. Get-out-the-door charts. 1, 2, 3 warnings. Homework first. Cry to sleep. Rock to sleep. Just sleep. “Eyes only” and one finger touches. Unwavering curfew. No reading until your teeth are brushed and jammies on. Be respectful or else. Consequences consequences consequences…and on and on and on. Techniques.… Continue Reading
We all need to make the choices that are right for our family, that fit with our values. Kids have to be at least 13 to be on social media. I know this isn’t really an enforceable rule and that loads of kids under 13 are using social media – but it is something I am going to choose to hold on to over here. I want my kids to practice integrity when they are online.I want my kids to be creative and expressive when they are online. I want my kids to value privacy. Continue Reading