If we had to choose only one parenting tool to use, it would be family meetings. Positive Parenting: A to Z by Jane Nelson Weekly family meetings made our family’s life a lot smoother. By anticipating what the bumps in the weekly schedule would be, we…
If you want your child to have a high sense of self-esteem, don’t go out of your way to praise her; go out of your way to make sure she experiences mastery in many different ways. We want to be teaching life skills, not providing…
ROLE MODELS Children need role models to show them how to behave in specific situations. They also absorb the behavior they see from others in every day life or in videos. Very young children need direct guidance to know how to behave in…
MRI studies, longitudinal observational studies and input from tens of thousands of educators of young children have changed the way most view how one should appropriately interact with and guide very young children. Historical discipline has given way to strong guidance. Some historical discipline approaches…
It is very important that you talk to your child as much as possible for both academic and behavior reasons. According to research by Betty Hart and Todd Risley(2003), children from higher social and economic status families have heard thirty million more words than children from underprivileged…
Sometimes it feels like you cannot change your child’s behavior so try focusing on changing your own behavior instead. For this, use “I messages”. This only works in certain situations, though, but can be an extremely effective tool. “I messages” are about controlling your own…
What are some signs that your child is having to deal with bullying behavior? There is an imbalance of power within their friend group. Power differences can be based on almost anything. Any time one person really wants something, there is potential to be kind towards…
Children who bite, hit and scratch often need to work on the following skills: language, self-awareness and emotional self-regulation. As a parent, you can help by giving your child more attention, reducing screen time and learning more about developmentally appropriate expectations. Kids often fight and…
Do you want your child to be a creative thinker? Do you want to increase your child’s mental well-being? Then do the following. 🙂 Guidelines Create a climate that encourages children to feel creative. Remember, process is more important than product. Encourage choice to foster…
The following article addresses what it feels like for a parent to come to terms with having a child with a serious health issue. WELCOME TO HOLLAND by Emily Perl Kingsley. c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved I am often asked to describe…
Summary: If you can’t find the perfect preschool, at a minimum, choose a school where teachers are warm and nurturing. If possible, find a program where a teacher has a BA in early education or has extensive early education training. There is an enormous amount…
The first thing to go during school budget cuts is often music or art classes. Children are also playing significantly less during their preschool years. This is highly unfortunate as one of the most important skills your child can have is creativity. Creativity brings joy…