This is a checklist I would go through either mentally or by journaling when my kids were smaller to make things go more smoothly. Some of these concepts are more developed in other articles. Do I set clear and consistent boundaries and follow through with firmness AND kindness? EG When my child…
Does your child get really angry or throw tantrums when you try to talk to her after she makes a poor choice? How you respond to your child after something goes wrong for her can have a large impact on her future emotional response to…
According to Myrna Shure’s Raising a Thinking Child, there are 4 levels of asking a child for behavior you want. LEVEL 1 Negative interactions: yelling, belittling, shaming, etc. LEVEL 2 Saying what you want positively. LEVEL 3 Giving information or talking about feelings. Click on “HOW TO GET…
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the largest non-profit organization representing the early education community in the US, has a position statement for best practices in early education programs. The statement is based on extensive research in child development and the knowledge…
A parent’s goal should be to teach our children how real life works. In real life, we experience the consequences of our behavior. For example, when we don’t pay our phone bill, the company cuts off our service. Your kids need to learn these consequences…
It is very important to support creativity in your children and give them an outlet to express themselves. Set up a table with paper and various writing utensils and let your children draw. If you are wondering how your child’s drawing will progress, the outline…
YOU WIN YOU LOSE ME WIN Win/Win Win/Lose ME LOSE Lose/Win Lose/Lose According to Stephen Covey’s book Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, there are five ways to resolve a conflict with someone. There are the four options in the chart…
If offered in certain ways, choices are very beneficial to children. First, choices give a child a sense of control or empowerment over his life. Second, the child gradually learns to exercise his muscles of problem solving. This skill will benefit him in situations when you…
In addition to helping with later school work, language helps a child express himself which can prevent tantrums and other behavior problems. There is a high correlation between behavior problems and language delays. Children need a variety of books to help with language development. Look…
According to the developmental psychologist Piaget, a child makes meaning of his world by forming patterns with the information he receives. He bundles the data he accumulates into concepts. A concept is an idea formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars. Children form and adjust concepts when they can experience and interact with…
Help! My child is very emotional and has lots of fits and/or tantrums. I’m tired of the screaming, fits, pouting and rage. In order to better control himself and to interact with others, a child needs to be aware of what he is feeling and…
It is normal for every person to experience a wide range of emotions. But children often are frustrated, happy, annoyed, proud, etc all within one hour! Worse, they sometimes have uncontrolled tantrums. Hearing negative emotions from a child often is irritating and difficult for a…
