It is very difficult to decide what to tell your children when your pet dies. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that there is not a one size fits all approach to this topic. There is no RIGHT way.Despite the title, this post is not a “this is what you SHOULD […]
Drowning Prevention PSA To Start Summer Out Right!
Summer is upon us and unfortunately, that means that there will be at least one local news story about a child drowning. It happens every year (too many times). Typically, these are ruled as accidental deaths but occasionally there is a person held responsible for failing to provide appropriate supervision. Swimming in fun. Drowning, even […]
How To Get Your Child to “Be Good” (HINT: It’s Not By Just Saying It)
“Be good!” is probably the most common phrase used by parents with young children. It is also my #1 pet peeve. The close second being the follow up question, “Were you good today?” Ugh…just typing it makes me annoyed. The problem with “Be Good!” I am not an English major, but let’s just look at […]
Is Your Toddler Picking Up Bad Habits At Day Care?
Day care is a necessary evil for most parents. Truthfully, it can also be a lifesaver. If you trust your day care provider, having another set of people that can love your child is truly a blessing. But, occasionally, you might notice that your toddler is picking up some bad habits from other children in […]
The Threenager: Why Dealing With Three Year Olds Is So Hard
Before I had kids, I would always say that three year olds were my favorite. They are so cute-no longer babies but not quite big kids. They look adorable dressed up like miniature adults. They can talk enough to tell you what they want and need but make these cute little language errors. Classic gems […]
The Nitty Gritty About Using Sticker Charts Or Other Behavior Management
Should You Use A Sticker Chart? If you have a young child, you have probably considered a behavior management system like a sticker chart or reward system of some sort. Do these things really work? Well, the short answer is yes. The longer answer is 1) it depends on how you use it 2) it […]
The Key to Holiday Rituals is the Word “Always”
When I ask people about their family rituals, most parents report back that they don’t really have any. Even my own brother has told me that our family doesn’t have any rituals. When I hear people say this, I am in shock. Not because people don’t have rituals, but because they fail to recognize the […]
Maintaining A Schedule For Little Kids During the Holidays
There are parents that live and die by the schedule. There are some parents that want a schedule for their little ones, but just can’t seem to stick to it. And then, there are parents that have no interest in maintaining a schedule. No matter what type of parent you are, the holiday season can […]
Learn to Set Limits Without Saying No in 3 Easy Steps
For most parents, limits are usually set with one of these three words: NO. DON’T STOP. No, you can not play outside. Don’t run in the hallway. Stop hitting your sister. You Can Set Limits Without Saying NO Wait, what? You heard me. It is possible to raise healthy, respectful and law abiding children without telling […]
Consequences: Change Your Words To Change Behavior (Part 2)
Want to learn how to impose consequences without being “the Bad Guy”? Here’s another simple language tweak that can have a big impact on behavior. We already talked about the simple language tweak to Eliminate Bribes by using three simple words to encourage responsibility and promote compliance with rules. But what if that technique doesn’t […]