The Blog
Our best advice when it’s tough with kids:breathe, laugh, dance, sing, hug, call a friend. Be gentle with yourself, you’re not done growing up yet. This won’t last and you are not alone.
How to Build Kids’ Confidence and Self-Esteem
One of the kids in our classroom was like a puppy dog. As a three year old, he ran with joy all over the playground. He was excited to be in school, hang with his friends, jump around and dance. But his coordination was still developing and he hurt himself sometimes....
How to Motivate Kids Without Bribes and Threats
When Jason and I teach workshops we get strange looks from people when we start talking about parenting without bribes and punishments. Understandably, parents get concerned, “How will I get my children to do things they don’t want to do?” “How will my kids learn to...
How To Listen To What Kids Mean, Not What Kids Say
In our family and in our classroom, we don’t take what kids say seriously. Why not? Because, we take what kids mean seriously. Kids (actually people) say things in the best way that they know how. But kids don’t have the life experience, or vocabulary that us adults...
Effective “Time out” Alternatives
Last week, we said some controversial stuff about not using “time outs” with kids. Time outs are a bit of a sacred cow in some parenting circles. We don’t intend to ruffle any feathers with this topic, but Jason and I are believers that one of the ways to learn is to...
4 Reasons to Stop Using Time Outs
“Time outs” have been popular with parents for generations. Talking about the drawbacks of time outs is controversial. You may disagree with us; you may agree with us. But chances are you will not be neutral on this “hot” topic. Here’s a situation… The baby knocks...
3 Ways to Recharge this Summer
I don’t know about you… but during the summer, I harbor a fantasy. I dream that summer is going to be filled with long quiet days on the beach with my kids happily frolicking in the waves, fun bike rides, roller skating, and sitting peacefully under a tree reading a...
Story Massage to help a child with feelings
Have you ever gotten stuck like this… When the “oatmeal hits the fan” and you’re trying to help your child calm down, and, at the same time, you feel more and more stress rising from the pit of your stomach or a tightness in your chest? Have you found yourself...
How to Help Anxious Kids
We got this email recently asking for ideas about how to help a child with anxiety. Dear Cecilia and Jason, My 7 year old is in 1st grade. Although he was fine in kindergarten and the first half of 1st grade, something abruptly changed and he became very anxious about...
Bossy and defiant kids
We got an email recently from a parent basically asking - How do you ask a young child to do something without a struggle? Hi, Cecilia and Jason, I love the positivity of your parenting advice. I feel at a loss at how to deal with my three year old. I have resorted...