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 practice and teach gratitude: 6 things our family does
Hi there! I was having a cup of tea with a girlfriend the other day and she was talking about how her kids just don’t really seem to appreciate what she does for them. She said it’s not always like this, but there are times when her daughter will look at a closet full...
4 Topics: How to Talk to Kids about Halloween
Howdy! Halloween is in a few days. In the rush of getting all the costumes ready, buying candy, and carving the pumpkins it’s easy to forget to prepare your “parent-child relationship” for the night. There are 4 quick but really important conversations to have BEFORE...
Screen time and limit setting with kids
Yesterday, Jason and I were presenting at a parenting conference for one of the local charter schools, and we landed on a hot topic--screen time and limit setting. The parents asked: How do you set limits around computer use? How do you let a child use the computer...
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...