by Cecilia Hilkey | holidays, parenting
Some people enjoy buying Christmas gifts for their family, but for us it’s a task that often feels a little bittersweet. As early childhood educators, we’ve seen too many companies use dubious research to falsely claim that their toy will make a child smarter. What...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | parenting
When your child is struggling, do you immediately go into self-blame mode? A lot of parents feel that they are to blame if their child is acting out or not listening.. We take our child’s behaviors personally and shame ourselves for not being a ‘better parent.’ We...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | communication, parenting
In my work as a parent coach, I’ve seen a very common mistake that even really insightful parents are making. It’s quick to fix and it makes all the difference. It’s about how you respond when your child complains or is upset about something. I made you a quick video...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | parenting
Our friend, Dr. Lynyetta Willis, says this to her own kids. It could be the perfect thing to say to your child before you correct their behavior or ask them to do something. (Video is 1 minute, 30 seconds.) Dr. Lynyetta Willis is a psychologist who helps frustrated...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | conflict, parenting, siblings
A mom reached out to us about her 13-year-old son… “He seems to be doing okay in school and has friends… but his primary interest is in screens, especially gaming and TikTok/YouTube watching. We’re okay with him using screens as a means to socialize and play together...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | homework/school, parenting
A few moms and I were talking about our kids going back to school. We had a conversation about how to support kids without overhelping or underhelping. I shared with them the 4 questions, that I have used for years with my kids, to help with school (and even parenting...read more