My family lived in London during the summer of 2014 and we looked for creative ways to entertain ourselves on days when we needed a break from sightseeing. One afternoon, my 8-year-old daughter and I sat on the floor of our Greenwich flat and created a game for the family to … [Read more...]
15 Ways to Calm an Angry Child and Build Emotional Skills
Stomping feet, angry outbursts, screaming, name calling, digging in their feet. All children have temper tantrums and irrational bouts of anger at some point. Some children calm down relatively easily and respond to redirection, while others need more help along the way. I've … [Read more...]
Positive Parenting: The Power of Time-In
I started Time-In to help my son build his emotional coping skills. I soon discovered that the person who needed Time-In the most was me. Time-In gradually becomes replaced by Time-Out as children grow. Time-In with infants is as natural as breathing. With babies, soft … [Read more...]
It Starts With Me
Calm down, Mindy. It feels like the 100th time I've talked to him about hitting today. It's probably the 10th. Intellectually, I know the advice around positive discipline. Talk to kids about what they can do, not what they can't. Focus on what you will do. Remain … [Read more...]
Deciding What I will Do: Avoiding Power Struggles and Revenge Cycles
She radiated defiance. Her body language - from the tightened mouth, to the crossed arms, to the feet rooted in one spot - indicated she was preparing for battle. The moment she tossed her pajamas in frustration, my first reaction was to demand she pick them up and … [Read more...]
