8 Ways to Raise an Independent Child While Still Maintaining a Strong Bond
| | | |

8 Ways to Raise an Independent Child While Still Maintaining a Strong Bond

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Raising an independent child not only defies conventional parenting advice, it also leads to a more peaceful and positive parent-child relationship. Ask parents what character traits they’d most like to see in their kids and independence and responsibility top the list. But what most parents don’t realize is that in order to raise kids with…

10 Responsibilities at Home That Make Kids Feel Capable and Significant
| |

10 Responsibilities at Home That Make Kids Feel Capable and Significant

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

These ten children’s responsibilities at home encourage a helping mindset in kids. Kids want to have responsibilities at home. “Really?!” you may be thinking. But ultimately it’s true.  More than anything kids want to feel capable and significant in their family and the world. And responsibilities at home can help achieve this. Consider the opposite for a…

24 Basic Table Manners All Kids Need to Learn

24 Basic Table Manners All Kids Need to Learn

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Learning basic table manners helps prepare kids for eating with others and a variety of social situations when they’re older. When we think of life skills our kids will need, table manners usually don’t immediately come to mind. In fact, good table manners might seem more like a “nice to have” life skill to teach our kids….

48 Inspiring Positive Parenting Quotes on Raising Kids and Being a Better Parent
|

48 Inspiring Positive Parenting Quotes on Raising Kids and Being a Better Parent

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

These thirty-five positive parenting quotes will inspire you to build a more peaceful and loving relationship with your child – a relationship that research shows results in better outcomes for both parent and child. Positive parenting – also known as authoritative, peaceful parenting or positive discipline – is defined as: “Positive parenting is focused on…

Four Effective Ways to Teach Kids Respect Without Losing Your Self-Respect
| | | |

Four Effective Ways to Teach Kids Respect Without Losing Your Self-Respect

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

It is possible to model and teach kids respect without allowing them to walk all over us. Here are four ways to make that happen. “You’re stupid!” your child yells as she crosses her arms and stomps her feet, giving you the stink eye.  Your offense? Telling her that she needs to wait to have…

The Difference Between Consequences That Punish and Consequences That Teach
| |

The Difference Between Consequences That Punish and Consequences That Teach

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

The word “consequence” in parenting has come to mean different things to different people. But in order to truly teach kids a lesson, a consequence must have certain characteristics. “Kids need to experience the consequences of their actions.” For any parent whose goal it is to raise a self-sufficient child, those words ring true. Our…

The Seven Emotional Needs of a Child That Influence Confidence and Self-Esteem
|

The Seven Emotional Needs of a Child That Influence Confidence and Self-Esteem

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Understanding your children’s emotional needs and how you can meet them is the first step in supporting their confidence and self-esteem. Want to know the secret to raising a child who’s confident, secure, and has strong self-esteem? Meet their emotional needs. While that statement sounds over-simplified, it’s true. When we, as parents, help meet the…

The Difference Between Praise and Encouragement in Parenting and Why it Matters
|

The Difference Between Praise and Encouragement in Parenting and Why it Matters

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Encouragement is more effective than praise in guiding kids’ mindset and behavior. Here’s why: We want our children to feel how proud we are of them because, after all, we’re proud when they do their best or achieve a goal. But how can we communicate our admiration in a way that expresses our true sentiments…

The Difference Between Punishment and Discipline in Parenting and Why it Matters
|

The Difference Between Punishment and Discipline in Parenting and Why it Matters

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Understanding the difference between punishment and discipline and why it matters can help guide us towards more effective parenting. It’s not unusual for parents to be confused by the differences between punishment and discipline. In our modern language the two words are often used interchangeably, even though they originally meant very different things. And when…

Have a Disobedient Child? Four Steps to Address Your Child’s Behavior
| | |

Have a Disobedient Child? Four Steps to Address Your Child’s Behavior

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Having a disobedient child can be frustrating, to say the least. Inside are four steps you can take to help address your child’s misbehavior and turn that behavior around. Having a disobedient child is one of the most aggravating, irritating, stressful, and downright frustrating parenting experiences. Especially if it seems our child is chronically disobedient:…

21 Family Bonding Activities to Strengthen Your Family’s Connection
| |

21 Family Bonding Activities to Strengthen Your Family’s Connection

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

These twenty-one family bonding activities will bring your family together and build cohesion – often while having fun! It’s a modern-day scene: after work and school, your family runs around to kids activities, errands, quickly eats dinner, the kids complete their homework, and before you know it, it’s bedtime. Research shows that a strong parent/child…

125+ Fun Questions to Ask Your Kids to Get Them Talking
| | |

125+ Fun Questions to Ask Your Kids to Get Them Talking

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Looking for insightful, imaginative, and funny questions to ask your kids? Look no further! These 125+ questions will help your family bond as you learn things about your kids you might not have known. How recently has your child told you what their favorite song is? Or have you wondered how they would describe their…

How to Teach Your Kids Problem-Solving Skills and Make Parenting Easier
| | | | |

How to Teach Your Kids Problem-Solving Skills and Make Parenting Easier

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Strong problem-solving skills are essential for our kids to navigate the world independently. And as our children grow in their ability to problem-solve, they’ll demonstrate greater autonomy and responsibility, making parenting easier. Problem-solving is one of nine important 21st-century skills our kids need. Click the link to see the full list. Mom, I forgot my…

Why We Need to Let Our Kids Experience the Natural Consequences of Their Actions
| | |

Why We Need to Let Our Kids Experience the Natural Consequences of Their Actions

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Letting our kids experience the natural consequences of their decisions and actions can strengthen their confidence and self-sufficiency – but only when our kids are developmentally ready and only in certain circumstances. It’s a beautiful, sunny day and your daughter is eager to do one of her favorite things: ride around your neighborhood on her…

Why Logical Consequences Aren’t Working to Change Your Child’s Misbehavior (and What Will)
| | |

Why Logical Consequences Aren’t Working to Change Your Child’s Misbehavior (and What Will)

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Many parents try to use consequences to change their child’s misbehavior but find they’re ineffective. Here’s why that happens, how to determine when a consequence will be effective, and seven alternative parenting tools that often work better. Your daughter has been playing with Magnatiles for the past hour. You love that she’s so engaged in…

How to Stop Doing Everything for Your Kids and Teach Responsibility
|

How to Stop Doing Everything for Your Kids and Teach Responsibility

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

It is possible to teach responsibility and stop doing everything for your children. Here are three ways to lead your kids towards greater independence. “It’s time to get up!” you exclaim for the fourth time as you stick your head into your thirteen-year-old son’s bedroom. Every morning it’s a struggle to get him out of…

How to Discipline Kids While Reaching Their Hearts at the Same Time
| | |

How to Discipline Kids While Reaching Their Hearts at the Same Time

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Kind but firm parenting involves setting clear limits for kids while also maintaining a strong, healthy relationship. Here’s how to do it. With a big smile on his face, your five-year-old takes a handful of sand, stands up, and gleefully throws it into the air. He’s in awe over the way the grains scatter in…

These 5 Family Rules are Essential for Raising Well-Adjusted Kids
| | | |

These 5 Family Rules are Essential for Raising Well-Adjusted Kids

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Established family rules help everyone know what’s expected of them. Here’s your guide to best practices for developing and establishing your family’s rules. Plus, five rules every family should have. “No one told me I had to clean up!” my daughter exclaimed after I asked her to put away her paint, paper, and brushes strewn…

6 Tips for Holding a Successful Family Meeting + Mistakes to Avoid
| | |

6 Tips for Holding a Successful Family Meeting + Mistakes to Avoid

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Family meetings build connection and closeness, teach kids life skills, and can be parents’ secret tool to encourage kids to be more cooperative. Here’s everything you need to know to start and run a successful family meeting. “We agreed upon it at our family meeting,” my friend explained when I asked how she gets her…

Why Your Misbehaving Child Won’t Stop and What to Do About It
| | |

Why Your Misbehaving Child Won’t Stop and What to Do About It

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Misbehaving children can be baffling to parents. But understanding why your child misbehaves can lead to positive solutions to change the bad behavior for good. Every evening it happens — the bedtime struggle.  “Time to put on your pajamas,” you say in as gentle a voice as possible. “No!” your son exclaims while simultaneously running…

Kids Don’t Want Perfect Parents, They Just Need Real Ones
| |

Kids Don’t Want Perfect Parents, They Just Need Real Ones

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Trying to be a perfect parent for your child can actually do them more harm than good. Here’s why imperfect parents make the best parents for kids’ emotional health. “Mom, it was pajama day today and I was the only one not wearing pajamas!” my daughter exclaimed moments after descending from the school bus.  Her…

How to End Sibling Fights and Bring Peace Back to Your Home

How to End Sibling Fights and Bring Peace Back to Your Home

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

Inside: Is it possible to have siblings without rivalry? Two experts provide solutions to sibling rivalry including what specifically parents should do when kids fight. “You smell!” “I hate you!” “You’re such a liar!” How many times have you heard exclamations like these exchanged between your kids? Often yelled. Sometimes accompanied by physicality. At one…

The Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens in 2022
|

The Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens in 2022

ByKerry Flatley, Certified Parent Educator

The best debit cards for kids teach basic money management skills while making allowance easy for parents. One of the best ways for kids and teens to learn financial literacy and acquire good money habits is to manage their own money. And while younger kids benefit from managing physical bills and coins, older kids are…