Connecting with kids is essential for being a positive influence in their lives and having a peaceful relationship. Here are five ways to achieve a connection with your child. Most parents hope they’ll form a strong bond with their child. That they’ll be able to share advice with them about being true to oneself, living…
There are four things parents do out of a sense of love for their children that may, in fact, cause low self-esteem. Here’s what they are and how to avoid them. As parents, we want nothing more than for our children to be happy, healthy, and have a positive self-image. But sometimes, without realizing it,…
A child’s basic needs include their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. All children need their basic needs met in order to thrive throughout childhood and adulthood. When a child’s social, emotional, and physical needs are met, they’re given a sure foundation on which to experience a happy childhood and achieve their full potential. It’s also…
Inside: Five ideas to establish a calm morning routine for kids that they’ll actually follow From the moment your alarm goes off in the morning the race is on. Waking your kids up, feeding them, getting them dressed and out the door (and yourself too!) can feel like a mad dash…and on some mornings nearly…
Building a strong parent child relationship requires five key elements that not only bond us to our children but improve our ability to coach, guide, and discipline them. Imagine this: A relationship with your child where you feel at ease, have open and honest dialogue, and consistently share mutual respect and trust. The kind of…
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…
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 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…
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…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Kids routines provide children with cues throughout the day that encourage self-reliance and independence. Below are six ways kids and parents benefit from routines. But I don’t want to be tied down to a schedule! I thought to myself as I read about the benefits kids and parents receive from following a routine every day. The…
“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela
“No matter what your ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.” – Carol Dweck
School day mornings can be crazy…but there’s a really easy way to help your kids get ready for school independently with no nagging from you. “We need to leave in three minutes!” I called out to my daughter from the first floor. “Wait – have you brushed your teeth yet?” “No….” she said sheepishly. “What?!…
Raising self-sufficient kids is about more than just teaching life skills. Here’s how to create a home that nurtures your child’s confidence and independence. When they were toddlers you spent hours teaching them how to tie their shoes. When they turned 10, you gave them the low-down on how to use the washing machine. And…
Inside: Tips and insights about how to help your child cope with failure while still encouraging them to keep trying. “You can do it!” I yelled, hands cupped around my mouth, as my daughter swam toward a float 100 yards offshore. This was our third summer spending a week at a rustic lake-side camp up…