Halloween; Spooky or Simply

Tips for Halloween, Ghosts, Goblins and Emotion Coaching:  Building the Relationship that Keeps Your Child Working with You

Tantrums: Understanding and Reducing Them

When your child is losing it, it is easy to get caught in the flames of those challenging behaviors. You take them personally wondering why your child is being so mean, rude or hurtful to you. That’s why it is so important to look for the REAL Fuel Source

Picking up the Cues: BEFORE the Meltdown

Two thirds of our “sensing cells” are in our gut – that’s why when your child wakes in the morning and you know before he’s even gotten out of bed that it’s a going to be a lousy day you get that “kick in the gut” sensation.  

When You Must Say No

The three-foot tall, 18-inch-thick stone wall protected walkers on the trail from the precipitous drop to the river on the other side. Despite the danger, three-year-old Norah demanded to walk on top of the wall. For mom, this was clearly a safety issue and a definite, “no!”

Set Your Child Up for a Successful Start to School

What to do When Your Child Refuses to Follow the Plan

Learn To Be An Emotion Coach

Your child dumps his cereal bowl on the floor.  The four year old knocks down the two year old.  You tell your child he can’t buy something and now he’s screaming at the top of his lungs in the middle of the store.

Birthday Parties and Spirited Kids

Birthday parties are deemed one of the top stressors for young children. What’s a parent to do? Avoid all birthday parties? Or recognize that birthday parties provide an excellent opportunity to develop essential life skills.

When Your Child Refuses to Share

My Child Won’t Share!  It’s a common concern and frequently a source of embarrassment especially when it’s your child grabbing every toy in sight and shouting, “It’s mine!”

Setting Limits is Not Being Mean

Choose To Connect

• Bend down, look into your child’s eyes, smile and say, “Good morning my precious child!”  (Even if this a day you feel like you are faking it, try it.) 

Happy Valentines Week!!

What To Do If Your Child Quits When The Going Gets Tough

Does your child....

• Give up quickly when faced with a difficult task.
• Lash out if something does not go as they hoped or planned.
• Avoid tough tasks.
• Refuse to complete tasks, often insisting that they are boring.
• Become angry when asked to wait or to take turns.
• Quit when they can’t do something perfectly on the first attempt.

Rather than a behavior problem, lack of motivation or an anger issue, your child may simply be experiencing low frustration tolerance.

Do You Know What To Do When Your Child Calls You Names?

Your child is screaming, “You are stupid.” Or worse, “I hate you!” You feel yourself spiraling, every cell in your body triggered. Do you yell too? Flee? Burst into tears? Or do you somehow stay cool?

REBOUND After the Holidays

Late bedtimes, disrupted routines, unsolicited advice, too much sugar and CLUTTER from all the gifts bringing you down?  Here are seven steps to help you REBOUND from the post-holiday blues. 

Growth Spurts: A fuel source for Tantrums

Mornings have been going well. Drop-off at school, not a problem. Even pick-up from school AND bedtime have been relatively peaceful until everything blows up. It’s as though a force has taken over your child. NOTHING is right. 

Strengthen Self-Regulation Skills by Building Your Child’s Emotion Vocabulary

No More Begging to Get Your Child to Do What you Ask

Remember the old days when getting out the door merely required putting on your coat and walking out? Or, when someone said, why don’t we go?  You just went?