How to help kids with their big emotions

How to help kids with their big emotions

The secret to helping kids with their big emotions is to first manage your own. This may seem counter intuitive. Surely if your child would just calm down then you would be able to help them! But YOU are what helps your child calm down. If you are upset, stressed out,...
Do Children Misbehave?

Do Children Misbehave?

Well certainly children sometimes behave in ways that we don’t like.  They make messes, they break things, they hit their sibling, they won’t share, they have tantrums in the supermarket, they pester us when we are busy and they are loud when we want peace and quiet!...
You Don’t Need Consequences

You Don’t Need Consequences

Would you give your partner or friend a consequence if they behaved in a way you didn’t like?  No!  You would simply tell them what they did, how it affected you and how you felt about it.  Our relationships with our kids are no different.  Kids don’t...
Why I Welcome Meltdowns

Why I Welcome Meltdowns

It can be the hardest thing for parents, when your child is having a full-blown meltdown!  The screaming, crying, raging, arms and legs flailing, even throwing and hitting!  And it’s even worse when you are out in public and you feel like you are getting disapproving...
What’s Wrong with Praise?

What’s Wrong with Praise?

Most parents believe that praising our children builds their confidence and makes them feel secure and loved.  Children DO need our encouragement and support, but praise that LABELS the child (e.g. “good” “best” “perfect”) is not helpful and can undermine confidence...