Children need to feel like they are important. This is the crucial C of count. What are the ways we can help children to understand the significance they have in our lives and in doing so decrease defiance and increase confidence?   Why Kids Need to Know They Matter The crucial C of count.  Children low […]

When playing with our children, especially the younger ones, we also want to be teaching. Four areas where you can foster growth in children, through play are engagement, nurture, structure, and challenge.  As parents, we want to enjoy the small moments connected with our children. Below are suggestions of quick, short activities to increase those […]

Practicing gratitude important because it helps us slow down, take a mindful pause and be able to sink into the beauty of the present moment. When we begin to be able to really notice the the value of what and who is with us and around us, we are more tuned in and more connected. […]

One of the easiest ways to help children learn about their feelings is reflection. Reflection helps the child understand the emotions they have in their bodies. What exactly is reflecting emotions and how is it done?  Reflecting feelings is determining the feelings and emotions in your child’s verbal and body language and stating (or reflecting) those feelings back to them. “You feel frustrated […]

Play is the language of children. You can facilitate communication with your child through weekly scheduled special playtimes. What does that look like and how does it work?   Children often do not have the ability to articulate what they are thinking or feeling, so they use play as their words. In play, children express what […]

Mommy, daddy, play with me!  I can’t do it myself.  See what I drew for you!  We have all heard these familiar phrases- children’s cries for attention. Attention is one of the four goals of misbehavior in children. How do we meet the needs of our children, while not forfeiting everything else that needs tending […]

Typically October is the month for dressing up and trick-or-treats. While this year’s pandemic may put a damper on the traditional celebrations, the value of dressing up and pretending to be a certain character from a book or movie can still be had. Pretend play with costumes and characters for children can contribute to their […]

Change is the one certainty in life and yet it can be so challenging for both children and adults. We know that there is a reason for all behavior and when children are acting out in a way that is difficult to manage, parents might consider recent or upcoming changes to a child’s life that […]

It’s a strange time. In the face of a pandemic and lots of debate about whether schools should re-open some parents are choosing to home-school and some children are returning to face to face classes. I want to provide some back to school tips during apandemic. The most important tip I have is to realize […]

Emotional Intelligence helps children understand themselves and others by communicating and handling unpleasant feelings. Both now and later in life, it can help them develop and maintain relationships. You can instill emotional intelligence in your child by becoming an emotion coach.  There are 4 parts to defining emotional intelligence.  Teach your child to recognize, identify, […]