Butterfly Beginnings Counseling

Play Therapy and Counseling for children and families in Davenport, Iowa

What is Toxic Parenting?

December 20, 2021

Parents are human beings. And that means that they make mistakes, yell too much, or do potentially damaging things to their kids — even unintentionally. But for most parents, their impulse is to do better and make things right. What happens, however, when the parental relationship turns toxic. Let’s begin by defining what a toxic […]

How Parents Can Support Their LGBTQ+ Children Who Have Just Come Out

December 13, 2021

All parents want what’s best for their kids, and providing support isn’t always easy — especially if you are the parent of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ+) child. In many ways no different from their peers, LGBTQ+ youth face some unique challenges that parents often feel unprepared to tackle. When a loved […]

Coping with Being a Single Parent

November 1, 2021

One of every four American children today lives in a single-parent home. And though the circumstances may vary, the reality is that solo parenting is often stressful, demanding, and hectic. Being a single parent can result in added pressure, stress, and fatigue.  Child rearing can be difficult under any circumstances. Without a partner, the stakes […]

6 Things Parents Can Do When Siblings Squabble

August 9, 2021

Arguments between siblings is standard behavior in most families. Though a common occurrence, it can drive parents up a wall. You know part of the big job of being a parent is guiding your children to learn how to work through conflict, find solutions to problems and cooperate with others. Fortunately, there are things parents […]

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Children

February 15, 2021

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a chronic, complex neurodevelopmental disorder that effects a child in multiple ways including success at school and relationships. ADHD symptoms vary by individual child and can be difficult to recognize.  ADHD is a condition that effects over six million children. The average age of diagnosis is seven.  There […]

5 Valentine’s Family Fun Activities

February 8, 2021

Ah February! While it’s cold outside, our hearts stay warm with the reminder of love for others as we celebrate Valentine’s day. Though Valentine’s day is often considered a romantic holiday for adults, for children, this is a wonderful opportunity for parents to encourage expressions of love and appreciation for friends, teachers, and family members. […]

States of Arousal- How to Regulate an Activated Child

February 1, 2021

Did you know our body’s nervous system has different ways of activating to protect us from a perceived challenge or threat? We can go into a fight/flight/freeze state or a collapse state. What does this have to do with your child and regulation of emotions?  I have been involved in a lot of car accidents, […]

Five Activities to Instill Gratitude in Your Children

January 25, 2021

As we discussed last week, gratitude is one of many positive emotions. It’s about focusing on what’s good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have.  1. Make expressing gratitude a ritual. You can’t expect gratitude to just appear. Just like the grass won’t grow green if you don’t water it. You […]

Instilling Gratitude in Children

January 20, 2021

Gratitude is one of many positive emotions. It’s about focusing on what’s good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have.  A 2019 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that gratitude is linked to happiness in children by age 5. This means that instilling gratitude in your kids at a young age could help them […]