A few months after the birth of my daughter, I felt immense anxiety. The thought of leaving my house with my daughter to do anything that was not part of the normal routine left me feeling overwhelmed. When I was out with her on my own I would constantly worry that something bad would happen. I felt guilty like I was doing something wrong. At night I would stress, worrying about her breathing and would set several alarms throughout the nig...

Halloween and Thanksgiving have officially ended, which means we are now quickly approaching the Holiday season! Here are three ideas to help you navigate the holiday stress because you deserve to experience those inspirational messages of "JOY, PEACE, & BELIEVE" meticulously displayed on your table tops and porches. The holidays are a time of giving and focusing on others. We give our time, money, and gifts, which often leads us to overexten...

Every family deals with stress. This is normal and it is not always a bad thing. Families can experience stress when waiting for something exciting, like adding a new child to the family. This stress helps motivate preparation for the new baby. Stress can help us realize that something is wrong and it can help push us to be better. However, big stressful events or chronic, long-term stress can be hard on family relationships. The stress the famil...

There are so many different methods for potty training your little one. The number of ideas, the mess, and the fear of resistance from your child can really cause anxiety and stress. I want to share my experience training my daughter and emphasize some tips that really helped us that can be applied other methods of potty training. Our Experience Just before my daughter turned 2 she started to show interest in going potty. I was excited because I ...

Every morning is the same. Wake up. Eat breakfast. Get dressed. Brush your teeth. It may feel like you are in a cycle of doing the same thing every day, but according to zerotothree.org , having a daily routine for your child can help them build brain power and help support good mental health. For the free spirit, routines may seem too rigid, but there are ways to have a solid routine and also keep it flexible. Routines can come in any shape or s...

As humans, we are always experiencing sensory input, and everyone experiences times when they feel sensory overload. For children with sensory processing issues, those moments may be especially overwhelming. Experiencing sensory overload can happen to any child, but is often more common in children who have ADHD, autism, or other behavioral issues. It's important to remember that when children are overstimulated, they don't know how to cope with ...

Sometimes it seems like our children are constantly fighting us. Everything leads to a tantrum and they won't follow directions to save their lives. You might be wondering what else to try to manage this behavior besides yelling and punishment. Here are a few strategies for improving behavior by connecting and teaching. Set up routines and rules to eliminate power struggles . Consistency is crucial for kids because it helps them feel safe and kno...

  Si es un desafío acostar a su hijo, usted no está solo. Ya sea que pida un vaso de agua cada 5 minutos, escuche "No estoy cansado," o un berrinche en general, la hora de acostarse puede ser caótica. Todos sabemos que es importante dormir, pero para los niños, recibir suficiente sueño ayuda con las cosas como el comportamiento o el aprendizaje. Los estudios muestran que los malos hábitos en la niñez pueden conducir a dificultades para dormi...

It is widely known that routines are beneficial for anyone, especially children. Though establishing one may seem daunting, knowing why they are important can help you create one that works well for your family. Today, I'm here to share why daily routines are important and give tips on how to establish them in your home. Here are a few benefits of having routines for your children: Sense of Predictability- Routines let children know what is comin...

Teaching a child to read can feel like a huge responsibility especially when your child is behind or above grade level. How are you going to catch them up or how are you going to keep propelling them forward? Read below for some tips and tricks on how to aid your child in their reading development. Kids who are behind on their reading. Seek reading support sooner rather than later. If you notice your child is behind classmates or siblings, don't ...

Your child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, and your doctor has recommended ABA therapy, but what is that and how can it help your child? ABA Therapy stands for Applied Behavior Analysis and is one of the most common interventions for children with autism. The goal of ABA therapy is to teach skills and change behaviors. The skills taught in ABA are individualized for each child, based on their needs. ABA is a data driven approach that u...

​ From the stepsisters in Disney's Cinderella to Lotso in Disney's Toy Story 3, it is not uncommon to see the role of bullies presented in family movies. Unfortunately, this behavior can happen outside of the screen. As your children take on the world, there are ways to teach them how to react to bullying, prevent it, and change their own behavior if they engage in bullying. How Children Can React to Bullies: Talk to a trusted adult, parent, or t...

Nearly two years ago my husband and I were getting ready to bring our newborn baby home from the hospital. As I put my tiny baby in his car seat for the first time I felt nervous and unsure that I was doing everything right, even though I had spent time preparing for this moment. Using a car seat properly can be an overwhelming task for parents, so I'm here to share a few tips with you to help you feel more confident in keeping your child safe in...

Recently, my husband and I took our nearly two-year-old son on a nature walk. We found a quiet stream and sat along the edge. We began tossing pebbles in the stream and our son quickly became interested in doing the same. He was so intrigued with the impact the different sizes of pebbles made on the water and the splashes they produced. It brought me back to my childhood and how simple outdoor activities are some of my favorite memories. This mad...

"Why didn't I think of that?" frequently crosses the minds of parents watching other parents handle their children successfully in the grocery store, during a playdate, or out in public. Memorizing some short basic phrases and the situations in which to use them creates confidence even in doubtful parents. 1. Say yes more than you say no . Even when you have to say no it can be done gently. For example, "I know you want a cookie, you can have one...

Nearly all children could benefit from social/emotional coaching. The purpose of social and emotional coaching is to help children learn social skills, emotional intelligence, and behaviors. These abilities can help children relate to their peers and regulate their own emotions. It might sound like a daunting task for parents and caregivers to teach children how to regulate their emotions. However, there are very simple things parents can do as t...

I was so excited to meet my nephew and watch him discover what life has to offer. We were enamored by his first words and loved to hear him giggle.. then came the pureed fruit packets. For weeks, his parents sternly told him, "No!" as he would spray the sauce from his mouth on to them. They were trying to change his behavior but were only reinforcing it. It wasn't until they decided to not acknowledge the bad behavior that it began to stop. Wheth...

Summer can be a fun and exciting time for families! There are so many activities they can do together, it feels like the options are endless. At the same time, summer break can sometimes feel stressful. Changing from a structured school schedule to extra free time can be overwhelming for kids (and parents). With a little bit of planning and a few tips, you can make the transition to summer a smooth one. 1. Keep a schedule Keeping a schedule durin...

Summer is right around the corner and I, for one, could not be more excited to have some fun in the sun. From swimming to evening bike rides, there is so much to look forward to. With all this fun in mind, my thoughts have also turned to what I can do as a parent to keep my son safe during our summer activities. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind as you are preparing for summer fun with your children: 1. Water Safety Tips According to the...

  "More than screen-obsessed young children, we should be concerned about tuned-out parents. " This statement jogged my memory of a photo I once saw. It was of a couple sitting up in bed, as they were illuminated by the light of their phones in the darkness of the night. Neither of them appeared to be speaking to the other. They each were focused solely on the device they held in their hands. Since then, I have seen other photos that depict ...