What Stress Looks Like in Children and How to Provide Support
It’s easy to forget that babies and children experience stress because we, A.) tend to think they have it easy and couldn’t possibly be stressed, and B.) notice their behavior instead of whatever emotional state (sadness, fear, STRESS, etc.) is driving their actions....
Keeping Tempers Cool This Summer
You pack up the kids for the beach because the sun is finally shining. You miraculously find parking that only necessitates a three-block walk, which you manage with all requisite gear in tow, and arrive to feel the warm sand underneath your toes. At that very moment,...
When Your Child “Springs Forward”: Explaining Developmental Leaps
Children of all ages can exhibit behavior that is quite confounding. One thing that can lend perspective is having an overview of developmental norms. It can help to have a lay of the land and know the general milestones as your child grows—from a baby and toddler to...
Indoor and Outdoor Fun for Getting Through the Cold Season
I’m guessing it is not just me who’s feeling like the cold and dark came especially, um, early (fast? hard? brutally?) this year. It’s almost as if the ongoing pandemic has stripped away our bandwidth or dramatically shortened our fuses. Things we used to be able to...
How to Foster Generosity and Gratitude in Your Family
We all want our kids to be appreciative for what they have, but the holidays and winter can be…a lot. And now we have an ongoing pandemic to consider as well, with its own constraints and issues—it’s possible it will be another year of long-distance connection with...
Q&A On Whining
QUESTION: My 5-year-old daughter’s whining puts me totally over the edge. How can I better handle this annoying behavior? ANSWER: I get it! Whining is so hard to take. It’s super triggering and brings us straight to our “downstairs” brain where we have less (if...
Navigating 5 Behaviors that Can Interrupt Your Fun
You’re ready to get out and enjoy some time with your family. You make a plan, get organized, and prep everyone for your outing and then—there’s a stick thrown in the spokes. Maybe it’s a small thing you can manage quickly, like a poopy diaper or a shoe tying battle....
Freshen Up Your Child’s Social Skills
Coming out of isolation Some of us have been at home, isolated with our children and families, for a very, very long time. I don’t know about you, but over at my house in addition to a decrease in the general cleanliness of things, everyone’s social skills are in a...
Tips for Managing Stress
Many are facing a lot of stress right now. While some are potentially growing from this collective experience, and others may be able to find silver linings, there is a lot that’s hard about pandemic-induced stress. Some families are much more affected than others and...
The Little Book That Could
My first book is short and sweet and didn’t make such a splashy entrance 10 years ago. But she sure has staying power. Still in print, selling like hotcakes, and making “best of” lists. I was delighted to recive an email the other day alerting me to...
Authoritarianism Starts at Home
It has been a difficult time. I could be talking about the past week, few months, year, or entire presidential term. If you are suddenly feeling like I should stick with parenting and not “get political” kindly see yourself out. Everything is political,...
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