by smaclaughlin | Nov 1, 2019 | babies, brain development
Babies, especially freshly born ones, can throw you for a loop. They are otherworldly in their intensity. They stare deeply into your eyes one moment and scream bloody murder with theirs tightly squeezed shut the next. It can be a little confusing. Over the next few...
by smaclaughlin | Jun 28, 2018 | books, brain development, communication, cooperation, discipline, emotional intelligence, positive parenting, problem-solving
Three Simple Steps. Can it really be so easy? In a word: yes. First off, I LOVE that this book makes many positive assumptions about children: Your child is capable. She wants to listen and learn. He’s wired for empathy. She wants to help. He wants to feel like...
by smaclaughlin | Nov 11, 2017 | books, brain development, brain science, discipline
FRIENDS! I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get you this post about a great new book I read recently! I got an advance copy of Gentle Discipline: Using Emotional Connection–Not Punishment–to Raise Confident, Capable Kids a couple months ago and...
by smaclaughlin | Aug 31, 2017 | ADHD, books, brain development, cooperation, self-regulation
I hope you enjoy this excerpt from the newly released book from Thomas Armstrong, PhD, The Myth of the ADHD Child: 101 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention Span Without Drugs, Labels, or Coercion. It’s a goldmine of helpful information! Read...
by smaclaughlin | Jul 20, 2017 | advocacy for children, brain development, emotional intelligence, handling meltdowns, mindfulness, modeling, self-regulation
I know, I’m bossy. If I was a preschooler in 2017, I would surely be labeled with “leadership skills.” As it was, in the mid-70s I was said to have “taken charge” of the dramatic play area. So, there you have it. I guess I need those skills because I...
by smaclaughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | anger, brain development, brain science, communication, discipline, emotional intelligence, handling meltdowns, limits, modeling
My near eight-year-old has been raised in an emotionally supportive, non-punitive home. He has never been spanked, put in time-out, or given arbitrary consequences. His dad and I infrequently raise our voices in anger, and have always apologized when we do. High value...
