“Kid’s, stop fighting!” This may be a common phrase, but it doesn’t make it an effective phrase. “Stop touching me!!” “I was here first!” “Give me that!” Ah, yes, the familiar sounds of sibling rivalry. Sadly, there is no formula to eliminate sibling squabbles, but it can help to think of fighting as communication—albeit notContinue reading “Teach Your Kids to Fight.”
Tag Archives: child development
To Raise Generous Children, Say No to Forced Sharing!
What to do instead? Teach them how to take turns. There is nothing inherently wrong with sharing, but the concept is vague and abstract. We need to resist the urge to “fix” the problem and instead resolve to teach our children how to be responsible for solving their own problems, A far more impactful “houseContinue reading “To Raise Generous Children, Say No to Forced Sharing!”
Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina
Borrow 👍 A great journey through the scientific discoveries on brain development and the essential elements parents should keep in mind during the first 5 years of their child’s life- not just the diaper days. This book would have earned my highest honor of “Buy” had it not endorsed swift punishments and consequences- surprisingly, TheContinue reading “Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina”
The Easiest Parenting Tool You’re Not Using
This easy switch lands itself in my Top 3 Tools Every Parent Needs list. Check it out: “I know you want to keep playing, and it’s time for bed.” Did you catch that? The and instead of but? This simple change is not some magic parenting hack to get your children to listen to you—notContinue reading “The Easiest Parenting Tool You’re Not Using”
“Mom, Do I Have to go to Church!?”
“For it is throughist regular church attendance that ye shall be saved.” Oh shoot- that’s not in Bible? How about, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so noneContinue reading ““Mom, Do I Have to go to Church!?””
“I Have to Spank my Toddler to Teach Her Not to Run Into the Street.”
No you don’t. A young child cannot be held accountable for their own safety. It is an unreasonable assumption to expect a child to choose to avoid danger or to reliably comply with verbal instructions when safety is on the line. For instance, if a young child were to be struck by a car, theContinue reading ““I Have to Spank my Toddler to Teach Her Not to Run Into the Street.””
Grace Colored Glasses
Undeserved grace invites lasting heart change. When your child exhibits undesirable behavior, instead of spewing out blame and shame, try viewing the situation through a lens of grace. Pause and choose to look for the most positive, perhaps even generous, explanation of your child’s behavior to avoid making parenting choices based in the worst-case scenario.Continue reading “Grace Colored Glasses”
“Happy to Help!”
When respectful communication doesn’t get cooperation, say this: “Would you like to do it by yourself, or would you like my help?” … “Sure! I’m happy to help.” Let’s pretend you have at least 2 children. Your youngest is struggling to unscrew the new cap on the toothpaste tube, and he asks Big Brother, “WillContinue reading ““Happy to Help!””
Feelings: Don’t fight them. Don’t feed them.
Feelings are neither good nor bad. They just are. We know we shouldn’t suppress and stuff our feelings down, but how do we do that without getting stuck in them? So glad you asked: Practice to observe and describe what you are feeling. When you first have a feeling that catches your attention, a flickerContinue reading “Feelings: Don’t fight them. Don’t feed them.”
The Whole-Brain Child by Siegel & Bryson
Borrow 👍 The Whole-Brain Child hit the shelves before by Siegel & Bryson’s No Drama Discipline, and between the two, I say borrow this one and buy No Drama Discipline. That doesn’t mean this book isn’t fabulous! But let’s be honest, do you want to make your husband build another bookcase to hold your obsessionContinue reading “The Whole-Brain Child by Siegel & Bryson”
The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
Borrow 👍 Or Buy if you enjoy reading scientific articles. This classic was one of the many books I had to read to receive my Montessori credential. This book focuses on children between the ages of 0-6 in which Dr. Montessori calls the “absorbent mind” period. In this stage of life children soak in informationContinue reading “The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori”
The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
Buy ✅ A must read for parents interested in Montessori education. I wish this book existed when I first discovered our local Montessori school. Written by a Montessori teacher, Davies combines Dr. Maria Montessori’s holistic approach to education with her personal experience to create the manual for anyone living with toddlers. She also pulls inContinue reading “The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies”
Resources for Christian Discipline 