Father’s Day is a reoccurring tribute to dads—important for children and families. Recently, as I passed the gift section in Barnes & Noble, I was reminded of my favorite gift to my own father as a teenager—a handmade perpetual calendar. I wrote quips and quotes (specially selected for my dad) on blank index cards and meticulously decorated each one. Then I carefully laminated them with clear contact paper and mounted them on a Rolodex. It was fun for the first 198 days or so, but 365!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

I have a fear, and I don’t believe there is a medical term for it yet. Although it most likely exists among other childrearing folks. It’s the fear of placing my kids in public situations, such as restaurants, weddings, airplanes, and holiday parties, even if they say they are the “kid-friendly” kind.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Children's behavior can be frustrating and challenging for parents. However, with a few parenting skills and a little insight, you can learn to redirect your child's behavior lovingly and firmly. I did just that.

When my son was a toddler, I can vividly recall taking him to an open gym event in my town. These events were set up by a local parenting support group to give parents an opportunity to get out of the house, with children in tow. The kids could play, run around, socialize in a new space, which was a lifesaver for me during the cold Montana months.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Parents yell and lose their patience, after all, they're human. However, many parents make it all the way through adulthood without yelling—until a toddler willfully says no, a 4-year-old refuses to put on his shoes, or a teenager worries them after missing their curfew.

Positive parenting begins with self-care, yet even when we take good care of ourselves as parents, children can throw some doozy curve balls. That's when parenting skills come in handy!

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

How often do you actually stop what you’re doing and look someone in the eye when they’re talking to you, truly listening to every word? I’m betting, if you’re anything like me, with very little free time and little kids running around your house, that it’s not very often. Here are some common scenarios for me:

My first grader is tugging at my jeans and telling a story while I’m chopping some vegetables and asking the other one to get off the dining room table. I can barely hear what the story was even about. “Oh, that sounds cool,” I say pretending I caught it all.

In the summer, families head to city pools and lakes; water sports are always at the top of family fun. And with each season, water safety must stay top of mind. One of the vulnerabilities around the water is in the use of water wings, infant inner tubes, and toddler life jackets. They have become commonplace but are often a misinformed way of keeping our little ones safe.

We need to put water wings (and other inflatables) in proper perspective. One of the biggest problems is that parents believe their children are safe in water wings, so they let down their guard. I even saw a parent at [...]

Toddler behavior is one of the most delightful yet sometimes infuriating experiences of all time. Parenting a toddler with limits yet without squelching their vital energy and spirit requires a combination of skill, patience, and love. And toddler behavior problems tire even the best of parents!

So what is normal toddler behavior? As a new mom or even for a veteran mom, how do you know what is healthy autonomy sprouting? And how do you redirect a child's behavior compassionately, though firmly? Keep reading to learn tips for redirecting children's behavior and increase more parenting ease and [...]

Saying that teenage rebellion is natural is like saying that girls are incapable of academic excellence because they are too emotional. As a culture, we have come to accept and expect rebellion in our teenagers. I would like to challenge that sense of inevitability and lend some understanding and encouragement on the subject.Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Most parents are aware that their children are developing cognitively at an amazing rate. However, in our busy and hectic lives, it's way too easy to turn on cartoons or a movie for our children as a much-needed babysitter.

Do you know how to meet the needs of the different stages of cognitive development? Do you understand just how crucial your engagement with your children is and how everything you say and do is downloaded in the first six years? Being a conscious parent requires us to provide an environment that nurtures and challenges our children. This environment includes parental [...]

Years ago, a mom told me of a time when she was on an important phone call and her three-year-old son kept bugging her. In desperation, she went to the fridge, reached for a jar of jelly, took off the top, and handed it to him. Delighted, he sat gobbling up the entire jar of jelly with his fingers while she finished her call.

Parenting stress is real and we've all been there as parents. However, bribery and concessions are short-term solutions. They send the wrong message to our children, and they can cause more power struggles and difficulties later. 

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes