Teaching kids self-government to improve family life
Teaching kids in a way where they learn to make positive decisions on their own will greatly improve family life at home. After the initial work of teaching your child, you will correct less, your child will follow rules more often, and it will increase a child’s confidence to act appropriately on their own. […]
5 things you should never say to your child
After my daughter had interrupted my sewing project for what felt like the hundredth time, I said one of those things you should never say to your child, “Go away so I can finish this!” Her countenance went dark and I immediately tried to back pedal and undo what I had said. Unfortunately imperfect moments happen and there will be times we need to apologize for saying something to our child that we shouldn’t have said. […]
Why it’s important to have low parenting tolerances
Understanding your own tolerance level can help you work towards maintaining consistent parenting techniques. Tolerance is your ability or willingness to tolerate certain behaviors that you do not necessarily agree with. A tolerance level lies on a continuum from high tolerance to low tolerance, with high tolerance meaning that you tolerate more of the behavior you don’t like and low tolerance that you tolerate less of that behavior. […]
Natural vs artificial motivators for kids
There is a balance between using natural motivators and artificial motivators to encourage a child to behave appropriately. Earning stickers or having a reward jar is a great way to increase motivation initially, but eventually you want children to learn the inherent reward that acting positively will provide. Children will not learn this on their own, but need to be guided. […]
When parents don’t parent the same
Scenario 1: A 12-year-old girl comes home from a friend’s house 30 minutes later than when […]
5 keys for raising emotionally healthy children
Raising emotionally healthy children is a common desire all parents strive for. But what does being “emotionally healthy” actually mean? Answering this question can help in addressing the emotional needs of a child and determining how to teach your child to be emotionally healthy. Being emotionally healthy does not mean that they will not have negative emotions, rather it means that your children can respond well to negative emotions and can decrease those negative emotions in an appropriate way. […]