Should kids have chores? You may have heard the benefits of chores, but here's one compelling reason parents overlook that will have you giving kids chores. There was always an excuse that held me back from having my kids load the dishwasher after meals. I worried that the dishes might break and we'd have to fish broken glass shards out of the tiniest nooks. They might not rinse the dishes well enough in the sink, and end up clogging the dishwasher pipes. I even blamed how roughly they turned the faucet on and off, convinced they'd break it given enough time. It wasn't just the … [Read more...]
Children’s Books about Anger to Help Your Child’s Behavior
Need ways to calm your angry child down? This collection of children's books about anger helps kids manage frustration and understand these big feelings. It's that moment when you realize this is far more than just a tantrum or mere stubbornness. And after three kids, I've seen the face of true anger, especially when it arises out of nowhere. It might've been when I said it was time to leave the school garden, only for them to kick and scream in the van the entire ride home. Or when one of my kids yelled at the top of his lungs, his face in anguish because I told him it was time to take … [Read more...]
9 Coping Skills for Kids to Help Manage Big Emotions
Does your child struggle with handling difficult emotions? Learn how to teach coping skills for kids to help them manage big feelings on their own. By Amy Wruble My 7-year-old came home from summer camp the other day in a horrible mood. She called me names, kicked her little sister for no reason, and stomped around yelling for a solid 20 minutes. Since she doesn’t normally act this way, I figured something must have happened to upset her, but it took a while to unravel the details. It turned out she’d taken a scary tumble, got hurt, and felt embarrassed. The physical plus emotional … [Read more...]
What to Do When Your Child Refuses to Eat
Frustrated when your child refuses to eat what you made for dinner? Learn what to do (and not do!) to avoid power struggles and get kids to finally eat. I had cooked orzo pasta for dinner—usually a family favorite—except this particular meal happened to have artichokes. My five-year-old crinkled his nose. "I don't want to eat it," he said, without so much as taking a single bite. "Aren't you hungry?" I asked, hoping his hunger would drive him to at least try one spoonful. "I am," he responded, "but I want something else to eat." And when I told him there was nothing else to eat … [Read more...]
5 Things Resilient Kids Do Differently
Curious to know why some kids persevere while others don't? Discover the 5 characteristics of a resilient child and what gritty kids do differently. My eight-year-old had done a really neat trick with a blob of slime (yes, slime). He had stretched it out to a thin layer, held it in front of his face, then blew on it to make a "bubble." It looked exactly how bubble gum would look when you blow on it. Not surprisingly, one of my five-year-old twins was intrigued. So much so that he decided he wanted to try the trick as well. At that point, I was already cringing inside. In truth, I … [Read more...]
12 Ways You’re Already Practicing Montessori Parenting Without Even Realizing It
Did you know you're likely practicing Montessori parenting without realizing it? Discover these 12 ways you're applying the Montessori philosophy at home. Confession time: I still brush my five-year-old twins' teeth. Whenever I can help it, I go straight to brushing their teeth, assuming of course that I can do a better job of preventing cavities. Not to mention it's 10 times faster for me to squeeze the toothpaste, fill their cups, and actually brush their teeth than if I left the job to them. My husband, though, has no time for that. Whenever it's his turn to bathe the kids, he … [Read more...]
10 Ways to Encourage Fine Motor Skills for 5 Year Olds
Fine motor skills for 5 year olds are important as kids enter kindergarten. Encourage hand dexterity—even with an active child—with these fun activities! If you're like most parents, how your child holds a pencil may not be top of mind. But once she enters kindergarten, you suddenly notice how well the other kids hold theirs in comparison. You also realize that she can't really write her name well, much less cut with scissors (and forget about pulling a zipper). Come to think of it, you don't even know what her dominant hand is yet. Or perhaps it's the opposite: you're well aware of … [Read more...]
Top Challenges (and Solutions!) for Sibling Rivalry
Fed up with your children fighting all the time? Learn how to stop the bickering with these effective sibling rivalry solutions! The things my kids fight about almost seem comical. They fight about who gets to hop inside the van first at school pick-up to whose turn it is to play with a quarter-inch Lego piece. Other times it's the rude tone of voices that sets them off, or a comment taken as teasing and taunting. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe it feels like your kids are always fighting or tattling on one another. Every minute, someone is running up to tell you how the other was being … [Read more...]
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