Are you dealing with selfish kids? Learn how to discipline an ungrateful child without power struggles, and nurture mutual respect for each other instead. My husband added an extra treat for our then-toddler: a peanut butter sandwich with his oatmeal. The little guy shoved aside the oatmeal for the sandwich and gobbled it up in record speed. Once his hands were empty, though, he cried for more. "It's all gone," we tried explaining to him. Nothing seemed to register. He wasn't thrilled at having eaten a favorite snack—instead, he showed little thanks once the sandwich was gone. This … [Read more...]
Amazing Family Conversation Starters to Try Right Now
Want to engage with your children and help them think deeper? Discover amazing family conversation starters and questions that will ignite discussion and critical thinking. Conversations with our kids can sometimes feel repetitive, don't you think? We ask, "How was school?" to get the predictable "Good" response. We might dive into asking what they did at school, which is better, but not by much. Beyond getting more than a one-word answer, I wanted to learn how to spur conversation with my kids to get them to think differently. I knew how important family conversation starters can be … [Read more...]
5 Unusual Ways to Deal with a Defiant 3 Year Old
3 year old defiant behavior is never easy. Take a look at 5 unusual ways to discipline a defiant toddler without yelling, and with respect instead. Your child's behavior is getting beyond exhausting. He purposefully does something he's not allowed to do, like slapping stickers on the coffee table (which never come off) or hitting his sister. He might throw a toy car across the room and not think anything wrong of it. You've tried time-outs and confiscating toys and privileges. You've even spoke to him in a firm tone of voice and explained why his behavior is inappropriate. Except he … [Read more...]
5 Things to Remember when You’re Losing Your Temper with Your Toddler
Tired of losing temper with toddler? From tantrums to bedtime battles, losing your patience is never easy. Discover 5 effective tips to help you calm down. It was starting to really tug at my last nerve. Normally, I can talk myself down or even ignore my kids when they throw a fit, but sometimes, I end up screaming right back at them. I lose my patience (not to mention my voice). The triggers are usually when they don't listen, or when they overreact or make a big deal out of something that shouldn't take so much energy. Other times I lose my temper when they're yelling at the top of … [Read more...]
Life with a Newborn: Expectation vs Reality
Like any first-time pregnant mom, I daydreamed about life with a newborn. Now, I wasn’t naïve—I knew there would be days when I’d be sleep deprived, and I expected to change a lot of diapers. (Although, hearing it might be up to 13 diapers a day did make me raise an eyebrow.) I expected challenges. But I pictured myself waking up in the middle of the night with a knowing smile. I envisioned myself patiently cooing at my little darling. Sure, caring for an infant would involve sleepless nights, but nothing I couldn’t handle, right? Turns out, I don’t think I smiled once when I had to … [Read more...]
20 Open Ended Questions for Kids You Should Ask
Get examples of open ended questions for kids with these conversation starters! Perfect for kids to practice creative and critical thinking skills. Confession time: Most questions I ask my twins are not open-ended: "Do you want a pear or a banana?" "Did you already use the potty?" "What did you make in art class today?" Now, there's nothing wrong with questions like these. After all, I need to know whether we should have another potty break or which fruit to serve with dinner. But sometimes we get caught up in facts and one-word answers that we forget to ask open-ended … [Read more...]
7 Things You Should NOT Do with a Defiant 2 Year Old
Does your child refuse to listen, or does the opposite of what you say? Learn how to deal with a defiant 2 year old and avoid these 7 huge mistakes. I try not to call it the Terrible Twos, but sometimes the label can feel so accurate, doesn't it? Maybe your child doesn't listen to a single word you say, no matter how you try to say it. Transitioning into daily activities—dinner, bedtime, clean-up time—is a struggle so intense and exhausting you end up giving in. She might even resort to hitting or biting, leaving you ragged from trying to discipline and rein her in. If this sounds … [Read more...]
Toddler Acting Out at Daycare? What You Need to Do
Handling your child's behavior when you're not there can be a challenge. Learn exactly what to do with your toddler acting out at daycare with these tips. Disciplining at home is hard enough, but what do you do when you're not there to manage your child's behavior? From daycare to preschool and even to a nanny caring for your child, you'd think it'd be easier to let someone else handle his behavior. Instead, you more likely feel helpless hearing about your child's outbursts. You might even feel judged, wondering what the staff must think of your parenting skills. Perhaps you're … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 41
- Next Page »