Communication Archives | Sleeping Should Be Easy

5 Things You Shouldn’t Say When Your Child Loses

Aug 12, 2020

Everyone faces failure, and what we say to our kids is important. Learn what to avoid when your child loses a competition (and what to say instead). Imagine this: Your child is excited to enter a gymnastics competition this weekend. She has her props prepared and her outfit hanging on the door, and her confidence is through the roof. She knows she'll win first place. She's been practicing for weeks (although, admittedly, not as much as she could). The big day arrives, and she performs. But despite her weeks of practice, she didn't win first place. In fact, she failed to win any … [Read more...]

Baby Sign Language Pros and Cons: What You Need to Know

Communication

Aug 11, 2020

Wondering whether to sign with your baby or toddler as a way to communicate? Take a look at these baby sign language pros and cons to better decide whether to teach your child sign language. By Lane Rebelo If you’re a new parent, you’ve probably heard about baby sign language, but you might not be sure if it’s for you or not. You might have heard parents say things like "Baby sign language is amazing!" or perhaps you've heard others say, "It’s a waste of time." What’s a new parent to do? How do you decide if it’s worth the effort or if it's even right for your family? Baby sign language … [Read more...]

The Simple Truth about Your Child’s Constant Questions

Communication

Jul 29, 2020

Do your kids bother you with question after question? Learn why a child's constant questions are actually good, and what you can do to nurture it. "What is time?" "Why is an orange a circle?" "How do people love each other when they're apart?" Your kids chase you around the house, even as you try to ignore them by reading a book or doing chores. Maybe you don't know how to explain how humans came to be or why life even started on earth. Other times, your child's constant questions do seem a bit silly or nonsensical. And it doesn't make answering these questions when you're busy and … [Read more...]

31 Awesome Conversation Starters for Kids

Communication

Jul 23, 2020

Looking for thoughtful conversation starters for kids? Learn more about your family through these 31 question prompts and simple topics. "Daddy's home!" the kids yelled when they heard the jingle of keys at the doorknob. I was equally elated to see my husband not only home, but in time for dinner to start. Before the pandemic, he wouldn't always be available to make it home in time for our five o'clock dinners. With work and an LA traffic-laden commute, it was always a treat when we got to spend a weeknight dinner together. Still, over the years, we've eaten most of our meals … [Read more...]

What to Do when You Tell Your Kids “No” Too Often

Behavior

Jul 05, 2020

Do you feel like the "mean parent" for telling your kids not to do this or that? Here's what to do when you tell your child no too often. "I tell him 'no' so much, sometimes even before he's done anything," a friend vented. "He'll have food in his hand, and I just know he's about to throw it on the ground," she reasoned. We've all found ourselves in a similar situation, telling our kids "no," sometimes even before they've misbehaved. Other times, we convince ourselves that they deliberately disobey all the time, forcing us to tell them "no"all day long. The word itself is less … [Read more...]

“What Would You Do?”: Questions You Need to Ask to Keep Your Child Safe

Communication

Jul 01, 2020

Would your child know what to do in certain situation to keep her safe? Learn 5 important child safety questions you need to ask to keep your kids safe. "Did someone open the door?" I asked my son. I was getting something in my bedroom while he stayed in the kitchen. Except I had heard what I thought was the door opening and closing. I usually kept it locked, but maybe I had forgotten. "No," he replied. Still, I imagined all sorts of random people opening the door with me not knowing. And it made me ask him... "What would you do if someone you sort of knew, like... the delivery … [Read more...]

How to Stop Your Toddler Whining (Even When You’ve Tried Everything)

Communication

Jun 24, 2020

Tired of your toddler whining and crying all the time? Learn how to deal with your child's behavior with these respectful but effective solutions. At some point, every mom asks herself, Is this behavior normal? Because it seems that your toddler complains about everything, even when she has no reason to. She throws a tantrum in the car when she doesn't get the snack she wants or has a meltdown if you can't pick her up right then and there. No doubt about it: toddler whining can make the whole family miserable. It doesn't help when you've tried everything under the sun, but nothing … [Read more...]

8 Keys to Explaining Emotions to Your Child

Communication

Jun 14, 2020

Is your child struggling with feelings and learning how to cope with them? Learn how to manage emotions and kids with these 8 important techniques. You and I, we’ve had years of practice understanding our emotions. We can pinpoint when we feel excited over a present or jealous when we want something we can’t have. We know feelings come and go, and that everyone feels the same emotions at some point. But kids aren’t born knowing this and don't have the years of experience we've had at discerning emotions. They might assume they're "bad" when they feel angry, or feel stuck not knowing that … [Read more...]

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