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...]
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...]
6 Reasons to Stop Labeling Kids
From shy to outgoing, difficult to easygoing, learn the negative effects of labeling kids and why you should not label children (plus what to do instead). Why bother? I thought to myself each time I took an algebra or calculus exam. I expected to do poorly, so I didn’t even try. After all, I was the “artistic” kid. I was creative, a wordsmith. I wasn’t a “math person.” As I grew up, I never even considered I could do well in my math classes, even throughout college. Labeling kids usually starts out with the best of intentions. We may believe we’re encouraging positive behavior … [Read more...]
How to Work Through Parenting Disagreements (without Losing Your Mind)
Are different parenting styles causing problems? Parenting disagreements can be challenging. Learn how to agree on parenting styles with these tips! Parenthood changes relationships, doesn't it? Even if you and your partner hardly fought before having kids, all that likely changed once you found yourselves raising a baby together. The challenges go beyond infancy, too—you may not agree with how to discipline, or whose career takes precedence over the other. You're not alone. Nearly every relationship faces difficulties the minute kids enter the scene. And no wonder—just take a look at … [Read more...]
8 Keys to Explaining Emotions to Your Child
Is your child struggling with feelings and learning how to cope through them? Learn how to manage emotions and kids with these 8 important techniques. You and I, we’ve had years of practice when it comes to emotions. We can pinpoint when we feel excited over a present or jealousy when we want something we can’t have. We know feelings come and go—all of them—and that everyone feels the same emotions at some point. 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 in … [Read more...]
How to Encourage Your Toddler to Talk
Worried that your toddler isn't saying many words? Learn how to encourage late talkers to communicate with simple and effective activities. When my little guy was a baby, people kept telling us, “Oh, he’s going to be an early talker, just listen to him babble!” I agreed, up until his 15-month appointment when his pediatrician asked the question that changed my mind: “How many words does he say?” “Umm…” I stammered. “Maybe three?” Even after I responded I knew I wasn’t being completely accurate. You see, his three words weren’t words so much as babbles. He would say “mamama…” but … [Read more...]
How to Teach Your Kids to Make Good Choices
Helping children make good choices is like any other skill—it has to be learned. See how helping kids make decisions encourages critical thinking. Picture the parent whose whole day seems to revolve around monitoring her children's actions. She helps right away when she notices her toddler struggling with a toy. She intervenes just as her two kids begin to argue about whose turn it is to use the toy car. And when her four-year-old refuses to follow directions, she's prepared with a slew of punishments to teach him a lesson. It's like we're on lookout for anything wrong our kids can … [Read more...]
Tell Your Kids You Love Them, Even when It’s Hard To
It's easy to tell our kids "I love you" during happy times. But it's just as important to tell your kids you love them, even when it's hard to. Here's why. The downturn of the sides of their mouths. The narrowing of tearful eyes. The slight rise in the shoulders. These were the slight cues I'd see when my kids realized they were in trouble. And it all signaled one thing: They felt defensive. And who wouldn't? They don't like getting in trouble or knowing they did something wrong. And they don't want to disappoint their parents. So they pout, cry, or even get angry. But defensiveness … [Read more...]
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