I know the difficulty of being the parent of a highly emotional child. Every time you need to ask them to stop doing something they enjoy, or ask them to do something they don’t, your body tenses up and you hold your breath, hoping they don’t have a meltdown! When you have company at your … Read more
When I see two children with furrowed brows and raised voices, I see an opportunity. Conflict, as much as it might worry us adults, isn’t always a bad thing. It can be a powerful moment for social and emotional growth. Disagreements and conflict are definitely part of growing up. Arguments over toys, who’s next in … Read more
Journaling isn’t just for adults with busy schedules and bucket lists. It’s a golden key that unlocks the rich world of a child’s imagination and feelings. I provide journals to the students in my small groups and they love it! Childhood is a time brimming with new experiences, learning, and growth. Understanding the need for … Read more
In our world today, we all need to be resilient. When we’re faced with a setback (or sometimes several at once!), we have to find a way to dust ourselves off, get back up and carry on. This incredible ability to bounce back, from really difficult circumstances, does not necessarily come naturally to most of … Read more
Many children experience stress on a daily basis. It’s vital to tune into the unique ways in which they demonstrate stress. Since many kids don’t yet have the vocabulary to clearly express what’s bothering them, their stress manifests in their bodies and behavior. This can include stomach aches, headaches, psychosomatic pains, changes in eating or … Read more
When it comes to kids, mindfulness is actually pretty straightforward and fun. It’s all about helping them learn to pay attention to the present moment, without judgment. It’s a way to give them the tools to better handle stress and emotions as they grow. It can be challenging for kids to quiet their minds, just … Read more
Childhood can be an innocent and exciting time full of possibilities. But kids today are deluged with problems and feelings of hopelessness via social media, the internet, and other forms of technology. Children as young as 5 or 6 are all too aware of school shootings, wars, and other tragedies. The bottom line is that … Read more
Sleep is a critical component of children’s growth and learning. If you’re a parent, you know that sleep can influence your child’s mood and behavior. I see students every day who can barely function in school because they’re lacking adequate sleep. As a result, their emotions run higher, they’re irritable or sad, have more conflicts … Read more
Anxiety in children might not always be easy to identify. It’s not just about fearfulness or shyness; there’s a whole spectrum of emotional, physical, and behavioral signs that can indicate a child is struggling. Emotionally, children dealing with anxiety may appear more sensitive than usual, often crying or becoming upset more easily than their peers. … Read more
The Importance of Positive Self-Talk in Child Development Positive self-talk is a powerful tool that can significantly impact a child’s confidence, resilience, and overall well-being. As parents, guiding our children to shift from negative self-talk to positive affirmations is essential for their emotional development and success. In this blog post, we’ll explore practical strategies parents … Read more