A common theme I've noticed in the parenting community in my 5 years of running a popular Facebook parenting page and blog is that many parents are very concerned about “preparing children for the real world.” I get that. We are living in a harsh and oftentimes cruel world that does not revolve around my child or yours. So, it seems to some that the best way to prepare them for the harsh realities of the world is to let them face harshness in childhood. This will toughen them up and make them ready. It sounds like a reasonable plan, but don't count me in.

When I learned that time-outs didn't work for my highly sensitive boy almost 6 years ago, I was led to look for an alternative for correcting his behavior. I found that a calm down area was much more effective for my sensitive son, and it worked just as well with my non-HSC (highly sensitive child) too.

What to do with all of these eggs?! Whether real eggs ready for boiling and coloring or plastic eggs waiting to be filled with treats, my guess is that your home, like mine, is running over with eggs. Here are 15 fun and creative kids activities to put those eggs to good use.

Are you missing out on amazing moments with your children? Imagine how different we would be – how grateful and joyful – if we stopped to capture those miracle moments. Read more for parenting tips to capture those times we want to remember.

Self-concept can be defined as the view one has of herself and her abilities. A child’s self-concept begins to develop at birth. It begins with how adults respond to her. What can parents do to nurture a positive self-concept?

Hi there. I'm your toddler, and there's a few things you really need to know about me. Knowing these things will make things better for all of us. Also, please let me have a cookie while you read this.

The more experience I gain in parenting, the more I understand the importance of self-renewal to keep myself on task toward the vision I have for my family.

Parents spend a lot of time and effort figuring out a way to get their children to do their chores. Often, kids don't want to do them and the parents resort to nagging or even threatening a punishment, and this leads to stress for everyone and certainly decreases the peaceful atmosphere of the home. Maybe we should just drop chores altogether.

Bath time is one of the most fun times to interact and play with your children. Try these 8 kids activities and ideas for a splashing good time!

Time-out is a popular discipline method aimed at getting children to sit in a chair and “think about what they've done,” which would work great if children were actually sitting in the chair pondering their behavior. Here are 3 effective alternatives to this parenting method.

You promise that you're not going to yell today. You really do try hard, but in a flash you lose control and yell at your kid. Then you feel terrible guilt and resolve, yet again, to do better.

Is Praise Bad for Children? Due in large part to the work of Alfie Kohn, American philanthropist and author of 13 books, parents and teachers have begun to see the downfall of praise. Read on for tips on avoiding empty praising while using positive encouragement.

Our children naturally look to us for leadership. How can we be the gentle, positive, effective leaders our children need?

There is a disturbing new parenting trend for creative consequences which usually involves shaming the child publicly in some way. Instead, here are some great parenting tips on Consequences That Teach.

We want children to value the truth and it's important we teach them to be honest. Here are some parenting tips on curbing lies in young children.

A fresh new year is upon us. Let us resolve to make 2016 a year of connection and love with these 5 resolutions.

Some of my favorite ornaments on my Christmas tree are the wish list ornaments my kids make every year. Try these for a fun DIY Christmas!

Always on the lookout for great family traditions...these salt dough ornaments have been a family favorite! Try them out and make some great gifts for family, teachers, and friends.

It's the most wonderful time of the year and there is plenty to do indoors and outdoors on this bucket list. Enjoy, and happy holidays with these 40 ideas for winter!

"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment." - Maria Montessori

We want to see our children happy all the time, but human beings aren't happy all the time, and it's important for your child to learn that all emotions are normal and okay to feel.