When my firstborn son was three, he began acting defiant and out of sorts. What I saw then as a call for discipline I soon learned was a call for connection. He was telling me, through his actions, that he was feeling bad inside. More recently, when he began coming straight home from middle school and going to his room, I immediately knew he was communicating something to me. What many disregard as tween attitude is really a call for help. My boy was overwhelmed with new teachers, a new schedule, and the social pressures of middle school. He was anxious, worried, and feeling less confident. Had I not recognized his behavior as a signal, I would have likely made things worse by remarking on his withdrawal and attitude.

"Most adults treat kids like we are worth less than they are - like they can talk to us however they want because our brains aren't fully matured and they think it won't hurt, but it does." - 11 year old boy

Discipline shouldn’t be about the coolest and most creative way to punish our children but about the best way to reach their hearts. Lasting positive change occurs when kids feel good about who they are plus are empowered with skills and tools to do the right thing.

My son recently started middle school. In the days leading up to and the several weeks since, he has been fraught with anxiety. He’s a worrier and a perfectionist, and I’m trying to teach him that he’s perfect just the way he is, even when he’s worrying.

When my firstborn son was 3, I began using time-in with him as my highly sensitive boy found time-outs very distressing. I created a peaceful space for him which included a comfortable pillow, stuffed animal, sensory rice bin, calming glitter jar, board books, and coloring pages.

It’s not an uncommon scenario – your kid wants one thing and you want another, so you get caught up in another power struggle, each of you arguing back and forth trying to be heard and respected. Break the cycle by trying one of these three strategies the next time you and your kid go toe to toe.

It seems we’ve traded in creativity and simplicity for yet another hyped up holiday extravaganza that we can’t wait to show off to our 1,273 Facebook friends! Maybe it’s time to take it down a notch and give our kids a good old-fashioned 1980s Halloween. Here’s how.

In truth, ending loneliness is first about self-acceptance. It’s about giving yourself compassion, grace, understanding, and love. Determining that you are, indeed, worthy of such good things is the first step.

Positive Discipline is an approach that teaches rather than punishes. There are many positive discipline educators, but today I’d like to highlight the work of Dr. Jane Nelsen, founder of the Positive Discipline program and author or co-author of the Positive Discipline Series. She is a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor in South Jordan, UT and San Diego, CA. Dr. Nelsen has created the Positive Discipline Tool Cards which are a wonderful resource for parents to utilize. I’m pulling out 3 of the 52 cards to discuss. These three tools will help you get started with the Positive Discipline approach or, for seasoned positive parents, will give you a nice refresher.

One of the most shocking things about motherhood for me is how long it’s been hard. I confess, when my boys were just tiny tots, I had this idea in my head. I told myself “when they’re 6 and 4, it’ll be easier.” I reasoned that, surely by then they’d both be sleeping well, potty trained, and those wacky toddler behaviors would have passed and things would definitely be smooth sailing from there. Then suddenly my kids were 6 and 4 and it was still hard, just in a different way. They were potty trained and sleeping better, but there was still so much to do and so much to teach. So I told myself, “when they are 10 and 8, this will definitely, for sure, be easier.”

Creativity is good for emotional health. It acts as a buffer against stress, helps children be more flexible and better problem-solvers, and allows free expression.

The fall season brings to mind images of pumpkins, apples, and leaves, so how much fun would it be to incorporate these into a few S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) activities for your little ones? Here are 6 challenges and experiments to try with your family this fall.

It is not uncommon for parents to bring different views on childrearing to the table. You were, after all, raised in different environments and have completely different stories which define your beliefs and attitudes about what it means to be a parent and what that role entails. Sometimes these contrasting views can drive a wedge in relationships and lead to whole host of problems within the home.

The start of a new school year is filled with emotions. In fact, the entire school year has its highs and lows, and it’s a lot for children to process. As they navigate their way through different teachers, new peers, a myriad of social situations, awkward moments, strange hallways, locker combinations, and crazy schedules, those emotional meters may tip out of balance.

Does your child have a hobby? If not, it may be worthwhile to help him find one. Having a hobby provides loads of benefits for kids, including:

There are some things your child needs before the first day of school that money can’t buy. Below is a list of skills that will help make your child’s school year successful.

Hosting an end-of-summer pool party is the perfect way to gather friends together to bid summertime farewell. Here are some great games, foods, and decorations to make your pool-party planning a breeze!

During different seasons and situations, I’ve felt the weight of parenthood like a heavy load laid upon my chest. On the days when parenthood feels heavy, these 10 reminders help me get through.

I used to have a lot of tricks up my sleeve for bringing my son’s behavior into line. he problem was that none of my tricks reached his heart, and so none of them led to lasting positive change in behavior. The change happened when I stopped punishing his actions and started looking for and treating the cause of those actions.

I’m glad I’m not a perfect parent. Here’s why.

We all want to raise emotionally intelligent children because we understand how beneficial it is to their health, happiness, and success. Yet, how are we handling our own emotions? Are we steady or easily thrown? Can we control our moods and impulses? Are we mindfully aware of our emotional states and how they are affecting our children and families? Are we able to meet our children with empathy or are we quick to dismiss, judge, or react? Emotional intelligence is just as important for us as it is for our children, and learning to manage our emotions will help us be a better and more joyful parent.