55 Ways to Support, Encourage, and Celebrate Your Child Without Praise

a smiling woman in a white shirt and mint green apron with giraffe designs hugging a young girl with brown hair in pigtails. The child has her arms wrapped around the woman's neck

In a recent podcast episode called Does praise help or hurt your child? What research actually shows, I explored how praise can function as a subtle form of control that undermines our relationship with our children. While well-intentioned, praise often creates dependency on external validation rather than fostering genuine connection.   Below are practical alternatives…

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How to Foster Positive Sibling Relationships

An older child gently interacts with a baby sitting in a walker

Key takeaways Sibling relationships are important because they’re a child’s first peer relationship.  They set the foundation for all future social interactions, affecting development from risk behaviors to healthcare access. While many assume fighting is “just what siblings do,” constant conflict isn’t inevitable. Some anthropologists suggest sibling rivalry may even be a Euro-centric cultural invention.…

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RE-RELEASE: How to get your child to listen to you

A parent kneels on green grass in a sunlit wooded area, making eye contact and gently holding the arm of a young child with curly hair

Chrystal’s insightful approach to getting her spirited children to listen without raising entitled kids is a must-listen. She shares practical tools and collaborative strategies. Her success story proves that respectful parenting doesn’t create entitled children but fosters cooperation. Explore her transformative journey from battles to collaboration, inspired by the Setting Loving (& Effective!) Limits workshop.