Key takeaways Parents may argue about parenting due to different childhood experiences, stress, and clashing parenting philosophies. The most common parenting disagreements are screen time, bedtime routines, food choices, homework expectations, discipline approaches, and conflicting parenting styles. Parenting arguments get stuck because of the “Four Horsemen” communication patterns: criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling make resolution…
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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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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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Key Takeaways Permissive parenting involves high responsiveness to children’s feelings, often prioritizing freedom over parents’ needs. Parents become permissive through misunderstanding gentle/respectful parenting, a fear of conflict, a mismatch with their child’s temperament, and neglecting their own needs. Effects include children who don’t see others’ needs as important, parents feeling overwhelmed, and frustration for both…
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Key takeaways Children procrastinate to avoid negative feelings like anxiety, fear of failure, or uncertainty. Teaching children self-forgiveness and self-compassion reduces shame and guilt, which actually helps prevent future procrastination rather than enabling it. Teaching children to break tasks into small, manageable pieces makes starting easier. Visual exercises like ‘paper doll chains’ help children understand…
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Note: this blog post is adapted from the podcast episode, How to prepare your kids for the real world. Parents often ask me: “How can I prepare my child for the real world?” This question emerges in three distinct contexts: Navigating external influences like junk food and media; Dealing with broader social systems that don’t…
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The 2024 election season has put a lot of us through the wringer. We may have deeply held values around fairness, freedom, and what it means to belong in a community – and it can feel scary when other people don’t share those values. For parents, the election obviously gives us an opportunity to discuss…
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Note: This blog post is an adaptation of the podcast episode How to Create a Culture of Consent in our Families When my daughter was three, her doctor prescribed antibiotics for an infection. She said she didn’t like the flavor and refused to take them, and I forced the dropper into her mouth. I…
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Does it sometimes seem like things would be a lot easier if your children would just listen to you? Would it make you feel uncomfortable to see your boy dressed in pink clothes, and your girl being loud, demanding, and ‘rude’? Do you ever feel as though you’re always trying to get to the bottom…
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When my daughter was a toddler, I used to tell a lot of stories. Of course there were the stories I made up for her before bed; her favorites were the ones where she went on adventures with Squirrel Number One and Squirrel Number Two from our backyard. At least once in every story she and…
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