Break the "Good Job" Habit with These 21 Alternatives
Excess praise can be damaging to our children's intrinsic motivation (working just for the pure pleasure of it - not to please anyone else), but what should we do instead? Constant "good jobbing" is a habit, and habits can be hard to break. But it can be done!
My Baby Doesn't Want to Be Alone! Ever! And That's Normal.
It can happen overnight. One day your baby is happily playing on the floor with a toy while you attempt to tidy up the living room and the next day he's pulling at your legs, terrified that you will leave his...
Kids Deserve Good Poetry: Daffodils
I have found that most children have a natural affinity for poetry, and unfortunately, a lot of the books published for children fall short of nurturing this type of auditory discrimination. It seems like every...
Before You Say "Good Job" Again, Read This
"See my picture? I made it for you. Do you like it?" When a child comes to you with excitement to show you some of his work, it can be difficult not to respond with praise. On the tip of the tongue is a...
Conflict Resolution Starts in the Sandbox
The sand beckons them. One child reaches for a shovel and kneels, prepares to dig. The other takes off his shoes and swishes his bare feet back and forth. “A sand angel!” he exclaims. His whole body ...
Get Rid of (Most of) Your Kids Toys
Every three months or so I go crazy decluttering my house and removing nearly all of the children's toys. I'm not an organized person by nature, so while my minimalist goals may never be reached, I find...
Get Out Of Your Child’s Way (So That The Magic Can Happen!)
Children are magical beings! The development that occurs naturally within the child is completely unseen and uncontrolled by us. But first, you have to get out of their way.
Don't Feed Your Kids. Organize the Fridge!
Did the kids eat this morning? I didn't see it with my own two eyes, but what have we here? A hodgepodge of mugs filled with varying amounts of milk or water or.... something... on the dining...
Five Ways to Respect Newborns
It's not just you. Science confirms it - babies smell delicious. They also look like angels when sleeping. And nothing is as soft as a baby's bum....