Parenting a child with anxiety can be a lot of work. I have seen families who “walk on eggshells” or have stopped going out in public or doing fun things because of their children’s strong emotions. Parents need to know how to talk to their kids about anxiety as a way to open the door …
positive parenting
When Divorce Happens: Stay Child-Focused
Sometimes relationships end in divorce or separation. It is one of the more common “adverse childhood experiences” that can occur over the course of a child’s lifetime. Almost 50% of all first time marriages will end in divorce within 15 years, according to the CDC . It is never an easy decision to end a …
A Family Program For Motivation and Persistence: Family Goal Getters
Can you believe another year is just about done? It’s the time of year when millions of people ask themselves: “What is my New Years’ Resolution?”, “What do I want to achieve?” or “What are my personal goals for this next year?” Yet again, we dig deep to find motivation and commit to persistence to …
The ABCs of Positive Parenting: Infographic & e-book journal
What exactly IS ‘positive parenting’? Positive parenting is a way of interacting with your child that includes attention to: your child’s developmental age your child’s unique needs keeping in mind your child’s strengths and what is going well understanding your child’s cues thinking about situations from your child’s point of view being mindful about your …
Navigating Childhood Adversity: Ella’s Story
As a behavioral pediatrician, I have forged many relationships with my families. I have had the honor of helping guide families through some of their worst crisis points. One patient named Ella* (name changed for confidentiality) was 9 years old and brought in by her grandmother because she was acting out at school, and as …
The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
One of the many things young children need to master in early childhood is how to handle their emotions or what we call, self-regulate. Emotions are a psychological state that is often accompanied by physical sensations or reactions that allow us to express ourselves. These emotions can be beautiful and messy, big and strong, sometimes …
Parent Talk: Giving Commands So You Get Follow Through
When parents get frustrated about kids not listening or minding them, we often times want to restate the request or think we must get louder to get their attention…but, that often contributes to feelings of upset and resentment for both parent and child. In these moments, I think it is most helpful to remember two …
Don’t lose out on the power of everyday moments!
Right from birth, children are learning to adapt to their new environment with help–most especially from YOU. Because they are dependent on the adults who care for their basic needs, infants must learn quickly that when they are feeling hungry, tired or need snuggles, they need to cry, fuss, or coo at you to get …
Why collaborating with behavioral therapists is better sooner than later
When children have behavior challenges, it is often VERY stressful for parents, siblings, peers and teachers. Misbehavior can lead to calls from daycare or school to pick up the child early. It can also lead to suspensions or expulsions if the child’s behavior is potentially harmful to themselves or others and distracts from educators being …
Josh’s Smiley Faces: A Story about Anger by Gina Ditta-Donahue (and what you can do about it!)
Have you ever struggled with a child who seemed to ALWAYS react with anger? Like when siblings cannot share toys and then arguing and throwing toys ensues? Or maybe you have a child that tends to get aggressive and pinches or pushes or grabs the toy? In the moment it can be infuriating for the …