Breaking “Bad” News
Saturday, March 30 2013
When my 6-year-old son began the first grade in a new school district, school went from being easy to being a big challenge for him both socially and academically. Being the youngest in his class
Tag: emotional projects
When Your Child Hurts Another: Working Through Upset
Friday, March 15 2013
When my daughter was just under two years old, we were playing one day with a friend and her one-year old son. While gently nuzzling the leg of the younger boy, my daughter suddenly took
Listening Helps When Taking Kids Grocery Shopping
Tuesday, February 26 2013
Everything went well until we got to the checkout line and he asked for gum. I said no and he began to have a full blown tantrum, I was completely overwhelmed with the baby, the groceries and him. So I bought the gum. All the way home, I kept saying to myself, “You are being controlled by a child! This can only get worse.”
An Olympic Sports Day Staylistening
Friday, October 5 2012
It was sports day at my children’s new school. My daughter, 8, was in the first of her races and was keen to “get a place,” as she put it – meaning she wanted to
In Trouble for Singing?
Tuesday, July 10 2012
I was driving home with my husband and my 2.5-year old son. We were coming from a sweet evening with some friends of ours who have a son his age. The dinner was lovely, I had
Sleeping in His Own Bed All Night
Sunday, July 8 2012
My son has co-slept with me since he was born. When he was about 18 months old, I bought him his own bed with the plan to move him into it so I could have
Special Time Gets our Son to School
Friday, May 25 2012
My husband and I took our sons to Tokyo. We stayed with my mother and had the boys go to a Japanese preschool for three-and-a-half weeks. It was a great language and cultural immersion and
Beyond Breastfeeding
Tuesday, May 1 2012
My 2-1/2-year old son was tired. It was past his nap time. As I laid him down for his nap, he looked up at me very lovingly and said, “Can I have some of your
Helping my Son’s Friend “Unroll” his Feelings
Friday, April 27 2012
My 3-year old son and his slightly younger friend had a play date at our house. There was a bowl with a snack roll in it made of grains and fruit. Frank picked a muesli
Listening in the Absence of Daddy
Thursday, April 19 2012
Last fall my husband had to go out of town for a few days for work. The day after he left, my two year-old son and I were sitting in the living room on the
Lego Land Hokey Pokey
Saturday, April 7 2012
We picked the kids up from kindergarten and preschool one afternoon and drove straight to the airport. Our four-year-old daughter noticed that we were not driving home, so we made the happy announcement, “Surprise! We’re
Listening Makes All The Difference In The World
Friday, March 16 2012
I heard a very touching story in one of my classes recently. We were talking about the value of listening to our children’s strong emotions, and I asked if anyone had been listened to in
Little Ones Have Big Feelings
Thursday, November 3 2011
Help! My 5 year old seems to be out of control these days. He throws toys, he’s very physical with me and our nanny, hitting us (and friends) as hard as can. He’ll be sweet
What’s Wrong With Time Out for Children?
Thursday, October 27 2011
Well, I have bad news for you. It’s true that timeouts are infinitely better than hitting, and yelling. But Timeouts teach the wrong lessons, and they don’t work to create better behaved children.