17 Kind Ways To Say No To Your Child
Monday, March 6 2017
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No doesn’t have to be yelled or sound mean to be effective. Try these 17 kind ways to say no that kids do actually listen to.
Category: Parenting
Some Staylistening Success Helped my Baby Son Take Naps
Sunday, March 5 2017
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A Guest Post By Lisa Tripp My six-month-old son, has had some challenges falling asleep for naps for several months, but the challenges have gotten easier and sleep has gotten more flexible for him as we’ve been using Staylistening. You can find out more about how listening to children cry and how Staylistening works
Do You Know These Connection Tools for Trauma Intervention?
Tuesday, February 28 2017
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How does a therapist use play to reach kids and help them recover from trauma? They ask them to lead it. At least, that’s what happens when a therapist—or anyone working towards a trauma-informed environment around kids—is using the Hand in Hand approach. We call the play tool “Playlistening.” To do it, the therapist allocates
12 Books for Children Dealing With Divorce
Monday, February 27 2017
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Divorce is hard for everyone involved, but it can be especially difficult on kids who do not have a support system. There are many helpful tips and strategies on dealing with the effects of divorce on children in this article, Helping Children with Divorce or Separation, from our Founder Patty Wipfler, and is a must-read.
What To Do When Your Child Won’t Nap
Sunday, February 26 2017
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How often have you told your child that it’s naptime only to be met with complete disapproval? We know our children benefit from a rest midday, and may of us look forward to that window, either to get things done without another small person demanding attention, or just to rest up and prepare the afternoon and
Why Kids Throw Big Tantrums Over Small Things
Friday, February 24 2017
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Have you ever got home from a really crap day where EVERYTHING went wrong? You see that your darling partner has accidentally left the milk out of the fridge and you just LOSE it, ranting and screaming. Seemingly this is over the milk being left out… Has your child ever “flipped their lid” because you
Five Truths Every New Parent Should Know
Monday, February 20 2017
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No matter how many books you read, how many people you talk to, holding your new baby in your arms is a life-changing moment. Depending on the birth experience you have, you may be elated or you may be exhausted. You may crest highs you’ve never known, or you may feel bleaker than the darkest
“I Need Space, Mama!”: When Your Child Tells You To Go Away
Friday, February 17 2017
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We were on our way home from a festival weekend where we had camped out. We’d been on the road for an hour or so. My 3-year-old daughter was busy drawing and I was sitting in the back seat with her. She started to get frustrated trying to write some letters. I offered to help,
4 Essential Tools for A Trauma-Sensitive Care Program
Wednesday, February 15 2017
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Listening Tools in Therapy Jack arrived at 36 weeks, having experienced a foetal distress that sent his system into survival mode. Doctors, acting fast, used vigorous suctioning in a stressful birth and it was soon discovered that Jack had respiratory issues that required a week’s stay in the NICU. There he was jaundiced and had difficulty feeding. For much of
Why Won’t My Partner Open Up?
Monday, February 13 2017
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Do you find yourself pushing your feelings down because your partner always seems to tense up and over react when you try and tell him? Are you worried to ask your partner his feelings because he clamps down, and you feel like you never get anywhere? You aren’t alone. While more women than ever are
Sharing the Love: 6 Ways to Love Valentine’s As A Family
Sunday, February 12 2017
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Before the diapers and the laundry, the meal-planning and the playdate planning, there was actual time for Valentine’s Day. Way back then pre-children, time spent counting cards and arranging grand romantic gestures was special. Now, it might feel enough just to make it to the sofa at the end of the day with a glass of
How Closer Connection Created a Calmer Classroom
Thursday, February 9 2017
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I work as a learning assistant in a large comprehensive school supporting children who have a variety of special educational needs. One of the most challenging is an English class with 13 and 14 year olds. About ten children really struggle to engage or focus. One girl in particular has a reputation for being very
How I Turned off My Emotional Alarms (and got some rest)
Thursday, February 2 2017
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I have a weekly appointment with a Listening Partner and I know that this scheduled time helps me work deeply on topics that feel heavy to me in my family life. But it happens quite regularly that during a week various different situations might awaken strong feelings and I feel a great amount of parenting stress.
How Listening to My Angry Son Helped Us Connect
Tuesday, January 31 2017
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I have been trying to figure out respectful and efficient ways of supporting my six years old unload his negative emotions for a few years. It’s been very hard, even more, because there is no such struggle for me with my two other kids. He is my eldest son and he has a lot of pent-up,
16 Questions You Can Use To Help Heal Family Tensions
Friday, January 27 2017
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Listening Time There’s nothing like raising kids to bring tension into a family. Right from pregnancy it can seem like every decision you make comes under scrutiny, and then feeding, sleeping, schooling, behavior and discipline draw opinions and comparisons. Straying from the parenting path your parents used to raise you can bring up all
Does My Child Read Too Much?
Friday, January 27 2017
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Dear Hand in Hand, My daughter’s school is really pushing reading. They constantly say how reading opens the world and makes for a more ready and open learner. I’ve always thought I was quite lucky because my 7-year-old girl just loves to read. She’ll read upside down on the couch, in the car on the
Setting Limits: Saying “No” To The Yellow Bowl Lets the Storm Cloud Lift
Tuesday, January 24 2017
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A friend and I were spending our vacation together. Between us we had five children aged from three to six years old. It was their first time meeting. A few times I had perceived a little upset from my son, Lucas. One night, he had not wanted me to leave the room before he fell asleep, and
5 Strategies to Help When You Feel Judged On Your “Softer” Parenting Style
Monday, January 23 2017
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Connection parenting can seem unfamiliar, daunting, and even strange to family members and friends. Unless you have tried the power of play and giggles to ease away tension and stress, joking with your moody child can look to them like you are bending over backwards. Sweet, loving limits can appear like you are being