How Listening Time is More Helpful Than Venting
Dear Hand in Hand, “I’ve heard a lot about the Hand in Hand Listening Tool, Listening Partnerships, but what makes it so different from the good, easy chats I have with my friends? I have
One Simple Way to Soothe Stress and Parent More Patiently
As parents, we devote our time to the care and well-being of others. We hear a lot about self-care, about why it’s important to take timeouts for ourselves, or about how being mindful and calm
A Playful Response Helps With Whining and Pretend Pain
A Guest Post by By Emilie Leeks Our four-year-old daughter had a growing tendency to be very melodramatic around ‘pain’. If she was in a certain kind of mood and just got touched or gently bumped,
A Tool That Helps Students Feel Heard
Traditionally in classrooms, teachers talk and children listen. While curriculums are updating to include self-directed learning, children in many classrooms may still feel unheard, and if they have worries or concerns outside of learning –
Parents, One Way To Quiet Your Crazy Inner Voice
I was chatting with a friend that has recently taken a Hand in Hand course of mine. She commented that since doing the course she feels like I am an extra voice in her head, and
Play Helped When My Child Acted Helpless
My daughter was a very capable girl at eight years old. She was smart, strong, clever, and so resourceful. But at the same time, she sometimes acted helplessly. As a single parent, it would drive
4 Types of Limits That Children Need
Science says that limits give a good framework for children to flourish. And setting limits is an integral part of Hand in Hand’s empathetic, authoritative approach.
How to Say No to Your Child with Love
Saying no can be hard. Some of us avoid saying it if we feel like we just don’t have the energy for another fight and we skirt around saying “No.” For others it brings up a lot
17 Kind Ways To Say No To Your Child
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.
Some Staylistening Success Helped my Baby Son Take Naps
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
Do You Know These Connection Tools for Trauma Intervention?
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
4 Essential Tools for A Trauma-Sensitive Care Program
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
Why Won’t My Partner Open Up?
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
Sharing the Love: 6 Ways to Love Valentine’s As A Family
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
How I Turned off My Emotional Alarms (and got some rest)
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
How Listening to My Angry Son Helped Us Connect
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
The Science Behind the Hand in Hand Parenting Tool of Staylistening
Our children can pick really inconvenient times to melt down; they throw themselves on the floor in a flood of tears and refuse to go anywhere! They frustrate us when we are trying to get
Staying Close to Older Kids – How Special Time Can Work with Pre-Teens and Older Children
A sense of connection with the adults who care for them is vital to young people of all ages. That is no less true now that your child is older. While things may not be