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
16 Questions You Can Use To Help Heal Family Tensions
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
5 Strategies to Help When You Feel Judged On Your “Softer” Parenting Style
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
Games For Parents That Are Too Tired to Play
Dear Hand in Hand, Since the new year, i’m trying to play more with my children. We’ve been playing lots of hide and seek and roughhousing, and it feels great most of the time, but sometimes
Bumper Guide to Calmer Parenting
Welcome to Your Guide to Calmer Parenting! If you’ve caught yourself yelling at, bribing or threatening your child more times than you’d like, this toolkit will help you find new, calmer ways to deal with
How Healing Old Wounds Helped my Marriage
My kids were with their grandparents and I was spending time with my husband. We were relaxed and talking and everything felt perfect until he mentioned the upcoming marriage of someone that is close to
When Family and Friends Don’t Understand Your Parenting Style
By Rachel Schofield When we choose to parent differently to the norm, we add an extra layer of challenge to our already overfull plates. Without the support and backing of family, friends or professionals, the
Permission to Feel Sad This Holiday Season
Three years ago on Christmas morning, I started crying. My grandmother had died a month earlier and I was spending Christmas with my in-laws. Suddenly I felt bad as if I had abandoned my
The Day I Said I Hate My Kids
By Lauren Stearns Last year when my son entered 7th grade it seemed like EVERYTHING changed. The connection that I had worked so hard to build with him using Hand in Hand Tools felt broken.
Who’s Listening To You Over the Holidays?
A pair of Listening Partners, we’ll call them Emma and Carol, had been living 2500 miles on opposite coasts for several years now. Carol finds her middle child, Cammy, deeply challenging. During Carol’s last two
What If I’m Just Not A Playful Parent?
“Play with me?” That one question is asked at least 100 times a day in most houses, by kids to their parents. Time and time again we hear that play improves connections. Greys Anatomy-creator (and former
Parenting: What To Do After You Mess Up
The other night I got really annoyed at my son. His birthday isn’t for another two months, and yet every day he’s telling me about this music speaker he wants. Grandma will be visiting soon,
Reduce Parenting Stress: Why do We Put Off Listening Time
“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival. – Audre Lorde When parents learn about Hand in Hand’s five Listening
Vaccination Fears? Play Can Help
Our family recently traveled and we had decided to get some vaccinations for our 3 ½ year-old daughter. We needed three shots over three visits. My daughter had never had shots before, but the first time
How To Get Your Kids To Play Better
Why do your children play well for hours some days and others can’t go five minutes without calling on you? Your own tension may play a big factor. Children have a way of picking up
A Seven Step Guide to Building Connection and Safety at Home
If your child has become frightened by the tones, words, or images seen in the media lately, at home, or from peers, he or she will find ways to bring up those fears that may