With the festive season fast approaching, it’s incredibly important for parents to give themselves the time and space to prepare for the upcoming challenges. For adults, the holiday season can be incredibly overwhelming. We are exposed to a constant stream of advertising, our communities and homes are dressed up in the brightest, boldest colors and the palpable sense of excitement can be exhausting to manage. Add in the self-imposed pressure to produce a perfect, memorable holiday for our family and friends, it’s easy to see why the festive season can be extremely challenging to navigate. For children, this sensory overload and persistent emotional rollercoaster are exceptionally potent — and with none [...]

Learn some research-backed tips for fostering a thankful child.  Wanting to raise a thankful child has its challenges. The entitlement cultural narrative can be a significant challenge in your quest. Has your child been given a birthday gift or invited to a friend’s party? You know they really liked the gift or party, and when it was time to leave, you say what all good parents do, “What do you say?” Your child looks at you and mumbles a “Thank you” to the host or gift giver. As you smile and laugh it off, you wonder why they are so unenthusiastic. Are you raising an ungrateful child? The situation is common. Gratefulness [...]

How mindful parenting can help develop a healthier parent-child relationship. It can be very challenging to raise a young family. If you have found yourself losing your patience and overreacting when your child says or does something unacceptable, you are not alone. Fortunately, there are ways to modify your parenting style and create a loving, secure bond with your child. Mindful parenting is a parenting technique that helps to prevent you from overreacting while maintaining a secure bond with your child. Following is some helpful information on what mindful parenting is, as well as the benefits and challenges that come with it. What is Mindful Parenting? When a parent practices a [...]

Why you should consider parenting mindfully. If you have ever found yourself reacting more harshly than necessary when dealing with your child only to feel remorseful later on, you are not alone. Mindful parenting is a parenting strategy that focuses on stopping a negative interaction in its tracks before it occurs and reframing the interaction in a more balanced manner. Mindful parenting helps us model healthier emotional reactions and shows our children a more positive and helpful way of managing their emotions, as well. Here are some tips you can use to incorporate mindful parenting into your parenting style. The Benefits of Mindful Parenting There are many reasons why you should [...]

How to help your kids achieve goals in the new school year with a sensory vision board. Does your child have ADHD, autism, anger problems, or other issues that get in the way of effective learning? If so, you’re not alone. Many parents struggle with helping their kids succeed academically. The good news is that there are practical steps you can take to support your child with the goal of becoming an effective and enthusiastic student. One of the things that can be very helpful is a vision board. We’ll talk about how to make one in a minute. First, let’s go over some tips for helping your child plan for [...]

Have a soothing summer vacation with the help of these six mindfulness exercises for traveling with kids. Family vacations can be magical, creating memories that last for a lifetime. Unfortunately, traveling with children can be challenging too. Your children may experience new places and new people while also trying novel things. Occasionally, this induces anxiety, which can complicate the adventure, especially if one or more of your children has ADHD, autism, or other mental health concerns. One powerful tool that is sensible for any parent to keep in their toolbox is mindfulness. This is the state of being conscious or aware of the present moment. It means not lamenting the past [...]

This Father’s Day, we’re reflecting on the life lessons that fathers can pass on to their children  — particularly boundaries.  Father’s Day is just around the corner. There are so many essential life lessons that dads pass on to their children. Father’s Day is a reminder of how much dads impact their kids’ lives. One of the most important things that we think dads can teach their kids is how to set boundaries. Why Are Boundaries So Important for Kids?   It’s easy to picture boundaries as being imaginary lines that we draw that we don’t want someone to cross, similar to boundaries on a sports field. Our personal boundaries tell others [...]

Mother’s Day offers a natural opportunity for kids to learn the elements of love and kindness. Mother’s Day really is about mom. Moms should not feel like they need to turn their day into a necessary learning experience for their children. However, it’s impossible to ignore the fantastic opportunity for emotional awareness created by this highly interpersonal holiday. Mother’s Day provides an excellent opportunity for kids to learn the elements of love and kindness: ● Empathy ● Graciousness ● Anticipating the needs of others ● Gratitude ● Creativity ● Acceptance This Mother’s Day encourage your children to express their love and experience love and kindness with your family. Mother’s Day holds many of [...]

Embodying kindness can offer children many benefits for themselves and others.  Is the word kindness overused? The truth is that it is easy to dismiss kindness as a catchphrase in this busy world we live in. However, kindness can never be an overdone idea! The best way to ensure that kindness does not get evaporated down to a catchphrase with our kids is to show them how to live kindness. This means understanding that kindness is: •  Connection •  Empathy in motion •  Recognition of the dignity of others •  A counterbalance to the hate in the world •  A way to reveal our truest self to another •  A way to remind ourselves [...]