by Susie Windle | Mar 28, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play
The appearance of aggressive themes in the pretend play and conversation of three- and four-year-olds can be a sign of developmental progress. As parents, we want our children to be appropriately assertive and independent, so we do want to foster the feelings that can...
by Susie Windle | Mar 21, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions
In the best of circumstances, parents sincerely love their children, want them to be happy, and want to parent them in the most nurturing way. Most parents would also admit that the complexity of the parent-child relationship sometimes triggers a reaction rather than...
by Susie Windle | Feb 8, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
Last week we discussed how to connect physical sensations to emotions as one way to help children become more aware of their specific feelings. Being aware of emotions is the first step toward deciding what to do next. Another way to help your kids make connections to...
by Susie Windle | Feb 1, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Sensory Information, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
One way to help children develop emotional awareness is connected to their physical sensations. Parents can help their kids learn about this connection between their bodies and their emotions. As kids become more aware of what is going on inside their bodies, they can...
by Susie Windle | Jan 4, 2012 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions
Parents know the importance of a sincere apology. Perhaps that is why we teach our children to say they are sorry when they have done or said something that inconveniences or hurts another. Sometimes, however, offering an apology is only the beginning. Our children...
by Susie Windle | Dec 28, 2011 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions
Sometimes children start to define themselves by momentary feelings. If children feel frustrated or lonely, for example, they can be tempted to generalize this temporary feeling. Instead of saying “I feel frustrated,” they say “I am frustrated.” Instead of saying “I...
by Susie Windle | Nov 30, 2011 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
Remember “connect and redirect”? Connect to the emotion your child is feeling, and then redirect your child in a way that helps him or her tap a developing ability to think rationally. Connect and redirect is a very helpful strategy for many of those delicate moments...
by Susie Windle | Oct 26, 2011 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
The regulation of emotions is one of many developmental processes that children go through. It is interesting to watch children use new strategies as they learn to control their emotions. Language is one of the contributors to improved emotional self-regulation. As...
by Susie Windle | Oct 12, 2011 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
The brain, as you probably already know, has two hemispheres. The strength and function of the left side of the brain is organization. The left side is logical and literal, and the left side likes words and putting things in a sequence. The right side of the brain is...
by Susie Windle | Aug 31, 2011 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
When parents have conversations with their children, it is important for them to reflect on what may be going on in the minds of those involved. Conversations that include attention to mental processes respect each person’s subjective reality. If mental processes are...
