Parenting Playbook

Only wanting attention or needing contact . . .

At times, a child’s challenging behaviors are fueled by his or her need for emotional contact with you, rather than a desire for attention. The need for emotional contact is genetically programmed, so if a child feels that connection is lost, he or she may act...

Keep noticing . . .

As our children become more independent, it is easy to stop paying close attention to them—but then we can miss their cues about what they need. It is important for children to develop a sense of independence, and at the same time it is still important for parents to...

How to manage waiting with young children . . .

We all have to wait from time to time—in supermarket lines and traffic, at restaurants and doctors’ offices—and sometimes we must wait with our children. Successfully managing waiting time with a young child starts with adjusting everyone’s expectations—yours and your...

A reminder to look after you . . .

Parenting is a stressful job. To be a calm, loving, empathetic parent, you need to make time to take good care of yourself. Recharging your emotional battery is required when your job includes broken sleep patterns and tests of patience. If you keep going without a...

Bullying is a big deal . . .

Bullying is a big problem. It affects millions of kids—including victims, the bullies, and bystanders—and can have long-term damaging effects on the brain. Bullying is an issue to be taken seriously by parents, teachers, and caregivers. Some bullies use physical...

Lying . . .

Parents are often concerned when they catch a child willfully trying to be deceptive. If that situation crops up for you, first consider your child’s developmental stage. Preschool children, for example, may not always tell the truth, but this age group cannot always...

Emotions come and go . . .

As we have discussed before in Parenting Playbook, it is important for children to learn about, understand, and have words for their feelings. It is also important for children to understand that feelings are temporary. This temporary state means that emotions are...

Morning routines set the tone for the day . . .

Morning routines can create stress in a family. Time pressures and moods can evolve into an emotional storm, with voices rising and good-bye hugs forgotten. Who wants to start the day like that? As a parent, you can help mornings move along more smoothly by planning,...

Distress tantrums . . .

Temper tantrums typically occur because connections in a child’s brain have not yet developed in a way that allows for powerful feelings to be managed in socially acceptable ways. This week, we will look at distress tantrums, temper tantrums that are the result of...

Structured activities . . .

Structured activities for and with your child can be fun . . . some of the time. For example, it might be fun for you and your child to enjoy an art, gymnastics, or Kindermusik class. Just be sure to balance structured activities within the context of your already...

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