Parenting Playbook

Rethink discipline . . .

When all is going smoothly—meaning the children are happy and the parents are too—it seems easy to be respectful. When kids are doing something they aren’t supposed to be doing, such as pulling on the dog’s tail, knocking over a sibling’s tower of blocks, or avoiding...

More on making sense of behavior . . .

How we all make sense of things and create meaning from our experiences depends on our state of mind. As parents, our state of mind importantly affects how we create the meanings tied to the behaviors exhibited by our children. Specifically, it’s important to notice...

Empathy and sympathy . . .

Empathy—feeling what another person might feel—is an emotional capacity more common in early childhood than during the preceding toddler years. Empathy is one of the important motivators of healthy social behavior that leads to sympathetic responses of concern and...

Storytelling is important and powerful . . .

Most parents know from experience that telling stories can both distract and calm down children. Now there is science to explain how and why stories are so important and powerful. The right side of our brain processes emotions and autobiographical memories. It is our...

Interaction and admiration . . .

When you interact with and admire your toddler, you encourage your child to organize behaviors, communicate ideas and feelings, and solve problems. Your toddler needs your high regard along with the care and comfort you provide. Let’s say your child is coloring a...

Becoming calm and interested . . .

During the first few months of your baby’s life, you can begin to help your newborn learn to be calm, regulated, secure, and interested in his or her new world. Likely, your baby is already a sensory sponge, learning from the sights, sounds, smells, touches, and...

Babies like to be boss sometimes . . .

Around 3 to 10 months of age, your baby will be able to communicate what he wants, and he might become a little bossy in the process. Even babies like to be in charge now and then. This means that sometimes your love bug might get angry when you want to be in control....

Unfinished business . . .

Your little miracle is born with a brain that is still in the process of developing, and you get to play a major role in nurturing that development. Here’s why . . . At birth, your child’s brain is actually unfinished—particularly the higher brain, which is the newest...

Nonverbal communication

Our relationships with others affect nearly all aspects of our lives. When people have good social skills—and the strong interpersonal relationships that follow—they feel good about themselves, are more productive, experience greater job satisfaction, and are...

Power and control . . .

How to separate a parent’s need for power from the needs of children is an important thing to think about. In many situations a parent should be in charge. For example, parents need to be in control when safety is a concern, such as when a child might run into the...

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