Parenting Playbook

Early tasting experiences . . .

Taste preferences are amazingly adaptable. Other than our innate preferences for sweet and salty tastes, almost all other aspects of what we do and don’t like to eat seems to be the result of experience. Nurture plays a larger role than nature when it comes to food...

Promise to play . . .

Play provides more than pleasure. Play energizes and enlivens us, opens us to new possibilities, and nudges our sense of optimism. Play is also a profound biological process that promotes survival, shapes the brain, makes us smarter, encourages adaptability, fosters...

Describing feelings . . .

Your preschooler’s ability to describe a variety of feelings is one sign of emotional thinking. A year ago your child may have acted out angry feelings through aggressive behaviors, but more recently you may be noticing that he or she expresses ideas about anger...

Frustration temptations . . .

Parenting has its share of frustrations, and sometimes the appropriate thing to do in response is not apparent. Frustration, impatience, confusion, and anger are all expected emotions during the parenting process—yet they are not excuses for copping out, threatening,...

Family rules . . .

Most families have some rules. And that’s a good thing. Family rules, if based on fairness, create a sense of safety for everyone in the family. In addition, a few family rules help kids engage and wire up the thinking part of their brains, which will help them...

Make it happen . . .

Parents are busy people! It can be hard to remember to make time for positive moments with your child. The great thing is that making time doesn’t necessarily mean taking extra time. You can create positive moments with your child within your daily routine. Here are...

Children’s reactions to stress . . .

Every child experiences stress in a variety of forms. As your child grows and develops, predictable types of stress might include being afraid of the dark, transitions inherent in going to school, peer pressure, and struggling with how to fit in. When ordinary stress...

Expectations . . .

Expectations are wily. They can sneak in and influence our perspectives and behaviors without surfacing in our awareness. Because expectations can be either positive and useful or limiting and distressful, it can be helpful to give some consideration to the...

Responsible little people . . .

How can we help our children develop a sense of responsibility? Let’s consider some of the possibilities. First, children need to experience their own feelings. We want to protect our children, yet we cannot shield them from all of life’s experiences and the emotions...

Thoughts are just thoughts . . .

Thoughts are constantly running through our minds—often unexamined. We need to take a look at our thoughts and reflect on them. If we don’t, we run the risk of creating a reality that colors the ideas and opinions we form about ourselves and others. If we let our...

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