by Susie Windle | May 11, 2016 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills
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,...
by Susie Windle | May 21, 2014 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Parents: Practice Self Care
As parents, learning to control our own behavior influences our children and their actions. When parents and children feel out of control at the same time, a caring and constructive interaction is rarely the outcome. One way to stay connected to both feeling and being...
by Susie Windle | May 8, 2013 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Sensory Information, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
According to many research studies, moving our bodies directly affects our brain chemistry. When we change our physical state, we change our emotional state. This means that moving can help kids reset emotionally, and resetting emotionally will allow them to feel...
by Susie Windle | Jan 16, 2013 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Parents: Practice Self Care
If you find yourself too often thinking or saying to your children, “Hurry up! We are running out of time!” it may be time to make some time to evaluate commitments. Otherwise, it is too easy to slip into a mode of continual acceleration and nonstop doing, resulting...
by Susie Windle | Jun 13, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
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....
by Susie Windle | Nov 2, 2011 | Parenting Playbook, Parents: Practice Self Care
As a parent, you will have times when you feel a bit frazzled or on edge. You may notice that your children are getting on your nerves, or you might feel like exploding at something you would normally take in stride. When you recognize in yourself the signs of stress...
by Susie Windle | Jun 15, 2011 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
An attitude, or our state of mind in the moment, is more transient than a belief. Yet this temporary state of mind does affect how we perceive, interpret, and respond in any given situation. Our attitude in the moment shapes how we feel about someone or something, and...
by Susie Windle | Apr 20, 2011 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
Self-control is an important attribute in our ability to manage life. This may be particularly true in our current culture, with temptations constantly being put in front of our faces. Businesses spend a lot of money to get us to act impulsively, and any store you...
by Susie Windle | Dec 10, 2008 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
Temper tantrums for control, referred to as “Little Nero tantrums” by educator and author Margot Sunderland, are very different from distress tantrums. During a distress tantrum, a child’s brain and body are flooded with stress chemicals, and the child experiences and...
