by Susie Windle | Apr 13, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills
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...
by Susie Windle | Feb 3, 2016 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
All parents experience times when their children exhibit challenging behaviors. Understanding the causes behind those challenging behaviors can help. If we make the mistake of looking only at children’s behavior rather than their level of distress and needs, we miss...
by Susie Windle | Dec 30, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
Our brains are designed to seek pleasure and steer clear of displeasure, so it could be argued that there is no such thing as unmotivated behavior. One thing that gives children great pleasure is getting attention from their parents. That is why our paying attention...
by Susie Windle | Dec 23, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Parents: Practice Self Care
When parents discipline with a light heart and a sense of humor, three important things happen: first, our feelings as parents can be managed in a positive and constructive way; second, we model for our children how to handle their emotions in an effective and...
by Susie Windle | Dec 16, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
This is a good time to remember that joy can be stressful! Joy is a high-arousal state of being for kids. So, enjoy the “joy” and manage the stress. Here are a few ideas for managing the excitement of the holiday season: Know your child’s personality and limits. If...
by Susie Windle | Nov 11, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
As children spend more time in school, with peers, and in after-school activities, they spend less time with their parents. This shift creates changes in the parent-child relationship. Less direct parental control adequately supports the continuing development of...
by Susie Windle | Nov 4, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills
Not only does a sense of gratitude feel good, research shows that this pleasant emotion and its expression result in higher levels of happiness, vitality, optimism, and hope. According to those interested in studying gratitude and its effects, people who consciously...
by Susie Windle | Oct 7, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
When babies reach six to eight months of age, separation distress kicks in . . . and it often continues in some form until children are well over five years old. Understand that your child is not being “needy” or “clingy” when he or she can tell you’re about to leave...
by Susie Windle | Sep 16, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
Middle childhood typically arrives with major advances in the ability to take another person’s perspective. Children in this age group (about six to eleven years) have the capacity to imagine what someone else might be thinking and feeling. Over time, children come to...
by Susie Windle | Aug 26, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
Sometimes it seems that children just won’t sit still at mealtime. On occasion, they may be more inclined to stand up and turn in circles or imitate a favorite action hero than to sit nicely and eat the food that has been prepared for them. There is a reason for this...
