by Susie Windle | Aug 19, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills
As a parent, you may have found yourself feeling frustrated and angry about something you thought your child did only to find out later that it wasn’t his or her doing. A significant other may have been the person who tracked mud across the freshly cleaned kitchen...
by Susie Windle | Aug 12, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
In favorable conditions, a child learns how to manage feelings of anxiety by being exposed to just the right amount of distress. The optimal amount of anxiety to be experienced by a child will depend on his or her age as well as temperament. No mathematical formula is...
by Susie Windle | Jun 17, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
Your child may seem unable to sit still, but there is a reason for it. The brain wiring needed to curb his or her restless impulses is not yet developed. That’s why children need room to roam, a change of scene, or a novel toy—all of which activate the calming...
by Susie Windle | Apr 8, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Parents: Practice Self Care, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
Thinking clearly is a lot easier if we have a way to keep our emotions in check. Some researchers refer to this as “separation of affect.” This ability to detach from emotions caused by frustration is a skill that allows people to think through solutions to problems...
by Susie Windle | Feb 11, 2015 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, Your Child's Brain
If we can instill good judgment in children, they will be more likely to make healthy choices when we are not around. Simply getting them to be obedient lasts only as long as we are in the room because it doesn’t help them understand what to do in new, novel...
by Susie Windle | Feb 4, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play
If you have a child who has reached toddlerhood, it won’t be long before she puts your hat on her head, grabs your purse, prances around with a grin, and waits for your captivated laughter. Your toddler has recognized and is imitating a grown-up pattern of behavior,...
by Susie Windle | Jan 14, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play
When children and parents spend time apart during the day, adjustments are necessary when reconnection takes place. This reentry into each others’ lives can create some missteps because everyone is full of feelings remaining from their time apart. Everyone also has...
by Susie Windle | Jan 7, 2015 | Parenting Playbook, Your Child's Brain
Children are often given opportunities to learn and develop beliefs about how to fairly divide material goods. Concerns can surface and debates grow loud over what size allowance siblings of different ages should receive and who gets to play longer with their friends...
by Susie Windle | Dec 31, 2014 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Parents: Practice Self Care, Your Child's Brain
Scientists believe a negativity bias is wired into the brain as protection against all the dangers faced over the millions of years of evolution. Our brains are alert to potential threats that might have an impact on our survival. In effect, the brain is like sticky...
by Susie Windle | Dec 24, 2014 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
Nearly every parent has watched a child refuse to share his or her toy. The child who is not sharing may even know that the fair and acceptable thing to do would be to share, but for some reason, he or she just can’t seem to resist grabbing the toy and holding on for...
