As a parent, there are so many potentially difficult conversations in front of you. This may include conversations about transitions like moving to a new place or a marriage separation. At some point, you’ll likely have to talk about the significant illness or death of a close relative. Also as they grow, you’ll need … Continue reading Having Difficult Conversations with Children
The guidelines for speaking with children about difficult topics vary by age. This is true with the coronavirus as well. With preschoolers you might narrowly focus on building healthy habits and giving reassurances about their safety. In elementary school, many children are ready for basic information and there may be a need to correct misinformation. … Continue reading How to Talk with Your Child About the Coronavirus
Another common homework battle is over place. The goal is a well stocked, well lit space with a good table or desk and a comfortable something for reading. Well stocked means having everything your child might need for homework for the year. In elementary school this might be pencils, erasers, wide lined paper, markers, crayons, … Continue reading Homework Solution #2: Place
Eight Weeks to Positive Discipline: A Workbook Based on the Popular Workshop Series by Dr. Rene Hackney The language of positive discipline is a system of techniques that allow parents to effectively manage their children’s behaviors. This workbook will help parents and educators learn: Ways to encourage positive behaviors to happen more often How to better … Continue reading Workbooks
Empathy is the understanding of or sensitivity to others feelings and experiences. It is a developing trait across childhood and can greatly vary between children based on age, predisposition and experiences. There are several ways parents can coach the component pieces of emotion language and perspective taking. Coach Emotion Language – Children being able to … Continue reading Encouraging Children’s Empathy
School shootings continue to be a rare occurrence. Experts report that, statistically, your child is safer from violence and death at school than they are at home or in their neighborhood. It can be difficult to keep that in mind when we hear the death tolls and now see student experiences through social media … Continue reading How to Talk about School Shootings with Children by Age
First a disclaimer – I didn’t use time-outs with my own children. The preschool that I work at reserves time-outs only for when all else fails. As a formal approach, they haven’t used this in at least the last two years. Not positive discipline – Time-outs are not considered positive discipline. It’s not included in … Continue reading All About Time-Outs: Reservations and Guidelines
Perspective taking is very limited in young children. Like, how two-year-olds close their eyes to hide when playing hide and seek. The thought is, ‘if they can’t see themselves, you can’t see them.’ Three-year-olds stand in front of you and don’t realize you can’t see through them. Even four years olds get confused when you … Continue reading Teaching Kids How to Take Another’s Perspective
Many parents assume that learning the language of positive discipline is a difficult task. When really, it’s not that hard. Good preschool and elementary school teachers are in and out of this language all day long. It’s like learning any new set of language rules; take a new job and you are likely learning new … Continue reading Positive Discipline Language: It’s Easier Than You Think
There are so many transitions built into a family’s day. For children, this may include the shift to getting dressed, leaving the house, stopping play, finishing projects, cleaning up, coming to the table for meals, going upstairs for bath and settling in bed for sleep. All of these steps can have small transitions within which … Continue reading Transitions Can be Easier
Parenting by Dr. Rene 