The narrative in our head often dictates our response to our child. When we change those thoughts from negative to positive, we start to see our children in a new way, and we can respond in healthier ways.

“You’re OK.” It may seem like a simple response to help your child get over something, but research shows that even small shifts in how we approach our children’s emotions while they are little can benefit them in big ways as they grow and mature into adults.

Self-care is something we hear a lot these days – especially in parenting articles and social media. As the world gets more hurried and chaotic, parents and caregivers are encouraged to take care of themselves just as much as they care for their children.

The benefits of healthy attachment are immense. When a child feels that they can trust their parent to meet their needs they are more prepared to go out into the world and learn new skills.

Bedtime provides a great opportunity to incorporate small moments of connection.

From time to time, every child will experience fear. As young children explore the world around them, having new experiences and confronting new challenges, anxieties are almost an unavoidable part of growing up.

Chores. It’s a broad term for the many responsibilities in life and they aren’t always fun. Studies have shown that allowing children to help with chores early in life is not only beneficial developmentally, but often they really enjoy it!

It’s not uncommon to hear a caregiver say, “they’re just shy,” as an explanation of a child’s hesitant behavior. The reality is that being cautious in unfamiliar situations, environments or with people they don’t know, should be totally acceptable and normal behavior from our children. So why do we often think of “shy” as a negative?

The cooler weather makes for ideal conditions to get outside and explore! There is much to gain by taking a break from all the inside toys, entertainment, and devices. Outside play puts kids in touch with the magical parts of childhood; improvisation, creativity, and imagination.

“Rupture and repair” is an important concept in parenting that you may have never heard of. Ruptures are moments of disconnection between a caregiver and child – when the relationship is misaligned, or when the needs of someone or something else gets prioritized over the needs of your child.