The truth is that no childhood can be perfect. experiencing zero pain or struggle is not what we want for our children. They need to know how to get through tough times, it is essential for resilience. By simply being intentional about making things better for our kids – by acknowledging that we are working on breaking the cycle – we are already doing so much for our little ones.

All children have reasons for getting mad, from someone stealing their swing on the playground to having to leave a play date when they are having fun; anger is a natural reaction to a frustrating experience. Teaching them how to stay relaxed and calm in stressful situations at a young age can better prepare them for emotional success later in life.

Children’s love for comfort objects is part of the normal developmental process. This ‘lovie’ or comfort toy often becomes a companion: somebody to talk to, to go to sleep with, to eat with, etc.

Transitioning a toddler away from the use of the pacifier for comfort can feel daunting and bring up feelings of anxiety for many caregivers.

There is no doubt that setting boundaries is an important part of parenting. However, these boundaries we set can sometimes set off epic tantrums and power struggles with our little ones.

The holidays are here and choosing toys for toddlers seems like it should be easy, but shopping for the perfect gift can often leave you feeling overwhelmed.

A normal part of parenting is dealing with challenges that arise for your child. Children get dysregulated and need a trusted caregiver to help them get through big emotions.

Children need adult support to regulate (calm) the big emotions that drive their big behaviors. ‘Time-in’ is an alternative strategy to ‘time-out’ that aims to provide children with the support they need to shift from dysregulated states to regulated states.

Kids are curious. It’s their job to learn about the world and how it works, and they look to their most important people to help them learn. When we take time to see the world through their eyes, we can respond with more patience and understanding.

Getting on the floor and engaging in endless amounts of pretend play (when you have a to-do list a mile long) to prevent challenging behavior or to quiet any parental guilt, is not the goal of play.