Teaching Children Independent Skills: A Modeling Technique
With some dedication on our part, we can teach our children to complete tasks independently or acquire competence in new skills in a way that gives them pride in their accomplishments. The “Learning-Teaching Cycle” can be applied toward teaching children to slowly move toward completing tasks independently with success.
How To Deal with Stranger Anxiety (and Over-Anxious Relatives!)
Fear of strangers is a very real aspect of “growing up” for babies and children, but coping with stranger anxiety means learning to avoid hurt feelings while also respecting a child’s needs. When a relative, especially a grandparent, comes to visit hoping to find open arms, you can help them to cooperate with this very real fear…
Attachment Parenting, Guilt, and Letting Children be Children
When adhering to and advocating for a a particular philosophy or style of parenting, such as Attachment Parenting, we tend to think that we “know it all.” As I made connections between Waldorf educator Rahima Baldwin and the Sears family, I remembered that the initial goals of Attachment Parenting weren’t just about doing “right thing”…
The Happy Marriage: Two Secrets for Sharing Responsibilities Equitably
Like many married couples these days, my husband and I choose to share household responsibilities “equitably.” I like to think we have two secrets to our happy marriage, both of which have a lot to do with cooperation…
A Review of the Halo Sleep Sack: On the Thin Side
It’s spring now and the organic Halo Sleep Sack we’re using now fits the bill. The biggest thing the Halo brand has going for it is that it’s an affordable option for those who want to go organic, a noble choice given the wide use of pesticides in producing cotton. Here’s the problem with the Halo Sleep Sack: it’s not much of a blanket…
Scientific Evidence for Screen-Time’s Negative Impact
New scientific theories indicate that screen-time activities such as computer games may over-stimulate certain brain centers while starving others. As scientists study the field and develop hypotheses, we as parents must make decisions as to how we’ll limit TV, computer and video games, and just how damaging we believe they could be…
Tummy Time Can Kiss My Patootie!
“Fulfilling your tummy time prescription” is difficult for many parents. Here’s a funny story of my tummy time experience, and how I found one solution…
The Careful Art of Balancing Time
The blog redesign is almost finished, finally. Of course I’m feeling guilty for having spent so much time with it over the this week. When I took this on last Saturday it was with so much excitement and enthusiasm! It’s so easy for me to brighten up at the new, especially when I have a [...]