at Views From a Step Stool
“But this isn’t the right shirt!!” your child violently exclaims as you beg her to get dressed for school. “It doesn’t matter, just put it on, it’s the only thing you have right now.” (screaming and crying) “But is isn’t the RIGHT one!!” (more tears) “It isn’t that big of a deal, why are you […]
We make a request and it seems to fall on deaf ears. So we try again. Crickets. We take a deep breath and remind ourselves that we are trying not to yell…but what else are we supposed to do to make our children listen? RELATED: Alternatives to saying “Calm Down”. Here are 3 simple tricks […]
Calming tools are really wonderful for kids who are quick to anger or have a difficult time calming down when upset. In my post about tips for helping an angry child calm down, I added an infographic at the end with some ways kids can calm down anywhere, those tools were so popular I wanted […]
Having an angry kid can be quite exhausting to deal with. While working on my Master’s degree in Child Development, and for my undergrad thesis, I studied child temperament. Kids are all different. Some are easygoing and carefree, while others have a more difficult time with transitions, regulating emotions and handling big feelings. If you […]
Gentle parenting focuses on the relationship with the child and fostering a positive relationship and mutual respect between parent and child. It is a term now widely known throughout the parenting community, often for it’s perceived lack of discipline. Because of this, it can be confusing or difficult to understand where to begin with, or know how to implement gentle parenting […]
Often I write about raising your strong willed or spirited son, but it isn’t very often that I write about raising the strong willed daughter. I am proud to have a daughter who I know will be an amazing leader one day, and that these qualities will help her become a wonderful contribution to society. Strong-willed, spirited daughters aren’t the […]
When siblings argue or fight, it can take every ounce of self-control not to shout “why are you always fighting?!” or “can’t you just get along!”. After all, some of the squabbles can seem totally insignificant, especially the ‘he/she touched me’ type. However, in gently responding to your kids fighting, you can model patience, teach empathy, […]
I love my kids to no end. But, there are days where a whiny voice can really drive me up the wall. I would have to say it’s one of my parenting triggers. I can handle hitting, tantrums and meltdowns. What I really can’t handle too well, is whining and overall rudeness. It’s my weakness. I have […]
Are you reading this to find some actionable tip to make parenting a breeze? Do you have a child who is quick to anger and seems to lose his/her temper quickly? Let’s face it, parenting is TOUGH. Raising resilient and confident children while maintaining our composure in a sleep-deprived, caffeine-medicated haze is no easy feat. Check out […]
Kids DO get overstimulated. Despite the belief of many, all of the sights and sounds and crowds during the holidays can be a lot for kids to digest. You know your child best, if they seem like they are getting overstimulated to you, then they probably are. There are a few things you can help do […]
This article on creative play is written on behalf on Dilly’s Treehouse, a company with a goal to inspire ALL young children to learn and discover through active play and investigation. Check out our review of their boxes, which includes a short unboxing video and a look into what they have to offer young children. *This post […]
Teaching kids to be optimistic is possible, but simple telling them to do so won’t just work. There are many different ways we can teach optimism and positive thinking to kids, from using positive language and avoiding negative quips. Additionally reading books about optimism and the power of a positive outlook can really help kids see […]
As parents, we want to raise optimistic kids who view the world with the glass half full. Not only does it make them more enjoyable to be around, but kids with a positive outlook generally perform better overall, particularly academically. This style of optimistic thinking doesn’t protect kids from getting angry (that’s normal), rather it […]