Five Steps to Weaning Your Child from Their Pacifier Without Tears

Spirited children often favor their pacifier longer than their low-key peers. 

What to Do When Your Child Whines

Why is this child, who is perfectly capable of forming words, suddenly resorting to torturing moans and groans? 

Taking the Fight out of Getting Out

A peaceful start to the day is priceless.  If tears are shed trying to get dressed, shoes on, and into the car the entire rest of the day can feel lousy.  You can take steps now to insure that as school begins, morning wars don’t.

Stopping Aggressive Behavior - Begins with a Question

Oscar was howling when I entered the room.  His younger brother Evan shot a glance at me, then lowered his eyes, turned his head and body from me, all while maintaining a death grip on the iPad in his arms. 

When Your Child Just Gets Angrier If You Try to Talk about Emotions

Ever wonder why when one child is upset, if you offer a hug, she melts into your arms but another pushes you away?

Learn To Be An Emotion Coach

Your child dumps his cereal bowl on the floor.  The four year old knocks down the two year old.  You tell your child he can’t buy something and now he’s screaming at the top of his lungs in the middle of the store.

Collaborating: Finding win/win solutions

Eight-year-old Jason and seven-year-old Matt were fighting over Pokeman cards. “You stole my card!” Jason accused Matt. “I did not! Your brother traded it to me.” 

Emotion Coaching: What's up?

Seeking understanding doesn’t mean giving in.

Choose to Connect and De-escalate the Situation

You’ve picked up the cues by noticing that voices have gotten louder. Or, that there’s a slight whining tone to your child’s voice, or he’s starting to forget the rules.  Now what?

Emotion Coaching: The Secret to Effective Discipline

• You are not helpless.
• You really do make a difference. 
• Your response to your child can either escalate or deescalate the situation.  

The Secret to Effective Discipline: Emotion coaching

The dreaded proclamations erupt in the kitchen. Yet on this day, when your friend hears them, she calmly walks over to her four-year-old twins, bends down, places one hand on the iPad and the other on one’s shoulder as she replies.  “Jacob, you had the iPad and then you decided to play with your Legos.  

Emotional Coaching

Our family recently visited an arcade.  The first time our son tried one of the games he won so of course he then expected to win every time.  

The Party's Over - Now what?

My spirited son has just turned eight.  We had a party, a small gathering of friends which works well for him.  He had a great day. Today his behavior is horrid.  He is very easily frustrated, yelling and rude.