Why your child knows what to do but still struggles to get started
Your child understands the math. They’ve completed similar assignments before. They know their homework needs to be finished. Yet they’re still sitting at the table, staring at a blank page. You’ve reminded them several times. You’ve explained the instructions. You’ve even offered to help them get started. So why does something they already know how […]
Helping Kids Face Back to School Anxiety With Courage
Back to school season can stir up worry long before the first day arrives. Your child may start asking the same questions repeatedly. Who will my teacher be? Will my friends be in my class? What if I don’t know what to do? Then come the stomach aches, tears, trouble separating, or outright refusal to […]
Back-to-School Anxiety: How to Help Without Reinforcing Avoidance
Back-to-school anxiety can start long before the first day. It can show up as stomach aches, headaches, trouble sleeping, irritability, tears, repeated questions, or a sudden insistence that school simply isn’t happening this year. And when a child is distressed, our instinct is usually immediate: make it better. We reassure them. We change plans. We […]
Why Mindfulness Doesn’t Work During a Meltdown and What to Do Instead
Mindfulness during a meltdown rarely works the way parents hope it will. When children become emotionally overwhelmed, their brains are focused on survival rather than learning new skills. That’s why reminding a child to “take a deep breath” often doesn’t help in the moment. The key isn’t abandoning mindfulness—it’s teaching and practising it long before […]
Healthy Habits That Help Children Regulate Big Emotions
When children struggle with emotional regulation, it’s easy to focus on what happened just before the meltdown. We look for the trigger, search for the right calming strategy, or wonder why they didn’t use the coping skills they’ve already learned. Many times, the answer starts much earlier. A brain that hasn’t had enough fuel, water, […]
Why Your Child’s Behaviour Isn’t The Problem
When a child is yelling, refusing, hitting, or completely overwhelmed, our instinct is often to stop the behaviour. We want the meltdown to end and for everyone to calm down. We search for the right consequence, the right words, or the perfect strategy. But what if we’re asking the wrong question? Behaviour happens when children […]
Why Emotional Regulation Starts in the Body
Taking Care of the Body is Key for Emotion Regulation Emotional regulation in children is not just about teaching coping strategies or helping them manage behaviour. A child’s ability to regulate is deeply connected to what is happening inside their body. If their body is under-fueled, overtired, dehydrated, or overloaded, the brain has fewer resources […]
Connection and Emotional Regulation in Children
Why Connection and Emotional Regulation in Children Are Closely Linked Connection and emotional regulation in children are deeply linked, especially when anxiety is present. When adults focus only on coping strategies, they may miss an important truth: a child’s nervous system often needs safety first before any skill can be used. Breathing exercises, positive self-talk, […]
Should We Force Kids to Apologize?
The debate on whether to force kids to apologize is complex. This article explores the benefits and drawbacks, providing insights about the pros and cons of forcing kids to apologize and the best approaches to fostering genuine remorse and empathy in children.
100 Things Every Parent Should Know
Read on to find out the 100 things that every parent should know. Whether you’re a new parent seeking guidance or a seasoned pro looking for fresh insights, this is your go-to resource.