Parenting a child with strong reactions and big feelings is akin to sailing through tempests. The winds of defiance, the waves of unpredictability, and the lightning strikes of tantrums can leave even the most seasoned parents feeling shipwrecked.  But fear not!  In this article, we’ll hoist our metaphorical sails and explore how to navigate these tempests with creativity, resilience, and a dash of humor. 1. The Art of Weathering the Storm The Unpredictable Forecast Your child’s moods can change faster than a summer squall. One moment, they’re a sunbeam; the next, a thundercl ..read more

Just $1.99! Click image above to go to resource. Fun with Feelings and Changing Times A lot has changed in the past 11 years: research, information and technology, as just a few small examples. One other small change has been my ability to create graphics...thanks, in big part, to technology and software changes!  Take for example this one little workbook...one of our first digital downloads!  It hit the presses looking like this...and over 53K people engaged with it!  I remember creating this resource as if it were yesterday. It was good for the times...but times have ch ..read more

Challenging Children All children can exhibit challenging behavior, but some children present with more intense emotions, more often than others. It can take more parental energy and more time to support children who enjoy these more intense temperaments. But every effort put forth pays dividends in success for your child! Emotion Coaching Helps Emotion coaching is a powerful approach that helps children recognize and manage their emotions effectively. All children benefit from this kind of support, and challenging children absolutely need us to double down on our efforts towards this end ..read more

Have It to Teach It: Self-Regulation Skills  Self-regulation is a critical skill for both children and adults. As parents, our ability to manage our emotions, reactions, and behaviors significantly impacts our ability to teach our children to do the same, and ultimately it impacts the trajectory of our children’s development.  Five Ways Calm Parents Help Their Kids Let’s explore why parents need self-regulation skills and how they can, in turn, positively influence their children to develop the same: 1. Modeling Behavior Children are keen observers. They learn by watching ..read more

Teaching children self-regulation skills is the first step towards giving them the ability to manage BIG feelings and feel a sense of control of their emotions.  This resource gives multiple options for learning and practicing new skills. It can be used with individual children, in groups or in classrooms. You can even use this resource to create a "Calm Down Corner".  This resource contains: HALF OFF NOW! Just $4.00 at our introductory price. Price increases to $8.00 on Wednesday, March 6th @10pm EST 17 pages included in this workbook: 8 Self-Regulation Worksheets 2 "Ke ..read more

How to Avoid Gossip Trying to avoid getting swept away by the gusty winds of gossip? Good for you! Way to model healthy behavior for your tweens and teens.  I'd like to say that nixing gossip is as simple as just saying "Hard pass," but I believe it's a bit more nuanced than that! So let's get to it! Here are a few time-tested ways to do so: 1.    Sort the Wheat from the Chaff: o   Not all gossip is created equal. Some is as harmless as a butterfly’s whisper; other times, it’s a venomous serpent. Discern between the two. o   Harmless gossip ..read more

Gossip, that slippery slope of conversation, wraps around our minds and hearts, leaving behind both subtle and profound effects. Let’s peel back the layers, and take a peek into what bubbles beneath the surface. Self-Inflicted Toxins: When we gossip, we unwittingly sip from a chalice of toxicity. Our minds absorb the venomous brew, and it seeps into our psyche. As we dissect others’ lives, we inadvertently turn the scalpel on ourselves. The more we scrutinize them, the more we scrutinize our own flaws. It’s like gazing into a funhouse mirror—distorted reflections everywhere. Fear ..read more

Find this resource by clicking on the image above. The Impact of Gossip on Teenagers Gossip—those whispered conversations, secret-sharing, and rumors—can significantly affect teenagers’ lives. While it might seem harmless or even entertaining, gossip can have serious consequences for both the gossiper and the subject of the gossip. Let’s explore why gossip is an issue for teenagers and how they can navigate it. Why Does Gossip Happen? Social Bonding: Gossip serves as a form of social grooming. It helps teens make sense of new information and allows them to feel “in-the-know” as they build ..read more

Click image above to get to the $2 resource. What are we without hope? Helping kids cultivate hope in challenging and difficult times helps build resilience. It allows them to learn that even though times may be tough, they won't stay as such forever. Click image above to get to the $2 resource. Of course, we have to allow the difficult feelings to bubble up and be heard. We need to empathize with a child's lived experience. We need to help them learn to recognize that hurt feelings are okay, and they can also move forward with hope. Click image above to get to the $2 resource. Help ..read more

Dealing with Emotions is an Important Life Skill Encouraging children to express their feelings is essential for their emotional wellness. Talking about feelings is an important skill because it enhances communication, builds trust in relationships, promotes self-awareness, and helps in resolving conflicts effectively.  Expressing emotions can lead to better understanding, empathy, and emotional connection with others, ultimately fostering healthier and more fulfilling interactions. Being able to articulate feelings also contributes to personal growth, emotional intelligence ..read more