This week on the show Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge discusses several topics including Lyme disease prevention and treatment, helping kids who suffer from chronic stomach aches, and managing night terrors during the toddler years.
Show notes:
Check out Dr. Roseann's website at
You can also find her on social media
Culture still finds ways to tell women that they are less than. This week we look at three quotes from Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Based upon these quotes, we will consider the best way we can raise our daughters to become strong and independent young women.
What age should kids get cell phones, and what are the risk and benefits that parents should be aware of? This week Isaiah McPeak shares invaluable information and perspective about this important topic.
Find out how to help your kids have a healthy relationship with technology by checking out Pinwheel’s resources:
The holidays are a good opportunity to introduce your kids to new food and help them move past picky eating habits. In this episode we cover three simple (and painless!) things you can try with your kids.
Ever wonder what you can you do to raise grateful little humans?! This week is Thanksgiving, and I think it is the perfect time to contemplate this topic. In this episode I’ll go over three practical ways to do just this. For the fun of it, I’ve also included a short interview with my daughter, Ady.
Do my kids need to be parented differently than one another? How can I do this without making my kids think I’m playing favorites? This week we cover what to do to guard against the perception of favoritism while still meeting the unique needs of each child.
This week Dr. Claire Nicogossian provides practical tips on how moms can set themselves up for success to proactively manage their feelings of anger and frustration.
You can find out more about Dr. Nicogossian by visiting her website. Connect with her on Instagram for insight how to thrive in your day to day life as a parent. Also, don’t forget to check out her book Mama You Are Enough.
Sometimes it seems like our kids act out for no reason, but behavior always has a cause! This week we will chat about four things your child’s tantrum could be telling you.
Sometimes it seems like we need to choose between keeping our kids happy and doing what we know is best for them in the long-term. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be one or the other. This week Matt Larson gives us several practical and proven ways to help our kids (and us!) find lasting happiness.
Find out more about Matt's nonprofit organization the Human Improvement Project by checking out their website, and download The Happy Child app on Apple or Android devices.
This week Dr. Rebecca Branstetter will give insight on how to help your kids emotionally thrive rather than just survive in our current context. She will explain how mental health professionals in the schools are currently helping students and how to access their support if your child needs it.
This political season has been challenging for so many reasons. Likely your kids have picked up on some of the high emotions and stress so many are feeling. This week we break down the DO’s and DO NOT’s of discussing politics with our kids.
This week Prism Parenting teams up with Generation Mom to dish out practical insight and resources. The focus is on helping all the moms out there thrive despite the continued chaos that 2020 has (and continues to!) dish out.
Failure is important because it’s tied to resilience. While we all know this, it’s so tempting in the moment to shelter our kids. This week we will talk about what to do instead of rescuing them.
Although most parents agree that teaching kids about diversity is important, it is hard to know the best way to do this. In this episode, Mijha Godfrey from Jambo Books shares how to do this in an easy and fun way with the help of children’s literature.
Coming soon.
As parents, it’s hard to be consistent. So often we say something, our kids protest, and we just give in. This week we will go over why we give in as parents and the easiest way to break the cycle.
As a working mom, it often feels like there are not enough hours in the day. Of course 2020 has only intensified this! Whether you're homeschooling or your kids are participating in distance learning, chances are you are feeling overwhelmed. This week Jen Mackinnon provides practical strategies to balance career and our children’s education in the current climate.
Sometimes it is easy to overreact when our kids act out. In this episode we discuss a series of questions to ask yourself when wondering whether or not to adjust discipline that you previously decided on.
This week Melissa Brown from the Blended Family Podcast discusses her personal journey as a mom and step mom. She shares what to do (and what not to do) to find peace within a blended family.
Melissa is an entrepreneur who runs several businesses. For over 13 years she has run a successful cleaning company along with her husband. They also have a business in the finance industry, where they train and develop financial advisors, as well as educate people about how money works, so that they can achieve true financial freedom. Additionally, she hosts the Blended family podcast, a weekly show about the many challenges and struggles today's blended families face. Having a blended family of her own for well over 10 years, she is now using her experiences to help others. She lives with her husband, their four children, her mother in law, and two English bulldogs in the state of Florida.
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If your child doesn’t play well independently, chances are that you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s a skill that needs to be learned and you can actually start teaching it from day one. In today’s show we discuss how to teach your child independent play skills at each developmental stage.
Just days after my thirtieth birthday, my whole world came crashing down. Although I had been perfectly healthy up until that point, I ended up having six surgeries in nine months. This week I’ll share about my personal heath journey, and what it was like to parent an infant and toddler in the midst of it all.
This week I will share with you four insights from the first week of my homeschool experiment. Whether you are starting the school year at home, or you just want to be ready to pivot to distance learning if need be, this episode was recorded will you in mind!
This week we discuss five strategies to use when teaching your kids at home. The episode is for all parents of school-aged kids, because most will be starting the school year in distance learning. Those that aren’t will need to be prepared to do so on a moment’s notice.
1. You can’t do this alone. Enlist family and friends to help. Find social media groups to support you with ideas. Who is your village?
2. Get your home organized. Where will your kids do their school work? Choose a place with the least amount of distraction.
3. Get schoolwork organized. Use daily planners and have a designated place for folders and books.
4. A little bit of time goes a long way. Many homeschool kids in elementary school are able to get their academics completed within two hours per day. If your kids are distancing learning, you shouldn’t feel like you have to spend more time than that helping them with school work. Consider using nights and weekends, if your schedule during the day makes helping them with academics challenging. Give yourself the gift of time by teaching your kids to do things like make their own breakfast and prepare their own snacks.
5. If you aren’t using using a reward system yet, there has never been a better time to start. Whether you are homeschooling, distance learning, or just wanting a good after school routine a reward system is very helpful. Download my free guide by going to www.prismbehavior.com/freeguide to learn how to create one that will work with your kids.
One thing all parents deal with from time to time is whining. This week we will cover three simple strategies to reduce whining in your home.
-A complaint is just a request, in disguise. Ask yourself is whether or not your kids know how to politely make a request. If not, then teach them how to.
-Develop a short rule to share with your kids. First sit down and tell your kids why you don’t want them to whine and what you want them to do instead. Then create a rule such as “Tell me a solution instead of the problem.”
-While you are are trying to train your kids to switch from whining to requesting, make sure that to honor appropriate requests as often as possible.
In this episode, we go over the historical background of spanking and some present day stats. We also discuss what behavioral science and psychology have to say about it and the most effective alternatives to it.
-People have been spanking their kids for a long time. Also, despite laws to the contrary in 60+ countries, there is evidence that most parents still spank.
-Psychology and behavioral science are largely opposed to spanking. This is because there is evidence that it is not very effective (i.e., other discipline tactics like time-out and loss of privileges are equally effective) and it may have long-term negative effects for some kids (i.e., it may lead to higher levels of aggression, mental health issues, and negative relationships with parents).
-If you spank, you may put other caregivers at a large disadvantage. Your child may learn to comply when you are around to avoid a spanking, but not when other caregivers are around.
-If you use the proactive strategies we often discuss on this podcast (e.g. rewards systems) , you won’t have to discipline as often.
Summertime is already in full swing. Listen this week to learn three ways to survive summer in the midst of the new normal.
-Create structure. An easy way to do this is to create a list of things your kids do each morning. Do yourself a favor, and make sure the list contains enough things that your kids can do independently.
-Set screen time limitations. If your kids have iPads, go to the screen time section inside settings and set limits. You can limit the time of day and the amount of time.
-Give your child the gift of independence. Teach your kids to do something that they don’t currently know how to do.
-Find a new way to connect with your kids this summer. This could be art projects, reading a chapter book together, cooking or baking together, or something similar. Choose wisely. Do something that you will like AND your child will like. It’s more about quality time and less about what the actual activity is. If it stresses you out, it’s probably not worth it.
Over the years Jessica Dahlquist from the Extraordinary Moms podcast has interviewed hundreds of mothers and learned valuable lessons from each one of them. This week she tells us all about what that experience has been like, as well as her own personal journey as a mother to three amazing boys of her own.
Find out more about Jessica by going to her website (extraordinarymomspodcast.com), following her on Instagram (instagram.com/jessicadahlquist3), Facebook (facebook.com/extraordinarymomspodcast) , or emailing her at [email protected]
Her podcast is called Extraordinary Moms and can be found on all podcast platforms.
Apologizing is a very important skill for kids to learn. While most parents require their kids to say “sorry,” it is easy to stop there. In this episode, we break down how to teach our kids respectful and authentic apologies.
Here are steps that elementary-aged kids can follow when apologizing:
- Use a serious face; don't smile, scowl, or anything similar.
- Say the person’s name in the apology to make it personal.
- Make eye contact. It doesn’t necessarily have to be sustained, but at least when the person’s name is spoken it is good to look at their eyes.
- Explain what they are sorry or apologizing for. Just a “sorry” doesn’t cut it because it doesn’t acknowledge the wrong that happened.
- If possible, make the wrong right.
Dr. Michelle Cox, school counseling professor and mom of four, shares her perspective about how to talk to kids about race and racism.
Coming soon.
Dr. Talin Pratt, school psychologist and single mom of three multiracial kids, shares her perspective about how to talk to your kids about race and racism.
As parents we often decide that it’s time to teach our kids a particular skill. Other times, we are able to use a more child led approach. In this episode, I will walk you through how to identify and capitalize on teachable moments.
-Teachable moments happen all of the time. Sometimes, a teachable moment might just be capturing your child’s interest of the moment to teach them something new. For example, if your child is admiring a butterfly, you might teach them about the life cycle of caterpillars. Or, if your child asks for a new toy, you might teach them a chore or two to earn money to pay for it.
-Other teachable moments happen during a mini-crisis. For example, if your child spills their milk, you may teach them how to mop.
-Do not feel obligated to take advantage of each teachable moment. It would feel overwhelming to do that, since so much during your child’s day could be turned into a learning opportunity. Instead, just try to insert them here and there, when possible.
Though the majority of your effort should be on positive parenting strategies to prevent your child from acting out, sometimes you will still need to discipline them. Time-out can be effective, but only when done correctly. This week we cover the do’s and don’ts of time-out.
1) The first thing to keep in mind is that time-outs should only be used in some situations. When kids are doing an activity they don’t like (e.g., cleaning their room), time-outs don’t usually work. This is because sitting on time-out might actually be more fun than what they are supposed to be doing.
2) Time-outs should always be our Plan B. If you find that you are using time-out often, then it’s time to reconsider your Plan A approach. Plan A is all the things you are doing to prevent your child from acting out. Check out episode #51 as well as the e-book From Defiant to Compliant: Parenting Strategies That Just Work (www.prismbehavior.com/ebook) for more information about how to prevent your child from acting out.
3) Keep your emotions in check as best as you can when you put your kids on time-out. This is hard! Give yourself grace. Time-out doesn’t need to be this an overly negative experience. Instead, it can just be a time for you and your child to reset. The science tells us that if you use it correctly, your child will be less likely to act out next time.
Growth mindset is a buzz word right now. While it’s a very important skill for everyone to have, it is especially important for kids. This week we will go over five ways to help your kids develop a growth mindset.
1. Teach your child about growth mindset. If you don’t know exactly what to say, no worries. Amazon has a ton of great books that you can read to your kids to teach them in developmentally appropriate ways.
2. Change your vocabulary. For example, instead of telling your kids that they did great at something because they are smart, praise them for working hard.
3. Reframe what your kids say when they display a fixed mindset. For example, if your child says they can’t do something encourage them to add the word “yet” to the end. For example, if they say, "I can’t read chapter books,” have them say “I can’t read chapter books yet.” Then help them plan how to gain the skills they need.
4. Let your kids fail. So often as parents we try to protect our kids from failure, but kids learn so much when they are allowed to fail.
5. Sit down with your kids and help them develop SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time specific). Write them down, and then help instruct them in how they can realize those goals. Teach them what they need to do they need to do today to meet their goals tomorrow.
Today we will discuss four things you can start doing today to bring more peace and harmony to your home. When you start using these strategies, you child is more likely to listen… the first time you ask!
The content for this episode is actually a sneak peak into my new e-book From Defiant to Compliant: Parenting Strategies That Just Work. In the book I cover several other strategies that can be used alongside the four below. I also explain why your little one is behaving the way that they are and what you can do to successfully motivate your child to listen to you. Check out more about the book by going to www.prismbehavior.com/ebook
1. Front Load: Kids are less likely to act out if you’ve recently given them attention, when they aren’t bored, and when they aren’t being forced to do what they dislike doing. Of course they can’t always get what they want! However, if there is an important situation where you can’t afford to have them act out, plan ahead and "fill their cup" beforehand.
2. Prime Transitions: Before transitioning to a new activity, give a warning when possible. For example, before leaving a friend’s house tell your son that he has five minutes left to play. Using a digital timer often makes this strategy even more effective.
3. Break up Tasks: Before transitioning to a new activity, give a warning when possible. For example, before leaving a friend’s house tell your son that he has five minutes left to play. Using a digital timer often makes this strategy even more effective.
4. Provide Choices: As parents, we make a lot of decisions for our children, and this can make them feel powerless at times. When possible, allow your child to make choices. This will probably decrease his or her frustration and likelihood of displaying challenging behavior. The only caveat is that it is not a good idea to allow your child to make choices after he or she displays challenging behavior. Instead, provide choices proactively.
Naps are a time for your child (and you!) to recharge. But what do you do if your child starts to resist a nap that they still need?! This week I’ll provide several tips to help you manage your kiddo’s next nap strike.
Parents have been comparing themselves to each other forever, but parents of today have it especially tough. In this episode we will go over five ways to fight off the comparison game.
Making parenting decisions is challenging, and it’s easy to not to agree with your spouse on what’s best. In this episode we’ll discuss five ways to parent on the same page as your spouse.
This week Kira and Deana from the Raising Adults podcast give us strategies we can use to raise our kids to become the independent and responsible adults we hope they will become.
This week the Prism Parenting podcast is collaborating with the We Turned Out Okay podcast to discuss family survival during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In part two of this interview with Dr. Michelle Maidenberg we focus on how to prevent anxiety in children and also how to manage it when our kids do experience it.
-Asking your child a lot of open ended questions and checking in with them often is helpful.
-Help your child understand that they shouldn’t feel guilty when they have feelings one way or another. They can control their behavior, but their thoughts cannot be controlled.
-Have your child use basic mindfulness and mediation practices. These are skills that will need to be developed, so if they struggle with them first that is okay.
-Therapists can be a big help to children who are experiencing anxiety.
Check out:
-Michelle’s website for resources including “A letter to our children in the throws of coronavirus pandemic": michellemaidenberg.com
-Michell’s book Free Your Child From Overeating: 53 Mind-Body Strategies for Lifelong Health: amazon.com/Free-Your-Child-Overeating
-Michelle’s non-profit Thru My Eyes, which provides a legacy for the family members of those facing chronic and terminal illness: www.thrumyeyes.org
Over the past decade or so, anxiety among kids has increased. As parents it’s hard to know what anxiety truly looks like in kids and how to respond. This week Dr. Michelle Maidenberg helps us better understand and navigate through this important topic.
Some of the highlights from the interview with Dr. Michelle Maidenberg:
This week’s show is a collaboration between Prism Parenting and This is Real Life with Jenn Blossom. In it we will first talk to an infectious disease doctor about her take on COVID-19. Then Heather and Jenn will get pragmatic on what this means for parents coping with a new normal.
Some of the highlights from the interview with Jenn and Dr. King are as follows:
-There hasn’t been a pandemic like this in a long time. The medical community doesn’t have all the answers yet.
-For healthy individuals who get COVID-19, their symptoms might be minor.
-As tests become more easily available, the number of cases may go up quickly. However, the mortality rate may go down as milder cases are identified.
-Social distancing is helpful and necessary to help those who are elderly and/or immunocompromised.
-Make memories with your kids during this challenging time. Show kindness.
Some of the highlights from discussion between Heather and Jenn are as follows:
-Stick to the truth but don’t blow it out of proportion. In my professional opinion it’s even wise to tell your three-year-old in a developmentally appropriate way what is going on. Even something simple like, “Some people are getting sick, so we are going to wash our hands extra today to get rid of germs,” is helpful.
-Remind your kids of what you are doing to keep them safe.
-Check in with your kids frequently about how they are feeling and ask a lot of open ended questions. It’s okay to say that you don’t know all of the answers.
-Be mindful of your conversations with others that you are having in front of your kids. Even if your kids don’t completely understand what you are talking about, they can easily read your tone and body language. If you can stay calm it will help them to stay calm.
-Be careful of watching the news in front of your kids.
-Creating schedules will help everyone feel more secure and stable.
We live in an age where helicopter parenting has become the norm. In this episode we’ll go over three things to consider when you are trying to decide how much freedom to give your kids. Per usual, we’ll focus on facts rather than fear.
Your kids are safer than you think. Rates of child mortality and abduction are significantly lower now than when we were growing up.
Be wary of social media. At best it is probably making you a bit paranoid. Stories of unlikely situations spread like wildfire and feel commonplace. At worst, it’s perpetuating complete lies. For example, you may have a random thought or worry that isn’t grounded in fact. Chances are, there is a FaceBook group out there dedicated to perpetuating that worry.
Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand... and your kids should have both. Start young, be purposeful, and don’t let fear trump fact.
Approximately one birth out of three is a traumatic experience. This week Dr. Rebecca Dekker from Evidence Based Birth comes on the show to discuss her new book Babies are Not Pizzas. She will break down what you need to know to feel knowledgeable and empowered as a parent navigating the healthcare system.
-About one in three births is traumatic. Traumatic birth includes a wide range of experiences including a life threatening situation for the baby and/or mother and psychological distress.
-Many of the practices that women’s health professionals use are outdated. Some are harmful.
-One of the best ways to prevent an unnecessary traumatic birth experience is to attend birth classes. These classes will help you and your partner feel empowered so that you can advocate for the type of birth experience that you want. Dr. Rebecca Dekker offers classes all over the US and abroad. Find out more here: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/events/.
-Another great resource to help you make informed decisions about you and your baby’s care is Rebecca’s book, Babies are Not Pizzas. Check out the first chapter of it for free by going here: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/book/
-Make sure you you subscribe to the Evidence Based Birth podcast and follow Rebecca on IG (@ebbirth)!
-BONUS: Did you know that bed rest during pregnancy may actually be harmful rather than helpful? Check out the articles Rebecca referred to on the show here:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2015). Committee Opinion No. 650. Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Obstet Gynecol, 126, e135–42.
Berger, R., Rath, W., Abele, H., et al. (2019). Reducing the Risk of Preterm Birth by Ambulatory Risk Factor Management. Dtsch Arztebl Int., 116(50), 858-864.
da Silva Lopes, K., Takemoto, Y., Ota, E., et al. (2017). Bed rest with and without hospitalisation in multiple pregnancy for improving perinatal outcomes. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3(3), CD012031.
Hendriks, E., MacNaughton, H., and MacKenzie, M. C. (2019). First Trimester Bleeding: Evaluation and Management. Am Fam Physician, 99(3), 166-174.
Kehler, S., Ashford, K., Cho, M. & Dekker, R. (2016): Experience of Preeclampsia and Bed Rest: Mental Health Implications, Issues in Mental Health Nursing.
Matenchuk, B., Khurana, R., Cai, C., et al. (2019). Prenatal bed rest in developed and developing regions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ open, 7(3), E435–E445.
As people we are always deciding if our behavior is worth the effort. It’s no different with kids! This week I’ll help you to identify how to change your parenting approach to get the results that you want.
-Consider one behavior your child is currently struggling with. Do you think they continue to behave this way to get something (e.g., your attention or actual items) or are they hoping to get out of doing something they don’t want to do (e.g., chores, leaving the park, or homework).
-Determine if they need help communicating their thoughts and feelings more appropriately. Kids need to learn how to get the outcomes they want in socially appropriate ways. If they don’t learn how to do this on their own, you may have to more explicitly teach them. Give them they words to say so that the next time they want something or don’t want something, they know how to tell you.
-Next, identify what you will do when your child can't get what they want. Even if they ask in the most angelic way, kids can’t always get what they want. The good news is that you can use a reward system to motivate your child to do what you need them to do instead.
-For example, your son might be arguing with you because he wants to delay his homework. Even if it doesn’t usually work, he knows there is a TINY chance that it might. That’s the outcome he wants. However, he might also really want to watch a certain program or eat a certain snack. If you had a reward system in place, then he might choose to comply even though he dislikes homework. Simply put, that show or snack is worth it to him; all of a sudden, you are tipping the scales and making his behavior worth the effort.
Behavior always happens for a reason. Although we can’t always identify why it happens, often we can. On this episode I dive into what triggers behavior in the moment and (more importantly) what you can do about it.
Behavior can be best understood when it is broken apart into context and outcome.
Context is the situation immediately before to the behavior in question; it is the overall situation the child finds herself inside of. Based upon this context, appropriate behavior or inappropriate behavior can be triggered. Contexts trigger behavior. This explains why we act one way in one situation and another way in another situation.
The outcome is what happens as a result of the behavior. This is what your child actually gets as a result of their behavior. Outcomes are very important to understand if you want to change your child’s behavior. In the next episode we will focus on understanding and controlling outcome to get the results you want.
This week the focus is on changing the context to stop triggering meltdowns. To do this, consider what situations your kids are in when they have meltdowns. Then figure out what you are able to change about that context to improve it for your child. For example, if your child acts out when he or she is bored, what can you do to make them less bored? If it happens when they have too much screen time, then maybe you should limit screen time. Other common contexts that cause problems include the following: not getting enough sleep, not getting enough exercise, being hungry, lack of routine, lack of free time, etc.
Often identifying the issue with the context isn’t the problem. It’s actually making the decision to make a change. Like so many things, mindset is key.
As a parent, it is hard to know how to approach the topic of death and dying. Oftentimes the need to have this conversation emerges suddenly, and as a parent you want to feel prepared. This week I’ll cover four important things to know before having this conversation with your kids.
1. Be proactive. Start the conversation with them right away before others have a chance to, if at all possible. They know you and trust you, so it will be best coming from you. Also, it will help them avoid having to sort through inaccurate information.
2. Be simple. Use words like “dead” and "death” rather than “passed away” or “fell asleep and didn’t wake up.” This helps your child more accurately understand what death is. Next, don’t feel the need to overshare. Tell them what they need to know, but not more. You can always add to the conversation later if something changes.
3. Be supportive. Your kids may not react with the emotions you think they would have. That’s okay. Young kids may laugh, they may not seem to care, or they may be frightened. There is a whole host of ways they may react, and all the ways above are developmentally appropriate for young kids.
4. Be persistent. One conversation is often not enough. Check in with them frequently, since they may feel fine at first but then feel overwhelmed later.
For every kiddo that is thriving at school, you can bet there is another that is drowning. Your young child might be asking or even begging to stay home from school. Your teen may be taking matters into their own hands and ditching. In this episode I will tackle this issue from the perspective of young AND older kids.
For young kids, figure out why they don’t want to go to school.
- The first question to ask yourself is whether or not your child is asking to stay home because they want to hear your response. As loving parents, we of course are concerned for our kids emotional well-being. We want them to enjoy school. So when they come to us and say they don’t want to go to school, we can get all "mama bear" on them. And who doesn’t want their mom or dad’s protection? I’m not saying your kid is making up their feelings. No. But I am saying that sometimes we make the situation worse when we draw too much attention to it.
- If you don’t think that is the issue, the next thing to consider is this: Is it an academic issue? If the work is too hard, consider options to get more support (e.g., tutoring). Is it possible/appropriate to hold your child back a year? Kids don’t develop at the exact same pace, so perhaps your child isn’t ready yet. Is it a social issue? If that is the problem, ask for your teacher help. Maybe they can pair your son or daughter up with another student who might be a good friend. Social skills groups may be available and offered by the school counselor. Is the teacher the issue? Sometimes it’s just not a good match between your child and the teacher. If you have first tried to make it work to no avail, maybe you need to request a teacher change.
Unfortunately with older kids, we can’t “make” them do much of anything. Also, the consequences of their behavior are often out of our control, more severe, and long-lasting. Despite that, there is a lot you can do to support them.
- Request a meeting with the school counselor (without your child) to find out how they can provide support. Be wary of scare tactics where they want to bring in the school police officer, etc. That may be necessary and helpful eventually, but it’s not a great place to start. Instead, try to keep everything as positive as possible. because it might result in your child shutting down or being defensive.
- Consider asking the school to draft a behavior contract where you, the school, and your child make a commitment of what they will do to achieve an outcome. Providing a reward to your child meeting their end of the bargain is often helpful. Also outlining natural consequences for not attending school is suggested.
- Involve your child in the process as much as possible. What personal goals do they have? How will ditching school negatively impact those goals? How will attending school get them closer to those goals?
- Try to get the bottom of why your child is avoiding school. Ask the same sort of questions outlined for above for older kids: Is it because it is too hard? Issues with friends? Trauma from a specific event? The school might be able to connect your child with short-term group counseling or a few individual sessions. In the long-term, you may want to connect your child with a mental healthcare provider (e.g., social worker, therapist, etc.) that can help.
- Some kids that struggle with depression or anxiety qualify for special education services because their condition impacts their ability to adequately access education. This may increase their likelihood of avoiding school. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in 5 kids is impacted by a mental health condition. If you think that your child might be, you may need to request a full psycho-educational evaluation from the school. Kids who qualify receive a combination of free academic accommodations and/or modifications, counseling services, and more.
As we raise our kids in the 21st century, it is hard to know how to support them academically. This week I’ll talk about how to prepare young kids for school and some alternative settings to consider for older kids who aren’t thriving in the traditional public school setting.
Coming soon.
Lying is just one of those things that can get under your skin as a parent. Even when it happens at developmentally appropriate ages, it’s hard. How SHOULD you handle it when your kiddo lies to you? This week I’m going to give you three things to consider before deciding how to react when your child lies to you.
Everyone’s parenting journey is unique, and I truly believe we can learn so much for each other’s experience. This week I have Abbey Williams from Mimosas with Moms talking about her personal journey as mom. From being a single mom, to being a mom of a blended family, to how to know when to take your child to see a therapist and beyond. You are going to love this week’s show!
Show Notes:
*Check out Abbey on IG here (https://www.instagram.com/mimosaswithmoms/) for daily inspiration to help get through this crazy beautiful thing we call parenting:
*Find her on FB here (https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Podcast/Mimosas-with-Moms-by-Abbey-Williams-2329402587291677/)
*Listen to her podcast Mimosas with Moms (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mimosas-with-moms/id1449622243)
Some kids are easy to motivate. They sort of naturally have their eye on the prize, and all you have to do is remind them of where they are headed. For other kids it can sometimes feels like NOTHING motivates them. The good news is I’m truly convinced that that every child can be motivated. Some are just trickier than others to figure out. In this episode, I’ll cover three ways to troubleshoot if your child is hard to motivate.
Show notes:
Don’t be afraid to be creative. If your child won’t work to GET something, maybe they will work to GET OUT of something (like a chore that he or she doesn’t like).
Interview your child. This may sound obvious, but often we parents make assumptions about what our kids SHOULD want. Sometimes we are wrong. One of the things I talk about is the importance of getting your child’s buy-in, and this definitely increases their buy in.
Sometimes all it takes is setting up clear boundaries and structure where FIRST they have to do what they don’t want to do and THEN they get to do what they actually want to do.
The new year is a great time to reflect on what is working and make changes to what isn’t. This week I am replaying an episode I did earlier this year with my husband, Nate. In it I will give you several ideas to make 2020 the year you are intentional on what you opt out of as a family, so that you can opt into what actually matters.
The holidays can be a lot of fun, but the lack of structure and increased time together can make everyone start to go a little crazy. This week I will give you three tips to thrive with your kids this holiday break rather than just survive.
1. Minimize- Take some time to go through your kids' toys and donate what they no longer play with. The more toys they have, the more things that will be on their floor (and all over your house). One of the things parents tell me they fight about with their kids is cleaning up.
2. Organize- Create a schedule for the days that you have off together. Have your kids participate in creating it to increase their buy-in.
3. Revitalize- Take time to reflect on your relationship with your child. What is going well? What is an area that is a stumbling block? So much of improving our relationship with our kiddos starts with a shift in mindset. We know the right things to do, but don’t always do them. What is one thing that you can do differently to make the holiday break a better time for you and your kids?
The toddler years are a blessing and a curse at the same time. On the one hand, it’s amazing to see your little one’s personality come to life! Yet there is a reason that the term threenager was coined. In this episode I will give you three things to do to improve your relationship with your kiddo and reduce the number of meltdowns.
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