Children under the age of three do not understand “no” in the way most parents think they do. (And a full understanding of “no” doesn’t occur magically when the child turns three. It is a developmental process.) “No” is an abstract concept that is in direct opposition to the developmental need of young children to explore their world and to develop their sense of autonomy and initiative. Oh, your child may “know” you don’t want her to do something. She may even know she will get an angry reaction from you if she does it. However, she cannot understand why in the way an adult thinks she can. ...
8 Simple Strategies to Keep the Sleep this Holiday Season
The holidays are my most favorite time of the year, but they also come with so much anxiety about changing sleep schedules due to of all the festivities we want to do. I have found a lot of different ways to help my girls with the changes and still have a great time creating memories to last a lifetime. Traveling for the holidays can be even more stressful, especially if their sleep space is unknown. Here are some strategies you can use to encourage a magical holiday season for the whole family. Relax and get back on track the next day I truly believe this is the most important concept to ...
Encouragement: What does it mean and how is it done?
Rudolf Dreikurs taught, “A child needs encouragement like a plant needs water.” In other words, encouragement is essential. Children may not die without encouragement, but they certainly wither. Since encouragement is so essential, it’s helpful for parents and teachers to know exactly what encouragement means and how to use it. Let’s start with what encouragement is not. Encouragement is Not Praise Praise is not encouraging because it teaches children to become “approval junkies.” They learn to depend on others to evaluate their worth. Research by Carol Dweck, Ph.D. a professor at ...
