During a recent coaching call, a dad shared something that made my heart sink because I knew exactly what he was going through.
His 5-year-old son was having explosive tantrums at home over things like wanting a second helping of dessert. Full-on screaming, stomping, demanding behavior that lef...
Every child has two essential curriculums for their development:
The one at school: Letters, numbers, colors.
And the invisible one at home: How to ask for space, how to share, how to calm their body when it wants to explode.
The first helps them succeed academically.
The second helps them thri...
It was a normal weekday night.
Pajamas on, bedtime stories stacked by the nightstand, the hum of a tired family just trying to get everyone to sleep.
In the middle of the bedtime rush, a 4.5-year-old little girl got silly with her younger brother. She crossed a boundary, grabbing a toy from his...
Here's something that might surprise you: Those moments when your child is melting down, hitting their sibling, or completely defying you?
Those aren't actually your teachable moments.
I know this goes against everything we've been taught about parenting, but stick with me.
Think about the last...
It's been one of those days. You know the ones.
Your 5-year-old has been pushing every button since breakfast. Defiant. Aggressive. Nothing you try seems to work. Your patience is paper-thin.
Finally, after the fifth timeout of the day, they look up at you with those big eyes and whisper: "Momm...
Your 3-year-old is sprawled on the floor of Target, red-faced and screaming. Their tiny body shakes with sobs as fellow shoppers pause, stare, then hurry past with sidelong glances.
Your own heart is racing, face flushed with a familiar mix of embarrassment, frustration and helplessness.
You're...
Picture this: You're trying to get dinner ready (finally!) after a long day.
Your 4-year-old is happily playing with trucks nearby, and for a moment, everything feels peaceful.
Then you make the announcement that it's time to clean up for dinner.
Within seconds, your child's whole demeanor chan...
Sonya stood in her kitchen, trying to feed her 2-month-old while her toddler Elly clung to her leg crying.
"Mama, up! Up!" Elly begged.
Just as Sonya was about to reach down to comfort her, Elly turned and started roughly poking at the baby's feet.
"Gentle touches only!" Sonya reminded her, fee...
The best intervention for curbing aggressive behavior is not reading childrenβs books, teaching your child how to take deep breaths or even helping them communicate their feelings.
The best intervention combines all of these and believe it or not - it starts with removing the biggest distractio...
Here's a mindset shift that will transform how you respond to aggressive behavior: Your child isn't being defiant - they're dysregulated.
I know what you're thinking - "But when my child throws blocks or hits their sister, it feels like they're just being mean and defiant!"
But here's the truth...
Picture this: It's a typical Tuesday evening, and Jamie is in the kitchen, preparing dinner while her three kids play nearby.
Suddenly, her 5-year-old daughter Emily shouts, "You stupid a**!" at her 8-year-old brother.
Jamie freezes, feeling a mix of shock, embarrassment, and utter defeat wash ...
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When my daughter started preschool, our family went through challenging phase that many parents can relate to.
Almost every afternoon, she'd come home from school full of pent-up emotions, often lashing out at her sister with unexpected aggression.
Throwing, pushing, yelling, crying.
As a par...
