The other night was a test of patience. Our little one, who is 2.5, was practically bouncing off the walls and could not hold still even for a moment to allow us to help her get ready for bed. She tends to act very hyper when she’s especially tired, so it’s not like this was […]
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Give Your Energy to the Behavior You Want to See
A friend of mine, who also happens to be a Marriage and Family Counselor and BCBA, often gave what I considered a fantastic speech during trainings we used to do together. He would ask our audience during which scenario more energy was being displayed. Then he would dramatically shout something like the following: “What are […]
Instead of “Say you’re sorry”
Forcing a child to say sorry is not a good way to encourage authenticity.
Ask yourself, “What’s the GOOD?”
Does your child ever engage in challenging behavior and you are at your wits end trying to solve it? It can be so frustrating trying to figure out what is causing the yelling, screaming, throwing, and so on while at the same time trying so hard to stop it from happening. What do you do? […]
How to Teach Your Child to be a Bully (in 5 easy steps)
Step 1: Take something away from your child that she worked hard for and cares about. Step 2: Taunt her and tell her what you did, and make it seem as though she will never get back what had been hers. Step 3: Laugh at her when she becomes so upset and distraught she begins […]
Who benefits from ‘time-out?’
You. You (the parent/caregiver) benefit from sending a child to time out. You’re the only one who does. Let’s face it, it gives you a reprieve from whatever ‘bad’ behavior they were engaging in… a chance to clean up the huge mess made with the toilet paper and shaving cream. But don’t think it’s actually […]
How to Say “No” Without Actually Saying “No”
Have you ever heard of Yes Days? It’s when you designate a day to just saying “yes” to whatever your child suggests or requests. There can be rules, obviously, like putting limits on spending, or distances travelled. But have you ever tried it? When we say “yes” we open ourselves to more possibilities. Not to […]
Adultism: The Missing Link
What is adultism?
3 Ways to Help Stop the Whining
Help your toddler stop whining in 3 easy steps.
Just pretend you’re performing in an opera
I really love the members in our Facebook group, Gentle Parenting of WNY. Oftentimes, comments posted are so insightful and genuine. And sometimes fantastically hilarious. This one made me laugh out loud. The topic involved being lovingly responsive to our children, and how sometimes we just…can’t. Most of us have moments, or days, when we […]