As a parent, often a lot of energy is spent teaching, guiding, and setting limits with your child. Practice shifting your energy and catching your child being good! When you notice your child engaging in positive behaviors, say what you see and provide encouragement. This not only strengthens the parent-child relationship, but also motivates your child. Examples: "You cleaned up your toys all by yourself!" or "I see you worked very hard on that project!" Questions or thoughts? Let me know!

People who sexually abuse children exploit their innocence about their bodies, personal boundaries, and sex. Talking about personal safety and sex creates a protective bond between parent and child, increases confidence for both, and instills knowledge that makes children and teens much less vulnerable. Applications: Talk to your child when they are young and use proper names for body parts. Use real-life conversation starters. Tell children what parts of the body others should not touch. Use examples with situations and people in their lives. Questions or thoughts? Let me know! (Reference: Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children)

I love practicing mindfulness (both personally and with my clients), but I hear from a lot of people that they "can't" or "don't know how." Here is a list of 11 simple activities to encourage mindfulness with your little ones!

This photo popped up on my Facebook newsfeed and I had to share it with you all! I love that this teacher is taking the initiative to keep up on the current research and implementing these wonderful changes in her classroom. I'm guessing her students come to school each morning feeling refreshed and ready for a new day! Concerned about the amount of homework your child has? Schedule a conference with the teacher or get involved in the PTA. If your efforts are unsuccessful, focus your energies on some of the other activities this teacher has identified such as family meals and age-appropriate bedtimes.

If your child engages in inappropriate behaviors in order to get your attention, try giving your child a "time out" from your attention. The inappropriate behavior will no longer be an effective way for your child to gain your attention. On the flip side, use positive reinforcement (e.g. attend to him or her, provide encouragement) when your child is seeking your attention in acceptable ways. Example: If your child is loudly banging toys together in attempt to get your attention while you are on the phone, intentionally ignore the behavior. If your child taps you on the leg while you are on the phone and says "I'm hungry," attend to your child by saying something like "Thank you for telling

A couple of weeks ago one of my colleagues posted a great list from Denali Parent Coaching challenging us as parents to put ourselves in our children's shoes. I was reading this book to my son this morning and thought it was such a great reminder to be empathetic with our little ones. Making a reflective statement or planning & preparing our children ahead of time can make a huge difference!

When you find yourself having to set a limit with your child, take advantage of the moment as a learning opportunity. Instead of simply telling your child what he or she can NOT do, teach him or her some acceptable alternatives. This not only helps your child to identify other options, but gives your child the opportunity to exercise self-control. Examples: "Don't use those markers on the walls!" versus "I know that you think that it would be fun to draw on the walls, but markers aren't for using on walls. You can play with the markers on your coloring pad or on some construction paper." Questions or thoughts? Let me know!

Children thrive on consistency. Consistency gives children a sense of security in their world. Providingchildren with a consistent environment allows them to successfully call upon their knowledge of pastexperiences in future situations. In layman's terms- they know what to expect! Applications: Provide a consistent routine for your child. Whenever possible have regular times for meals,bedtime, etc. If you have house rules about earning rewards or consequences always follow through. Questions or thoughts? Let me know!