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Kids
Make Your Own Path: Supporting Kids Beyond the Binary
I smiled as I scanned my youngest child’s outfit as he packed his backpack for kindergarten: purple leggings with iridescent stars and space pugs (yes, little dogs in space suits), a sparkly twirly dress, and a Star Wars t-shirt. “Make sure you wear your tennis shoes so you can run fast at recess,” I reminded… Read More →
Why Over-Reassuring Can Backfire (And What to Try Instead)
Pause. Feel. Move.
Earlier this week my son called to me after lights out. I sat beside his bed and asked, “What’s up bud? Do you need something?” “I’m thinking about all the grandparents dying,” he responded “I just know I’m not going to be able to sleep.” I tried to resist the urge to unleash a torrent… Read More →
Pandemic Screen Time Habits: What Next?
During a virtual presentation a parent recently asked, “We’ve gotten into some really bad screen time habits during the pandemic. How do we make sure they don’t stick when this thing is over?” I smiled to myself because at that very moment my own kids were holed up in our unfinished basement with iPads while… Read More →
Helping Kids Cope With COVID – Keep Them Moving
A parent shared with me that her youngest recently told her in no uncertain terms, “I can’t go outside! I’ve got too much on my mind!” “I think he is planning on spending the rest of the pandemic in his room with his tablet thinking through the collapse of the world,” she lamented. “No surprise… Read More →
Five Ways to Set Boundaries With Kids and Teens
Without Yelling, Shaming, or Nagging
Parents and kids are spending a lot of time together right now. We typically share the role of creating structure and setting boundaries with extended family, educators, coaches, mentors, and other adults. During COVID, it’s more often an in-home job. This means that it is a lot easier to get stuck in negative ruts with… Read More →
Screen Time in a Pandemic: Focus on Mental Health Not Arbitrary Rules
I had just finished a long and detailed discussion with my kids about the benefits of building with cobblestone versus sand blocks in Minecraft. Then I asked, “How much of the day do you think about Minecraft?” “Oh A LOT,” my oldest replied. “But I think when there is more to do, I will have more… Read More →
Dear Artists and Authors, Thank You For Helping Kids Cope With COVID
I walked into my kids’ room last week looking for my youngest. My oldest was curled up in bed. “Are you alone in here?” I asked. “No,” he answered. “I’m reading.” It took me a second to realize his answer didn’t mean that both of my kids were snuggled under the blankets. Instead, his answer… Read More →
How to Help Children and Youth Process the Capitol Insurrection
Since yesterday’s violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol many parents have reached out to us for advice on how to talk with and support their kids in the aftermath. As children and young people alike process the live feeds, memes, and coverage of the attack on the halls of Congress everyone will need extra space… Read More →
Building Family Resilience: Kids As Collaborators
As we head into winter with COVID cases spiking yet again, there is a lot of attention to building resilience to manage this difficult time. That makes it a good time to get clear on what resilience is, and what it isn’t. Too often we think of resilience as an individual trait that we either… Read More →
What Gratitude Is – What It Isn’t – And How It Can Help Kids Cope
“It’s okay. I’ve stopped looking forward to things because everything gets cancelled anyway.” This was my son’s response after we shared that we would be spending Thanksgiving week alone instead of driving to visit grandparents. This was certainly an honest and heartbreaking response to a long string of traditions and activities modified to stay safe… Read More →