Why I Let My Son Watch (Some) Sports on TV
He's a competitive kid so he enjoys cheering on "his team" (usually whichever team is winning when he turns on the game).
6 Tips for Getting Back to a School-Year Bedtime Routine
With summer having thrown everyone off schedule, it's a good idea to add "gradually shift bedtime routine" to your back-to-school to do list.
How to Help Kids Connect With Older Generations
Kids are often uncomfortable around older people (even grandparents). Here are research-backed tips to help them connect, for the benefit of both parties.
Information Overload: Navigating the Research on Kids and Families
Advice for parents who want to make sure they’re getting the right information from studies and research popularized on the Internet.
3 Strategies for Being Genuinely Present with Your Family Even on the Busiest Days
Rather than relying on inner zen to slow down and connect with my kids, I rely on a few strategies that seem to always work for us.
Here's the Recipe For Preventing Witching Hour Meltdowns
The hour between coming home and getting dinner on the table can be a nightmare for a lot of families. But it doesn't have to be.
By focusing on the stress of modern parenting, we fail to notice a whole lot of joy that we could otherwise be experiencing. Enter mindfulness and mediation.
Make Giving Tuesday a Thoughtful Family Tradition
November 29th is “Giving Tuesday.” Here are some ideas for how to engage your children in thoughtful giving when kicking off the holiday season.
Yoga Pants Are Good for My Body - Your Judgement Is Not
One man believed his opinion on what women wear was so important, he wrote a letter to the editor of our hometown newspaper. Here are my thoughts.
Assertive Communication May Be the Most Useful Skill You Teach Your Child (and Yourself)
Teaching our kids how to assert themselves by communicating directly and with respect is easy to do if we model it ourselves.
For Less Defiance and More Connection, Practice Positive Parenting
I want my kids to see me as someone who empowers them to be the best they can be, despite the authority role I may hold over them. Positive parenting helps.
You Need to Giggle More - Here's How
Cliche as it sounds, laughter truly is some of the best medicine. Sharing a hearty case of the giggles with your family is even better.
How to Raise Critical Thinkers in a World That Desperately Needs Them
We should be striving to raise kids who ask thoughtful questions, challenge the "experts," and closely examine the answers.
5 Things a Working Parent Can Do to Cultivate Summer Joy
Summer can be total bliss. On the other hand, as a working parent who doesn't get to slow down simply because the temp rises, it can feel a little daunting.
Kids Need Active Free Play for Healthy Bodies
A conversation with pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom about the many benefits of "active free play" for kids - especially in in nature.
Raising Kids With a Movement-Based Lifestyle: An Interview with Katy Bowman
The simple truth is that we and our kids spend too much time sitting. But it’s never too late to start a movement-based lifestyle.
This Is How We Can Appreciate Our Teachers Everyday
Here are facts to share next time you hear someone say that teachers "have it easy," are "overpaid," or are "never fired."
Expert Resources for Practicing Mindfulness with Your Kids
How can you pass up an approach that might help your child focus on tasks, calm nervous energy, control negative behavior, and build self-esteem?
Books that Please Parents as Much as Preschoolers
Lucky for us parents, there are a lot of absolutely excellent children’s books – ones that can please both kids and the parents who read them.
Tablets, Transitions, and Tantrums
Transitioning out of screen time doesn't always go so well. Luckily there's plenty of research to help ease the turmoil.
Should We Pressure Kids to Clean Their Plates?
Studies link parental behaviors around food to eating problems in kids. But giving up pressure-to-eat doesn't mean giving up healthy eating.
Homemaker Hacks for the Cleaning Impaired
I hate cleaning. There, I said it. But I also love organization. Here are homemaking hacks for the cleaning impaired (like me).
The Benefits of "Because I Said So"
I begin this post with an apology to my mother for the millions of times the words “I don’t want to” came out of my mouth.
Confessions of a “Crunchy” Mom
Yup, that’s me. Breastfeeding my daughter in our community garden plot. There is no doubt that I have become what the urban dictionary calls “crunchy.”