This week on King 5 News, I shared how to help children develop a sense of gratitude during the holiday season and all year. For more on this topic, check out Gifts & Gratitude: Helping Kids Appreciate The Holiday Season.
This week on King 5 News, I talked about parenting in the digital age and the new Messenger Kids app.
Oh the holidays. The family, the food, the fun, the presents -soon followed by a fear that we are raising entitled children with no appreciation for what they have. Tis the season for showering children with special activities and a mountain of presents, then wondering why they have a meltdown when we say no more. Which makes about as much sense as taking them trick or treating and then wondering why they want to eat the candy.
This week on King 5 News, I shared how to talk to our children about death and support them as they move through grief.
This week on King 5 News, I shared why sibling conflict is a normal part of childhood, what our role is as parents, and how to help them stay safe.
This week I spoke with King 5 News about how to help kids manage their routine and get out the door on time.
For more tips on this topic, check out the blog post How To Get Out The Door With Kids.
I remember the moment I realized preschool had become a very big deal. My oldest daughter was about three months old and we were at the first session of a parent-infant class. I was desperate to get out of the house and meet other parents of infants. I walked in and sat down on the mat across from two friendly looking moms. I couldn’t wait to connect, until panic set in when I heard their conversation.
Last week I spoke with Mimi Jung & Jake Whittenberg from King 5 News about encouraging children to help out when it comes to chores. For more tips on this topic, check out Quit Whining & Do Your Chores.
Last week I spoke with Mimi Jung from King 5 News about how parents can talk to their children about the Las Vegas shooting and other violent events. For more tips on this topic, check out Talking To Kids About Violence & Terror.
Last week I spoke with Mimi Jung from King 5 News about how parents can support their children in completing their homework. We also discussed how parents can talk to their kids about the NFL protest.
Big topics in the news have been coming fast and furious over the last year. Some of them whiz by our kids without notice, while others have our kids wanting to know more right away. The current debate over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem is one that piqued the interest of children quickly. Not surprising, as sports figures continue to be role models and heroes to our kids.
You survived the newborn days, and life with baby is rolling along smoothly. They are full of belly laughs, find delight in just about everything, and their biggest complaints are easily whisked away with a clean diaper, a snuggle, and some milk. As you push your easy-going babe in the swing at the park, you notice the toddler hitting her mom and think, “Wow, what’s wrong with that devil child? Glad it’s not mine.”
Spring has certainly been slow to arrive in the Pacific Northwest this year! We have struggled through days of epic rain and uncharacteristically cold April days. And yet, there have been lovely glimpses of the weather to come, of the possibilities and energy that come with spring and then with summer. I have noticed over the past few years as a mom to school-aged children as well as a parent educator in cooperative preschools, that even as each school year brings unique triumphs and challenges, there are dependable rhythms to the school year.
I remember my first Mother’s Day. My oldest was weeks from coming out and joining the world. Oh, I recall those feeling of joy, hope and wonder for what my husband and I had created! I’d finally gained admittance to a coveted society of elders, joining the long line of ancestors, no longer the last link in the chain. Yes, I was very pregnant, but my baby was inside with no little wants and needs except for stripping me of my own comfort. I envisioned a lifetime of days like these when I would be celebrated and expected to do nothing but relax and bask in the glow of my new role. I could get used to this Mother’s Day thing!
What better way is there to begin 2017 than with fresh energy and a strong vision for the present that leads to an even brighter future? One way to accomplish this with your family is to spend some time together making up a family mission statement or manifesto. This living, breathing document is most effective when it is created collaboratively as a family and adjusted as time goes on to make it relevant as your family grows and develops together. Here are some tips for getting started!
