We hear the term “Positive Discipline” used frequently, but many parents are unsure exactly what this means, and why this form of discipline is the best for our kids. The word discipline has origins in the Latin word disciplina, which means, “to teach.” Adapting this concept to raising children, I believe positive discipline means guiding, [...]
Sometimes when I watch my child crumple into a screeching, sobbing mess at my feet, all I hear in my head is, You have got to be kidding me! I don't have time for this! I can't feel his pain, I can't understand his mind and I can't find empathy for him. The thing is, [...]
I believe that being able to calm ourselves in the throes of emotional intensity is one of the most valuable parenting skills to develop. The wild behaviour that can happen when our rage hijacks us can seriously damage the relationship with our children, grow negative core beliefs in their minds, and inadvertently teach our kids [...]
I am going to take my parenting "expert" hat off and put my mom of a three-year-old hat on. I've been feeling under the weather, and although I'm a glass-half-full kind of gal, started to write these to make myself laugh. I hope you have some chuckles too. And, yes, these did actually happen. -Murphy's [...]
Children, particularly toddlers, are more able to follow our instructions when we word them in a way they can easily interpret. In addition to the great tools “when/ then” and “either/ or,” a strategy I call the “Everyone with…” is a great way to increase toddler cooperation. Here is how to use the tool: Identify [...]
You, your partner, and other primary child-givers are going to be teaching your children how to talk. Here are some tips to promote clearer communication and to help you foster increased self-esteem, confidence and understanding through this process. Learn sign-language and start by 6 months of age. Consistently use these 7 main signs with babies: eat, [...]
While gathering information for articles about toddlers, I have discovered desperate posts like this on the Internet: "Two-year-old for sale. Cheap!" Raising little ones can be very hard! In order to parent children under 3, adults need to accept the challenging parts that come during this time (along with the super-cute parts). Toddlers will yell, [...]
It can be very hard to be kind to a child who continually pushes our buttons. I know; I just spent the last two hours calming myself when my youngest son woke me up early then proceeded to throw things, hit me, then not eat the cereal we fought about making for half an hour. [...]
Andrea Nair is a psychotherapist, parenting educator and international media parenting expert based in London, Ontario, Canada. Her therapy background helps parents to understand at a deeper level what to do when kids drift away, behaviour goes wild, buttons are pushed and old negative self-talk gets too loud.
Her goal is to let parents know they are not alone in their struggles and to provide practical help that makes big positive changes. Parenting can be very hard—and Andrea wants to help.
