It’s taken over Pinterest. It’s all over Facebook. It’s all the rage. It’s the Elf on a Shelf. Supposedly this little magic elf comes to watch your children’s behavior and report back to Santa whether they’ve been naughty or nice. It also seems to get involved in all sorts of shenanigans while it’s running around magically alive while the children...
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Potty Training Tips that Really Help
Potty training is a funny thing. It almost becomes a competition between parents to see whose kids get trained the quickest. There’s real pressure on us to “perform” our parenting duties well, and one of the ways we prove what good parents we are is by having our children out of diapers ASAP. At least, that’s how I felt. So, when my first child, at...
Conscious Parents: Cultivating Self-Compassion
The one thing all conscious parents must have, I’ve learned, is self-compassion. As we become increasingly aware of the deep impact of our words and actions upon our children, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of guilt and shame each time we miss the mark. We can put so much pressure on ourselves to be ever-present, aware, attuned, emotionally regulated,...
The Ultimate Guide to Positive Discipline
This is the third post in my series of ultimate guides. First was and the second was . I’ve written before about my .I thought it’d be helpful to share with your some scenarios which show what positive discipline looks like in action. These scenarios come from the book, by Laura Ling and myself.Scenario #1 - Danger:Your 2-1/2 year old son...
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Child to Listen
Life would be so much smoother if our children would just cooperate, wouldn’t it? If they’d just listen to us about bedtime, mealtime, chores, etc., and happily comply with our requests, we’d all get along just fine. After all, how hard can it be to eat your vegetables, pick up your toys, brush your teeth, and go to bed? Right?Unfortunately, the common...
Gifted Challenges' Best Parenting Blog Posts
Each year, I have put together a "best of" list, sometimes including my own blog posts, those of others, or favorite articles I have seen over the past year.This year, I thought I would honor parents and list some of the blog posts I have written specifically related to the challenges, victories and struggles faced by parents of gifted children. As...
Holiday stress: What parents of gifted children need to know
What is it about the holidays that often creates more stress than good cheer? How many of us feel ambushed by glittering store displays, Hallmark images of family perfection, and holiday sound tracks piped into every building? Amid this season of stress, is it possible to not just survive, but actually enjoy the holidays?Many families face these questions...
Underachievers under-the-radar: How seemingly successful gifted students fall short of their potential
Research has shown that many gifted children are who fail to reach their potential. Some mask their abilities so they can fit in with peers, some stop caring and receive barely passing grades, and some drop out altogether. Academic achievement becomes meaningless and their intrinsic love of learning seems to vanish. These conspicuous underachievers...
The Ultimate Guide to Tantrums
Photo credit: Creative Child MagazineTantrums. They’re one of the most talked about behaviors in the parenting world. They’re even with their kids. No doubt, tantrums give parents a hard time. The truth is, though, that during a tantrum, your child is having a hard time. Tantrums aren’t always a matter of defiance, especially in young children. There’s...
8 Actions to Chase Away the Mama Blues
Photo Credit: Creative Child MagazineMotherhood is beautiful and joyful. It’s also exhausting and monotonous. Taking care of the ever-present needs of little ones often leaves little time for taking care of our own which can leave us feeling drained, dreary, and down in the dumps. If you’re feeling a little blue, try these tips to turn that frown upside...
20 Gratitude Activities for Kids
In November, many people share something they’re thankful for each day on social media in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday. Practicing gratitude makes us feel happier and more alive. The benefits of gratitude are many, and if we teach our children the art of gratitude while they’re young, they’re more likely to reap the benefits well into adulthood.These...
30 Days of Play in November!
, I began a new series, giving you simple and inexpensive play ideas for every day of the month. You asked for me to keep these posts coming every month, and so here are 30 fresh new play ideas for the month of November! Plus, since the season of Thanksgiving is upon us, check out these .1. Play balloon tennis. Tape a paper plate to a paint stick for...
Enforcing Limits While Remaining Connected
Enforcing Limits While Remaining Close with Our KidsFor the past 6 years, I’ve centered my work around one message: Connection is everything. It’s the . It’s the . It’s our ticket to enjoying the journey more, but how can we set boundaries and correct our children without losing that connection? If we confuse “staying connected” with “never upsetting...
Why do smart women forego success?
Gifted girls show exceptional promise, typically surpassing boys on most measures of success. Their language, attention and fine motor skills are often 1 1/2 years ahead when they enter school, and their social maturity and relational skills help them thrive in most academic settings. Confident in their abilities, they excel throughout school, receiving...
50 Ways to Love a Child
We have such a deep love for our children. Everything we do, every decision we make from the time they come into our lives, we do because we love them so very much. The question is, though, how much do they feel our love? We may say it a hundred times a day, but are we really speaking their language?In , authors Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell outline...