Mindful Moments Blog

by Ashley Patek

We wanted to share a list of some of our favorite Generation Mindful articles that chat about why time-outs are out, and shine light on the importance of time-ins in shaping a child's social-emotional intelligence.

Why Improv Is Not Just For The Stage

by Guest Author

We all improvise every day, and children are the ultimate improvisers. Through play and connection, improv games nurture brain development and bolster social-emotional learning. Here's how to do it. Plus get our E-Book: 10 Minutes of Play For 10 Days!

Why Being a Sensitive Parent is a Good Thing

by Rebecca Eanes

I am a highly sensitive parent, and here is why it is a good thing. Plus 5 sanity-saving tips for fellow parents who are sensitive, too.

Why Is My Child Behaving This Way?

by Ashley Patek

Power struggles ... meltdowns ... defiance. Here's what's causing your child's behavior and tools for transforming it.

The Stories Kids Want To Tell About COVID

by Rebecca Eanes

Our children grew up in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their brains developed in quarantine. Their bodies changed in lockdown. They are emerging from this as different people, and the impact it had on them is yet to be told. Here are 4 things we can do to support our children’s social-emotional health this school year ...

Building A Resilient Brain Through Spirituality

by Ashley Patek

So many of us are here, questioning if we are “too broken” and “not enough” while equal parts terrified that we will “ruin our children” while also desperately trying to do things differently than were done to us. Maybe this one thing is the answer to our mental health crisis.

Boy talking with a speech bubble showing a heart, symbolizing open and honest communication

Safe Adults Don’t Ask Kids To Keep Secrets

by Ashley Patek

When children learn that secrets are a normal part of a parent-child relationship, the little white lies can stack into something more serious and dangerous. In fact, they can be a key ingredient to abuse. Here's what to do instead.

Time-In ToolKit Helps Mom Realize: My Son's Behavior Is Normal And Healthy

by Guest Author

This mom feared something was wrong with her three-year-old child. And then she realized that his behavior was a sign of healthy brain development.

Parenting: Control Isn't The Goal

by Rebecca Eanes

Nothing makes you feel like a failure quite like having a child you can’t control. Until you realize control isn’t the goal. Control starts to slip away as children grow, and you either have to up the ante to maintain that illusion of control or you have to accept the fact that you really don’t have control at all.

The Harm Of Forcing Manners On Our Children (And What To Do Instead)

by Ashley Patek

If we want to step away from punitive measures and towards a deep understanding of manners, and an internal motivation to practice them, it stops with “say the magic word” or “say you are sorry” or “what do you say???” And it starts with these 5 tools.

Helping Teens Cope with Holiday Stress

by Rebecca Eanes

As our children grow up and the pure wonder and excitement of the holidays wane, adolescents often experience an uptick in stress and anxiety during the holiday season. What can parents do?

Breaking Multi-Generational Shame Cycles

by Ashley Patek

No one is born ashamed. It is a learned, self-conscious emotion. And, often, it is multi-generational. If we aren't aware of our own tendencies to shame, we won't notice when they get triggered. We'll just act them out onto our children, passing shame down to the next generation. This is how we break the cycle.

Behavior is A Symptom, Not The Problem

by Ashley Patek

Behavior is a symptom, not the problem. And when we focus solely on the symptom, the problems causing these behaviors remain unsolved, and they stack up. So, how do we transform challenging behaviors at home and in the classroom?

5 Powerful Phrases To Say To Children That Boost Brain Development

by Ashley Patek

Our words have the power to build up our children, nurture and guide them. They also have the power to cripple, shrink, and wound. It is these 5 phrases, spoken by well-intended parents, that tend to miss the mark on paving pathways for self-discipline and emotional regulation. Here's what to say instead.

Your Words Affect Your Child’s Brain

by Rebecca Eanes

Are we collectively destroying the potential of a generation with our mouths? As parents, we hold many of the keys to our children’s futures. These keys are the words we speak to them.

Don’t Take Your Child's Behavior Personally

by Guest Author

Have you ever been on the receiving end of your child’s angry outburst? It’s hard not to take it personally. But as it turns out, it’s not a result of poor parenting or a sign that your child is on the wrong track. It’s all due to your child’s developing brain.

5 False Toddler Myths

by Rebecca Eanes

Toddlerhood is a precious time. We do our kids and ourselves a great injustice by assigning negative intent to their developmentally normal behaviors. Instead of going to war, let’s spend these quickly-passing years seeking to understand our little ones and rewrite the narrative on common myths.