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Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom: Simple Tools for the New School Year

by Suzanne Tucker

Social emotional learning starts in everyday classroom moments. Explore simple SEL strategies teachers can use to build emotional literacy, support regulation, strengthen relationships, and create a classroom where children feel safe, understood, and ready to learn.

Woman kneeling to comfort a young boy, with illustrated hands exchanging a gray cloud for a red heart in the background

Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement: A Guide for Parents

by Alex Petrou

Learn how positive vs. negative reinforcement influence your parenting style and the ways positive reinforcers can support your child’s development.

Mother comforting her highly sensitive teenage son during an emotional moment, illustrating parental support, empathy, and teen mental health.

Helping Your Highly Sensitive Child Gain Confidence

by Rebecca Eanes

When our children are highly sensitive, rejection and criticism hurt more deeply. They get embarrassed easily and have strong emotional reactions, which can make them the target for bullying. Here are 5 tools to boost your child's confidence.

Woman looking at an old childhood photo of herself, surrounded by illustrated hearts and clouds

Healing From A Childhood You Don't Remember

by Ashley Patek

While we may not remember our childhood with our mind and verbal words, our body keeps the score and stores the information it receives from our formative years, namely which parts of us to grow and which to shrink. These downloads show up as patterns in adulthood and in our parenting. Read more.

Woman with eyes closed and hand on her chest, staying calm, with a flower graphic beside her

9 Mantras I Use When Low On Patience With My Kids

by Ashley Patek

Mantras can change the wiring of our brain and create a new lens to see ourselves, our kids, and the world at large. Here are 9 parenting mantras I use when low on patience with my kids.

of two young girls/ siblings fighting, one pulling hair

End Sibling Rivalry And Bring Peace Into Your Home

by Ashley Patek

Siblings are natural competitors for attachment, bidding for our love and attention. Here's 3 Parenting Do's and Don'ts when it comes to sibling relationships.

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Nurturing A Natural Love For Learning

by Ashley Patek

How do you nurture curious risk-takers who love to learn? It starts here.

The Parenting Fairy Godmother Isn't Coming - Here's Why You Don't Need Her

by Ashley Patek

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there were a Parenting Fairy Godmother that came to rescue us during tricky parenting moments? Unfortunately, there's not, but you don't need her. You have you. Here are some playful tools to help you boost emotional intelligence in your home.

There's What Parents Say And What Kids Hear

by Ashley Patek

Does it ever feel like there is a disconnect between what you say and what your kids hear? Like, somehow, asking your child not to jump on the couch or slap her brother translates into more jumping and continued slapping. Here are common parenting phrases, what kids hear, and what we can say instead to get on the same page.

The Myth of Self-Regulation

by Rebecca Eanes

Self-regulation is a myth. Regulation is never about the self because we are always drawing on internal representations of what we have previously experienced in relationships. So, before our kids can self-regulate, they must first learn to co-regulate. Here's how.

Teaching The Whole Learner: School Spotlight on Bloom360

by Ashley Patek

Bloom360 Learning Community, a nonprofit school in southeastern Wisconsin for Learners ages 5 to 21 with neurodiverse needs, based their entire 2019/20 school year curriculum themes around the PeaceMakers themes of Power, Joy, Balance, Love, Peace, Intuition, and Forgiveness, and the outcomes are inspiring.

How Mindfulness Helped Me Focus My ADHD

by Ashley Patek

I was diagnosed with ADHD at six-years-old. I was given medication that helped my teacher teach me and other students be around me, but it didn't help me learn skills to regulate my emotions. From a child who had a difficult time with emotions, to now working with similar kiddos, here’s what I can tell you.

Going With The Flow: Using Improv Games To Teach Flexibility

by Guest Author

Sam struggled with impulse control and emotional processing when he didn't get what he wanted. Does this sound familiar in your home? I created an improv game to help nurture emotional intelligence and bolster flexibility. Get this game and more in our E-Book: 10 Minutes of Play For 10 Days!

Mindful Parenting and How It Affects Children

by Alex Petrou

What is mindful parenting? Learn the benefits and practices of this positive parenting style and how you can integrate it into your child's life.

5 Signs Of Toxic Discipline And What To Do If You're Using It

by Ashley Patek

Do you use toxic discipline when raising your child? Here are 5 signs that you may. Learn how your childhood influenced your parenting and gain tips for healing both the relationship you have with yourself and the one you share with your child.

How To Create A Calm Down Space Your Kids Won't Fight About

by Ashley Patek

We share tips on setting up your Calming Corner for more than one child so it doesn't become another thing on the list of things they argue over.

Consequences For When My Child Misbehaves

by Ashley Patek

We all want to raise kind and empathetic humans. And when our children fail to pick up their toys, do their homework, or listen to our requests, our instinct is to issue a consequence. But what type of consequences work?

There Is No Such Thing As A Bad Child

by Guest Author

As a mother and trauma therapist, I can sniff out social trauma from a mile away.

Our Kids Are Listening Even When They Don't Seem Like It

by Ashley Patek

I was starting to lose hope that my three-year-old was actually absorbing anything when I talked to him about emotions or attempted to elicit empathy after he hit or kicked another in a fit of rage. But then this happened, and I realized he had been listening after all.

Parenting Still Takes a Village, Here’s 5 Fresh Reasons Why

by Ashley Patek

When we realize one truth - that we don’t have to do it all, all of the time, we buttress our child’s social and emotional development right alongside our own.

Parenting A Sensitive And Strong-Willed Child

by Ashley Patek

Raising a strong-willed child? You're not alone. Gain access to tools that help you validate the emotions fueling their meltdown, plus tangible tips to redirect hitting, kicking, spitting, power struggles, and other challenging behaviors.

Creating Safe Spaces and Nurturing Connection Using Social Stories and More

by Ashley Patek

Home visits can play an important role in alleviating the intergenerational transmission of trauma by helping parents and caregivers build positive and healthy attachments with their children. And, in using social stories for home visits, children can better navigate challenging situations. Here's how. Plus FREE Scripted Social Stories Printable.

3 Steps For Managing Parenting Stress This Holiday Season

by Ashley Patek

Parenting during the holidays feels tough because it is tough. Here are 3 tips to get you through with less stress and more joy.