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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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What's Wrong With My Clingy Toddler?

by Ashley Patek

Why is my child clingy, emotional and crying and what can I do about it? Here are 7 tools for parents with clingy toddlers.

Stop Saying, "He's Mean To You Because He Likes You"

by Ashley Patek

"He's mean to you because he likes you" is a harmful message that perpetuates the cycle of bullying and programs our children to accept abuse. Here are 4 things our kids need to know about boundaries and consent.

Time-Outs Affect The Developing Brain

by Guest Author

Separation-based techniques, like the popular time-out approach, use what children care most about against them.

Helping Your Highly Sensitive Child Gain Confidence

by Rebecca Eanes

Ask Andrew: Navigating Responses To Stimming

by Andrew Patterson

Andrew answers today's question: How do you deal with people making fun of stims? Especially loud vocal ones?

Taming Bad Attitudes

by Rebecca Eanes

Our kids sometimes have bad attitudes because they are... well... human. Here are five tools to tame your child's disrespect.

The Trauma-Aware Classroom: We All Need Compassion

by Guest Author

I am a teacher. In order to associate with the trauma of my students, I become aware of my own trauma.

Raising Emotionally-Intelligent Boys: One Mom's Journey

by Ashley Patek

What do you do when the world around you tells you that you are too sensitive? Do you adapt to the social norms and shift who you are, or do you hush the noise of society to listen to your inner wisdom?

Words Matter - Crossing out dismissive phrases in kid's story books

Words Matter: Adjusting Popular Books and Songs to Align with Positive Parenting Strategies

by Ashley Patek

Our words matter. Children receive messages from all around them and this includes the books, songs, and stories we share with them. Sometimes those messages are affirming and sometimes they are dismissive. Read how to make your words count to nourish your child's social-emotional skills.

Speaking Your Child's Meltdown Language

by Ashley Patek

Understand the biology of a meltdown and how to speak your child's unique meltdown language.

Regulate Emotions Through Play

by Ashley Patek

How do we get under the meltdowns, tantrums, and big wants and desires fueling our tots? Learn how to use play and mind-body activities to increase connection, regulate emotions, and change undesirable behaviors.

De-escalation Strategies For Jingled Out Kids

by Rebecca Eanes

December is a sensory-overload kind of month. It’s loud. It’s busy. It’s flashy. For a lot of kids, it can be so overwhelming that they may just jingle all the way to a meltdown. For this reason, it’s good to have a few de-escalation strategies in mind. Here are 5.

Raising Awake Children in the Age of Black Lives Matter

by Ashley Patek

Our country is standing at a pivoting point. #BlackLivesMatter is the anthem and our nation is singing in the face of injustice. For all lives to matter, black lives must matter.

How To Rediscover Emotions That Were Suppressed In Childhood

by Ashley Patek

Sometimes all that we need is a safe place to feel, except we don’t know how to feel a full spectrum of emotions because we were taught not to, and even if we did feel, we lack the language to communicate those feelings. Here's how to change the narrative not only for our mental health but our kids' too.

An open letter to you, my toddler: "I get It."

by Guest Author

I get it. I get all of it. The screams, the tears, the tantrums. Your bottom lip drops and your eyes brim with emotions. Sometimes you even turn away from me. That one rips my heart in two. Then the sun will peek through and the smiles will come...

How I Celebrate Being An Imperfect Mom

by Ashley Patek

I closed the car door with my foot as I tiptoed my son’s birthday cupcakes inside.