Dear Mom of a Rising Third-Grader, Congratulations! Your child has survived and hopefully thrived through their first few years of elementary school. I’m sure there were bumps and hiccups along the way, but you and your child came through it. Closer, wiser, and with a broader skillset in dealing with all of life’s little challenges. Now, for the bad news. Third grade sucks. I want to do you the favor I wish someone had done me, and warned me about what lies ahead. My mom friends told m...
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Simple Toys Benefit Kids the Most

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in December of 2018 saying that simple toys hold the most benefits for children. They warn parents against filling their toy box with flashing lights and gadgets.

The report is called “Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children in the Digital Era”. It offers guidance for parents on what toys will most benefit their children’s development. The report focuses on children from birth through school...

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It's not just kids who are overdoing screen time. Parents are often just as guilty of spending too much time checking smartphones and e-mail — and the consequences for their children can be troubling.

Dr. Jenny Radesky is a pediatrician specializing in child development. When she worked at a clinic in a high-tech savvy Seattle neighborhood, Radesky started noticing how often parents ignored their kids in favor of a mobile device. She remembers a mother placing her phone in the stroller betwe...

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The thing about our little ones is this: It feels like they can (and do) spend a lot of time crying, whining, wailing, and throwing tantrums. But another, more wonderful, thing about our little ones is: Wow, can they laugh. They are excellent at it, and it’s fairly easy to get a chuckle out of them. (Though I admit that coming up with new voices for inanimate objects can get put a lot of pressure on a person.)

Maybe the quickest way to prompt a baby’s belly laugh, a toddler’s infectious ...

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Today marks a brand new school year for your family. Hopefully it is filled with excitement and joy. For me, it is the first time in 17 years that I do not have a child to take or pick up from school, as my youngest son will be driving himself to school. Although I am grateful for the independence my children have acquired, it makes me sad to know they don't need me as much as they use to. It's hard watching your children grow up, especially when you've been an involved parent. I remember tak...
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So how do we raise our kids to take responsibility for their choices and their impact on the world?

Children don't want just to be doted on. They need, like the rest of us,...

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There's no such thing as parenting perfectly. We're all doing the best we can with the resources we have in that moment. True, if we use a positive parenting approach when our children are toddlers, they're easier when they're older. But you can start peaceful parenting any time, and you'll see a difference in your child's behavior very quickly.

So what does peaceful parenting look like with kids in the elementary school years? Regardless of the situation, here are the steps.

1. Regulate your o...

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 What I Want the Parents of My Students to Know

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Petals of Joy

My refrigerator holds a list. Summer -to-dos. Almost 20 items needing attention before school begins. Important things! Things like: Sort through financial records. Write my AP syllabus and book proposal. Take down Christmas lights (wish I was kidding about that one.) Clean, really clean, my house.

This year my list has six red lines. Only six crossed-off tasks.  6 out of 20. I go back to work in two...

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In a few days we will be sending our children back to school. Each summer seems to be shorter than the one before. This year, my oldest son will start his junior year in college, my middle son starts his freshman year in college, and my baby starts high school. It seems like yesterday I was walking him to the "Boo Hoo" breakfast at school. This was the first and only time parents could walk their children into the school. The cafeteria was full of parents and little ones anxious about startin...
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