Stop Your Child’s Hitting With 4 Empathy-Building Steps

by Jess VanderWier, MA, RP | Jan 20, 2025 | Toddler, Big Kid, Preschooler

Imagine you’re at a playdate, engrossed in conversation with your friend, when suddenly, a piercing cry cuts through the chatter. You turn to see your child, hand still raised, standing over a tearful friend. Your immediate reaction? “TELL THEM YOU’RE...

How to Respond Calmly to Your Child’s Mistakes

by Jess VanderWier, MA, RP | Dec 23, 2024 | Toddler, Big Kid, Preschooler

Imagine you’re four years old. You’ve just spilled your cup of milk all over the carpet. Your heart races as you hear footsteps approaching. How will your parent react? Will they yell and punish you, or will they respond with understanding and help you...

How to Teach Anger Management to Children: Break the Cycle of Spanking

by Jess VanderWier, MA, RP | Dec 9, 2024 | Toddler, Big Kid, Preschooler

Parents often find themselves in challenging situations with their children, especially when managing their anger. Recently, I had an eye-opening conversation with a father that perfectly illustrates this struggle. He shared a memory from his childhood: “I was 7...

Understanding and Responding to Child Lying: A Positive Parenting Approach

by Jess VanderWier, MA, RP | Nov 25, 2024 | Toddler, Big Kid, Preschooler

As parents, we’ve all experienced those moments that test our patience and challenge our parenting skills. Recently, I found myself in such a situation – a seemingly simple question about breakfast that turned into a valuable lesson about child development and...

Why Children Need Boundaries: A Guide For Parents

by Jess VanderWier, MA, RP | Oct 28, 2024 | Toddler, Big Kid, Preschooler

It’s a typical day in your household. You’re supervising bath time, and suddenly, you catch your toddler about to take a sip of bath water. In the background, your preschooler is protesting loudly about turning off the TV, and you hear your partner telling...

Why Kids Misbehave At School But Not At Home

by Shannon Wassenaar | Apr 16, 2024 | Preschooler, Big Kid

Reason 1: Environment & Temperament InfluenceReason 2: Authority Figure InfluenceReason 3: Peer Influence3 Ways to Encourage Consistent and Positive BehaviourConclusion At home, Mason was well-behaved. He listened to his parents, did his chores, and got along with...