With many families in isolation right now, I imagine that parents all around the world will be starting to feel STRETCHED to their limits. I want to share with you a strategy that I've found can be particularly helpful when I’ve "hit a wall"! 👉 PLAYFUL EXAGGERATION is a way of expressing our authentic feelings … Continue reading A parenting strategy for when we reach our limits
“You all look so happy” commented a friend underneath this photo I had posted on Facebook. I wanted to tell her that it hadn’t been that way just a few short minutes earlier. My son hadn’t wanted to stop at the waterfall and walk the short distance to view it. When we got out of … Continue reading Using play to dissolve irritability and tension
Has your child ever said, “I’m not listening to you!”? Maybe complete with hands over their ears, humming or singing to themselves, and turning away from you? It can be quite challenging for us parents to hear! Our feelings might range from mildly frustrated to completely infuriated. It can trigger a sense of powerlessness in … Continue reading Playfulness to repair when your child says, “I’m not listening to you!”
There seems to be a phenomenon where kids get ramped up in the evening, just when it’s time to start “winding down” and getting ready for bed. They might get super active, extra loud and silly, much to our dismay! They want to run around, they want jump, they want to play! They might do … Continue reading How play can help kids to feel calm, connected, reassured and ready for sleep!
Can you sometimes see your child's aggression coming, but just don’t really know how to respond to stop it? Deep breathing might help to calm a child, but it can be pretty hard to encourage them to do it once a fight-or-flight response has been triggered! And resorting to yelling, threatening "consequences", or “time out” … Continue reading Responding playfully to kids’ aggressive urges with faux fighting
It's not uncommon for little ones to have a fear of pooing in the potty (or toilet). And often it leaves parents feeling really unsure of what to do; not wanting to pressure their child for fear of making things worse, but also not really knowing how to encourage their child without resorting to rewards … Continue reading Play to pave the way for pooing in the potty!
I love pillows as props for responding playfully when my child feels like hitting or kicking! When kids are hitting or kicking, they are usually in a defensive state of fight-or-flight, which means they have lots of adrenaline pumping through their body, giving their muscles a surge of energy. Pillows offer the possibility of so … Continue reading Pillow games for responding playfully to our child’s aggression
Putting together my own observations and experiences, and what I know about the nervous system, I’d like to outline my understanding of what is going on when children lash out, how responding playfully can help, and why it can be so challenging for parents. WHY DO KIDS LASH OUT? When kids are lashing out, their nervous … Continue reading Kids’ aggression, responding playfully, and the challenge for parents
So last night my boy was bouncing a bit too vigorously on the sofa to the point that I thought he might damage the structure of the sofa. 🌼 From close by in the kitchen, I said to him in a silly voice, “I feel you are jumping too vigorously on the sofa!” (playful connection). 🌼 I … Continue reading Setting limits playfully – The “chase and can’t catch” game
I was feeling a bit off all day yesterday and I just couldn't quite get to the bottom of it. A few other people seemed to be a bit off kilter too, and there was some talk that maybe it was something in the stars. By the time hubby came home, I was just plain … Continue reading Sometimes playfulness isn’t enough! Deeper feelings need to be heard too.
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