You’ll often hear experts saying that boredom is the key to creativity, but I disagree! Our children’s sense of boredom can often stem from a nervous system state of mild Freeze (the underlying tension of sympathetic activation, with an overlay of immobilization from the dorsal vagal complex). The lethargy, collapsed posture, blank stares, and monotonous … Continue reading Boredom is NOT the key to creativity
Playful Parenting
Helping kids adjust to being a sibling
The birth of a sibling can be such a big transition for little ones. It's also a time where we as parents can be stretched to our limits, meeting the round the clock needs of our newborn, and experiencing the resultant sleep deprivation. As a result, it is really common to see some behaviour arising … Continue reading Helping kids adjust to being a sibling
Playful parenting can shift feelings of tiredness and irritability
It’s tough right now. Even though my family has been impacted upon in less dramatic ways that many others, it has been a challenge adjusting to being in lockdown. We’ve had fewer pleasant diversions, such as going out, eating out, and seeing friends. And we’ve had more screen time. I found myself feeling really tired … Continue reading Playful parenting can shift feelings of tiredness and irritability
A parenting strategy for when we reach our limits
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
Playful ways to help kids with coronavirus fears
I have started hearing about kids who have developed fears surrounding the coronavirus. It isn’t surprising. They have no doubt heard about the illness by now. They might not understand the specifics, but they can sense the vibe around them. Things that are a part of kids’ normal everyday lives are suddenly changing. And that … Continue reading Playful ways to help kids with coronavirus fears
How can we help when kids suck their thumb or have other self-focused repetitive behaviours?
I wonder if your child sucks their thumb, bites their nails, picks their skin or does some other repetitive behaviour? These are behaviours that kids (and adults) sometimes (unconsciously) use to manage the level of sympathetic activation or stress in their bodies when it gets too much. You might notice that at the … Continue reading How can we help when kids suck their thumb or have other self-focused repetitive behaviours?
Frustration is an early warning sign … take heed!
This morning I noticed myself starting to get frustrated. I felt the rising tension in my chest, felt my breath become a bit faster and strained. I consider this an early warning sign! If I don’t take head at this point, things can go pear-shaped. Can you relate? At the time, I was in the … Continue reading Frustration is an early warning sign … take heed!
Using play to dissolve irritability and tension
“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
Feeling unappreciated? How playful exaggeration can help!
Do you sometimes feel unseen and unappreciated, for all the things - big and small - that you do for your children? Well, I think sometimes we need to give ourselves the acknowledgement and appreciation that we are wanting! We need to BE OUR OWN FAN CLUB!! And PLAYFUL EXAGGERATION can really come in handy … Continue reading Feeling unappreciated? How playful exaggeration can help!
Playfulness to repair when your child says, “I’m not listening to you!”
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!”
Here With You Parenting 