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
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
“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
These days, a lot of children’s lives, both in school and in outside of school activities, is very structured. Periods of unstructured time are really important for kids, giving them the freedom to do what they want. But sometimes, it is not that easy. Sometimes, “boredom” takes hold. 👉 When left to their own devices, kids … Continue reading “Boredom” and how to give kids the fuel they need to make their own fun
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!”
You probably already know that I’m a big fan of power reversal games for turning around challenging parenting situations! But did you know that this same kind of game can be really effective in inspiring kids to cooperate with those every day tasks that can sometimes become such a drag? Things like getting clothes or pyjamas on, … Continue reading Power reversal games to inspire cooperation with everyday tasks
I know it’s not a luxury that everyone has - a partner who comes home at the end of the day and can share the load (although sometimes after a long day of work my hubby is more tired than me!). But last night I made the most of it and went for “option z … Continue reading More power reversal play: The “force push”
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
Have you heard of power reversal play? When instead of being the bigger, stronger, wiser one, as we often appear to be, we play the part of the less competent one? The bumbling fool, even? Kids are so often the smaller and weaker ones. They are learning so much everyday, often not knowing how to … Continue reading What “The Book with No Pictures” can teach you about power reversal play!
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