Gentle Parenting Toolkits
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But What About Discipline?
But what about discipline? I discipline, yes. I teach about the consequences of actions. With spanking? No, that is punishment, not discipline. Discipline is teaching, not punishment. Punishment is disconnected from an event, it is a thing done to a… Continue reading
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Don’t Think of Pink Elephants, and the Annoying Repetitive Behaviors of Children
Don’t think of pink elephants. Stop thinking of pink elephants. STOP THINKING OF PINK ELEPHANTS! If you keep thinking of pink elephants you are going to have to sit on the bottom stair for one minute. TWO MINUTES! FIVE MINUTES!… Continue reading
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Sleeping Tigers, Switched-Off Cliffs and Teaching Toddlers about Every Day Dangers
Once upon a time when humans first roamed the planet.. There were no Dangerous Steep Cliffs that had an off-switch, and sleeping tigers were still very dangerous to poke. Back then parents didn’t have the luxury of teaching children about… Continue reading
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The Happy Things Hands Can Do After Hitting
Your hand slaps against my face suddenly. I catch the feelings that balloon inside of me and I breathe them out before they burst. Time can slow like this. I turn my face to look at yours, catching your still-raised… Continue reading
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Waiting Room Games for Toddlers
A friend asked how to keep a young toddler occupied in a waiting room. I figured I’d share it here as well. 🙂 Upside Down Baby “Upside down baby” is a huge hit. Hold him on your lap straddling your waist.… Continue reading
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Let the Lesser Words Go
All the words there are, simply start a war “manipulative”, “careless”, “ungrateful brat” “conniving little cur”, “an artful boor” no rod for your back, don’t be a doormat. The things we notice are the things that float us or the… Continue reading
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Breathe In, Breathe Out (The Zen in Tantrums)
Small flailing body in my arms. Screechy loud upset voice over wishes and desires that conflict with each other in ways she can’t understand. Frustration. This loud little thunderstorm isn’t a big and powerful thing. It is just bigger than… Continue reading
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Are You a Gentle Parent or are you Trying to be a Gentle Parent?
I’ve had a few people worry recently that while they TRY to be gentle parents they don’t feel like they are actually gentle parents because they make mistakes and don’t always know what to do. Because they came from homes… Continue reading
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The Annoyance of Whining (Emerging Communication Skills)
Dear Daughter, You’re nineteen months old and your whines cut straight through me. They’re endless sometimes. You whine for everything you don’t have words for, or all the words that you forget in that moment where you feel a need… Continue reading
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Extended Family Holiday Stress- Coping as a Gentle Parent
Spending time with family members over the holidays can be stressful for some parents that are choosing to raise their children differently from how they were raised or how their other family members are raising their children. Some things that… Continue reading
Nurshable 