What if you could gift your child more than just a physical toy for Christmas this year? What if you could inspire them, build confidence, and encourage growth with the simple joy of a toy? The truth is, the kinds of toys we choose for our children can either inspire or stunt imagination, learning, confidence,…
Summer is here! A time for kids to take a break from school and enjoy playing with friends. But why should kids have all the fun? Adults have a lot to gain by engaging in play. For children and adults alike, play creates a sense of community. Engaging in adult play can increase social well-being…
Communicating with others about our needs, wants, and expectations can sometimes be a daunting task. For many, it can be uncomfortable and, at times, even downright scary. I have rarely met anyone who finds it extremely easy to communicate openly about these things. In fact, it is more common for people to avoid, deflect, and…
Our “sense of self” might be described as our understanding of who we are, our make-up, wiring, preferences, and areas of strength and growth. Knowing these things and being able to communicate them can be beneficial both personally and professionally. Here’s a question to explore: Where and how does our sense of self develop? In…
It’s not always about what your children have, but rather about who you are teaching them to be. I spend a lot of time working with parents who are trying to get on the same page regarding their children’s behavior, school performance, social commitments and future decisions. All of these things are important and need…
People pleasing can come easy when we want to show someone we love them. We tend to enjoy pleasing others with blessings such as gifts or meeting their needs. But sometimes pleasing can become difficult and detrimental when our motive is no longer based on love but rather driven by fear. There was a…
Author and therapist Dan Allender states this in his book How Children Raise Parents: “Beginning with the first day of life outside the womb, every child is asking two core questions: ‘Am I loved?’ and ‘Can I get my own way?’” It can be a relentless and overwhelming task for parents to answer these questions…
Thanksgiving is approaching, and stores are already being saturated with Christmas music and decor. While the busyness of the holidays fast approaches, how can you as parents bring a spirit of thanksgiving to this season and take time to model thankfulness to your children? Consider these practical thoughts: Recognize the Giver Allow your kids to…