Difficult Behaviour, Kids Co-operation, Toddlers
Suzie Brown
How to Get Through the Day Smoothly With a ...

Now I consider myself a total expert in this area! Not just because I’ve done a load of research into this area, but mainly because I have a super-strong-willed daughter who will not just DO something when you ask. No, that would be too simple…. :-)

But I’ve found the way to get her to co-operate with what I need her to do (most of the time!). So here are the tactics that really work.

 

How to Get Through the Day Smoothly With a Strong-Willed Child!
Difficult Behaviour
Suzie Brown
Is your child hitting? Here's what you can do.

What is it with the hitting?! If your child is anything like mine, he or she sometimes gets into an out-of-control hitting frenzy. It could be only occasional, or maybe it’s turned into a real phase.

Actually this is very common – and it’s completely normal behaviour for toddlers and preschool kids (and even school-age kids).

So why is the hitting happening? And what can we do about it.

Is your child hitting? Here's what you can do.
Difficult Behaviour, Setting limits
Suzie Brown
Why I'll never lock my daughter in the laundry

I know I'm sounding controversial with this week's blog title! But I'm not actually being that extreme - locking your child in the laundry is truly one of the discipline recommendations of one of the most widely accepted parenting approaches in Australia and overseas.

While there are many good things about this program, I want to take issue with this recommendation.

Why do they tell parents to lock their kids in the laundry? 

Why I'll never lock my daughter in the laundry

Emotions

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Want to stop shouting for good? Here's how to heal your anger

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Want to stop shouting for good? Here's how to heal your anger

When anger and shouting at your kids becomes an almost daily event you might start to wonder: Why am I so angry all the time? And how can I stop this?!

In this week’s blog I’ve distilled down the deeper reasons why we parents can feel SO angry with our kids. If you can understand what’s really triggering your anger and reactivity, you’re in a much better position to heal yourself from it.

Essentially we are taking whatever happens with our kids very personally. When we’re upset, the situation has become all about us (in our minds, at least!).

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6 Ways to Calm Your Anger With Your Kids

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6 Ways to Calm Your Anger With Your Kids

In case you think you’re the only one who get angry with their kids… let me confess. A few weeks ago I lost it with my daughter.

So I totally understand why YOU get angry with your kids!

In the midst of your child being a nightmare, it’s natural to get angry!

Well in this two-part blog post I’m going to explain why you’re really getting triggered and angry with your kids. I’m going to help you work out what’s underneath the anger so you can heal it.

And I’ll give you five simple ways to help stop shouting and turning into a monster when your kids are difficult.

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Here’s Why Spanking Is Not Good For Your Child (And Doesn’t Work Anyway) – According to The Science

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Here’s Why Spanking Is Not Good For Your Child (And Doesn’t Work Anyway) – According to The Science

Did you know that the majority of parents think that spanking is sometimes or often a good idea?  

But scientific research tells us is that spanking is not good for your child’s development – it does hurt them in the short AND long term.

And what’s more, it doesn’t even improve their behaviour!

If you’ve ever had to deal with the in-laws, your parents or even your partner telling you your child needs a “good, hard spanking”, I want to empower you with the facts so you can tell them they are wrong!

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My Three Favourite Parenting Books. Have you read these?

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My Three Favourite Parenting Books. Have you read these?

Today I want to share with you my top 3 favourite parenting books!

When I was a new mama and didn’t know what I was doing, these books saved me. From the knowledge in these books, I learnt how to handle my daughter’s big emotions and her stubborn behaviours and calm her down. I found guidance to parent in ways that aligned with my values – like using love and connection rather than fear and punishment to get my child through every day tasks.

Read on for my top 3 books!

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How to feel a whole lot better about your kids - and your parenting!

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How to feel a whole lot better about your kids - and your parenting!

Have you ever been embarrassed by your kids' wild behaviour compared to all the other "angels" at playgroup or kinder? Or seen the calm, happy family in the park and wished your family was like that? You could be suffering from Comparisonitis!

Today I’m going to give you 3 reasons why avoiding Comparisonitis will make you much happier, and 3 ways you can cure yourself of it.

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The Science of a Meltdown: Why Do Young Kids Freak Out About Little Things?

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The Science of a Meltdown: Why Do Young Kids Freak Out About Little Things?

When we were visiting family friends recently: 5yo Johnny says: “I don’t want the pink plate, I want the green one. Gemma took my green plate!“ Tears, screeching and then hits his sister Gemma.

It’s amazing how little things can so upset a young child, isn’t it?! 

So what’s happening – why do kids react like this? What's actually going on in their brains?!

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Why Is My Child Being So DIFFICULT Lately?!

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Why Is My Child Being So DIFFICULT Lately?!

Has your child ever gone through a difficult stage - where they have become angry, aggressive, and totally unreasonable for weeks on end..? These phases are usually due to a big life change or a developmental leap that is stressing your child's emotional and physical system.

Parenting is hard enough, so why do we have to deal with these difficult stages and what can we do about it?

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Can the words we use make or break our kids' self esteem?

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Can the words we use make or break our kids' self esteem?

Have you heard the modern parenting advice not to say to your kids “You’re a good girl” or “You’re a bad boy”? Instead we are told to focus on the child’s actions.

But saying “good girl” and “good boy” is almost a reflex action for most people of all ages – it’s hard to break. And what really is the harm?

Well, here’s the thing. Your kids don’t have a perception about themselves as a separate entity who is either good, bad, clever or stupid. It’s never occurred to them. So when we use this kind of language we are literally creating their sense of self for them – we are teaching them who they are with our words. 

So what should we say?!

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Minimising Meltdowns and Getting Kids to Co-operate (With Free Cheat Sheet)

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Minimising Meltdowns and Getting Kids to Co-operate (With Free Cheat Sheet)

According to most parents I talk to, getting kids to co-operate is up there with their biggest challenges. 

Whether you need ideas to simply get your kids out the door peacefully, or help with a hitting or angry child, I’ve put together the definitive mindful parenting guide to managing meltdowns and getting kids to co-operate.

And don't miss the bonus downloadable Cheat Sheet listing the strategies you can use in those tricky situations!  

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Why Crying Can Actually Be a Good Thing!

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Why Crying Can Actually Be a Good Thing!

Letting your child cry at the right times can actually be good for them. What’s more, trying to stop your child from crying could actually be doing them more harm than good.  

But there are two key ingredients that mark the difference between crying that’s helpful for their happiness versus potentially damaging: (1) Your connection with them and (2) Your empathy. This blog will give you a step by step process for how to ensure you get these key ingredients right.  

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How to Handle Sleep Deprivation Using Mindfulness

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How to Handle Sleep Deprivation Using Mindfulness

Sleep disruption and tiredness is THE most common challenge facing the parents I speak to and teach. It's natural for small babies to wake regularly at night for feeds and comfort, and most children take two years and sometimes more to regularly sleep through the night. 

So coping with sleep disruption is a fundamental skill for parents of babies and young children! And here's where mindfulness can really help you to cut the stress of sleep loss. 

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How (and Why) to Teach Your Child that Emotions Are Okay

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How (and Why) to Teach Your Child that Emotions Are Okay

Many of us were taught as kids that it was not okay to feel strong emotions - high excitement, anger, sadness, fear were all frowned upon. Settle down, be quiet, pull yourself together, we were told. But the problem with that is we learnt to bottle up our emotions or try to get rid of them - resulting in pent up frustration, anxiety, depression or feeling totally disconnected from others.

We need to teach our kids a better way to handle emotions.