Grace

Humans parenting humans Parenting can feel overwhelming. We want to do well for our kids. The more we know, it can feel as though the more we fail to act the way we want to parent. It can feel as though no matter how hard we try, we never quite get there. So why keep …

Pendulum Parenting

And Why You Need Boundries It is a joy to say yes to our children, to see the delight in their eyes and their excitement is heart lifting. It is also true that we humans like to keep the positive emotions going and avoid dissappointing or frustrating others as it is hard to deal with …

Toilet Learning

Where to Start How to transition a child to using the toilet becomes a big focus during the toddler years. In toddler parentinh groups the question often comes up, "how do we start?". Only toilet learning doesn't start during the toddler years. Our influence on their understanding and attitudes to toileting starts much earlier than …

Good Girl and Good Boy

and the problem with praise It is a very common phrase in interracting with children. A simple two word statement intended to encourage a child when they do something that is appreciated. It is used when a child gives a hug, or finishes their meal, or when they wait patiently or do something interesting. However, …

Fostering Independent Play

Engage with Their Play Independent play is something many parents want their children to master. The temptation is to try to force it by withdrawing from their play and insisting they play alone for periods of time. The problem with disengagement and forced solitary play is that it indicates that the adult does not think …

No

Communicating Boundaries An infant crawls over to the powerpoint and begins to pull on the plug. “No,” says the adult sternly. A baby tosses her food over the side of the chair onto the floor. “No!” exclaims the adult. A toddler picks up the blocks and throws it delightedly. “No!” commands the adult. 'No' is …

Crying is Communication

Expressing Emotions, Meeting Needs There are two lines of thought in respectful parenting circles that seem to come into conflict. One is the idea that children need to be able to express their emotions in safe ways and have their feelings listened to and validated. The other is that children have needs which must be …

Elimination Communication

When Baby Needs to Go Elimination communication is all about communicating with babies about their needs to eliminate (to poo and to wee). It is very important to start with this fact. Often Elimination Communication gets defined as some sort of trick toilet training for babies or purely a way to ditch nappies for babies. …

Gentle Parenting

more than what it is not There are many parenting approaches. And there are a growing number that are opposed to the parenting practises that have dominated our recent history, particularly those centered around punishments and rewards. As the practice of parenting respectfully grows, many people are fleshing out what this means and how to …

Shaming

A Powerful Motivator for All the Wrong ReasonsTo shame someone is to cause a person to feel ashamed. You could replace the word ashamed with embarrassed, uncomfortable, guilty or distressed. It is to make a person feel bad about or for oneself. This is different from feeling bad for another, such as sympathy or empathy. …