Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Simple Parenting”
As parents, we sometimes find books or articles that make us question the way we parent and try something new. This week, one of us found out that the way most of us encourage our kids may actually hurt them. You’ve probably heard “praise effort not achievement.” But it’s not enough to just encourage kids to try hard (plus, it …
If summer has you ramping up your outside time with your little one, we’ve got you covered with infant and toddler sun safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. And we’ve collected a few bonus pointers for ACTUALLY getting sunscreen safely applied to even the squirmiest of babies. Infants Got a little one six months or younger? The general …
How much sleep do your kids actually need? Age 0 to 3 Your newborn should be getting 14-17 hours of sleep. At this age, it might all feel like a blur. Age 1 to 2 You toddler should be getting 11 to 14 hours of sleep each night. Age 3 to 5 You preschooler should be getting 10 to 13 …
Maybe you know her as Beth, or Nicole, or “Mom”… but every mom has a secret superhero profile, and we’ve built a quiz to help uncover those hidden identities. Moms: Answer these questions and we’ll tell you about your archenemy, your secret powers, and we’ll give you a superhero name! This is a super fun activity to do with kids. Try …
Last weekend, my seven-year old was racing with a friend at the park when the other boy tripped and fell. My son stopped running, leaned over to ask the boy if he was ok, and extended his hand to help him up. As I watched from afar, a spontaneous, happy thought popped into my head: “What a good kid!” It’s …
The big idea: Learning to Stop, Drop and Breathe when you start to lose it with your family can help you stay calm, patient and centered. Whether it’s a 10 year-old who knows just how to get under our skin, or a baby who won’t stop screaming, man, kids can push our buttons. But Dr. Laura Markham, author of the …
The big idea: Dry wipes can be revived! Here’s a tip that may be obvious–but it wasn’t to me. I used to get frustrated when someone left the babywipes open and the wipes all dried out. I’d walk the package over to the trash, shaking my head sadly at the waste of money and trees. Then one day, a friend …
The Big Idea: Instead of finding fault, focus on finding solutions. This simple shift can make a big difference in family happiness. A few years ago, I read a blog post urging parents to “commit to blame-free household.” I hadn’t thought much about blame. But that simple phrase struck a chord. The more I thought about it, the more I …
The Big Idea: Transgender kids often have that trans identity by adolescence, and sometimes as young as 18-24 months. Kids whose families are accepting and supportive of their identity are much more likely to thrive. Last year, when my 4 year-old son saw his big sister wearing her fancy dress for Thanksgiving, he wanted to wear one too. No problem–we …
The Big Idea: Our culture is teaching boys to suppress their feelings from an early age. In actuality, to raise resilient and emotionally healthy boys we should: Talk with them about their feelings Allow and acknowledge whatever they feel Never shame them for how they feel When my very emotional 8-year old son dissolves into tears about a broken lego, …
