The world can be a tricky place these days. There's no denying that. If we want to raise mentally tough kids who can handle it without becoming jaded--or worse, becoming part of the problem--parents need to empower children to address challenges in emotionally intelligent ways. We need to raise children who have both grit and […]

In the excerpt below from Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science, and Better Behavior, I discuss how we can nurture our children's social-emotional intelligence and emotional maturity. Perhaps the most important take-away, though (spoiler alert!), is that emotionally mature people model emotional maturity, rather than expect children to magically pick it up out of nowhere. […]

As I write this, it's November 30: my child's Advent calendar is hanging downstairs, still empty, for her to find in the morning. Rather than fill it with trinkets that will soon be forgotten by her (but not by our planet), I'm planning to fill it with 25 ways to say "We love you." This […]

Sleep deprivation and other struggles in the early years are real, and it doesn't take long before bleary-eyed parents of small children ask, "What's the magical age? WHEN does parenting get easier?" As exhausted as you might be right now, there's hope for parents at every stage of their child's development. I'll go through each […]

When we hear the term "highly sensitive child" (HSC), we may think about an anxious child or an intensely shy child who cries often or is easily overwhelmed. Although sensitive kids may exhibit those traits on occasion, you may be surprised to learn those aren't actually the hallmarks of most highly sensitive kids. This article […]

I get what it feels like to be a lonely mom. Having moved house an average of almost once per year for the first six years of my child's life, I've spent a lot of time trying to make new mom friends. Or any new friends at all, really, regardless of whether or not they're […]

Conscious parenting is connection-based parenting, where we prioritize relationship and mental health over parental dominance. Still, "conscious parenting" sounds rather funny, doesn't it? It's as if the alternative is unconscious parenting, and that's what I do when I'm asleep. That aside, there's a lot of confusion about what conscious parenting is and why it's such […]

Although most children like going to school, it is a real fear for other kids. A fear of schools can escalate to avoidance or refusal, resulting in physical symptoms and missed opportunities for learning. Parents and educators may experience immense stress trying to fill the gaps. This post will explore the five most common causes […]

In this interview, Dr. Sarah Bren discusses "good enough" parenting and why it really IS good enough. She covers big feelings, boundaries, and how to handle parenting when we really don't know what to do.

27-minute mini-course. In this session, I address why issues related to sharing, whining/"attitude" and tantrums can be so triggering for parents and caregivers, and how we can support children through these tricky moments. Note that this video was originally recorded for a Christian gentle parenting summit, so there are Biblical references in it. The science and approaches apply regardless of faith and/or belief system.