Many people think of spanking, also known as corporal punishment, as being an "old fashioned" way for parents to discipline their children. Perhaps surprisingly, however, it's still much more common than many realize. Despite guidance against corporal punishment from the American Academy of Pediatrics, half of parents in the United States have used spanking to […]

In this interview, Kim John Payne discusses: The critical importance of keeping childhood simple and sacred What happens when we over-schedule, over-achieve, and over-praise our children How to nurture an environment of kindness and cooperation in the home The "true north" of where our children's value systems originate Where play dates and activities fit into child development How and why we should develop a "family identity" The importance of parental...

20-minute course about how and when to talk about body parts, how to help kids stay safe, and how to answer awkward questions. Along with the information presented in this course, it's imperative that we not force affection with children. Their "no" gets to be "no" without pressure to hug, kiss, or do anything else that makes them uncomfortable, even with an adult they trust.

Childhood friends are so much more than meet the eye. Our children’s first relationships outside the home are noteworthy insofar as they're our kids' first conditional relationships. Different from their relationships with family -- in which they've little choice about with whom they associate -- childhood friends give kids the opportunity to decide for themselves […]

Holding space for our children's big feelings is no easy task -- and there's good reason for that. According to research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology, we're "wired" to pick up each other's feelings. That's right -- emotions are actually proving to be contagious.  Ever wondered why you start to tear up when someone […]

What does intentional parenting mean, and how can we do a better job of being intentional in the ways we're raising our children? 13-minute mini-course.

In this interview, Julie Lythcott-Haims discusses: The concept of "adulting" -- and why it's so challenging for so many people Why vulnerability and authenticity matter so much Why our "life plan" doesn't always go as planned -- and what to do about that The importance of embracing imperfection and owning our mistakes Why we need to prioritize connection with others How to be the person who we, separate from any...

In this interview, Jess Lahey discusses: Her personal story that led to her writing The Addiction Inoculation Who gets addicted and why Risk factors (many are not what you'd think -- it's not "someone else's" problem) What a family's approach to discussing (or not discussing) drugs and alcohol have to do with it For parents of little kids, what we should do NOW to help protect our kids from future...

In this 6-minute mini-course, I address ways to create peace when you have loud children. Creative approaches to help them get their LOUDNESS out in ways that help peacefully diffuse their energy.

In this interview, Jennifer of Kids Eat in Color discusses: Why we should be a role model for healthy living (but what that REALLY means) How and why balance matters -- there are no "bad" foods What we should be feeding our kids; definition of a healthy meal Gut health as it relates to behavior How to expose kids to new foods Picky eating and how to address it The...