6 helpful tips for kids learned at a visit to the Fire Station
Today, we went to tour a fire station as part of a mom's group outing. Aside from my son sitting in the truck, putting on the jacket and helmet, touching hoses and getting a plastic helmet to take home, there was a lot of really helpful information shared that I took...
Kids and Dealing with the Death of a Pet
Pets are often just as much a part of the family unit as people. Children especially connect well with pets, as they seem more on their level than adults sometimes. Let's face it, pets and kids have much in common: they love being on the floor, they love to jump and...
Seeing and Believing in the Goodness of Kids
One of the major principles of play therapy is that you focus on the relationship, the child, and the existent positives rather than the problematic behaviors or issues you wish to change. The reason for that is that adults tend to over-exaggerate the negative and...
Choice Giving Examples from My Own Home
So, my dear husband has heard play therapy stories, principles and techniques ad nauseum at this point. He truly has worked very hard to integrate the skills into his everyday parenting. He claims that he is a one trick pony, and gets stuck saying the same thing over...
Setting Expectations for Kids a la Dora the Explorer
I have always been a big advocate of setting clear expectations with kids and setting them up for success in any situation. I have written about only setting limits when necessary and discussed the importance of brevity and clarity with children. Along the same lines,...
How to Really Love a Child
I was browsing through a website for Moms the other day, and saw this posted by someone. It was such a great reminder of how much the little things matter. These are things that may be easily pushed aside in the hectic busyness of our lives, but oh how I hope to be...
Helping Kids Handle Holiday Gatherings
Children love the lights, music, gifts and wonder of Christmas. What can be more challenging is getting them to appreciate all-day family gatherings, boring work parties, and obligatory holiday functions that are not necessarily kid friendly. Here are some tips that...
Parenting Pre-teens and adolescents
One of the most difficult parenting tasks, according to parents who are willing to share, is knowing how to handle teenagers. They are still children, needing guidance and boundaries, yet are yearning for more freedom and independence. It is a delicate balance for...
Preparing Kids for a Parent Traveling
I spent four days in Sacramento last week at the International Association for Play Therapy Conference. It was so encouraging to be surrounded by hundreds of people who believe in the power or play and the ability children possess to heal themselves. As exciting and...
Teaching Kids the Value of a Dollar in a Tough Economy
In the current economic situation, everyone seems to be more conscious of spending and saving. In a previous post, I wrote about how to help kids understand the economy. In this one, I would like to give you ten tips for enlarging the lessons and encouraging kids to...
Teaching Kids the Value of a Hand-Written Letter
In an age where video games, cell phones and computers are paramount, it can be challenging to find ways to connect as a family, relax and get in touch with our slower-paced and more personal roots. One of the assignments that parents are required to do in the...
Limit Setting with My Almost Two-Year Old
There are many forms of discipline that are implemented with children, though none more effective than Play Therapy Limit Setting, in my opinion. Here are some of the benefits, as I see them: 1. It can be used with any age, from toddlers to teenagers. (Adults too,...