Reading Your Child’s Sleepy Signals

The first six years of a child’s life are filled with changes. They learn, they grow, and they adapt to the world around them. This ever-changing development often has an impact on napping patterns, which means that their nap needs will vary throughout the early years. It can be difficult to keep up with an appropriate nap schedule, and both you and your child could end up very frustrated!

10 Ways to Raise a Happier Child

There are a wide variety of parenting styles, child personalities, and family situations; however, I have compiled 10 things that I truly believe will lead to a happier child. And we all know that happier children make for happier parents!

You are welcome to share this graphic on social media, with your friends, or in your work.

Is Your Child Waking Up Too Early?

If you don’t need an alarm clock because your child is an early bird, read on for tips and reclaim some morning shut-eye!

Some children are natural early birds, but only 10% to 15% actually have a biological tendency to be early risers. Many children wake up early because of reasons other than their biological alarm, and these can be changed. How do you know where your child fits on this scale? There are specific things to look for.

How to End Preschooler Back Talk

When you first hear your preschooler talk back to you it is often a simple expression of their emotion: “No! I don’t want to.” It is important to differentiate between your child’s feelings, and how he is expressing them. He is absolutely entitled to his feelings, but the problem is in the way that he is voicing them. A disrespectful pattern can quickly emerge and worsen if the communication pattern is not pointed out and corrected from the beginning.

Prevent Sneaky Car Naps

Does your child fall asleep briefly in the car and then wake up the moment you arrive home? Does he act like that ten minute snooze replaces a two-hour nap? This is common, and it makes you wonder if that catnap is really enough sleep. It’s not! And here’s why:

The Magic of the Hush Hour

Children of all ages can benefit from daily nap time, but there will be times when your child simply refuses to sleep. Unfortunately, this can result in a fussy child who is prone to tears, whining, and tantrums. If a nap does not seem to be happening, you can still create a Hush Hour routine that will provide helpful rest time for children, regardless of their age or their desire to nap.

How to Get Your Children to Listen to You

You tell your child to put his shoes on 10 times, and he is still walking around barefoot.

You ask your child to close the door behind them, yet it is wide open and letting cold air in.

You remind your child to go to the bathroom, but when you arrive at the grocery store, she suddenly needs to go potty.

These are all normal, yet frustrating, scenarios for parents; but there is a simple solution to this problem – read on!