Making Mistakes and Being Raised with PD

It was my honor and pleasure to be a guest on one of my favorite podcasts–Joyful Courage with friend and colleague Casey O’Roarty. Click here to listen to the episode What you’ll hear in this episode: How positive discipline impacts …

Practice

When I think of the word practice, it reminds me of the saying that practice makes perfect. I soon realized that practice meant a whole lot more. I also thought this tool card meant to give children practice, but realized …

Understand the Brain

I know Summer is here, because I have officially “flipped my lid”, or at least I have wanted to every day since school has been out…sigh. On one hand I am truly grateful to have a career where I am …

Sense of Humor

Sense of Humor is definitely the easiest and healthiest tool card to practice, when I remember! When I think back to why I wanted to have children, the first thought that comes to mind is, “Because I want to have …

Small Steps

Small steps was the perfect tool card for this week. My almost 5-year-old son started kindergarten and, as much as I don’t agree with it, he was given homework. I really struggled with this for the first few days for …

One Word

This morning my oldest son, Greyson, almost 7-years-old said to me, “I can’t wait until I’m grown up so I can boss my kids around.” I was amused, surprised and hurt at the same time. Amused because he thinks that …

Eye to Eye

Tonight I experienced why it is so important to get Eye to Eye with my child when trying to communicate. The boys and I (6 ½-year-old Greyson and 4 ½-year-old Reid) were enjoying our Friday evening with a Red Box …

Closet Listening

I found Closet Listening be one of the easiest and yet most difficult tools to use. Easy, because all you really need to do is sit with your child and not say anything. I found this difficult, because it’s not …

Decide What You Will Do

Decide what you will do and—follow through! The most important part of this tool is the follow through. Children know when you mean it and when you don’t. After all, isn’t that their job is to test you and their …

Distract & Redirect

In the beginning of this week I thought this tool was used mostly with younger children. I used distract and redirect on a daily basis when my boys were toddlers. However, this week I had several opportunities to practice this …