A Playful Way to Stop Biting and Pinching
a guest post from Stephanie Parker When my daughter was three she started pinching and biting me. I was pretty shocked as she’d never done anything like that before. I tried setting a limit and
Category: Separation
Playing Away My Son’s Aggressive Behaviour
I had to keep a very close watch on my son, and be able to move in fast to protect myself or my daughter when he decided to have a swipe! But as the time went on, these incidents were fewer, and he was laughing more, and including his sister more in the games we were playing. I could sense we were all feeling very close.
A Great Phrase To Use To Set Limits Without Blame or Shame
I have thought a lot about what words I say to my two children when they are pushing boundaries and I need to set a limit. I have found the phrase, “I can’t let you
Clingy Children, Frustrated Parents
In this free parenting call Certified Parenting by Connection instructors Lyra L’Estrange and Otilia Mantelers bring you practical solutions to build your child’s confidence and independence.
Staylistening Through Swimming and Separation Fears
Shaheen used this approach to help her daughter work through fears around separation and swimming lessons, and return to her cheerful self.
Playing with Anxiety, with Dr. Lawrence Cohen
Children with high anxiety spend much of their time “on guard,” on the lookout for potential dangers. You can use dramatic play to help loosen up this hypervigilance. Here’s three games you can play to
Reconnecting Through Special Time After a Busy Day
My entire day, I’d had to figure things out on the fly. By the time my 10-year-old son was getting out of school, my schedule had changed half a dozen times. I had arranged for
Every Child Has Feelings About Mummy Leaving
David and his mum came recently to a Parenting by Connection class series I taught, which included two Play Events. This is where families meet for a couple of hours, and the adults play with
Special Time by a Working Mom
what seemed to make the most difference in our connection was the “mini” Special Time sessions that I did for five minutes — just five minutes! — before heading out the door for work, on the mornings she was awake before 7 a.m. No matter how late I was running, I could make time for five minutes of Special Time.
My Journey to Parenting by Connection
I’m the mom of a young son, who has been my greatest teacher in life and has guided me to my deepest passion, parenting! My work in Theater from the time I was a little
“I Only Want Mommy!” Helping Your Child Feel Safe with Both Parents – Part 2
You can find Part 1 of this article here. When your child rejects you, stay, reassure, and listen. When your child wants his other parent badly, simply stay with her and listen to her feelings.
“I Only Want Mommy!” Helping Your Child Feel Safe with Both Parents
Looking for Part 2 of this article? Go here. Is your child favoring her other parent over you? If you have a child favoring one parent, welcome to a very large club full of spurned
“Can I Have a Hug?” Helping Children with Hello and Goodbye
Q. My 5 year old is not big on hellos or goodbyes. Most of the time, I have been okay with this, but there are times when it seems inappropriate. For example, when we visited my
Separation Anxiety Recovery
Want the ultimate guide to surviving separation anxiety? Claim yours here! Children thrive on connection with their parents. Their need for a sense of connection is strong and constant through childhood. It is this sense
How to Help Your Child Deal with Shyness
Each child comes into the world with a different set of potential characteristics. As parents, our challenge is to find ways to work with, and celebrate, the people our children are. Some children are slow
Partnering with Your Child To Solve Their Issues
We at Hand in Hand are working to introduce parents everywhere to one very simple new idea that changes the work of parenting. The heart of this idea is that children’s feelings play a deeply
Childhood Trauma: How To Overcome It
A parent asked about helping her young son with a half-moment-long traumatic experience that he recently had. He came out of it unhurt, but really frightened. That evening, he talked about it again and again,
Helping Children with Divorce or Separation
Many families face the challenge of divorce or separation. Whatever the causes of the separation, and whatever the circumstances, it’s hard on everyone involved. Parents want the best for their children. They want stable, loving