Some General Reading

When you create a separate arts and crafts space for your children, they have a place to go to be messy and to be creative. The ideal arts and crafts space for children would include a flat surface for them to work on that they can either stand or sit next to depending on their needs. The space should be accessible to them so that they can go there on their own at any time. Use an organizational system to stock the area with different kinds of colored paper, crayons, glue, ch

By now, we have all heard the saying  that you have to love yourself first, before you can deeply love other people.  But some children actually grow up never feeling loved and struggle with trying to feel love for themselves. When there is no love for oneself, how can self-love be grown and cultivated? The answer is with focus and attention. Developing a deep love for yourself and the person that you are requires work when starting from scratch. Here are some practices that

When you have children, creating routines for events that occur daily or most days helps your children know what is expected of them and what to expect from others. Routines lead to feelings of safety and security in children. Family routines need to have expectations that are achievable for each child at each age. Being able to meet expectations builds self-confidence and feelings of competency in children. Some daily events that are good to set routines for include bedtime,

Most adults agree that stress is harmful to our bodies and our minds. By now, many adults are practicing mindfulness exercises in order to manage the harmful effects of stress. As parents, you may have heard your children describe adult mindfulness activities as boring. So, what are some ways that we can introduce mindfulness practices to our children and ensure that they will repeat the practices on their own? The answer is by making them fun, playful, and a little competiti

Maintaining an abundance mentality involves two factors: (1) A belief that there is enough of everything (wealth, health, love, friends, etc.) available, and (2) A belief that we have constant access to it. Abundance is the opposite of scarcity. When we operate from a perception of scarcity, we can actually block abundance by not being open to it. These are the essential aspects of abundance to keep in mind when raising children to be abundant thinkers.   Here are some key po

Early childhood is an excellent time to begin teaching children about gratitude. Parents and children can share about things they are grateful for at the dinner table or in the car on the way home from childcare or school. Encouraging older children (and adults) to keep a gratitude journal is also helpful. Gratitude can reverse the negative thinking that can lead to anxiety and depression in children and adults.   Gratitude is in the attitude. Gratitude can be defined as an a