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March 1, 2022
For many families, getting out the door to school each morning can be a source of stress and conflict. For preschoolers, you can help parents promote autonomy and self-regulation skills by suggesting that they create a simple picture schedule of the morning activities to empower their child to be “in charge” of their own behavior.…
Read moreFebruary 22, 2022
Time-outs are an often misunderstood and misused technique for discipline. Here are a few quick ways to explain time-outs to caregivers: It’s a pause or body break, not a punishment. It’s meant to interrupt physically aggressive behavior only. It’s short: 30-60 seconds. Time-outs are not a replacement for caregiver soothing. Learning to pause and calm…
Read moreFebruary 15, 2022
Quick tip to promote positive opposites: When you hear parents commenting on challenging behaviors in the visit, model how they can ask for the behavior they want to see instead. Try things like, “please keep your body on the table,” instead of “stop moving,” or, “please hold this,” instead of “stop touching that.” See this…
Read moreFebruary 8, 2022
Quick tip to promote positive opposites: When you hear parents commenting on challenging behaviors in the visit, model how they can ask for the behavior they want to see instead. Try things like, “please keep your body on the table,” instead of “stop moving,” or, “please hold this,” instead of “stop touching that.” See this…
Read moreFebruary 1, 2022
Though infant crying and fussiness is an expected part of development, it isn’t easy for parents. Help build knowledge and understanding with these strategies: Promote soothing. Newborns cannot be spoiled and need help from adults to calm down. Encourage sleep. Remind caregivers that being overtired contributes to fussiness. Advise putting the baby down every 1.5-2…
Read moreJanuary 25, 2022
Parents of infants may express concerns around fluctuating emotions during the first few weeks after birth. Reassuring parents that it is totally normal to experience Baby Blues, while discussing more serious signs of PPD or PP Anxiety, is an important part of ensuring baby’s health, too. Untreated parental depression can disrupt a parent’s ability to sensitively respond to their infant, accurately read infant cues, and to engage…
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