It has been a long time since I have posted. Mostly because it has been a very busy season for me and my family. It would be hard to summarize the last six month of my life in a few sentences; but in a general sense we have seen sickness, trials, and setbacks, but also […]
Author: teachkidsempathy
After school transitions: 5 strategies to help navigate afternoon family dynamics
It goes without saying that the time between 3:30 and 6:30pm is the most hectic time of the day for most families. This time is filled with pick ups, drops offs, homework, dinner, and if you live in my house, sibling arguments seem to be at their peak at this time of day. There is […]
The Gift of the Magi
I first heard of O Henry’s The Gift of the Magi when I was in high school. Though it was published in 1905, the short story’s timeless theme of self sacrifice captivated me. Inspired by the costly gifts from the magi in the nativity story, in this tale, a young married couple struggling to get […]
Caring for pets builds character
About three years ago we lost our beloved Tucker. He was the most obedient, protective dog I have ever encountered, and my husband’s best friend. Even though I was seven months pregnant at the time, I still couldn’t eat for days. A part of our family was gone. We tried adopting a rescue that following […]
Nature: Another tool to teach empathy
“Teach kids about nature and you teach them how to nurture.” Stephen Ritz It has been a long time since I posted. The busyness of summer got me out of the routine. Which was exactly what I needed. Summer was full of new experiences and adventures for me and my family. We tried to spend as […]
Toddler Tantrums: 6 tricks to help you & your littles
We are in peak toddler tantrum phase at my house these days. My toddler is 2.5. He has also been going through some big changes. In the last six weeks he has potty-trained, moved into a toddler bed, and given up his pacifier. Theoretically, I know that part of the reason for the tantrums is the […]
Teaching toddlers to express feelings
My toddler is in peak tantrum season. He yells. He hits. He hurts me and says, I pinch you, or I hit you. Then he sulks and hides in a corner. And if I follow him, he says “Stop it, chasing me Mommy.” Name the feeling So I might say “You are feeling mad, and […]
Hardening off: the importance of transitioning children to prepare them for the real world
Over the past few months, I have been dabbling in gardening. Maybe, like me, you have experimented with it as well? And failed? again and again? I definitely would not say that I have a green thumb. I have killed countless plants, bushes, etc.. in my day. (Mom, remember when I weeded your strawberry patch […]
Dirt Exposure Boosts Happiness
My journey I have to admit, until recently, I was not keen on letting my kids play in the dirt. Selfishly, I would think about the work required of me to clean them up afterwards. And so, I came up with various excuses for why it wasn’t a good time to get dirty, or […]
How are you REALLY doing?
One of my biggest pet peeves is when people ask “How are your doing?” in passing, and they just keep on walking before they hear your response. I specifically think of those times in my life, when I was aching for someone to really care about how I was doing and to take the time […]