Parenting from the Heart

Hearing children repeat requests over and over can make adults feel dizzy—especially when saying “Please wait a moment” intensifies the...

When my dad yelled "Calm down!" he didn't mean "Find a quiet place within yourself' or “Let’s just stop and breathe together.” "Calm...

I was impressed and amused by a class journal entry written by one of our third graders pointing out that her dog had demonstrated one of...

“I forgot that my kindergartner’s daycare was in a different classroom. I felt her getting uncomfortable as we walked down the hall, and...

“You may delay, but time will not.” —Benjamin Franklin When the glitter of the holidays subsides, children often feel a letdown. However,...

“Music produces a kind of pleasure that human nature cannot do without.” —   Confucius Abraham Joshua Heschel, the famous Polish rabbi...

Instead of groaning when she realizes she made a mistake in her computation on a math problem, a seven-year-old says, “Kiss my brain,”...

As a child, the question “How was school today?” irritated me. How could I describe a medley of experiences–a great game on the...

“We must give the child an environment that he can utilize by himself. Free the child’s potential and it will transform the world.” Maria...

As we adjust to the time change and the loss of the luxury of evening light, it’s a helpful time to think about sleep and the long-term...

“The most accurate measure of community is the compassionate actions of its members.” — Coretta Scott King There have been several...

The term “my new best friend” popped into our culture in 2003 as the title of a British comedy series. (Didn’t we always use this...

The ability to pause provides us with many benefits in life. Creating a space between our thought and action allows us to filter what we...

I was astonished recently when a teacher called across the classroom to tell me a two-year-old who was having adjustment issues had...

Parents often ask me questions about sending their children on playdates. Understandably, they wonder about allowing their children to go...

“I can’t get it out of my mind.” I was surprised by how grotesque a statue in a neighbor’s yard is until I realized it’s an early glimpse...

“What do you think the rules of golf are?” I asked my preschool class, years ago, before a visiting parent showed them golf clubs and...

“Did you have any adventures outside at school today?” This is a question children are more apt to more respond to readily than the...

Becky Kennedy, author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, reminds us that arguing with our children only means...

Children notice adults being brave and persevering. After Room 5 teacher Ann Pinkas had foot surgery, she had to stay home for weeks, and...