Alana
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Songs are one of the most powerful ways to ease toddler transitions
Crying, tantrums and overall willfulness. Toddler transitions are hard. Inside find six powerful strategies to improve cooperation and decrease crying. “I’m not tired! I wake up.” He declares. He has his hands are on his hips and stomps his foot for emphasis. My strong-willed toddler is just shy of three and is arguably the most […] Continue reading
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School Principal says to follow these tips for a successful start to kindergarten
It is bittersweet to send your child off to school for the first time. On one hand, you’re excited for this milestone. On the other, it’s heartwrenching to send your baby out into the real world. In order to help both parents and children feel ready for kindergarten, I assembled ten dos and don’ts for […] Continue reading
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The Lonely Mom: How to Conquer This Feeling and Engage a Village Again
If you feel like a lonely mom, you’re not alone. As many as 90% of moms report feeling alone. Find effective ways to be a happier mom and re-engage the village around you. This post I, Alana, co-authored with best-selling author Rebecca Eanes. I had hundreds of online acquaintances, thousands of Instagram followers, and over […] Continue reading
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Flying with kids – 15 Tips for Flying with Infants & Toddlers
Flying with kids is daunting. No one wants to be stuck with the crying baby. Find effective strategies to make your flight as smooth as possible. The first time I flew with my then four-month-old daughter, I was ridden with fear. I kept thinking, what will happen if my daughter won’t stop crying? Five hours […] Continue reading
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Calm an Angry Child: Positive Parenting Strategies That Work!
A spirited, strong-willed, intense, or angry child… these are all terms that we often use, or hear to describe kids with strong emotions. What we don’t always know is how to help them calm down, or how to teach them to achieve calm themselves. It is especially difficult when you don’t know what has triggered […] Continue reading
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Picky Eater? Here are the two rules you need to know
Picky eaters can undermine the best meal planning. Parents can easily get into a rut of serving only a select number of foods their kids will eat. Many resort to bargaining, bribing and coercing just to get their kids to eat a few bites of something healthy. Here, pediatrician Dr. Orlena Kerek outlines how to […] Continue reading
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How to Conquer Your Toddler’s Potty Training Regression
As a parent, it is such a proud moment when your toddler starts potty training and has success. With many children, it starts off well, but there is a potty training regression. Whether your child is a toddler, a three-year-old or four-year-old, there are practical strategies here to help through the most frustrating potty training […] Continue reading
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When Should a Toddler Stop Napping – an Expert Weighs in
When should you give up your toddler’s nap? Read a sleep expert’s insights and signs your toddler is ready to stop napping. When my textbook sleeper began taking longer and longer and longer to fall asleep at nap time, I persisted with iron-clad determination. She would sleep. I had worked so hard to get my […] Continue reading
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How to Ditch Punishment and Get the Best Behavior Yet
When we entered into a cycle of timeouts and my son’s behavior only got worse, this approach changed everything. Our family is more peaceful and happier than before. When my second son was born, my two-year-old son started acting out. Before the baby’s arrival, our days were filled with building forts and laughter. I was […] Continue reading
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Parenting through difficult toddler behaviour: These 10+ strategies are simple and effective
When you’re faced with difficult toddler behaviour, it can be painful. You simply want to move forward with your day, yet your child is digging in his heels or throwing a tantrum. Find positive parenting tips that will mitigate meltdowns and willfulness. I had just got back from my first yoga class in a minor eternity. Having […] Continue reading
About Me
Hi, I’m Alana. When I’m not nursing cold, stale coffee, I usually can be found with the baby on my hip, barefoot, and racing after my two older kids.
Thanks to a degree in psychology and a free-range childhood backing onto an expansive evergreen forest, positive parenting and play-based learning are my passions.