Readers’ Favourites
The most popular posts on positive parenting strategies, play-based learning ideas, life with toddlers, developmental psychology, budget-friendly ideas and more!
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Breaking the golden rule of screen time is better for your family
Children are inundated with digital media. As parents, we know our children shouldn’t be on screens for more than two hours a day. However, using this one rule as your guide can actually work against you. Using insights from research and the sponsor of this post, Wellbeing.Google, you can successfully limit screen time and promote […] Continue reading
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The best consequences for kids drop threats and problem-solve instead
Research has shown certain consequences for kids undermine the goal of raising good children. However, natural and logical consequences are invaluable ways to teach children. Learn more below. First, there was a pop! Then a snap! My ears were already ringing from screaming and now it sounded like a cap gun was going off around me. […] Continue reading
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Research says this is how to use positive parenting from a position of strength
To many, positive parenting, also known as authoritative parenting, sounds like a misnomer. If you take away punishment, how will a child know who is in charge? Find out how to execute positive parenting from a position of strength and raise well-adjusted, responsible children. Last week, a question popped up in the Parenting from the […] Continue reading
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Front-Loading, Redirection & Connection: 3 powerful strategies for your strong-willed toddler
All toddlers can be willful and even difficult. However, you may find you’re parenting a strong-willed toddler if your child tends to be prone to power struggles, is highly emotional and is determined to a fault. Fortunately, there are three powerful positive parenting strategies that will improve cooperation and calm tantrums in the most […] Continue reading
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3 Golden Rules to Give Your Child the Best Summer Ever
When it comes to summer activities for kids, you don’t need to plan or spend too much. In fact, the way to give your child the best summer possible is incredibly simple. Find out how below. One of the highlights of my summers growing up were back-to-back sleepovers with my best friend, Meghan. Her parents […] Continue reading
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There is an undeclared war on childhood. This is how to stop it.
There is a higher incidence of child stress, anxiety and disorders than ever before. This is how to change the course and improve your child’s life. My two oldest children bound off of the school bus. Their backpacks bounce with their gate. They’re grinning from ear-to-ear, elated to be home and see me. Because the […] Continue reading
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When Children Fight, This is the Opportunity You Won’t Want to Miss
When children fight, we want it to stop. And for good reason, we want our kids to be safe and get along. This opportunity is a game changer. Instead of trying to stop sibling rivalry, it resolves it. Here you’ll learn how. Get a printable cheatsheet with these tips below. When I found out I […] Continue reading
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Extracurricular activities for kids: Why science says less is more
With summer holidays approaching, it’s natural to worry about our kids’ boredom. No one wants their kids spending the summer fighting over the iPad or in a state of complacency. It doesn’t help that this time of year, Facebook newsfeeds are punctuated with articles about ‘The Summer Slide.’ They warned that some students experienced academic regression as a result of being away from school for so long. Continue reading
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How to stop backtalk and restore peace in your family
For a parent, one of the most humbling and frustrating experiences is when your child backtalks or disrespects you. This powerful approach is rooted in positive discipline and will calm the most disrespectful behaviour and stop backtalk. Get a printable cheat sheet with this technique at the bottom of the post. There are times parenting […] Continue reading
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Experts say this is the best way to learn to read and love it too
Competency in reading is one of the greatest predictors of success in children. But in order to procure the benefits, students must be motivated to learn to read. Here are the best ways for kids to learn to read backed by research. One of my most painful childhood memories is learning how to read at school. The […] 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.