education
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How to Spark the Love of Reading in Teens
Do you remember when your little one used to curl up with a book for hours? Or how their face lighted up when you read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” to them (for the nth time). I know you miss those moments. Now that they’ve grown up, they spend most of their time on their phones. […] Continue reading
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What To Say To a Child Who Doesn’t Want to Go to School
When your child starts to hate school and wants to stay home, these strategies are crucial to support your child and ensure the greatest outcome with the school. Here you will find expert tips from parenting experts, a former school principal and university instructor as well as videos from a family therapist. My five-year-old daughter […] Continue reading
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Reframe your child’s mistakes as opportunities for growth
When a child experiences a major setback, it can be a wonderful opportunity to teach resilience and foster a growth mindset. This is how. Continue reading
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Stressed out about remote learning? These 5 tips are game-changers.
The truth is – you and your children are not the only ones struggling with remote learning… Researchers found that Chinese children were affected by toxic stress during the initial stages of the pandemic. Now, North American children are likely experiencing chronic and repeated activation of their fight-or-flight response too. Continue reading
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Crisis School: How to find peace of mind when so much is uncertain
Back to school during a pandemic will mean living in a new normal. Find out how to navigate and balance crisis schooling based on educational psychology. The table was cleared, pencils sharpened, and fresh paper was ready. On the first day of my son’s remote schooling, I did some frontloading. “Some of your friends will […] 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
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How to set up three simple science activities for preschoolers
It doesn’t take a science degree to execute simple science activities for preschoolers. In fact, all you need are common household items and minimal prep to teach children about physical and chemical reactions. Find basic ideas to promote physics and biology as well as three science activities for preschoolers here. This post originally appeared on […] Continue reading
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50+ Ideas to Improve Printing Without Writing
Want to work on your child’s printing and fine motor skills for hand-writing? Below you will find play-based learning ideas to improve printing without writing. I remember those printing books from elementary school with each letter written solidly, then in an almost connect-the-dots form, and then with room for us to try copy the character […] Continue reading
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How to Promote Success in The Child That Wants to Quit
Inside: My daughter’s fear of failure undermined the simplest of tasks. Find out how the Power of Yet turned everything around. When my daughter’s preschool teacher told me she needed to work on her printing, I knew I had this. I reached out to my colleagues and assembled a wide-range of fun ways to work […] Continue reading
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After-School Meltdowns: Practical Strategies to Get Ahead of Crying and Whining
If you have faced regular after-school meltdowns, don’t worry. Here are powerful, practical tips for kids to get ahead of crying and whining. We had just arrived home after a challenging road trip home. My oldest son was sick and upset the whole way home. The baby wanted to nurse endlessly. On top of […] 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.