Children who get too much validation for being good find it very difficult to handle the tiniest mistake without feeling they are failures. These children, if they do make a mistake, are apt to lie, or worse, avoid activities that they are not sure they will succeed at to cover the fact they are not perfect. Is your child being good to win approval? Or are you blessed with a sensible little person who always seems to get it right? T...

These easy calming methods have been taken from Lauren Brukner's book, The Kids' Guide to Staying Awesome and in Control. Brukner is an occupational therapist who helps kids who have sensory integration issues be able to keep it together in school. However, her calming techniques are brilliant for any kids and adults too.    
1. Hand Massage What's great about this is it can be done at any t...

Following are some more suggestions to help take the ;scary' out of technology use:
1. Require access to all email and social media accounts and know your children's passwords:
Let them know UP FRONT that you'll check text messages, emails and social media accounts.  It's not spying on them you are giving them fair warning that you'll be checking to help keep them safe.
2. Implement a technology curf...

Every child deals with some form of anxiety at some point in their life, whether that's monsters under the bed, to failure at school, or being afraid they won't fit in. Although these are usually short-lived and a normal part of childhood, sometimes anxieties can linger and worsen to an extent where they begin to impact a child's everyday life. What are some typical anxieties that children experience? Separation, social ...

Thrive Parenting would like to thank Jennifer Birch for writing this article for us! We hope that you find it useful. Our kids are growing up in a startling time one that sadly, their parents may not be completely familiar with. Every day, kids are discovering new ways to connect and new platforms through which they can experience the world around them. It's harrowing to think that nowadays, they can use their phones to send mes...

  Pretending to be sick to avoid school, to coming home with new bruises and refusing to do homework -  may sound like your typical child, but these could also be signs of bullying. Many parents fear that their child could be a victim and it's not always easy to know when it's going on.
When I was studying for my Master's Degree I did a lot of research into bullying. Personally, the most devastating fact that I f...

Going back to school can be an exciting one for parents and children. There are new teachers, new friends, and a lot of new experiences ahead. But there are also a few potential problems  that you can avoid.

Back to School Suggestions: Be Prepared:  You probably purchase school supplies before the very first day of school, but there are other ways you and your child can prepare for the new school year. Be sur...