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Showing posts with the label parenting

🌿 What Jane Goodall Taught Us About Parenting, Connection, and the Natural World

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On October 1st, 2025, the world lost one of its most beloved voices for animals, children, and the planet. Dame Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist and conservationist, passed away peacefully at age 91 while on a speaking tour in California. Her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees reshaped science—but her influence reaches far beyond the jungle. For parents, educators, and caregivers, Jane Goodall’s life offers profound lessons in empathy, observation, and the power of gentle connection. 🧠 Parenting Through Observation, Not Control In the 1960s, Jane Goodall entered the forests of Tanzania with no formal scientific training, just a notebook and an open mind. She watched, listened, and waited. Her patient, respectful approach revealed that chimpanzees—once thought to be primitive—used tools, expressed emotions, and formed deep social bonds. This mirrors what many of us strive for in parenting: to observe rather than impose, to understand rather than control. Goodall’s m...

Meltdowns: A Parent's Guide to Survival

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Meltdowns. They're a universal experience for parents. Whether you have a toddler, a teenager, or somewhere in between, you've likely encountered the dreaded meltdown. It's that moment when your child loses control, their emotions erupting like a volcano, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and sometimes even a little helpless. As a parent of three, a 10-year-old boy, a 4-year-old girl, and a 3-year-old girl, I've had my fair share of meltdowns. From the epic tantrums of my toddler years to the more nuanced emotional outbursts of my older children, I've learned a thing or two about navigating these challenging moments. Understanding Meltdowns Before we dive into strategies for managing meltdowns, it's important to understand what they are and why they occur. A meltdown is a sudden emotional outburst that often involves crying, screaming, hitting, or other disruptive behaviors. They can be triggered by a variety of factors, including: Overwhelm : Too muc...

Unleashing the Potential of Maternal Sensitivity: Creating Lifelong Bonds

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Maternal sensitivity is one of the most significant and influential attributes a mother possesses on her journey to parenting. This natural ability to recognize and respond to a child's needs serves as the foundation for a secure and emotionally healthy upbringing. In this blog post, we look at the importance of maternal sensitivity, including its impact on child development, the research behind it, and practical techniques for moms to improve this important component of parenting. Defining Maternal Sensitivity:  Maternal sensitivity is a mother's awareness of her child's emotional and physical needs. It entails reading cues, responding correctly, and providing comfort and support. This characteristic extends beyond addressing basic needs to include providing a safe and supportive environment in which the child can grow. The Science of Maternal Sensitivity:  Developmental psychology research has consistently demonstrated that maternal sensitivity plays a critical role in mo...

Breaking Free: Overcoming the Impact of Narcissistic Parents

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  Growing up with narcissistic parents can have long-term consequences for one's emotional well-being and personal development. In this blog post, we will look at the traits of narcissistic parents, the detrimental effects they can have on their children, and, most importantly, how to overcome these difficulties. Individuals can break free from the grip of their narcissistic upbringing and recover their personal power and self-worth by learning the dynamics and healing procedures. Understanding Narcissistic Parents Narcissistic parents are characterized by their overwhelming self-centeredness, which manifests in a variety of destructive behaviors. Their relentless need for adoration and attention leads them to manipulate and control those around them, completely disregarding the feelings and needs of others, including their own children. As extensions of themselves, these parents view their children merely as tools to fulfill their own desires and ambitions. Consequently, they trea...

How The Positive Parent can work for you

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A quick video showcasing The Positive Parent This video discusses why The Positive Parent could benefit your family. It emphasizes the importance of behavior management, emotional regulation, setting boundaries, and developing strong bonds with your children.  I recommend watching this video because it provides a unique perspective on how parenting coaching can strengthen your parenting skills. 

How to easily handle tantrums in a positive way

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  How to Handle Tantrums in a Positive Way Tantrums are a common source of frustration for parents of toddlers and young children. They can be aggravating, draining, and humiliating, especially when they occur in public. Tantrums, on the other hand, are a normal aspect of child development and can be used to teach your child essential skills and values. In this blog post, we will look at what causes tantrums, how to avoid them, and how to deal with them in a constructive way. What exactly are tantrums, and why do they occur? A tantrum is a sudden burst of intense emotion expressed by a child through sobbing, yelling, kicking, hitting, or throwing objects. Tantrums typically occur when a child is upset, angry, terrified, sleepy, hungry, or overwhelmed by a situation over which he or she has little control or ability to deal. For example, a child may throw a temper tantrum if: They want something that is not permitted or obtainable. They are asked to do something they do not wish to ...

The Power of Active Listening: Building Stronger Bonds with Your Child

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Introduction  Parenting presents its own set of problems and duties. In today's fast-paced and often chaotic environment, it's easy for parents to get caught up in the trap of continuously hustling and multitasking, forgetting to actually connect with their children. However, by actively listening to our children, we can strengthen our bonds, promote their emotional growth, and provide them with the support they require to thrive. In this blog post, we will look at the many advantages of actively listening to your child and provide practical advice on how to include this ability into your parenting routine. How to actively listen: Emotional Validation:  Active listening provides a strong message to your child of love, acceptance, and respect. We support kids to construct a healthy view of their own value when we sincerely listen to their thoughts and feelings, acknowledging and validating their emotions. This emotional validation increases your child's self-esteem and conf...

Parenting coaching

I'm very excited to introduce my new adventure, I've set up a new business to help support other parents.... The Positive Parent As a proud new parent, you’re likely experiencing a range of emotions – excitement, joy, love, and even a bit of anxiety or uncertainty. After all, having a child is a major life change that requires a lot of new skills and responsibilities. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting, a parenting coach can help guide you through the ups and downs of raising a child. What is a parenting coach? Parenting coaching is a relatively new field, but it’s a rapidly growing one. As more parents seek guidance and support, the demand for parenting coaches who can provide practical advice, emotional support, and tailored plans is increasing. A parenting coach can help you navigate the day-to-day challenges of raising a child, from dealing with tantrums and meltdowns to encouraging healthy habits and promoting positive self-esteem. At the heart of par...

7 ways to effectively communicate with your child using a positive approach.

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As a parent, you have to connect with your child in a good and productive manner. Children who feel understood and respected have a higher chance of thriving and feeling confident. Communication is the foundation of a healthy parent-child connection, and it is critical to have an open and honest discussion. Here are some excellent good ways to communicate with your child: Use positive language When interacting with your child, use positive language. Positive language is a means of expressing yourself that accentuates the good rather than the terrible or negative. The positive language emphasises solutions over issues. When communicating your ideas and feelings to your child, it is critical to use positive language, as this can make your child feel better about themselves. 2. Listen actively Active listening is a necessary component of good communication. Giving your child your entire attention, being present at the moment, and reacting in a way that indicates you comprehend what they a...

Positive Parenting: The Advantages of Raising Your Children Positively

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  Parenting is a difficult task. It is not only about feeding, clothing, and sheltering your child; it is also about instilling values, teaching them how to navigate the world, and assisting them in developing into well-adjusted adults. Instead of punishment or coercion, positive parenting emphasises emotional support, nurturing, and positive reinforcement. This parenting style benefits both children and parents. What exactly is positive parenting? Positive parenting refers to a variety of parenting approaches that emphasise positivity, empathy, and communication in order to foster healthy relationships between parents and children. Positive parenting emphasises praising good behaviour, nurturing children's inherent strengths, and guiding them in making positive changes in their lives rather than reprimanding or punishing them for negative behaviours. Positive Parenting Methods Positive parenting techniques differ slightly from traditional methods of parenting. Here are some of the...

A dad's role in their child's emotional intelligence.

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  The importance of emotional intelligence. Many researchers over the years have emphasised the importance of emotional interactions in the parent-child dyad and the great impact it has on a child's well-being. Parents need to take an active role in teaching their children key skills in developing emotional intelligence. The consequences of failing to learn the basics are intermingling dire, for example, an inability to handle anxiety or depression can increase the chance of children abusing drugs or alcohol later on in life. However, children who are taught by their parents to be emotionally intelligent are more able to regulate their own emotions. They were better at focusing their attention, and could relate more to other people and performed better academically in school. Parents who offered empathy in the face of their child showing negative feelings such as anger, sadness or fear, actually built bridges of loyalty and affection between themselves and their child. For years th...