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Author: Katie

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7 Ways to Raise a Low-Media Child

Posted on October 30, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer here.

In this high-tech, fast paced world, our family is making a radical move… we’re deliberately going LOW-tech. I’ve always dreamed of a simple, classical childhood for my children. I want them to read books, play outside, explore, go on adventures, build forts, color, and build. And I want them to want to do these things. Not to do them as a way to pass the time before I allow them to watch yet another TV show.

Technology is increasing much faster than research and studies can determine what is actually best for children’s developing brains. The American Academy of Pediatrics already recommends no screen time for children under 2 years, and a 1 hour limit per day of high-quality programs for 2-5 year olds. I always wonder if that limit will become more stringent as time goes on and we can really see the effects of technology over time.

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The One Rule That Will Make Your Child More Polite

Posted on October 16, 2018September 20, 2023 by Katie

Teaching politeness to your child is not just about instilling good manners; it’s about nurturing empathy, respect, and effective communication skills. It takes patience and consistency in your efforts to cultivate politeness, but it is a valuable trait that will serve them well throughout their lives.

From a very early age children begin learning that their words are powerful, and can use as a means of getting their needs and wants met. But when children’s words start trending towards rude and abrasive it may be time to implement this one simple rule in your home…

Children must ask a question, instead of making a demand

A demand is made from a sense of entitlement. The child feels that they should have something, and so they say it… “I want a snack!!” “Give it to mee!!” “It’s my turn!!”

Many parents focus too much on correcting the tone of their child’s demand rather than requiring them to ask for permission. For example, if a child yells “I want a snack!,” many parents will redirect them to say “I want a snack, please” in a nicer tone of voice. Tacking on a “please” is definitely more polite, but it doesn’t address the deeper issue.

Requiring your child to ask you a direct question has many underlying benefits, and it’s more polite. Instead of “I want a snack,” it’s, “May I have a snack please?” And instead of “It’s my turn”, its “May I have a turn?” The subtle difference in requiring your child to ask permission instead of making a demand reaffirms that the parent is in control. When your child asks for something, you as the parent can say “yes,” or you can say “no.” The parent is in charge of making the decision.

Children are much more likely to accept a “no” when it’s in response to a question they’ve asked rather than a demand they have made.

Because in the act of asking the question, the child is already prepared to hear a yes or no answer…they know that it’s a 50/50 chance.

No Nagging Needed – “Asked and Answered”

Another benefit to having your child ask permission is that it naturally shuts down nagging. A child can walk around the house demanding “I want to watch a movie” a million times, but when you require them to ask you directly “May I watch a movie?” they get a definitive answer. If the answer is “no” and they ask you again, you can simply say “asked and answered.” When parents are consistent, children learn quickly that “no” really means “no” and they stop whining and nagging.

Important Things to Note

Make sure to provide your child lots of opportunities to make age-appropriate choices throughout the day, so that they can also feel a sense of control over their environment. For example, letting your child choose what they want to wear or what kind of fruit they want with their breakfast. Children who are given the opportunity to make choices will be less likely to lash out when parents need to make tough decisions os say “no.”

Of course like any parenting strategy, it takes time to teach your child that they need to ask, rather than demand. Whenever my son makes a statement like “I need a snack now!!” I simply say, “Are you trying to ask me something?” He immediately knows to ask politely for whatever it is that he wants.

He still struggles (as most 3 year olds do) when the answer is “no,” but it’s getting better every day. The important thing to me is that he learns respect for authority. I want him to know that he needs to ask permission because we as his parents know what is best for him, even if he doesn’t understand it in the moment.

Check out: 7 Positive Ways to Get Your Kids to Stop Whining

Want more support in raising a polite child?

I've got you covered.

The Perfect Daily and Weekly 2-4 Year Old Schedule

Posted on October 3, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

I’m a newbie stay at home mom, so crafting my 3-year-old’s daily schedule has been an exciting part of the adventure! Having been a preschool teacher for many years, I wanted to make sure that our days at home are balanced with enough play, rest, and active times. Here are some things to consider if you are working on crafting your daily toddler schedule:

Children love predictability and knowing what is going to come next, so it’s important to have a general rhythm to your days. With this said, don’t feel like you can’t change things up for special events and activities. Our schedule is always fluid and changes when necessary!

This is the general “flow” of our daily routine that works really well for us:

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5 Reasons Why Your Toddler Won’t Listen to You

Posted on September 10, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

Dealing with toddler behaviors is downright frustrating. Do you find yourself racking your brain daily trying to figure out why your toddler won’t listen to you? There are so many factors that go into how our children behave that often times it can be difficult to determine the culprit. Are they overtired? Overwhelmed? Feeling shame or embarrassment?

When we have a better idea of how toddler’s brains work, we can gain insights into their behavior and take steps to help them improve over time. Here are 5 secret truths behind your toddler’s behavior and the positive parenting strategies you can use to help them:

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10 First Day of Preschool Books to Help Ease Your Child’s Anxiety

Posted on August 8, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer here.

Your child’s first day of preschool is almost here! This is an exciting (and scary) time for both you and your little one because for many children, this is their first real experience being away from home.

As a mom, you worry about all the little things that go along with being away from your child… Will they be able to handle the separation from you? Will they play well with others? Will they like their teacher? Will they be able to do things on their own? If not, will they be able to ask for help? There’s so much that goes into becoming a preschooler!

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The #1 Skill Your Child Needs for Success in Kindergarten

Posted on August 1, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer here.

With back-to-school madness just around the corner, so many parents are looking for ways to ensure that their child is ready for Kindergarten. We purchase workbooks, pull out flashcards, and pour over resources making sure that our child will be successful at this next big step.

But time and time again, research shows that a 5 or 6 year olds success in kindergarten has very little to do with their letter and number concepts, and everything to do with their self-regulation skills.

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5 Things to Look for When Choosing A Preschool

Posted on July 24, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

Choosing a preschool can be an extremely daunting task for parents. For many children, preschool is the very first time they are spending time away from mom or dad. While this is an important milestone for little ones, it can also be so, so scary!

As a preschool teacher (and mom) myself, I can speak first-hand to the anxiety that parents feel when they bring their child to school for the first time. Most of the time it’s mom shedding more tears than the child!

My husband and I have been very fortunate to find an in-home preschool for our 2.5 year old where he is thriving with an incredible teacher that we’ve known for years. But for parents in the midst of choosing a preschool for your child, here are 5 important factors to consider:

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10 Kid-Friendly Ideas for Your Tiny Backyard

Posted on June 18, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

As the weather warms up, all I want to do is send my toddler outside to play! One of the challenges of having a 300 square foot patio as a backyard has been finding activities that will keep my son entertained (and that will fit!) in our small area.

Since we don’t have space for conventional backyard ideas like playhouses and swing sets, we have had to get creative in finding activities that my son will love this summer. Here are 10 things that my son does every day in our tiny backyard space:

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4 Books to Bring You Peace as a Christian Mother

Posted on June 12, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

If you are anything like me, you understand the struggle of finding time to read as a busy mama. Between watching the tiny humans, keeping the house from falling apart, and making sure dinner makes it on the table each night, reading for pleasure can tend to fall pretty low on the priority list.

But finding that perfect book can sometimes be the difference between living in survival mode and really thriving in our roles as Christian mothers, am I right?

Since carving out time for reading doesn’t always happen with such a busy schedule, I make it a point that the books I do read refresh my soul and bring me energy for motherhood. Here are 4 books that will help you organize your priorities, take you back to a simpler way of living and most importantly, bring you peace.

How to Support Your Husband as a New Dad

Posted on June 5, 2018February 25, 2020 by Katie

The transition into life as a new parent is huge- especially for new fathers. Think about it…a new mother spends 9 months bonding with the child in her womb. This time helps mothers to prepare and to ease them into this new role and responsibility. Dads don’t have the same experience. New dads start their role as a father cold-turkey, the day the baby is born. Scary, isn’t it?!

So how can we support our husbands in their new role as fathers? Here are 5 practical ways to build up confidence in our men and help ease the transition into a new life with baby.

Children must ask a question, instead of making a demand

Children are much more likely to accept a “no” when it’s in response to a question they’ve asked rather than a demand they have made.

No Nagging Needed – “Asked and Answered”

Important Things to Note

Check out: 7 Positive Ways to Get Your Kids to Stop Whining

Want more support in raising a polite child? I've got you covered.

Want more support in raising a polite child?

I've got you covered.