As I navigate the crowded aisles of shiny new school supplies, I ponder the question: How do I prepare my child’s brain, mind and body for a successful school year? What are the “school supplies” my children really need? It all goes back to understanding the brain and nervous system regulation. I like to utilize an adaptation of Dr. Dan Siegel’s...[ read more ]
Parents, Daylight Savings Time is just around the corner (2:00AM on March 10th) and if you already do not have your ninja skills ready here are some helpful tips: If possible, start preparing two weeks in advance. Try putting your kid(s) to bed earlier in 15-minute increments. You can also begin waking them up in this way too. Change the clocks...[ read more ]
The meltdown. You’ve experienced it before: you’re in the middle of Target and your child just decided that she MUST have the newest “Beanie Boo” (OK, maybe that part is just me) and when I put it back on the shelf, she suddenly goes into meltdown mode. This turns into full-blown sobbing, shallow breathing, (maybe even holding her breath) and...[ read more ]
Last Wednesday, as I waited for my coffee to brew, I had a mix of emotions. I knew I was going to have to face difficult conversations with my children about why they did not have school this morning. I also knew I was eventually going to have to explain when they were able to go to school what had...[ read more ]
Today I decided to go for a hike along the Boulder flatirons. I find that nature has a way of sharing subtle messages that encourage me and remind me of where I’m headed. It’s a time for me to think, to regulate and eventually drop from my head down into my heart. As a followed the trail I encountered a...[ read more ]
This time of year, children are getting ready to end the school year and begin the transition of going into summer. I like to think of this as a unique balancing act of opposing energy: excitement and uncertainty. How do we honor the excitement and the un-comfortability of the unknown? Below I have provided three tips to help your child thrive, not...[ read more ]
If you could give a parent or caregiver just two tips on how to positively influence their child’s brain development, what would those be?” We are glad you asked! Below are two of our favorite everyday tips to help your child integrate the different parts of the brain, develop a connection with themselves and others, and process their experiences. Connect...[ read more ]
Summer is full of fun, sun and lots o’ sugar. Routines are less strict and there are favorite summer time snacks readily available. You may have already noticed a shift in your child’s behavior: this could be due to the big transition of ending school, a more lenient schedule, or the increase of sugary sweets and treats. Whatever it is,...[ read more ]
I recently saw a meme that said, “All dogs are therapy dogs, some just get commission”. This is true! A family dog has the potential to teach you about love, patience, responsibility, and emotional regulation. Have you ever considered that your dog could be a therapy dog, too? Dogs are typically are aware of their own nervous systems, something us...[ read more ]
It is hard as a caregiver to observe your child struggling with challenging behaviors, overwhelming emotions, or respond to experiences that feel too big for them to handle. Maybe you feel so isolated, worried, or concerned about what others might think that you have sat in silence wondering what your child is experiencing is typical and something they will just...[ read more ]
