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Transforming the Toddler Years

The Blog

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ā€œParenting is really one big, beautiful story and

I love telling it.ā€

Cara Tyrrell, Founder Core4Parenting
Why Toddlers Don't Follow Directions behavior foundational skills listening raising children skill development

ā€œMy toddler just won’t listen to me! And don’t even get me started on how they don’t follow directions.ā€

If I had a dollar for every time I heard a parent navigating the toddler years say this…

But here’s the thing.

Hearing isn’t the same as listening. They hear you, promise.

They are choosing n...

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What IS Kindergarten Readiness? covid generation education foundational skills kindergarten school

True, effective communication is based on real, authentic connection.Ā Ā 

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When I really need a kiddo to hear me I touch my nose and say, ā€œlook at my nose so I know you can hear meā€.Ā  They often giggle, sometimes look at me funny as they get the joke, but I always get what I needed: their attention...

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Stop Apologizing for Your Child's Behavior. Do this Instead behavior conscious parenting foundational skills parenting

Toddlers misbehave: at home, in public, at school.

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They are small humans exploring the world and testing to see who will hold boundaries with love, consistency and compassion, regardless of where they are.

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As parents, the urge to apologize for their behaviors is strong. But when you consider...

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How to Avoid Raising Overcommitted Kids conscious parenting family parenting raising children

I did not have sporty kids,Ā  And I'm not going to lie, I was relieved.Ā  I watched my sister and brother in law, who have three VERY sporty kids, lose their heads juggling the number of practices, games, and tournaments… per sport, per kid, every season of the year.Ā 

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They were stressed. They had ...

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Journaling: My Love/Hate Relationship journaling mom life motherhood self care

I have a love/hate relationship with journaling. As in, I LOVE the idea of it: pick the prettiest one, get my special pen, sit in a quiet space, then climb so far into my head that I don’t know what to write, freeze, and end up reinforcing my belief that I’m bad at journaling.Ā 

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I want to do it.Ā ...

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Mindset Shifts for Staying Positive When Kids Are Diagnosed with Medical Conditions medical issues mindset mom life parenting

My kids were medical kids. Seriously, Claire's first five years of life were peppered with diagnoses, doctors, specialists and surgeries.

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After the stillborn loss of our first daughter, I worked hard to keep all her medical struggles in perspective, repeating this mantra daily: At least she’s he...

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Fostering Body Positivity From Birth conscious parenting emotional awareness mom life motherhood parenting tips self identity sense of self

ā€œThose pants don't really do you any justice.ā€

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My (then) best friend said this to me as we were getting ready to go out dancing for the night.Ā 

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I was 18 years old and had spent adolescence and young adulthood hating my body. I self described as ā€œbig-bonedā€ and wondered aloud, so my mom was s...

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The Digital Generation: Why Your Toddler's Digital Footprint Matters conscious parenting digital parenting first time mom kids and tech parenting parenting tips raising children

My three kids were born between 2000 and 2005. Their early years were filled with friends and family wanting to give them digital toys that talked, LeapPads, and hand-me-down Ipods. (remember those?)

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And me, politely saying ā€œNo thank you. I don’t want them to think of technology as a toy.ā€

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T...

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Why Sharing Really Matters conscious parenting emotional regulation foundational skills parenting parenting tips sharing

My husband is terrible at sharing.Ā  I am not throwing him under the bus. It's true and he’ll tell you as much.Ā  He doesn't like sharing food off his plate.Ā  He refuses to share his tools. And, although he will eventually hand over a sweatshirt when I ask to borrow it, he sends a pointed ā€˜you better ...

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Holding Boundaries Without Power Struggles behavior boundaries conscious parenting foundational skills parenting tips

Toddlers are born salespeople. They refuse to take NO for an answer.Ā 

They show up consistently.Ā 

They exhibit persistence.

They use creativity to pose other potential solutions that get them what they want.

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You, to say YES.

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The truth is that these skill sets are vital parts of becoming a...

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Time Outs vs Time Ins conscious parenting mom life parenting parenting tips raising children time out

How often do you get caught in the trigger trap reaction cycle? It’s so easy to do and hard to break out of!Ā 

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Reactions are live-time, high emotion, frustration point solutions. They're short lived, and you have to repeat them over and over and over. And, they often lead to punitive discipline, ...

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Traveling with Toddlers - My Observations of Kids on Planes conscious parenting family mom life parenting tips toddler mom travel

Traveling as adults is stressful enough. But traveling with kids is a different beast.

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The planning. The packing. How does a tiny little human require so much stuff? And, of course, the changing of routines, food options, and sleep.

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The first time I took my kids on a plane they were seven an...

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