Contributing Writer: Caroline Thor

If you’ve ever looked around your living room and wondered, “Why am I the only one picking up around here?” — you’re not alone.

When we’re deep in the toddler trenches, it’s so easy to fall into the habit of doing it all ourselves. Because let’s be honest — le...

Contributing Writer: Micaela Passeri 

If you’ve ever found yourself exhausted by the emotional ups and downs of parenting, especially in those early years… you’re not alone. The tantrums, tears, and bedtime battles can feel like a never-ending emotional roller coaster. One moment you’re cherishi...

Contributing Writer: Jill Lerman

If you’re a parent with young children at home, then you know that finding a way to keep your children occupied and engaged so that you can find time to get things done or have a moment to recharge can be a challenge. 

Maybe you feel like you’re in a cycle of...

Contributing Writer: Erica Trainor from the Lil' Iguana’s Children’s Safety Foundation

As parents of toddlers and preschoolers, we’ve all found ourselves saying “don’t” more times than we can count.

“Don’t touch that!”
“Don’t talk to strangers!”
“Don’t go near the water!”
“Don’t eat that!”

I believe that all kids are worthy of our respect, trust, honesty. 

Without having to earn it.

Yes, even two year olds.

This is the foundational principle in the Collaborative Parenting Methodology(TM) I used to raise my kids and teach my students. 

Nurturing human connection between adult...

Tantrums are all kinds of T's: Tricky, Terrible, Testing, Trying, and, in any given day, Too Many!  (and Too Loud!)

I know, I'm preaching to the toddler tribe choir here.

You know that my goal is to teach you about another set of alliterative T's: how to Turn Tantrums into Teachable Moments....

Meet Davey, a high-energy, fun spirited little boy who is ALWAYS in motion.

This is toddler Davey loving life way back in 2021.

He's now six years old and the hero in my story-of-the-week on the podcast. 

Why? 

Because he lied to me, and then told the truth to his teacher about lying to me.

Meet Sylvie and her collaborative mama and daddy celebrating her 3rd birthday. Last Saturday, was her first “real kid” birthday party.  

The kind where you invite allll the kids from daycare, and hope for the best while expecting the worst!

Picture this: Lots of  littles  running around (ind...

Honestly, I say those words sometimes too. 

Nope - not the swear words. 🤣I'm not a cusser but be sure to listen to this short podcast episode to hear what I DO say! 

I'll hear myself take a *long, deep sigh* and say, outloud, 🗣️"I'm so bored". 

But the truth is, I'm feeling a lot of things in tha...

I sat on the floor, face to face with an 18 month old little boy. He was trying to put a circle shaped toy into a square shaped hole.

He tried again and again and again, and it wouldn't fit.  

Frustration strained his face. His hands gripped tightly around the little circle. He tried many ti...

When my kids were one and three, the daily struggles were REAL and honestly, I thought it would never end.  

“Two and four have got to be better, right?” My daily prayer, mantra style. 

When I turned to my village for support they said loving, yet unhelpful, things.  

Don't blink and you...

"Ok, it's time to clean up. Help me put these blocks back in the box please."

I was wrapping up a home visit and the recently-turned one year old looked at me and smiled. 

She then did these three things in quick succession:

1. Picked up a block
2. Put it in the wooden box
3. And dumped all the blo...