Parenting Archive

Latest Posts

Playful Activities to Help Kids Learn about Feelings

I feel that one of my most important tasks as a play therapist (and a mom) is to help children understand, cope with, and express their feelings.  In my 13 years of working therapeutically with children I have come across a

Fabulous Fall Fun

Remember that post I did at the beginning of summer … 40 Wonderful Ways to Enjoy Summer with your Kids?  Well, it inspired me to create a photo collage for fall.  Here’s some ideas ways to have fabulous fall fun with your

Books That Can Help Children Grieve

To those that lost loved ones on this day, September 11 … eleven years ago … my heart and thoughts go out to you.  May you continue to find support and love through your lifelong process of grief. Grief and loss

Back to School Books for Kids

It’s that time of year again!  BACK TO SCHOOL!!!  Here are some of my favorite back to school books that I read with my own kids and recommend to clients (especially if they are starting school for the first time or

When Potty Training is Difficult … part of the “We Get It” parenting series

I’ve received lots of requests to blog about potty training … but it’s taken me a really long time to sit down and write this post.  The road of potty training my son (now 6) has been long and bumpy …

Princesses Don’t Wear Socks … Reasons Why You Should Listen To Your Kids

Let me start out by reminding you about my 3 year old daughter, Honor.  She’s the one always wearing the princess clothes … The one that had a Princess Birthday Party … She has no doubt that she IS a princess.

Promoting Positive Behavior

As a parent and a child psychologist I firmly believe in focusing on reinforcing positive behaviors … as opposed to punishing negative ones.  This stems from my knowledge of what behaviorists have studied about human behavior … AND my first hand experience

40 Wonderful Ways to Enjoy Summer with Your Kids

I was going through old photos of the kids playing during the summer and found 40 Wonderful Ways to Enjoy Summer with Your Kids.  Happy Summer Solstice to all!        

A Playful End-of-the-Year Thank You Gift for Teachers

Thanks to Pinterest (see paragraph at the end of the post!) I found a playful, yummy, and useful way to thank my kids’ teachers for being such a important part of their lives this year.  Here’s the gift we put together

PlayDrMom’s 2012 Summer Bucket List

The kids still have a couple weeks of school left.  Summer solstice isn’t until June 20.  But this weekend, this long holiday weekend … I believe to be the START OF SUMMER! Last summer was the first summer our family had

making & using … A Sticker Countdown Board

If you know my daughter Honor, or have even seen the photos of her on this blog, you know that she is usually dressed in princess garb.  On rare occasions she will just wear play clothes, but more often than not