Making the Little Years Easier

Latest Articles

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  How to Get Your Child to Listen the First Time
  There have been evenings when one small thing was enough to push me over the edge. Toys were scattered across the living room. Dinner was waiting in the kitchen. I had already asked my child to put the toys away, but the playing continued. I asked again. Then a third time. By the fourth, my voice no longer sounded like a reminder. It sounded like an accusation. What bothered me…
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  Thanksgiving With Toddlers: Lowering the Bar on Purpose
  You don’t need a picture-perfect holiday to make beautiful family memories. Sometimes, a little less expectation is exactly what the day needs. There is a version of Thanksgiving that lives in my head. The table is beautifully set. The turkey comes out golden and perfectly cooked. Everyone gathers around, smiling for a family photo. The children sit politely, say thank you, try a little of everything, and somehow manage not…
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  How to Put a Toddler to Sleep Fast: 9 Gentle Tricks That Actually Help
  The bear book has now been read three times. Your child pulls the blanket up to their chin and burrows into the pillow. You tuck the blanket back in, lean down to kiss their forehead, and step out. The door is barely pulled to when little feet come padding across the wood floor. “Mommy, I’m thirsty.” You turn back and stand in the doorway, trying to keep your voice level….
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  8 Things to Say When Your Toddler Misbehaves (Instead of Yelling or Punishing)
  The yogurt cup tips onto the floor again. A white streak spreads beneath the chair. The spoon is still in your hand, and your child sits there with sticky fingers, maybe studying the puddle with the interest of someone who has just discovered a new game. You’ve already wiped up once. You’ve already said something. And now, looking down at yet another mess, you hear yourself say, “What are you…
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  Toddler Tantrum Tips: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)
  What actually helps when your child falls apart, and what helps you not fall apart with her. First things first: I’m not going to tell you to “stay calm.” You already know that. You know you shouldn’t yell, or threaten, or turn a small thing into a big power struggle. But knowing that over a quiet cup of coffee is one thing. Doing it while a two-year-old screams at you…