by Chris Jones | Apr 17, 2025 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Tips
Whenever I walk into a preschool or early elementary classroom and see a Behavior Chart, I cringe. One child who couldn’t control her impulses went home crushed because her name ended up on “red.” Another child was reminded that he wasn’t good enough for...
by Chris Jones | Oct 19, 2024 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, School Challenges
You’ve just left your child’s parent-teacher conference, and your mind is swimming. Maybe you heard that your energetic second-grader is struggling to stay focused during math. Perhaps your quiet middle-schooler isn’t participating in class...
by Chris Jones | Oct 15, 2024 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips
With the school year in full swing, many parents are dusting off their child’s sticker charts in hopes of incentivizing positive behavior. These systems can be incredible tools to foster emotional growth and skill development. Children thrive when their...
by Chris Jones | Oct 14, 2024 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Special Challenges
Do you find yourself constantly repeating directions and expectations? Is it hard to tell whether your child won’t do something, or can’t do something? Are you noticing patterns of the same mistakes being made in your child’s homework? Every child has unique strengths...
by Chris Jones | Oct 6, 2024 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Toddlers
“We have to share!” If you’ve uttered this phrase recently, you probably have a toddler. And you’ve probably been met with confusion, anger, or meltdowns. Teaching kids how to share is no easy feat. It’s a developmental milestone that many parents...
by Chris Jones | Aug 20, 2024 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, School Challenges
The first weeks of the school year are a time of both excitement and worry for many children. While some kids have been eager to reconnect with their friends and begin the new year, other children become increasingly anxious as the first day of school approaches and...
by Chris Jones | Jul 26, 2024 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preschool, Toddlers
We know that play groups are important for toddlers and preschoolers. But have you considered that they serve a valuable function for caregivers as well? Below are some of the ways that Drop-In Play Groups, like the ones offered by Parents Place at the Center for...
by Chris Jones | Jul 2, 2024 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips
Picture a child who keeps a tidy, well-organized desk in class, a remarkably clean bedroom at home, makes sure his or her homework is perfectly neat and accurate, sets high goals, and expects the best from him or herself every time. The “perfect” child! So what could...
by Chris Jones | Jun 30, 2024 | Discipline & Behavior, Toddlers
Wild, wonderful and ever so challenging. The toddler set, those little ones under three, are delightful … cute and curious, learning so much, so quickly, and with sudden mood changes you wonder what entity took over your child’s body! You were once a great...
by Chris Jones | Jun 21, 2024 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips
Soon after I had my first child, I remember passing a billboard with a baby sitting in a diaper that said “These don’t come with instructions.” At the time I only had the smallest idea of just how true that was. As parents our job is complex—how do we nurture...
