by Chris Jones | Jul 18, 2016 | Leisure & Vacation, Parenting Tips, Special Challenges
As a kid, summer meant freedom and spontaneity. It conjured memories of the ice cream truck, mid-week sleepovers, kickball games lasting until it was dark, and riding my bike barefoot while snacking from a bag of Doritos hanging off the handlebar. I didn’t know...
by Chris Jones | Jul 4, 2016 | Leisure & Vacation, Parenting Tips
Happy summer! It’s already the 4th of July and the weather is to die for in the San Francisco Bay Area! Mid 70’s — low 90’s with a slight breeze and bright blue skies with wispy clouds — What more could we want? The staff here at Parents Place has...
by Chris Jones | Jun 21, 2016 | Parenting Tips, Sleep
Sleep is vital for children’s bodies and brains. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the younger we are, the more sleep we need. Newborns typically need 14 — 17 hours sleep, while young adults usually need 7 — 9 hours sleep. What happens when we...
by Chris Jones | Jun 14, 2016 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips
When my daughter was four years old, we visited a friend with a large cat. The cat was heavy, but my daughter struggled mightily to pick her up. When she finally managed to gather the cat into her arms, nearly toppling over with the effort, the cat began purring. My...
by Chris Jones | Jun 6, 2016 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens
Many parents experience such dramatic changes in their child between the ages of 11 — 14 that they feel like an alien has taken residence in their home! When a child goes through puberty and enters the adolescent years, the physical and emotional transformation can...
by Chris Jones | May 23, 2016 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Temperaments, Toddlers
Parents strive to support their children through life’s ups and downs but sometimes it’s hard to know how to help. The following suggestions are based on research from the evidence based Triple P Positive Parenting Program. In order to raise resilient...
by Chris Jones | Apr 11, 2016 | Birth - First Year
What if you’re a new mom and instead of feeling exhilarated, you find yourself feeling very anxious, sad, irritable or lonely? What if you feel guilty for being a “bad mom,” as you find yourself not living up to what seems like everyone else’s “baby...
by Chris Jones | Apr 4, 2016 | Leisure & Vacation, Parenting Skills
**** This article was written in advance of Family Fun Day in 2015. Family Fun Day 2019 is coming up on April 28, register here > The 2nd Annual Parents Place Family Fun Day is coming up in a few weeks! We had such a great time last year jumping in the fun zone,...
by Chris Jones | Mar 23, 2016 | Parenting Skills
As parents it’s so easy to become focused on helping our children to cultivate good habits. We know how important it is for kids to get a full night’s sleep, eat healthy food, and wash hands before eating. But what about us? What about continuing to...
by Chris Jones | Mar 9, 2016 | Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Preteens & Teens
Adolescence is a time when children and parents begin to spend less time together. It is a time when teens begin to develop their independence, understand their place in the world, and begin to work out their own values and beliefs. It can be especially challenging to...