When BIG Emotions Control Your Child
childhood development, emotions Inda Howard Brink, M.S. LMFT #35276 childhood development, emotions Inda Howard Brink, M.S. LMFT #35276

When BIG Emotions Control Your Child

When your child is being controlled by big emotions, you can get caught up too. I remember one time when I went to pick up my son from school, I instantly knew something was wrong. Once we got to the car, he burst into tears.

When kids get overwhelmed, you’ll see a swirl of emotions. Usually one emotion is driving that meltdown. Most parents tend to only identify the BIG emotions - Anger, Sadness, Fear... and STOP there. When we only name the loudest feeling, your child gets stuck in it.

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Back-to-School Transitions: Four Areas That Make the Biggest Difference
childhood development, back to school, parenting tips, routines Inda Howard Brink, M.S. LMFT #35276 childhood development, back to school, parenting tips, routines Inda Howard Brink, M.S. LMFT #35276

Back-to-School Transitions: Four Areas That Make the Biggest Difference

Growing up, I loved summer break—and so did my sons—until the Back-to-School sales appeared. They were the annual reminder that schedules, routines, and responsibilities were just around the corner.

Here are four areas that can make the transition smoother: routine, organization, goal setting, and emotional preparation.

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Why Risky Play Matters: Supporting Healthy Childhood Development
risky play, childhood development Jessica O'Connor, PhD, LMFT risky play, childhood development Jessica O'Connor, PhD, LMFT

Why Risky Play Matters: Supporting Healthy Childhood Development

Thinking back to your childhood, can you recall moments of freedom, excitement, and exploration—climbing high, running fast, getting messy, and sometimes getting hurt?

These experiences are now described in research as risky play, and we are starting to realize just how important risky play is to childhood development.

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