Positive Discipline Parenting Blog
Sproutable's Positive Discipline blog.
Real tips. Real talk. Read & grow.
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Homework Battles: The 5 Step Reset
Semenay Erdoğan from Unsplash Do you dread the after school show down? When you ask whether they have any homework while preparing for battle? Or maybe it is after the sports and activities in the[...]By Julietta Skoog
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Teach Turn Taking in Conversations
When It Gets Hectic… We’ve all been there. Mealtimes can spiral into chaos or power struggles, and your first impulse might be to correct or redirect behavior: “Stop interrupting,” “Sit down,” “Just eat your food!” Instead, try using conversation as the redirection. Bring them back into the moment with a question, a story, or a […]By Julietta Skoog
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Halloween Activities for Nanny Kids
I love Halloween season! I know it’s not for everyone, but I look forward to the costumes, decorations, & festivities every year, and I especially love sharing the fun with my nanny charges. Here are a few of my favorite books, activities, and tips to help make your Halloween a success with any age. Books […]By Danielle Taylor
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Kids Don’t Need “One Story” About the Divorce – They Need Emotional Safety
There’s this idea that comes up a lot when parents separate:“We need to be on the same page about everything so the kids don’t get confused.” On the surface, it sounds logical, even responsible. If both parents tell one clean, unified story about why the family is changing, the kids will feel secure, right? Here’s […]By Guest
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Teaching Flexibility to Kids
When we think of the character traits and skills we hope our children have when they grow up, flexibility is likely on the list. Partly because they may be currently living in the land of strong-willed rigidity. If their favorite jammies are in the wash or you dare to give them the blue instead of the […]By Julietta Skoog
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Positive Discipline for Teenagers: Chapters 7-9
Welcome back to our Positive Discipline for Teenagers series! If you’ve been following along, you know we’re working through the book Positive Discipline for Teenagers by Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott, alongside the Joyful Courage podcast. This week we’re digging into Chapters 7, 8, and 9 — all about family meetings, special time, and the […]By Casey O'Roarty
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Teaching Persistence
When we think of the character traits and skills we hope our children have when they grow up, persistence is likely on the list. This is because researchers like Alfie Kohn, Daniel Pink, and Carol Dweck, write that persistence, when built within, makes us more successful and happier. We all want our children to be […]By Julietta Skoog
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Fostering Independence and Growth in Teens
Parenting teens can often feel like walking a tightrope—balancing between offering freedom and providing enough structure. With the whirlwind of emotional ups and downs, academic pressures, and growing independence, it can be tough to know when to step in and when to step back. But with the right strategies, you can navigate these years with […]By Casey O'Roarty
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Screentime Guidelines for the School Year
Summer has wrapped and our kiddos are likely far out of their school routine. Here are some Positive Discipline tips to (mostly) avoid power struggles, save your sanity, and keep your kiddo’s brain from getting short circuited as you transition to the new school year routine. Get curious Using connection and curiosity, sit down with your child […]By Julietta Skoog
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What 4th & 5th Grade Teachers Wish Parents Knew
I worked in elementary schools for 15 years as a school psychologist and counselor and always loved being with the 4th and 5th graders. They were a special developmental group, and felt so “big” compared to my little kindergarteners. They were curious, assertive, wise, silly and confident. I felt responsible for getting them ready for […]By Julietta Skoog
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How to Be a Homework Helper Kids Actually Want Around
What is the best approach to helping kids with homework? I’d like to start this post by publicly apologizing for assigning entirely too much homework to my elementary students in the early 2010s. My intentions were good! I thought kids needed the extra practice, admin expected to see homework, and surely parents liked knowing what […]By Danielle Taylor
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