Positive Discipline Parenting Blog
Sproutable's Positive Discipline blog.
Real tips. Real talk. Read & grow.
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Making the Most of School Breaks with Your Nanny Kids
When I was a teacher, it felt like we were never on school break, but now that I’m a nanny, it seems like kids are always on school break! Funny how that works. While school[...]By Danielle Taylor
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Soaking it up with Cloth Diapers
When I was 24 years old I took a small motorboat through the Amazon jungle in Peru from Pucallpa to a village of the Shipibo tribe. The boat was full of locals returning to their home from the closest town with supplies. It was hot and sticky and the ride was long. There were […]By Alanna Beebe
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Parent Self-Care and Coping with Sleep Deprivation
Parenting, especially in the early stages, often comes with, what feels like, endless sleepless nights. Coping with sleep deprivation is so difficult to manage, and is at the same time crucial for maintaining your well-being and ability to care for your child effectively. Here are some tips for parent self-care while dealing with sleep deprivation. […]By Jade Folk
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8 Fun Things to do with an 8 Year Old
I’ve always been drawn towards working with young children, and I simply don’t have as much experience with the older elementary crowd that I do with the littles. Luckily, because of Positive Discipline, I know that my first step in caring for these 2nd, 3rd, & 4th graders is to focus on building connection. The […]By Danielle Taylor
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Getting kids’ sleep back on track after summer
Getting sleep back on track after the end of summer can be challenging. Maybe you were living it up, keeping your young ones out late for more summer fun, or perhaps you were trying to keep routines consistent, but the bright summer evening light delayed bedtime for your little ones. Either way, I know we […]By Jade Folk
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Infant Nap Transitions
Infant naps change drastically over the first few years of life. As your little one grows, so do their sleep needs. See below for practical insights to help you smoothly navigate the first year of baby’s nap changes, ensuring both you and your baby rest easy during the transitions.By Jade Folk
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5 Things to Know About the Science of Sleep
Here are 5 important things to know about the science of sleep (and how it can help your baby sleep better). Circadian Rhythm and the suprachiasmatic nucleus The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a small region in the brain’s hypothalamus that rules the body’s internal clock, or circadian pacemaker. It helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle and […]By Jade Folk
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Winning Cooperation or Winning a Power Struggle?
In Positive Discipline, we talk about “winning cooperation” from the children we work with. Why would we spend our time & extra effort on “winning cooperation” over just fostering obedience? Why do you want to win cooperation instead of winning the power struggle?By Danielle Taylor
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How to Stop Negative Interaction Cycles in Relationships
We all fall into repetitive patterns of relating to our partner or our children. This is normal. I call them cycles of interaction, or cycles for short. These cycles can be positive and promote connection. These cycles can also feel like negative ruts that prevent connection, and leave us feeling frustrated with ourselves, with the other person, with the situation, or all of the above!By Guest
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When Kids Say Really Mean Things to Nannies
Nothing can prepare you for that first time a nanny charge says hurtful things to you. You would think it gets easier but it never does. You are human after all, with feelings too. It is so hard to imagine that even at 3, 4 or 5 years old that vitriol will come out of […]By Julietta Skoog
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Teaching Body Positivity to Nanny Kids
I remember feeling absolutely gutted when the sweet kindergartener I used to nanny for made a passing comment about her “big tummy” as we were reading books together one afternoon. I was heartbroken, shocked, and absolutely froze. I wanted to say, “No! You don’t have a big tummy! And even if you did, big tummies are amazing! You’re perfect and beautiful and strong!” But I had no idea if that was “the right” thing to say at that moment. Honestly, I can’t even remember what I said, but her comment has certainly stuck with me. The next time this happens, I do know what I’m going to say.By Danielle Taylor
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