Positive Discipline Parenting Blog
Sproutable’s Positive Discipline blog for parents and caregivers of children toddler to elementary school.
Real tips. Real talk. Read & grow.
Latest post
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!”[...]By Julietta Skoog
Views 
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
Views 
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
Views 
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
Views 
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
Views 
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
Views 
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
Views 
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
Views 
From Sharing Struggles to Super Skills: Navigating Playdates with Ease
If we have learned anything from this last year, it is that little kids love playing with other little kids! At one point my 3 year old, so sick of only her sisters to play with, said through sobbing tears, “I just need friends my size!” They are socially wired and thrive through interactions with other little […]By Julietta Skoog
Views 
Take Time for Training
One Positive Discipline tool that’s been especially meaningful in my work as a nanny is Take Time for Training. In short, this is simply teaching children something, often a practical life skill, before we expect them to do it themselves. Dr. Jane Nelsen breaks this down into four steps: Makes sense to me! We simply […]By Danielle Taylor
Views