Positive Discipline Parenting Blog

Sproutable's Positive Discipline blog.

Real tips. Real talk. Read & grow.

Latest post

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[...]

By Casey O'Roarty

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Being present with your teen’s school discouragement

A mom in our community shared this:  “I’m struggling so much parenting my 15 year old son.  He is so negative.  He’s very smart & has friends, but he says he hates school, that the education system is stupid, homework is a waste, etc.  He is literally negative about everything, yet he won’t do anything […]

By Casey O'Roarty

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Embracing Risky Play with Young Kids

I recently read an excellent article from Psychology Today called “Risky Play: Why Children Love It and Need It.”  After reading the article, I found myself reflecting on how I have and have not embraced risky play with the children in my care.  As a nanny, our number one job is to keep kiddos safe, […]

By Danielle Taylor

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Teacher Tom’s First Book – a nanny review

As a parent or caregiver, you might not be immediately drawn to a book written by a teacher and about teaching, but it is absolutely relevant and engaging for anyone who has children in their lives.  My copy is highlighted, tabbed, and has post-it notes falling out of it from all the notes I was jotting down & sections I want to remember! 

By Danielle Taylor

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Free Professional Development for Nannies

Nannying may be a “work of heart,” but it’s also a legitimate, serious career.  Attending conferences, pursuing higher education, certifications, trainings, and reading the latest in child-development can all make you stand out as a candidate and make you a more confident, competent nanny.  Of course the downside here is that many of these opportunities can break-the-bank, so we’ve compiled a list of free professional development just for nannies! 

By Danielle Taylor

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A Day as a Positive Discipline Nanny

Being a Positive Discipline nanny truly makes my job so much smoother & more enjoyable! I often say that after being trained in Positive Discipline, I feel like I’m playing on easy mode. This is the true story of how I saw Positive Discipline showing up for me and my nanny kiddos on what had the potential to be a pretty awful Monday.

By Danielle Taylor

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Embracing pretend play with kids

It’s been a bit of a surprise for me over the last few years to realize that playing pretend isn’t as easy as I once thought.  I know I sure enjoyed it as a child, but as an adult it can feel just a bit tedious, repetitive, and perhaps is not the most engaging part of the day.  However, playing pretend with your nanny kiddos is a great way to build connection!  I also see pretend play really building those life skills that we want to see in our nanny charges when they are adults. 

By Danielle Taylor

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Teaching Consent & Body Autonomy to Nanny Children

Fostering an environment with a focus on consent and body autonomy is one of my top priorities as a nanny. I always want my nanny charges to feel like they are in charge of their bodies and what happens to them. This is secondary only to keeping them safe while they’re with me.

By Danielle Taylor

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Nightmares

Can toddlers and preschoolers suffer from nightmares? How can I help my toddler and preschooler with nightmares? Why does my 2 year old wake up screaming?How do I stop my child from having nightmares? You are not alone. It is a normal developmental stage and they often come in waves where young children will have them a few days in a row and then not have any again for a few weeks. Here are some tips to help!

By Julietta Skoog

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Infant Potty Training Approach

When my son was born, I decided to try the less common approach of “infant potty training” or “elimination communication.” With this method, you learn to read your baby’s cues and take them directly to the bathroom to pee and poop rather than having them always go in their diaper. This is a pretty common approach to potty training throughout the world as the majority of babies in India, Africa, and Asia are exposed to some form of elimination communication and are usually completely potty trained by the age of 2 years old.

By Guest

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Building the Culture of Teamwork through Chores

When I was growing up we did not have a chore chart. There were no stickers, or popsicle sticks or magnets on a whiteboard. There was just an understanding that we pitched in…all hands on deck. My father was in the military until I was about 7, and prior to that, my mother was very sick with breast cancer. For many of my early memories, she was in and out of the hospital and my father worked long hours. We had caregivers and help but there was still a lot to be done.

By Julietta Skoog

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