Positive Discipline Parenting Blog
Sproutable's Positive Discipline blog.
Real tips. Real talk. Read & grow.
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Trusting My Teen Through the Driving Years
Recently, I had Jenell Kheriaty on the show to talk about school refusal and avoidance, which is a really messy and complex issue. If you haven’t listened to that one yet, I encourage you to[...]By Casey O'Roarty
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Secret Browsers and Navigating Screens with Tweens & Teens
This week, a post in the Joyful Courage for Parents of Teens Facebook group really hit home for me. A mom was grappling with her 12-year-old son, who managed to bypass his school’s tech filters by using a “fake algebra website” to access blocked sites like TikTok and Fortnite. As you can imagine, she was […]By Casey O'Roarty
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What to Do When Nanny Kids Bite
The first time I encountered a biting situation, I was caring for two absolutely delightful toddlers in a nanny share. These kiddos had grown up together since they were about six months old and had become great friends. Both were (and continue to be) kind, loving, and sweet children...By Danielle Taylor
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Positive Discipline for Teenagers: Chapters 1-3
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving into Positive Discipline for Teenagers by Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott on the Joyful Courage podcast, offering a deep dive into the principles behind this parenting approach. We’ll be exploring how Positive Discipline can help us navigate the messy, wonderful teen years with a focus on… …connection, […]By Casey O'Roarty
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Shifting from Worst Case Scenario to Trusting the Process With Our Teens
I say this a lot, but this season of parenting is messy. The terrain of adolescence is rough. It is the nature of the path, it is the nature of the season. Even when we are practicing our tools and setting up agreements and doing family meetings, it's still a rough season. I always get excited when I get to say that to people because I think there's a certain level of relief when you're reminded, "Hey, this isn’t necessarily you not being enough, this isn’t necessarily your kids having issues. This is the terrain. This is how adolescence feels." Granted, you might think, "Yeah, but this doesn’t look like what’s going on at my neighbor’s or my sister doesn’t seem to be having these issues with her teens." It’s all relative. It’s hard and every single thing that happens, including the challenges that show up with our teens, are an opportunity for us to… learn, to grow, to expand, and to get curious.By Casey O'Roarty
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Why Teens Lie and What Parents Can Do About It
Parenting teens is a journey of growth—both for them and for us as parents. It’s often said that raising teenagers is like signing up for a personal growth workshop you didn’t realize you’d need, and it’s true. The challenges teens present push us to examine ourselves, our beliefs, and our responses. One of the trickiest and most triggering issues for parents is when their teens lie. But here’s the thing: lying, while frustrating, is not necessarily a reflection of a bad kid or poor parenting. It’s part of the messy terrain of adolescence.By Casey O'Roarty
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Shielding Your Children: Navigating High-Conflict Co-Parenting
Parenting is full of surprises—some that make your heart swell, others that test your patience in ways you never imagined. Co-parenting with a high-conflict ex can amplify those challenges, turning everyday situations into hurdles that feel overwhelming. The tension, disagreements, and constant back-and-forth can drain you. Yet, through it all, one thing remains clear: your […]By Guest
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When your teenager shuts you out
Parenting teens can sometimes feel like a constant balancing act. One moment, you might feel close to your child, only to be met with resistance, frustration, or distance in the next. This was exactly what one parent shared recently. Their 13-year-old daughter, while generally a good kid, was shutting them out—silent treatments, ignored texts, and […]By Casey O'Roarty
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Five Things to Remember in the Tough Moments with Kids
Nannying is undoubtedly the best job I’ve ever had. I truly love nannying. Nonetheless, there are still tough days with kids, and more frequently, tough moments. The best nannies and the sweetest kiddos still have conflict, challenges, bad moods, and miscommunication. Here are five reminders that have helped me get through those extra tough moments […]By Danielle Taylor
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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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