Dear Teacher Lisa,

Help! My newly 3-year-old dropped her naps and is suddenly distraught over seemingly minor issues and frequently inflexible about things to the point of full blown meltdowns. I’m trying to remind myself she is probably a little tired, but that doesn’t make it easier when she’s insisting on the blue cup and pulling my beard or trying to run away in a parking lot. When did my child become Godzilla and how do I handle it??

Dear Parent of Godzilla,

It sounds to me like a couple of things are going on. 1) Your child has dropped their naps as you mentioned, which means her body is adjusting to getting a little less sleep and being on the go for a much longer stretch. This may mean she is not operating at full strength for the next little stretch until she is fully adjusted to her new normal. 2) It sounds to me like she is entering developmental territory where she is coming to understand herself as an entity separate from you, her parent. This can often happen around this age and particularly if the child is starting school or spending time outside of the home. Part of becoming her own person who can function apart from you is having her own ideas and opinions. Strong ones. About everything.

I know, I know. While it is comforting to know your child is but one of many Godzillas in the world undergoing this strange and beautiful metamorphosis to a semi-independent human, it doesn’t answer your question, “how do I handle it?” Here are some thoughts…

1)    Create routine. Children do well with predictability and routine. Whereas young toddlers cannot grasp time beyond the present, your daughter is getting old enough to be able to appreciate having a framework to her day. Create a visual schedule of the day and map out the various activities and transitions. I like to include photos of the child doing the activity so they can visually reference themselves, but you can also use drawings or other pictures. Within your schedule, delineate which items are set and which items she might have a say over. It helps children to know that they will have a time in the day in which they get to make choices and have control. If you are worried they will make impossible suggestions, start with some choices that are acceptable to you (a picture of the park or the zoo—which one would you like to do for our afternoon outing? A picture of books or the backyard water table—would you like to read books or spend time in the backyard during our afternoon free time?) So much of children’s day is grownups telling them what to do and exerting our power over them. It really helps to take the power struggle out of it, and make it more about schedule and routine, and highlight and celebrate the parts where the child has the power and choice and how much fun those are. Stick to it, so she can develop a rhythm with it. It may take a little bit of time to adapt.

2)    Create an emergency regulation kit. Once your child is flooded with big feelings, she is beyond reason. However, at a time when she is calm, you can plan with her together what things might help her calm down when she is upset. If she isn’t sure, offer up some suggestions based on what you have seen her gravitate towards or your own calming strategies. (squishy fidget ball, favorite song on cue, favorite book, lovey, ice pack, something to rip or cut, a pillow to throw or hit, something scented to smell, textured fabric/blanket, deep breathing or a yoga pose you practice at other times, a notebook to draw in, etc.) Next time she is flooded or starting to get flooded, remind her, “Oh my goodness, remember our emergency kit?? Do we need it??” Again, it may take practice to incorporate this new toolbox into her routine, but with time, she may start to figure out which regulation strategies work best for her and start to look for them herself when she feels herself getting out of control.

3)    Honor your child’s feelings while holding limits. You can say to her, “You are so disappointed that we’re not going to the zoo,” and if she seems particularly mad at you and going for your beard, you can say, “You seem really mad at Daddy. You wanted to go to the zoo and I said no. I can’t let you pull my beard but let’s find a way to get those angry feelings out.” (Pull out your emergency kit or you might want to let her push on your hands as hard as she can to see if she can push you over.)

4)    Debrief later. When your child is calm again later, you can talk about the incident. Go through a simple play-by-play of what happened and the feelings she had. It can sometimes help to write this down in a “book” so she can look at it and process the event. This is giving her tools to express herself the next time those big feelings bubble up, and building skills.  

5)    Learn from others. You can practice emotional language by talking about other scenarios you witness with other children and wondering about them, or by looking at books and discussing characters’ feelings, motivations, and possible solutions. The more curiosity you have about people’s intentions and feelings, and the more you normalize a broad range of feelings that all people have and that come and go, she will start to be able to name her own feelings and needs and talk with you openly about them, as opposed to melting completely.

6)    Get support. As I mentioned, there are many little Godzillas running around out there in the world. Find some parents going through the same thing, and give each other support or seek suggestions. You never know which strategy might really resonate with you and your child.

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

Teacher Lisa

Dear Teacher Lisa,

My three-year-old and I are good friends with another three-year-old and mom. We have spent a lot of time together over the past year, but lately I am having a harder and harder time enjoying our adventures together in public settings. It seems that we moms have different limits for our kids, and I find my child trying to copy behaviors or impress this friend with behaviors that are too dangerous for me or go beyond my personal parenting limits. While I understand why my friend may have different limits for her child, I’m frustrated and feel like I’m losing control…yet this friendship is very special to me. How do I maintain my family’s boundaries without offending my friend, and pulling my hair out when our kids are together??

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Mama Losing Patience

Dear Mama Losing Patience,

To you and all the parents out there who are gaining child custody over neglect must try to understand that it’s normal that each family will have their own family values and limits. It can be tough trying to navigate this social territory in a way that both creates consistency for your child and is flexible enough that you can enjoy the company of others and appreciate their unique style and flow. If the issue is serious then it is always better to seek the child support case lawyers as they can help you legally.

Here are some suggestions: 

1) Take a break.
It sounds like you are a bit triggered at the moment by your friend’s child’s behavior, the behavior it is inspiring in your child, and your mom friend’s responses. It might be best to take a break from hanging out so frequently, or make it a regular time and place that you can control a little better and some place you feel more comfortable with the parameters and limits. Take a step back and think about how often you typically get together? Do you have a regular weekly time or is it more frequent and spontaneous? You may want to opt for less frequent and more consciously scheduled playdates when you know everyone will be well rested and in good spirits. 

2) Make a plan.
For the time being, you may want to set up a specific plan for the playdate in advance. For example, you tell your friend you are inviting their child over for a cooking project and then supervise them as they do so, put out some art materials in the backyard while it is baking, eat the finished product, and then call it a day. This doesn’t have to be the exact plan of course, but the idea is to curate more of an activity that you think might be successful and acceptable to you, and the timeframe that you think would work best (i.e. 2-3:30pm). Keep things shorter and sweeter and more organized. Control more variables.

3) Know your triggers.
If you are going on an outing with these friends, you may want to avoid locations where you know you will get triggered (like a museum, restaurant, or a place where certain behaviors are expected and you would like your child to follow the unspoken rules). Instead, go somewhere like a nature trail or a wide open park where the kids can feel free to be wild, and if your child wants to try something challenging, instead of feeling badly about it, you might be excited instead! Also, make yourself available to support the risky play. Pack light in a backpack so your hands are free to help spot rock jumping or other spontaneous nature exploration.

4) Limit testing and setting expectations.
It sounds like your friend’s child (and possibly your own child) may be going through some developmental testing of limits right now. I find it easiest to set an expectation with children in advance and explain it (for example, you won’t be able to touch the animals at the zoo, or shout at the library, and explain why). Maybe while you are all in the car with seatbelts on, you talk about, “Okay, when we get out, we are going to be crossing a busy street. I need both of you to hold my hands so we can be safe. Everyone got it?” and wait for their affirmation before unbuckling. It’s much harder in the moment when kids are excited to redirect them, but it can be a little easier if you have already set the ground rules and then it is just a quick reminder, “Oh, remember, we all have to hold hands because this is a super busy street!” 

5) Pick your battles.
You might be able to reflect on some things and ask yourself, “Is this really a big deal?” and others you might think, “This is really important to me and my family values/my child’s safety.” It’s hard for a child full of enthusiasm and energy (and possibly developing new skills and interests) to be constantly restricted and directed, but if you choose the things that are most important to you or definite safety hazards and you are consistent about holding the line on those, you might have more success. 

6) Communicate respectfully.
If it’s really bothering you, you could have a talk with your friend in a moment when you are feeling calm and rested. “Hey, I was wondering if we could brainstorm…I feel like I’m losing control of our two munchkins lately when we are out. Do you ever feel that way? What type of scenario do you think would work best? Because I really value our friendship and want to spend time with you, but I’m going a little coo-coo managing our crazy 3-year-olds!” And maybe the two of you could put heads together to discuss which limits are non-negotiable, and come up with a time, place and activity that would best meet everyone’s needs, so you still get to hang out and feel connected, but with a little less stress. Afterwards, you could plan to debrief about how it went and any adjustments to the plan.Hope this helps! Friendship is messy and challenges us to stretch in ways we could never have imagined, but if we stick with it, it gives both the children and us parents opportunities to learn, grow and have fun!

Sincerely,

Teacher Lisa

Dear Teacher Lisa,

Our 2 year old is having complete meltdowns over getting dressed in the morning – it’s not a fun way for any of us to start our day! I am trying to stay calm and walk her through it, but it’s not easy. That said, I am also still trying to set boundaries around her reaction to it, but she just doesn’t want to hear it.

As you know, I’m pregnant with our 2nd child, and I’m not sure exactly how she is processing everything (though it doesn’t seem to come out in direct ways). Could this be related?

Any advice will help!

Just Want a Little Peace in the Morning

Dear A Little Peace,

This all seems pretty age appropriate. If possible, I would try to talk with her the day before to make a plan for the morning. Is it that she doesn’t want to dress herself? Or she doesn’t like any of the options/nothing goes right?

If it’s wanting help, I would go ahead and give some help (maybe compromise) and that could be about her reverting back to being a baby a bit in anticipation of losing that relationship with you.

If it’s the latter issue of nothing being right, then the planning ahead could really help. Maybe pick out the outfit the day before and lay out all the accessories. You could do a little picture schedule on the wall of her (smiling) at each stage.

Step 1: Picture of her with her undies on…”Put on undies.”

Step 2: Picture of her with her shirt on…”Put on shirt.” etc. until she is fully dressed.

You could end the chart with a high five or something fun she enjoys like choosing a favorite song to dance to before heading out the door. Try to find ways to make it fun for her as well, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. Kids don’t like being told what to do–they like feeling powerful, playful, independent and important, so any of those vibes you could tap into would be good.

With another parent who was having a similar issue, she was saying that nothing about the breakfast goes right and her son goes ballistic. I was thinking that was due to morning grumps, wanting control and autonomy, and the rush/stress of getting out of the house. I suggested to her to make a book about “B’s Breakfast” or make a little velcro picture mat with the different elements of breakfast to stick on and off that kind of gives him a way to process and make it how he likes it to look even if he can’t control the real breakfast sometimes because the honey won’t come out (or whatever it might be!).

It could be fun to do something similar for N if it’s the little details of dressing that are wearing her down (no pun intended, haha). You could do a picture of her in her undies with velcro spots to stick on different outfits, so she can do all the trying on the velcro and not on herself. Or a book “N’s Getting Dressed Book.” It could be about feelings and hiccups along the way, but it could also be about the process.

Also, allowing yourself some extra time in the morning so you can be present and not stressed is helpful. I find it is when I am most stressed and rushed that things go worst in the morning, whereas if I have all my stuff ready and I’m relaxed, I can help the kids more.

You’ve got this,

Teacher Lisa

Dear Teacher Lisa,

I’ve got 3 amazing boys, so, as you can imagine, my hands are full.

My baby is easy, but my 2 year old and 5 year old need constant supervision because the minute I turn my back on them, they break out into fights. And I mean FIGHTS…as in, throw down, fists flying fights.

The thing is, I know my boys are lovers – truly sensitive and wonderful human beings that I’m so proud to have birthed into this world – but it’s as if they lose their minds around each other, and I’m struggling to keep my cool.

I want to help my boys and help our whole family by doing so; but what can I do when it seems all they know how to do is fight?

Sincerely,

Mama Not a Referee

Dear Mama,

Phew, so sibling issues are complex, let’s face it. Here are some ideas to try to minimize the battles.

1)    Special time for each child – I know it may be hard, but carving out some special time alone with each of your children can do wonders to build your connection with them. This will help in moments of tension or conflict, because you will both feel more connected, willing to see other points of view and work together more lovingly. It doesn’t have to be a full day, but even 30 minutes a week or 10 minutes a day when you put the other kids down or in an enclosed safe space, or send them for playdates or with another caregiver. Having one on one particularly with the oldest sibling who may miss that attention the most, can work wonders. You two can share in lamenting the challenges of the youngers and how much you love them but they also drive you crazy. You can focus on the oldest child and something they would like to do with you. If their cup is full and they are secure in their connection to you, this may help them have more empathy and patience for the younger children in those difficult moments. You can also strategize together in these calm times about what to do about some of the things that bother your oldest. Ask them what makes them the most mad and if they have any ideas of what might help.

2)    Create separate safe spaces at home – There should be a space for your oldest child to retreat to if they need to be alone or protect their toys, bodies, projects, etc. Hype that up with your oldest child. Common zone is for everyone, but this space is theirs alone. Hold that line for your oldest child, so they know you have their back. Have them keep anything precious there. As your younger children get older, they will need some spaces defined for them as well. Having separate toy boxes can also be helpful. Have your older child pick out the items that are just theirs and they are in charge of keeping them in that box when they are not in use. Likewise, the younger child(ren) should have a box of things that are just for them. Anything else is fair game.

3)    Spend time apart – The relationship between your siblings will have rough patches and smooth ones. When you are in a rough patch, accept that this may be a learning stretch. Work through conflicts as they arise and use your toolbox of nonviolent communication and conflict resolution, BUT… help them spend some time apart! These learning periods can be overwhelming and exhausting for the whole family. Give them (and yourself) breaks by sending your older kid to school or playdates or outings. Experiment with some playdates or babysitting for your younger child(ren) as well. They may need time to spread their wings independently without dealing with sib dynamics 24/7. You may find they return refreshed and more appreciative of the family.

4)    Don’t try to change their feelings – Your older child in particular may express things in unsavory terms. Don’t take it personally. As Heather Shumaker says in her book It’s Okay Not to Share, “Go ahead and let them hate the baby.” It’s the behavior that you can place limits on, not the feelings. If their words are hurting the younger siblings’ feelings, they can write it down, or shout it in their room, or tell it to you alone. If they are using hurtful words towards you, accept it as an expression of feelings. Don’t take it to heart, but wonder about what needs or feelings might be underneath it. If they are aggressive, they need to be stopped and separated. There can be natural consequences if you don’t feel safe doing a certain activity because of their behavior. Ultimately, we want to give our children space to have their feelings about their family life, however much we may not like what they are expressing. If they are able to get it out and feel heard, they may be less likely to take it out physically on each other. Maybe you can start a tradition of everyone sharing “roses and thorns” at the end of each day (one positive thing, one negative thing). Be careful when you are sharing your own parental frustrations not to blame or place judgement on your children (i.e. don’t call them mean), but you can share that you had a feeling as a result of something that went down (i.e. you felt sad and mad when the kids were hitting each other in the backseat, because you want them both to be safe).  

5)    Try to collaborate and plan in times of calm – When you are all in a calm state, debrief with your older child and plan ahead. Come up with things they can do or strategies they might use when they are SO MAD! Put together a regulatory box with their help. Maybe a lego to build, a favorite book to read, some water balloons to smash, papers to tear up, a pillow to hit or boxing gloves and a pad, something to cut up, silly putty to stretch, gum to chew, headphones with favorite music to listen to, some slime to mix up, a stretchy fidget to hold, a chewy necklace to bite on, fake poop to throw, ice to chew (you could just put a picture of that in the box and get it out at the time it’s needed)… you name it. You and your child can come up with a list of things that would work better than hitting, scratching, kicking, etc. their sibling. If they need a strong physical release to feel better, you might make a plan that they do it with you or another trusted adult, i.e. push mom over as hard as you can (in a safe space), crash into Teacher Lisa with an exercise mat, have a pillow fight, etc. These strategies might not work overnight, but if you practice reminding them of these options in the moment they are getting flooded with their sibling, it will empower them to know that a) you accept and understand their big feelings, but not their behavior, b) they have choices of how to deal with the big feelings they experience, and c) you are there to help remind them of those options and support them through the process.

It’s obviously harder to communicate and set these types of things up with 2-year-olds than 5-year-olds, but you can start simple with them and redirect their aggression to playful roughhousing with you, or another activity.

6)    Find the sweet spot – If there are activities that the two enjoy together, build off of those and add on. Or find ways to bridge mutual interests. You just may find some silver linings in there.

7)    Self care – Take some time for yourself doing whatever makes you feel good (coffee with a friend, a quiet walk, a trip to the spa, a nap/bath, a night out on the town). This may seem counter intuitive when the household feels like it’s falling apart, but filling your tank can work wonders for your patience in those stressful moments. The energy of each member of the family affects the others, so bring your most positive spirit and see if you can’t chip away a little at the monster energy.

8)    Sense of humor – Laugh when the dust settles, and write down the stories. It will all be different in 6 months, and different again 6 months after that. This parenting thing is a wild ride, and it goes better when you can stop to laugh (and cry).

9)    Lean on your community – Text or email your community anytime for support or to vent, and arrange to spend time together. Strength in numbers!

Big hugs to you and those sweet boys,

Teacher Lisa

Dear Teacher Lisa,

Even though it’s exhausting with a newborn at home, I know I have so much to be grateful for with two healthy kids…and yet, I find myself grieving what our lives were like before our son was born and it was just the three of us.

I try to connect with my eldest in all of the ways we used to, but we just don’t seem to have the same relationship as before, and I’m not sure how exactly to find a new way of being a family together.

Given your experience with your own family, as well as what you’ve seen with all of the families at The Garden over the years, do you have any advice as to how I can find my way?

Sincerely,

Wanting to Reconnect

Dear Wanting,

Here’s my two cents: seeking out new ways to connect is the key, because the old ways you connected may no longer be relevant.

In the process of becoming increasingly pregnant and having to focus on taking care of your body and slowing down, your relationship with your older child was already evolving. Then once the new baby arrived, it shifted even further. You now have a new baby bundle that consumes your physical energy (though your older child may still dominate your mental sphere) requiring snuggling/carrying, nursing, and depriving you of sleep.

Your older child is also growing and changing and may alternately long for the good old days when they were the baby and also feel happy to be the big kid, independent and interested in exploring new adventures and connections. Don’t be surprised if your child moves back and forth between these two states, especially as the baby changes and becomes more of their own person. Try to honor any feelings as they come up and give your child opportunities to express them.

You may feel unsure of how to connect with your older child. Your role with your younger child is clear and dominates. You may feel a sense of loss with your older child—your family dynamic has shifted leaving the two of you more distant. Don’t let these feeling get you down. This is a big transition requiring adjustments all around, and many positives will come out of all of this.

I would suggest carving out a weekly special time with your older child. Tell them that you want to prioritize this time with them every week when the two of you will do something on your own that is fun for both of you. You can talk about how although you love having Baby as a part of the family, you miss having time just the two of you so you are going to put it on the weekly calendar. This reminds your older child of how much you still love them, and also lets them know it’s okay to have a range of feelings about their younger sibling. Maybe you have a weekly ice cream date when you debrief about the week. Maybe you go for a pony ride. Maybe you play her favorite pretend play game without any interruptions. What you do is not that important, as long as you make a point to do it regularly. I would not recommend building it around a physical gift, but rather the gift of quality time spent together. In this way, you will build new bonds with your older child and get to know what their evolving interests are and how to grow together.  

In time, your family will find a new rhythm, and as the baby grows you will once again be able to divide your physical energy more equally between your children.

Sending love,

Teacher Lisa

Dear Teacher Lisa,

Our 3 year old has been especially challenging us lately, and it seems to come up every day in the most routine activities. For example, when it’s time to eat we have an agreement that she must wash her hands before a meal. We always give her the choice to have either mom or dad help her, and after seemingly making her choice, she’ll start to play what we call the “yes/no” game by saying “yes, I’m ready,” then running away and saying “no, I’m not” as soon as we come into the bathroom to help her. This back and forth usually ends in tears after we decide to take a break from the drama and try to walk away (at which point she says “yes, yes I DO want to wash my hands!”).

We recognize that she is going through a lot developmentally and that she is probably already hungry (and maybe even tired) by the time we need to wash hands to eat, but we feel like we’re at a loss as to how to help her through these daily activities without all of us losing our minds. What can we do to give her choices without it turning into a poorly played game?

Sincerely,
Tired of Playing the Yes/No Game

Dear Tired,

So, here’s the thing. A disregulated 3-year-old is not physically capable of making decisions. So rather than viewing this as a “yes/no game,” I would view it as a situation in which your child is incapable of making decisions, and she needs you to make the decision for her based on what you feel best meets her needs in the moment. And if it doesn’t matter for her needs, then decide based on your needs.

For example, if she DOES need her diaper changed, BUT is saying “yes/no” about Daddy doing it, then you decide who does it and stick to it. She may cry the first few times you try this, but often kids will feel better in the security of knowing you are going to help them decide and take care of them if they can’t handle things on their own. 

I view this similarly to when parents are departing from school, assuming the child feels secure in their school environment. Kids may have a lot of feelings about this separation, but will ultimately benefit if you make the call and they know it’s decided and they can move on to the next thing…even if they have some feelings to process along the way. The certainty of you deciding helps and instills confidence that the situation is under control. You don’t want to get into a yo-yo pattern, because it might just become habit. 

Choices are great for during the day when she is not tired and it is something that she can truly choose–apple or orange? But the big stuff should be decided by the parents, and the little stuff too if it’s a time when you know she will be tired (or you can lay it out in advance to give her a choice at a time when she is more regulated–i.e. Tonight do you want to use the new bubble gum toothpaste or the old mint? Let’s lay it out this morning, so it will be ready for us tonight!).

A visual cue can be immensely helpful to a child who needs support in processing the expectations of the day, and one simple way to create this is through a daily “calendar” where you can stick images on to outline the activities for the day. This is a great opportunity as well to offer choices – find a moment when she is well-rested and fed, and then let her pick one or two of the big activities for the coming day.

Another possibility is that she is clinging to the yes/no in these moments, because she has a need for some power and control. I would find other ways to give her this during the day. Maybe you do play a “yes/no game” during the day that is very silly like “Yes, I should put this stinky sock on my head??” That way she has opportunities for power in play, but when it comes to the routine there is a structure that is adhered to. And then you can all focus on playing the games that are a little more fun for everyone :).

Warmly,
Teacher Lisa

“Dear Teacher Lisa,

My 3 year old son is fascinated by makeup and swirly dresses, as I’m sure many 3 year old boys and girls are. I fully support his play and have even bought a dress and tutu for his dress-up area, but I find my parents and husband are more hesitant to encourage this kind of play as they are afraid he’s going to get bullied either now or as he gets older for playing with “girls’ things.”

Recognizing that we don’t live in a world that is always tolerant of those who behave or express themselves differently, do you have any advice as to how I can acknowledge their concerns, while still teaching our son that it’s more than ok to explore what’s most fun for him, no matter how sparkly it might be?

Thank you,

Mom making peace with sequins”

Dear Mom Making Peace with Sequins,

Thank you for your thoughtful message. I believe that following your own child’s lead is always the key. If a child shows no interest in playing with make up or wearing sparkly dresses (visit Harry Styles Merchandise Store to buy the best ones), we don’t need to push them to do so. If they are drawn to this, then by all means, support that exploration. Dressing up in all its forms is a very alluring childhood activity and doesn’t necessarily indicate anything about a child’s gender identity. Allowing our children to explore different sides of themselves and different interests helps them figure out preferences, feel confident that they are not defined by their clothing or external appearance alone, and secure that we love them no matter what.

Childhood is a time of exploration and curiosity. Parental resistance to allowing them to explore will only serve to create a power struggle that can lead on the one hand to a lack of self-confidence and submission to our control, or on the other hand anger and defiance. When we allow a child to explore freely, we are also teaching them to be accepting of others who do the same. On the flip side, if a child has been told at home that they cannot have long hair because they are a boy, when they see a boy with long hair in the community, they may tell this child that is wrong.

A 2-3 year old will not be able to engage in deep philosophical discussion with you about why or why not they may wear sparkles. I encourage you to let your child be free, and surround yourself with people whom you feel will be supportive. If your family members are skeptical and concerned, I don’t recommend arguing with them. Engage with them with empathy for why they feel the way they do. See if you can come to a place of compromise that allows your child time and space to explore, but also helps other family members feel comfortable. Let them know it is important to you that your child doesn’t feel any stigma or shame around their curiosity. You are building your own family values during these early years of your child’s life—it’s natural that you and your partner or extended families bring different perspectives and will need to discuss those to make joint decisions. You may have limits about wearing shoes or pajamas when going out for example, and if you or other family members are worried about public perception, you could set similar limits around sparkly attire, perhaps designating it as a “home outfit.” If by chance you were to encounter someone outside the family who questioned your child’s right to wear sparkles, you might playfully narrate for your child, “In our home, we decide for ourselves what we feel like wearing. Some days we feel sparkly!”

As your child ages, you will be able to talk to them more thoughtfully about what different people think about who wears what and why and ask their opinion. If our aim is to teach our children to think critically and be accepting of others, what better way than to start to break down why Grandma might feel the way she does about boys and make-up or why Daddy might be worried about bullying? Raising children who feel free to explore but can also understand the perspectives of others might just make the world a little more sparkly.

Shine on,

Teacher Lisa