FeelLinks Blog

Hands-on learning is such a powerful tool that engages children in active learning. Here are just some of the reasons hands-on learning at home, in the classroom, and out in our world, becomes the most important way for our unique and diverse children to engage, participate, retain, and use their critical thinking skills!

In this journey of parenthood, there's a profound strength in unity—a strength found in the collective wisdom and support of parents learning and discussing together.

As parents, caregivers, and teachers, it’s natural to want to shield children from anything that feels scary to them. However, feelings of fear are a normal part of childhood development, and learning to cope with fear is an essential lifeskill - fear is valid and normal to us all.

Children are often seen as resilient - capable of bouncing back after setbacks with ease. However, this perception can lead adults to being dismissive or downplay children's emotions. It's critical to recognize that children experience a wide range of emotions just like adults, and these emotions play a crucial role in their development and well-being.

It can be difficult to decide if, when, and how, to discuss tough topics with our children. What is the best way to approach these tough conversations? As long as your child is ready, it's important for us to support honest and compassionate conversations around tough and complex topics.  

When we respond to children with patience and compassion, and continuously model healthy strategies, we create a sense of belonging, safety and security. As co-regulation occurs, a child's incredible developing brain, literally creates new pathways and they discover their own capabilities in using self-soothing strategies and eventually learn self-regulation.

Parents, caretakers, educators, anyone with children in their lives, this is a must read on how to fill and refill the emotional cup of a child. What fills their cup? What empties their cup? How do we teach children to advocate appropriately for an emotional cup refill?

Highly sensitive children to highly resilient children. Nurturing our children and meeting their needs; being the best parents, caretakers and teachers, to meet the needs of our unique children.

Understanding emotional intelligence is important for all parents and caretakers. What is it? Why is it important? How can we teach it to our children? Knowledge is power!

We should all do our best to create a supportive environment where our children are free to verbalize, process, and express all emotions.

We need to listen to our children and avoid constantly swooping in to be the “fixer” or be the “dismisser” (not a real word, but it sounds good).  Here are four things you can do show your child you are present, supportive and attentive!

Will the summer expectations for your children look the same as a typical summer? Or will there be some changes in the "normal" summer routines and schedules in your home?

Tuning in to our child's underlying emotions can help parents better understand their outward behaviors. Take a closer look at how to be more OPEN with this practice.