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Articles from Erin Kurt | Selfgrowth.com
- A Great Routine For School-Aged Children - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtHere's a question to ask yourself: Are parents who take their children to many after-school classes better parents than those who don't? Thought provoking, isn't it? With the amount of choices that exist today, parents feel pressured to send their children to music class, dance class, ...
Views: 4991 - Back to School Already? How to Set Your Child Up For Success - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtEven though children may be enjoying their summer, parents are already thinking about “back-to-school” and everything that needs to get organized. What’s the stress-free solution to setting your child up for a truly successful year? Routines and organization. Every household benefits from ...
Views: 3156(7 votes) - How to Spend an Incredible Summer With Your Kids - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtWith school out, parents either feel two things. 1)"Wow, I can't wait to spend more time with my kids!" or 2)"Oh, boy, here we go. How will we fill their time?" Parents who work outside the home have no choice but to send their kids to camps or daycares during the day, but stay-at-home moms or ...
Views: 2871(5 votes) - 5 Ideas to Make This Valentine's Day Really Meaningful - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtTake a look at the marketing out right now and see the images that they are trying to project so that we will buy or spend money. Furthermore, they love to put ideas into our heads about how certain gifts will make our partners feel. Not to say gifts are bad, but do they TRULY represent what ...
Views: 2147(5 votes) - What to Cook For Dinner? - 2 Ideas to Make This Fun! - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtThe time is 5 o'clock and your stomach clenches - What to make for dinner is the question racing through your mind. You know you want to prepare healthy meals for your family, but you're tired and you don't have all the ingredients for your favorite "go to" recipe so you pull out the frozen ...
Views: 2028(3 votes) - What Does it Take to Sustain a Happy and Successful Relationship or Marriage? - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtRelationships are a topic I thoroughly enjoy researching and discussing, specifically one between a husband and wife. It is, in fact, one of the most significant connections we will ever have, one that can impact our lives for better or worse. What helps sustain a relationship is continuing ...
Views: 1924 - How to Make This Christmas More Fun and Less Stressful - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtChristmas time is a time for doing special things with family, but holiday events can fill up the calendar very quickly. We often find ourselves running from one event to the next without so much as a breath in between. The holidays then become about pleasing others and not ourselves or our ...
Views: 1923(1 vote) - 4 Ways to Spend Time with Your Kids When You Have No Time - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtIt was Dr. Anthony P. Witham who once said "children spell love…T-I-M-E." He was definitely onto something. Unfortunately, if you are like most parents, time is a precious commodity that often eludes us. Whether we have a new job, a new baby, or we just need to make the coffee or strip the beds, ...
Views: 1803(2 votes) - 11 Ways to Instill a Love of Reading - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtReading helps us in every area of our lives. It helps us become successful in school and later in our careers and it helps us grow as individuals by either teaching us new information or by allowing us to step into someone else's shoes. Reading can also help us become more compassionate and ...
Views: 1745(7 votes) - 20 Ways to Reinforce Good Behaviour - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtWhy is it easier to say something to our kids when we’re angry at them than when they are doing what we want them to do? Picture a lazy Sunday afternoon and you’re reading your favourite magazine while sipping a cup of tea. Your children are in the next room playing a game together, having a ...
Views: 1692 - Say "Yes" As Often As You Can - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtOur role as a parent is to guide our children through life which means setting boundaries and saying “No” quite often. I would like to suggest a slightly different approach, or at least one that puts the emphasis in a different area. Here’s what I mean. My approach to dealing with children ...
Views: 1643 - 5 Ways to Spend Time with Your Kids When You Have No Time - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtIt was Dr. Anthony P. Witham who once said "children spell love…T-I-M-E." He was definitely onto something. Unfortunately, if you are like most parents, time is a precious commodity that often eludes us. Whether we have a new job, a new baby, or we just need to make the coffee or strip the beds, ...
Views: 1581(4 votes) - The Secret to Helping Your Child Excel in School and in Life - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtIs your child struggling in school? Does your child stall when it comes time to do homework? Does your child’s teacher often comment that your child is capable, but is just not working to his or her potential? Or, does your child do alright in school, but seems a bit bored or lacks enthusiasm ...
Views: 1577(6 votes) - Establishing Independent Play -Time - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtUsually parents expect to play with their baby - quite a lot at first, and then increasingly less as they grow older. However, if you are the parent of a toddler or preschooler, you may have learned that the more you play - the more they want, until some children simply do not know what to do ...
Views: 1523 - 3 Secrets to Getting Your Child to Transition From One Activity to Another - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtHave you ever told your child that it's time to go somewhere or do something else and their response was either to ignore you or yell at you? There are ways to avoid this and make the transition from activity to activity easy and smooth. In order for your children to feel comfortable and ...
Views: 1480(2 votes) - 5 Steps to a Happy, Stress-Free Halloween - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtWell, we’re all prepared and everyone is excited. In order to continue this bliss, there are 5 steps you will want to take to ensure that your kids do not fall down the slippery slope of sugar highs, tiredness and tantrums. Step 1: Have an easy, but healthy dinner prepared like soup and ...
Views: 1455 - Why Children Misbehave: 8 Reasons and 8 Solutions - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtOne of the most common expressions parents can be heard saying is, “I don’t understand why he’s/she’s doing that”. There are eight, very common reasons why children misbehave. It is extremely useful for parents to know these because if they can pinpoint the root cause of the misbehaviour, they ...
Views: 1407 - What to Cook for Dinner - 2 Easy Ideas To Make This Fun! - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtThe time is 5 o'clock and your stomach clenches - What to make for dinner is the question racing through your mind. You know you want to prepare healthy meals for your family, but you're tired and you don't have all the ingredients for your favorite "go to" recipe so you pull out the frozen ...
Views: 1401(5 votes) - 2 Simple Ways to Be a Happy Parent - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtDo you have moments throughout the day when you feel great as a parent? When your kids are happy, you are happy, you are all hugging, laughing and kissing one other? You know the feeling of wonderment. Now, do you also have times when you don’t love being a parent? Have you felt at your wits ...
Views: 1386(5 votes) - Bullying: Who and What is a Bully? Part 1 - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtThis week my son started a conversation with me out of the blue; something was on his mind and bothering him. He began by saying, “There’s a naughty boy at school. He’s bigger than me and older than me.” “Why is he naughty?” I asked. “Well, he doesn’t let me do things.” “Like ...
Views: 1363 - How to Make Every Day Valentine's Day? - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtValentine’s Day. The red hearts make us feel like love and happiness is all around. We see images of couples hugging and gazing into each other’s eyes and we want that. We go shopping at beautifully decorated stores and envision making our loved one feel special and cherished. And, secretly, ...
Views: 1362(1 vote) - Juggling Family Life - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtWith the demands of everyday life, raising children can be a circus. What is the antidote to the stress that parents feel these days? There are three areas that need to be looked at in order for parents to feel less stressed and for families to be close, connected and totally content. They ...
Views: 1360(2 votes) - Felt Guilty Lately? 4 Ways to Break Free from that Useless Mom Guilt - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin Kurt“I feel so guilty!” is a common phrase with most moms. We tend to feel guilty about everything, even if we’re doing something away from our kids that’s good for us! Where does this guilt come from anyway? Dads don’t seem to have the same issue. They are more matter-of-fact about things. ...
Views: 1359(5 votes) - 5 Steps to a Calmer Evening - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtWhether you work outside the house or stay at home full-time, the toughest part of the day is the same: those frantic early evening hours when there are mouths to feed, homework to do, and cranky kids to handle. The trick is to streamline your to-do’s so you can feel calmer and focus on what ...
Views: 1337(1 vote) - Christmas Gift Guide for Your Family - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtWondering how to make Christmas morning a hit for your child without breaking the bank or bringing in more brightly colored plastic toys to your house? I have some time- tested ideas for you! I'll list them according to the age of your children. Some items listed will be of interest to all ages, ...
Views: 1324 - 3 Ways to Help an Older Sibling Deal With Having a New Baby in the House - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtHas your older child been overly aggressive or desperate for attention since your new baby arrived? This situation can be very stressful for a tired mom and dad, however it needn't be. Here are a few tips on how to turn this tiring situation around. 1 ) Schedule one-on-one time with the older ...
Views: 1307(1 vote) - 15 Parenting Strategies that Prevent the Need for Discipline - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtThere are two ways you can approach parenting: one, from a reactive place and two, from a proactive place. Although you need to know and consistently use a simple, loving and effective discipline approach like I teach my clients, it is important, if not crucial, to learn proactive ways of ...
Views: 1293 - 7 Things Working Moms Can Do With Their Kids - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2013 from Erin KurtThe one thing working moms have in common is that they’re busy ladies with a lot on their plate. The second thing they have in common is that they feel guilty a lot of the time. One of the main sources of that guilt comes from the feeling that they don’t have time to spend quality moments with ...
Views: 1270 - 10 FUN Things to Do With The Kids on Spring Break - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtSpring Break is here and the kids are off. Many parents begin to panic at how they will fill their child’s time. So, they source out a bunch of outings they can take their kids on. Ah...Now the only down time they’ll have to manage is from dinner till bedtime. “Keep them busy!” is everyone’s ...
Views: 1263 - Bullying: Why Kids Bully? Part 2 - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtLast week I talked about who and what a bully is. In that article we discovered that there are NO stereotypes when it comes to a bully; they can BE anybody and LOOK like anybody. We also differentiated the difference between bullying and two people fighting or having an argument. This week I’m ...
Views: 1261 - How to Know If Your Child Is Stressed and What to Do If They Are - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtDoes your child often get sick or do they constantly whine and cry? Do they bite their nails, act out or often throw tantrums? Then your child may be stressed. Here is a simple guide on how to handle this and change things around for the better. The first step is to stay calm. If you become ...
Views: 1254(2 votes) - How to Ensure your Child Feels Loved - Part 3 - Through Focused Attention - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtIn Part 1 and 2 of this article series, I spoke about eye contact and physical contact being important to making your children truly understand and know that you love them. These two things seldom require real sacrifice by parents, however, the third item, focused attention, usually scares ...
Views: 1252(1 vote) - Working Mothers: How to Save Time Doing Laundry - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtHave you ever walked down to the basement, saw piles of laundry in the corner of your eye, felt a pit in your stomach at how behind you are then tried to forget about it so you didn’t have to feel overwhelmed anymore? This is a common story that working moms talk to me about; it’s their ...
Views: 1238 - The 3 Most Common Discipline Strategies and Why They Don't Work - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtHave you ever talked sweetly to your child trying to explain that what they are doing is not very nice? What about the opposite? Have you ever yelled at your child out of frustration and hoped that by seeing you so angry your child would naturally want to stop their naughty behaviour? Or, how ...
Views: 1231(2 votes) - How to Get the Kids out the Door in the Morning - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtAsk most parents about when their family experiences stress and getting out the door in the morning comes in among the top answers. With the right routine and words, mornings can flow and be one of the happiest times in your family’s day. As with any major parenting issue I always look at ...
Views: 1225(4 votes) - Always Stressing Over Family Meals? Here's Your Solution! - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtThe time is 5 o'clock and your stomach clentches - what to make for dinner is the question racing through your mind. You know you want to prepare healthy meals for your family, but you are tired and do not have all the ingredients for your favourite "go to" recipe, so you pull out the frozen ...
Views: 1223(1 vote) - How to Play With Your Child Without Getting Bored - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtDo you cringe when your child asks you to play "Choo Choo train" or Barbies with them? It's the hidden secret that moms are only now speaking about. Moms are finally being honest about the fact that they don't like playing most of the games their children want them to play and that they actually ...
Views: 1218 - How to Take Christmas to a Whole New Level - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2013 from Erin KurtOur children love certain toys or brands and they make their lists for sure, however, I suggest that we parents do something a little extra special at Christmas. Christmas is such an exciting time. Family and friends gather together to laugh, eat great food and share gifts with each other. ...
Views: 1205(2 votes) - Are Your Kids Stressed? - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtIt's common to hear adults talking about how stressed or overwhelmed they are, but do we hear from our children how they feel? Research finds that between 8 and 10% of North American children are seriously troubled by stress. I'll never forget a class meeting I shared with my students some 6 ...
Views: 1203 - No Emotion? What Do You Mean No Emotion!!! - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtThe most important part of discipline is the one most people struggle with- staying calm and speaking without emotion. Misbehaviour rarely occurs at a time when we are relaxing on the sofa or enjoying an activity with our children. It usually occurs while we are busy or occupied with ...
Views: 1203(1 vote) - Family Vacations - 10 Ways to Make Sure They Run Smoothly - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtFamily vacations are supposed to be fun, but many times parents dread them because they feel out of their comfort zone when their children misbehave; they know their discipline options are limited and having to apply consequences in public is for some, quite embarrassing. When at home, ...
Views: 1198 - How to Ensure Your Child Feels Loved: Part 2- Through Physical Contact - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtWhat kind of physical contact do most parents use with their child? It seems obvious, doesn’t it? A hug. We hug our child because we love them and we hope they feel this love. However, what if I told you that there is other physical contact that can be even more powerful in terms of showing our ...
Views: 1196(1 vote) - 3 Phrases to Get Your Child to Listen to You Instantly - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtHave you ever wished you had the perfect words to say when your child misbehaved? How many of you have had the experience where you are at the grocery store and your child keeps begging you to buy something, and no matter how many times you explain or say an outright, “NO!” they continue? ...
Views: 1194 - 3 Sneaky Ways to Find Me -Time - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2013 from Erin KurtEvery mom wants more me time. In fact some mom tell me they don't remember when they last had some! Luckily, there are some sneaky ways that you can find and enjoy some well deserved time by yourself. Here are just a few ideas: 1) Create an alone time or me time hour each day. Perhaps ...
Views: 1194 - 10 Ways to Make Your Child to Make Your Child Feel Special - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtAs parents we all want our children to know we love them, but do they always know that we LIKE them? When our children know that we LIKE them for sure, it has a much deeper effect on their love of themselves. They also feel extra safe and secure; as if what they thought they knew can now be ...
Views: 1191(2 votes) - How to Get Your Husband (or Wife) to Help Out More - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtParenting can be full on - if you're a single parent you know this well. Beyond work, there are many details to take care of: banking, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, disciplining, etc. Many moms I coach tell me they feel overwhelmed and when I dig deeper I find that one of the reasons they ...
Views: 1190(1 vote) - How to Ensure Your Child Feels Loved: Part 1 - Through Eye Contact - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtAlmost every study I know indicates that every child wants to know of his parents, “ Do you love me?” and that a child asks this emotional question mostly in his behaviour, seldom verbally. By a child’s behaviour he/she tells us what he/she needs, whether it’s more love, more discipline, more ...
Views: 1188(1 vote) - A Checklist for Parents - How Are We Doing? - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtSummer is a great time to relax and enjoy our families, but it can also be a great time for some reflection. Use a prviate, quiet moment this summer to reflect on how your year as a parent has been. The checklist below will help you with this process. It will allow you to see where you might ...
Views: 1178 - How to Teach Children Good Manners - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtGood manners are the backbone of a civilized society and make interacting with people a joy. Manners also create a strong first impression, and they pave the way to good jobs, smooth relations with family and friends, and an easier time out in the real world. The lesson here? Make it a ...
Views: 1175 - How to Simplify Your Life With Kids - Part 2 Rhythm - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2013 from Erin KurtIf I asked you what a typical day for your family looks like, what would you say? Often times when I ask parents this question most say, “There is no typical”. Family life today is more about randomness and improvisation than rhythm. Wednesday wash day? Snack and milk after school? Sunday ...
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