Sarah MacLaughlin, author of What Not to Say: Tools for Talking with Young Children, talks about one change she would like to make to her book.  Read More…

15 Comments | Posted in Gentle Discipline, Natural Learning, Natural Parenting Products, Reviews and Giveaways

A reader asks our NPN Mentors about attachment parenting and balancing parent/child needs during the toddler years.  Read More…

Leave a comment | Posted in Ask an NP Mentor, Attachment Parenting, Consistent Care, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Routines and Schedules

Amy provides a summary of insights received from watching Alfie Kohn’s Unconditional Parenting DVD.  Read More…

7 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Consensual Living, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

Amy explores the tendency to control children through looking at the definition of authority while offering simple examples of how to address behavior without shame.  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Consensual Living, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

Growing children is not so different from growing plants. Mandy shares why.  Read More…

2 Comments | Posted in Consensual Living, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies

The parental united front builds a brick wall, with the children locked out on the other side. When you change that to a united family, an entirely different view of problem-solving and collaboration opens up. You are forced to confront your true needs and reasons behind a direction. When those are clear, then you work together as a united family–parents and children–against the problem, with a large opening to see fresh solutions that were outside our own narrow perspective. It is amazing how talking through an issue can help everyone gets their needs met.
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3 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Consensual Living, Equally Shared Parenting, Family Structure, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

I sympathize with those who feel the impulse to spank or use other forms of corporal punishment and controlling discipline, but encourage all parents to seek an alternative to violence by responding with sensitivity and honoring anger before it becomes harmful.  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Gentle Discipline, Responding With Sensitivity

When I first began learning about gentle parenting, I spent a lot of time on parenting boards soaking up the experience and perspective of veteran moms. I noticed right away that the so-called terrible twos were viewed with nonchalance. Three, on the other hand? It is a tough age.  Read More…

20 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Routines and Schedules

A look at how parents can gently and warmly encourage young children toward independent play.  Read More…

4 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Gentle Discipline, Natural Learning, Parenting Philosophies, Playtime, Responding With Sensitivity

Children in time-out are not learning new coping or communication skills which they can use to solve problems and conflicts. What are they learning?  Read More…

5 Comments | Posted in Gentle Discipline