Category Archives: General Parenting

How To Make a Child Learn Independently?

Posted on April 17, 2021 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

Independence in Education. I had a Quora question that might be beneficial to post here with so many parents struggling to keep their kids engaged in online work. How can one make their child more independent in their studies? In … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Education, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2, Unschooling/Self-Directed Education | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The “YES” List

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

Too often, we tell our children what they can’t do when they are mad!  No hitting, no pushing your brother, and no swearing!  However, children think in the “can do” creative stage, not the “can’t do” of more non-tangible abstract … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies 0-1, Democratic Education, Emerging Adult Children 19-25, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2, Unschooling/Self-Directed Education | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Raising Money Smart Kids

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

When and How to Teach Finances A common question I get from parents  is when and how should kids start learning about money. Here is an age-by-age primer of what your child needs to know at each age group, from … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Education, Emerging Adult Children 19-25, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Unschooling/Self-Directed Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Problem-Solving: When Time-outs, Grounding and Consequences Don’t Work

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

When you look at your child now and imagine the teenage years ahead, does the image fill your heart with dread or joy and anticipation?  Do you see your relationship as a warm, loving, close one that has open communication, … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Education, Emerging Adult Children 19-25, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Unschooling/Self-Directed Education | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How To Get More Patience

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

Like a good marriage, it really helps to ignore a lot of daily irritations. Anger is like a fish-hook. We can choose to bite or swim on by. Sometimes, we just keep on swimming! Sometimes, we have to ignore the … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies 0-1, Emerging Adult Children 19-25, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2, Unschooling/Self-Directed Education | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Non-Punitive Screen-Time Family Contract

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

https://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/an-age-by-age-guide-to-kids-and-smartphones/ Also featured in Today’s Parent Magazine Family Screen Time Contract  A Contract for Digital Health and Safety between Parent_____ and Child(ren)_____ Date:_________________ CHILD I agree to always ask you for help, explanation, advice and information regarding anything I can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies 0-1, Democratic Education, Emerging Adult Children 19-25, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2, Unschooling/Self-Directed Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Giving Kids Their Own Personal Space

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

Small house, many children: How to give kids personal space Humans are territorial and want some control over their belongings and the space where they are kept.  We love to nest and this is the beginning of that behaviour for … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies 0-1, Emerging Adult Children 19-25, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Teaching Sex Education By Age

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

Some of the best conversations about sex, biology and gender was when my older children were 6, 5, and 3 years old and I was having another baby. They would happily draw pictures of sperm and eggs after we had … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies 0-1, Democratic Education, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2, Unschooling/Self-Directed Education | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Socialization: It’s More Than Just Having Friends

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

When families homeschool, parents are often asked the question, “What about socialization?” Many people are fine with the academic achievement of homeschooling but worry that children who do not go to school to interact with the same aged peers daily, … Continue reading →

Posted in Democratic Education, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gift Giving from the Heart and Hands (instead of the wallet)

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Judy Arnall, BA, DTM, CCFE

Last Christmas, I had enough of shopping. With five children in the family, even with buying only one present to each other, there would have been 49 gifts to shop, pay for and eventually add to the inevitable mound in … Continue reading →

Posted in Emerging Adult Children 19-25, General Parenting, Preschoolers 3-5, School-Aged 6-12, Teenagers 13-19, Toddlers 1-2 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment