Welcome aboard Kerry Stutzman!

Hello! I am excited about taking over Head and Heart Parent.  I will continue in Shelly’s footsteps of offering parenting stories, ideas, Love and Logic classes and parent coaching.  I also offer counseling for individuals, couples and families online as well as in my office here in Denver, Colorado. My goal is to help people [...]

Changes at Head and Heart Parent

Dear Parents, The new year has brought me a new opportunity. After 8 years of teaching and coaching so many wonderful, dedicated parents, it’s time for me to take the next step in my career and apply my skills to helping small business owners in a corporate setting. The laughter, tears, struggles, and successes that [...]

Ideas for Charging Parent’s Energy

    Question: I need some ideas on what to have my five year old son do to “recharge my energy”  — Noelle   Answer: Energy Charging Chores: water plants, windex windows,  pick up sticks, Energy Charging Rest and Relaxation: foot/back rubs, no TV night so mom can rest in quiet, pay for sitter with toys [...]

Help! My Child Bangs His Head When Disciplined?

Question: I would appreciate any input regarding a 21 month old boy who bangs his own head often when frustrated or being disciplined. I use “Uh-oh” but picking him up is the usual end of it. (If I don’t pick him up he does more and more.) I feel he is getting his way because [...]

Teaching Children To Be More Humble

Question: Any thoughts on teaching children to be a little more humble? – Amy    Answer: Try using the Love and Logic skill called Eaves Drop Value Setting.  Set up a conversation between you and your spouse or a friend and have your kids within earshot.  Discuss a time  when you weren’t humble. What happened and [...]

Do We Let Our Kids Quit?

My son has played baseball every summer with the same Parks & Rec Team for 8 years.  This year, not enough kids signed up to make at team so I had to move him to a different Parks & Rec team.  He got a friend to join with him since they would be the outsiders joining the team. [...]

Help! My 9 yr old Quits Every Sport

  Question:  I have a nine year old who wants to quit every sport we try.  In 5 years we have tried 6 sports.  When they get hard or he isn’t great at it, he wants to quit.  He is now trying gymnastics, with the potential to be very good at it.  He is ready [...]

My Child Doesn’t Care About the Consequence

Question: Is it better to have the same consequence for a certain bad choice, or to switch things up?  I always hear “consistency, consistency, consistency”.  For example, if my 5 year old does not help during “tidy time” before bed, he gets no books read to him.  There are some nights where he doesn’t care [...]

How Do You Punish One Kid Without Punishing the Whole Group?

Question: Hi! I need some ideas of how to deal with one kid misbehaving and another kid following the rules. For example, I have no problem walking out of a movie or leaving a party because of a misbehaving kid. But often times, my son (age 6 almost 7) will be just awful and my [...]

What’s a Consequence for Hitting?

Question: Wondering if anyone has any ideas for natural consequences for hitting? My 4 year old boy’s most common offense is hitting his twin sister. He kind of enjoys time out in his room, and if I’m doing something like making dinner, it’s hard to fully separate them. Any thoughts would be appreciated.   Answer: [...]

Invest Early So Kids Can Arise to Challenges

Question: Would love to hear how other parents COPE when children venture out on their own and challenges arise! My 12 yo daughter is in route home. Due to all the electrical outages her flight has now been delayed at least 2 hours and she won’t be home until (earliest) 1:15 AM. How did you [...]

What to do When Your Child Loses Her Glasses?

Question: My 6 1/2 year old lost her glasses and certainly can’t afford to replace them. Help!   Answer: Respond with empathy and hand the problem back. ” This is so sad, you lost your glasses, what are you going to do to replace them?” Empathy keeps her from getting defensive and to start blaming others for [...]

Defiant 10 yr old Daughter

Question:  My 10 yr old daughter is so defiant.  I “pawned” her beads a few days ago with a price tag of $2.00 due by end of day yesterday.  She didn’t care, so there was no positive that I can see from that. Yesterday she was arguing with me and I started charging her.  She [...]

My Child Isn’t Upset When I Punish Her

Question: We are struggling with our 7 year old.  She’s usually very well behaved but when given a punishment, she just agrees.  She says “okay” and goes with it.  Her dad recently had her do push ups for jumping up and down throwing a baby-like temper tantrum.  She willing went down and did her push-ups.  Any [...]

What to Do When The Response to a Choice is “No”

Question: I have a 2.5 yr old boy (spirited and strong will) and when I give him choices, he  sometimes refuses both options and gets mad. Sometimes we can go with a “no” choice option from him but sometime not  Any advice?   Answer: When you hear “No” to a choice, don’t get stuck.  Just choose [...]

My 1 Year Old Bites – Help!

    This is a common question I get from parents of toddler.  What do you do about biting or hair pulling.  Keep it simple and be consistent.  Try the following: 1. Be thankful for misbehavior.  Let him learn now, when the consequences are small which behaviors he/she experiments with have happy or sad endings. 2. Respond with [...]

How Do I Get My Kids to Sit Still at Dinner?

Question: We are having trouble keeping the 3 kids seated for more than 5 minutes at a meal… Thanks so much! Jody Answer: This sounds like you need to use skills from all 3 skill segments – calm, cooperation and consequences. 1. Start with the Calm category – Empathy. Acknowledge that it’s hard to sit [...]

How do You Celebrate Father’s Day?

What is your tradition to celebrate  Father’s Day? We take a family hike to one of the wonderful trails of JeffCo open space. Post your tradition and I’ll pick a lucky winner on June 15th to receive “What to Expect: The Toddler Years. For more information about  this book, click on the link below:  http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/landing-page.aspx

How to Stop Temper Tantrums

 by Janada Clark, www.janadaclark.com Temper tantrums are just part of what comes with raising kids. All kids have them from time to time, some more than others. They happen because children naturally want to resist and test a limit you’ve set such as….                         “Time to put your toys away and take a bath.” If [...]

A Picture Perfect Family Day – Reality or Fantasy?

by Jane Costello of Blueprint Parenting  Snow forts, sledding, skating, and sharing hot chocolate are winter rituals that can make this time of the year lots of fun with kids.  When my children were younger I would wake up and plan wonderful adventures only to have my Norman Rockwell image shattered by cold hands, a [...]

Next Page »