A Fine Parent

A Life Skills Blog Exclusively For Parents

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You’re a Good Parent…

You wouldn't be here otherwise! Ready to kick it up a notch?

We're a community of 110,819 smart, dedicated parents who believe that Great Parents are Made, Not Born. We're passionate about becoming better people, and better parents. We're committed to raising happy, well-adjusted kids. And we're doing it the slow and steady way.

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Common Learning Disabilities in Kids: What Every Parent Needs to Know

By Julie Creasey 2 Comments

common learning disabilitiesWhen my daughter started to struggle at school and I was trying to figure out what was going on, I was surprised to discover that learning disabilities in children are quite common.

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, one in five children has a learning or attention issue.

Many children with learning disabilities are highly intelligent, so their disability can be hidden– even to teachers. For me, it became evident when my daughter’s attitude about school totally changed.

“Mom, I don’t want to go!”

There I was again…irritated at the front door, while my daughter was sprawled out in the hallway having a meltdown about going to school. I was trying to come up with a magic phrase that would get her off the floor and out the door.

Reflecting back, I believe that her meltdowns were about failure at school. Why would she run gleefully out the door for a day full of disappointment? Why would she want to fail in front of her best friends at school–their perfect scores next to her failing one? [Read More…]

6 Good Things for Our Kids That Can Come Out of the Pandemic and Quarantine

By Leah Porritt 4 Comments

6 good things pandemic quarantineWe have been living in this bizarre version of life for 10 months.

Ten months! Can you believe it? Ahh, that fateful day back in March…Who would have ever thought that life could change so drastically?

As a two-teacher household with three school-aged children, I remember how excited my kids (and if we’re being honest, my husband and I) were at the thought of a bonus two-week hiatus. Living in Maryland, we don’t get much of a spring break and had no snow days last year. I remember packing just a few things from my office (you know, just in case I wanted to get a little work done) and walking out the door with the assumption I’d be back in a couple weeks.

Oh, how naive we were! As we watched COVID blow up and everything shut down, reality sunk in that this was not going away any time soon, and as the infamous year of 2020 exited with the drop of the ball in a deserted NYC, we found ourselves in the same holding pattern as the previous ten months.

If your experience was anything like mine since March, it may have included a huge mix of emotions. Many of which were not pleasant. [Read More…]

100+ Best Books for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 0-5 Years Old)

By Michelle Crompton 3 Comments

100 books toddlers preschoolers listWe all understand the importance of reading aloud to our children from infancy: cognitive and language development, increased attention span, vast vocabulary, emotional intelligence…

The best way to do it? Start reading to your kids ASAP.

To make it easy, we’ve compiled the best books for kids so you don’t have to read about reading anymore. You can skip the research and go directly to reading to your kids.

All of these books support positivity, empathy and kindness. This list contains books without any negative connotations, inappropriate subject matter or questionable messaging so that you can feel confident picking up any of these and reading it to your young child’s impressionable mind!

All of these books are from Amazon, they all have a 4+ rating and most are available through Prime!

We start with board books for babies and toddlers, and then move on to books for preschoolers & kindergartners, so if you have kids in the older age bracket, feel free to skip the first few.

Here we go –

[Read More…]

How to Overcome Lockdown Shower Resistance and Keep Kids Clean During the Pandemic

By Molly Haffele 12 Comments

lockdown shower resistance clean kidsCovid-19 has encouraged even those of us who are reluctant housekeepers to kick it up a notch. I am committed to cleaning hard surfaces, door knobs, and face-masks. I have been hustling to keep the household respectable and scrubbing my hands like a surgeon.

There are only a few things in the living room that appear to have gotten grubbier as of late; those things are my kiddos. In reverse correlation to the alcohol-wiped kitchen, the kids are greasier than ever.

PJ day every day. No need to shower for virtual school. No grandma visits that would require putting on a collared shirt. There is little urgency for real clothes, combed hair, or fresh socks.

The children lack ambition to take care of their personal hygiene and I can’t say they are alone. These are weird times. Their dad’s beard can only be described as big. I’ve been wearing fewer outfits than a Frenchwoman, with none of the signature style. Collectively, we are not at our best.

I can see from my front window that many families are finding themselves in a similar situation. The pre-K kids in the neighborhood seem to be syrup stained and dusty. The teenage boys are most definitely not changing their hoodies. The newborns are still adorable, but the doting stroller pushers look extra disheveled.

This window-gazing research has highlighted the fact that most families are exhibiting physical clues that they may be struggling with the lack of routine.

We are in this together, people!

Let’s get back on track. Time to find some simple solutions for consistent personal care habits. [Read More…]

When Positive Parenting is Hard: 10 Things You Can Do to Keep Up

By Catherine Wilde 6 Comments

positive parenting is hardI felt like I was failing. It sounded so simple, but it wasn’t easy.

I read the books and it all made sense.

I knew positive parenting was the right path for me. This was the parent I wanted to be.

But in reality, it was hard.

It was hard to always stay calm and non-reactive.

It was hard to always connect with empathy.

It was hard to always hold space when my kids had a meltdown.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up on positive parenting, you are not alone! Keep reading to learn how we can navigate the journey of positive parenting, even when it is hard! [Read More…]

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Fair Warning: While none of this is professional advice, it is powerful stuff and could potentially change your life!
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