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Articles by Erin Kurt

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By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Back to School Already? How to Set Your Child Up For Success

Even 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 having established routines but it’s even more important when kids are back at school. What are some of the problems that can occur without routine and organization? Here’s just a few: 1. Children not completing homework 2. Children losing workr

Primary topic: Parenting

3,246 views★ 1.7 (7)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

5 Ideas to Make This Valentine's Day Really Meaningful

Take 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 love is all about? Do they TRULY show our partners how we feel about them and why we appreciate having them in our lives? Not really. How then do we make Valentines Day more meaningful for our partners as well as our families? Here are five ideas that are sure to do the trick!

Primary topic: Parenting

2,217 views★ 3.4 (5)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Spend an Incredible Summer With Your Kids

With 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 dads need to get creative. If you need some ideas on how best to occupy your kids this summer then what follows will be just what you need. In order for children to be happy and content four things need to be present in their day: 1) Routine 2) Stimulation 3) Free Play/Alone time 4) Sleep

Primary topic: Parenting

2,956 views★ 2.0 (5)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

11 Ways to Instill a Love of Reading

Reading 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 empathetic, as well as give us pure enjoyment and relaxation. Instilling a love of reading in your child is one of the best gifts you can give them in their life. Here are 11 ways to do just that. 1) Read to them regularly, with expression and in different voices.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,834 views★ 3.3 (7)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

The Secret to Helping Your Child Excel in School and in Life

Is 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 for learning? There is a little secret that you need to know in order to change this.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,656 views★ 3.2 (6)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

2 Simple Ways to Be a Happy Parent

Do 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 end, frustrated, angry and resentful? Here are two simple ways you can be a happy parent more often than passing moments in your day. Ask yourself two very important questions: 1. When are you happiest with your kids?

Primary topic: Parenting

1,473 views★ 2.4 (5)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Felt Guilty Lately? 4 Ways to Break Free from that Useless Mom Guilt

“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. When I asked one dad why he didn’t feel guilty leaving his daughter to play by herself while he went to prepare himself lunch, he looked at me strangely and said, “Because I was hungry.” It seems so logical, doesn’t it?

Primary topic: Parenting

1,434 views★ 2.4 (5)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

What to Cook for Dinner - 2 Easy Ideas To Make This Fun!

The 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 pizza instead. There are two fantastic and fun ways you can solve this ever arising problem.r

Primary topic: Parenting

1,493 views★ 2.0 (5)

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

A Great Routine For School-Aged Children

Here'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, swimming lessons, gymnastics, art class and maybe even a tutor. When they hear their friends talk about the activities that their children are involved in, they think..."Oh, Gosh, maybe I should be doing that".

Primary topic: Parenting

5,088 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

What to Cook For Dinner? - 2 Ideas to Make This Fun!

The 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 pizza instead. There are two fantastic and fun ways you can solve this ever arising problem.

Primary topic: Parenting

2,105 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

What Does it Take to Sustain a Happy and Successful Relationship or Marriage?

Relationships 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.

Primary topic: Parenting

2,003 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Make This Christmas More Fun and Less Stressful

Christmas 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 families. However, this can all change. To enjoy a merry time and reduce holiday stress, the trick is to prioritize and organize what is truly important.

Primary topic: Parenting

2,002 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

4 Ways to Spend Time with Your Kids When You Have No Time

It 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, we always seem to be wishing for more time. We need more. We want more. But we feel we just don't have it. Does that mean we don't love them? Of course not.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,895 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

20 Ways to Reinforce Good Behaviour

Why 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?

Primary topic: Parenting

1,785 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Say "Yes" As Often As You Can

Our 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.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,736 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

5 Ways to Spend Time with Your Kids When You Have No Time

It 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, we always seem to be wishing for more time. We need more. We want more. But we feel we just don't have it. Does that mean we don't love them? Of course not.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,678 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Establishing Independent Play -Time

Usually 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 for themselves if no adult is involved. If this is the situation at your house, you may be interested in learning how to set up an Independent Playtime as part of your child’s regular, daily routine.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,616 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

3 Secrets to Getting Your Child to Transition From One Activity to Another

Have 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 cooperative moving from one activity to the next there are a few things you will need to do.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,559 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

5 Steps to a Happy, Stress-Free Halloween

Well, 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 sandwiches along with raw veggies and dip. Eat earlier than usual to give yourselves more time to dress up and prepare for the evening. While eating, review how to call out “Trick or Treat” in a non-shouting voice and speak about Trick or Treating manners (ie.Thank you very much, etc.)

Primary topic: Parenting

1,546 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Why Children Misbehave: 8 Reasons and 8 Solutions

One 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 can be more successful at reducing it. Listed here are the eight most common reasons why children misbehave and a solution to help reduce or eliminate the problem: 1) They want to test whether caregivers will enforce rules.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,499 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Juggling Family Life

With 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 are: Discipline, Family Time and time alone for each parent, which I call "You" Time.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,462 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Make Every Day Valentine's Day?

Valentine’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, we hope our partners are thinking and doing the same for us. The spirit behind Valentine’s Day is beautiful. Don’t we all want more of it though?

Primary topic: Parenting

1,454 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Bullying: Who and What is a Bully? Part 1

This 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 what?” “He stops me from running or going places.” Being a former school teacher for 16 years, my stomach clenched as I knew that what he was describing was in fact a Bully.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,449 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

5 Steps to a Calmer Evening

Whether 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 counts – spending time with your family. Here’s how. 1) Ease into the Evening

Primary topic: Parenting

1,416 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Christmas Gift Guide for Your Family

Wondering 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, so feel free to mix and match! BABIES and YOUNG TODDLERS Box of Kleenex to explore and watch each new piece pop up (It's only Christmas once a year!) Toilet paper roll to explore (keeps baby busy while others open gifts)r

Primary topic: Parenting

1,415 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

15 Parenting Strategies that Prevent the Need for Discipline

There 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 avoiding misbehaviours in the first place.r

Primary topic: Parenting

1,393 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

3 Ways to Help an Older Sibling Deal With Having a New Baby in the House

Has 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.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,384 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

7 Things Working Moms Can Do With Their Kids

The 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 their children; “life is just a race” moms tell me.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,363 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Bullying: Why Kids Bully? Part 2

Last 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 going to discuss why kids bully. With this knowledge we can change things around, both for the bully and the child being bullied. The biggest misconception about bullying is that it’s about anger. Anger is always a bigger emotion that is covering up a hidden emotion.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,352 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

10 FUN Things to Do With The Kids on Spring Break

Spring 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 motto.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,344 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Know If Your Child Is Stressed and What to Do If They Are

Does 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 frazzled, your child's stress level will only increase. You know the scenario - child falls and doesn't flinch...until he hears his mother's gasp.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,343 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Ensure your Child Feels Loved - Part 3 - Through Focused Attention

In 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 parents when I bring it up because they think it means to spend loads of time with their kids - time they don’t have.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,338 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Get the Kids out the Door in the Morning

Ask 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 what routines are set up. Without a solid routine, one that is set up discussed and practised, most parenting issues cannot be solved.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,320 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Working Mothers: How to Save Time Doing Laundry

Have 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 “nemesis”.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,320 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

The 3 Most Common Discipline Strategies and Why They Don't Work

Have 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 about this scenario - you start out trying to be the patient parent who wants to calmly and sweetly explain to your child why their behaviour is unacceptable, but when they ignore you your anger swells and you begin yelling.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,317 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Always Stressing Over Family Meals? Here's Your Solution!

The 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 pizza instead. There are two fantastic and fun ways you can solve this ever-arising problem.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,313 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

No Emotion? What Do You Mean No Emotion!!!

The most important part of discipline is the one most people struggle with- staying calm and speaking without emotion.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,299 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Play With Your Child Without Getting Bored

Do 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 feel resentful at times that they are being "forced" to play something they don't enjoy. Along with this feeling comes, you guessed it...guilt.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,296 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Take Christmas to a Whole New Level

Our 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. What could be better? There is one way parents can make Christmas even better and that is by giving their children a present that is a tradition.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,290 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Are Your Kids Stressed?

It'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 years ago. The students were discussing their feelings and all but 1 boy said, "I'm so stressed!" They were 8 and 9 years old. Probing them further, I asked, "Why?" Here is the short list of reasons they mentioned: 1. Too much homework (I must note that they mentioned subjects areasr

Primary topic: Parenting

1,289 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

Family Vacations - 10 Ways to Make Sure They Run Smoothly

Family 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.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,289 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

3 Sneaky Ways to Find Me -Time

Every 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:

Primary topic: Parenting

1,285 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Ensure Your Child Feels Loved: Part 1 - Through Eye Contact

Almost 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 acceptance, or more understanding. The answer to this question is absolutely the most important thing in any child’s life.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,282 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Ensure Your Child Feels Loved: Part 2- Through Physical Contact

What 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 kids we love them?

Primary topic: Parenting

1,279 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

3 Phrases to Get Your Child to Listen to You Instantly

Have 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? Wouldn’t you LOVE to have a single phrase that would stop their badgering immediately?

Primary topic: Parenting

1,276 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

10 Ways to Make Your Child to Make Your Child Feel Special

As 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 accepted as truth. Although it’s important to tell your children you love them often, here are 10 ways you can deepen the understanding that you really mean what you say. 1. Make a big deal out of greetings and good-byes Let him know you’re always excited to see him.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,275 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Get Your Husband (or Wife) to Help Out More

Parenting 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 feel this way is because they're doing a lot on their own.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,269 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

A Checklist for Parents - How Are We Doing?

Summer 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 need to do some tweaking or it may allow you to give yourself a great big pat on the back for doing many things well. Checklist: 1) I have read to my child. 2) I have read a book, novel, magazine, newspaper or newsletter while my child is in the same room

Primary topic: Parenting

1,267 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

How to Teach Children Good Manners

Good 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 priority to teach your children the manners suggested below before they turn thirteen. Here are some basic manners you might want to consider: General: 1. Saying "Please" and "Thank you" should be as automatic as breathing.

Primary topic: Parenting

1,262 views

By Erin KurtRecently published1 topic

What is the BEST Way to Raise Children? Part 3

Here's a question to ask yourself: Is a family who is constantly out and about, going here and there, attending music classes and swimming lessons, etc. better than one who stays home most evenings, and doesn't have their children in a bunch of different classes? Thought provoking, isn't it?

Primary topic: Parenting

1,253 views

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