Stories

Using sensory-friendly items for development

Children from hard places often struggle with regulating their emotions and bodies due to deficits in their sensory development. We are all familiar with the five senses: seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting. But did you know we have three other internal senses that help us organize our world and regulate our bodies and emotions?…

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water slide, best workplace,Reflections

Flourishing – A 2020 Best Christian Workplace

  “Remember, what you do matters; the work has never been easy; it’s not supposed to be easy, but it is SIGNIFICANT in God’s Kingdom.” John Stumbo, Christian Missionary Alliance We believe each of our employees is in ministry – whether they are houseparents, or maintenance staff, teachers, or cooks. When a family chooses to…

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Growth Mindset in the ClassroomStories

Nuts and Bolts: Growth Mindset in the Classroom

I have a little one who is very fearful of making mistakes. This little one has yet to see failure as an opportunity for improvement. When we had an “open-ended” project this little one would ask me for my approval every step of the way. “Do you like this Miss Hodges? Is this okay? See…

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Stories

Being Intentional

  What does it take to make a positive change in your family- A Vision? A defined Purpose? The Desire? While all these are certainly helpful and have their place, they alone do not make change happen. It takes more than pure desire to make the picture in your head come to life. It takes…

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Parenting through disappointmentStories

Helping Children Work Through Disappointment

  Has your child had high hopes for something only to be let down, resulting in your child becoming significantly upset? It’s a staple in parenting, right? Maybe it was losing a game, a friend who canceled a sleepover, or getting a lower test grade than expected. Using an adult lens we might look at…

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Parenting adviceStories

Stop The Zingers

  “Mom, I’m freezing, it’s so cold outside” “Well, if you had worn your coat like I told you to, you wouldn’t be cold, would you?” Does this sound familiar? Many of us have had a conversation similar to this at one point or another. What do you think the child’s response will be? Do…

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Best parenting adviceStories

Stop Talking

  “How many times do I have to tell you?” “Haven’t I already explained this to you a hundred times?” “When are you ever going to listen to me?” Sound familiar? Maybe it’s the battle over a clean bedroom or completing homework or staying out too late on a school night. The use of these…

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parenting adviceStories

When you step on that LEGO…

  Parents, we’ve all been there.   It has been a long day. Things haven’t gone as expected and there is more work to do in the evening. You are tired, frustrated, and are still thinking about your workday. You’ve asked your child to clean their room before heading out to play. They say they…

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Stories

In This Together

What if we viewed parenting as an opportunity to grow our family together? Our home could become a safe place to experience the ups and downs of life rather than a place where kids feel the pressure to be perfect. Sure, there will always be rules, but the emphasis within the rules should be around…

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Stories

Focus on the Deposits

  Imagine walking into your bank to make a withdrawal and finding out that your account is empty! There is no money in the bank. Worse yet, you have gone in the negative and actually owe them money. If you continue trying to make withdrawals, you will likely lose faith with the bank and ultimately lose…

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Stories

Two Keys to a Better Relationship with your Child

  Do you wish for a closer, more trusting relationship with your children? Do you find yourself frustrated that your kids rarely seem interested in talking with you? Maybe the answer lies in what sort of messages you are sending. Consider these examples: Son: “Hey Dad, guess what? I was the third fastest in the…

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