Claire LaPoma

Back to School with Grief

The beginning of a new school year can be an abrupt transition for people of all ages. It often blends both hope and loss: Parents and caregivers may feel ready to return to a more structured and consistent daily routine, but sad to say goodbye to the family time and special outings summer often brings. Kiddos mayContinue reading “Back to School with Grief”

Kiddos + Connection: The Essential Ingredient

Recently, I attended a conference unlike any I’d been to before. During sign in, a person in brightly colored clothing, beaming from ear-to-ear, invited us to choose an animal from the photos of a skunk, cow, crab and butterfly that lined the aprons they wore. In a split-second decision and unsure of what to expect,Continue reading “Kiddos + Connection: The Essential Ingredient”

What are we reading this summer?

Summer has arrived, and with it might come the opportunity for a bit of reading (with your kiddos or by yourself)! Below are some of my favorite recommendations — click on their titles for links. Books can support children in expressing their feelings and dealing with challenging life situations, as well as deliver information aboutContinue reading “What are we reading this summer?”

When in doubt, empathy

We’ve all been there: A simple request of our child, like hanging their jacket on the hook by the front door, results in a behavior disproportionately larger than needed. Your child stomps their feet proclaims fiercely “I’m not going to! You can’t make me!” More than likely, this response triggers us and our once calmContinue reading “When in doubt, empathy”

3 Parenting Musts: Love, Limits & Guidance

Views on children and parenting have shifted dramatically over the years. In 1928, founder of behaviorism, John Watson, published a book warning against too much parental affection toward children, claiming that love and comfort would create unrealistic expectations and lead to adult psychological problems! As recently as the 1950’s, many in the pediatric and psychological establishments believed that there was no realContinue reading “3 Parenting Musts: Love, Limits & Guidance”