Simple ideas to debug everyday life with kids

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Boundaries

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11 items
Camille serves dinner while Malo examines a slice of courgette on his plate.
Articles
BoundariesSelf-care

I made dinner. He had already prepared his “no”.

Does your child refuse to eat? Counting bites and negotiating can quickly turn dinner into a power struggle. What if we tried insisting a little less?

Nora looks at Iris, whose hands are covered in foam beside a sink full of soap bubbles.
Articles
BoundariesEmotion

Her hands were covered in soap. But apparently it wasn’t her.

Does your child deny something that is plainly obvious? At three, that little “no” may not mean the same thing as an adult lie.

A watercolour illustration of Marie calmly stepping in to protect Gabriel from another child in a play area.
Articles
Boundaries

It wasn’t my child. But I was the adult who saw it.

What do you do when another child pushes or hits yours? A simple boundary can protect your child without judging the other child or their parent.

A watercolour illustration of a small pair of blue children’s shoes in a bright hallway.
Articles
Boundaries

When independence takes five minutes and you only have two

Does your child want to put their shoes on alone when you need to leave? A few compromises can protect their independence without losing the whole morning.

A watercolour illustration of a mother looking at a potty with amusement while her son plays quietly in the living room.
Articles
BoundariesSelf-care

The method said three days. He had other plans.

Did the three-day potty training method not go as planned? Toilet learning does not always move at the pace promised by a programme.

A watercolour illustration of a young child trying to reach a low open window in a bright bathroom.
Articles
BoundariesEmotion

When repeating the rule stops working, I tell him how I feel

Stuck in a power struggle even though the rule is clear? Saying how you feel can sometimes change the dynamic without changing the boundary.

An abstract watercolour showing an emotional storm becoming calmer around a book.
Books & resources
EmotionAngerBoundaries

The book that helped me when the big meltdowns began

Looking for a book to help with a young child’s big meltdowns? This one gave me practical tools without promising a miracle method.

A watercolour illustration of a mother sitting beside her sad child.
Articles
EmotionAngerBoundaries

Before we correct, let’s start by listening

Is your child overwhelmed? Before correcting, explaining or finding a solution, acknowledging the feeling can help lower the tension.

An older brother plays with a toy dog beside his baby sister in a garden.
Articles
Boundaries

What if we said “no” a little less often?

Do you feel as if you say “no” all day? Here are three ways to hold a boundary without automatically turning it into a power struggle.

A mother and her young son make homemade blue ice cream with yoghurt and apple.
Articles
BoundariesImagination

When I don’t want to say yes: making blue ice cream at home

Is your child asking for something you do not want to agree to? Between yes and no, an alternative can sometimes keep the idea alive without dropping the boundary.

A mother and her son walk towards a car, the child holding a dinosaur and taking a giant step.
Articles
Boundaries

Getting into the car without a power struggle: the power of small choices

Does your child refuse to get into the car when it is time to leave? Two small choices can sometimes turn a power struggle into cooperation.