The Innovative Dad
A psychologist’s blog about raising and educating children through the lens innovation.
Passover Prep & Plates: Our Kosher for Pesach Meal Plan (NF & GF Options!)
Chag Sameach! Passover is just around the corner which means we need a Kosher for Passover meal plan, and this year presents a unique start, with the holiday beginning right after Shabbat ends on Saturday. This means a busy Friday before Erev Pesach and a very late...
Breaking the Habit: Effective Interventions and Treatment Recommendations for Thumb Sucking
Thumb and finger sucking is a common habit among infants and toddlers, with estimates suggesting that up to 90% of children engage in it at some point. While most children naturally outgrow this habit by the age of five, some continue it into school age or even...
Freezer Dive & Feast Prep: This Week’s Diverse Dinner Plan!
Hello everyone! This week, we're navigating a mix of freezer cleanouts, pre-Passover prep, and welcoming company for Shabbat. It's a pretty diverse dinner plan. Let's see what's on the menu! Sunday: Pizza Night Details: A relaxed Sunday calls for pizza! It's a casual...
5 Best Grounding Ideas to Reduce Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. However, for some children and adolescents, anxiety can become overwhelming and interfere with their daily lives. If your child or adolescent is struggling with anxiety, there are a number of...
Birthday Meal Bonanza! This Week’s Delicious Celebration!
Hey everyone! Today marks the start of a special week in our household because it's birthday week! We're kicking off our meal plan with a mix of everyday meals and extra-special treats, all while keeping things (mostly) healthy. Let's dive into what's on our plates!...
Study Smarter, Not Harder: Active Learning for Kids
As a psychologist working with families, I often hear parents express frustration about their child's study habits. It's common to see students passively re-reading textbooks or highlighting endless pages, hoping that osmosis will somehow lead to understanding. But...
From Pad Thai to Pie, We’ve Got You Covered!
Hey everyone! Get ready for this week's meal plan! I'm sharing a snapshot of what we'll be cooking as we navigate our busy schedules with delicious and (hopefully!) healthy meals. It's going to be a week of flavorful adventures, from quick weeknight wins to a...
Finding Work-Life Balance: 5 Practical Tips for Busy Lives
Finding work-life balance can feel like chasing a myth. It’s shining somewhere in the distance and, if I just followed the right path, I would arrive there and never have to worry about finding that balance again. The only problem is that, as the Spanish conquistadors...
Jedi Debates & Dinner Plates: My Weekly Meal Plan Returns!
At the risk of getting a little bit too geeky, I recently found myself sucked into an online vortex – a debate about which Jedi was truly returning in "Return of the Jedi." Growing up, like most kids glued to our screens, we all assumed it was about Luke Skywalker...