The Innovative Dad
A psychologist’s blog about raising and educating children through the lens innovation.
Parenting Strategies to Kid Habits: Creating Systems
Getting our kids to do things can be tricky. But remember how difficult it is to start a new habit for yourself? When we want to do something new, we create reminders, incentives, and commitment devices to encourage (or discourage) a behavior. These systems allow us...
Creating a Calming Corner at Home
Being at home can be stressful for parents and kids alike during the COVID-19 stay-at-home. It's tough being in close quarters all the time and stress levels can get elevated. Calming down isn't as easy as saying just calm down. Here's a great way to create a peaceful...
New Online Parenting Webinar!
Mental Health Minute: Creating Routine
Here's a Mental Health Minute to help you with your self-care during the Coronavirus stay-at-home period.
We’ve Got Cabin Fever!: Dealing with Kids after Weeks in Quarantine
There's not a lot that's memorably about 1996's Muppet Treasure Island film unless you are a fan of watching Tim Curry chew up the scenery while talking to Kermit the Frog. One song does stick out, when the Muppets, stuck on a becalmed sailing ship, break into song...
Let’s Throw a TeleParty: Making a Quarantine Birthday Special
The coronavirus has hit everyone hard during these last several weeks. But aside from those actually infected or suspected of being infected, the most severely impacted might be those with upcoming celebrations that have needed to be scaled back or even canceled....
Structure the Unstructured: Surviving the #flattenthecurve Quarantine with Your Kids
As I write this, my community is just ending day 1 of the #flattenthecurve quarantine and I've already read for panicked messages and posts about challenges having any structure in the kids' day and trying to get work done than I'd normally read in a year. The stress...
Coronavirus Resources for Parents
Dealing with life in quarantine, with schools canceled and jobs moved to telework, is something that most of us never expected would occur. Getting through the next few weeks (or longer) will be stressful and challenging. Here are resources to help you navigate the...
Help! What Do I Do When I Get Home?
No matter how strong the routine, nothing seems to withstand the whirlwind of a tween or teen arriving home after school. Bookbags are dropped (usually in the wrong place) and things begin exploding all over the place. You start with the usual round of questions: "How...