Stay Calm Then Respond

Our lives are filled with busy schedules, to-do-list and challenges that can cause anyone to get frustrated.  Sometimes those frustrations will lead to you having a lack of patience with your children.  Although, you may not mean to rush them or lose it when they don’t listen the first time, not having patience happens.  That’s real life, but there are those times when you do have patience and I want to talk to you about those times.  Our patience shows our children that we have confidence and faith in them.  Having patience with young children can have powerful outcomes.  On this episode I invite a very special guest on our finale episode.  She shares a story from a time in my life that literally changed my life.  Today’s special guest is my mother.  Join us for this conversation on patience.  Let’s talk about it.  Listen to episode 21 now.  Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-21

Stay Calm, then respond.  That sounds like an emergency message given on planes or something.  But, it's not.  It's something I've been saying over the years during my parent workshops on child behavior, to teachers, to everyone.  It's something I will remind anyone of when dealing with challenging child behavior.  Find your state of calm is the first step in guiding your child through any challenging behavior.   We are in a very unique time right now.  As families still adjust and continuously pivot their daily schedule based on Covid-19, well there are definitely some challenging behaviors that will continue to arise.  It's normal for young children to experience some behavior changes when their routines change abruptly or often.  Young children thrive off of consistency and routine.  When those things are out of wack they definitely feel it.  They experience emotions that they don't know how to handle.  In this episode I'm tackling how you can best handle dealing with all of these behavioral and emotional changes.  The first step always starts with you.  How are you finding your calm?  Listen to episode 19 now! Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-20

Have you ever thought about signing your child up for a new language class?  Maybe you’ve thought about when’s an appropriate time for your child to learn a new language.  Today we’re diving into the topic of children learning a new language a young ages.  In this episode Monica interviews, Sarah Farzam, the Founder and CEO of Bilingual Birdies, a children’s educational company that shapes young minds and build cultural bridges by teaching young children foreign languages through music and movement. Children are like sponges during the early childhood years.  They want to learn about everything.  They move, touch, taste, listen and try everything.  Isn’t it the perfect time to introduce them to new cultures and languages.  Bilingual Birdies does just that and they do it through singing, dancing and puppetry.  Learn more about how they do it, what their classes are like for children and how you can experience one of their classes.  Listen to episode 19 now! Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-19

Ep 18  Teachers, parents and children had to abruptly transition to online learning without preparation, warning or a proper transition.  For me, I’m 8 weeks into teaching from home.  It’s had its challenges. There have been some high moments and some really really low moments.  But, the one thing I’ve realized is that through all of the challenges and changes children deserve to know what’s going on and what’s expected of them. Think about this.  If you’re never told what’s happening in terms of changes in your everyday life and then you’re thrown into something new and expected to just adjust and know what to do, well you would be frustrated too.  With that said, I want to have a conversation about the importance of setting expectations for young children that are learning from home, online or a combination of both. Don’t miss out on this episode that can possibly answer some of your child sleep questions.  Akira leaves the community with tips and many gems.  Grab your headphones, earbuds and just hit play.  Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-18  

Ep 17   Repetition! Repetition! Repetition! Welcome to episode 17 of Crayons and Tantrums. Today we’re talking about repetition and young children, but specifically we’re talking about todays current learning/education structure for children. Today’s episode is called "Return to What They know - Repetition & the Young Child" So, here’s the thing I think in a time like this, when the routines of children were changed right from under them, what’s most important is their well being.  When we talk about schools, education and what happens next for your children, lets shift the conversation towards what children need now and what can we give them to make them feel safe, comfortable, loved and ready to learn.  Let's talk about it.  Grab your headphones or pop in your earbuds because Episode 17 starts now! Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode? Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums. Show Notes: https://monicajsutton.com/episode-17

Ep 16  Welcome to Episode 16 of Crayons and Tantrums.  I have a message to all of the children learning from home and missing their playgrounds and playdates.  Get up and dance dance dance dance dance.!!!! Yes, that’s right.  Get up and move your bodies.  Jump to the left, jump to the right, twirl around and then sit down.  Today’s episode is called, “Why Children Need to Move Their Body - Get Up & Dance!”  Movement plays an important role in your child’s growth and development. I think in today’s current climate encouraging movement in children’s daily activities is extremely important.  It’s easy to become stagnant and just sit.  With high levels of stress, anxiety and our feelings being on an emotional roller coaster it’s easy to feel down.  It happens to adults and it can happen to children if we allow it. Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-16

Ep 15  If you’ve ever struggled with getting your baby to sleep through the night or getting your toddler to wind down in the evening, then this episode is for you.  When it comes to understanding Child Sleep Monica J Sutton turns to the specialists.  On this episode of Crayon’s and Tantrums she gets to speak with Child Sleep Specialist Akira Seuradge about all things sleep. You don’t want to miss out on this episode that can possibly answer some of your child sleep questions.  Akira leaves the community with tips and many many gems that you can start using immediately.  Grab your headphones or earbuds and just hit play.  Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-15

It’s no secret that we’re living in uncertain and stress producing times. We are all just trying to make it through the day. We’re trying to figure out our day to day and get through it with some sense of normalcy.  Now, think about how your child feels? How are they processing all of this change? Many of the changes they've experienced happened almost overnight. How are they dealing with it?  Children are dealing with many of their favorite things being taken away. They miss their school, their friends, their daily routines, going to to the park, going to swim class, tennis lessons, basketball, baseball, gym play, playdates, getting ice cream and so much more. Their everyday routines have been turned upside down.  And along comes these big emotions that young children don't know how to express or regulate.  Then comes the negative behavior changes.  The ones that we'd rather not deal with.  But they're real, very real.  Your children need you to understand their behavior more than ever right now. Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-14

Ep 13: Our family routines and everyday schedules have been disrupted.  It feels like the family structure has crumbled.  So what do you do to get through each day with children running around while you try to work, cook, clean and just survive?  Monica called on her good friend Marlene Spence, Creator of Reward’um and Founder of Cornerstone Family Services to give us some much needed tips on routines and schedules. Marlene is Monica’s go-to when it comes to understanding how to implement new routines for children and teach them independence and follow through using visual schedules.  The days have been challenging, but there are solutions out there that can make a difference.  Don’t miss this interview.  You’ll walk away laughing, shaking your head and ready to give your family exactly what they need. Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-13

We are presently living in very uncertain times right now.  And if you’re overwhelmed with the Coronavirus scare going on, I absolutely feel you.  Entire communities are being quarantined and masses of people are flooding supermarkets to purchase everyday essentials such as water and toilet tissue.  Raising young children during this time isn't easy, but I do know one thing, you must stay calm.   Your children are listening, they're watching and they can feel something is going on.  So, what does COVID-19 mean for young children?  Is it affecting them?  And what should parents be doing?  These are normal questions to ask.  In this episode Monica will discuss news from the CDC and medical experts, as well as share some important tips on things parents with young children can do now.   Don't forget to check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Come hang out with me on Instagram or Pinterest (@monicajsutton), so we can hold each other accountable on understanding your child's behavior and development and how to best approach the daily ups and downs.  Chat soon! Follow @monicajsutton on social! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicajsutton/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/monicajsutton/ Have comments or thoughts about the episode?  Share on Instagram using the hashtag #crayonsandtantrums.  Show Notes:  https://monicajsutton.com/episode-11