The Great Christmas Cookie Disaster: A Parent’s Field Guide
Ah, Christmas cookies. The scent of cinnamon and sugar wafting through the air, tiny hands eagerly pressing cookie cutters, festive sprinkles showering everything in a magical glitter…
And then there’s the reality.
Baking Christmas cookies with kids is less like a heartwarming Hallmark movie and more like an episode of Nailed It! judged by a panel of extremely sticky, hyperactive toddlers. It’s a battle of wills. It’s a test of patience. It’s a guaranteed path to finding flour in places you didn’t even know existed. This includes, somehow, the dog.
If you’re brave enough to embark on this annual tradition, prepare yourself for the following stages:
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Last Updated: January 13, 2026 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
Screen Time & Digital Boundaries
In 2026, the conversation around kids and technology has shifted. We’ve moved past the era of simply “counting minutes” and into an era of digital intentionality. Parents are no longer just “screen police”; they are becoming “digital coaches.”
If you feel like you’re constantly battling a glowing rectangle for your child’s attention, you aren’t alone. Here is how to navigate digital boundaries with empathy, clarity, and science-backed strategies.
Read MoreLast Updated: January 14, 2026 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
The Survivalist’s Guide to a Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve
The Survivalist’s Guide to a Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is traditionally a night of glitz, glamour, and staying up late enough to see the sunrise. But when you have a family, the “glamour” is usually replaced by a sticky film of apple juice. The only “ball drop” happening at midnight is your toddler dropping a heavy plastic dinosaur onto your foot. This occurs while you’re asleep on the sofa.
If you’re trading the nightclub for the living room this year, here is your field guide. It will help you survive the most chaotic countdown of the year.
Read MoreLast Updated: December 11, 2025 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
The Great Christmas Cookie Disaster
The Great Christmas Cookie Disaster: A Parent’s Field Guide
Ah, Christmas cookies. The scent of cinnamon and sugar wafting through the air, tiny hands eagerly pressing cookie cutters, festive sprinkles showering everything in a magical glitter…
And then there’s the reality.
Baking Christmas cookies with kids is less like a heartwarming Hallmark movie and more like an episode of Nailed It! judged by a panel of extremely sticky, hyperactive toddlers. It’s a battle of wills. It’s a test of patience. It’s a guaranteed path to finding flour in places you didn’t even know existed. This includes, somehow, the dog.
If you’re brave enough to embark on this annual tradition, prepare yourself for the following stages:
Read MoreLast Updated: December 2, 2025 by Dennis6336 2 Comments
The 7 Stages of Gift-Wrapping Grief
Here is a funny article for your entertainment. Enjoy!
The 7 Stages of Gift-Wrapping Grief: A Descent Into Madness
Every year, around the second week of December, a collective delusion washes over the population. We scroll through Instagram and Pinterest, beholding presents wrapped with the architectural precision of a Frank Gehry building. They have dried orange slices tied with twine. They have sprigs of real cedar tucked into velvet ribbons. Their corners are so sharp you could cut a steak with them.
And we think: “Yes. This year, this is who I am. I am an artisanal wrapper.”
We are lying to ourselves.
Read MorePosted: November 14, 2025 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
The Biting Phase
The Biting Phase: Understanding the “Why” and Managing the “Ouch”
Few things make a parent’s stomach drop faster than picking up their child from daycare and hearing, “There was an incident today…” whether your child was the one bitten or the one doing the biting.
Biting is a visceral, emotional, and often painful issue. Parents of the biter often feel intense shame (“Is my child aggressive?”), while parents of the victim feel protective anger. However, in the world of early childhood development, biting is surprisingly common and rarely malicious.
Here is a guide to decoding the behavior and handling it with confidence.
Read MoreLast Updated: November 11, 2025 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
Hit a Potty Training Puddle?
Hit a Potty Training Puddle? How to Handle Regressions with Confidence
You did it. After weeks of patience, sticker charts, and tiny potties, your child was finally using the toilet. You’d triumphantly packed away the diapers. And then, suddenly, it’s accidents all over again.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This is potty training regression, and it’s one of the most common and frustrating bumps in the road for parents.
First, take a deep breath. A regression is not a failure—not for you, and not for your child. It’s a temporary setback and a sign that your child is dealing with something new.
Read MoreLast Updated: October 21, 2025 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
A Love and Logic Guide to Handling Whining and Arguing
Stop the Squabbles: A Love and Logic Guide to Handling Whining and Arguing
That all-too-familiar sound starts up again—the high-pitched, drawn-out whine over a snack, or the “It’s not fair!” that kicks off a 10-minute debate. Whining and arguing can drain a parent’s energy faster than almost any other behavior.
The Love and Logic approach, founded by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D., offers a powerful framework for ending these power struggles. The goal isn’t to “win” the argument; it’s to calmly and lovingly make the behavior ineffective. Here’s how you can handle whining and arguing by putting the responsibility back where it belongs: with your child.
Read MoreLast Updated: October 19, 2025 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
Handling an out-of-control child
Handling an out-of-control child is one of the most stressful moments for any caregiver or parent. The Love and Logic philosophy offers a powerful framework for navigating this chaos by focusing on two goals: staying calm yourself and letting the child learn from their choices.
Here’s how to apply Love and Logic techniques when a child is in the midst of a meltdown.
Read MoreLast Updated: October 13, 2025 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
Play is a child’s most important work. Play Based Education Continued
Play-Based Education Continued
Play is a child’s most important work. Activities like squishing dough, stacking blocks, or telling imaginative stories might look like simple fun. They are powerful tools that build the foundation for a lifetime of learning. These seemingly basic plays are packed with developmental benefits that shape a child’s brain, body, and social-emotional skills. At King’s Kids Academy, we recognize this and encourage creative play.
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Last Updated: October 8, 2025 by Dennis6336 Leave a Comment
Navigating the “No!” Phase
Navigating the “No!” Phase: A Guide to Toddler Independence
One day, your sweet, agreeable baby discovers a new word, and suddenly it’s their answer to everything. “Time to put your shoes on?” “No!” “Would you like some peas?” “No!” “Can I read you a story?” “No!”
Welcome to the “no” phase. It can be frustrating, baffling, and downright exhausting. But from a developmental perspective, this stage is not just normal—it’s a critical and positive sign that your toddler is growing into their own person. This isn’t defiance for the sake of defiance; it’s the dawn of their independence. 🚀
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