blog
Welcome to the blog! This is a space for parents and caregivers looking for practical insight, encouragement, and expert support. Whether you're navigating big emotions, screen time struggles, picky eating, or mom guilt, these posts are here to help you feel less alone. As a play therapist and child therapist based in San Luis Obispo, I’m passionate about sharing tools and ideas that support children’s mental health and strengthen family connections. Explore topics like child therapy, parenting tips, behavioral challenges, and how play therapy can make a real difference in your child’s growth. If you're raising kids on the Central Coast or beyond, you're in the right place.
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Finding Balance on Weekends
Weekends can be a blend of connection, rest, and play that support your child’s emotional and social growth.
A Built in Frenemy
When siblings feel supported and respected they grow in empathy, confidence, and cooperation.
Just Ten Minutes Together
Small moments of focused connection can lead to big shifts in behavior.
“Good Kid” “Bad Kid”
Choosing words that describe behavior rather than define identity helps children grow with confidence and resilience.
Let Them Lead
When children lead the play, confidence, creativity, and emotional strength follow.
Connection Before Correction
Children cooperate and learn better when they feel safe, understood and connected before limits are set.
Attention-Seeking or Avoiding Tasks
Understanding your child’s behavior helps guide them toward emotional growth and positive habits.
Staying Calm When Kids Make a Mess
Calm guidance and playful strategies turn everyday messes into learning opportunities.
The Power of a Mental Health Day
Teaching kids to pause and recharge strengthens emotional health and builds resilience for life.
When Work and Motherhood Collide
Supporting your child while managing work stress is possible with empathy, boundaries, and proactive care.
Short-Form Media
Short videos may be short in time but long in effects when it comes to attention, sleep, and mental health.
Why Naming Feelings Matters
Discover how putting feelings into words helps kids feel more in control.
What Kids Really Need After a Hard Day
Sometimes kids do not need solutions. They need you to be calm, connected, and present.
Building Emotional Strength
Helping children understand, express, and manage big emotions with warmth, patience, and practical support.
Moving Bodies, Calming Minds:
Discover how movement supports happier, calmer, and more focused kids.
How Play Supports Emotional Regulation
See how play helps kids understand, express, and manage their emotions.
Mindfulness for Kids
Simple mindfulness practices can calm kids’ worries and bring more peace to family life.
Why Routine Matters
Routine isn’t boring, it’s the backbone that gives kids space to grow, feel safe, and thrive.
The Science of Play
Play is more than fun, it is the glue that helps kids grow, heal, and thrive.
Banishing Bedtime Scaries
Nightmares can feel big and scary for little ones. This post offers gentle tips to help children feel safe, supported, and ready for sweet dreams again.