Intentional Parenting, Age - Teens, Age - Toddlers, Age - Tweens, Parent Coaching
Dana Hirt
Why I Got My Parent Coaching Certification

I absolutely love being a parent coach! My work has given me both deep professional satisfaction and tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to support moms and dads as they manage the unique challenges and celebrate the many joys of modern-day parenting.

That’s why in the fall of 2020 after 5 years of successful practice as a parent coach, I began investigating parent-coaching certification programs that were aligned with my own approach of intentional, values-based parenting. Not only was it important to add to the gravitas of the work itself, I wanted to distinguish myself as a professional in the field. Plus, because I value continuing education, I wanted to deepen my existing theoretical knowledge and learn research-based practical skills so I could be even more effective.

Why I Got My Parent Coaching Certification
Age - Teens, Age - Toddlers, Age - Tweens, Family Fun
Dana Hirt
The Power of Play

Everyone knows what “play” is -- right? It’s peek-a-boo with baby…hide-and-seek with toddlers…tag among school-agers…a teenage pick-up game of basketball…or your family’s favorite board game on game night.

All true. Yet from a developmental standpoint, what may seem like fun of little consequence actually plays a crucial role in many aspects of child development, including social-emotional, motor, cognitive, language, self-regulation, enhanced sense of agency and executive function. Best yet, the developmental benefits of play compound as children age.

The Power of Play
Co-parenting Post-divorce, Extended Family, Family Fun, Intentional Parenting, Age - Teens, Age - Toddlers, Age - Tweens
Dana Hirt
3 Things Every Family Needs

Family – at least the construct traditionally defined as two opposite-sex parents and their biological children – was considered the norm (and by extension, the “best” for kids) for most of the last century. But no longer.

The notion of family has moved away from rigid structures and defined roles, morphing and expanding significantly. From step to extended, blended to adoptive, gay to single, multi-cultural to co-parent…what makes a family the best one for children is one in which there is the greatest amount of three vital ingredients: love, safety and acceptance.

3 Things Every Family Needs
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Redefining Co-Parenting to Include Married Couples!

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Redefining Co-Parenting to Include Married Couples!

No two people parent the same way and no couple is immune to challenges in co-parenting their child/children. We all bring our personal experience of being parented to the job and we have different priorities, values, cultural experiences, etc. Yet, we need to learn ways to communicate, share authentically and compromise in order to co-parent effectively. This is even more true when navigating separation and/or divorce, but it is relevant in every family. Being married does not mean that the two of you share one approach to raising children. Learning better communication skills insures healthier collaboration, greater support and affirmation AND increases the odds of positive outcomes.

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What To Do With Your Kids' BIG Emotions?

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What To Do With Your Kids' BIG Emotions?

Big emotions, as you know, are natural for kids of all ages (and for adults, too!). That’s why before we attend to our child facing emotional dysregulation—it’s super critical for parents to regulate their own affect first.

Here’s some advice in the spirit of putting on your oxygen mask before helping others. As long as everyone is safe, there’s absolutely no harm in walking away from a screaming child to calm yourself down before engaging. When we feel emotionally triggered by a kid temporarily carried away by big emotions, it can make us feel out of control or impotent to the handle the situation. And chances are high that if both parent and child are dysregulated, they will spiral down together, making the upset harder to regulate and repair.

‘Maximize Your Return on Life’ with Intentional Parenting

Shari Greco Reiches, an investment advisor and cofounder of Rappaport Reiches Capital Management, LLC, recently invited me to be a guest on her “Maximize Your Return on Life” podcast.

Like Shari’s approach to capital management, my strategic focus as a parenting coach is values-based. Our far-ranging conversation covered many aspects of parenting that I trust you’ll find worth the listen. Here’s just some of what we talked about:

*  Using the strengths of the family system to empower parents to make decisions tethered to their core values

*  Why a self-care practice and building community are essential activities for parents

*  The surprising similarities between toddlers and teens 

*  Dealing head-on with the unmentionables: drinking; drugs; sex

*  Fostering clear communications with weekly family meetings

*  Embracing the beauty of the pivot, and

*  The value of life-long learning

I hope you will check in out here or on your favorite podcast app

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Pregnant Again? Tips for Preparing Yourself – and the Kids

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Pregnant Again? Tips for Preparing Yourself – and the Kids

A first pregnancy is both a magical and stressful time for many parents full of anticipation about what lies ahead for themselves and the family they are trying to create. For many expectant parents, being present for and enjoying each phase of pregnancy the first time around can be a remarkable experience. But what about pregnancy number two? Read on for advice for parents and little ones awaiting a new sibling.

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It's Time for your 4-Step Scholastic Checklist

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It's Time for your 4-Step Scholastic Checklist

The current academic year is pivotal for families, largely because it’s the first ostensibly “normal” scholastic experience since March 2020. Given the return to routine, parents might be inclined to simply breathe a huge sigh of relief convinced they and their kids are finally free from the myriad pandemic-induced educational stressors of the last two years.

However, given the recent reports on the “impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on learning,” now is the time for parents to pay even keener attention to their kids’ school experience. To ensure their return to academic life is as smooth as possible, consider this comprehensive 4-step process.