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    20+ yrs training early educators. A stroke changed my path, not my passion! Now a children’s book author. Click below to buy ⬇️ 📚

    Parents, the words we use with young children matt Parents, the words we use with young children matter more than we often realize.

When a child is upset, they don’t just need correction.

They need language to understand what they’re feeling.

Here are a few simple phrases that can help:

“I see you’re upset.”
“That was really frustrating.”
“I’m here to help.”
“Let’s take a breath together.”

These types of responses help children:

• feel understood
• learn emotional language
• begin calming their bodies

Over time, children start to connect their feelings with words.

And when children can use words… they rely less on behavior to express themselves.

✨ Save this list so you have it ready in the moment. #follow #love #family #Behavior #kids
    Parents, some days, parenting a toddler or prescho Parents, some days, parenting a toddler or preschooler feels really hard.

There are tantrums, big emotions, and moments where nothing seems to work.

If you’ve had one of those days recently…

you are not alone.

After working with young children and families for 20 years, I can tell you this:

These moments are a normal part of early childhood.

Children ages 2–5 are still learning how to:

• manage emotions
• handle frustration
• communicate their needs

And learning those skills takes time.

It’s okay if every moment isn’t perfect.

It’s okay if some days feel overwhelming.

What matters most is that your child has a caring adult helping guide them through those big feelings.

✨ Parents, you’re doing important work.

Follow for supportive parenting tips.  #follow  #love #bigfeelings #frustration #parents
    Parents, challenging behavior can feel overwhelmin Parents, challenging behavior can feel overwhelming.

But often, what looks like “bad behavior” is actually a child missing an important skill.

After 20 years in child development, I’ve seen this pattern again and again.

Young children are still learning how to:

• express their needs
• manage frustration
• handle disappointment
• communicate big emotions

When those skills aren’t fully developed, the feeling comes out as behavior.

For example:

A child who hits may not know how to express frustration.
A child who screams may feel overwhelmed.
A child who refuses may not yet have the skills to handle transitions.

The behavior is the signal.

The skill is what needs support.

When we shift from asking:
“How do I stop this behavior?”

To asking:
“What skill is my child still learning?”

Everything changes.

✨ Save this for the moments when behavior feels overwhelming.  #love  #follow #mom #dad #parenting
    Bedtime Emotional Check-In Parents, bedtime can b Bedtime Emotional Check-In

Parents, bedtime can be a powerful moment for emotional connection.

After a full day of learning, playing, and experiencing big feelings, children often carry a lot inside their little minds.

One simple routine that supports emotional development is a bedtime emotional check-in.

You might ask your child:

✨ “What made you happy today?”
✨ “Was anything frustrating today?”
✨ “Is there something you want to talk about?”

These gentle questions help children:

• reflect on their day
• recognize their emotions
• learn that their feelings are safe to share

When children feel heard and understood, they develop a stronger sense of emotional security.

And emotional security is one of the foundations of healthy social-emotional development.

Small moments like these build trust, connection, and emotional awareness over time.

✨ Parents, even a few minutes of connection at bedtime can make a big difference.

Save this routine to try tonight.. #love #mom #dad #emotions #feelings
    Parents, one of the most powerful shifts we can ma Parents, one of the most powerful shifts we can make is how we view behavior.

It’s easy to see whining, yelling, hitting, or refusing and think,
“My child is misbehaving.”

But in early childhood, that’s often not the full picture.

Many of these behaviors are signs that a child is still learning important skills.

Children ages 2–5 are still developing:

• self-control
• emotional regulation
• communication skills
• the ability to handle frustration

Their brains are still learning how to manage big emotions.

So when a child melts down or acts out, it often means they need support, not just correction.

That doesn’t mean we ignore the behavior.

It means we guide it with both:

✨ understanding
✨ and clear boundaries

For example:

“You’re really frustrated right now. I understand.
I won’t let you hit. Let’s find another way.”

Over time, children learn how to express feelings, calm their bodies, and respond in more appropriate ways.

And that’s when behavior begins to change.

✨ Parents, your child isn’t giving you a hard time.
They’re having a hard time.

Save this for the tough moments, and share it with another parent who might need this reminder. 💛 #parents #learning #love #mom #dad
    Discipline: Timeouts vs Teaching Skills Parents, Discipline: Timeouts vs Teaching Skills

Parents, let’s talk about timeouts and discipline.

Many of us were taught that discipline means sending a child away when behavior is wrong.

The goal of a timeout is usually to stop the behavior.

And sometimes it does stop the moment.

But here’s the important question:

Is the child learning the emotional skill they need next time?

Young children ages 2–5 are still developing skills like:

• managing frustration
• calming their bodies
• handling disappointment
• expressing emotions with words

When those skills are still developing, big feelings can turn into behavior.

For example, a child might throw blocks when their tower falls.

A timeout might stop the behavior for the moment.

But it doesn’t always teach the child what to do with the frustration instead.

This is where connection and coaching can help children learn the skill they’re missing.

You might say:

“I see you’re frustrated that the tower fell. That’s a hard feeling.”

Then set the boundary:

“Blocks are for building, not throwing.”

And coach the skill:

“Let’s take a breath and try building again together.”

In that moment, the child learns:

their feelings are understood
there are still clear limits on behavior
and there are tools for handling frustration

That’s how emotional regulation develops over time.

✨ Parents, discipline isn’t only about stopping behavior.
It’s about teaching children the skills they are still learning.

Save this for the next challenging moment. #parenting #mom #dad #kids #challenge
    Parents, after 20 years working in child developme Parents, after 20 years working in child development, one thing I’ve seen again and again is this:

Many behaviors that look like defiance are actually skill gaps.

Young children ages 2–5 are still learning skills like:

• managing frustration
• handling disappointment
• calming their bodies
• expressing feelings with words

When those skills are still developing, the feeling often comes out as behavior.

For example:

Imagine a child building with blocks.
When the tower falls, they become frustrated and throw the block.

That moment might look like defiance.

But what’s really happening is that the child doesn’t yet know how to manage the frustration they feel.

And while the feeling is understandable, the behavior still needs a boundary.

It’s okay to be frustrated.

But blocks are for building — not throwing.

This is where parents can guide both the emotion and the behavior.

You might say:

“I see you’re frustrated that the tower fell. That’s a hard feeling. Blocks are for building, not throwing. Let’s try again together.”

In that moment, the child learns two important things:

Their feelings are understood
And there are still clear limits on behavior

That combination — empathy and boundaries — is how children begin learning emotional regulation.

It’s also why teaching social-emotional skills early makes such a difference.

✨ Parents, save this post for the next frustrating block tower moment.

And if you're looking for stories that help young children understand emotions and behavior, you can explore my books through the link in my bio.

#kids #parents #learn #behavior #books
    Parents: Struggling with tantrums from your 2–5 ye Parents: Struggling with tantrums from your 2–5 year old? Try this.

Tantrums are one of the most common challenges parents face during early childhood.

But here’s the important thing to remember:
Most tantrums happen because young children don’t yet have the skills to manage big emotions.

Their brains are still learning how to handle frustration, disappointment, and overwhelm.

Instead of focusing only on stopping the tantrum, we can teach the skills behind the behavior.

Here are a few tools that help:

1️⃣ Stay calm and present
Your child’s nervous system is still learning how to regulate. When you stay calm, you help their body calm down too.

2️⃣ Name the feeling
Try saying:
“I see you’re really frustrated.”
Labeling emotions helps children understand what they’re experiencing.

3️⃣ Offer connection first
Young children calm faster when they feel safe.
Sit nearby, offer a hug if they want it, and let them know you’re there.

4️⃣ Teach a calming skill
When the moment passes, practice simple strategies like:
• taking deep breaths
• squeezing a stuffed animal
• using words like “I’m mad”

5️⃣ Practice during calm moments
The best time to teach emotional skills isn’t during the meltdown — it’s later when your child is calm and ready to learn.

This is how children slowly learn self-regulation.

And the truth is… it takes practice.

After 20 years working in child development, I’ve seen how powerful it is when parents shift from trying to control behavior to teaching emotional skills.

That’s when real change starts to happen.

⸻

💛 Save this post so you can come back to these tools later.

And if you’re a parent raising a toddler or preschooler, follow along for simple ways to support your child’s social-emotional development.  #education #tantrum #kids #parents #calm
    Many parents think their 2–5-year-old is “misbehav Many parents think their 2–5-year-old is “misbehaving,” but most of the time, they’re just still learning how to:
• handle big feelings
• deal with disappointment
• express frustration
• say what they need

These skills take years to develop.
After 20 years in child development, I’ve seen the biggest change happen when parents stop punishing and start teaching emotional skills instead.
That’s why I create children’s books that make feelings and behavior easy for young kids to understand, because when kids learn the why behind behavior, everything improves. 

#family #parenting #behavior #learning #skills
    All children get frustrated sometimes, and it can All children get frustrated sometimes, and it can feel frustrating for parents too.

When big feelings show up, try pausing and taking a deep breath first. Then help your child learn calming skills.

The best time to practice is before frustration happens; through modeling, cooperative play, and reading interactive books like Buddy the Bulldozer, which teaches kids to STOP • BREATHE • THINK.

Save this to practice later and share with a parent who might find it helpful. 🚜

#parenting #feelings #emotions #toddlers #childrensbooks
    Happy reading day! 📖✨ Reading aloud to your kids i Happy reading day! 📖✨
Reading aloud to your kids is pure magic—it builds bonds, boosts brains, and sparks joy! 🌟
Quick benefits roundup:
💕 Strengthens family bonds
🧠 Boosts brain development & imagination
🎯 Improves focus & listening
📚 Builds early literacy skills
🗣️ Expands vocabulary
🎨 Sparks creativity
Every storytime counts! What’s your favorite benefit? Drop it below or share a recent read-aloud win 💬❤️
Tag a book-loving friend!
#read #story #preschool #family #kids
    Tuesdays is for Tractors, Teamwork, and Tight Bond Tuesdays is for Tractors, Teamwork, and Tight Bonds 🚜❤️
Dust off the tools and let’s pull together—fixing rigs, sharing laughs, collecting all our buddies’ adventures one greasy night at a time.
These stories deserve to live on… grab my three books (full of more tractor tales, friendship, and wild adventures) → link in bio!  Amarshallbooks.com
Who’s rolling up tonight? Tag your crew!
#tractortuesday #teamwork #friendship  #fun #parenting
    ✨ De-Stress Monday with Deep Breathing ✨ Mondays ✨ De-Stress Monday with Deep Breathing ✨

Mondays can feel a little overwhelming, for kids and grown-ups alike. Today is the perfect day to slow down and practice a simple breathing technique together.

Try the “Smell the Flower, Blow Out the Candle” exercise 🌸🕯️
1️⃣ Take a slow breath in through your nose like you’re smelling a flower.
2️⃣ Gently breathe out through your mouth like you’re blowing out a candle.

This simple strategy helps children pause, calm their bodies, and reset their emotions.

Don’t have a candle? No problem! You can make it fun by using:
🌬️ A pinwheel to watch spin as you blow
🪶 A feather to keep floating in the air
🫧 Even bubbles for slow, steady breaths

Practicing together shows children how to pause, breathe, and respond thoughtfully—skills they’ll carry with them every day.

💬 Try it today and tell us: What did you use instead of a candle?

#mindfulmonday #deepbreathing #mindful #childrensbooks #parenting
    Learning with Buddy the Bulldozer doesn’t have to Learning with Buddy the Bulldozer doesn’t have to stop when the book ends! 🚜📚

Bring Buddy’s lessons to life by adding some fun construction toys during playtime. Kids can act out different scenarios, practice problem-solving, and build important social-emotional skills while they play.

When children pretend with the characters, they get to:
✨ Practice calming down
✨ Work through challenges
✨ Build empathy and teamwork

Because the best learning happens when stories and play come together.

#socialemotionallearning #kidsbooks #learningthroughplay #parenting #fun
    🚧 Books aren’t just for the library! 📚 Bring stor 🚧 Books aren’t just for the library! 📚

Bring stories into the block area and watch children bring them to life through play. Buddy the Bulldozer helps kids practice important skills like stop, breathe, and think while they build, imagine, and learn together. 💛

#socialemotionallearning #learning #preschool #earlychildhoodeducation #blockplay 🚜📚
    Happy reading day, families! 📖✨ Did you know that Happy reading day, families! 📖✨
Did you know that snuggling up and reading aloud to your little ones is one of the most powerful gifts you can give?
It’s more than just storytime—it’s brain-boosting, bond-building magic! 🌟
Here are some incredible benefits of reading aloud together:
•  Strengthens bonds 💕 Shared stories create lasting connections and cozy memories.
•  Boosts brain development 🧠 Activates imagination and sparks critical thinking.
•  Improves focus 🎯 Builds attention span and sharp listening skills.
•  Builds early literacy 📚 Teaches print awareness and how stories work.
•  Expands vocabulary 🗣️ Introduces rich language way beyond everyday chat.
•  Sparks creativity 🎨 Encourages big imaginations and brand-new ideas!
Whether it’s silly voices at bedtime, pointing to pictures, or letting them predict what happens next… every page turned counts.
Tag a parent friend who needs this reminder today, and tell me in the comments: What’s YOUR favorite benefit of reading aloud? Or share a quick win from your latest storytime! 💬❤️
Let’s keep spreading the love of books this weekend! 🥰
#readaloud #read #storytimemagic #family #earlyliteracy
    World Book Day snuck up on me this year… but the l World Book Day snuck up on me this year… but the love of books never ends! 📖✨
My post is a little late, but way better than never. 😊
To celebrate YOU and the magic of reading, anyone who DMs me in the next 24 hours gets a FREE e-book copy of Buddy, the Bulldozer – a heartwarming story about a big-hearted bulldozer learning to handle big feelings!
Grab yours before time runs out – just slide into my DMs! 🚜❤️
#worldbookday2026📚🌎 #freebookgiveaway #childrensbook #books #ebook
    Did you know… Only 32.7% of children enjoy reading Did you know…
Only 32.7% of children enjoy reading in 2025?
That’s the lowest in 20 years — and the drop is hitting primary kids and teen boys the hardest. 📉
What was the book that made you fall in love with reading as a kid? Drop it below 👇 Let’s inspire the next generation together.
#reading #boys #learning #books #joy
    Halfway through Read Across America Week 📚✨ We’ve Halfway through Read Across America Week 📚✨
We’ve been diving into stories, snuggling up with favorite books, and spreading the love of reading all week long—and we’re only getting started!
Whether it’s Dr. Seuss rhymes, epic adventures, or cozy read-alouds by flashlight, how are YOU celebrating?
Drop your reading vibes in the comments 👇
•  What’s on your current read?
•  Favorite spot to curl up with a book?
•  Any fun themed activities or silly voices going on?
Tag a friend who needs to join the book party, and let’s keep the reading magic going strong! 💛
#readacrossamerica #readingisfundamental📚 #booklovers #drseussday #authorlife
    BIG NEWS!! 🎉✨ We officially have a NEW distributo BIG NEWS!! 🎉✨

We officially have a NEW distributor… and that means PRICES ARE SLASHED!! 🙌📚✂️

More Buddy books.
More social-emotional learning.
More breathing, calming, and confidence-building, for LESS. 💛

If you’ve been waiting to grab your copy (or stock up for your classroom!), now is the time!

Go check it out — link in bio! 🔗

Thank you for supporting this dream and helping us get these tools into more little hands. 🫶✨#childrensbooks #kidsbooks #pricecut #childdevelopment #authorlife
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