Parenting Tips
Parenting Tip Tuesday Video Series with Behavioral Specialist, Dr. Jenna Edlund
Parenting can be one of the greatest joys, but it is a role that doesn’t come without challenges! At Lake Area Discovery, we are here to help. As a Nationally-Accredited, Faith-Based Early Childhood Education program serving Infants-Age 5, we seek to support parents and children in a creative environment that promotes Christian values, honors diversity, and fosters fellowship within the greater community. Click here to browse our 18 metro locations!
In support of our families, we produce a monthly video series, “Parenting Tip Tuesday,” where LADC Behavioral Specialist, Dr. Jenna Edlund offers monthly parenting tips. View the videos below or on Facebook and Instagram! (And don’t forget to follow us!)
All information shared in the videos and handouts is derived from the latest Early Childhood Education research, studies, and best-in-class practices.
2024-2025 Videos
Parenting Tip Tuesday #8 – Teaching Flexibility and Problem-Solving Skills
This month’s Parenting Tip Tuesday topic is Teaching Flexibility & Problem-Solving Skills!
Did you know? Meltdowns or difficult behavior often happens when children are still building their flexible thinking skills. By teaching problem-solving, we help them see multiple solutions and approach situations with a fresh perspective.
Watch our video for our top tips on nurturing problem-solving skills, and don’t forget to grab our free LADC Flexible Thinking and Problem Solving-Handout.
Parenting Tip Tuesday #7 – Giving Effective Requests
This month’s Parenting Tip Tuesday topic is all about Giving Effective Requests! Did you know that how you phrase a request can boost your child’s compliance by 30%? Small adjustments in the way you give directions can make a big difference! Watch this video for simple, research-backed strategies to make your requests more effective. Plus, grab our free LADC Effective Requests Handout.
Parenting Tip Tuesday #6 – Teaching Your Child to Wait
This month’s Parenting Tip Tuesday is all about WAITING! Waiting is an essential life skill for young children to develop, which helps them learn patience, self-regulation, and how to handle delays when they are desiring something—whether it’s food, toys, activities, or your attention. Learning to wait also encourages self-soothing and independence when they’re unoccupied. Watch the video below for practical tips on teaching your child the skill of waiting, and don’t forget to download our free LADC Teaching Your Child to Wait Handout.
Parenting Tip Tuesday #5 – Positive Self-Talk
In this month’s edition of Parenting Tip Tuesday, we’re focusing on Positive Self-Talk! Did you know that the way you talk with your child about mistakes or challenges today helps shape how they process and handle situations in the future? Check out this quick video for practical tips on guiding your child toward healthy, empowering self-talk. Don’t forget to download our free LADC Positive Self-Talk Handout. Let’s nurture confidence, resilience, and a positive mindset—one conversation at a time!
Parenting Tip Tuesday #4 – Effective Labeled Praise Statements
In this month’s edition of Parenting Tip Tuesday, we’re talking about Effective Labeled Praise Statements—a powerful tool to encourage positive behavior in your kids! Did you know? Many parents fear that praise might reduce a child’s internal motivation, and often, unknowingly give more attention to misbehavior instead. Watch our video to learn how to make your praise meaningful and impactful, then access our free supplemental LADC Labeled Praise Handout.
Parenting Tip Tuesday #3 – Preventing Problem Behaviors
The Parenting Tip Tuesday topic for this month is Preventing Problem Behaviors! Instead of reacting to problem behaviors, what if we could prevent them from happening in the first place? By making simple adjustments and implementing proactive strategies, we can save time and energy in the long run! Watch the video below to discover our helpful tips, and don’t forget to download our LADC Preventing Problem Behaviors Handout.
Parenting Tip Tuesday #2 – Shaping Behavior
This month, we’re diving into a powerful tool for Early Childhood development: Shaping Behavior. Whether you’re introducing a brand-new behavior, reinforcing one that’s partially learned, or helping your child use a learned behavior more consistently, this approach can make all the difference! By reinforcing small steps, you can guide your child toward lasting success.
Watch our video below to learn how to use this strategy, and don’t forget to download our LADC Shaping Behavior Handout.
Parenting Tip Tuesday #1 – Separation Anxiety
We’re thrilled to kick off the 2024-2025 school year with the launch of our Parenting Tip Tuesday series—now in its 3rd season! Join us as LADC Behavioral Specialist, Dr. Jenna Edlund, shares expert insights on fresh topics designed to support you on your parenting journey.
This month, we’re tackling separation anxiety, a common concern as students transition to new classrooms or when trying out new activities. Watch the video for our top strategies to address this issue and access our LADC Separation Anxiety Handout to learn more!
2023-2024 Videos
Parenting Tip Tuesday #8 – Setting Up Play Dates
In our final Parenting Tip Tuesday edition of the school year, we’re delving into the world of play dates! As summer draws near, it’s prime time to nurture your young one’s social skills with some fun peer interactions! Check out our video below for tips on organizing enriching play dates and enhancing those social/emotional skills this summer.
For more information, access our LADC Setting Up Playdates Handout! Here’s to a summer filled with growth, learning, and FUN for you and your child!
Parenting Tip Tuesday #7 – Bedtime Difficulties
In this month’s edition of Parenting Tip Tuesday, we’re diving into bedtime battles! Does your little one fight sleep, wander out of bed, or summon you multiple times at night? Don’t fret! We’ve got some expert strategies just for you!
Watch the video below for game-changing tips on making bedtime a breeze! And, for an extra dose of support, access our LADC Bedtime Difficulties Handout
Parenting Tip Tuesday #6 – Calming Strategies
In this month’s edition of our Parenting Tip Tuesday video series, we are exploring the art of Calming Strategies!
Emotions are a rollercoaster ride for every child – fear, anger, sadness, joy – they feel it all! But when these feelings reach a boiling point, it’s crucial to equip them with coping mechanisms. Let’s empower our little ones with the tools of emotional regulation!
Check out the video below to discover a few effective strategies; then, access our LADC Calming Strategies Handout to learn more!
Parenting Tip Tuesday #5 – Sibling Rivalry
In this month’s edition of our Parenting Tip Tuesday video series, we are focusing on Sibling Rivalry! Did you know? Research shows sibling rivalry can occur at a rate of up to 8x per hour. But here’s an interesting twist: Arguments among siblings can actually have positive effects! Watch the video below to learn how how sibling conflict can serve as an opportunity for children to learn and grow. Then, access our LADC Sibling Rivalry Handout to learn more!
Parenting Tip Tuesday #4 – Getting the Most out of Play
In this month’s Parenting Tip Tuesday video, we are focusing on Getting the Most out of Play! Play is not only FUN, but a powerful tool for fostering a strong and positive connection with your child. Learn about one of the most effectives types of play and associated benefits in this video. Then, access our LADC Getting the Most out of Play Handout to learn more.
Parenting Tip #3 – Building Positive Relationships
This month, we are focusing on Building Positive Relationships. Research shows that by creating positive relationships with your child, you not only can decrease current disruptive behavior but can develop a protective factor against future behavior problems. Watch the video to learn more, including a few great ways to restructure daily interactions to be proactive! We also invite you to access our LADC Building Positive Relationships Handout to learn more!
Parenting Tip #2 – Heavy Work Strategies
This month, we are focusing on Heavy Work Strategies, a tool created and used by Occupational Therapists, which provides a calming and organizing effect on the body through various movements. Watch the video to see if your child could benefit from these strategies and for simple ways to incorporate them into their everyday life! Access our LADC Heavy Work Strategy Handout to learn more!
Parenting Tip #1 – Growth Mindset
This month, we are focusing on cultivating a growth mindset. Did you know that the way you talk with your child about mistakes or difficult moments now, will shape the way that your child’s brain processes information in the future? Watch the video for two important tips on how you can help set your child up for success, and access our LADC Growth Mindset Handout to learn more!
2022-2023 Videos
Parenting Tip #7 – Transitions
This month, we are focusing on transitions – defined as moving from one activity or setting to another! In the video, Dr. Jenna provides eight important tips to help to create terrific transitions with your little ones and to correct any problematic behaviors your child may display.
Watch below, and access our LADC Transitions Handout to learn more!
Parenting Tip #6 – Child Anxiety
This month, we are focusing on child anxiety and ways parents can help support their children.
Watch the video below to learn more, and access our LADC Handout on Child Anxiety which touches on the cycle of anxiety, additional alternative responses to your child’s anxiety, and more on how to turn our protection into support.
Parenting Tip #5 – Reward Systems
This month, we are focusing on Reward Systems and all that they have to offer!
As a parent, you may have your own beliefs in favor of or against reward systems. Reward systems, just like any parenting tool, need to be used effectively and tailored to the individual child to see results! Specifically, they can help provide a bridge between a behavior children can’t or won’t do and a habit, by creating a reason for them to try it more than once.
Watch the video for a few helpful tips when creating a reward system, then visit our LADC Reward Systems Handout for more information!
Parenting Tip #4 – Creating and Utilizing Social Stories
This month, we are discussing creating and utilizing “Social Stories.”
“Social stories” are written or visual guides YOU create that describe many different social interactions, situations, behaviors, and skills. They are read repeatedly so that children overlearn them, and are re-read right before an anticipated problematic behavior occurs. Social stories serve as a creative and fun way to prompt new skills!
Watch the video to learn more, and access the LADC Social Story Handout which contains more information including HOW to create them and examples.
Parenting Tip #3 – Interventions in Everyday Settings
This month, we are discussing the importance of interventions in everyday settings. Learning how to embed learning in everyday activities is one of the most important ways to support your child’s growth and development in early childhood. Watch the video to learn more, and access the LADC Interventions in Everyday Settings handout for specific examples while exploring four ways to increase your child’s communication skills.
Parenting Tip #2 – Resilience
This month, we are focusing on the importance of building resilience in children. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from hard challenges that life brings, and something we must help children acquire over time through life experiences. Research shows that resilience in children is linked to more success in school/life and the ability to build more positive relationships. Watch the video to learn four ways you can start building resilience in your children now. To learn more, view our LADC Resilience Handout.
Parenting Tip #1 – Selective Attention
This month, we are highlighting the behavioral tip “Selective Attention,” where Dr. Jenna encourages you to give your attention to positive behaviors to help increase their frequency, and ignore undesirable behaviors to achieve the opposite effect. Watch the video below! To learn more, view our LADC Selective Attention Handout.