Category Connect
Connected Families Book Review
Connected Families provides resources for families to thrive. We love partnering with others who share our vision. Recently, Lynne Jackson wrote an endorsement of the book, 52 Ways to Connect With Your Smartphone Obsessed Kid by Jonathan McKee. She shares her…
Book Review
At Connected Families, we are always discussing, learning and reading about effective and wise parenting. Both Jim Jackson (co-founder of Connected Families and dad to 26 year old Bethany) and Grant Braasch (husband of our Executive Director and dad to 9 year old…
Advice for Dads
Dear Dads, We are a big deal. Our kids look up to us in a unique way. They need our affirmation and approval. Statistics show that kids who get a father’s love tend to soar well into the world, and…
7 Peaceful, Powerful Ways to Connect with an Angry Child
Everyone would agree that loving our children is one of the most important things a parent can do. But sometimes expressing that love isn’t as easy as it sounds. Sarafina wrote about a breakthrough she had in learning to connect…
How I Turned My Parenting Fail into a Lesson in Grace: Sukay’s Story
Whether or not they verbalize it, kids often struggle with feeling like they are “bad kids” or that they are “naughty” when they misbehave. It can be tough for parents, especially in moments of frustration as our kids are acting…
The Secret to Effective Discipline
We all want to parent our kids well, and especially to feel confident as we discipline our children. But many parents, in their efforts to discipline their children, miss what we think is a key ingredient. The secret? Connection. From our…
Learning to See Love Through Your Kids’ Eyes
The widowed captain never stopped loving his kids. But the way he loved them wasn’t landing on their hearts. He couldn’t see his love through their eyes. Although he knew he loved them, the kids longed to know his love but grew increasingly…
Why We Think “Showing Kids What’s What” Doesn’t Actually Work
Rick was feeling impatient with the way his wife was dealing with their children’s misbehavior. He shared his thoughts with me during a recent conversation: “I’ve always been the kind of dad that likes to get things done efficiently. When…
How to Help Kids Like Each Other… with Photos!
Ever feel like the moments where your kids actually like each other are few and far between? Or like deep down they love each other, but they forget as their connection gets lost in the shuffle of sibling conflict and…
Why This Mom Loved Her Messy, Lopsided Christmas Tree
While this “creative” design might have your fingers itching to straighten those dangling garlands, the mom whose tree it is decided she liked it how it was. Why? It was decorated by her children, a 2-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a…