<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Inspiring Toddlers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Inspiring Toddlers]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:38:41 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[When the Joy Disappears: A Letter to the Exhausted Early Childhood Educators]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you work in early childhood, you deserve joy! You didn’t choose this work because it was easy. You chose it because you love children, because you wanted to make a difference, and because helping young humans grow feels deeply meaningful. And yet, somewhere between the long days, challenging behaviors, and constant responsibility, the joy can begin to fade. Maybe you still care deeply, but you feel tired in a way that rest doesn't fix. Maybe you sit in your car before work, taking one more...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/when-the-joy-disappears-a-letter-to-the-exhausted-early-childhood-educators</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e849</guid><category><![CDATA[Finding Joy]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:32:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_2d8a11270488430997497f7792c3cf3b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_760,h_420,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Helping Children with a Feisty Temperament]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever had a child who Cries or tantrums loudly, out of nowhere, and over just about anything!? Has HUGE emotional reactions to seemingly small occurrences? Runs to you with distressing reports about things that are not really that big of a deal? If so, we have some information and a helpful tool to assist with reducing these behaviors.  There are many drivers of challenging behaviors. If adults can isolate the “why” behind the behavior and teach the child what they need to learn, they...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/working-with-children-with-a-feisty-temperament</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f939685bd290381e881</guid><category><![CDATA[Stressful Moments]]></category><category><![CDATA[Temperament]]></category><category><![CDATA[Self-Control]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:09:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_e14e819f272d474abf0ae5f71d780511~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>admin00773</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tips to Reduce Developmentally-Inspired Challenging Behaviors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Right around three-years-old, a set of unwelcome challenging behaviors arise:    *Refusing and resisting adult's direction.  I remember back so clearly... we were late and trying to get out the door, and my daughter was dawdling - moving ever so slowly while putting on her shoes. I said, "Come on, hurry up! We have to go!"   And... She moved SLOWER.  My frustration went through the roof!   Thankfully, in the M.Ed. program at the University of Minnesota, I learned one major driver for this and...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/tips-to-reduce-developmentally-inspired-challenging-behaviors</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e86c</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:44:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_e1c92b4368eb4b61a709edf8edd89c71~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_414,h_418,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Collaborating with Families: It's All About Relationships!]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this resource blog, we explore the the ways to build partnerships between Early Childhood Educators and parents that last through...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/collaborating-with-families-it-s-all-about-relationships</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e847</guid><category><![CDATA[Engaging Families]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2023 21:09:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_646e296df9b44eea888d19bcaa22e086~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is causing this storm!?  One Major Hidden Driver Behind Challenging Behaviors.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Think of a recent time you were extremely frustrated, stressed, and had your buttons pushed – AGAIN!  Which actions did you take? Did you behave in ways you later regretted? Upon reflection, what was the reason for your behavior? Can you pinpoint the fuel contributing to the fire you felt? What need, feeling, or other actions from yourself or others drove you toward that behavior? Realistically, when tired, stressed, hungry, overwhelmed, or just plain fed up, it is typical to become gruff,...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/what-is-causing-this-storm-one-major-hidden-driver-behind-challenging-behaviors</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e86a</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Self-Control]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2023 19:05:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_3e1ac0a85ae642619463eb15685cfd19~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_980,h_807,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Working with Challenging Behaviors: WHY address the WHY]]></title><description><![CDATA[For over twenty years, early childhood educators have asked me, How can I get this child to LISTEN!? What can I do to STOP these negative behaviors!?  So, of course, our Online Challenging Behavior Series is packed full of the answers.  In the Working with Challenging Behaviors in Children 3-8 years , we start off with the importance of becoming a scientist and figuring out the feelings and needs that are providing fuel for the fire.  Some educators ask, “Why?  Can’t you just give me the tool...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/working-with-challenging-behaviors-why-address-the-why</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e86b</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2022 19:57:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_119aa68cc1df4d49924f4cd73aa94a07~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_388,h_627,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Promoting Self-Control in Young Children]]></title><description><![CDATA[A common question from those caring for young children is: What can I do to STOP this child from biting, hitting, yelling, fidgeting, poking, throwing, talking back, running away, or refusing to follow my directions!? The reality is, for children to avoid these instinctual reactions and behave well, they will need help (and a lot of patience) from adults. What you do matters!   Adults can bolster a child’s ability to self-regulate over time, through specific daily interactions and fun games...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/copy-of-promoting-self-control-in-young-children</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f939685bd290381e880</guid><category><![CDATA[Self-Control]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2022 19:41:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_9aebc082edc346369c91c94a0bf58dbc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_637,h_358,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>admin00773</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[“No! You Can’t Make Me!”: Helping Persistent Preschoolers Move from Power Struggles to Cooperation]]></title><description><![CDATA[When my 1½-year-old daughter spotted an open can of soda, her eyes lit up and she took off toward it like lightning. I quickly scooped it up, tucked it in the fridge, and said, “No, no pop.” For the next 30 minutes, she was on a mission—completely focused on getting that drink. No distraction I tried could shake her determination. That unstoppable persistence showed up early… and nearly 30 years later, it’s still going strong. By age six, we were deep in power struggles. Thankfully, during my...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/no-you-can-t-make-me-working-with-children-who-won-t-listen</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f939685bd290381e883</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><category><![CDATA[Temperament]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 22 Apr 2022 23:04:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_e17b3b3b624c4b368537bed6c8c997c8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>admin00773</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Decrease Stress, Enhance Joy, and Increase Success, Today!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to your resource hub for our webinar and self-paced learning course! Take some time to discover transformative information, tangible strategies, and valuable resources to help you reduce stress and enhance joy .  This is the most important topic right now for early childhood educators because, well, TIMES are STRESSFUL!  In this blog, you will find much of the information that has transformed our work and personal lives immeasurably.  It is not your everyday stress seminar.  It will...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/decrease-stress-enhance-joy-and-increase-success-today</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e848</guid><category><![CDATA[Stressful Moments]]></category><category><![CDATA[Finding Joy]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 2022 21:18:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_07bbfa123c4744ee84998b0ee6807b1a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_423,h_281,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Communicating with young children is easy. Or...is it?]]></title><description><![CDATA[IT SEEMS LIKE COMMUNICATING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD BE SIMPLE. Just ask a child to do something, he does it 	-Tell a toddler “Don’t hit,” they stop 		-Announce it is snack time, and children come to eat. Unfortunately, despite adults’ sincere efforts, young children still do not always listen and respond appropriately. At these times, adults may get caught in a dreaded power struggle as it is easy assume a young child is not listening or is being deliberately defiant. Surprisingly, one...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/communicating-with-young-children-is-easy-or-is-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f939685bd290381e882</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 29 Sep 2021 20:04:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_4e1b06ed6fb14915bf011b7dc9b13d41~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_694,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>admin00773</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Timid To Tenacious: Working with Difficult Temperament Traits to Help All Children Succeed!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Humans are different from the start! Child care providers observe, parents know, even strangers pick up clues... each child’s temperament...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/from-timid-to-tenacious-working-with-difficult-temperament-traits-to-help-all-children-succeed</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f939685bd290381e87f</guid><category><![CDATA[Temperament]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2021 22:21:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_2487f455bd1846ef884f6379cf625368~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>admin00773</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building Baby's Brain Power: Ensure All Infants Blossom!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Newborns have the same heart as adults, all of the same components, just smaller.  They have identical lungs, functioning just as yours,...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/building-brain-power-strategies-to-foster-language-and-ensure-all-infants-blossom</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e861</guid><category><![CDATA[Self-Control]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2021 21:00:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_c18eeb895b73490d89bb002e7088a05b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Effective Discipline Techniques for Dealing with Disrespect]]></title><description><![CDATA[There are many reasons why children are disrespectful ( Part 1 ) and there are also different caregiving styles that increase or decrease disrespectful behavior ( Part 2 ) .  Young children are learning to navigate the world around them and the variety of cultural expectations they experience in different settings.  One thing is certain, what you do will make a difference!  How adults handle disrespectful behavior  now will ensure it is diminished in the future . The reality is, humans are...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/dealing-with-disrespect</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e868</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:15:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_6ecc768fd9684636906c8a71396e37de~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_667,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teaching Kids to be Respectful: Caregiving that Gets the Respect You Deserve. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome back for part 2 of 3 Naptime Nugget #54: Teaching Kids to be Respectful: Caregiving that Gets the Respect You Deserve. In our last video we talked all about disrespectful children and where they come from!?  In it, we have identified some common reasons kids may be disrespectful.  Now the question is, how can we teach kids to behave with respect?  First, it helps to think about what respect really means!  A few words for respect... Esteem - Regard - Honor - To care for - To heed To...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/teaching-kids-to-be-respectful-caregiving-that-gets-the-respect-you-deserve</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e869</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2021 19:39:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_88d9f517074c464989bbc6cbfe721125~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Disrespectful Children - Where do they COME FROM? And, what can we do about it?!]]></title><description><![CDATA["Today's children are more disrespectful than before."  This comment is very powerful and bold statement... However, it is becoming more and more common to hear. What do you think about it? Do you agree? This Naptime Nugget kicks off a 3-session series that talks all about respect.  Check out the videos from Naptime Nugget #53, 54, and 55 (links below). Or, read this quick article to gain insight into what might breed disrespect in our youngsters and what we can do to help reduce disrespect...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/naptime-nugget-53-disrespectful-children-where-do-they-come-from</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e867</guid><category><![CDATA[Challenging Behaviors]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:00:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_e40b209ff53941c99b51b2a75eb2e2a9~mv2_d_4272_3744_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Strategies to Get Young Children to PAY ATTENTION! (with Fun Games and Activities too!)]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this blog:  * Special FREEBIE: Top eight reasons young children lose focus and over 40 strategies to improve attention! * Two videos  on promoting self-control * Links  to other valuable resources Many adults grumble that young children today are lacking focus and self-control. Some blame media, others parents. Others label the lack of time outdoors is the culprit.  However, after over 20 years spent observing early childhood educators and parents as they manage learning time and story...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/strategies-to-get-young-children-to-pay-attention-with-fun-games-and-activities-too</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e846</guid><category><![CDATA[Self-Control]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2020 23:14:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_5ccd0e4d3b134a10b39f87215ed4c56c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_500,h_334,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[During Turbulent Times - We must ask, "And, how are the children?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[No tribe was considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Maasai, one of the most accomplished and...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/during-turbulent-times-we-must-ask-and-how-are-the-children</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e845</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2020 19:16:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_01772e724cb04657ba49f6701d6d764e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_667,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building Healthy Self-Confidence: Increase Responsibility AND Get Kids to Behave!]]></title><description><![CDATA["It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings." Ann Landers Is it really possible to get young children to behave AND build healthy self-esteem... just with increasing responsibility!? The answer is YES! Would you believe me if I said that chores are the way to achieve both? See this article  on the proven benefits to learn more. When my daughter Halie was three, she was at the magical age where they...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/responsibility-get-kids-to-behave</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e844</guid><category><![CDATA[Self-Esteem]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2020 19:34:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_8a42f22a52b54f93bb7afa98383722b3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grow Happy, Successful, &#38; Well-Behaved Kids with Intentional Reinforcement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[A behavior happens; we respond. It happens again; we respond again. It KEEPS happening - and, we keep responding. Over time, the child...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/intentional-positive-reinforcement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e865</guid><category><![CDATA[Self-Esteem]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 24 Feb 2020 11:47:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_bea14bb1066840b69a90bfa2af84feae~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_667,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[FIRST: STOP. Yelling!]]></title><description><![CDATA[When my daughter was younger, she got so frustrated because she wanted to do something I wouldn't let her do. I continued to say "no" and...]]></description><link>https://www.inspiringtoddlers.com/post/naptime-nugget-21-stop-yelling</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aac4f929685bd290381e866</guid><category><![CDATA[Stressful Moments]]></category><category><![CDATA[Self-Control]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2020 19:41:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b264c3_13bcbac97d7e48f788b7d80cb1ae6b1b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_667,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Raelene Ostberg</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>