Sleep Eating Learning Fun Blog | paradoxhealthyliving

Nanci J Bradley

aka "the dance in your PJs lady"

inclusive sensory and emotional playground for parents and providers of children birth-8

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Got Questions?

Nanci J Bradley

Oct 18, 2019
3 min

Got Questions?

sibling rivalry? healthy weight? sleep issues? learning problems? boundary setting? potty training? exclusion? lack of energy or motivation? time to have fun and be active with your family? Need someone to talk to who will support YOU to be YOUR best SELF? Someone who understands. Someone who gives options instead of answers and support instead of judgement? I have 43 years positive hands-on experience with young children and their families plus a master's deg

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Cheat Sheet For Toddler Biting

Nanci J Bradley

Sep 21, 2019
3 min

Cheat Sheet For Toddler Biting

Toddler biting is a lot of stress for parents, teachers, biters and the bitten. Here's a cheat sheet of positive and appropriate actions you can take to stop biting before it gets any worse. These actions are developed and used by me, an early childhood teacher with 43 years hand-on experience backed up by the current research of a lifelong learner and a MA in human development. These methods work. I've had more than a few children in my care who have bitten, and I've always

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The Eye-Opening Reason Most French Kids (and Adults) Aren't Obese

Nanci J Bradley

Jul 20, 2019
4 min

The Eye-Opening Reason Most French Kids (and Adults) Aren't Obese

What's the difference between French and American families and the way they eat? That's always been an interesting question for me because not only do the French enjoy their food more, but they're generally about 10% thinner than people in the United States even though they disregard many of the restrictions about limiting sugars and fats. After a week of eating and watching people eat in Paris, I noticed one thing more than anything else concerning food...... lack of excess!

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16 Magical Phrases to Calm an Angry Child Now!

Nanci J Bradley

Jun 19, 2019
2 min

16 Magical Phrases to Calm an Angry Child Now!

Many early childhood experts write about how to prevent a child from becoming angry and that's a great thing but you also need a strategy for when they do become angry. Here's a collection of my 16 best tips for calming angry children derived from over 43 years providing care and education to children and their parents. Also important, but not quite as impressive, are my BA in education and MA in human development. All of my ideas are based on the premise that an angry child

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Get Respect From Your Family with These 3 Little Words

Nanci J Bradley

May 19, 2019
3 min

Get Respect From Your Family with These 3 Little Words

I have a feeling that you're good at encouraging kids and helping your family when they need you, but sometimes feel frustrated when they don't seem to appreciate it. After 43 years of working with kids and families as well as having my own, I can tell you that while familial matters are usually more complicated than they seem, this one simple phrase can do wonders to increase respect. Both ways. I still need to re-commit to it every time I feel kids or families aren't respec

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The #1 Thing To Give Your Child To Boost Their Brain Power

Nanci J Bradley

Dec 29, 2018
2 min

The #1 Thing To Give Your Child To Boost Their Brain Power

It's you, of course! The relaxed version of you, that is. So grab a warm beverage and sit down next to one of your children as they play. Quietly watch and eventually ask a few questions but don't try to teach them anything or hand out any moral lessons or judgments of any kind. Use this time to learn about your child. Notice what they 're trying to accomplish in their play. Since play is nature's best way for children to learn, your're off the hook. Just enjoy your child fo

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7 Easy Ideas That Make Family Exercise Fun!

Nanci J Bradley

May 31, 2018
3 min

7 Easy Ideas That Make Family Exercise Fun!

Who's motivated to exercise when it isn't any fun? Not me. Here are some really fun ideas that your whole family will love! #1 Family Free Running. This can be done in the city or in a park. Use whatever's available to you. It can work if you want it to. Start out together and stay within eyesight of each other at all times. Safety's always the first consideration so adjust your limits to your family's abilities and talk about what's OK and not OK before you go. Then, st

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The # 1 Best Way To Calm Your Fussy Baby

Nanci J Bradley

Oct 21, 2017
3 min

The # 1 Best Way To Calm Your Fussy Baby

OK, I get it. You desperately need your baby to stop crying and fussing. Maybe they're teething, maybe they're colicky or maybe they're just so tired and cranky that they can't calm down and fall asleep no matter what you do. Since I've been a child care provider for 38 years, I've gotten pretty good with a fussy baby. I'll be the first one to admit however that each and every baby is different and there are times that we just won't be able to figure them out. The key is

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ER (Energy Resources) For Tired Moms and other Caregivers

Nanci J Bradley

Oct 14, 2017
2 min

ER (Energy Resources) For Tired Moms and other Caregivers

Think of what you could accomplish with more energy for yourself and for your family. Here's a great place to start. Start with your SELF. In my world SELF stands for Sleep Eating Learning and Fun. When you have these four elements in balance, your energy will skyrocket. I promise. S is for sleep Here's an article I wrote about how to get more of it as an adult. I also write about children's sleep. I've studied sleep and I've put hundreds of children to sleep thousands

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Energy Boosting Snacks

Nanci J Bradley

Oct 12, 2017
3 min

Energy Boosting Snacks

Feel Good Snacks -Omega-3 gluten free bread (5 minute microwave recipe here) PB, and blueberries. -Organic strawberries with cashews* and goat cheese, full fat or coconut milk -Sugar snap peas, nitrite free ham, blueberries -Apples and mild cheddar cheese, PB, full fat or coconut milk *nuts can be a choking hazard for children under 4 + 4 more healthy snacks below article ARE YOU A TIRED MOM? Everyone I talk to these days feels they need extra energy just to make it through t

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Why Bedtime Takes So Long and What You Can Do Tonight To Speed Things Up!

Nanci J Bradley

Sep 29, 2017
5 min

Why Bedtime Takes So Long and What You Can Do Tonight To Speed Things Up!

We all know that most kids hate going to sleep at night. Why does it bother them so much? After all, we enjoy sleeping when we get a chance, right? I actually know why and I’ll reveal it at the end of this article but for now, just read the steps and see if this is something you would want to try in order to speed things up at night. Most parents these days know they have to have a solid bedtime routine in order to help their children sleep. But what happens when the routi

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Lifelong Learning

Nanci J Bradley

Jul 2, 2017
3 min

Lifelong Learning

Simple Ways to Promote Lifelong Learning Lifelong learning is one of my specialties as a human being and as a teacher. I was taught in grad school to look at learning in a new and interesting way. One that focuses on long term instead of short term results. I feel very comfortable with that philosophy. Take some time right now to think about how you learn. What is it that you learned to do a long time ago that you still enjoy doing today? Swimming? Dance? Woodworking? Gard

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Setting Boundaries and Drawing lines

Nanci J Bradley

Feb 12, 2017
4 min

Setting Boundaries and Drawing lines

Do you have a hard time setting boundaries with your Kids, or anyone else in your life when it comes to whining? Here's a little scene from a pre-school classroom to help you think about it. "Excuse me. Miss Sophia, Can you please help me buckle my sandal when you’re done helping Trevor?” How does Miss Sophia do it? How does she get the Kids in her classroom to speak to her in such a well-mannered and respectful way? I know Miss Sophia's secret and it's not as hard as you m

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3 Little Words that will Make Your Kids Smarter

Nanci J Bradley

Aug 1, 2016
4 min

3 Little Words that will Make Your Kids Smarter

I know three little words that can make your Kids smarter, more confident and more focussed. And that’s not even the best part! These three little words can also make your life as a parent, teacher or caregiver easier and more fulfilling. And using them consistently can give you more time for you during the day. A lot of people don’t know how to use these words effectively and they really don’t know what they’re missing in their relationships with their Kids. Wanna know w

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Create Empathy in Kids with 3 Little Words

Nanci J Bradley

Jul 17, 2016
3 min

Create Empathy in Kids with 3 Little Words

Some kids just have no empathy! Well, yeah. What do you do to make Kids empathetic? Everyone looked at me. Well…..that’s a good question for an early childhood educator and I guess that’s me! Hmm.. tough one to answer on the spot, though. When it boils right down to it, there are a lot of prerequisites to creating real empathy so it’s kind of hard to know just where to start. OK, let’s try birth. I think it’s good to look at the entire lifespan whenever trying to figure

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