I just love this version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. It truly does celebrate the light in every child.
The words go like this:
twinkle twinkle little star.
What a wonderful child you are
50 ways to take a break
This is a handout that I reference a lot both to generate ideas for myself and for my clients. I use it both for breaks and for celebrations! Which one are you going to do next?
Calm Evenings Start with You—Reframe the Bedtime Routine for a Smoother Night!
Making bedtime more predictable, controllable, and moderate for a smoother night!
Sometimes just STARTING the bedtime routine can be a real struggle. All the time, I remind parents that “Stress that builds resilience is predictable, controllable, and moderate” (with thanks to Dr. Bruce Perry for the quote). So let’s explore some ways that we can help the bedtime routine to be predictable, controllable, and moderate. We’re going to work backwards and start with “moderate.”
The Secret Weapon for Car Seat Battles: Toddler Songs That Make Buckling Up a Breeze!
Tired & Stressed? These Simple Habits Will Change Your Life
Routines have been a fundamental part of my life since I got married (25 years ago!) and especially during times when I’ve had a young child and/or a dog at home (the last 16+ years). Here are some of my favorite sources of my favorite routines. The challenging part is to not try to do them all at once! Pick one or two to start with! Break things into small pieces, and if you need some support, reach out to me and let’s chat!
Guiding Families Toward Rest, Connection, and Joy
At Little Elf Family Services, I believe that parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. Families thrive when they feel supported, equipped, and empowered, and my work is designed to help parents move from exhaustion and frustration to confidence and joy.
As a sleep consultant, marriage and parenting coach, and early childhood special educator, I blend evidence-based strategies with compassionate support.
Breathing Techniques for Kids
While we are on the topic of breathing, here are some other breathing strategies that I recommend to my clients often:
Kira Willey’s Mindful Moments for Kids
Conscious Discipline breathing exercises for kids and parents (YouTube playlist)
While researching for this blog post, I also found this cute puffer fish that goes up and down as you breathe and I kind of love it!
Lessons on sleep training from one of my favorite teachers: Charlie "the dog" Elfstrand
Lot of times people ask me about sleep training and “cry it out” methods, and I think that what is happening in my house right now is a great example of my beliefs and strategies as of March 2025. Keep in mind that I am scheduled to become a Circle of Security Facilitator (based on years of attachment research) in April 2025, so please stay tuned to see if or how that changes things!. From what I can tell so far, this fits really nicely.
TLDR: I am focused on coregulation, creating a sense of DEEP calm in my body that I can spread through singing and presence, observation of how much stimulation is helpful (or not!), and use a custom approach based on the individual.
Belly Breathing to Manage Stress and Anxiety, and for Gut Health!
Secrets to supporting your child's sleep while traveling
Have a trip coming up with your children? Here are some things to keep in mind to keep everyone feeling rested and getting along!
First, set aside some time before the trip to make a plan. See if you can find out what the space will be like where you are traveling. Are there options that would allow each person to have their own space?
She’s like a walking, talking hug—except way smarter and with better advice
*“Okay, everybody, listen up—because I need you to understand how incredible Lara is.
“Absolute legend. Total rockstar of a human. She’s like a walking, talking hug—except way smarter and with better advice. Seriously, if you’ve got a problem, she’ll solve it with science, love, and probably some magical fairy dust.
(According to ChatGPT, this is what my drunk best friend would say about me and my business. I like it! 🤣 I added applicable links to relevant blog posts.)
A special Valentine's Day treat!
This morning when I woke up, I was struggling to figure out how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my larger tribe. I have been thinking on this for months, but honestly perfectionism got the best of me. Yet the celebration and the self compassion that I was looking for was waiting for me at just the right time!
What I'm reading right now...
The #1 secret to healthy relationships
Have you ever found yourself reacting in a way that you later regretted—criticizing or blaming a loved one, shutting down, or getting defensive? Understanding why this happens is key to building healthy relationships.
One of the most powerful tools for understanding our reactions comes from Dr. Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain. This simple yet profound model helps us see why we sometimes lose control in moments of stress and how we can regain balance.
What is a Nesting Party? How to Host and How to Show Up
Nesting parties ask us to re-think the way that we celebrate new parents and challenge us to focus on what the expecting parents need. It’s really less of a party and more of an opportunity to provide the family help.
Unlike baby showers, “Nesting parties shift the focus from stuff to support to help families prepare their homes and hearts for life with a new baby,” explains Lara Elfstrand, the pediatric sleep practitioner of Little Elf Family Services.
Welcome, 2025!
OMG! She lost a child?!?! What do I possibly say to her? Why on earth is she a parent coach?
“When you honor what you have, you honor what I’ve lost.” — Brené Brown, Daring Greatly
This powerful quote resonated with me deeply during a recent cross-country trip with my sister, where we listened to Brené Brown’s audiobook, The Power of Vulnerability. It made me reflect on my own experiences with loss and how I navigate sympathy and empathy.
On our road trip in September, my sister and I listened to Brené talk about sympathy versus empathy.
Imagine a world focused on strengths, playful learning, and empowered parents. Let's create it together.
Dear Charlie (a letter to my fur baby): Dreams of the world I want to create
Dear Charlie (a letter to my fur baby: dreams of the world I want to create),
I want you to know how much I love you. I want my words and especially my actions to make you feel safe. I am here to help you to feel safe and loved so that you can think more clearly, learn more effectively, and generally have more FUN.
Strategies for managing stress part 1: completing stress cycles
Stress. We’ve all got it. We sometimes prefer to ignore it. Our bodies need a way to manage it so that it doesn’t make us sick—either physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Lately I’ve been working with my coaching clients on the concept of completing stress cycles. What that means is that we need to tell our bodies that the stress is done.
