Do you have young kids? Do you follow parenting creators on Instagram? If you said yes to these questions, you have likely heard of Big Little Feelings. With 2.9 million subscribers (myself included) on Instagram, they’ve become a household name among parents with young kids. Co-founders Deena Margolin and Kristin Gallant share evidence-based solutions for parents on social media. They even offer courses through their website.
The Big Little Feelings website offers a course called “Winning the Toddler Stage,” which helps parents navigate toddlerhood. The co-founders are both child development experts and lead the course themselves. It’s super popular with parents and has great reviews, but is it right for you? Will this course offer everything you’re looking for?
- What is the Big Little Feelings course about?
- Module 1: Five Founding Principles for Happy Homes
- Module 2: Managing Tantrums Like a Boss
- Module 3: The Preventing Tantrums Game plans
- Module 4: The Discipline Game plans
- Module 5: Specific Situations
- BONUS: Module 6: The Ultimate Guide to Feeding Toddlers
- BONUS: Module 7: The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Sleep
- Who runs Big Little Feelings?
- How many hours is the course?
- What age is the course for?
- What is Big Little Feelings’ parenting style?
What is the Big Little Feelings course about?
Big Little Feelings offers two courses on their website, one of which is called “Winning the Toddler Stage.” While it focuses on parenting strategies for toddlers, many of the tips and strategies can apply to ages 1-6. The course has 7 modules (5 core modules and 2 bonus ones), which cover a range of topics related to toddler behaviour and development. Here is an overview of what each module entails, according to their website (these are the exact descriptions they include on their site):
Module 1: Five Founding Principles for Happy Homes
Learn how to be the cool, confident leader of your home – and handle anything thrown your way.
Module 2: Managing Tantrums Like a Boss
Finally feel confident in EXACTLY what to say (and do!) in the middle of a tantrum.
Module 3: The Preventing Tantrums Game plans
Discover magical strategies for preventing meltdowns.
Module 4: The Discipline Game plans
Learn a new model of discipline that protects kids’ self-esteem without turning you into a pushover.
Module 5: Specific Situations
Bedtime, bathtime, mealtime, screen-time, potty accidents, sibling strategies, sharing, pacifiers, and more. So much more.
BONUS: Module 6: The Ultimate Guide to Feeding Toddlers
End picky mealtime for good with mealtime tactics backed in decades of research.
BONUS: Module 7: The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Sleep
Step-by-step, customizable plans for all toddler sleep disturbances.
The course offers video lessons and downloadable resources. The Big Little Feelings team designed the course so you can complete it over several weeks; they release new modules on a weekly basis.
“Winning the Toddler Stage” offers practical tools and strategies for parents in the trenches of toddlerhood. The goal is to walk away from the course with confidence and ease.
Who runs Big Little Feelings?
So you want to know whether the Big Little Feelings course is worth it for you? If so, it’s helpful to have some context about the people behind the course: Big Little Feelings co-founders Deena Margolin and Kristin Gallant. They are both child development experts and parents. They created Big Little Feelings to provide parents with evidence-based strategies and support.
Deena Margolin is a Licensed Marriage And Family Therapist, and according to her Linkedin page, she holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from the University of Southern California. Deena further describes her professional experience “as the Program Coordinator and Associate Director at the Mindsight Institute with Caroline Welch and Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Program Coordinator for online programs at the Center for Mindful Living.”
Kristin Gallant is a Parent Coach and, according to her Linkedin page, she studied The George Washington University.
Both women are moms are relay information from both their professional expertise and personal experience. Together, Deena and Kristin have created a range of resources and programs for parents, including their two courses: “Winning the Toddler Stage” and “Potty Training Made Simple.”
How many hours is the course?
The “Winning the Toddler Stage” course from Big Little Feelings is a self-paced course that can be completed in your own time. The course consists of five core modules and two bonus modules, and each module includes several video lessons as well as downloadable resources. On the website, they describe exactly what the course offers: “Short, practical videos ranging from 2-10 minutes each – because we know you’re busy and watching during nap time or after a long day! The course also includes helpful, printable PDFs.”
The total length of the course will depend on how quickly you move through the material and how much time you spend on the exercises and activities. In general, each module takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete, so the entire course can be completed in around 5-10 hours.
It’s important to note that the course is designed to be flexible and adaptable to your schedule, so you can take as much time as you need to work through the material and apply the strategies in your daily life. Additionally, once you enrol in the course, you will have lifetime access to the content, so you can revisit the material and resources whenever you need a refresher or a boost of inspiration.
What age is the course for?
According to their website, the “Winning the Toddler Stage” course from Big Little Feelings is intended for parents and caregivers of children between the ages of 1 and 6 years old. This is a critical period of development when children are rapidly growing and changing, and when parents may encounter a range of challenges related to behavior, communication, and emotional regulation.
It’s important to note that while the course is specifically designed for parents of toddlers, many of the strategies and concepts covered in the course may also be applicable to parents of older or younger children. The course is grounded in principles of child development that are relevant across a wide range of ages and stages.
What is Big Little Feelings’ parenting style?
According to a Yahoo! interview, “Gallant and Margolin are hesitant to label the Big Little Feelings philosophy as any one particular parenting style, something they see as confusing and loaded with judgment for modern-day parents.” That being said, Big Little Feelings clearly emphasizes positive, empathetic, and evidence-based strategies for supporting children’s development and well-being. Margolin and Gallant draw from their expertise in child development, child life, and social work to create resources and programs that are practical, accessible, and effective.
Some of the key tenets of the Big Little Feelings parenting approach include:
- Empathy: Big Little Feelings emphasizes the importance of empathy in building strong, healthy relationships with children. They encourage parents to listen to their children’s perspectives, validate their feelings, and respond with understanding and compassion.
- Positive discipline: Instead of punishment or shaming, Big Little Feelings promotes positive discipline strategies that focus on teaching children appropriate behavior and reinforcing positive choices. This includes strategies like redirection, natural consequences, and positive reinforcement.
- Play-based learning: Big Little Feelings recognizes that children learn best through play and exploration, and they encourage parents to incorporate play-based learning into their daily routines. This includes activities like imaginative play, sensory play, and outdoor exploration.
- Parenting as a partnership: Big Little Feelings views parenting as a partnership between parents and children, with both parties working together to build strong, healthy relationships and promote positive development. They encourage parents to involve their children in decision-making, problem-solving, and other aspects of daily life.
Overall, Big Little Feelings’ parenting philosophy strives to support children’s development and well-being. They provide practical tools and resources for parents who are looking for a supportive, non-judgmental community to help them navigate the joys and challenges of parenting.
If this sounds like it’s aligned with the parenting strategy that works for your family and you’re currently struggling with parenting a child (or children) in the toddler stage, then this course would be worth it for you.