Empathy is the quality parents most often tell me they want their children to have as adults. None of us are born with empathy. It’s a value we pass on through relationships with others, our kids watch us from when they are small. If we want our children to have empathy for others we need … Continue reading How kids can become adults who have empathy
Prepare for school in a pandemic
Families will prepare kids to go back to school on Monday next week. What challenges will our children face going back? How will they feel and what will they do with their emotions? These are some of the questions I am reflecting on as I think about how families can best prepare for the change. … Continue reading Prepare for school in a pandemic
Looking after each other
Parents right now are adapting to very different circumstances. We feel a lot of emotion. We feel the responsibility of looking after each other. There are benefits from our being at home and we feel challenged by the uncertainty of what happens next. On a daily basis we balance our needs as parents and those … Continue reading Looking after each other
Routines during Covid-19
Sleep The amount of sleep we get and whether we feel refreshed can make or break our day. It can be a battle to get off to sleep when we are feeling uncertain about the future. Even though we all know how important it is to keep a good sleep routine, it’s never popular to … Continue reading Routines during Covid-19
We are their safe people
The uncertainty and rapidly moving events surrounding Covid -19 are creating understandable anxiety for families. Kids take their cues about how to respond to a new situation from us. We can’t control what is going on in the outside world but we can help children feel safe by following these five steps: Top up your … Continue reading We are their safe people
Help! My strong-willed child won’t take “no” for an answer.
Parents of a strong-willed child can wonder how they will get through the day when everything feels like a battle. It feels like our child is in charge. Getting even the tiniest amount of cooperation seems impossible. Our strong-willed child is determined and won't take "no" for an answer. This can leave us feeling frustrated, … Continue reading Help! My strong-willed child won’t take “no” for an answer.
10 uplifting parenting mantras for you
Parenting mantras build stamina boost encourage
Building flexible brains
When parents experience a lot of rigidity or chaos in the home it can help to work on ways to increase a more flexible approach.
Friendship feels
Navigating the social environment can be hard for kids. Knowing how to influence our child to form friendships isn't easy. What do you do when your child comes home from school and says; “Nobody likes me!” Are you the frustrated parent who reacts? “Well if you just let other people choose the game then maybe … Continue reading Friendship feels
When your teen swears – how to respond and not react
Teens blow up in a split second |how to stay calm and what to do when it happens