Do you work proactively in a calm, alert and focused way at work only to find that when it comes to things at home it’s a different matter? When we are not in charge at home it drains our energy and affects our ability to function well in both places. I know how this feels … Continue reading Be a leader at home
How to help your anxious child
Anxiety is a hot topic and there are numerous reports that it has been on the rise in Kiwi kids and kids all over the world. Negative associations with anxiety include, a sign that a person is not coping or a weakness. Parents of anxious children may feel guilty that their child has anxiety and … Continue reading How to help your anxious child
Defiant boy
I need help with my son who is defiant, rude and out of control. Everything is a problem, he won’t do anything I ask and fights every request with a lot of strong push back. The defiant outbursts are affecting everyone in the family and I have had enough. Whether it’s doing his chores or … Continue reading Defiant boy
Getting a united front in parenting
Have you ever had a moment when your child makes a poor choice and you can't agree with your partner about how to deal with the problem? It can be really frustrating when we can't get a united front or agree about how to discipline our kids. It's major source of stress in relationships and … Continue reading Getting a united front in parenting
How kids can become adults who have empathy
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