What's Good for our brains?
I love finding out how our brains work and develop. It's very helpful to discover what are normal and healthy processes and how to support these best ... <Read full article>
Conquering Our Fears - Five Keys
I wonder what you'd say if I asked you what you most fear? Are you like me and get really uncomfortable about heights? ... <Read full article>
Atmosphere – a Magic Ingredient in Parenting!
Why is atmosphere so important? Well think back to the family you grew up in and regardless of what your family was like, remember what made you feel good, what did you enjoy about your family? Chances are what you’re thinking of will have something to do with one of the following: the secure feeling that your parents were in charge, that there were some reasonable rules, and most probably that you had some fun together ... <Read full article>.
When Mum and Dad have Different Parenting Styles
Every family has to deal with this to some degree. Mum’s really strict, Dad’s much more laid back or Mum’s more friend than parent and Dad’s the bossy one or Mum yells and Dad says “don’t worry – it’s ok”. It’s because as Mum’s and Dad’s we come from different family cultures with different rules and expectations and we usually think our way is the right way.
So how do we combine these approaches so that we present a united front to our kids? <Read full article>
Becoming a Carer for a Mentally Ill Family Member
Becoming the caregiver of a mentally ill family member can turn your world upside-down. May be life has been going along steadily and then their behaviour gets odder and odder. You may look at others in the family, silently exchanging looks, asking each other what’s going on and not having any answers. Then perhaps a psychotic episode occurs when the behaviour has become really out of character and you need an ambulance, perhaps the police, if you are unable to get your loved one to hospital yourselves. Everyone else at home may be shaken, scared and worried. <Read full article>
30 Low Cost Activities for Kids
There are heaps of good reasons for having fun and playing with your kids. It keeps the atmosphere at home positive and secure by providing opportunities for parent/child bonding. It helps with language learning by developing vocabulary. It helps kids learn how to share, take turns and play by the rules. Kids learn to be creative and use their imaginations. It creates great memories in your family. Here’s some ideas to get you thinking ... <Read full article>
Caring for Aging Parents
It can come as a surprise to realize that our roles have changed when we now have to care for our parent(s), having been cared for by them all our lives. This change of roles may come with some sadness or grief – that that stage of our lives is over now, watching their increasing vulnerability and their decreasing strength and capability and that they are nearing the end of their lives. It can seem overwhelming if you’re working and still have children at home as well ... <Read full article>
Tips for managing Childrens' Behaviour
Grandma’s Rule - Using Grandma’s Rule teaches your child to carry out their responsibilities
... <Read full article>
Consequences - Natural or Logical consequences is a less severe alternative than say Time Out ... <Read full article>
Teaching Co-operation - Make your expectations clear ... <Read full article>
Positive Attention - We can change our children’s behaviour by the way we give them attention ... <Read full article>
How to Use Time Out ... <Read full article>
The Teenage Brain
Babies and teenagers experience the greatest change in brain structure and function. The brain’s grey outer layer thickens and then dramatically thins down. Thickening is when brain cells bloom madly called overproduction or exuberance ... <Read full article>.
New Thinking about Praising Kids
Generally as parents we have believed that any kind of praising of our kids is good, right? Well maybe not. The authors of Nurture Shock talk about a study from Columbia University on the effects of praise on students from 20 New York schools. They wanted to see how sensitive to praise these kids were to a single line of praise after an IQ test ... <Read full article>.
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