Exam time can be one of the most stressful times of the year – for parents! So mum, dad, I’ve got three A+ exam tips for YOU. Tip # 1: Start early Sit down with your child, talk about upcoming exams, and start a routine early. You’ll find pressure at crunch time will be much …
Our kids are, on average, listening to around 2 hours of music every day. Research shows that music is increasingly promoting drug and alcohol use, violence (particularly against women), and sexual activity. There is also strong evidence that the things our kids watch and listen to impacts their attitudes, moods, and behaviours. Our kids’ music …
Conversations about relationships, dating, and intimacy need to start early (probably around the age of eight years). These chats need to happen so we can educate our children about how to have healthy relationships. So how do you broach the subject? Chat with them about things like; The purpose of dating How old you both …
Recently a cab driver asked me a question. “When I go home after my shift, what’s the one thing I should do with my kids?” I responded “The most important thing you can do for your kids is to love them. And show that you love them by giving them your best self, and your …
Our kids are, on average, listening to around 2 hours of music every day. Research shows that music is increasingly promoting drug and alcohol use, violence (particularly against women), and sexual activity. There is also strong evidence that the things our kids watch and listen to impacts their attitudes, moods, and behaviours. Our kids’ music …
Teen love is cute, but teen break-ups can be brutal. The way we support our kids matters in the way they bounce back from break-ups. Sometimes we’ll be delighted and say something like, “That kid was no good. In a few weeks you’ll be glad it’s over.” Or we get annoyed at our children for …
Do your children go to play at their friends’ houses, and then come home and tell you about how different the ‘rules’ were for their friends?
What do you do?
Ever feel like you’re ‘the maid’? Here are some common strategies for getting kids to help at home, along with a rating (out of 5) for how effective they are.
Refusing to do it anymore (0 stars)
Perhaps it works in some cases – but who can honestly live through it?
How much time do you spend correcting your children’s behaviour compared to the time you spend setting things up to go right? Most parents emphasise reactive correction over proactive preparation. That’s normal, and natural. We want to stop our kids from hurting, get them sharing, and point out their mistakes so they can learn from …
Sometimes our expectations for our children can be a little high. When we don’t understand their development we can become frustrated at them for doing what is entirely normal. For example, did you know on average, children don’t regulate their emotions competently until around 7 or 8 years old? So getting cranky at your 5 …