Focus on Effort, Not Outcome Do you get excited when your children get everything right? Or do you get excited when your children make mistakes and feel like what they’re doing is hard? Studies show that when we praise or reward kids for being brilliant, they get caught up in ‘proving’ how good they are. […]
Why it’s okay for your child to fail Read More »
For the past several decades lots of ‘experts’ have told us that praise boosts our kids’ confidence. While this can be true in some instances, research has consistently called this idea into question. In fact, a lot of research shows that praising our kids can actually undermine their confidence. In his book, ‘The Optimistic Child’
Raising Confident Kids Read More »
Sexual abuse is not only an abuse of a child but also the abuse of a parent’s trust. Parents often feel just as violated and manipulated as children. I have seen many adult clients over the years who have struggled to deal with the impact of abuse on their children. To highlight this I have included below an impact statement from Natasha, whose daughter had been sexually abused by her father. I was fortunate enough to be a part of her daughter’s support network during the time the abuse was discovered.
The Impact of Sexual Abuse on a Family Read More »
There’s something so joyful and endearing about a child’s openness about absolutely everything. They have no secrets. No skeletons. No hidden agendas.
What you see is what you get.
For the past 15 years, I’ve thought Fathers Day was one of the most important days of the year (Almost as important as my birthday). That, of course, was from a very self-centered thought: ‘finally a day I get to do what I want and I get presents as well’. Then, as I began looking
The Importance of Dad – Part 1 Read More »
Why did I love being 12? I loved it because I knew I wasn’t old enough to do anything else than be a kid. I loved it because I was a kid and I didn’t have to try to be, nor did I want to be anything else. I loved being 12 because I didn’t have a care in the world.
The Life of a 12 Year Old Read More »
A 3 year old’s birthday party shouldn’t strike fear into the heart of a parent, should it? Well, I was afraid. Very afraid…
A life lesson thanks to Finn McMissile Read More »
1. Tomorrow is a new day! – Cue little red-haired, ringlet topped Annie singing, “The sun’ll come out tomorrow… so ya gotta hang on tïll tomorrow… I love ya Tomorrow! You’re always a day a way!” That kid had a lot of good advice for parents. What is the end of the world as we know
Top 5 Things I’ve Learnt Since Becoming a Mum Read More »
The stats are shocking. Almost one Queenslander a day will die from inhaling tobacco smoke this year, without ever having smoked a cigarette in their life. The effects of second-hand smoke are so often understated – and so alarming. Around 3000 Queenslanders will die from a tobacco-related disease this year. The World Health Organisation estimates
Families – don’t open the door to secondhand smoke Read More »
Babies are not born grateful and Toddlers are fully self obsessed, so the art of gratefulness has to be shown to your littlies. Gratefulness cannot be “taught” to your children, it is “caught”. So, be good models Mum and Dad! Always use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in your every day language, and insist on your children using these words also.
The Gift of Gratitude Read More »