Finding a happy balance for your child

October 19, 2022 by Gail Smith in Family, Happiness, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, tasks

Creating a happy balance between everyday tasks is an important topic for children’s learning. Read some parenting tips on how to balance daily activities.

How to help your child with reading

October 01, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Communication, education, Finding Help, Learning, Parenting, Reading, teacher

Read on for 9 ways to help your child learn to read.

Dealing with stress in children

September 12, 2022 by Gail Smith in Anxiety, Children, Parenting, Stress

Here are some suggestions on keeping your children’s stress levels at bay or at least contained in a manageable package. However, we recognise that stress factors operate around us all the time. Developing tactics to deal with them is the key.

Respecting different values

September 08, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Communication, Parenting, Values

We all cling to our values and beliefs. This is what makes us so definable. We are without realising it passing on many values to our children all the time. Here are some tips to help your child hold on to your and their values, and respect the values of others.

The art of bringing happiness to your child

September 01, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Family, Experiences, Emotions, Happiness, Laughter, Memories, Parenting

A happy child is one that feels secure and has strong supports around them that intelligently allow the child to grow in an environment that is open, engaging and inclusive. As parents we try our best and the human side of us sometimes fails to hit the right mark. Here’s some tips to help bring happiness to your child - sometimes, in these stressful days, it’s important to help build a child’s level of happiness.

A little bit of gratefulness goes along way

August 31, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Mother, Parenting, Father

Everyone wants to feel appreciated. Showing gratitude also feels great. It is a power tool for building strong and trusting relationships. What a powerhouse of a gift to give to your child.

Finding ways to help a child’s anxiety

August 27, 2022 by Gail Smith in Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Anxiety

Children can feel anxiety, just as adults do. Anxiety is the feeling where we worry, we feel anxious and we can have a sense of dread. Here are some tips to help your child work through anxiety.

Let’s talk about some advantages of boredom

August 20, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Parenting, Relax

If we use boredom as a wind-down time, a time for just letting thoughts fly around, we will be surprised at the creative thinking that goes on in our head. We can reflect on matters that perhaps we have not thought of for a while. It's our role as parents to help our children see the benefits of boredom.

How to get the best from your child’s teacher

August 20, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Communication, Education, Emotions, Father, Learning, Mother, Negotiation, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, school, teacher

It makes sense that as a parent you feel confident and that you are in a solid relationship with your child’s teacher. It is important to your teacher, and child also. There are many factors that go into running a school and teaching. Parents are naturally emotional when it comes to their children, so if you have any concerns, you’ll have a better chance of being heard when you are calm and responsibly talk about concerns with your child’s teacher.

How useful are questions when talking to children?

August 18, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Parenting, Communication

Do you ever get frustrated when asking questions to your child? Do you get the yes, no answers? If you are seeking information from your child, consider the question you ask. Here are some tips to get some communication started with your child.

Accepting limitations and strengths for a child

August 12, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Family, Learning, Parenting, Self Esteem

A very young child at an egocentric stage, struggles with understanding that others can be better. With development and more self-awareness, they begin to start accepting themselves for who they are and recognising the bigger world around them. Read here for some different ways parents can help children to develop this awareness.

The importance of the child feeling safe

August 04, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Communication, Family, Parenting, Stress, Safety, Anxiety

Children have a right to feel safe. The importance of feeling safe is critical to a healthy society and mental health. Small steps can be used to help your child feel safe and secure and small things can make them feel unsafe, even in their own home. Read here for some parenting tips and considerations.

The importance of simply reflecting on what a child has to say

July 30, 2022 by Gail Smith in Communication, Parenting, Children

Children can come out with all sorts of negative comments, but tt is all about really listening to the child and picking up what is the real bottom line of the problem, especially the feelings. It's important to reflect on what a child has to say and really listen.

Set small goals to set success.

July 29, 2022 by Gail Smith in Achievement, Children, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, school

It is well known that success breeds success and the more a child feels capable and experiences success they quickly build their confidence which feeds into more success. A child’s daily experiences can help build confidence and encourage further achievement if they are more likely to try new things.

Is your child comparing themselves to others?

July 27, 2022 by Gail Smith in Achievement, Children, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Self Esteem

A child is always on the go developing their sense of self-worth and building foundations that reassure them of their worthiness. They don't need to focus on others around them who are doing better or who perceive to be more successful. Read here for some suggestions to help you work with your child in offsetting unfortunate comparisons and how to build their self-esteem.

Learn to complete things - an important lesson for our children

July 12, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Communication, Negotiation, Parenting

Not completing things is a form of self sabotage where you may get bored easily and literally stop short of being successful. It can be very habit forming and a way of dealing with things that just seem too hard. Sound familiar? We are all guilty of it, but we can play a role in teaching children how to follow through and make decisions to commit and see something through.

Strengthening a child’s interest and endurance with reading

July 09, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, creative, education, Experiences, Parenting, Raising Boys, Raising girls, school, teacher, Reading

It can be a fine line between pushing the child to read and gently setting the scene to help them. Reading is vital in a child’s development and learning. Here’s some tips to encourage reading at home.

Developing the two halves of our brain.

July 05, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Education, Experiences, Learning, Parenting

Read here for tips to help develop both sides of your child’s brain.

Children who find school a struggle

July 03, 2022 by Gail Smith in Anxiety, Children, Communication, Education, Experiences, Mother, Parenting, Problem Solving, Stress, teacher, Worry, Father, Family

Many children have times when they feel they are struggling not just with school but also with friends, home issues, siblings, etc. Children can and do have down times. If your child is struggling, read here for some tips.

Perfectionism...to be discouraged in our children

June 23, 2022 by Gail Smith in Achievement, Children, Parenting

A child who is a perfectionist does not feel free to make any mistakes and we know that mistakes are an important form of learning for your child. If the child feels too anxious to make mistakes their confidence drops and all sorts of behavioural complications can enter the scenario. Read here to navigate the world of perfection in your child.