How to motivate your child to learn

November 02, 2022 by Gail Smith in Achievement, Behaviour, Children, Education, Family, Father, Learning, Mother, Parenting, Personality, Positive Behaviour, Problem Solving, Reading, school, teacher, Writing

Motivating your child to learn can be quite challenging, here’s a few parenting tips on how to keep your child motivated to learn inside and outside of the classroom.

Keep smiling it works!

October 20, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Family, Happiness, Laughter, Parenting, Positive Behaviour

Children's smiles are their greatest gift. Here are some parenting tips that can assist and remind you of the power of positivity and smiling through life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The words we choose to use.

June 19, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Communication, Confrontation, Emotions, Father, Mother, Parenting, Positive Behaviour

How we speak to our children is long-lasting. Read here for some thoughts on how to manage ourselves in using effective communication with children.

Enjoy the present - it’s here for you now to enjoy →

May 27, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Emotions, Happiness, Laughter, Memories, Parenting, Positive Behaviour

Happiness can be found in all of the smaller moments in life. You just have to stop for a moment and enjoy the present.

A child needs to grow a strong belief in themselves

May 25, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Self Esteem

Our children need to be steadily building a strong belief in themselves. They will put themselves forward and receive some knockdowns but climbing the ladder of being strongly connected to the world will come with mounting strong self-belief.

Being credible is such an important part in parenting

May 18, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Family, Father, Mother, Positive Behaviour, Parenting, Raising Boys, Raising girls, Values

By nature of being a parent you are invited to present such fine qualities as credibility and trust to your child. Never underestimate that such an opportunity is also all about developing yourself as a fully rounded, emotionally intelligent person. Like it or not parenting forces us to grow up!

Teach our children to be courteous →

May 17, 2022 by Gail Smith in Behaviour, Children, Experiences, Father, Mother, Parenting, Positive Behaviour

There is a silent, steady power present in being courteous. You are stronger by nature of your courteous style. By treating someone with dignity no matter how different your thoughts are, there is little with which to argue. After all, they see how you accept them as legitimate. You accept their right to have a voice, which gives you a voice.

Give your child occasions to make choices

April 18, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Decision Making

Children need occasions to make choices and grow to understand that in making choices we live with the consequences. Decision making can be taught as much as learnt on the run. For our children, teaching them that making their own decisions comes with the joy of owning the outcome and also learning from the outcome.

Managing children’s behaviour.

April 08, 2022 by Gail Smith in Behaviour, Children, Father, Mother, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Raising Boys, Raising girls

The household should have clear rules and be a place where the child can see you, the parent, living by the standards you set for them. Here are some tips to help manage children’s behaviour at home.

Differences in families

March 23, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Family, Friendship, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, school

‘It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept and celebrate those differences.’ -Audre Lorde

There is much to be learnt when a child starts school. Their emotional and social growth is all the richer for embracing the wonderfully rich tapestry of different families across the years.

When home life changes

March 21, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Divorce, Experiences, Family, Father, Mother, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Problems

Family situations change through separation and divorce and children will feel this. The key point is to provide ongoing love, understanding, reassurance and stability in difficult times. Try to remember that whilst you are going through a personal crisis, there is no avoiding that your child will be experiencing emotionally charged times. Accept that you will need support and so to your child. Rely on family support and networks that will minimise some of the impacts.

Catching good behaviour isn’t that difficult

March 16, 2022 by Gail Smith in Behaviour, Children, Family, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Potential, Self Esteem, Values

How often do we reward our children in spontaneous ways? Do we notice the various spontaneous occasions that can be rewarded and often through different ways?

Never underestimate the value of the positive words you use with your children. There is a clever way of getting even smarter with words and that is by picking up on spontaneous positive moments you notice.

Consider avoiding confrontation where possible.

March 09, 2022 by Gail Smith in Children, Family, Father, Mother, Negotiation, Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Confrontation

As children grow older, you may find it better to avoid confrontations and find different ways to amend the situation. This is easier said than done sometimes. Here is some advice from Gail Smith, The Primary Years.

How to deal with giving consequences for problem behaviour

February 21, 2022 by Gail Smith in Behaviour, Mother, Father, Negotiation, Parenting, Positive Behaviour

I totally dislike the word Punishment. It has such dark and serious connotations and for a child it can be quite overwhelming when they hear there will be punishment for bad actions. How about saying there will be some consequences for poor behaviour. Here are some important aspects of dealing with problem behaviour that should be understood when managing negative behaviour with children.

Do you have a desire or special message you wish to deliver to your children?

February 08, 2022 by Gail Smith in Parenting, Positive Behaviour, Values

There is an old saying, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ Your child will be strongly influenced by your image and how this image is portrayed in their young lifetime, will determine how much of it is finally adopted. Family values are important. Read here for some factors to consider. Gail Smith, The Primary Years.