Category Archives: Blog
The Problem with Time-Outs and the Naughty Step
OK, full disclosure; we have a Naughty Step in our house and, up until yesterday, I sometimes used it – not very often, admittedly, as I tend to use other methods, but it was in my armoury of discipline techniques and, if I’m honest, the trump card I would pull out when I got really […]
How to Reduce your Child’s Anxiety in One Simple Step
Do you ever have this issue with your child when they ask you for something; it could be anything from sweets, access to their phone or screen, or going out with friends, whatever…and you say no. In response, they kick off – cry, stomp, slam doors and convey their feelings about your decision through various […]
Understanding why we do the things we do
If you’re the parent of a child who wants them to do the things that you ask them to do, you have to consider what causes them to do what’s asked of them, and why, at other times, they apparently ignore you completely. Why does that happen and what’s going on? It’s impossible to analyse […]
5 Steps to Help you to Stop Nagging Your Child
When my daughter comes home from school, she climbs. It doesn’t matter what it is – a human leg, a table, chairs, the sofa…if it’s there she’ll climb it. And it does my head in. The reason it does my head in is because it’s relentless, also because I’m scared she’ll fall and hurt herself […]
How to get your child to do their Homework
When does your child do their homework? Are they a ‘do it on the day’ type of person or a ‘leave it to the last minute’ kind? Homework can be difficult to navigate because it can feel like a school invasion at home. And I can’t blame children, really – they work hard all day […]
Are you over-scheduling your child?
There’s an idea that when your child gets to a certain age, their day needs filling up with activities. I know of parents who are up at the crack of dawn for swimming, then ferry their child at break neck speed after school to ballet or dance club, music lessons, cricket or football. Then, of […]
Building your Child’s Self Esteem
We spend a lot of our time telling our children what to do, don’t we? Sit nicely, use your manners, don’t climb over the furniture (favourite one of mine), don’t put that in your mouth, tidy up, eat up, no – don’t put the cat in the bath, do your homework, brush your teeth. Coat! […]
“I will not ever never eat a TOMATO!”
Yeah. Another quote from Charlie and Lola. I Love them! Here’s a thought experiment for you: how about I make you a lovely breakfast – fruit and pastries, I know you like that! Hang on just a moment: “What the HELL is that item?!” you ask, nudging it with a grape. “Oh that? That thing […]
An Alternative to Punishment
Ever find yourself punishing your child by taking stuff away from them? It’s the standard response. Child behaves badly – take item/privilege away from them in the hope they’ll buck up their ideas. It might be a phone, tablet, sweets, toys, favourite TV programme, freedom to go out…whatever. What about considering NOT punishing your child. […]
“I will never, not EVER, get into that Bath!”
About a year ago, out of nowhere (or so it seemed) Ms P refused to get in the bath. Overnight she appeared to have developed an irrational phobia of getting into it or being near it and, if we tried to put her in, clucking our tongues and telling her not to be silly – […]