6 Instant Relationship Boosters In our last post we discussed the importance of consciously developing your child’s self-esteem (if you missed it, go here) and in light of the rather ‘heavy’ responsibility it can be to do this, we wanted to share some quick and easy ideas on how you can instantly make your child feel as though they are the […]
As a child, my mother used to explain self-esteem to me as such – we are all like trees. Some of us are Pine Trees; straight, organised and neat. While others are like Thorn Trees; a bit rugged, uneven and disorganised. While both trees are so different, they each have their own unique beauty […]
The “Dad-Manual” Dads are so important in their children’s lives – from day one (if you missed the post on why dads are so important, go here). However, many dads don’t know what is expected of them, or how to be their best. Don’t worry! All parents – moms and dads alike – struggle to […]
The “Dad-Factor” There is no doubt that moms and dads instinctively do things differently. I know that in my interactions with my children, I tend to choose to sing to them, read to them, hold them gently and generally be soft and loving. My husband, however, naturally creates fun and challenges our children. He throws them […]
In last week’s post we discussed School Readiness (if you missed the post go here), and today we are delving a bit deeper into the practical steps you can take to ensure your child is as school-ready as possible. Firstly, it is interesting to understand the physical make-up of your child’s brain. According to Mike Bruton […]
School Readiness What do you think of when you hear the phrase ‘School Readiness’? I know that in my mind I think of giving my child a head start, maybe trying to teach him how to read before school… maybe some counting too… the overwhelmed part of me also considers ‘putting it off’ until he’s older and big enough to […]
What is a temper tantrum? Some temper tantrums are violent storms of emotion which occur because your child’s thinking-brain is not yet sufficiently developed (if you missed the post on amygdala hijacking, go here), while other tantrums are efforts by your child to manipulate a situation. As parents we all feel helpless, frustrated and overwhelmed when our child […]
“Amyg… what?” I hear myself say as Lizette suggests this post… But this has turned out to be one of the most interesting topics I’ve written about so far. Imagine you’re in the traffic… you’ve had a particularly bad day so far, and nothing is quite going your way. Just as you’re about to get your […]
The Practical Fruits of Early Music Exposure In last week’s post we discussed the Magic of Music (if you missed it, go here), and in this post, we wanted to list the fascinating benefits that music has on various areas of your child’s development. Mathematics: Music changes the way neurons fire in your brain, after approximately […]
Music is so intrinsic in our lives, and has been for centuries. No one can deny the power that music has to elicit emotions and affect our mood. Music is an art form that has no other use except as a means of self-expression and self-actualisation. But unlike a painting which stands still, music is an art that […]
On your marks… get ready… go! As busy parents, our lives are often filled with lists. Get the kids ready; Go to work; Go to the grocery store; Prepare dinner; Bath the kids and get them to bed… tick, tick, tick… you get your list done and move onto the next thing. While having the ability to race through your […]
Below you will find a list of milestones and red flags, adapted from a list that was written for the American Academy of Paediatrics by The Early Childhood Direction Center (Shelov, S.P., and Hannemann, R. E. 1994) Please remember – this list is to be used as a guideline for you, as a parent, to […]
Channeling Your Carer’s Energy With even the most energetic and motivated carer, you will need to assist in guiding them with ideas for fun and brain-building activities for your child during the hours that you are not around. A great way to motivate and channel their energy is by making up various lists for the various […]
Choosing a Carer for your Child My nanny is my children’s favourite person – after two years with us, she’s firmly rooted in my children’s hearts. To see them together brings a smile to my face… she really is a second mother to them during the day, when I cannot be there. When I started looking […]