Category: Parenting
Positive parenting
It’s Just a Phase: The Interrupter
You’re having a catch-up phone conversation with a friend. She’s sharing the nitty-gritty details of her life when your 3-year-old decides he wants to share the nitty-gritty details of his life. “Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom.” You try to shush him,...
Chapter books for young children
‘One more chapter! Just one?’ My son was two-and-a-half when he discovered the pleasure of listening to an adult read a chapter book to him, and the corresponding pleasure of begging for ‘just one more’ when that adult came to...
Better Books: Grandparents and Grandchildren
What kinds of families do the children in your early childhood centre or local community live in? If everyone you know has just a mum, a dad, and children, in their house, then they will find themselves well represented...
Baby’s first steps: The early walker vs the late walker
You’ve been waiting for your baby’s first steps. You’ve coaxed and encouraged and cheered him on from the sidelines. But at ten months, his preferred travel option is still the belly scoot. He’s a great little scooter, but you’d really...
Five board books to broaden children’s horizons
Aren’t board books wonderful? It’s handy to be able to buy all sorts of classics, from The Very Hungry Caterpillar to We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, in hard-wearing editions for those of us who are still getting the hang...
I Lost My Coat Again! (Keeping children organised)
Your kindergartner has lost two sweatshirts and his winter coat…in the span of four weeks. The conversations usually go something like this: “Where’s your coat?” “I don’t know. I can’t find it.” “Where did you last have it?” “At school.”...
Un-clinging the Clinger – Carry Me!
You’re beyond tired. You’re recovering from a cold, been working overtime, and are preparing for a family gathering of 30 people. This is not the week you need your 3-year-old to force you into weight training by demanding to be...
Expanding Children’s Horizons
A new study has confirmed that children form fixed ideas, very early on, about the kinds of jobs they will aspire to do in the future. How do young children decide on a job? It’s not from signing up...
Dear Teacher
Dear teacher, I know sometimes you may wonder why I do the things I do for my child so I just wanted to explain a little. I understand that at your centre you encourage independence, and you rejoice and celebrate...
3 phrases for a sexism free childhood
‘Use your walking feet, please!’ ‘Gentle hands, remember?’ ‘Use your words.’ If you live or work with small children, you will have plenty of these repeatable phrases up your sleeve. It’s good to have brief and catchy things to...