Toy Guns and Swords: Is Weapons Play Ok?
I like to think of myself as a lover not a fighter, so unsurprisingly I really freaked out when my boys started playing with pretend weapons when they were little. The beginning of the end The first time it was with sticks as swords or guns. My overreaction must have stuck in their little minds […]
A New Approach To Dealing With Challenging Kids
Methods of discipline used in schools today have come a long way from things like the cane, writing hundreds of lines or marching around a playground. Most schools use a consequence-based approach to behaviour management with clearly articulated stages such as warnings, buddy classes and ‘reflection’ time. There are also rewards for good behaviour such […]
5 Ways To Get Your Teen To Open Up
Not knowing what is going on for your child has to be every parent’s nightmare and when it comes to teenagers, it is a very legitimate concern. Studies such as this one confirm what everyone who has parented a teen (or has been a teen) already knows – there is a decline in disclosure and […]
Are Big Families Really The Happiest Families?
When I first read about the study saying families with over four kids are happier I confess I was dumbstruck. As a mother of three I can’t conceive that adding to the current levels of chaos could be anything but absolute insanity and torture. Reportedly, the five-year study looked at different family groupings based on […]
When Even A Weekend Away Doesn’t Cut It
Recently I went away on a much anticipated weekend break. I had been looking forward to it for months. As every parent knows, time without kids can be an exciting and tantalising prospect. Thanks to my wonderful parents, I get the night off here and there. However, I reserve the big ask of offloading all […]
Why Kids Need To Be Allowed To Take Risks
In an increasingly litigious and risk averse culture, the opportunities for our children to engage in risky and adventurous outdoor play is ever decreasing. Schools have been known to ban running, bringing balls to school and even contact between students due to safety concerns and fear of injury. The schools are obviously acting in response […]
5 Types of Mum You Need in Your Tribe
Along our motherhood journey, we meet a lot of other mums. Some of these mums will be casual acquaintances that we smile at in passing on the school run or stand next to cheering on the sideline of our child’s sporting match. Some we will share a coffee and a chat with as our children […]
5 Ways To Fit In One-On-One Time With Your Children
Being outnumbered three to one means it can be hard to find time to spend dedicated one-on-one time with my children. I’m sure this situation is not unique to my household. Every family is busy, with their own relationship dynamics and competing demands on time. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the need […]
How Is Parental Phone Use Impacting Our Kids?
Monitoring and limiting children’s screen time is something as parents we often worry about. However, who monitors and limits OUR screen time? The Deloitte Mobile Consumer Survey 2016, shows some alarming statistics for smartphone users of the grown up variety. 84% of Australians have a smartphone. The average user checks their phone 30 times a […]
How To Help Your Son Deal With Mean Boys
We are all very familiar with the term “Mean Girls” but it needs to be widely acknowledged that boys can be mean too. Really mean. Boys are traditionally associated with physical aggression, however a more insidious form of bullying that can have a huge impact on boys is relational aggression. What is relational aggression? Relational […]