My favourite educational games
There is a virtually endless list of educational games and products available on the market which, collectively focus on pretty much every aspect of education and learning imaginable. But in this post I want to invite you to explore the educational benefits of some common games which are either completely free or generally available in […]
Two quick tips to curb impulsivity
A common complaint from teachers and parents is that their children act impulsively, often shouting out answers before thinking the problem through or starting a task before they instructions had been given in full. This impulsivity may cause them to be disruptive in a classroom environment and take making seemingly “careless” mistakes during tests […]
Delayed gratification
In this post I want to focus on delayed gratification and how it may benefit children. Basically, delaying gratification means resisting the temptation to get an immediate reward in order to receive a larger or more enduring reward later. In the now famous Stanford Marshmallow Experiment a researcher would place a marshmallow on a plate […]
Thoughts on praising a child
Praise has gotten a lot of media attention lately and many parenting magazines and blogs now seem to offer conflicting advice about whether or not to praise your children. Personally, I think we’re simply over-thinking the issue. To me, praise is a natural reaction – when you’re impressed by something someone has done, you praise […]
Help your kids get ready to go back to school
As the summer holiday draws to an end children and parents across the country will slowly starting shifting into “back to school” mode again. Whether your child is starting at a new school or has simply moved up a grade in the same school, the beginning of the school year can be a stressful time. […]
How to deal with temper tantrums
Dealing with temper tantrums is undoubtedly one of the least fun aspects of parenting. The balance between building your child’s confidence and setting appropriate boundaries is easily upset and may result in a range of negative outcomes if the scale swings too far in either direction. Here are some of the ways in which you […]
The effects of poverty on children
In trying to understand the effects of poverty on children we cannot simply look at the current situation but need to take into account the negative spiral that poverty creates. Poor children are most likely to grow into poor adults and poor parents and repeat the cycle of inter-generational poverty. Besides the obvious fact that […]
Kids and cell phones
Cell phones have completely revolutionised the way we interact with our world. These little devices form such a big part of our daily lives that it is inevitable that every child, at some stage in his or her life will start begging to own one too. Giving your child a cell phone holds many […]
Teenagers and dating – Advice for parents
Does hearing the words teenagers and dating in the same sentence send shivers up your spine? This can be an anxious time for parents. We’ve all been there – most of us can still recall the high’s of being madly in love and the lows of being utterly heartbroken. We know what a mine field […]
Why children need school holidays
Schools are closing all around the country for the long summer holidays this week and I’m sure many parents are gritting their teeth and bracing themselves for the increased chaos awaiting them when they get home from work and the inevitable nagging chorus of “We’re bored! What can we do?” Admittedly school holidays don’t necessarily […]