The effects of stress on the developing brain
Stress is a normal part of child development. However, toxic stress can increase a child’s risk of developing serious emotional, behavioural, and cognitive difficulties. It can also trigger illness. Let’s take a look at exactly how stress can affect the brain of a child. What is the brain’s role in managing stress? The brain is […]
The importance of toys in a child’s development
Plenty of evidence shows how playing with toys is an essential aspect of children’s development. Children of all ages enjoy playing with toys and the different roles toys play in their make-believe games and fantasy worlds. But toys are much more than simple playthings. Many studies have shown that children learn through interaction and toys […]
Are letter reversals a sign of dyslexia?
During the phase of learning to read, children sometimes mistake certain letters for similar ones, especially ones that can easily be reversed. For example, the child may read “bear” as “dear” or look at the word “dog” and read it as “god”. These types of errors are referred to as “reversals”. But are word and […]
Does ADHD go away as children get older?
ADHD is a common childhood mental health condition. ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD in childhood include being inattentive, disorganised, hyperactive, impulsive, and easily distracted. It is believed that around 10% of all children have this disorder. Often, when children are first diagnosed, one of the […]
What are executive functions and why are they important?
Our brains perform several tasks that are necessary to think and act. During early childhood, it is important develop some of these tasks. Some of the most important ones help us learn new information, keep new information in our minds, and use it to solve problems of everyday life. These tasks are performed by the […]
The importance of independent play for kids
Playtime holds great importance for kids’ development. Especially independent play is essential for kids to explore and learn more about themselves. Independent play is a time where kids play in a safe area alone for a certain period of time. Let’s look at some of the most valuable reasons why kids should play alone regularly. […]
Why taste and smell are important
Kids’ senses of smell and taste are often taken for granted. From birth, parents are encouraged to engage their kids in sensory play that boost the development of their sight, touch and vocabulary. But what about tasting and smelling? These senses are integral to how humans understand the world around them. So, along with showing […]
Ideas for your child to calm themselves at school
Navigating some childhood challenges can be stressful. Unfortunately, these challenges can appear at any time. When it happens at school, your child can feel overwhelmed, lonely and scared. Luckily, there are a few things you can teach your child to help them calm down when their emotions get out of control. Teaching your child to […]
What is working memory and why is it important?
To do an activity, children depend on both incoming information and information stored in working memory. If they have poor working memory skills, it can become difficult to do both these tasks. As a result, it can become challenging to follow multi-step directions. Children with poor memory skills also find it difficult to think about […]
Encouraging a growth mindset in your child
For a thriving, happy life, children need to develop the right mindset early on. When teaching children their brains are capable of growing, they feel empowered and more confident to take on tasks and overcome challenges. How we think about our abilities and potential is part of our mindset. This can greatly influence our behaviour […]
