What Every Child Needs To Know Before High School
My son starts high school next year and, at the risk of sounding dramatic, it feels like I’m sending a lamb to the slaughter. I know “10 is the new 13” but even now at the age of 12, they still seem so young and innocent. Well, at least my son does. It’s such […]
Are You A Research-Guided Parent or A Gut-Feeling Parent?
Parents often joke about how there is no manual for parenting, that we are thrown in the deep end when our child is born. But this statement, while amusing, is only partly true. Modern parents are very lucky to have a wealth of parenting and child development research at our fingertips. There are expert opinions […]
How To Understand A Teen in 90 Seconds
Josh Shipp gives a great summary to help us understand a teen in 90 seconds. Why they always push our boundaries and why it’s important that we support them doing so. He uses the analogy of a safety bar on a rollercoaster. He reminds us that we push it and pull it and test it […]
A Creative Way To Teach Your Kids About Big Emotions
Dealing with big emotions like anger, frustration, sadness and even excitement, is hard enough for adults, let alone kids. “Mama, you are making me sad!” Miss 4 exclaimed stomping her foot. “I think you feel frustrated, not sad.” “What is frustrated?” Frustration is one of the big emotions you feel a LOT at age four. […]
What To Expect From Your Twelve Year Old
As they stand on the precipice of becoming official teenagers, this can be a challenging time for the twelve year old and their parents. Physical/Health Your twelve year old child will continue to experience growth spurts and may start developing adolescent sleeping patterns. Children at this age need on average 10 hours sleep. Girls: For […]
5 Things I Want My Tween Sons To Know Before They Become Teenagers
My tween sons are on the brink of adolescence. They are changing. We can both see it and neither of us is overly happy about it. My eldest son is such a gentle soul, who doesn’t like change. He needs constant guidance and reassurance as the hormones rage through his body and he battles with […]
5 Easy Ways To Reduce Your Energy Bill
This post is sponsored by Amaysim Bills are one of those unfortunate parts of adulting that we just cannot avoid. So, anything we can do to reduce bills has to be a good thing, right?! A big one that hits most of us each quarter is the power bill. While paying for electricity to power […]
The Importance Of A Strong Father-Daughter Bond
There is something magical about the bond between father and daughter. It is also an extremely influential relationship when it comes to a girl’s development. The way a daughter gets along with her dad can have a major impact on her life, helping shape her self-image, self-esteem and confidence, as well as her future relationships […]
3 Great Ideas To Make Brushing Teeth Fun for Kids
This post is sponsored by Phillips It’s a battle that plays out in homes across Australia every morning and every night – getting kids to brush their teeth. In my house each child is a different type of brusher. We have the speedy gonzales, the bunny brusher (front teeth only) and the light-handed brusher, who […]
What Causes Sore Girl Bits And How To Fix It
When kids complain of sore genitals is can be a major concern for parents. There are a number of reasons why your daughter may be complaining of discomfort in this region, including itchiness, redness or pain/stinging when passing urine. The skin in this area is extremely sensitive and can be easily irritated. Reassuringly, mostly these […]