What If My Child Won’t Take No for an Answer?
If you’ve said no firmly and you’re child is wearing you down, avoid doing what many parent do when they […]
If you’ve said no firmly and you’re child is wearing you down, avoid doing what many parent do when they […]
I’ve been working with parents and other caregivers for over 20 years, helping them find solutions to their children’s challenging
We can only give in relation to how much we have. If we are drained, our needs are not being
Getting children to do their chores is not about making our lives easier but it is about encouraging cooperation and
When can you expect to hear your baby’s first words and how you can encourage speech development in your baby
Picture walking along with your toddler – he stumbles and your first reaction is to pull him up by his
When we talk about your baby’s mobility, what ideas come to your mind? Things like, rolling, crawling, walking, etc. All
A team player is constantly reliable day in and day out, not just some of the time. You can count
Mom is strolling around the supermarket with a six-month-old infant in the baby seat. Not once does she engage in
It can be real frustrating raising kids today. It seems as if we do so much more for them than
Do you consider yourself to be a happy parent? Have you ever asked another adult in your life if they
We are often asked by moms in our classes – “When do I start to teach my toddler to cut?”
Being a parent is challenging enough, but when you’re doing it solo, you have double the time, financial and resource
You’re a parent. Got any spare time? No? We didn’t think so. Since we know you’re so busy with kids,
Now in South Africa on an even bigger scale, the world-famous Italian baby products Chicco bring you the fantastic Ultra
Chicco car seats are known for being some of the most high quality, yet affordable car seats in the world.
The Boppy Pillow from Chicco is a revolutionary product that has taken the world by storm – not just for
If you always thought that mathematics only revolved around numbers, think again! “There is a myriad of concepts that can
As parents we spend the first year worrying about our children becoming actively mobile and then generally secondly worrying about
Music in its basic form – rhythm and melody – stimulates brain activity (the release of neurons) in a child’s
The truth is that a woman should not travel much when pregnant. It is time to stay close to home
Congratulations on your second pregnancy! Wondering what lies ahead – besides a couple of extra stretch marks, additional lost sleep
In South Africa, a child is most likely to injure themselves at home – far more so than anywhere else. This is
As a mother of four teenagers, it would be plausible for me to hail myself as all knowledgeable on the
Growing up can be an emotional rollercoaster, during which a young person has to contend with many high and lows,
If you are wanting to breastfeed your baby you most likely have thought about getting yourself a breast pump. At
Me do it! A popular cry from most two to three year olds. Sound familiar? This is usually followed by
Raising your children to be money smart is an essential skill that will benefit them for the rest of their
I have a friend who used to work at the BBC going through the raw footage of all the horrors
As your pregnancy progresses into the second and then third trimesters you will find that you are having more aches
Play is the single most important activity in a child’s day. Children achieve 90% of their learning through play. Through
Parenting is a complex topic that can be discussed, disputed and hypothesized about, and still, there are yet to be
Education is not merely about improving one’s memory and spitting out facts but rather, it is about developing the intellect.
You know the day is coming. You think about it every spare moment. You dread it. What to do with
Parents to be, have the unique opportunity to create a better brain for their unborn child from day one. When
It fosters independent learning Several studies have documented the benefits of independent learning and its impact on academic and career
We are fast approaching the end of the year and it’s usually that time of the year we are starting
All parents want their children to grow up with healthy habits. However, the only way a child will learn to
During my first year as a young senior Mathematics teacher, I realised that most parents put a tremendous amount of
The long-anticipated year-end exams are upon us and so are the challenges and pressures that, so often, go hand-in-hand with
Summer has officially arrived in South Africa. With the heat, we all need a reminder on how to tackle hot
When you’re told that your child will be born with a mental or physical disability, the news can be crushing
Sunumbra P is a Natural Sunscreen with Organic Ingredients and a core purpose to make a difference inpeople’s lives as
The opposite of depression, misery, addictions and negative behavioural choices is purpose, connection, acknowledgement and a healthy sense of independence.
When it comes to medical aid, affordability is usually the biggest consideration. However, monthly premiums should be weighed and balanced
By Sonia Jansen, Deputy Principal of Academics at Crawford Preparatory North Coast Recently, I’ve had the privilege of running a
Price: R235.00 (30ml Sunstick) Natural sunscreen for the whole family. Suitable for: The whole family. All skin types. Intolerant skins
Over half of children spend an hour or less a day playing outside – that’s less than the average maximum-security prisoner
Many Matrics considering their study options for next year are finding themselves in the difficult position of being at odds
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Lalaboom has achieved this famous quote by bringing numerous basic but essential play values into
By Alison Willems, teacher at Trinityhouse Pre-Primary Randpark Ridge Children are not little adults. They learn things primarily through their
The benefits of raising a multilingual child are plenteous. From improved cognitive performance to increased marketability in the future workforce,
Let’s be honest, millennials continue to and already have changed the world for the better. Those born between roughly around
Few things in life are equally as delightful as they are demanding. Having – and raising – siblings is one
In today’s modern world, children grow up knowing how to take pictures with our iPhones or how to navigate to
Worldwide, allergies are on the rise, and in South Africa a staggering 40% of sufferers are children, according to the
Preparing to take the next steps in your little one’s learning journey can be extremely daunting. The gap between Grade
Cyber predators, child trafficking, cyber bullies, children running away – the list of worst nightmare situations parents face is not
It’s business as usual for medical aids… While the NHI remains a work in progress in terms of policy and
What is a Middle Ear Infection? A Middle Ear Infection (also referred to as Otitis Media by healthcare professionals) refers
Teenagers are accustomed to curating their personal image on social media. They select what to share, who to tag and
In senior high school, the Mathematics syllabus becomes more challenging than ever, and many learners may be tempted to ditch
Even though 6 months have passed since our courts made it illegal to spank your child, there are still parents
By René Yeoman, Assistant Teacher at Trinityhouse Pre-Primary Randpark Ridge We’ve all heard the saying, “Being a Mom is one
Parents have been urged to empower their children to know how to respond to any crisis or act of criminality,
Put more than one toddler in a room with toys and it’s a recipe for disaster. We want our toddlers
Teenagers grow up and eventually become the parents of teenagers! The circle of life is such that we forget, often
Today, technology is part of our everyday lives – a telephone call, a quick SMS or WhatsApp, a glance at
As young parents, we often worry about our kids’ early development. We want to give them the best opportunities possible
As a parent you are very aware of giving your toddler a balanced diet. Five fresh fruit and vegetables a
More young people have university degrees than ever before. Between 1995 to 2016, the percentage of people with tertiary qualifications
Merriam-Webster defines peer pressure as: “A feeling that one must do the same things as other people of one’s age
A toddler’s day to day job is to play and not to be learning the ABC’s and doing math. Many
There have been many developments in the higher education sector in past decades, notably a rise in the number of
To become inspired, we need to inspire others. Remember that what we teach others, we teach ourselves. Imagine, then, the
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful miracles of nature, to have a human being formed inside us. This is
Keeping your baby up longer at night/between naps will encourage her to fall asleep faster and sleep better. This is
There are many terms that teachers, psychologists and other professionals may use that, at times, are perhaps not explained effectively
Hearing is an essential part of development as it enables babies to take in information about the world around them.
Stepfamilies are very common in today’s world. However, the complications can be numerous and it can be a significant amount
MBI Attorneys, share advice on the subject of divorce and reveal this law firms unique approach. How often as parents
Essentially play therapy is psychotherapy for children. As children communicate by means of play, this is the most effective form
Most psychologists and other mental health professionals use The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition Revised
Naughty children, naughty corners, treats for good behavior, consequences for bad behavior, identifying one child as the naughty on and
Did you know that the word appreciate has two meanings – to be grateful for, and to grow. That is
Last year was the hottest year on earth since record-taking began, but 2016 is expected to blow this record out
Our kids are living in a very different world to the one we grew up in. Gone are the days
When should my little one be sleeping through? Every baby and toddler has a unique sleeping and feeding pattern, so
The study to the aforementioned question emanated from the University of Nebraska’s Family Strength Research Project by John DeFrain and
Mothers, particularly, are notorious for the amount of guilt they carry around. It starts right from the birth… the natural
The teenage girl came out of her room and walked into the family room where her parents were sitting. With
For those people who know me well, they will know that I call a spade a spade and what you
I had seen a movie clip of Dustin Hoffman getting emotional during an interview about the movie “Tootsie”, in which
It might seem like technology has taken over our lives, but there are still so many activities we can do
My nerves were so high I broke out in hives, I couldn’t think straight. I was struggling to sleep until
“Food safety is not only about the food we eat, but also what we give our children. Babies will consume
When I provide my talks to school children on cyber sense, they often nod in agreement when I mention that
When it comes to balancing family and career there is no more harassed adult than a parent. If you do
So as you all know by now, I have some issues regarding maternity leave in South Africa… and having to return to
Following is a few easy questions that could help you to determine if a child should be referred to
Due to the work I do with parents I find that people often look to me as an example of
One thing that parents do is connect chores with allowance…. bad move! But they think that their kids are automatically
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive learning strategy that works to improve the brains ability to produce certain brainwaves without the need
As the mid-year exams loom, children will write tests to measure how much they remember what they have learnt. Being
Feeling jaded and sleep deprived? You are in good company. Less than half of all babies sleep through before the
Of paramount importance in dealing with ADHD and other learning and behavioural issues, is nutrition. Granted, it may not be
from Foundation Phase to Intermediate Phase The Parent: The first step, as a parent, is realising that your child is
Eight year old David is playing a board game with his sister. Everything is going along well until the girl
I’m the mother of two boys, both dark haired, big eyed and extremely precious to me. The only thing is; only
How much time do you really spend together as a family? We are all overscheduled including our kids but it
Your child comes to you and tells you that her best friend’s dad is a Muslim and because he wears
Most of us eat too much salt, which can lead to high blood pressure and eventually to heart disease and
Navigating the world of sports supplements can be overwhelming. While some supplements have been proven to provide physical support for
The term ergogenic aids derives from the Greek words ergon (work) and genes (born), and mean any way of improving
Make the most of Summer – Winter is on its way! Visiting local markets is a great way to spend
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” – Albert Einstein. There are times in
Choosing a high school for your child can often be more stressful than choosing their primary school. High schools come
Did you know that at least one in 10 children in South Africa are already diagnosed with high blood pressure?
Niki Cronje, Group Marketing at IMPERIAL I-Pledge From 30 April 2015, South African motorists will need to take a more
Concentration is the key to academic success, and indeed almost every task, but what if our Brain has actually never
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it
It can be incredibly difficult to hear your child complain when you do so much for her. And then you
Vocabulary plays an important part in learning to read. Beginning readers must use the words they hear out loud to
My life has changed completely since having children. Some of it has been quite shocking, like my boobs that look
Your family is dysfunctional. I know you were hoping that if you just used the power of your mind or
What has always interested me most about bullying is who is bullying the bully? Bullying is never just a cut
By Janine Shamos When Jenny was 14, she and her mother went on a diet for Lent. When Lent ended,
“One of the most important ways for a beginner reader to become a fluent reader is to be able to read & recognize
From the moment that you engage with the Smartbox from Mysmartkid, you will be hooked and more importantly, so will
If you have attended any of my local workshops or have read any of my content, you know that I’m
Shockingly low Mathematics results at Senior School level are cause for concern: the average score for Grade 9 learners who
by Dessy Tzoneva According to the South African Stress and Health Study, anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health
Autistic Spectrum Disorder is essentially an umbrella term that incorporates Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Autistic Spectrum Disorder is not a
Listening to your child is an invaluable skill that forms part of your child’s social, emotional and life skills. This
Raising teenagers can be an incredibly difficult job for adults, especially when they often seem to behave strangely. One workshop
It is the start of the school year and many children are refreshed after the summer holidays. Unfortunately some children
The first thing that a nursing mom will worry about when she gets sick is the possibility of infecting her
Being a new mother can be an exciting time for many women. Taking care of a new child can be
As human beings we rely heavily on our senses to process information. If children use more than one sense when
As families prepare to board their flights for local and international holidays during the Easter period, Cathay Pacific offers some
School’s out and without their usual after-school play dates, sports and activities, how are your kids going to beat the
Temperament is defined as an individual’s behavioural style and characteristic way of responding. Therefore, it is how the child, adolescent
Suicide is a devastating tragedy which is a grim reality in most parts of the world. If you suspect that
Unfortunately, trauma is an all too common occurrence in South Africa. Trauma has many different guises and can encompass anything
ADHD: The most common childhood disease ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed childhood disease and is said to affect approximately
Mutual regulation refers to a communication system that allows a mother to read emotional signals from her baby and meet
Claims that participating in sporting activities is detrimental for migraine patients are untrue – a new study found that participating
Every child, just like every adult has a set of values, a hierarchy of things that are from most to
Do you fear that you’ve become the evil step-monster? It’s so easy to feel like that, especially with blended families
Buying a car when you are young, single and have just started working is very different to when you are
Newborn The newborn baby is typically much calmer and cries less than you would expect. Many parents are surprised that
Charming perceptions of motherhood in the magazines, Mothers comforting their babies, it seems so precious, suggesting that graceful feeling that we all
As children get older, the milestones don’t stop, they just get different and pull at their parents heart strings a
Child psychologists at Johannesburg’s Sandton Psychology Centre are often consulted by worried parents who are concerned about their child’s disruptive
My husband and I recently set out for a long drive around the city, while our neighbourhood’s lights were out,
It has taken me a long time to write this post. It is something so deeply personal, but I can’t
As the year gets going, life tends to get busier and busier. Most parents I speak to are overwhelmed with
Dr Kuben Pilay is a paediatric endocrinologist in private practice at Westville Hospital, Durban. In the last 20-30 years there
Adolescence is the period in a child’s life which is filled with much turmoil and changes. Not only are there
Psychological career assessment and vocational guidance are often a last resort for many individuals at a critical career cross-roads in
It is a common idea that children with imaginary friends have issues for which they are compensating, and while this
What is all the fuss about and what can parents do to improve their children’s self-esteem? In recent years self-esteem
An unmotivated teenager can be frustrating for parents and other authority figures such as teachers. In addition, the teenagers themselves
Self-harm, self-mutilation or self-injury behaviour all mean an action that is deliberate on the part of the adolescent to hurt
Pregnancy is generally assumed to be a wonderful time in the life of a family, a time of abundance and
The holidays have come to an end. No more getting up at half past eight. No more getting done when
It’s a busy, busy world. There is too much to do and not enough time to do half of it.
I strongly believe that nothing changes your views on parenting, quite like being a parent… I know every mom is
Divorce is an all too common reality for many families in South Africa. It is often a painful journey with
Managing toddlers can be a huge effort at times, especially when the parent has to get something done or be
The powerful lure of peer pressure is synonymous with adolescence. The adolescent essentially has a need firstly to “belong” and
Sometimes I complain about motherhood and every time I do, somebody somewhere somehow gives me the same speech… Enjoy it before it’s
Refrain from using a loud voice Children learn how to communicate by the models the adult caregivers set for them.
What has always interested me most about bullying is who is bullying the bully? Bullying is never just a cut
One of the biggest rules in parenting, a cardinal rule that must be taken into account at all times is:
There are a variety of common toddler difficulties that child psychologists at Sandton Psychology Centre can assist with. Please be
When I was pregnant with Mikayla Rose, I often compared it to hell (I know, I am a great mom). I had
In a nutshell, emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand and control one’s thoughts and feelings. In addition, emotional
One often hears the term “dysfunctional” when talking about families. Most people would know that it means that things are
The problem: Your child comes home from school at the end of each day, quiet and seemingly upset. He appears
Homework time can be a trying time for both children and parents. In order to make it a smooth process
I heard about Kerry and Michelle’s story through a mutual friend. Something about their story broke my heart and warmed
When we found out that we were expecting a boy, my husband acted as if a great weight had been
The little boy was unhappy for some reason and threw himself on the floor in the grocery store, blocking the
Maybe it’s the lack of sleep or growing an entire human being that’s distracting you. Maybe it’s the hormones driving
In a recent article I wrote listing 25 tips for entrepreneurs, one stood out that I thought was worth rewriting
When it comes to the low down on healthy eating and weight loss, most of what we read in the
My 15 week old son, Dylan, and I were asked to do a review on four Lamaze toys. I am
When trying to communicate with your daughter, it can sometimes seem as though she is speaking another language; full of
I have one month left at work until I have to go on maternity leave, I say have to because apparently I do not have a
“Wow, you are getting HUGE!” “Oh, are you sure you’re not having twins?” “You’re only 24 weeks pregnant? How much
Holidays and Christmas are upon us, which means our kids are hit with a double whammy of loads of free
Thanks to the modern workforce, many employers allow some employees to work from home when circumstances exist, such as inclement
So is a pacifier good or bad? My answer to this is it depends. Let’s start with the good…. Dummies
When I first discovered that I was pregnant I went through the usual emotional reactions; excitement, fear, wonder, elation and
I guess I was lucky at school to be one of those straight A students, as I can still remember
I’m all for redefining this whole Christmas thing. I think that over the years what was once a holiday of
We are always told not to compare kids to each other, but forget that the same applies to ourselves. We
One of the worlds best loved collectible ranges aimed at girls, Shopkins, now launches in South Africa just in time
The term dyslexia was coined from the Greek words dys, meaning ill or difficult, and lexis, meaning word. Spelling and
Late October marked the start of the 2014 National Senior Certificate Exams. With over 500 000 matriculants writing their final
Discovery Health and SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group) are proud to announce they will be holding a one
This is a common problem; your older child or teenager comes home one day and starts calling you by your
You may feel uncomfortable and out of your depth discussing these topics, but it’s extremely important, as research shows that
What happens if your 18-year-old or older child is behaving badly? What do you do then? This is a predicament
I honestly do not know why we always tell moms: “Sleep when your baby sleeps”. I remember when my son
Winter has come and gone and perhaps, like most people, you gained a few extra kilos over the past few
Spring is such a wonderful time of new beginnings and lovely fresh foliage and sweet scented flowers. What better time
Having been through the birth of a new baby three times, I can tell you that there have been few
A big resounding FALSE! I recently spoke to 11 beautiful women about teaching their children how to sleep well and
Not long now and you may be heading off to your summer holiday at the sea, which brings me to
I have recently been asked to give a talk to parents on how to survive and indeed avoid, the “Homework
The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) Committee suggest that infants as young as two years old need to be screened
Parenting is fraught with tough, controversial decisions. What makes the decisions tough is that there are such varied opinions and
A lot of us are horrified by how animals are treated in feedlots and as a result, there is a
There is a saying that goes: “The cobbler’s children go unshod”. Simply put, the son of the shoemaker has no
Do you think you eat healthily enough and yet you are still prone to frequent occurrences of infections and other
South African Stats 1) 10% of all non-natural deaths in adults and 9.5% in youth are due to suicide. 2) +/- 23
This World Heart Day the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA is putting the spotlight on creating heart-healthy environments, enabling people
What is ADHD? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome diagnosed in many children. The exact percentage of children with ADHD
Sept 2014 sees the South African launch date of a revolutionary new generation of toy – My Friend Cayla. Powered
I often see children who are anxious when faced with new challenges, worrying that they might make a mistake. The
I was recently in the United States for 10 days to attend a Sleep Sense Conference. The content was phenomenal
We forget sometimes that wonderful events, like a new arrival in the family, can also be pretty stressful. If you
Flying solo can sound wonderful, and as you adjust to a new lifestyle , new surroundings and new friends the