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Articles and thoughts on bringing up children

Articles on early childhood development, everyday parenting situations and mindful parenting.

Sofa 4-minute read

The excitement of Christmas can have a negative effect on a child’s behaviour

Young children do not yet have a sense of time or sufficient understanding of how the world works, so the changes to their daily routine brought about by the festive season can upset their sense of security, which may result in them becoming more prone to tantrums, more clingy, or even more withdrawn. They need our emotional support to be able to adapt adequately to these changes, and…

Sofa 4 minutes

It’s OK to make mistakes – even as a parent! Children don’t need perfect parents

As children, we put a lot of effort into gaining our parents’ approval. Then, as we grow up, we become increasingly independent, stand on our own two feet, and at least…

Sofa 4 minutes

Emotional education: don’t make these 3 mistakes!

Teaching our children emotional literacy – that is, helping them to recognise, articulate, experience and express their inner feelings in socially acceptable ways – is a fundamental parental responsibility. But no…

Sofa 5 minutes

Tantrums: you don’t have to give in, but it’s important to recognise what your child wants

Stubbornness and tantrums are an integral part of early childhood. It is through these attempts and experiences that children learn just how well they can make themselves understood…

Sofa 5 minutes

Dealing effectively with a tantrum: don’t try to solve the problem, but try to understand it!

As an adult, dealing appropriately with the ‘terrible twos’ and the tantrums that go with them is certainly no easy task, especially if we don’t know exactly what…

Sofa 5 minutes

You shouldn’t nag a school-age child; you should trust them

According to a theory of developmental psychology, every age group faces its own challenges; meeting these challenges contributes to the development of a healthy personality, whilst failing to do so hinders it. The…

Sofa 5 minutes

Should I study with my child – or how can you support your Year 1 child?

Even the demands of Year 1 can put a great deal of pressure on children’s minds, and it is up to us, as parents, to help them cope with this and maintain a sense of balance…

Sofa 5 minutes

With these two unspoken rules, we make our sons’ lives more difficult

In her book *I Am Learning About Myself*, Zsuzsa F. Várkonyi draws attention to the gender differences that arise primarily as a result of upbringing…

Sofa 5 minutes

4 things to avoid when settling your child into nursery or pre-school

Starting nursery is quite a big change for every family, as it’s the first time we’re entrusting our child to, so to speak, strangers, which can bring about a whole host of mixed feelings…

Sofa 5 minutes

The child is hitting their own head. Is that normal?

Around 20 per cent of young children exhibit this pattern of behaviour from time to time, usually between the ages of 18 and 24 months. There’s no need to be overly alarmed by it, but…