Whenever my kids have faced a life change, such as moving to a new country or introducing a new sibling, I have tried to use creative play to help prepare them. In addition to the usual talks over dinner or while riding in the car, play allows the kids to bring up their own topics… {read more}
Helping Kids Overcome Challenges
How to Help Children Understand Disability and Serious Illness
Disabilities and serious illnesses affect so many people around us. Sometimes we can see some of their challenges with our own eyes, other times we cannot. Today I’m honoured to share an interview with Mark Schumacher, the Chief Development Officer of Victory Junction which is a camp in my home state of North Carolina that enriches the… {read more}
Review: A Storybook that Teaches Kids about Depression
I have several mother friends struggling with depression so when I found out about the recently published storybook, My Mum has Depression, I knew it was a resource that I wanted to share with my kids. We found it remarkably easy to read, with practical examples about what depression feels like which the children could understand… {read more}
How Learning About “Sensory Processing” Can Help You Understand Your Child
My three year old was crying uncontrollably and I could feel my anxiety rising. “My socks!” he screamed. “Mommy doesn’t understand what you mean! What about your socks?” He kept on crying and I kept on asking, helpless. I simply had no idea what was going on. When he finally calmed down, he told me… {read more}
How to Explain Mindful Colouring to Kids
Colouring books are everywhere these days – not just for kids but for adults too. I was keen to introduce the practice of colouring as a relaxing weekend activity for my family but, although I was aware that the new colouring craze was somehow about mindfulness and stress-relief, I still couldn’t quite put it into… {read more}
How to Teach Your Child to Be an Advocate for Their Own Health
As a child, my mother would take me to the doctor when I was sick or had a regular check-up. I thought people simply went in to see the doctor, answered any questions, and then did what the doctor said. From my childhood perspective, it seemed that healthcare was pretty much one-sided. As I grew up, I… {read more}
Is Your Smart Child Feeling Discouraged? Find Out How a Growth Mindset Can Help
My son has recently skipped a grade so he has been hearing a lot of kids (and adults) comment about how smart he is. Every time I overhear it, I cringe. I picture each of these comments setting him an inch higher on a pedestal so that when he is challenged next time (and can’t get some… {read more}
5 Ways to Encourage Children to Love Playing (Not Just Winning)
Last year was my older son’s first year of school, and I immediately noticed an upsurge in his competitive nature. Not only in athletics or the ability to do various things on the playground, but even in academics. The kids in my son’s class were quick to label who “reads the best” or has reached the “highest… {read more}
