A few tips on dealing with the business of raising happy and healthy children
Feeling overwhelmed by digital parenting? You're not alone. Gail Smith cuts through the noise with clear, actionable suggestions to help you support your child in a connected world. Read on to find the strategies that resonate with your family.
There is a lot of talk and concern such as the negative impact of digital exposure to our children. We live in a digitalized world and we need to support our children as their knowledge into its use and abuse grows overtime. The following thoughts are suggestions to help understand how best to be a support on a range of current issues that impact our children’s growing years. Some concepts may resonate with you.
“The New ‘Silent Stress’: Digital Overload Affects Young Children
Parents are increasingly concerned about screens but unsure what to do. There is a subtle emotional cost of constant digital noise— As a family plan times that are just purely for family with no digital interference. Make this a ritual in your family.
“Raising Emotionally Steady Kids in an Unsteady World: Tiny Habits That Make a Big Difference”
Anxiety is high in families. Our worlds are cluttered with far too many interferences. Consider simple, doable habits (like naming feelings, micro-routines, ‘emotion anchors’) that stabilize young minds. Feel confident in speaking out about how you feel and give names to feelings that are really present such as, ‘frightened, lonely, scared’. Legitimize those feelings.
“The Magic of the 10-Minute Parent Check-In: The Ritual That Strengthens Behaviour, Confidence and Connection”
A highly practical idea.
Parents feel busy - you show them how 10 minutes a day can transform a child’s sense of security and cooperation.
“Why Your Child’s Boredom Is Good for Their Brain: The New Science of ‘Unstructured Time’”
Boredom is a superpower. Let’s use it well.
Parents love this because it reduces guilt and gives them a new tool.
Provide examples of what children naturally learn when adults don’t rush to entertain them. Consider how being out in the fresh air is in itself a learning environment.
“What Teachers Wish Parents Knew in 2025: The Skills That Matter Most Now”
Learn about what is emerging in classrooms:
– self-regulation
– executive function
– resilience
– early problem-solving
– curiosity
Parents adore insider knowledge. The more you know about what your child is learning, the greater capacity you have to share that knowledge.
How to Help Your Child Handle Friendship Ups and Downs (Without Taking Over)”
Friendships are the number one parent worry in early school years. Listen well to your child but let them work through the problem and yes it may come with loss, grief and some pain. However, they grow stronger from the experience.
“The After-School Hour: Why This Time of Day Is Emotionally Explosive and How to Make It Peaceful”
Extremely relatable.
Explain “after-school restraint collapse” and give easy, calming routines. Don’t be too hard on yourself as you are probably getting tired as well at that time of day.
Emotionally Smart Homes: Tiny Changes in Your Home Environment That Calm Children Instantly”
Parents love practical, home-based strategies. You can involve your child in setting up warm comforting spaces.
Ideas: a calm corner, slow mornings, sensory-friendly spaces.
The Power of Predictability: Why Routines Are the New Security Blanket”
Not boring—re framed as emotional security.
Micro-routines reduce meltdowns and increase confidence. Children feel secure with routines and ritual in their life. They need and value knowing their boundaries. It gives them a sense of security.
“Raising Problem-Solvers, Not Problem-Avoiders”
Parents love skills-based content.
Encourage children to stick with challenges, ask better questions, and manage frustration. Remember failure is a part of learning new stronger skills.
“The Hidden Language of Behaviour: What Your Child Is Really Telling You”
Teaches parents to read behaviour as communication rather than misbehaviour. Having a warm, compassionate tone is important. Behaviour that is unacceptable is a message that something is wrong. Listen and observe rather that overtalk and ask probing questions.
“The Rise of the Sensitive Child: Why More Children Are Highly Tuned-In—and How to Support Them”
High sensitivity is a current topic.
Offer strategies for overwhelm, transitions, noise, and big emotions. Never understate a sensitive child.
“Why the First Five Minutes After School Matter More Than You Think”
A short, tight, very clickable post.
Covers connection rituals, emotional decompression, and avoiding interrogation. Just lsiten well to your child at this critical time. You can learn much from silence.
“Raising Gritty Kids Without Being a Tough Parent”
Mixes resilience with warmth.
Show how to encourage persistence without pressure.
Encourage a Wide Net of Friends: Why It Matters.
Friendships are key to a child’s happiness, but relying on just one best friend can lead to heartbreak. Gail Smith highlights why encouraging kids to embrace new friendships is so important.
Friendships are essential for a child’s happiness, but relying on just one best friend can lead to heartbreak. Encouraging a variety of friendships helps children grow socially and emotionally. They are also more receptive to accepting difference.
Less Heartbreak, More Support – If one friend is absent or drifts away, your child won’t feel alone.
Stronger Social Skills – Different friends mean learning to communicate and connect in new ways.
Confidence Booster – A mix of friendships builds self-esteem and reduces social anxiety.
More Fun, Less Drama – Group play means fewer fallouts and more opportunities for joy.
Life-Long Resilience – Adapting to different personalities prepares children for real-world relationships.
Encourage your child to be open to new friendships—it builds a stronger, happier, and more adaptable future! Avoid being judgmental or critical of friends they choose. In time they will work through who are truly friends.
“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.”
A Few wise thoughts about getting ready for Christmas
The festive season can sometimes feel overwhelming, with endless to-do lists and expectations piling up. This year, why not focus on what truly matters? Spending quality time together as a family. Use this season of change as an opportunity to reconnect and remind yourselves of the joy and love that make family the heart of this special time.
Now that school is finished and the family can concentrate on Christmas and holidays, consider making life as simple and uncomplicated as possible. Enjoy the change as a family unit and begin to remember why family is the key point about this season.
Consider:
Focus on Presence, Not Presents: Children will remember the moments you spend together, not the price tags. Make time for laughter, games and hugs
Keep It Calm and Simple: Don’t stress about creating the “perfect Christmas.” Kids love the small things—hot chocolate, movies, or building a snowman. They love the repetition of Christmas.
Share the Spirit of Giving: Involve children in small acts of kindness— donating a toy, baking for neighbours, or making handmade cards. It’s a gift for their hearts too.
Create Special Traditions: Whether it’s matching pyjamas, bedtime stories by
the tree, or a festive family walk, traditions make Christmas magical and memorable.
Let Kids Be Kids: Allow space for excitement, silliness, and mess. The joy of Christmas is in their smiles and giggles—so join in!
Try to be more relaxed and strengthen friendships and relationships. It is all good for the soul.
“Have yourself a very merry Christmas with all the family.”
A child’s strengths - Oh so many!
Do we recognise the unique strengths that your child has brewing within them? We are certainly able to identify some of the obvious strengths. Your child may be good at Maths. They may write well. They may excel at running or some other sport. All of these are clear and visible strengths in which we affirm and easily give our child reassurance. There are also many evolving aspects of your child that need nurturing and encouragement. They can be more subtle and we need to be tuned in, to pick up the signs for these evolving strengths. They are developing strengths in the emotional and social aspects of their life which are critical for your child to become a well-rounded, functioning adult. We often forget to acknowledge these developing strengths and so I will now list some for us to reflect on as parents. The list is not exclusive but hopefully will give some insight into what you are looking for in your child.
Does your child demonstrate from time to time?
Compassion for others.
Unselfishness and is able to share.
A generous spirit and will check to ensure others are included.
Developing empathy to those less abled or in some way hurt or offended.
An ability to share conversation and listen well to others.
Shows patience in difficult situations.
Kindness to those around.
Has an ability to form friends well and easily. Do they sustain friendships?
Is your child inclusive with other children in their friendship groups?
Has a tendency to put others ahead of themselves.
Reflects on activities that happen to them.
Talks positively about others and looks for the best in people.
When they are challenged through school work, friendships etc. do they look to find the positive in the situation and choose not to blame?
Are they able to forgive hurts and move on quickly?
Is sharing a natural part of how they interact with others?
All of these and there are plenty more, are examples of a child’s developing social and emotional maturity. All of these qualities should be strengthened by our tuning into their presence in our child’s life.
‘Well done, I can see how you are a good friend and you gave your share of the sweets to James because he wasn’t feeling well.’
‘I noticed how you included all the children in your class to your birthday party. You are fair to everyone.’
‘When you play basketball, I notice how you are keen to play as a team player and share the ball. Bravo.’
Your progressive affirmations alert the child to the fact that their social and emotional responses are highly valued. This is the foundational time for building an intuitive and emotionally intelligent young adult who will be a well-rounded and productive individual with a great ability to remain mentally healthy.
“Teach your children how to identify their own strengths and challenge them to contribute these strengths to others.”