Strengthening a child’s interest and endurance with reading
Children, creative, education, Experiences, Parenting, Raising Boys, Raising girls, school, teacher, Reading Gail Smith Children, creative, education, Experiences, Parenting, Raising Boys, Raising girls, school, teacher, Reading Gail Smith

Strengthening a child’s interest and endurance with reading

It can be a fine line between pushing the child to read and gently setting the scene to help them. Reading is vital in a child’s development and learning. Here’s some tips to encourage reading at home.

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Children who find school a struggle
Anxiety, Children, Communication, Education, Experiences, Mother, Parenting, Problem Solving, Stress, teacher, Worry, Father, Family Gail Smith Anxiety, Children, Communication, Education, Experiences, Mother, Parenting, Problem Solving, Stress, teacher, Worry, Father, Family Gail Smith

Children who find school a struggle

Many children have times when they feel they are struggling not just with school but also with friends, home issues, siblings, etc. Children can and do have down times. If your child is struggling, read here for some tips.

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Perfectionism...to be discouraged in our children
Achievement, Children, Parenting Gail Smith Achievement, Children, Parenting Gail Smith

Perfectionism...to be discouraged in our children

A child who is a perfectionist does not feel free to make any mistakes and we know that mistakes are an important form of learning for your child. If the child feels too anxious to make mistakes their confidence drops and all sorts of behavioural complications can enter the scenario. Read here to navigate the world of perfection in your child.

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A helpful child is a useful thing. I guess?
Activity, Children, Family, Negotiation, Parenting Gail Smith Activity, Children, Family, Negotiation, Parenting Gail Smith

A helpful child is a useful thing. I guess?

The home should be a place of rest, safety and feeling secure in a child’s own skin. Of course duties around the house are important but should not overwhelm the child nor should they become a battleground with parents. I stress this as I have seen many unsettled children grow unhappy due to demands at home. Read here for considerations when setting chores at home.

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How to deal with trauma such as the recent school shooting in the USA.         
Children, Finding Help, Parenting, Trauma Gail Smith Children, Finding Help, Parenting, Trauma Gail Smith

How to deal with trauma such as the recent school shooting in the USA.         

We are confronted by what recently happened in Texas with the mass killing of young children in a school. It is almost impossible to get our heads around this atrocity and as parents, we shudder with the reminder that a parent’s grief for their lost child would be immeasurable. Here's some pointers for parents to help your children understand tragedies like this.

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Being credible is such an important part in parenting
Children, Family, Father, Mother, Positive Behaviour, Parenting, Raising Boys, Raising girls, Values Gail Smith Children, Family, Father, Mother, Positive Behaviour, Parenting, Raising Boys, Raising girls, Values Gail Smith

Being credible is such an important part in parenting

By nature of being a parent you are invited to present such fine qualities as credibility and trust to your child. Never underestimate that such an opportunity is also all about developing yourself as a fully rounded, emotionally intelligent person. Like it or not parenting forces us to grow up!

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Teach our children to be courteous
Behaviour, Children, Experiences, Father, Mother, Parenting, Positive Behaviour Gail Smith Behaviour, Children, Experiences, Father, Mother, Parenting, Positive Behaviour Gail Smith

Teach our children to be courteous

There is a silent, steady power present in being courteous. You are stronger by nature of your courteous style. By treating someone with dignity no matter how different your thoughts are, there is little with which to argue. After all, they see how you accept them as legitimate. You accept their right to have a voice, which gives you a voice.

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