Separation Anxiety in Children It’s normal for young children to not want to stray too far from us. We are animals after all and survival instincts tell our young that too much distance or time between them and us is a risky thing. For this reason, the developmentally normal ‘stranger anxiety’ and ‘separation anxiety’ that […]
The word ‘pica’ comes from the latin word for ‘magpie’ since these birds are known to eat just about anything. What is pica? Very young children, under the age of 18 months, will put a range of things (other than food) in their mouths but repeatedly eating items which are considered ‘non-nutritive’ (ie not food) after […]
Mental health problems are very common with almost half (45%) of all Australians experiencing a mental illness in their lifetime. A significant proportion of these illnesses begin in childhood. It is estimated that one in every seven children (14%) aged between 4-17 experience mental health or behavioural problems in Australia. It can be useful to […]
Imagine you were having a great time catching up with your friends, laughing and joking, when suddenly an enormous pair of hands reached down, grabbed you without warning and carried you away. Now imagine you were sitting by yourself, nearing the end of a great book when, unexpectedly, the giant pair of hands returned, carrying […]
Look at the sky and please don’t cry! ‘Quick! Look at the plane! In the sky!! LOOK UP THERE!! QUICK!!!!!’ Have you ever seen someone try to distract a child when he’s hurt or upset? Or tried the same technique yourself in an act of desperation? Often people think that distraction is the quickest way […]
How to Help Your Screaming Child – A Parent’s Guide to Emotional Regulation Most of us have witnessed a screaming child who has felt completely out of control. Some of us have seen this in our own kids, while others have spectated from the side-lines as an unknown child has had a ‘meltdown’ in the […]
There is abundant research about the importance of play in children’s lives. In fact, play is now considered to be so essential for children’s development that it has been recognised by the UN High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child. Let’s look at the ways that young children benefit through play: […]
What are night terrors in children? Those of you who have witnessed a night terror will know how they came to be named! I witnessed a relative of mine have several of these when he and I were both young and still remember them vividly. When a night terror starts, your child wakes abruptly from […]
I once heard that young children are hardwired to dream about frightening, child-eating creatures. Apparently it’s an evolutionary advantage to have had a few practise runs before being chased by a real sabre-tooth tiger. These nightmares affect 50% of children and occur most often in the 3-6 year age group. Children’s brains have adapted to […]
Did you know young children spend approximately half their lives asleep? Children’s brains and bodies need this much sleep, since sleep is critically important for: Brain development Attention, concentration, memory and learning Growing bodies Physical energy A child’s mood and ability to cope with stress and upsets Keeping the immune system working well Babies and […]
