Do you want to teach your child the value in gift-giving? If so, put away your wallet and encourage them to create something special to give. It’s that’s simple. If you are handing over your money so the child can choose a gift to buy or, worse still, buying gifts on their behalf, you are
Ever wondered how it is your child can stay acutely focused on a screen for an indefinite period of time when any other activity, no matter how special, has them distracted at the smallest of things? It’s a question countless parents have asked. Many have concluded that screen time steals focus from all other
The young boy walked into the studio in tears, exclaiming he did not want his father to leave. Just weeks before this, that same boy would virtually push his parents out of the door, eager to have my full attention as we embarked on a creative journey together. The next day, a
In uncertain times, it’s time to get back to basics. Time to build on what we know and have to help create stronger and better kids. This is a hard call for parents who are dealing with their own fears and frustrations. The fact is though, that what we do now – the routines
Jack was a happy baby with a big belly laugh he used with great regularity. He was a curious and adventurous toddler with a booming personality and the voice to go with it. His first few years of school were filled with curiosity and the desire to learn. Then, his voice became quiet, his
Creativity has become a buzzword – the Holy Grail that will help us be happier, healthy, more productive and better equipped to deal with life in general. We mourn the lack of creative programs in mainstream schools and businesses fork out thousands of dollars every year on creative thinking exercises for their employees. There
It’s interesting that the first part of the word ‘optimism’ spells ‘opt’ because being optimistic is a choice that you can opt in or out of. That’s probably the most important thing we can impress on our children. Optimism is a choice. And choice is a superpower. We all become discouraged at times. For
When talking about strong kids, I’m not referring to their physical condition. I’m talking about inner strength, known as resilience. Resilience is the word used to describe coping skills – people’s ability to bounce back from adversity. As it’s impossible to avoid challenges in life, the only way to survive is to learn
You want your kids to be creative, right? If you don’t, you should. There is a ton of evidence proving the importance of creativity for wellbeing – of children and adults. The future looks particularly bright for creative thinkers, according to almost all the forecasters. The training for that begins with the creative play
As parents and grandparents, we work diligently to keep our children safe and out of danger. What if exposing them to a bit of danger was, in fact, the best way to ensure their safety? Don’t worry. I’m not suggesting we get our five-year-olds to skydive. However, allowing kids a bit of risk-taking can
