Teaching Adaptability as a Life Skill
Across a student’s lifetime, their world will change and change again. They’re likely to see industry reshaped, medical advancements, and huge changes to technology. In their own life too, they will begin school, transition to further education or work, move out of home, begin or end relationships, maybe have children, and retire from work. To navigate this ever-shifting world, young people will need to be adaptable. But is this something you can teach? And what kind of difference can being more adaptable make? Read full article
Helicopter Parenting – Why Is It Still the Mother’s Fault?
I live in a small town way out in the country where – it’s true – debates about helicopter parenting are pretty rare. Here packs of sunburned kids ride helmetless around our winding roads, the wind blowing through their sweaty hair, the sun reflecting off their freckled faces…When Catherine Deveny decries helicopter parents and all their associated neuroses, she avoids the very persistent reality for many mothers: that of an oppressive sense of responsibility. Read full article
Talking to Children about the Royal Prank
This morning, two things are on my mind: the mental health of the two young radio hosts at the centre of the prank; and how children are digesting and understanding the Royal Prank news story…how have your children reacted to the news? Has it prompted you to talk about suicide with your children? Or have you had conversations about culpability? Or the role of the international media in the Royal Prank? Or ethics? Read full article
My Son Doesn’t Want Surprise Gifts This Christmas
This year, there will be no surprises at Christmas time for my six year old son. No, he hasn’t been a ‘naughty boy’ and therefore undeserving of Santa’s generosity. The reason my son will have no surprises is that he will choose all of his presents and be with us when we buy them, in November. They will then be wrapped and put under the Christmas tree. Read full article
Why Do So Many Teenagers Get Into Trouble?
Whether it be managing the unexpected behaviours of teenagers, a chronic disability, an acute illness, or mental health issues, Benison O’Reilly explores why teenagers get into trouble even with supportive parenting. Read full article
Fire Alarms are Scary – a Child’s Perspective
Last week, the fire alarm went off in our apartment building. It was incredibly loud and didn’t let up. The kids were getting ready to have their bath when it happened. My husband and I looked at each other and took a few moments to register what was happening…Mr 6 has been growing up so quickly lately, asking increasingly mature questions and showing great resilience. So it surprised me when he became panicked … Read full article
Therese Rein’s Inspiring Letter to her Granddaughter Josephine
On 22 June 2012 Therese Rein presented at the Young Minds conference and shared some personal stories of resilience – I sat and listened with the entranced audience. Towards the end of the presentation, Ms Rein spoke of her wishes for Josephine, her recently born granddaughter. I was so moved by this that I rushed out like a groupie and asked Ms Rein if she would share these words with me to publish on happychild; graciously she said yes, and consented to a photo with me. The photo is just to prove how keen I was! So here are the words for you also. Let me know if you love them as much as I do? "Letter to Josephine" Read full article
Benefits of Teaching Positivity to Children
Follow the advice of "fake it ’til you make it" or just "be positive", and you may end up oozing a kind of "toxic insincerity" says Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, Professor of Psychology and specialist investigator of positive emotions and psychophysiology at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Fredrickson was speaking at a workshop that was part of the Young Minds conference held last week at Darling Harbour in Sydney. Teaching the benefits of positivity, Dr. Fredrickson says instead of ‘thinking positive’, we should aim to identify the experiences and contexts that give us a positive emotion, and then repeat them. Research indicates that experiencing positive and negative emotions in about a 3-to-1 ratio, has the potential to enhance your relationships, improve your health, relieve depression, and broaden your mind. Read full article
Are You a Helicopter Parent? Here is Some Landing Gear.
Are you a helicopter parent? Please don’t let this article give you anything else to be anxious about – instead use it to think about whether there are areas of your child’s life where he or she could become more independent and more self-reliant. I am sharing brief ideas with you about signs you may be a helicopter parent and four simple tips to pull back a bit and build your child’s confidence, self-esteem and independence. Read full article
Why Unstructured Play is Important for Your Child
Unstructured, unsupervised fun could be more beneficial for your child’s future than you realise. Parents are feeling they need to provide an array of structured and adult-directed activities to raise smarter children…but it is also backfiring as children are not being given the freedom to develop their own interests and creativity. Read full article
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