Why don’t parents like playing with their kids?
Playing games, even when we do not feel like it, can build our children’s wellbeing, and make our family feel fun.
I had just returned from a long bike ride with my friend, Dave. It was a hot ...
3 Strategies for Inoculating Girls Against Stress
It is generally well accepted that females experience greater levels of depression and anxiety than males. This is true, not only during adulthood, but also during adolescence.
While there is a range...
Why Getting Angry Doesn’t Work
Recently I spent some time with a father who struggles to control his anger towards his children. He described a scene that had played out in his home shortly before our conversation:
My teenage ...
Is sibling rivalry ok?
How many times have you heard “MUM! He hit me!”.. or “Dad, tell her to give it back!”? When it comes to sibling relationships, sometimes there is no love lost. And for those in the firing ...
The Art of Parenting: Knowing When to Step In, and When to Step Out
Many of our children don’t like to admit this – and if they’re reading this article, they’ll say it’s not true – but until at least the age of 16, our children need us to be actively ...
I am not your friend. I am your parent
Most parents want to have good relationships with their children. As those children become teenagers, things change. Parents still want good relationships with their children, but their children ...
Why a Teenager’s Brain is Like a Ferrari with Bicycle Brakes
Why do adolescents take risks – a lot? It’s almost like they feel they’re immortal. Adolescents are impulsive. They seek constant stimulation. They don’t weigh risks before they dive ...
Why Fathers Count
Father’s Day is this Sunday in Australia. This week kids have been spending ridiculous amounts of money at Father’s Day stalls in school, purchasing ‘thoughtful’ gifts. Pre-schoolers have made...
10 Ways to Have a Positive Influence on Your Children
We have our greatest influence on our children during the first twelve years of their lives. Once adolescence hits, our ability to guide them is reduced as they become increasingly independent, and as...
How to teach your children empathy – and why it matters
Every few days the news readers tell us another story (or five) that reminds us how terribly badly some people in our society treat others. (I’ve stopped watching the news, but that’s another ...