I was listening to a mother tell me how much of a “jerk” her five-year-old was. She explained that he was “out to get her,” and “trying to make her life miserable.” With a deep sigh, she told me she didn’t want to be with her son, which made her very sad. “I mean, I [...]
Since telling my friends and family we made the big decision to start homeschooling, a common question I hear is: “So? How’s the homeschooling going?” I’m going to be honest and tell you that up until about a month ago, I was saying, “Sometimes it's rough.” On a few occasions I have hung my head, [...]
This is the information I really wish I had, and desperately needed, when I was pregnant. (This is a picture of me the night I went to a Police reunion concert six days before my due date!) I remember the first time I became pregnant. As an “older mom,” (I was thirty-five) I was very concerned [...]
Do you have a child who is constantly on the go? Here are ten suggestions to making sure they learn to read well. When I was a school counsellor, part of my job was to support teachers who had students that had a hard time sitting still. I encouraged those teachers not to attempt to [...]
Tonight Show funny man, Jimmy Fallon, poured his creative energy into a cute book for toddlers called, Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada. Frustrated that his now-two-year-old daughter, Winnie, said, “mama” as her first word, he was determined to change that for his second daughter, Franny. Fallon admitted that it is obvious what this [...]
-This is a picture of the day we brought our youngest son home from the hospital. My boys are six and eight-years-old now. I had my scariest moment as a parent last night. I went into my boy’s room (they prefer to sleep in the same room) just before going to sleep as I usually [...]
One of the most common requests I get from parents is, "I've tried everything and my child still won't listen. What can I do?" There are several factors involved in a child's willingness to cooperate. A child not doing what she is told is less about "not listening" and more about how able she feels [...]
Even if you have filled your child's ALIVE tanks and have made sure to avoid situations that might compromise your child (hungry, tired, over-stimulated, overwhelmed), tantrums happen. This is normal. Here are suggestions to try preventing tantrums from escalating while protecting the secure attachment you have built with your child. Acknowledge that your child is angry—that alone [...]
The relationship between a parent and their child's teachers is important for that child's development and fostering a life-long love of learning. It helps children relax when they know the various people they spend all day with are on the same page. Also, you don't want to be known as a rude, absent or obnoxious [...]
Here’s a little sleep quiz: 1) Do you know the number of hours of sleep that teens need to function properly and for good health? 2) Do you know the number of hours of sleep most teens are actually getting? 3) Do you know why most teens are sleep deprived? Answers: 1) 9 2) 7 [...]
Andrea Nair is a psychotherapist, parenting educator and international media parenting expert based in London, Ontario, Canada. Her therapy background helps parents to understand at a deeper level what to do when kids drift away, behaviour goes wild, buttons are pushed and old negative self-talk gets too loud.
Her goal is to let parents know they are not alone in their struggles and to provide practical help that makes big positive changes. Parenting can be very hard—and Andrea wants to help.
