Difficult Behaviour, Kids Co-operation, Toddlers
Suzie Brown
How to Get Through the Day Smoothly With a ...

Now I consider myself a total expert in this area! Not just because I’ve done a load of research into this area, but mainly because I have a super-strong-willed daughter who will not just DO something when you ask. No, that would be too simple…. :-)

But I’ve found the way to get her to co-operate with what I need her to do (most of the time!). So here are the tactics that really work.

 

How to Get Through the Day Smoothly With a Strong-Willed Child!
Difficult Behaviour
Suzie Brown
Is your child hitting? Here's what you can do.

What is it with the hitting?! If your child is anything like mine, he or she sometimes gets into an out-of-control hitting frenzy. It could be only occasional, or maybe it’s turned into a real phase.

Actually this is very common – and it’s completely normal behaviour for toddlers and preschool kids (and even school-age kids).

So why is the hitting happening? And what can we do about it.

Is your child hitting? Here's what you can do.
Difficult Behaviour, Setting limits
Suzie Brown
Why I'll never lock my daughter in the laundry

I know I'm sounding controversial with this week's blog title! But I'm not actually being that extreme - locking your child in the laundry is truly one of the discipline recommendations of one of the most widely accepted parenting approaches in Australia and overseas.

While there are many good things about this program, I want to take issue with this recommendation.

Why do they tell parents to lock their kids in the laundry? 

Why I'll never lock my daughter in the laundry

Tantrums

FREE ACTION PLAN: Want fewer tantrums? Here's how.

FREE ACTION PLAN: Want fewer tantrums? Here's how.

I know what it’s like to feel so embarrassed as my kid is screaming and crying in the supermarket over a box of teddy bear cookies and the whole shop is staring at us!

I know the panic feeling when you’re not sure how to react – should I get strict with her to get her to be quiet? Or if I cuddle her enough will she calm down? What will work?!

Shouldn’t I be able to calm her down and get her to be quiet? I’m her mother! And what did I do wrong that caused her to lose it like this?!

Well it doesn't have to be this hard! And I'd like to help you make your child's meltdowns easier and fewer.

,

The Hardest Thing About Being a Parent and How to Overcome It

,
The Hardest Thing About Being a Parent and How to Overcome It

What’s the hardest thing about being a parent? Do you think I’m going to say “lack of sleep”?! For me that’s definitely been up there as a massive challenge.

But, No! The hardest thing about parenting is the stress of believing that there’s something wrong with our kids and blaming ourselves for it.

When our toddler has a tantrum or our baby won’t sleep at night or our preschooler won’t eat dinner night after night, we can suffer so much about these things.

Want to know why we suffer and what you can do about it?

,

The Science of a Meltdown: Why Do Young Kids Freak Out About Little Things?

,
The Science of a Meltdown: Why Do Young Kids Freak Out About Little Things?

When we were visiting family friends recently: 5yo Johnny says: “I don’t want the pink plate, I want the green one. Gemma took my green plate!“ Tears, screeching and then hits his sister Gemma.

It’s amazing how little things can so upset a young child, isn’t it?! 

So what’s happening – why do kids react like this? What's actually going on in their brains?!

, ,

Why Is My Child Being So DIFFICULT Lately?!

, ,
Why Is My Child Being So DIFFICULT Lately?!

Has your child ever gone through a difficult stage - where they have become angry, aggressive, and totally unreasonable for weeks on end..? These phases are usually due to a big life change or a developmental leap that is stressing your child's emotional and physical system.

Parenting is hard enough, so why do we have to deal with these difficult stages and what can we do about it?

,

What do I do when my child has a tantrum and can I avoid them?

,
What do I do when my child has a tantrum and can I avoid them?

[Q] Argh – tantrums! What do I do when my 4yo has a tantrum? And can I avoid them happening? It’s so embarrassing having him meltdown in front of other people.

[A] If you’re getting tantrums from your young child, you’re not doing a bad job of parenting! Tantrums are a normal part of kids development. Young children get overwhelmed with their emotions and don’t know how to manage them so it takes over.