Understanding their world
Connecting with kids to face the challenges of the modern world
Connecting with our kids, even when we think they don’t want us too, is one of the greatest ways we as parents can help our
February 9, 2015 22 Comments
communication
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Online Behaviour
Adolescents, Cavemen and the Teenage Brain
I have written before about the teenage brain and the changes that are going on in those strangely wired little heads. I watched this week
October 21, 2013 16 Comments
Contracts / Tips
11 tips for Mobile Phone Etiquette
The technology of today and the future, and our increasing reliance on portable devices has led to the introduction of a whole new set of
October 1, 2013 13 Comments
Digital Trends
Can socialising online with your kids improve your relationship
Does socialising online with your kids improve your relationship with them? Does hanging out on social networking sites with mum or dad strengthen the connections
September 9, 2013 8 Comments
Parenting
Connecting with our kids: how do we keep it up?
What does it really take to connect with someone? We talk about quality time over quantity. We talk about the benefits of real life connections
June 17, 2013 17 Comments
I want my boys to be strong
I want my boys to be strong. I am not talking about the size of their biceps or the weight of their bench press. As
May 20, 2013 21 Comments
Switching off the technology by default: my practice run to Disconnect to Reconnect
Easter this year saw us revisit our camping ground at Halls Gap for another fabulous long weekend of family, friends, fun, chocolate, wine, food and
April 23, 2013 15 Comments
A very important Mothers Day present: Disconnecting to Reconnect
I remember spending my first Mothers Day in the Royal Childrens Hospital with my new baby and I was given a little card with his
April 19, 2013 13 Comments
4 things I do everyday to keep my kids safe online
Despite being a cyber safety consultant and counsellor of many families that have struggled with online safety issues, my most important job is as a
March 25, 2013 17 Comments
4 things parents shouldn’t do with their kids online
We are often talking about all the things parents should be doing to help keep their kids safe online. We encourage parents to actively learn
March 13, 2013 12 Comments
The downside to being socially switched on…all the time
The cyber world and the advancements in technology have resulted in many changes to the way we connect with others. Whilst many of the changes
February 25, 2013 21 Comments
How well do you know your kids? The benefits of role playing
Do you think you have a pretty good idea of how your kids would react to certain situations? Do you always know how they respond
December 10, 2012 31 Comments
Is the message in the medium? How does technology change the the meaning behind our communication?
Does the medium we use when we connect with others change our message? Does it matter if we say something via text, Facebook, Skype or Twitter? As technology
November 26, 2012 9 Comments
It’s not just about switching off: helping kids deal with Cyber Bullies
When we hear reports in the media of cyber bullies and trolls harassing, stalking and abusing others, the immediate reaction for many has been “Why
November 5, 2012 17 Comments
Listening to our kids now to hear them later
I have often written and spoken about the need to form strong connections with your kids based on open, honest and available communication. We know
October 23, 2012 8 Comments
A Summary of Social Networking Sites and Settings for Parents: how to keep kids safe
Every day there seems to be a new app, social media site or forum for our kids to ‘hangout’ online. Last week I talked about
October 9, 2012 22 Comments
An Internet Contract for families: teaching our kids to play safe
As our kids are beginning to interact online and use the internet at an increasingly younger age, it becomes imperative that we as parents manage
August 6, 2012 28 Comments
To friend or not to friend: should parents and their kids be Facebook friends?
To friend or not to friend….is this a facebook dilemma for parents…or is it a no brainer? Many people ask me whether they should insist
July 16, 2012 32 Comments
Not hearing, listening: learning to listen to connect with our kids
As parents it is our role to give advice, to solve problems to answer questions and to be a guiding light. But sometimes our kids
July 9, 2012 23 Comments
The positive role of technology: why parents should embrace the online world
Technology, the Internet and our children’s engagement with the online world have lead to many favourable advancements and developments for our children as well as
July 3, 2012 30 Comments
The Role of the Bystander : Give Kids the Skills to Say No To Bullying
Do you know what your children would do if they were to witness a bullying incident? Would they speak up, intervene, join in, turn away
June 25, 2012 23 Comments
So many mean kids: why parents need to go back to basics
Why are some kids showing disregard for others, society and the laws? What is it that we are doing differently that allows children to think
June 11, 2012 10 Comments
Risk Taking Behaviour: from the Toddler to the Teenager
At just 8 months of age my youngest boy has a few bruises and bumps to show for his dare devil antics as he tries
May 15, 2012 8 Comments
Public versus Private: Technology blurs the lines for our kids
The children of today are really no different to those of years gone by. They want to hang out with their mates, they want to
April 11, 2012 6 Comments
How we disCONNECTED to connect
So this week we endured, embraced, rallied and relished 48 hours of life that was technology free. Yes we had no television no internet, no
March 26, 2012 8 Comments
disCONNECT: can we really turn everything off?
Last week I week I got an email asking me to be an ambassador for the disCONNECT challenge. In light of my previous post on
March 19, 2012 13 Comments
3 ways to get children to cooperate: cues to better behaviour
There is nothing more frustrating than a toddler or young child that put ups the same arguments, procrastinations, tantrums and refusals in order to avoid
January 23, 2012 10 Comments
5 Ways to build a connection with your child despite your busy lifestyle
After a busy week unpacking a house, preparing for a 10th birthday and recovering from my husbands 40th, it is now time to get back to
December 13, 2011 3 Comments
Reigning in our kids language: keeping things in perspective
I started thinking about the way my children speak upon hearing my 2 year old, yes 2 year old, refer to something as “sick”…meaning good,
October 28, 2011 14 Comments
8 ways to improve assertiveness, for parents and their children
Assertiveness. Something we all need but something that doesn’t always come naturally. In my last post we looked at the importance of assertiveness, what it
October 13, 2011 3 Comments
How assertive are you? The importance of assertiveness for parent and child
What does it mean to be assertive? How Assertive are you? Why is assertiveness so important? How can being a more assertive parent make for
October 7, 2011 10 Comments
20 dinner table conversation starters: connecting with our kids
Last week we looked at ways to improve the communication between ourselves and our kids. We looked at some different strategies to hopefully avoid the one
September 27, 2011 3 Comments
Communicating with our kids: getting more than one word answers
How do you get more than one word answers from your kids? How do you get them to engage in a conversation rather than respond
September 21, 2011 17 Comments