Parenting matters more for some children than for others. Research shows that some children are just predisposed to be greatly influenced by the parenting they receive (for better or worse), while other children will do relatively well regardless of the parenting that they receive. And whether a particular child is highly sensitive to parenting or … Continue reading Positive Parenting for Adolescents at Risk of Depression
Research
Socialising Male Aggression: The Role of Fathers
Boys are more physically aggressive than girls. This is a statement that most people, and most parents, would agree with. But do boys’ aggressive tendencies come from biological differences between the sexes, or are we raising boys to be more aggressive than girls? While biology plays a role, there is clear research evidence that we … Continue reading Socialising Male Aggression: The Role of Fathers
5 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Develop Empathy
Empathy is the ability to feel or imagine another person’s emotional experience. When we see another person who is sad, hurt, or in distress, we can imagine what they are feeling and this motivates us to reach out and try to provide them with assistance. Children start to develop empathy soon after they are born … Continue reading 5 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Develop Empathy
The Earliest Signs of Autism – What Can Parents Do?
Abnormalities in social behaviour and attention are present for months and even years before a diagnosis of autism is made. As it is often the case that the parents are the first to notice that something is wrong, it is critical that all parents: 1) are aware of the early signs of autism and … Continue reading The Earliest Signs of Autism – What Can Parents Do?
Debunking Evidence in Support of Cry-it-Out
It's a decision most parents are faced with at some point – whether or not to sleep train their baby. I know it can be a touchy subject, and I know that parents have a number of reasons why they do or do not choose to sleep train. Although for the most part I don't … Continue reading Debunking Evidence in Support of Cry-it-Out
Are Children at a Disadvantage When Mothers Return to Work?
Compared to previous generations, mothers today are more likely to return to work after having children. Many women have spent a significant number of years in school and in the workforce building a career and are not willing to give that up to stay at home with children. Financial reasons also play a role, with … Continue reading Are Children at a Disadvantage When Mothers Return to Work?
Let’s Talk about Breastsleeping
Breastsleeping: breastfeeding mothers sharing the same or an adjacent sleep surface, (i.e. cosleeping*), with their infants in the absence of all hazardous factors. -- Breastsleeping is a new concept proposed by researchers from the University of Notre Dame. It is an important move towards normalising bedsharing for breastfeeding infants, allowing for proper education surrounding an … Continue reading Let’s Talk about Breastsleeping
Building Trust in the First Year of Life
We track our babies’ progress against many milestones over their first year of life. But one of the most important milestones they can achieve during this time is least prominent for mothers and their health care providers - the development of a secure attachment bond. A secure attachment boils down to the infant’s trust in … Continue reading Building Trust in the First Year of Life
Parents of Difficult Babies – Your Hard Work is Not in Vain
Sensitive. Intense. Frequent negative emotions. High activity level. Withdraws or doesn't easily adapt to new situations. Irregular feeding and sleep routine. If these terms describe your child then it is likely he or she is what child psychologists would call ‘difficult’. This is in contrast to ‘easy’ children (generally positive moods, routine sleep/wake and feeding … Continue reading Parents of Difficult Babies – Your Hard Work is Not in Vain
Does an Education Equal Unhappiness for Mothers?
Today's mothers are more educated than ever before. This is no doubt an advantage for the little ones that we are raising, but it might not be so beneficial for our own well-being as mothers. A mother’s level of education is known to influence the way that she parents – mothers who are more educated … Continue reading Does an Education Equal Unhappiness for Mothers?
The Rambling Mum 