All About Meltdowns
We dread them, we hate them, we get thrown off our game when they happen. Sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere. Sometimes we can see them coming. We…
Radio Interview: Stand and Deliver with Judy Banfield
My hometown Nelson has a community radio station run by a crew of volunteers (Kootenay Co-op Radio). They offer a number of excellent programs, both music and spoken word shows.…
Kids and tall trees, blue skies and mighty seas
I took a much-appreciated vacation this past week, going to the beautiful, some say magical coastal town of Tofino, BC. The road to Tofino wound dizzyingly through glorious snow covered…
Will your child still love you if you “discipline” them?
“My daughter and I are so much happier now. I finally learned that it’s ok to say “no” sometimes and to guide and direct her behaviour. We actually get along…
When your kids don’t meet your expectations
From the moment our children are born, we are checking the charts, comparing our babies with the “shoulds” of whatever age they are. We constantly compare with other parents, with…
Groupings: Helping Young Children Adjust to Group Experiences
It's almost time for the beginning of the school year. And for many children, it's not "Back to School", but "Beginning School, or preschool, or daycare" for the first time.…
Are you raising a “spoiled” child?
The issue of "spoiling a child" is obsessive in our culture. And now, seeing as it's summer, a lot of people have family visiting. So even though the weather is lovely, moms…
But… my first child wasn’t like this!
“Be careful to step away from the water spray,” the mom said to her 3-year-old daughter. It was a very hot day and the store next to the crosswalk where…
Canada Day: why it’s a gift to your children to live here
This coming Friday is Canada Day and as I sat down to write this blog looking for Canada Day activities for kids to suggest to you, I came across this…
What do we really know about the impact of spanking children?
80% of the world’s children are spanked. Think about that. 80% of the world’s children are spanked! This is based on research conducted worldwide by Unicef in 2014. By most…