I once heard that young children are hardwired to dream about frightening, child-eating creatures. Apparently it’s an evolutionary advantage to have had a few practise runs before being chased by a real sabre-tooth tiger. These nightmares affect 50% of children and occur most often in the 3-6 year age group. Children’s brains have adapted to modern times though so instead [...]
How To Help Your Child Understand Media-Marketing, Advertising And Body Image Have you ever wondered how to help your child navigate the media minefield of advertising and body image? Do you find it difficult to teach your daughter about self-acceptance when society appears to preach a different message? How do you teach your kids to critically appraise the marketing messages [...]
What are night terrors in children? Those of you who have witnessed a night terror will know how they came to be named! I witnessed a relative of mine have several of these when he and I were both young and still remember them vividly. When a night terror starts, your child wakes abruptly from sleep in a terrified, confused state. [...]
Look at the sky and please don’t cry! ‘Quick! Look at the plane! In the sky!! LOOK UP THERE!! QUICK!!!!!’ Have you ever seen someone try to distract a child when he’s hurt or upset? Or tried the same technique yourself in an act of desperation? Often people think that distraction is the quickest way to calm a distressed child [...]
Mental health problems are very common with almost half (45%) of all Australians experiencing a mental illness in their lifetime. A significant proportion of these illnesses begin in childhood. It is estimated that one in every seven children (14%) aged between 4-17 experience mental health or behavioural problems in Australia. It can be useful to have an understanding of the [...]
Separation Anxiety in Children It’s normal for young children to not want to stray too far from us. We are animals after all and survival instincts tell our young that too much distance or time between them and us is a risky thing. For this reason, the developmentally normal ‘stranger anxiety’ and ‘separation anxiety’ that infants and young children experience [...]
Child Psychiatrist Advice for Tics in Children Does your child incessantly sniff? Have a cough with no cause? Blink or twitch for no reason? It might be that your child has a tic. But before you go checking his hairline for a small burrowing insect, read on for all you need to know about childhood tics. Childhood tics are quick, repetitive movements [...]
Parental separation and divorce is increasingly common and inevitably impacts on all family members. Children, particularly young ones, can become frightened, confused and worried that they are somehow responsible. Talking to your child about divorce and separation can be very difficult. Here are some tips that you might find helpful when speaking with your child about your separation or divorce: [...]
Just as we teach children about road safety and ‘stranger danger’, it’s important to teach our children about body safety. Statistically, children are at greater risk of sexual abuse than being hit by a car or abducted by a stranger. Yet this is a subject which parents are often reluctant to approach with their children. Here are some tips that you [...]
Children are learning to communicate with us even from birth and their understanding of language begins soon after. Speech and language development plays a critical role in children’s social development, their behaviour, their learning of early literacy skills and in the development of their self-esteem. How you can encourage your child’s speech and language development: Start talking to your child [...]
