We tend to find family traditions important because we do them again and again, but simply doing things over and over isn’t the whole story. Traditions are often at their best when kids aren’t just at them, but are actually a part of making them happen. For example, a child who picks the sprinkles for…
Homework is frequently hard for kids, and it’s not simply the work itself. It’s that it’s assigned in the evening, when they’re already worn out, needing food, or emotionally drained. Families would like to help with learning, but don’t want every afternoon to be a repeat of all the demands of school. A good homework…
When families start the week already struggling, the days themselves tend to be more difficult. School things are all over the place, you’re unsure about food, nobody has looked at the calendar and Monday finds the house in a state of dealing with things as they come up, rather than being ready for them. For…
Within a family, you are always gently pointing things out to your kids. They’ll likely forget what they’re supposed to do, cut you off when you’re talking, not finish their jobs, or just do things without thinking if they’re tired or upset. And in lots of families, the problem isn’t just what the kids do,…
When days are hectic with parents doing loads of things at once, kids being exhausted and usual schedules being stretched, it’s particularly hard to deal with how much time everyone spends in front of screens. At these times, lots of families fall back on what seems sensible, but could actually make it harder to form…
We usually plan things to do with the family because they are stimulating, full of fun, or just to occupy everyone, but kids can get a lot out of doing things together that are more restful. At home with lots going on, it’s easy for the school day, shopping, screen time and going to bed…
Parents often concentrate on whether their kids can get the right answers when considering if a child is ready for school and learning at home. However, experts in early education usually point out that the act of questioning is a valuable learning skill in itself. When a child voices a thought, asks the reason for…
Weeknight dinners are usually more stressful for families than people realize. Mum or Dad might still be dealing with work, the kids are likely tired and wanting food, there’s probably homework left to do, and everyone is often emotionally exhausted by the time you get to the table. And, in lots of families, the problem…
Adults frequently ask kids to be patient, but experts in how children grow say patience isn’t something that’s just there. It builds up over time. A little kid who can’t wait, frequently speaks before they should, or gets upset if they don’t get what they want immediately isn’t necessarily a bad kid. More likely, they’re…
Lots of families start with rules about phones and tablets in the bedroom when they want to improve how much time everyone spends on devices, and those rules can certainly help. However, problems with family and screens usually start much earlier in the day, in the places where people are looking at screens the most….