How to stop repeating yourself and get things done. Everyone is busy, including your kids. Your kids are learning, growing, and trying to make sense of their world every day.

If I showed you a line and asked which of three other lines were the same length, there is a high probability you would choose the correct answer. Now imagine I put several other people in the room with you, asked the same question, and everyone in the group gave the exact same answer, which was different than yours. Would you change your answer? 

We all want our children to succeed; show me a child trying something new and I’ll show you a parent anxiously hoping for the best. What that best looks like varies from home to home and family to family, but the desired outcome is the same – we want our children to experience happiness, success, and joy.

It seems that once you become the parent of a school-aged child, you mark the passage of time less by the beginning of the calendar year and more by the first day of school. For each of us this brings a variety of feelings – excitement, fear, nervousness, apprehension, anticipation, relief.

Childhood is a time of enormous growth and learning. When thinking about all the relationship dynamics, situations, and events our children are navigating at a time in their lives when many of these things are happening for the first time, it’s hard not to be impressed.

Boredom is a feeling we experience when the brain is unsatisfied in its search for stimulation. In a world where stimulation is constant and all around us, it’s easy to see why boredom might feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder most often first presenting in childhood. It is characterized by symptoms such as difficulty maintaining focus; struggling to complete work or follow through with instructions; wandering off task; disorganization; excessive motor activity (fidgetiness, tapping, talking); interrupting; difficulty delaying gratification; and acting in an unsafe manner.

Big or small, planned, or unplanned, transitions at any age, for anyone, can either be a welcomed surprise or full of anxiety and distress. Transitions can be imposed on us or proposed by us. Whatever the reason, they are an integral part of life and must be managed appropriately.

The art of playing in nature has been lost for many of us. Our lives have become busy with many competing demands and expectations. We are busy with work, school, and structured extracurricular activities. When we have free time, we are staying in our homes and on ‘screens’ at a higher frequency than ever before.

When we embark upon a road trip, particularly as parents travelling with children, it’s important to have a plan. We may set our GPS, pack required items, plan our stops, ensure our vehicle is maintained – it’s often a long list.

I used to think I would be the perfect parent… and then I had kids! I laugh about it now and wonder how I was so naïve. Perfection in parenting is impossible when it comes to the complexities of life and the human condition. Afterall, we’re busy.

Just like having good winter tires, the more solid and prepared you are in terms of understanding your child’s learning strengths and potential needs, the more comfortable and confident your child will feel as they progress along their learning and life journey.