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Category Archives: Preschoolers
Why Does Toddler Sleep Regress? (and what can you do to help?)
….it is very common for children who have previously ‘slept through the night’ as babies to start waking up again as toddlers. If you are there right now, the first thing you should understand is that it’s normal. The second thing you should understand is that it is transient and the third thing you should understand is that it isn’t happening because of you! Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers
Tagged toddler keeps waking up, toddler refuses to go to bed, Toddler Sleep Expert, toddler sleep regression, toddler sleep specialist, toddler sleep suddenly got worse, toddler sleep training, what happened to my toddler's sleep, why is my toddler waking again, why toddler sleep got worse
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Potty Training Regressions and Refusals – Why They Happen and How to Cope!
While there are a multitude of different potty training problems, the two most common – and definitely the ones I get the most questions about – are regressions (accidents after a period of being fully dry/clean for a good while) and refusals (refusing to use the potty or toilet, most commonly after 3-7 days of beginning training). Let’s look at both of these, the reasons that are usually behind them and what parents can do about them. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers
Tagged potty refusal, potty training accidents, potty training regression, toddler doesn't want to potty train, toddler refusing to use potty, toddler refusing to use toilet, toddler won't use potty, toddler won't use toilet, toilet refusal, toilet regression
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The Dreaded Nap Drop – How to Cope When Your Child Drops Their Nap
When your child stops napping it’s likely that they will grumpy in the days sometimes, that’s normal. They are learning to last the day without a nap. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized
Tagged how to cope with nap drop, how to drop child's nap, how to drop toddler's nap, how to make child nap, how to make nap drop easier, how to make toddler nap, how to stop child napping, how to stop toddler napping, what to do when toddler won't nap, why won't my child nap, why won't my toddler nap
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The Problem With Toys: Why Children Lose Interest in New Toys Quickly
Many parents despair of their child’s inability to play alone for any length of time, or the speed at which they get bored with toys. The biggest problem with most toys today is that their play appeal is limited. A shape sorter is just a shape sorter, put the shapes into the holes and the toy no longer offers interest. An entertainment centre loses appeal after the buttons have been pushed, the beads moved along and the xylophone chimed. Most toys have a specific design and a specific purpose. When the child bores of the set purpose, the toy no longer holds appeal for them. Once the function of the toy has been exhausted they cannot be used in other ways, or allow the child to use their imagination. Continue reading
The Top Six Causes of Sleep Problems in School Aged Children (and how to fix them!)
Do you have a slightly older child and struggle with their sleep? Sadly, ‘sleep problems’ are fairly common throughout childhood. The good news however, is that as children get older, night waking lessens dramatically. Most sleep problems in older childhood usually centre on bedtime resistance and early morning waking. Let’s look at the top six problems – and how to fix them! Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Teens, Tweens
Tagged 10 year old won't sleep, 11 year old won't sleep, 12 year old won't sleep, 5 year old won't sleep, 6 year old won't sleep, 7 year old won't sleep, 8 year old won't sleep, 9 year old won't sleep, child can't get to sleep, child up all night, childhood insomnia, childhood sleep problems, my child won't sleep, sleep problems in older children, sleep problems in school age children
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How to Increase Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence in Children
If you want to improve behavior, you have to improve how the child feels about himself. Helping a child to feel good about themselves is one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling parts of gentle discipline. Here are a few ways you can help: Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Teens, Tweens
Tagged how to increase child's confidence, how to increase child's self-esteem, how to increase confidence in boy, how to increase confidence in children, how to increase confidence in girl, how to increase self-esteem in children, how to increase self-esteem in teenage boy, how to increase self-esteem in teenage girl
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How to Stop Last Minute Potty Dashes
You know your child needs to go to the toilet; you watch them hopping from foot to foot, squeezing their legs together and making strange squirming faces. You ask them if they need to go? “NO!” they emphatically reply! Then two minutes later, a puddle appears on floor. Or, they run and mid dash, they have an accident. Why does this happen? and what can you do to stop it? Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers
Tagged how to encourage toddler to go to potty earlier, how to encourage toddler to go to toilet earlier, how to stop last minute potty dashes, toddler leaves it too late before going potty, toddler leaves it too late before going toilet, why does toddler leave it last minute until toilet, why does toddler leave it until last minute to go to potty
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What to Do When Your Child Prefers to Play Alone
I’m often asked how to encourage introverted children to be more sociable and to join in with other children when it comes to play. However, I believe that this common worry is usually unfounded. In my experience, this anxiety tends to highlight more about the parent’s concerns and feelings, than those belonging to the child. Most often, this question comes from parents who are naturally extroverted, who are flummoxed by raising an introverted child. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers, Tweens
Tagged child finds it hard to make friends, introverted child, introverted children, my child doesn't have any friends, my child prefers to play alone, why won't my child play with other children, worried child doesn't play with others, worried child only ever plays alone
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What to Do When Children Bite, Push, Shove, Hit and Throw
how me a young child that doesn’t ever bite, push, shove, hit or throw and I’ll show you a pig that flies. These behaviours are just part of the territory that comes with being little. They don’t mean that the child is ‘naughty’ or ‘bad’ and in most cases are not a reflection of ‘bad parenting’ either. For most children they are simply down to biology. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers
Tagged how to stop baby biting, how to stop toddler biting, how to stop toddler hitting, how to stop toddler throwing, what to do when baby bites, what to do when baby hits, what to do when toddler bites, what to do when toddler hits, what to do when toddler throws everything
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“It’s too slimey!” – Why Children Struggle to Eat Foods with Certain Textures.
When we think about toddlers and pre-schoolers refusing certain foods, we generally think about them not eating them because they don’t like the taste. While this is undoubtedly true, particularly for bitter tasting foods, it isn’t the only reason. Sometimes children may not like the smell of a certain food, or they may not like how something looks, how something feels though is often a stumbling block at this age. It is not uncommon for young children to refuse foods that are wet, or slimy in some way.
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Posted in Babies, Preschoolers, Toddlers
Tagged how to make child eat, how to make toddler eat, picky eating sensory, picky eating textures, sensory struggles with eating, why won't child eat food with sauce, why won't child eat slimey food, why won't child eat squishy food, why won't child eat wet food, why won't my child eat certain textures, why won't my toddler eat certain textures, why won't toddler eat food with sauce, why won't toddler eat slimey food, why won't toddler eat squishy food, why won't toddler eat wet food
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