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We may have done a *little* bit of rearranging in a mystery bookshop today 😉 . . . #gentleparentingbooks #gentleparentingbook #parentingbook #parentingbooks #gentleparenting #gentlesleepbook #gentlepottytraining #gentleeating #toddlerbook #toddlerbooks #babybook #babybooks #piatkus #authorsofinstagram #authorsofinsta #sarahockwellsmithA bit of a Friday funny for you 😂 . . . #parentingmemes #parentingfunny #funnyparentingquotes #motherhood #realmotherhood #reallifemama #mothersofinstagram #mothersofinsta #mummyblog #mumlife #motheroftoddlers #toddlerfun #gentleparenting #realmum #sarahockwellsmithDid you know that there is a word, coined in 1973 by medical anthropologist Dana Raphael and popularised recently by Dr Alexandra Sacks (the image is her quote), to describe the huge physiological and psychological transition that women make when they become mothers? . The fact that most have never heard of this word is a good example of how under-researched, misunderstood and undervalued this tremendous transformation is for new mothers. . . But understanding is so needed. As the Rajneesh quote goes: “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” . This is why they need support, empathy and understanding and time....not unwanted advice and expectations that they should “get back to normal” (whether that be their pre-baby bodies, their careers, their social life, or their housekeeping) quickly. The thing is, that normal has changed. There is no “getting back” to anything, because now everything is different for her. Body, mind, heart and soul....she will never be the same again.....and that’s something I strongly believe we need to understand and accept more in our society. Don’t you? . Image by @alexandrasacksmd . . . #motherhood #motherhoodquotes #motherhoodrising #motherhoodunplugged #motherlove #mothersofinstagram #mummydiaries #mamalife #mumssupportingmums #mumsofinsta #mumsofinstagram #mindfulmotherhood #mindfulmothering #gentlemothering #gentlemother #newmummy #newmumlife #gentleparenting #newborn #newmother #sarahockwellsmithWinter is coming ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ There is strength in gentleness..... ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ . #gentleparenting #mindfulparenting #attachmentparenting #consciousparenting #peacefulparenting #positiveparenting #gentlediscipline #gentleparentinguk #gentlemothering #gentleparent #mindfulmothering #cosleeping #bedsharing #breastfeeding #breastfeedingmama #newmama #mothersofinstagram #motherhoodrising #wokemama #wokemamas #wokeparents #liberalmemes #liberalsnowflakes #liberalsnowflake #sarahockwellsmith #winteriscoming #bleedingheartliberal #humanrights #downwiththepatriarchyTop Posts & Pages
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Category Archives: Preschoolers
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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When and How Should You Handle Pocket Money?
I believe pocket money is important to allow them the freedom and control to be able to buy what they want, rather than have to ask you for everything. This control can have a very positive ‘knock on’ effect on the rest of their behaviour (that is often totally unrelated to money and purchases). Pocket money also teaches children economics from a very early age, so important considering finance management is not a part of core schooling curriculum (why?!). It can teach children about saving and donating, about foreign currency exchange and the value of buying good quality products. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Teens, Tweens
Tagged gentle parenting pocket money, how much pocket money should children have, how to encourage children to give to charity, how to encourage children to save, how to teach children money management, mindful pocket money, sarah ockwell-smith pocket money, when should children have pocket money
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Why You Should NEVER Praise or Reward A Child for Eating!
Praising a child for eating can be incredibly counter-productive. While the child may initially try to eat the food on offer, in exchange for lots of praise from their parents, the effect is unlikely to be long-lasting. The most worrying outcome of praise however is not the temporary effect it has, but how it encourages children to override their innate satiety cues in favour of pleasing their parent. Research has shown that children who are regularly praised for eating are statistically more likely to grow to be overweight in later life. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers, Tweens
Tagged child won't eat vegetables, gentle eating, gentle eating book, how to make child eat vegetables, how to reduce child obesity, intuitive eating book, intuitive eating in children, reward chart for eating, reward chart for eating vegetables, reward chart for healthy eating, school award for eating, school lunchbox policy, school sticker for eating, toddler chart for eating, why you should never praise a child for eating, why you should never reward a child for eating, why you shouldn't praise eating, why you shouldn't reward eating
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The Secret Way to Achieve a Calmer and Easier Toddler Bedtime
Bedtime resistance is common in the toddler and preschooler years and what was once an easy bedtime can often stretch out to hours. Similarly night waking may resurface (or not improve as expected). There are many reasons for disturbed bedtimes and waking, however the bedtime routine and what happens immediately before it is key in my opinion. Continue reading
Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers
Tagged best toddler bedtime, child sleep expert, gentle sleep training, gentle sleep training toddler, how to get 2 year old to sleep, how to get 3 year old to sleep, how to get 4 year old to sleep, how to get toddler to sleep, sleep training toddler, Toddler Sleep Expert, toddler won't go to bed, toddler won't sleep, what time should 2 year old go to bed, what time should 3 year old go to bed, what time should toddler go to bed
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Why Your Child Needs Boundaries – and How to Set & Enforce Them
Boundaries play a crucial role in Gentle Parenting, in fact, so much so they really do form one of its cornerstones. I think the difficulty in understanding, comes from those who don’t really ‘get’ this style of parenting and also from those who practice it, but are a bit too scared to set and particularly enforce boundaries. Continue reading
