Category Archives: Preschoolers

Talking to Children About ‘Stranger Danger’

Posted on March 16, 2020 by SarahOckwell-Smith

I’m often asked my opinion of talking to children about interactions with strangers and how I would best approach the topic. It may surprise you that I am really not a fan of the idea. Why? Continue reading →

Posted in Preschoolers, Teens, Toddlers, Tweens | Tagged how to keep children safe, how to tell children about stranger danger, parenting expert, parenting expert stranger danger, parenting expert UK, stranger danger, talking to children about strangers, teach children about stranger danger, tricky people

Talking to Children about Death

Posted on April 6, 2019 by SarahOckwell-Smith

Children often become interested in, and preoccupied with, death around the ages of three to five years and parents can really struggle with explaining it to them – the natural instinct is to down play it, so as not to scare them. I am firmly of the belief that we should expose children to death (ie they should attend funerals) and discuss it in a factual, honest way with them. In other cultures death (and birth) are a normal part of everyday life that children are not shielded from, I think we could do well to learn from these societies. Continue reading →

Posted in Preschoolers, Teens, Toddlers, Tweens | Tagged death gentle parenting, explaining death gentle parenting, explaining death parenting expert, explaining death to children, how to tell children about death, talking to children about death, telling child cat has died, telling child dog has died, telling child grandparent has died, telling child somebody has died

The Art of Saying ‘No’ to Children

Posted on March 11, 2019 by SarahOckwell-Smith

I hear many myths surrounding gentle parenting. Some of them are so absurd that I simply just laugh them off. There are one or two though that really bother me. In particular the myth that “gentle parents don’t say ‘no’ to their children”. Because, actually – that really isn’t true. NO is not a dirty word and it definitely has a place in my parenting vocabulary. Continue reading →

Posted in Preschoolers, Toddlers | Tagged alternatives to no for children, alternatives to saying no to children, gentle discipline, gentle parenting saying no, problem with saying no to children, saying no gentle parenting, why you shouldn't say no to children, yes spaces

Why Sibling Rivalry can be a GOOD Thing!

Posted on March 4, 2019 by SarahOckwell-Smith

With so many resources giving parents advice to stop sibling fighting, we lose sight of the positive side of these seemingly negative interactions. Parents are often so eager to stop any fighting that they don’t realise that actually, most sibling fights, provide wonderful communication education, personal growth and emotional literacy to both siblings. To aim to stop any sibling squabbles is not only naïve (because no families have siblings that don’t fight, often regularly!), but a lost learning opportunity for the children. Continue reading →

Posted in Mothering, Preschoolers, Teens, Toddlers, Tweens | Tagged how to stop siblings fighting, positives of sibling rivalry, reactions to new baby, second baby book, sibling book, sibling fights, sibling relationships, sibling rivalry, sibling rivalry gentle parenting

How to Help Children to Cope with the Death of a Pet

Posted on December 17, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

Losing a pet can be a really tough time for children, it is however an incredibly important learning opportunity. For most children, the loss of a pet is their first encounter with death and grief, handling it well can really … Continue reading →

Posted in Preschoolers, Teens, Toddlers, Tweens | Tagged help child cope with death, how to help child grieve cat, how to help child grieve dog, how to help child grieve pet, how to help child with loss of a pet, how to tell child cat died, how to tell child dog died

Why Does Toddler Sleep Regress? (and what can you do to help?)

Posted on November 30, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

….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

Potty Training Regressions and Refusals – Why They Happen and How to Cope!

Posted on November 23, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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

The Dreaded Nap Drop – How to Cope When Your Child Drops Their Nap

Posted on November 16, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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

The Problem With Toys: Why Children Lose Interest in New Toys Quickly

Posted on November 9, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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 →

Posted in Education, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Tweens | Tagged best toys for learning, best toys to entertain a toddler, best toys to entertain children, my child gets bored of toys, my child won't play, my child won't play alone, toddler won't play with toys

The Top Six Causes of Sleep Problems in School Aged Children (and how to fix them!)

Posted on November 2, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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 →