Category Archives: Preschoolers

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 →

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

How to Increase Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence in Children

Posted on October 26, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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

How to Stop Last Minute Potty Dashes

Posted on October 19, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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

What to Do When Your Child Prefers to Play Alone

Posted on October 5, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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

What to Do When Children Bite, Push, Shove, Hit and Throw

Posted on September 28, 2018 by SarahOckwell-Smith

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 →