We often think of tidying as a skill that must be drilled into children—another responsibility for parents to enforce alongside table manners and bedtime routines. Yet what if tidying is less about constant reminders and more something absorbed through experience, modelling, and natural curiosity? Much like learning to read, children don’t necessarily need pressure toContinue reading “Three Little Whirlwinds and a Messy Home: Finding Peace in the Chaos”
Category Archives: Brain Development
Hold Onto Your Kids: An Ode to Dr. Gordon Neufeld
Why I Hold Onto Dr. Gordon Neufeld’s Wisdom: A Poetic Tribute In a world where childhood often feels overshadowed by peer pressure and social calendars packed with endless play dates, it can be challenging to share a different perspective on what children truly need to thrive. For over two decades, Dr. Gordon Neufeld has beenContinue reading “Hold Onto Your Kids: An Ode to Dr. Gordon Neufeld”
Why Our Kids’ Freedom Means More Stress for Us
Have you ever felt torn between wanting your child to be independent and worrying about what might happen if you let go? You’re not alone. Autonomy is defined as “the ability to make your own decisions without being controlled by anyone else”. Thinking of our kids, the more control we give our children, the less stress they experience. As children gain autonomy, parents naturallyContinue reading “Why Our Kids’ Freedom Means More Stress for Us”
The Messy Journey To Maturation
This blog post will look at the long and messy journey to being a mature individual. It looks at what an immature person looks like. It discusses the essential path to maturity: expression of all feelings. It includes my own messy journey of how I was to finally arrive at maturation.
Selective Mutism vs Shyness
I have 3 children aged 8 years and 6.5 year old twins. Shyness at the level they display it seems quite unusual. I got alarmed when other parents, on first meeting at a group, would say ‘My Child is Shy Too!’, but then their kid would be swiftly be running off and chatting within theContinue reading “Selective Mutism vs Shyness”
First Homeschooling Worry Resolved: Reminder to Trust In My Child
When you go down the opposite path to the majority of our society, it can be hard to trust that your child will learn what they need for a successful life. My daughter learning to write is our first personal reminder to trust my child on her learning journey. My first worry was not aboutContinue reading “First Homeschooling Worry Resolved: Reminder to Trust In My Child”
Mixed Feelings: Brain Development and the 5-7 Shift
What if it was mostly thanks to our relationship with our parents that we grow into mature and lovely grown ups… or, the opposite, our parents prevented our brains from developing to their full potential which turned us into immature people who react in the moment? If this is true, then we have a dutyContinue reading “Mixed Feelings: Brain Development and the 5-7 Shift”
The Importance of the First 3 Years for Brain Development
There is a common belief that the first 3 years of childhood are key to the whole future life of that child, into adulthood and beyond. ‘The Myth of the First Three Years’ by John Brewer assesses the science behind the public perception. Whilst the book was published in 2002, a lot of the scienceContinue reading “The Importance of the First 3 Years for Brain Development”
Create and Treasure Memories: Educate Your Children Through Stories and Photos
Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell explain how the brain develops and the importance of telling stories to help your children grow up with better memories. There are several strategies recommended in the book to help the child’s brain neurons grow strong in remembering. Photographs can help trigger your own memories. When photos are shared withContinue reading “Create and Treasure Memories: Educate Your Children Through Stories and Photos”
What’s That You Say? No TV Time? … At All?
Many gentle parents also follow the practise of no screen time (yes, you read that correctly!) or limiting screen time for their children and / or themselves. There are many lifestyle factors that can make this a huge challenge for some families. However, it’s worth educating ourselves on the recommendations and reasons for those recommendations,Continue reading “What’s That You Say? No TV Time? … At All?”
Gentle Parent 