Empathy and Autism: in children and how to recognise when a child has autism and how to be empathetic to a child struggling with autism
Since the early days of autism research, misconceptions and stigmas have clouded our understanding of the condition. One such misconception, the “refrigerator mother theory,” wrongly accused mothers of autistic children of being cold and uncaring. Though this theory has long been debunked, its damaging effects linger in the collective consciousness, contributing to misunderstandings about autism […]
Ideas for your child to calm themselves at school
Navigating some childhood challenges can be stressful. Unfortunately, these challenges can appear at any time. When it happens at school, your child can feel overwhelmed, lonely and scared. Luckily, there are a few things you can teach your child to help them calm down when their emotions get out of control. Teaching your child to […]
Tips for managing hyperactivity in the classroom
Hyperactivity can cause challenges at home and school for the child, parents and teachers. It is important to support the hyperactive child in the most positive and sensitive way possible to help control hyperactive motor activity and reduce anxiety. Let’s explore how to manage hyperactivity effectively: Helping to manage hyperactivity Whether you are a teacher […]
Anxiety in Children – Signs, Symptoms & Treatment
From time to time, anxiety in children can be viewed as normal as it comes with life changes and different stages of development. But when should you as a parent become concerned about your child’s anxiety? We answer common questions asked by parents regarding anxiety in children below. What Causes Anxiety in Children? Anxiety is prevalent in […]
Therapy for Children: When to Consider It
A need for therapy for children can be difficult to pick up on as parents. Just like adults, all children tend to experience emotional strain with various life changes. Some children’s strain may be expressed through a dip in their academic performance, mood swings and other telling signs, which can all be viewed as normal. Childhood is […]
Hoe gemaak met ‘n boelie?
Boelie gedrag kan verskeie vorms aan neem: Dit kan fisiek wees (waar ‘n boelie ander te lyf gaan en skop, slaan, byt, spoeg, potjie, ens.); verbaal wees (waar boelies fals gerugte versprei, ander spot, vloek of verneder); sosiaal wees (waar boelies ander bewusltelik uitsluit, ander teen hom draai en aanmoedig om nie met hom vriendelik […]
Expresso video 1: What is bullying?
Last week I chatted to Expresso’s Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp about bullying. In the first segment we looked at what bullying is, what the psychological effects are and what signs to look out for. Bullying can be described as aggressive behaviour by one party (individual or group) against another in which there is a real […]
Expresso video 2: How to address bullying
In this video I chat to Expresso’s Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp on how parents should address bullying. It is absolutely vital that parents get involved if they know or suspect that their child is being bullied, but how they go about doing so is important: keep in mind that your child is most likely already feeling embarrassed […]
Expresso video 3: Why do children become bullies?
Bullying is a serious problem and as a society we often react with great empathy to the child who is being bullied. But what if your child is the bully? Children bully others for a variety of reasons. Surprisingly when we talk to bullies we often find that they themselves suffer from a low self-esteem […]
Dealing with your aggressive toddler
Most reasonable parents will understand that some form of hitting, biting, scratching and kicking is to be expected with toddlers – but what is normal and when does toddler aggression become a problem? In order to try and answer this question, lets first look at how aggressive behaviours may develop: Babies first begin to learn […]
