Think of a day, any ordinary day. You get up, you switch off your alarm, you have a shower, you get dressed. Before you have even faced the world you have already practised several habits. Do you have to give yourself a reminder or put the things above on a to-do list? I suspect not because these things have become regular routines. Just as the earth turns each day, as adults, we have a built-in program of daily disciplines, of helpful habits
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Returning To School | Finding The Anchor
It’s that time of year when children are returning to school. There is so much change. Even if your child is going back to the same school, or the same class, it is highly likely that they will have a new teacher. There may well be a new classroom and some new classmates, too.I n order to grow more confident, be able to challenge themselves and weather the storms, every child needs to ‘know where their anchor is.’
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The Iceberg and a Child's Wellbeing
We all know the image of the iceberg, where there is only a small part of it showing above the surface. Have you considered that the child in front of you is showing you the top of their iceberg and it is completely different from what lies beneath the surface?
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Image: AP News
Are We Buying Their Compliance?
Earlier this week I was watching the interview between Oprah and Meghan Markle. I wonder if you have seen it? I wonder how it made you feel?
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Are Yours Short and Scratchy?
We all have a sock drawer but I wonder if we have ever considered that, figuratively speaking, we also have an emotional sock drawer. Just like our socks, our emotions are simply there, sometimes used regularly, otherwise lurking in a dark and dusty corner.
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Safe In The Storm - Managing Difficult Behaviour
Today storm Darcy was forecast. My tipi fell down, the storm was building, I had to decide what to do so, after weighing up the options, I did damage limitation. I removed the things which would get damaged and I weighed down the canvas to avoid it ripping or blowing away, to keep it from harm. But what has this got to do with managing behaviour?
Read MoreSibling Rivalry and Home Learning
Sibling Rivalry can be a challenge at the best of times, but I’m sure we would all agree, these are far from the best of times. We are all cooped up in the same space, trying to do our best; it is tough. If we are feeling the stress and the anxiety, then it would stand to reason that our children are feeling stressed and anxious too. Here’s what you can do.
Read MoreElf - Regulation?
Elves are seasonal folk and I have been watching carefully as some little people close to my heart have recently been visited by a fairly modern Christmas character, the Elf on the Shelf.
Read MoreBoiled eggs and Brilliant Behaviour!
This morning I burned my boiled eggs which is a first for me. Thank goodness for the smoke alarm! What has this got to do with Brilliant Behaviour?
Read MoreThe Journey from Stickers to Self-Regulation?
Self-regulation is high on our list when we think about helping children to manage their behaviour. When they are tiny, we need to make all the decisions for them, but very soon they can begin to make their own choices and find their own way of navigating the world one step at a time. One step at a time is something we can often miss out on.
Read MoreBacon
Change in routine, unpredictability, flexibility is more difficult for some of our children, and some adults too. Every person with additional needs is unique, but many people who are on the autism spectrum find it really hard when routines change, when things are not predictable, when they need to be flexible. So I hear you ask, ‘what has this got to do with the bacon?’
Read MoreLessons from Lockdown: Little Sniffles?
When there are bad things in our lives it is easy to dwell on them, spend our time worrying about them , but do we notice when they are absent?
Read MorePrize and Price - The Early Morning Dilemma
This morning I had a decision to make, I was wrapped up warmly in my bed. It was 5.30 am. The world would not have judged me if I had stayed there - most rational people would. Should I stay in my nice warm bed? If I had, the prize would have been a lie-in, the price - I would have missed the glorious sunrise. The questions is, how can we help our children to begin to make these 'prize and price' decision for themselves?
Read MoreLife After Lockdown: What Do Our Children Need When We Return To School?
What do our children need when we return to school, to their nurseries, to the new normal? Whether you are a teacher or a parent there are three things that will help us get it right for our children at home, at school or in their early years setting when we return to Life after Lockdown.
Read MoreBehaviour, Consequences and Discipline
Children’s behaviour...as parents and people who care about children we all know how this impacts on our lives.
We also know about the consequences of a person’s actions. Many of us think we have a fair grasp of discipline but what does discipline actually mean to you?
Listen To The Little Voice
Every child connects in a different way but some seem to grab out attention more than others- you know the ones! My question to you in busy early years setting is: Do you listen to the little voice?
Read MoreOut Of Control!
Out of control vs controlling when we are managing our children’s behaviour… why this distinction is so important.
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More Than Two In My Trolley
A couple of years ago my son was studying for his GCSEs. He was stressed, tired and anxious. He was ruled by the rigours of his revision routine. (I know you like alliteration Ali, but this is pushing it!) One day after I had done a big shop, I walked into my bathroom to be greeted by this image. My son had carefully constructed a wall of toilet roll…
Read MorePivotal Points of Development
What is the key to learning for boys in Early Years? A Levels have now become the baseline qualification with so many more people getting degrees we have found ourselves at the starting blocks for the race to learn more, to learn sooner even the ‘race to read’. People in high places often believe that ‘the sooner they start, the more they will achieve’. This just isn’t true.
Read MoreThe S Shaped Sofa
Some of the most successful settings I have worked with have had one thing in common... a sofa. I have recently been helping teachers and early years practitioners set up their rooms ready for the new term. This is such an important task as it's a bit like planning out your garden...the kind of environments we provide will nurture different kinds of behaviour, different kinds of learning, different kinds of relationships.
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