by Amelia | Oct 2, 2017 | blog
What’s the secret to being a calm mama? I thought I had it figured out after many years as a therapist, keeping calm while being bitten, spat upon or having my hair pulled. When I become a mother, I did my best to use all those skills, and I took pride in...
by Amelia | Sep 24, 2017 | blog
“Just doing it for attention” The most common piece of advice you’ll get is this: “just ignore it.” We’ve all heard this phrase, but how do you know if your child is actually “just doing it for attention?” If so, what do you do next? It makes sense logically, but in...
by Amelia | Sep 18, 2017 | blog
New situations often have a lot of weird new elements! New place, new faces, new sights, smells, and experiences.Situational anxiety is very common in young children. Should you give up, or push forward? Try these fourteen creative and gentle strategies to help your...
by Amelia | Sep 11, 2017 | blog
One stressful Sunday evening in March, I was watching my kids as they squabbled on the living room carpet. They were swatting each other, squealing, and butting against each other like grumpy baby goats. I offered “helpful” reminders, warnings and threats,...
by Amelia | Sep 7, 2017 | blog
Ever wonder what it would be like to have your own behaviour therapist? These are some of the key questions that you would answer together… Observe When is it happening? When is it NOT happening? What exactly does it look like? What happens right before and...
by Amelia | Sep 4, 2017 | blog
If your child gives up quickly, you might be tempted to jump in and help. When you help, it puts an end to the flailing and wailing, and it seems like a kindness and a relief to both of you. However, if you want to send the message “I believe in you!” or...
by Amelia | Aug 28, 2017 | blog
My child won’t play alone! This is a tough one. Children can be really powerful advocates for themselves, and we can’t force them to learn to play alone. We can, however, make it a little easier. I’ve written these sanity-saving tips to teach your child to play...
by Amelia | Aug 21, 2017 | blog
Building independence: How do I deal with helplessness? My child won’t do anything without constant support and reminders! Mom, can you pull my pants down? I need you to feed me! I don’t know how to put my socks on! Can you put my shoes on? Carry me! I can’t...
by Amelia | Aug 13, 2017 | blog
Clutching the paper birthday invitation in your hand, you and your child arrive at the door of the indoor playground. You can see your neighbour in a sparkly party hat waving at you and beckoning you inside. As the door opens, you are hit with a wave of sound. You...
by Amelia | Aug 6, 2017 | blog
Why do kids do unreasonable things? Why do everyday situations seem to escalate into unwinnable battles? Do any of these situations seem familiar to you? Scenario 1: Adult: “Please hurry up, and we’ll get a cookie when we get to Grandma’s house!” Child: (ignores...
