Positive Parenting
Sometimes it can be the small changes that make a big difference. Our positive parenting tips category is a comprehensive list of our top tips on a variety of topics. They give information, support and guidelines on how to handle numerous issues or even implement positive changes to your family. They include: How to Encourage Healthier Eating, How to Survive Sleepless Nights and How to Understand Children and Emotions and The Learning Power of Play.
Research suggests that children should have 60 minutes of physical exercise per day. We all know the benefits of exercise for ourselves as adults. With rates of child obesity and diabetes rising in Ireland, some small changes can make a big difference. Here are 10 ways to support your child in getting 60 minutes of active exercise each day, which respect your budget and which can be incorporated into your regular routine.
For some parents the school holiday is a respite time with a more relaxed routine. However, it can be a nightmare for others for many reasons such as not being able to take time off work, lack of childcare options and tight budgets, and so requires a lot of planning and management. Here are some tips on how to make school breaks enjoyable for all members of the family so you won’t hear the infamous “I’m bored” – hopefully!
Reading can create an opportunity for calm, quiet reflection and relaxation. It can also open up an opportunity for discussions between parent and child and can be used as a starting point to discuss any issues going on in the child’s life. Read our tips on using reading as a tool in your parenting here.
Settling back into the school routine can be very challenging. When you are parenting school age children, the best way to make a plan is to do it together with your children. Whether it is after mid-term break, in September after Summer, or another time of the year, here are some tips to support you.
Halloween celebrations have changed a lot in Ireland over the past ten years or so. What once was a simple celebration (when a black plastic bin liner served perfectly well as a costume!) has now become much more expensive, especially at a time of year when parents are just recovering from back to school expenses and Christmas is looming. Click here for tips on making Halloween a fun time.
Praise is a normal part of life for many but we must not take it for granted. Some children and adults are very rarely praised. Praise has a huge impact on behaviour. The more positive praise we get the more likely we are to have high self-esteem resulting in positive behaviors. Read here on tips to praise your child more.
A new year has arrived and with it, an ideal opportunity to explore family routines. Following consistency in routines supports parenting and increases your child’s sense of well-being and security. Read here on tips for having routines.
In the past twenty years children’s parties have become very expensive placing parents under a lot of pressure. Some children have invitations every single week, with every child in the class invited to each party. If they are thirty children in the class this can add up as you will also have cousins, friends outside of school and of course your own family.
Many lone parents hate Valentine’s Day as they feel it is a big reminder that they are on their own and that for some reason this is not considered the best option in society.
Planning special days can be a challenge, particularly when you are sharing parenting. This article offers tips on how we can make these days memorable and enjoyable for our children.
Exam times can be stressful for both young people and parents. This article offers tips on how parents can manage their own exam time stresses and offer support to their children during this time.
Reading is a great family past time, it not only develops your child’s imagination and vocabulary, but it offers your family a way to bond and learn about the world together. This article gives you our 10 tips on how to incorporate reading into your family life.
Organisation is the key to life when you are parenting. Good organisation can relieve a lot of stress and avoid new stresses arising. This article offers tips on how you can become more organised.
This article talks about the importance of establishing healthy eating habits for you and your family.
Play is very serious stuff in the life of your child. This article offers tips on how you can understand its many benefits and engage with your childrens’ playtime.
Many children find it difficult to settle down at bedtime which can lead to challenges. In this article we look at how to establish your child’s bedtime routine.
Toilet training is a huge milestone for children and parents. This article offers tips on how to approach this often daunting task.
Everyone likes a day in the sun, but it is also important to remember to keep safe when out enjoying the fine weather. This article offers tips on how to stay safe in the sun.
Children mimic the behaviour of their parents. When it comes to people who look or act differently to us, it is important that, as parents, we set an example of respect for everyone around us. This article talks about the importance of respecting differences and passing this message on to our children.
Its the end of summer and the first day at preschool is just around the corner. The first day at school is a big step for both children and parents. This article offers some tips on how you can prepare for the big day.
We don’t expect much sleep with a newborn in the house, but what do you do if your child is three and still keeping you up all night? Read our tips on how to manage and function after sleepless nights.
Finding a babysitter you can trust and whom your child loves can seem like a daunting task, especially for parents who may not have family or close friends to ask or who live nearby. This article outlines ways you can find the right person for you and your children.
This article talks about the importance of parents instilling healthy eating habits in children and, despite the fact that many children may opt for a biscuit rather than an apple if given the choice, making healthy food fun isn’t difficult to do and doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
The Playground is a very valuable resource. Not only does it give children a chance to express themselves through play and interaction, but it offers parents a chance to engage with their children in a fun way. This article talks about how spending time having fun with your children is one of the best ways for you to bond with them.
Arranging play dates for your children is a great way to get them to interact with other kids and for you to socialise with other parents. This article explores the importance of this time spent with other children and explains its not about the location, but the interactions that are important.
Homework is considered to be beneficial in helping children to learn how to manage time, planning and priorities, and to learn independently and take responsibility. This article discusses how you can nurture this responsibility in your children and also keep yourself informed on what is going on for them in their own lives.
This article offers some tips on how to keep you and your family safe around Halloween. It also offers some fun tips and treats for you to enjoy with your family.
Are your mealtimes becoming a battleground? As parents, we often worry that our children don’t get enough nutrition, this article offers some tips on how to deal with those ‘fussy’ or ‘picky’ eaters.
Playtime with their parent is very important to children. This article talks about how engaging with your children during play helps parents to understand their children better and enjoy spending this valuable time with them.
Everyone has their own idea on what makes Christmas special. It is important to remember that traditions are not just for the traditional. Everyone can have their own personal ways of marking special occasions that are unique to their equally unique family. This article offers some tips on how you can establish such traditions.
Play is an outlet for children to make sense of what they see, think and feel. It allows them the opportunity to express themselves, which is a vital part of their physical, intellectual and emotional development. In this article, we talk about the importance of play and teaching children how to express their emotions.
Being out and about shopping with young children can be stressful. In this article, we explore some tips that will help you keep them safe.