The Power of Saying YES (When You Can)

Toddlers hear the word NO countless times a day.

“No touching that.”

“No running.”

“No more snacks.”

Of course boundaries matter - safety and structure are our foundation. But sometimes, the power of saying YES (even in small ways) can be a surprising gift - to your child and to yourself.

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Tessa Apa
The First Seven Years of Your Child's Life

Are the first seven years of life really so important? Where has this theory come from, and should I care?

It is commonly believed that 2000 years ago, Aristotle said, “Give me a child until he is 7, and I will show you the man.”   The 'first seven years’ theory has been around a very long time.

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Tessa Apa
Embracing Change - Happy New Year!

Welcoming a New Year is exciting, especially for children embarking on a new school year, in a different room, with different faces.

Encouraging newness helps children to embrace change and see it as positive.

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Tessa Apa
Healthy Eating for Young Children

I don’t know about you, but the closer we get to Christmas, it feels like we eat a lot more sugary foods, treats and take-out. We all know this isn’t the best for our bodies or brains – especially for children.

So how do we encourage healthy eating in young children?

Here are five practical tips to help parents foster healthy eating habits in their children:

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Tessa Apa
Cultivating the Gift of Gratitude in Your Child

In the whirlwind of parenting toddlers and preschoolers, amidst the chaos of spills and scattered toys, it's easy to overlook the importance of instilling gratitude in our little ones. Yet, teaching our children the gift of gratitude from a young age can lay the foundation for a lifetime of happiness and contentment.

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Tessa Apa
When Is Too Much Screen Time Too Much?

This is a question most parents have asked themselves. The answer is not easy to find and there is no one size fits all when it comes to screen time for young children. Balance is the most important thing to consider. We live in a digital age and screens and screen time is very normal. Feeling guilty about your child watching 4 hours of Peppa Pig is unnecessary and unhelpful – instead, choose balance as a priority.

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Tessa Apa