Many moons ago, when I started my career with children, ADHD and ASD were two words we rarely heard. In fact, when I started my career in early years 24 years ago, most frequently, children were just described as ‘fidgety’ ‘having ants in their pants’ or in worst cases, described as being ‘naughty’. Whilst we […]
ADHD is not about ‘naughty school boys’ Read More »
What messages did you receive about food as a child? Were you …. Shown that food was energy? Encouraged to listen to your internal satisfaction? Taught that certain foods were bad? Encouraged to eat everything on your plate? Punished if you did not finish everything? Always surrounded by a parent on a diet? Treated with
Causes of difficulties with food behaviours Read More »
Whilst the brain is split into both conscious and unconscious it is also created from two hemispheres – left brain and right brain. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. However each side also has
Left Brain – Right Brain Read More »
In our Level 4 Diploma class session this week, we were reviewing the impact of shame on children’s mental health, well-being and self-esteem. Shame is the feeling of embarrassment or humiliation that children (or adults) experience in response to the perception that they have done something wrong. Essentially, when shame is imparted onto children, it
The impact of shame on child mental health Read More »
So often, I meet children and adults in every day life who talk to me about the fact that they ‘can’t change’ or that they ‘are just this way’ – even though their feelings, actions, behaviours or lifestyle are causing them upset they cannot find a way to change and feel that ‘nothing works’. Change
How do we create change in life? Read More »
Previously, I spoke about the child behaviour iceberg (find it here), so in this article, I want to look at the ABC of behaviour. When I started my career working as an early years practitioner, later as a Nursery Manager and then a lecturer of early years, (before eventually finding myself as an inspector) I would
Why we need to look beneath child behaviour Read More »
We frequently discuss that behaviour can be likened an iceberg. However, from my experiences as both a teacher and a therapist, this can unintentionally be forgotten when it comes to managing and responding to children’s behaviour. The iceberg analogy gives us an opportunity to consider all the contributing factors which may be affecting a child’s
The importance of looking beneath the iceberg Read More »
What are personality types? A personality type refers to a psychological classification of particular traits of individuals. Different personality types are attributed to traits and behaviours which will influence the way that an individual interacts and behaves in their environment, it is also perceived that this influences their motivations and actions. Commonly, we will refer
The influence of personality types on young people Read More »
Where does fussy eating come from? Children develop fussy eating for various reasons. Whilst for some, it is a stage that they pass through, for others it may indicate sensory challenges around food or intolerances or medical issues. If fussy eating persists and you are concerned about a child’s eating behaviours or nutritional intake, please
Strategies to support fussy eaters Read More »
Is your brain talking to you? Or maybe it’s your child making these comments to you…. Just take a moment and scan this communication list…. My head hurts all the time… I have a permanent headache…. I just can’t turn my brain off… I can’t sleep… I am permanently exhausted… I had to take a
Brains, Filing Cabinets and De-Cluttering Read More »
