Okay, it’s official. Science has done it. They have the tools and they can build one. The future of tomorrow is here today. They have finally deciphered the arcane impulses that govern our children and unveiled the alchemical process that will unerringly result in the rearing of a perfect child. If that whiffs of nonsense, … Continued
In my last blog I spoke about the lack of resources in our care system which are committed to recognising and treating the long term effects of early life events on children in care. A related issue, but unaddressed in the last blog, concerns the events that precipitate intervention and action by a social worker. … Continued
I had a friend of mine came over for coffee and a chat last Saturday (I do occasionally get an hour or so off) and she spent most of it bemoaning a fine she had received though the post. That horrid word usually denotes the unwanted attention of some dreary traffic warden or some finger … Continued
The internet was set alight last July with angry mums from all over the globe furiously tweeting, blogging, instagraming, emailing, shouting and generally airing their views in any medium that would have them. What was the source of this ire, you ask? The answer is a Dr Charlotte Renzick, an American clinical psychologist and author … Continued
A number of the blogs I’ve written have touched on the idea that the parent-child dynamic has been changing over time. Terms likes ‘helicopter’ and ‘snow plough’ parents’ have emerged to describe behaviour which is ostensibly driven by the urge to see our children do well but can unwittingly have an adverse effect on them. … Continued
Watching my kids this Easter weekend made me think about the bonds siblings share (thankfully they play well). Such connections are among the most profound we can have with another human being. These bonds should be nurtured,but they should also be respected for they may be driven by the desire to tear down as much … Continued
I came across an interesting book this week, The Danish way of Parenting. It is co-authored by an American author and a Danish narrative therapist. They also have a blog for it, thedanishway.com. Now, the reason I stopped to have a read was largely due to the word Danish in the title. I held this … Continued
Medical experts in Australia have concluded, following the result of a royal commission into domestic violence in the state of Victoria (the first of its kind in the country), that children are affected by it even before birth. Statistics show that the number of cases of domestic violence in the country has increased by 136 … Continued
I have spoken a lot about the necessity of secure attachments in the development of a socially and emotionally healthy children. Anyone with a modicum of common sense understands that good interaction and quality parenting behaviour lie at the heart of this. Achieving this however is not always easy. Kids are not blank slates that … Continued
I’ve spent a lot of talking about attachment theory, but have not really focused explicitly on the role of the father. General speaking infants develop attachments with regular interaction. This interaction is relational and not simply a matter of sheer proximity. A child is adept at discerning the nature of such attachments and deciding whether … Continued