Words: Dr Jennifer CROYLE Friendship and love, and more broadly, the relationships that people cultivate in their lives, are some of the most valuable treasures a person can own. This module explores ways in which we try to understand how friendships form, what attracts one person to another, and how love develops. It also explores
Words: Harriet DEMPSEY-JONES Children do it, but so do adults. Researchers have some theories on why we fidget. Hand-held toys known as ‘fidget spinners’ — marketed as ‘stress relievers’ — have become so popular and distracting in classrooms that they are now being banned in many schools. And it’s not just kids who like to fidget.
Words: Dr David J HAWES Anyone who has raised children, or grown up with siblings knows there are some bumpy times in a child’s life. When the smallest upset causes a major tantrum. Or, when it’s close to impossible to get them out the door on time for school. Or, when your adorable angel acts
Words: Sharon GARRO When you instil mindfulness to the challenges of children it can help parents to better enjoy the precious early years. Parents can struggle to enjoy the present. Children fill parental minds with lists of things to do and challenges to overcome. Many mums and dads struggle to enjoy the moment they are
Words: Dr Michael CARR-GREGG Social media can offer many benefits to adolescents, connecting them with friends. We often hear, or read, about the dangers of young people logging on to social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, and other online spaces where they can socially interact, including YouTube, virtual worlds and gaming
Words: Dr Rajgopal NIDAMBOOR Most parents resort to using superlatives at the proverbial drop of a hat. “You’re great. The next Albert Einstein, ‘King’ Pele, Margaret Atwood, or Bill Gates,” as the case maybe. Or, it could just be the reverse, something parents often indulge in — to save time. Like helping your kid get
Words: Dr Lyn O’GRADY Fights between children serve an important purpose. It’s one way that children learn to resolve problems, and negotiating conflicts with each other also helps them to work out their place in the family. Some siblings get along more easily than others. This can depend on factors such as temperament and the way the family
Words: Dr Deborah OLENEV I had the privilege of spending time recently with two people I love very much. The couple loved each other very much too. The problem was that communication had broken down between the two of them, and resentment had piled up so high that they had forgotten how much they loved
Words: Jawahar NIDAMBOOR When we practice affirmations, our mind and body understands the ‘you’ better, not so much the ‘I’ of things. “You will be strong” is often more effective than “I will be strong.” Our psyche takes this affirmed connotation more seriously. In like manner, there is something called neediness that propels us to
Words: Dr Gary W LEWANDOWSKI Jr New Year’s resolutions most commonly focus on eating healthier, exercising, losing weight and being a better person. Admirable goals, to be sure. But focusing on body and mind neglects something equally important: your romantic relationship. Couples with better marriages report higher well-being, and one study found that having a better romantic
