Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

What to do When You Can’t Always be There

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

We hear it all the time: “I would love to spend more time with my kids but I’m busy working long hours / sharing custody / living interstate / etc.”

These are all legitimate reasons but they cause many parents to spend unending hours feeling guilty and worrying about the ill-effects their family situation could be having on their children.

Well, we don’t want to be unrealistic about things. Children do need and thrive from spending time with adults who care for them. It helps them build resilience, develop secure attachments and trust in their relationships, not to mention the problem-solving, learning and social skills that we can teach them.

But the good news is that quality is better than quantity.

Here are some tips to build a stronger connection with your kids and ensure that the time you do have together is meaningful.

Practising maths skills during school holidays

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

School holidays are all about relaxing, enjoying a well-earned break and having a good time with family and friends.

But, believe it or not, school holidays can also be a great opportunity to practice maths skills with your child. Now I’m not talking about boring drill and practice maths exercises, which will just get your child AND yourself frustrated! I’m talking about making maths fun! 🙂

Here are some great ideas from a school teacher who is also a mathematician – lots of practical and fun activities you and your child will enjoy.

Treatments for Autism And Other Disorders – How to Tell Science From Pseudoscience

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

I was reading this recent article by Andrew Whitehouse, which discusses the negative impacts of promoting untested theories.

Andrew focuses in particular on the field of autism and the abundance of theories that purport to explain, identify and treat the condition. As he discusses, there is, unfortunately, a decent percentage of autism theories that remain precisely that – theories.

This scenario might sound familiar if you have a loved one on the Autism Spectrum or a child with a learning difficulty, developmental disorder, or even a mood disorder.

There are an incredible number of theories out there about “why” these disorders exist and “how” a miracle treatment will have your child happily overcoming the difficulty that is troubling them. These theories can get your hopes up and may even prompt you to plonk your money down for the latest treatment faster than lightning.

Teenage Sleep Problems and How to Help Them Get Back on Track

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

When we see adolescents for counselling, friendship or family issues, study skills or a range of other problems, it is unsurprising that many of them also report some kind of sleep difficulty.

Sleep problems often affect kids’ ability to concentrate in the classroom, to get up and get moving in the morning and to regulate moods.

It can sometimes be hard to understand where this is coming from and why so many teenagers have trouble controlling their sleep patterns. This post aims to shed some light on the subject for both parents and teenagers.

AD/HD And Child Discipline: Some Helpful Tips

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a well-recognised disorder that is characterised by a range of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.

Strong emotional reactions, impulsive behaviour, and short attention span are common characteristics of children with ADHD – which often result in challenging behaviours.

Avoid labelling your ADHD child “naughty” because their challenging behaviours are rarely deliberate. Generally, they are not even aware of their behaviours and how they affect others.

There are no quick-fixes or cures for AD/HD, however, there are many behaviour-management techniques and strategies that are effective to help manage difficult behaviours at home (and school!).

Keep reading for some ideas!

Preparing Children for the Birth of a Sibling

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

The arrival of a new sibling can result in mixed feelings for your existing children. They may feel happy and excited about having a new family member and someone they will be able to play with. However, they may also feel a bit confused or even jealous.

Younger children often feel confused due to uncertainty about what things will be like for them after the new baby is born.

They also may not grasp the concept of time. So when you talk to them about the impending birth of a new sibling they may not understand how far in the future this date really is.

And when a child doesn’t fully understand the impact the new baby will have on themselves and the family routine, they might even express no interest in the baby.

Don’t worry or try to force the issue. They just need some more time.

Understanding Problems With Executive Function

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

Executive function is an umbrella term for a set of cognitive abilities that control and regulate other abilities and behaviours. As the name suggests, executive function refers to high-level abilities that influence lower-level abilities (such as attention, memory, and organisation).

Our executive function is therefore responsible for purposeful and self-directed behaviours, such as planning, organising, problem solving, as well as self-monitoring and self-regulating skills.

As you can imagine, these skills are vital for success at school and work, and to fit in socially.

So what types of issues lead to problems with executive function?

How Counselling Rewires The Brain

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

The field of psychology has come a long way in the past 150 years but it is still seen by many as unscientific. Some people conjure up images that a counselling session is all about scented candles or strange old men with beards waffling on and on about Oedipus. But, there is now strong evidence that supports the link between neurobiology and the efficacy of “talking therapies”.

How to Teach Children to be Assertive

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

Assertiveness is a way to communicate feelings, thoughts, opinions and beliefs in a respectful, clear and honest manner. Although it doesn’t come naturally to all, assertiveness is a skill that can (and should!) be taught to children – this will enable them to stand up for themselves and build resilience.

Assertiveness builds up their confidence, self-esteem, and ability to form and maintain stronger relationships.

Parenting Websites – How to Decide if the Information is Reliable

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

Parenting is hard work! If it could only come with a manual… But the reality is that there is little training you can do in how to raise a child. There are oodles of books, magazines, TV shows, and internet websites on the topic. As nowadays internet is the most convenient source to obtain information, it is usually the first place for parents to find answers to their everyday questions.

BUT, how can you tell if a website is reliable? Here are a few tips to guide you to evaluate if a website is reliable and appropriate for the information you are looking for:

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