Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, I have been relying more on screens to keep Madi busy. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic I would rarely let Madi play apps with the exception of when we were flying. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, she is allowed to play on an app for 30 minutes
The terms “tantrum,” “meltdown,” and “anxiety” are often used interchangeably however, they are actually all different terms used to describe different behaviours. As I’ve talked about in previous posts, it is so important to understand where your child’s behaviour is coming from. Understanding this will help you immensely when determining how to deal with it.
A common question I have received from parents is whether or not we should continue routine immunizations for children. COVID-19 is spread by close personal contact or by touching contaminated surfaces. Public health has suggested that people stay at home to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This includes limiting non-essential doctors appointments. Majority of non-urgent
Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, our family has been watching a lot more television while we do our part in social distancing and staying at home. For children ages 3-5, the recommended screen time is 1 hour or less per day by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) and the American Academy of
Morning routines with children are hard! Waking up, eating breakfast, and getting out the door and into the car on time can be challenging and frustrating for parents and children, alike. So much so, that meltdowns, yelling, and tantrums can all be part of it. As a child psychologist, I also understand the impact of
From the day George was born, the moments I cherish most are when he looks at me. In my opinion I think George started to recognize me from day 2 and explored my face. However, I do remember having heard that newborns have very poor vision. So is George actually able to see me or
When Madi was 8 months old she suddenly decided that she was done with her soother and never looked back. That is, until I became pregnant with our second baby. The past few months I have caught Madi opening up the soothers I purchased for the new baby and putting them in her mouth. If
When Madi was 15 months old, we were at a playground and we met a little girl who was 16 months old. This little girl was speaking at a very advanced level! Meeting this little girl made me worried that Madi’s speech and language development were behind. I began to frantically try to teach Madi
Emotions and anxiety are normal human experiences that can be helpful in some situations (like the intense joy I experienced when I found out I was pregnant with Madi) and unhelpful in other situations (like the frustrations that I feel when Madi won’t eat her dinner). I think most of us with children have experienced some
Child development of language and literacy abilities (the ability to talk, read and write) occurs in stages over time. It includes developing oral language, reading comprehension, writing, and spelling skills. Developing language and literacy skills is an ongoing process, and it is normal for children to develop these skills in stages, at different ages, and