It’s a fact.

Our child is going to face multiple disappointments throughout their life.

Disappointments are not only a part of life, they’re invaluable in building the necessary coping skills to succeed in life.

When a new brother or a sister arrives on the scene existing children have some adjusting to do.

Generally, children between 18 months and three years old have the hardest time adjusting (children under 18 months have fewer problems because they don't realise how life is changing for them, and once past three, children generally handle frustrating situations better).

If you have a pre-schooler at home there's a good chance they want to pick out their own clothes.

Maybe they insist on wearing a tutu or superhero cape when leaving the house, or perhaps blue polka dot socks with a pink flower dress. It can be a fashion war getting children dressed, particularly on busy mornings.

Grandparents offer a lot more than just free babysitting!

Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. Their significance is commonly couched in terms of the support and help they give to the parents - they're often seen as stress buffers and supporters, and maybe family historians.

Despite a dizzying array of toys and gadgets, resources and equipment, our children still come forward with the pronouncement that they’re bored (usually delivered in a pleading, whiney, sad voice).

And of course, they want us to ‘fix’ it.

It's common for the parents of young children and toddlers to feel anxious when they see their child touching their genitals, especially if it is done in a less-than-private setting.

The child's behaviour is perfectly normal.

When children whine they are feeling powerless. If we scold them for whining or refuse to listen to them we increase their feelings of powerlessness. If we give in so they will stop whining, we reward that powerlessness. But if we relaxedly, playfully, invite them to use a strong voice, we increase their sense of confidence and competence. And we find a bridge back to close connection. - Lawrence Cohen, author of Playful Parenting

Your child will be more successful in life if they have good manners.

We exist in a world where success means engaging with other people - and good manners (politeness) is the way we lubricate those engagements. It's how we demonstrate our respect and a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others, and people of all ages, races, genders and cultures appreciate being appreciated. Good manners lead naturally to good behaviour, gratitude, courtesy and the polite treatment of others - all a passport to future success.

Biting is typical behaviour seen in babies and toddlers.

In the case of babies, biting is an experiment. They bite their teething toys, their mother’s breast, their pacifier, and their parents! Usually, the parent’s immediate flinch or cry of surprise communicates to the child that biting hurts, and after a few experiments the child will learn enough about biting to move on, and their experiments cease. There’s nothing bad or wrong with these biting experiments; the baby is doing what he or she must do to learn.

Somewhere between the ages of two and three and a half your child will probably be ready for their ‘big’ bed.

Some will argue that pacifiers help sooth their child and are therefore beneficial. Others will argue that pacifiers shouldn’t be used at all. In between, are those who argue that pacifiers shouldn’t be used beyond a certain age.

Children are not born with a knowledge of how to blow their noses.

Breathing in and out is an instinctive ability; blowing in and out, either through the mouth or nose, is a learned behaviour.

If someone says your child is shy, it’s rarely intended as a compliment and you probably don’t take it as one.

You should.

A few weeks ago, I looked out the kitchen window into our scruffy backyard, littered with toys and bicycles. And I saw my five-year-old son, deeply immersed in his endeavor, taping rectangles of cardboard to his feet with miles and miles of masking tape. (I long ago gave up on keeping him from the tape—and the scissors, despite more than one hair-cutting incident.)

Before a child can apologise, and mean it, they must realise they’ve done something wrong - a concept pre-schoolers don't generally grasp because they have a very underdeveloped theory of mind.

How much screentime is too much? Have a read of the findings produced by the American Academy of Paediatrics and set your family a Media Plan. 

Going travelling over summer? Make sure you most precious cargo is as safe as they can be while travelling...

We all know how hard it is to get children to eat enough vegetables. Here are some ways you can get more vegetables into their diet. 

Do you have a child who is reluctant to tell you about their day?

We know it can be frustrating when your child cries.