Mary Curtin tracks her autistic son’s transition to school through his teacher’s written commentary. Every day [Andrew] brings home a ‘communication book’, in which his teacher or aide writes a few lines about his day. They note how he behaved in class, interacted with the other...
Stories that you read to very young children do not need pictures – children will create their own. They just need the opportunity to hear the rich, descriptive language and a satisfying story say Vivienne Hand. “What are you doing? Are you helping with gardening?” I...
Arriving across our desk this month have been quite a few new books for the Primary age group of which our favourites are reviewed. All have something to tell us whether it be via the story itself or the illustrations that accompany it. Land of the...
Professor Kevin Wheldall explains that there’s more to learning to read than meets the eye. Even if a child can read fluently and has a good vocabulary, that is not enough. The child also has to be able to make sense of words in context. Anyone who...
Chicken and corn soup (and crabmeat and corn soup) from the local Chinese restaurant was a childhood staple in our household and is filled with fond memories for me. This popular crowd-pleaser also provides the perfect opportunity to sneak in other hidden treasures and bump up...
Klay Lamprell explains that selective mutism is now understood to be a form of severe anxiety, rather than a sign of a stubborn or manipulative child. Even as a baby, Danielle Dawes was extremely shy. She would turn her head away if anyone looked at her...
Researchers test nasal spray in the hope that more children will be able to keep their tonsils The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) is running a large-scale trial to see whether an anti-inflammatory nasal spray can help children who snore or have breathing difficulties while sleeping....
Reading aloud to young children is akin to going on the stage. It requires a willingness to be theatrical, to sing, to change voices and be animated in your actions and facial expressions says Nan Williamson It is true that the magic of reading lies in...
Only recently I discovered that spaghetti meatballs are actually an American invention, rather than Italian, as I’d long imagined. Such a successful combination, this dish always goes down well. It is also wonderfully versatile, as you can easily cater to different tastes by serving the...
Family medical history, fear and trepidation take their toll on Karen Weeks, even after the birth of her perfectly healthy son. We all know parenthood is difficult. We know because we’re parents and have experienced it firsthand. But before having children, I had no idea what...
