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...
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...
Michael Socha describes how one family has adjusted to the challenge of having two sons diagnosed with juvenile (type 1) diabetes. They say that lightning never strikes twice. For Vivian and Neil Amos, this adage is of little consolation as they reflect on the double blow...
Are you a storyteller? It’s not as hard as it sounds, and the tales you can tell come in many forms and from many sources says Nan Williamson Reading aloud to young children quickly produces a set of favourite books and stories, for both reader and...
Dr Karen Brooks wonders what lessons our kids are learning from modern adaptations of classic children’s stories. What lessons are these sumptuous, happily-ever-after tales of beautiful and very stereotyped boys and girls, ethnicity, love and romance really teaching our kids, if they’re teaching them anything at...
Dr Tom Whelan emphasises the importance of honesty and accuracy when helping children cope with medical procedures. .. it took some time before the parents of a particularly withdrawn child realised that she thought her diagnosis of diabetes meant that she would die from a mysterious...
Having children inspired Nicola Wong to start making different, and sustainable, lifestyle choices. It dawned on me recently that I am a greenie at heart. Not a vegan or a hippy, but a greenie nonetheless. Born in the seventies, I grew up in the country and...
If we define ‘being nice’ as what you do to make someone else happy with you, then being too nice is a big problem, because whether or not you feel good depends on the other person’s response. Dr Andrew Wake explores the negatives of niceness. Michael*...
Rob Pegley looks at the family bookshelves to find that 'ABC' books have a way to go to appeal to the 21st century child. Our children’s book collection is much like that of any other household. It includes a handful of ‘ABC’ books from various publishers....
Elizabeth Bate is driven batty by cultural confusion over her son’s superhero party. When my husband, Martin, offered to dress up as Batman as a surprise for our son Sam’s fifth birthday party, I was enormously relieved. In this modern age of competition, children’s birthday parties...
