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My blog - All things parenting

How to make moving between homes easier for children

15/5/2018

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With divorce and separation common in our society it can be easy to take it for granted and fail to recognise the stress it provides for children caught in the middle.

The impact this event has on the children involved depends on many factors. These factors can include, the age of the children, how the adults speak to each other, what the adults tell the children, whether the parental split results in a less stressed home environment, the shared care arrangements, and the personality and temperament of the children. There are so many things going on at this time and often children are left to cope in their own emotional turmoil whilst the adults are battling it out.
...imagine how your child may be feeling. ... They don’t know what is going to change, what will stay the same. Where is Christmas going to be?  Who is going to come to the school concert? Can they go to a birthday party that is on when it is the other parent’s turn to have them? 

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Parenting books

25/8/2017

 
Three top tips about parenting (and all other advice books).

1. Check the credentials of the author and make sure you are comfortable with them.
2. With a problem/issue in mind check out a few different books to see which one/s ‘feel’ right. It is OK, in fact good, to feel challenged, but sometimes the ideas the author puts forward are just not right for you.
3. Parenting books are optional. They can inspire, engage, educate and help you feel connected with other parents. Alternatively they may make you feel inadequate depending on how what is happening for you emotionally and what individual struggles and problems your family is dealing with. In these situations particularly, it may be more beneficial to talk one on one with someone and get some targeted advice.

I like the books of Michael Carr-Greg, Andrew Fuller and Steve Biddulph because they tend to have some humour and practical advice. They are easy to pick up and dip and out of them, which is great for busy mums. I also think collections of stories where you here different voices around motherhood are great. (There are a couple of these in the below recommendations).

A couple of books that target particular behaviours are Bully Blocking by Evelyn Field (just be aware there is bad language in parts of it as she writes about what children have said when bullying other children). There are a range of strategies in here that can be used depending on the situation and the personality of your child. Sexts, Texts & Selfies by Susan McLean who is an expert in cybersafety is worth looking at for some understanding of what your children face in the digital world.


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I asked some of my colleagues to recommend their favourite parenting book and have listed some of those below. They are in no particular order, and are quite varied in their style and content. The bigger, more complex ones might be great for holiday reading.

Towards Parenthood by Bronwyn Leigh and others. Recommended by Dr Tess Crawley from https://www.facebook.com/DrTessCrawleyAssociates/?ref=br_rs.

Raising an emotionally intelligent child by John Gottman; Getting to Calm; The Launching Years; Wise Minded Parenting by Laura Kastner; and The Drama of being a Child by Alice Miller. Recommended by Natalie Turvey from https://www.facebook.com/DropOfLifePtyLtd/?ref=br_rs.

No Drama Discipline by Daniel Siegel. This is recommended by both Dr Hayley Quinn from http://www.quinntessentialpsychology.com and Natalie Turvey.

Momma Zen by Karen Miller; and Everyday Blessings by Myla and John Kabat-Zinn.  These two are all very much about mindful parenting, self compassion and compassion
Love Wisdom Motherhood by Jessica Rowe. A compilation of stories of the transition to Motherhood.  
The Whole Brain Child by Daniel Siegel.. The Whole Brain Child is great in developing parenting skills but also empathy and compassion. (It was also recommended by Patricia Gee from Gallagher Psychology and Natalie Turvey.)
The above were all recommended by Amiee-Jade Pember A Community Psych at New Directions Psychology Service in Ballajura, WA. The comments about the books are all hers.

Parenting by Kathy Walker. Recommended by http://karepsychology.com.au..

Women who run with the Wolves. Recommended by Jamie Lee from https://www.facebook.com/30daysofgratitudeapp/. Jamie says “I love this book because it has the stories of women from around the world and different cultures to highlight our strength and stories that we carry with us. This book isn't specific to parenting but I love the story about the women that will protect her child but also nurture her child.” ​ ​

If you have your own favourite to share,  you can do so below.  
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    Author

    Kim Dunn is a Child Psychologist and Founder of Positive Young Minds.  

    She is also a mother of 3 and knows what it feels like to be sleep deprived, confused, full of self doubt one moment and in wonder of children the next.

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We see face to face clients in Narre Warren.  For your convenience after hours, onsite school, and web based appointments are available.​


Phone no: 0408533515
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Increasing connection, confidence and calm, with strategies that pass the 'mum' test."
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Kim Dunn, Founder and Principal Psychologist at Positive Young Minds.
  • What does a child psychologist do?
  • What Can I do to Help my Child?
  • Helping you move from overwhelm to calm
  • Services
    • Counselling
    • Happiness Habits
    • Improve your wellbeing
    • Cancellation policy
  • All things parenting
  • How to talk to teens
  • What is Mindfulness?
    • For Children
    • For Teens
    • For Parents
    • Some science behind mindfulness
  • FAQ
  • Keep connected
  • Kim Dunn
  • Connection Resources