Children who want to be in charge
Published in ‘Parenting’ Magazine, Issue 30, Spring 2007
Sue Blair continues her series on personality traits in children. Her insights on how you to keep your children ‘on board’ by understanding what motivates them are brilliant. They will give you clues to help you work with your child’s personality and avoid a variety of future power-struggles.
“You’re not the boss of me!” Is this a phrase that sounds familiar to
Published in ‘Parenting’ Magazine, Issue 25, Winter 2006
Are you parenting a dreamer?
Sue Blair contemplates the challenges facing parents of ‘dreamers’. She suggests that these sometimes complex children have qualities that can become real assets in a family. Their ‘different’ way of thinking is something to be worked with, not against.
Do you feel like your child has his ‘head in the clouds’?
Do your child’s teachers ever ask if your child ha
Published in ‘Parenting’ Magazine, Issue 27, Summer 2006/7
Parenting the child who just HAS to get it right!
If you don’t have a child like this you will hardly believe what I am about to describe. In fact, there are very few parenting books that give you any advice on this type of child – what help do you need when parenting a child whose primary need is to do things right?
However, I can assure you, from personal experience, I know these child
Parenting the Seriously Compliant Child
Published in ‘Parenting’ Magazine, Issue 28, Autumn 2007
Compliance from our children is something many of us strive for throughout our parenting career, so it is hard to imagine a situation where this could ever be a problem. Most obedient, amenable children are a joy, but there can be pitfalls in too much compliance.
Some children are by nature kind, affectionate, friendly and empathetic and if you have a son
Extroversion and Introversion – What to expect and how to deal with it
Published in ‘Parenting’ Magazine, Issue 30, Spring 2007
Insights into how you child is ‘wired’ can really increase your communication and enjoyment of each other. Sue Blair gives some simple but profound advice on how to tailor your parenting to fit each child.
The fact that we are all different is not breaking news. We all know this. Our wiring is pre-determined. What we do about i
As parents we have a lot to cope with. Our training is zero and our competence is crucial, somehow we have to work out what’s best for our children. Along with our adopted roles as carer, counsellor, cleaner, confidante, cook, comedian, controller and chauffeur we have to add the more demanding role of teacher. This isn’t easy.
Homework issues abound. Already tired children are given a steady stream of study to add to their other commitments and our reser
Published in ‘Parenting’ Magazine, Issue 31, Summer 2007/8
As mothers we are all unique individuals. But in spite of knowing this we seldom celebrate our differences. We mothers often feel that we are less than we should be. We think that we could be doing more, our coping strategies are failing us or that “We would be so much better if only we were…….”
I was delighted to recently discover a book which addresses this very subject. Janet Penley’s book ‘Mo
Teenagers – exciting, exuberant, exhausting and exasperating! All of these things and, of course many more. For those of us who live and/or work with this age group we know so well the highs and lows; the expectations followed by achievement and the expectations followed by disappointment. It is indeed a tricky age. So how can we help, especially when they may appear so disinterested in being helped and dismissive of our abilities as adults to understand?...
It’s a privilege to work with teenagers on Type. Nicky Gumbrell and I have had the great pleasure of running workshops together for youths as part of their college leadership programme and we have enjoyed every moment. It’s an exhilarating experience.
Working with teens has its own special dynamic. At this age they are no longer cocooned, as are primary school kids, but they have yet to stretch their wings and truly show their colours and fly. It’s defini...
