TOPICS: BIRTH TO AGE FIVE
What would you like
to understand?
These are the subjects I’ll be writing about and exploring in workshops. Each description gives you a sense of the everyday questions we can talk about.
This guide shows what’s planned. Articles and printable activities will be added as they’re ready. Use the links below to send me a question.
How children grow and learn
What changes as a baby becomes a toddler, then a preschooler? This topic looks at how children learn, communicate, and become more independent, and why children of the same age may need different kinds of help.
Example questions
- Why does my toddler ask the same question again and again?
- What might “I do it myself” tell us about growing independence?
- How can I respond when my child needs more time to learn something?
Ask about this topic →Tantrums & big feelings
What can you do when a child cries, shouts, or struggles to say what is wrong? We’ll look at staying close, putting feelings into words, and helping a child through an upsetting moment.
Example questions
- What can I say when my child cries because I gave them the wrong cup?
- How do I help when they are too upset to explain what happened?
- What can we talk about after a tantrum has passed?
Ask about this topic →Behaviour & setting limits
Hitting, grabbing, and saying “no” can leave you unsure how to respond. This topic looks at what may be behind the behaviour, how to set a clear limit, and what to do after a difficult moment.
Example questions
- What can I do when my child hits me after I say no?
- How can I hold a limit without repeating myself all afternoon?
- What do I say after I lose my patience and shout?
Ask about this topic →Play & talking with children
Ideas for playing, reading, singing, and talking together. We’ll explore how to follow a child’s interests, join their play, and enjoy ordinary time together.
Example questions
- How do I join pretend play when I don’t know what the game is?
- What can we talk about while reading the same book for the tenth time?
- How can I enjoy playing without planning an elaborate activity?
Ask about this topic →Daily routines & doing things independently
Getting dressed, leaving the house, saying goodbye, and stopping play can be hard. Find ideas for helping children know what comes next and take part in daily tasks.
Example questions
- How can I help my child stop playing when it’s time to leave?
- What could make getting dressed less of a struggle?
- How much help should I offer when my child insists on doing it alone?
Ask about this topic →Sleep & bedtime routines
Bedtime can bring tiredness, worries, and a surprising number of last-minute requests. We’ll talk about evening routines, expectations, and what settling down looks like in different households.
Example questions
- How can we handle the repeated requests for one more book or drink?
- What can I say when my child wants me to stay beside them at bedtime?
- How do we talk about bedtime when work schedules or caregiving arrangements change?
Ask about this topic →Food & mealtimes
Meals involve preferences, routines, family habits, and sometimes a lot of frustration. This topic looks at the conversations and expectations around eating with young children.
Example questions
- What can I say when my child refuses a food they liked yesterday?
- How can we talk about an unfamiliar food without making every bite a negotiation?
- What expectations about sitting at the table make sense for our family?
Ask about this topic →Toileting & potty learning
Learning to use the toilet involves new routines, unfamiliar sensations, and plenty of practice. We’ll explore the everyday questions adults have about encouragement, accidents, and working with other caregivers.
Example questions
- How can I talk about the potty when my child doesn’t want to try?
- What can I say after an accident so my child doesn’t feel embarrassed?
- How can home and daycare work together on a toileting routine?
Ask about this topic →Screens & family technology habits
Phones, tablets, and television are part of many families’ days. We’ll talk about setting expectations, ending screen time, and finding routines that fit your household.
Example questions
- What can I do when turning off a show leads to a meltdown?
- How can caregivers agree on screen rules they can actually follow?
- How do I talk about my own phone use when my child wants my attention?
Ask about this topic →Friendships, siblings & sharing
What happens when children want the same toy, feel left out, or struggle to play together? We’ll talk about joining in, taking turns, sibling disagreements, and the help adults can offer.
Example questions
- What can I say when two children want the same toy?
- How do I respond when my child says nobody will play with them?
- How can I include an older child when a new baby needs my attention?
Ask about this topic →Understanding each child’s needs
Some children find noise, changes in routine, or group activities harder than others. This topic explores differences in communication, comfort, and pace, and ways to adjust daily life around the child you know.
Example questions
- What if my child finds a noisy birthday party too much?
- How can I respond when socks or clothing feel uncomfortable to them?
- How do I explain that my child needs extra time or a different way to join in?
Ask about this topic →Pregnancy, postpartum & becoming a parent
Preparing for a baby and adjusting after birth can change your time, relationships, and sense of yourself. There’s room here to talk about expectations, asking for help, and the everyday experience of becoming a parent.
Example questions
- What kinds of help can I ask for before the baby arrives?
- How can I tell visitors what would actually help after birth?
- How do I make room for parts of myself that feel harder to find since becoming a parent?
Ask about this topic →Life as a parent or caregiver
The tiredness, pressure, joy, and responsibilities of caring for a child matter here too. We’ll talk about making room for yourself, sharing the load, and how your own childhood can shape your parenting.
Example questions
- Why do I feel guilty taking a break when there is still work to do?
- How can I talk about sharing the planning and remembering, not just the chores?
- What if I hear myself repeating something I disliked hearing as a child?
Ask about this topic →Working with your child’s educators
Conversations about drop-off, behaviour, and changing needs can be difficult. This topic looks at sharing what you notice, asking questions, and making a plan together with the adults who care for your child.
Example questions
- What should I ask when an educator says my child had a difficult day?
- How can I explain that we see different behaviour at home?
- What can we agree on together when drop-off is hard?
Ask about this topic →