The good old days when you were a teen aren’t as different today as you think. For example, between 1978 and 2008 the average age for drinking alcohol for the first time went from 16.3 years of age to 16.2 the age for smoking the first cigarette went from 15.2 years to 16.1 the age for smoking marijuana for the first time went from 18.4 years to 17.2 in 1991, 54 percent of high school […]
Read complete blog post
I will once again be presenting a workshop to the parents of Davenport Public School in Aylmer. This time it is “Crash Test Mommy / Daddy” and it is a 2 hour presentation that is filled with sanity saving strategies to deal with behaviour issues of children ranging in age from toddlers to teens. Date: February 5, 2013 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM Place: Davenport Public School 80 Rutherford Ave. Aylmer, Ontario (519) 773-9216 […]
Read complete blog post
I am looking forward to the upcoming semester starting January 7 as Fanshawe College (Woodstock campus) begins its CWY program for 2013. I am privileged to teach the course “Fundamentals of Human Learning” to the first year students. This program is a 3 year diploma program that prepares students to work with young people in schools, group homes, detention centres and day care centres. Three semesters are devoted to academic work at the college and […]
Read complete blog post
I had an opportunity to present the workshop “Taming a Toddler” to an enthusiastic group of foster and adoptive parents in Hamilton last night. Did you know that parents of toddlers are 3 times more at risk of psychological breakdown than parents of babies or school age children. The toddler stage (age 1-4) is the time that we see the beginning of “control” development: – bodily functions (toilet) – impulse (demands cannot be met instantly) […]
Read complete blog post
I extend thanks to Sandra Chan of the Hamilton Children’s Aid Society for inviting me to present “Taming a Toddler” to an enthusiastic group of foster moms. We shared many ideas and laughs about the joys and challenges of raising a toddler. The Hamilton CAS has well over 100 foster homes who provide for the needs of children in care . Fostering is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. It certainly is […]
Read complete blog post