BabySteps: The first steps to understanding the paradox of parenting.

Today's episode reminds us that our children don't need bigger houses, more cars or more gifts, they need more of us. Tune in as we explore the importance of being present in our children's lives and how it can positively impact their well-being for years to come far more than the material things can.

In a world where mothers are judged for even suggesting they might be tired of being a mother or need a break or wish they didn't have kids even though they love their kids, this is reminder to our dear mothers that it is OK to want a break and actually have one. Music: Tonight we are young by Marvin's universe Clipart: Image by Freepik

What does shaming entail? Is it really beneficial in trying to change a child's behaviour? Were you ever shamed excessively as a child? No one likes being shamed. Not in private and especially not in public, so why do we do that to our childr

There are literally no words that can describe how grateful we are for you. To the sacrifices seen and unseen, the prayers heard and unheard, thank you mama. Whether mother by birth or assisting at some point to nurture us, Happy Mother's Day! and we love you. This episode has messages from some of your kids who to say the least, are grateful, and praise you for all YOU ARE! Happy Mother's Day! #mothersday #motherslove

Is there rest for the weary young ones? Based on the previous episode, the teen in that episode talked about how it is getting really hard for them to navigate through life's pressures and there is no support for them, at home or school and unfortunately some have resorted to self-harm. Which they say inflicts physical pain to help numb the emotional one. With 1 in every 12 teens self-harming, should you be concerned? Why are they doing it? What should you look for and how can you help them?

Times continue to change and so do the dynamics of being a teenager: peer pressure, academic strain and more often than not, instability in the home and various forms of abuse. This episode is an interaction with a teenage girl who takes us through a few, yet significant, challenges they are facing. Do they feel supported enough at home or school or is their first aid their peers and how. From home to school, teachers to parents, social media to peers, she tells us all about it. Listen, subscribe and share!

Why do superheroes appeal so much to children and a lot of adults? They show us that we can overcome anything and be the best versions of ourselves. It doesn't always feel like it will get better, but it does, or at least the negative effects reduce significantly. Survival is for the fittest and the world has no mercy on the feeble. That is why we cannot ignore the importance of teaching our children from a young age that it is OK to feel bad sometimes but soon after we have to move on. Resilience is a crucial life skill and this episode shades some light on helping our kids develop it.

What if it is not just a stomachache? Or it has been going on for weeks or just appears during certain events or thoughts? Children are usually not well equipped with the vocabulary or skills to express when anxiety or depression is kicking in and it will manifest in physical symptoms and in the case of teens, if a safe environment to talk about feelings without being ostracized has not been created, it will also manifest in various physical symptoms which we need to be keen on identifying before it gets worse. This episode explores some ways anxiety or depression manifests in children and teens and possible solutions. Listen and share

When a child feels securely attached to his parents, the more his self-worth increases, the more he learns to value others as himself and the easier it is for him to navigate through challenges when they come without feeling it is his fault and does not deserve good things. And these are carried through a lifetime. The earlier we build a safe haven for them, the better, but even if they are adults, it is never too late.

If being loved unconditionally helps us see the worth in ourselves, imagine how much more important it is for a child who is still learning what life is, or the teenager who is caught up in the confusion of who they were and who they are becoming. A little bit of affirmed love towards our children, young or old, will go a long way. Credits: Seaside Campfire Night by Arthur Vyncke | https://soundcloud.com/arthurvost Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

We all want respectful, responsible children and that is why we strive to keep them disciplined in the best way we know. Did you know there are alternatives to hitting a child to correct unwanted behavior? Listen to this episode to hear what effective alternatives people use.

The kiboko (cane/rod) has been a go-to disciplinary tool for many parents for thousands of years. How effective is it really when it comes to discipline? Does it really correct unwanted behavior and teach appropriate behavior or does it just instill fear? What are the long-term impacts of using the rod on children/teens? Have a listen to this episode to find out more.

Many children are labelled as overly hyper, with low attention span, disruptive and many other titles, and some diagnosed with disorders like ADHD and consequently pumped with drugs to try and "subdue" them and sometimes punished for this. But is it really fair? Is it their choice? Are they really hyperactive and inattentive or is the environment from within and without causing this and they simply need understanding and some adjustments? Listen to this episode to find out some whys behind all this, because drugs and punishment is not always the answer

Men lie, women lie, that's nothing new, how about children? Why do they lie and what can we do to help into not develop into a trait that is weaved into their personality? Listen to this episode to find out more.

Did you know that researchers estimate that two-thirds of humans have no idea what they are good at or what their strengths are? Many people live through their lives never having discovered their talent or purpose and it leaves us feeling empty and lost. As custodians of our little ones whether infants or teenagers, we are responsible in helping them discover and nurture their talents and supporting them through so they can live a fulfilled life and serve others in the process.

Trust has never been easy to build especially once we pass the early years. A lot is happening to our children which have no idea about because there is no bond of trust with them. They do not feel like they have the safe space to tell us what they are struggling with. This episode explores ways we can (re)build this trust and things we should avoid that can destroy it.

In this world of instant noodles and coffee, did you know that self-control is the best predictor of long term and fulfilling success? Greater than the brightest of brains and the strongest of arms. One of the greatest values we can teach our children is self-control, learning to regulate their emotions and actions, lest they overpower them. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he who rules his spirit than he who captures a city.

Self-esteem is more than "feeling", it is a state of "being", it's for every single day, it's more than what is said but how we interpret it, it is about being in control of your own happiness and believing that "I am enough", no matter what others say or think about me. It is finding the balance between that and being narcissistic, full of ourselves. What matters is how do we get our children to grow developing this skill?

Did you know that the words we say to our children regardless of their age become the reality they define themselves by? The truth they believe? The lives they live? And they greatly determine a great deal of who they turn out to be.

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”- Fred Rogers PS: I claim no rights to any audios or visuals used

There is no application or children's show that will ever replace the magic and power that ALL children, regardless of age, get from being read to an actual book and engaging with the author's world and developing their own imagination. This episode explores more on what it takes to get our children into the habit of loving to read and how we get help get them excited about it.

Believe it or not, children (and teens) are facing the same anxiety we are about Corona and probably even more because they are not sure if things will be alright and they need that reassurance. Today's episode talks about how we can safely engage them through this time with a practical example for the little ones on understanding why so many restrictions.

For the child who just needs the freedom of movement.

An old Chinese proverb says that “the faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory. A bit of a dive into learning about learners who love to read and write.

We continue on our journey of understanding how our children learn best and today we look at the auditory learners, more like listen to them :-p

Are you wondering if your child is a visual learner? Wonder no more because this episode helps us discern what characterizes this kind of learner and how best we can support them and build their joy of learning.

Did you know that every child can learn? Just not the same things on the same day or in the same way. Every child has a unique method of learning that appeals to how they grasp content being taught. Are you familiar with what works best for your child(ren)? Discover more about it in this episode

Is 31 min of homework for little ones beneficial? How about 91min for highschoolers? Let's see what the stats say

Did you know that more than one out of every five students report being bullied? And this does not include those who do not report. Bullying that is not handled early and appropriately leads to adverse effects that last a lifetime such as depression, aggression, withdrawal, and even suicide. Could your child be a victim of bullying? What are the telltale signs of a victim and how can you help as a parent? Listen to this episode and find out!

Should children be ready for school or should school be ready for children? Could schools/education be killing our children's morale for life and destroying their emotional and psychological health? This episode looks into what kind of teaching and learning is appropriate for children and provides evidence of places it has worked phenomenally well. It also provides information regarding whether your child's school is appropriate for their holistic development and guidelines informing decisions on which school to take your child to.

Just how important is a father in the life of his child? Or can children still grow up stable despite his absence? This episode provides some information on the reality that fathers are just as important and the outcome of every child's life largely depends on whether daddy was actively available or not.

When is the last time you told someone a genuine "thank you"? I am referring to appreciating the nanny, security guard, cashier, your CHILD, or your spouse... It is a trait so often neglected yet it greatly affects our children's character and how they handle the reality that they won't always get what they want and it should be handled with grace (no more tantrums). Let's learn a little about imparting this important character trait on our children as we listen to this episode.

One of the most basic needs of our children is to spend QUALITY TIME with them.. Stuck on how to spend time with your child(ren) and what to do? This episode gives suggestions on that and the importance of making it intentional.

Children are a sum total of how they are raised and disciplined and they become what they are told they are. This episode takes a look at different discipline techniques and those that work best for the child.