‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. A phrase I use often in relation to children as it really sums up my depiction and belief that all kids are their own special individual people and therefore should be treated as such. We unknowingly place so much pressure on children by expecting them to perform or act in the way in which WE feel they should, instead of allowing them to be who they are and nurturing that to the best of our abilities. My goal when working with any new family is to help aid and support in raising well-rounded balanced, confident and happy children.

As adults we fear the world because we know how cruel, hurtful and at times dangerous that it can be and so we naturally want to protect our kids from it. Unknowingly however what we can then end up doing alongside that is instilling fear into them by not allowing them the freedom to navigate, problem solve and trust themselves when faced with new challenges or situations. Children are born fearless; and they learn through exploring and testing their limitations- encourage that! No matter how nerve-wracking that can be.

I have a very hands-on approach and really enjoy being part of their development and early learning years. I’m very big on reading and feel as if this should be part of every child’s life regardless of their age, as my many years of experience has shown me countless times that it helps to open their mind and significantly extend their vocabulary. I hold a high importance in providing children with routine and structure but also the independence to discover their own sense of autonomy as they grow, through things like independent play and child led activities. I’m very big on striking the perfect balance between implementing manners, good behaviour and respect for others and one’s belongings whilst still giving them the freedom to be the curious, inquisitive children that they are. 

Whether you have more of a free-spirited gentle approach to parenting or prefer more of a regimented method, one thing is for sure; nearly all children thrive off some form of structure and routine, even if it’s with something as simple as eating dinner at the same time in the same place each day. One of my biggest focuses is emotional safety and building trust, and one of the easiest ways to create that is through stability and continuity. Children need reliability and familiarity. The reassurance that they then gain as a result of the repetition of daily tasks or habits shouldn’t be underestimated. Simple and effective methods are most successful I’ve found and really allow for a more easy flowing household.

I often tell parents that what you teach and show in the home is what your child with mirror and emulate outside (nature vs nurture). And if you do not give your little ones the correct tools, encouragement and trust to navigate new spaces and relationships through things like; boundaries, relationship dynamics and teaching emotional awareness you inevitably are doing them a disservice by sending them out into the world ill-equipped and unprepared. It is our job to make sure that they have all the knowledge and resources needed in order to thrive independently from us, as scary as this may feel.