​Have you ever paused to think about how much time your child spends watching TV, playing video games or on their phone? 

​Once you add in checking messages and social feeds, school work, homework, a couple of TV episodes and a few games time spent on screens per day can very quickly accumulate. Most of us know that excessive screentime can be harmful for children and teenagers but how much is too much and what exactly are the negative effects?
​

​One of the downsides of social media’s increasing popularity has been the rise of fake news. News no longer comes from verified, trustworthy organisations. Instead many people get their updates from their feed where news is mixed with opinions and memes.

​Even with years of life experience, adults can still find it hard to tell the difference between real news and fake news. So how are children, who still think the Tooth Fairy and Santa are real supposed to spot the difference? 

​One of the best ways is to teach your tamariki to be digitally literate. Read on for our how practical how to guide and your 4 point checklist.

​It’s no secret – having teenagers is hard! 

​The choices your child makes in their teenage years can have huge impacts on the future. Who they spend time with, how much they study, and what drugs they decide to experiment with all have consequences beyond what your teen can anticipate.  

​As a parent, you can usually see how much your teen doesn’t know. But if you’ve spent five minutes with a teen you know that even simple conversations are hard going. Forget about imparting your lifetime of hard-won wisdom! 

​Many tamariki have fears or worries of some kind. In most cases, these fears are temporary and short lived. However, plenty of tamariki struggle to contain their fears and worries and develop anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common reason for tamariki and teenagers to seek therapy.

​Understanding anxiety in your tamariki can be daunting for parents and caregivers. How do you know your tamariki are suffering from anxiety? And what can you do to help?

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of fun, relaxation and spending time with your loved ones. But, if the thought of Christmas leaves you feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. 

Many people find this time of year stressful. There’s pressure to get everything done at work and home. Worries about the extra costs of presents and social events.
​
And like everything else in 2021, this year is a bit trickier than usual. With Aotearoa opening up after a long lockdown, it can feel like there is added pressure to make up for the months spent stuck at home.

New Zealand is moving to the new Covid-19 Traffic Light system on Friday 3rd December.  You can find out more information on what each level involves here.
​
This means that when you or your tamariki visit us at our Morningside centre, there will be new regulations in place to ensure that we meet all necessary Government health and safety guidelines.

Last week, the New Zealand Government announced a tentative return date of 15 November for school students Years 1 to 10. And senior students are already back at school preparing for exams.

We were all hoping for a short, sharp lockdown like 2020 but it looks like the Delta strain of Covid is determined to stick around in Aotearoa.

​People who have a growth mind set believe that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.  To them, nothing is set in stone – with the right attitude, they can do achieve anything they want to.   A growth mindset is one of the key foundations in helping your child build resilience.

The term was coined by Carol Dweck, an American psychologist. There are many excellent YouTube videos of her discussing the power of yet in helping students succeed in and out of the classroom.

We are hoping for good news at the Covid-19 Level review next week, but Aucklanders will be spending at least a few days of the school holidays in the Level 3 lockdown.