Why Some Children Watch Before They Join In
Is your child watching other children but not joining in? An early childhood teacher and father on onlooker play, temperament and what helps.
Insights
Making sense of what young children are doing
Writing on child development, behaviour, play and relationships in the first five years, for parents, whānau and educators. Each piece starts from an ordinary moment and asks what is really going on, with the research behind it.
Understanding Toddler Behaviour: What Is Your Child Trying to Tell You?
What is your toddler trying to tell you? Why tantrums happen, how common they are and what genuinely helps, from an early childhood teacher and father.
What Really Happens During the First Five Years of Child Development?
What develops between birth and five, why the early years matter, and why no two children follow the same timetable. A plain-language guide.
Why Forced Sharing Doesn't Always Help Young Children
Why toddlers say 'mine', why making them share rarely works, and how turn-taking helps children learn to give. From an early childhood teacher.
The Importance of Fathers in Early Childhood Development
What research really says about fathers and early childhood development, from a dad and early childhood teacher: involvement, caregiving and repair.
Learning Through Play: Why Everyday Experiences Matter
How young children learn through play, why a stick can beat an expensive toy, and when the best thing an adult can do is not interrupt.
How I write these
I am an early childhood teacher and father, not a doctor. Where research is clear I link to it, where it is contested I say so, and where something is my own observation I label it. Nothing here is medical advice. If something about your child worries you, please talk to your doctor, a child health nurse or your child's teachers.