You'd be forgiven for thinking that there was no good news about lying, but actually being capable of stretching the truth is an important developmental milestone for your child, especially when it comes to telling those little white lies.“Children are very perceptive and often d...

Here's why a little daydreaming has powerful effects…■ Daydreaming occupies as much as one-third of our lives and the average thought lasts 14 seconds.■ The latest research by the University of British Colombia says that daydreaming occupies more complex areas of the brain than p...

TANTRUMS ARE A very common phenomenon in toddlers. That's because, at this age, a child's cognitive development is advancing very rapidly, but while he is able to imagine what he wants, his ability to wait and view the situation from another perspective is not quite as sophistica...

Scary monsters, ghosts and ghouls Reassure your child that he is safe, and help him to feel secure and less anxious. A toddler may benefit from choosing a toy that can “protect” him; an older child may be reassured if he can take the time to explain 
to you what is real and what ...

Explain feelings Describe how other people feel when they are sad or when they are hurt in clear and concise language. If your child breaks another child’s toy, for example, you can remind him how he felt when one of his toys broke, and say. “That is how Danny is feeling.” Be con...

 1.   He’s watching youFrom the moment your baby is born, you are under surveillance. Your baby will not be able to take his eyes off you; he will follow your every move, ‘tracking’ you as you move around your home. That’s because from the moment babies are born they put a lot of...

AS THE LONG, lazy days of summer stretch ahead of us, how do you envisage filling the days? With idle pursuits like relaxing walks in the park, watching the leaves shimmering in the breeze, maybe a spot of rock-pooling or making footprints in the sand. Or are the days more likely...

Big boys do cryFrom an early age, boys can be made to feel that they should bottle up their emotions so as not to appear weak, which can be a lot to bear for a young child. Encourage your little boy to share his feelings and allow him to be upset about his problems before working...

.Praise positive behaviourLet children know what behaviour you like, and why – and heap on that praise. More psychology from Junior:Five ways to conquer childhood fearsWays to boost your child's body image

Sure, superheroes can blast enemies to smithereens, but they’re also kind and caring and they look after others.More psychology from Junior:How to combat sibling rivalryBring out your child's inner performer