The Power of Shared Passions: How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Deepened My Bond with My Son
Why Practising a Hobby or Martial Art Together Builds More Than Just Skills

There’s something powerful about doing hard things alongside the people you love.

Three years ago, I stepped onto the mat not just for fitness or self-defence, but for connection. My eldest son had started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and I saw a chance to do something that wasn’t just for him, but with him.

As a parent, it can be hard to find shared ground as our kids grow older. Life gets busy, and the little moments of connection can get lost in the shuffle of school runs, work emails, and dinner prep. But what I discovered on the mats was a kind of magic—a playful, sweaty, laughter-filled magic that strengthened our bond in ways I never imagined.

Why Shared Hobbies with Your Child Matter

When we engage in a shared hobby or sport with our children—whether it’s martial arts, hiking, painting, or even board games—we create a space ...

Has your child ever had a label slapped on their forehead?

Naughty. Cheeky. Sporty. Geeky. Disruptive. Popular.

The list goes on and on.

Labels are such an interesting area to explore, especially in early childhood. Think about yourself growing up—did the labels you were given help you or hinder you? Did you grow into them, or spend years trying to break free? Were they even true—or were they just self-fulfilling prophecies?

Honestly, I think it’s the latter. Especially in those formative early years, how children are described often becomes how they see themselves.

Research supports this.
In early childhood education, studies show that the expectations we place on children—through language, tone, and even subtle cues—can shape how they behave and how they see themselves. This is known as the Pygmalion effect or self-fulfilling prophecy. If a child is repeatedly told they’re "trouble," they often start to believe it—and then behave in ways that reinforce that belief.

Even as adul...

Resilient Athletes: Teaching Our Kids to Cross the Bridge of Effort

The other evening, my 10-year-old son Joshua tried rugby for the first time.

As we were getting ready to head out, he said his tummy hurt. Any parent knows that line—it could be nerves, a genuine ache, or just a quiet plea to avoid the unfamiliar.

I remember that feeling. I still get that feeling when I’m nervous about trying something new. And I also know—it usually fades once you dive in.

I told him I understood how he felt and that I was proud of him for showing up. I reminded him that the tummy flutter was just a mix of nerves and excitement, and that once he got moving, it would feel better.

The Quiet Foundations of Resilience

At the field, I got chatting with another dad whose son was dealing with separation anxiety. We shared a look that said, yep, been there.

These quiet, in-between moments don’t always look like resilience—but they are its foundation.

It’s how we show up for our kids, helping them st...

Let Them Climb: Risk, Play & Parenting with Courage

Why letting our kids take risks might be the bravest parenting move we make.

Rhion is a tree climber.

Not just a kid who occasionally scrambles up the lower branches—he’s the kind who scales high, perches on the edge, and sits still among the leaves for nearly an hour, taking in the world from above. On this particular day, he stayed up there for 45 minutes—quiet, contemplative, completely in his element.

He wasn't trying to escape. He wasn't showing off. He was simply being. Still. Peaceful. Observing life from a different perspective. Feeling free.

Parenting in the grey zone of risk and trust

As a parent, this moment triggered my inner alarm system. What if he falls? What if a branch breaks? What if this is the one time it goes wrong?

But what I’ve come to learn—especially with a child like Rhion—is that these moments are necessary. Not just for his physical development, but for his emotional growth, his confidence, and h...

What I’ve Learned About Screens, Play, and Parenting the Third Time Around.

When my older boys were toddlers — now 10 and 13 — we were the first wave of iPad parents.

We didn’t really stop to think about what screens were doing to them.
It felt new, exciting, and to be honest, sometimes… necessary.
Dinner needed cooking. I needed a break. Everyone else was doing it.

So we handed over the screen.
One Ryan’s Toy Review after another.
Kinder egg unboxings. Hours of YouTube. Endless swiping.
And the toys? They stayed in their boxes.

💔 Looking Back

It didn’t happen all at once — but over time, I watched my children’s capacity for imaginative play shrink.
Their ability to sit in boredom or create their own fun faded.

And I had all the excuses under my wing — I truly did.
But looking back now, I see it clearly:

My boys were addicted to screens. And it happened before my eyes.

It wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t bad parenting. It was uninformed parenting in a brand-new digital world...

The Power of Emotional Literacy: Why It Matters More Than Ever

In today’s fast-paced world, supporting the emotional wellbeing of children has never been more important. From playground conflicts to big feelings in the classroom, young people are constantly navigating complex emotions—often without the language or tools to express what’s going on inside.

That’s where emotional literacy comes in. It’s not just a buzzword. It’s a life skill.

What is Emotional Literacy?

Emotional literacy is the ability to recognise, understand, name, and manage emotions—both in ourselves and in others. It’s the foundation for emotional intelligence, and plays a critical role in how we relate, communicate, and thrive.

For children, developing emotional literacy means:

• Being able to say “I feel angry” instead of acting out

• Learning to calm their body when overwhelmed

• Understanding that emotions are natural—not something to fear or suppress

• Building stronger relationships with peers

  ...

Helping Toddlers with Their Feelings… and Let’s Face It, All of Us

Let’s be real: supporting toddlers with their feelings isn’t just about them—it’s also about us. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or carer, helping young children navigate big emotions means we have to show up for them with patience, presence, and a whole lot of self-compassion.

That’s why I wrote Helping Toddlers with Feelings—the second book I recommend in our “Helping Toddlers” series. It’s not just a story. It’s a gentle guide for the big people, too.

Why Toddlers + Emotions = Magic (and Meltdowns)

Toddlers are wired to feel things deeply. They’re still learning how to express, regulate, and recover from emotional overwhelm. And here’s the thing: that’s developmentally appropriate.

In Helping Toddlers with Feelings, I wanted to show that emotions aren’t bad or something to fix—they’re messages. When a toddler feels frustration, fear, or sadness, it’s an opportunity to connect, not correct.

What if we could...

How to Help Your Toddler Name Their Feelings

Toddlers feel everything—from joy that explodes into giggles to frustration that turns into floor-flopping meltdowns. But while the feelings come fast and strong, the words to describe them? Not so much.

That’s where you come in.

Helping your toddler name their feelings is one of the most powerful things you can do to support their emotional development. It's the first step in building emotional literacy, self-regulation, and the ability to say, “I feel ___, so I can do ___.”

Let’s break it down.

🧠 Why Naming Feelings Matters

When toddlers learn the words for their emotions, a few amazing things happen:

• They feel seen and understood

• They start to make sense of their inner world

• They’re less likely to express emotions through hitting, screaming, or shutting down

• They begin to learn that feelings are OK, not scary or wrong

Naming a feeling gives it shape—and that makes it manageable.

🗣️ 5 Ways to Help Toddle...

The Power of Repetition for Emotional Resilience

If you’ve ever said something a hundred times to your toddler or repeated the same classroom mantra daily, and thought, Is this even working? — good news: it is.

Repetition is powerful. Especially when it comes to building emotional resilience in children.

In fact, one of the simplest, most overlooked tools we have to help kids feel safe, seen, and strong in their emotions is this: saying the same thing, again and again and again.

🧠 Why Repetition Builds Emotional Resilience

Our brains are wired to learn through repetition. Repeated words, actions, and patterns create neural pathways — basically, emotional muscle memory. The more often children hear a phrase or practice a coping tool, the more easily they access it when they really need it.

For young children still developing their emotional regulation skills, repetition helps them:

• Feel safe and secure through predictability

• Internalise positive emotional scripts

...

Oh My God, My Toddler Bites! Toddler Tantrums, Emotions, and How to Work Through It

You’re not alone. If your toddler has ever gone full shark mode at daycare, during playtime, or even while snuggling — deep breath. Biting is more common than you think, and no, it doesn’t mean there’s something “wrong” with your child.

It just means they’re human… and tiny. With big feelings. And not quite enough words (yet).

Let’s talk about why toddler tantrums and biting happen — and how to work through it with calm, compassion, and connection.

🧠 Why Do Toddlers Bite?

Biting is a form of emotional expression — not a moral failure.

Here’s what your toddler might be trying to say with their teeth:

• I’m overwhelmed

• I can’t express myself

• I’m frustrated or overstimulated

• I want attention, but I don’t know how to ask

• I’m teething or exploring the world with my mouth

Remember, toddlers are still building their emotional regulation skills. They’re not trying to be “bad”...