Category Archives: Fostering

More than positive thinking and a resilient mindset

A child’s resilience requires more than just a “resilient mindset” or “positive thinking”. It requires deeply-held and profound beliefs, formed during infancy and early childhood, that they are a good and capable and deserving person, that adults in a care … Continue reading

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Attachment, Fostering, Parenting, Resilience, Schools, Wellbeing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

New thinking and a new approach required with looked-after children

Yesterday I was visited by a six-year-old boy who has a history of family trauma and is being raised by a relative carer. Upon entering my consulting room he immediately sought my box of assorted animals and rifled through it, … Continue reading

Posted in Adoption, Attachment, Children's Behaviour, Fostering, Parenting, Schools, Trauma | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Eyes are mirrors for a child’s soul

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Favourites, Fostering, Parenting, Resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A gentle method for getting children settled to sleep in their own beds

This was a very popular post that has become somewhat buried in this site, so I thought I would reproduce it here. Enjoy! 🙂 In my practice one of the more common struggles reported by parents and caregivers is getting … Continue reading

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The importance of empathy

This is a reproduction of blog post I wrote approximately two years ago, so it is buried a bit in this site. Thought I would re-post under a new title because the message has been well received and, in my … Continue reading

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Book Reviews, Fostering, Parenting, Resilience, Schools, Wellbeing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strong Foundations

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Favourites, Fostering, Parenting, Resilience | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Secure Start

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, Parenting, Resilience, Schools, Trauma | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Overcoming Attachment Trauma

This is a post for those adults who relate to children who have experienced trauma in their primary attachment relationship(s); whether you may be their parent, relative carer, kinship carer, adoptive parent, foster parent, residential carer, teacher or education support … Continue reading

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, Parenting, Schools, Trauma | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Respond to the need as well as the behaviour

Much is being written about empathic care and being in-tune with the needs of children. Below is an excerpt from my book A Short Introduction to Promoting Resilience in Children (London: Jessica Kingsley, 2011), which, itself, is based on material … Continue reading

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Children's Behaviour, Fostering, Parenting, Resilience, Schools, Trauma | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Proactive Needs Provision Required to Heal Trauma Hurts

Perhaps the most little known and understood aspect of childhood trauma is the impact inadequate needs provision has on the child’s perception of how their basic human needs will be met in future, and their associated actions to satisfy their … Continue reading

Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, Parenting, Trauma, trauma informed, trauma informed care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments