Children's health and parenting advice
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- Behaviour
- Development
- Health & daily care
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- Sleep
Advice from experts
This advice has been created by experts for you, to help you better understand your child’s development and support them in their journey. This advice covers topics from behaviour through to communication to safety and sleep.
Harnessing Positive Reinforcement: How to use Reward Charts to Influence Your Child's Behaviour
Parenting is a difficult journey filled with challenges and successes. One of the most common challenges many parents face is managing their child's behaviour. Children often need guidance in developing positive habits and behaviours. Reward charts, also known as behaviour charts or sticker charts, have proven to be an effective and useful tool in shaping children's behaviour through positive reinforcement.
Navigating the Storm: Kids, Tantrums and Meltdowns
Parenting is a difficult journey, filled with joy, laughter, and the occasional tantrum and meltdown. Tantrums are a normal part of childhood development and are often a result of a child's inability to express and manage their emotions effectively. While these outbursts can be challenging for both parents and caregivers, it's crucial as the adult, to maintain a calm composure and respond with patience and understanding. Below are some strategies for handling your child’s tantrums and keeping your cool.
Managing Competitive Children: Nurturing Healthy Ambition
Every parent wants their children to excel and succeed in life, but when competitiveness gets out of hand, it can lead to stress, anxiety, and strained relationships. Managing competitive children requires a delicate balance between building their ambition and ensuring their emotional wellbeing. In this article, we will explore strategies for nurturing healthy competitiveness and guiding your child towards a more balanced approach.
Behaviour
Quick tips for toilet training
Toilet training is an important milestone in a toddler's journey towards independence and self-care. While it can be a challenging and sometimes messy process, with patience, consistency, and a positive approach, toilet training can be a rewarding experience for both parents and toddlers. In this article, we'll explore effective strategies and tips for successfully toilet training your little one.
Seven Reasons Why Routines are good for your Childs Development
Routines play a crucial role in a child's life to help stimulate your child’s growth and development and contribute to overall wellbeing.
Early Childhood Approach
Link Health and Community is the Early Childhood Partner delivering the Early Childhood Approach for children under 9 in Outer East Melbourne, Inner East Melbourne, Southern Melbourne, Inner Gippsland and Outer Gippsland for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Setting the Stage for Success: A Guide on How to Prepare Your Child for School
The transition from home to school is a significant milestone in a child's life. As parents, you play a crucial role in preparing your child for this new adventure. The foundation you lay during these early years can greatly influence your child's attitude towards learning and their overall success in school. Here are some practical tips to help you prepare your child for school and set the stage for a positive educational experience.
Understanding and easing starting school anxiety
The first day of school is a big milestone in a child's life, marking the beginning of a new chapter filled with learning, friendships, and growth. However, for many children, the prospect of starting school can bring up feelings of anxiety and nervousness. In this article, we will explore the common signs of starting school anxiety and provide strategies to help parents, caregivers, and educators support children through this transition.
Development
Start Your Day Right: Breakfast Tips for Families
Breakfast is often seen as the most important meal of the day, and for good reason. It kickstarts our metabolism, replenishes energy levels, and sets the tone for the day ahead. For families, a nutritious and enjoyable breakfast can lay the foundation for a happy and productive day. Below are some practical breakfast tips that cater to the busy schedules of families.
Nurturing Healthy Habits: A Guide to Encouraging Children to Choose Nutritious School Lunches
Eating a healthy lunch at school is an important element in creating and supporting healthy eating habits and overall wellbeing. Getting children to eat a healthy well-balanced lunch at school can be difficult and challenging when children are picky eaters. Below are some practical strategies to get children excited about choosing nutritious options during school lunchtime.
Encouraging Healthy Habits: A Guide on How to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies
As a parent, getting your kids to eat their vegetables can be difficult and sometimes feel frustrating. However, instilling healthy eating habits from a young age is crucial for their overall wellbeing. The good news is that with a bit of creativity and patience, you can make the process enjoyable for both you and your child. Here are some useful strategies to encourage your child to eat their veggies.
Companion Service: A Bridge to Community Accessibility
Navigating through daily activities can sometimes present challenges for people with disability or chronic illness. Whether it's attending medical appointments, social gatherings, or simply exploring the community, the prospect of undertaking these tasks as a family can seem daunting.
Health & daily care
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Typical sleep behaviour for babies 6–12 months
Babies at 6 – 12 months are beginning to know the difference between night and day. They may not need to wake up as much at night because night feeds will have reduced. At this age, most babies sleep 10 – 14 hours in a 24-hour period. Their longest sleep period tends to be at night.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Solutions to sleep concerns for toddlers 1–3 years
It can be difficult to know whether your toddler is experiencing a sleep or settling concern. If your toddler's sleeping patterns are not affecting you or your family and you have strategies that work, then there may not be a sleep concern.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Preventing sleep concerns for toddlers 1–3 years
Toddlers are growing, learning and developing quickly. By understanding and connecting with your toddler you will learn their cues and be able to support positive sleep patterns.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Typical Sleep Behaviour for Toddlers 1-2 years
At this age, toddlers generally sleep 10 – 14 hours in a 24-hour period, including daytime naps of one to three hours. Some toddlers may still wake at night and will need you to comfort them, especially if they have night-time fears.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Solutions to sleep concerns: preschoolers 3–5 years
It can be difficult to know whether your preschooler is experiencing a sleep or settling concern. If your preschooler's sleep patterns are not affecting you or your family and you have strategies that work, then they may not have a sleep concern.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Typical Sleep Behaviour for Newborns 0-3 months
Newborns generally sleep 12 – 16 hours in a 24-hour period and do not know the difference between day and night. Newborns need regular feeding, so they usually sleep and short periods.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Preventing sleep concerns for babies 6–12 months
To strengthen the bond with your baby as they grow and develop, you need to provide lots of love, attention and different experiences. Learning about your baby and their tired signs will help to settle your baby. They usually need your help to settle and go back to sleep.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Solutions to sleep concerns for babies 6–12 months
If your baby’s sleeping patterns are not affecting you or your family and you have strategies that work, then you do not have a sleep concern. If your baby's sleeping patterns are having a negative impact on you or your family and this concerns you, then you have a sleep concern.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Typical sleep behaviour for babies 3–6 months
At this age babies generally sleep 10 – 18 hours in a 24-hour period and need your help to settle and go to sleep. Babies at three to six months still need to wake for regular feeding. Your baby at three to six months is now sleeping a bit longer, usually in periods that last two to three hours.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Typical sleep behaviour for preschoolers 3–5 years
Preschoolers generally sleep for 10 – 13 hours in a 24-hour period, and some children will no longer have a daytime nap. Many preschoolers will have nightmares and night terrors and may want to get into bed with you for comfort.
A Guide for Parents for Creating a Stress-Free Bedtime Routine for Children
Bedtime can often be a challenging time of the day for both parents and children. Establishing a calm and stress-free bedtime routine is key for promoting healthy sleep habits and ensuring that children get the rest they need for proper development. A consistent and calming bedtime routine helps children transition from the busyness of the day to a peaceful night's sleep. Creating a consistent routine helps create a sense of security and safety, reducing anxiety and allowing them to relax for a restful night’s sleep.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Preventing sleep concerns: preschoolers 3–5 years
By understanding and communicating with your preschooler you will learn their cues as they grow and develop. This will help to support positive relationships and sleep patterns.
Sleep and settling for early childhood - Typical sleep behaviour for toddlers 2-3 years
Some toddlers may still wake at night and will need you to comfort them, especially if they have night-time fears. At this age, toddlers generally sleep 12 – 13 hours in a 24-hour period, including daytime naps of one to two hours.
Sleep
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