child – Hello Doctor

How to win at parenting

February 4th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Every parent wants a good relationship with their kids, but it can be hard work, and sometimes – it can feel like an uphill battle. Even though it’s hard work, the good news is that a closer connection with your child doesn’t need to cost you a cent. Bridge the gap and make your relationship stronger than ever with these tips.

Make time

There are plenty of hours in a week. Use at least one or two of them to nurture your relationship with your child. Set a reminder on your calendar just like you would any other appointment, and schedule alone time to catch up with him. Plan fun activities for the two of you. Spending quality time together encourages communication, builds trust, and brings you closer to each other. The more you tend to the relationship, the more it will grow. It may not always be easy to prioritise time for your child, but if you really want a good relationship with him, you will make it happen.

Be his biggest fan

Let your child know that you’re proud of him. Take an avid interest in his life and encourage him to do more of what makes him happy. Knowing that you have his best interests at heart and actively showing it will make him feel valued and loved, and boost his confidence. It will also make it much easier for him to open up to you about anything, which could strengthen your relationship.

Avoid over-parenting

While your intentions are good, a hovering parenting style may be wrecking your relationship with your child. Stepping in to meet your child’s every need is failing him. It sends the message that you don’t believe in his capabilities. This may create frustration and breakdown of trust, which could affect the relationship as a whole. Stop being a helicopter parent. Avoid intruding on the challenges he may face, and allow him to overcome them on his own. Let him embrace both success and failure. This will help him grow as an individual and improve your relationship.

Talk more

Open communication is the key in any relationship, including the one with your child. It’s important in building trust, which is the foundation of a good relationship. Work on the trust factor and strengthen the bond with your child by communicating with him on a regular basis. Take the time to talk and actively listen to your child. Focus on what he’s saying and discuss any problems he may be having. Make it known that he can talk to you about anything and everything. This will make him feel appreciated and understood.

Just be there

Be your child’s support. Show him that you’ll be there whenever he needs a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. This does not mean you need to drop everything for him. With the pressures of daily life, this would not be realistic. Just stay available and let him know that you will be his go-to person when times get tough. Being there as much as possible and knowing he has you to rely on can reinforce the relationship.

References

Healthy teeth – from the inside out!

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Teaching kids to brush and floss are two vital steps to keeping their teeth healthy, but that’s only from the outside! What can you do to help them build healthy teeth and gums from the inside out? Continue reading “Healthy teeth – from the inside out!”

Trying again after a miscarriage – when is it safe?

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Having a miscarriage is traumatic – and trying to fall pregnant again can be daunting. Let’s take a look at some commonly asked questions about miscarriage. Continue reading “Trying again after a miscarriage – when is it safe?”

Alcohol use in pregnancy – what are the dangers?

August 22nd, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Ever wondered why you should never drink during your pregnancy? We asked Dr Lynelle Hoeks to give us the low-down on the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Continue reading “Alcohol use in pregnancy – what are the dangers?”

I am coughing – What do I do?

May 30th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Battling with a lingering cough that’s giving you sleepless nights and disturbing your work colleagues? Continue reading “I am coughing – What do I do?”

Living with dyslexia

October 22nd, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

“In Grade 1, I couldn’t write my name and I felt at this young age that I had already ‘failed’. But now I just laugh about the errors – I’m completely content and open about it.” – Ashleigh Marshall

Do you have dyslexia or know anyone that does? We met up with Kayos’ Operations Manager, Ashleigh Marshall and her son, Adam Marshall, who were both born with dyslexia – a condition that makes it difficult for them to write, spell and read fluently. Continue reading “Living with dyslexia”

Down syndrome “it’s all in the genes”

October 19th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

In South Africa, 1 in 500 children are born with Down Syndrome every year – Let’s take a closer look at the most common genetic chromosomal disorder and leading cause of intellectual disability in children.

Continue reading “Down syndrome “it’s all in the genes””

Arthritis isn’t just an old man’s disease!

October 12th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

There is a common misconception that arthritis only begins to affect people over the age of 40 – not true! Arthritis can affect children as well. Continue reading “Arthritis isn’t just an old man’s disease!”

Why is breast best?

August 4th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Having a new baby should be a time of joy, but many new mothers struggle with breast-feeding and feel frustrated when it doesn’t happen easily. There seem to be a hundred different formulas available – so why not just go the bottle route?

Continue reading “Why is breast best?”

Help! Something’s stuck in my child’s ear!

July 24th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Toddlers and young children are famous for sticking things up their nose and down their ears – and more often than not it’s a piece of Lego or part of a toy. If you have kids, we’re willing to bet you’ll experience this at some stage, if you haven’t already.

The best thing you can do is be prepared and know how to deal with it. Depending on what’s stuck in Junior’s ear, here’s what you need to do once you’ve calmed them down and let them know they’ll be OK. Continue reading “Help! Something’s stuck in my child’s ear!”

I’ve had a miscarriage, now what?

January 3rd, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Having to go through a miscarriage is a painful and incredibly emotional experience, not just for the women who endure it, but also for the husbands, partners and families of these women.

All too often, it’s impossible to give an explanation as to why a pregnancy was lost. Between 50 and 70% of first-trimester miscarriages are thought to be the result of genetic abnormalities, which means the foetus can’t grow normally. Medically, a miscarriage refers to the loss of a pregnancy within the first 20 weeks, and studies show that 30-50% of fertilised eggs are lost before or during the process of implantation. This means the miscarriage happens early enough that a woman will go on to get her next period and not even know that she might have been pregnant for a short time. The result being that there are a lot more miscarriages than women are aware of.

Continue reading “I’ve had a miscarriage, now what?”