This is an introduction interview with WIN for my new show on : Flourish in leadership and love. Please note this is a session via skype so the picture isn't the best quality, but the talk is very clear. Enjoy!

Children can and should set goals. Young children can feel the joy of accomplishment. They can take pride in what they have done. In this session we will give you tools to help children set goals that are complementary to their gifts and talents. It is always easer to do and accomplish something you enjoy.

It will give your children the self-confidence they need in life. It also helps them to make a plan, exercise self-control and learn how to be persistent. These qualities will help them to rise above the crowd.

Children can and should set goals. Young children can feel the joy of accomplishment. They can take pride in what they have done. In this session we will give you tools to help children set goals that are complementary to their gifts and talents. It is always easer to do and accomplish something you enjoy.

It will give your children the self-confidence they need in life. It also helps them to make a plan, exercise self-control and learn how to be persistent. These qualities will help them to rise above the crowd.

A study said that the majority of teen suicides were because they couldn't handle their problems. They didn't know how to solve their problems and suicide seemed like the best option. Here are a couple of activities you can do with your children at a young age to increase their problem solving skills and help improve their lives.

What parenting has taught me is…… To have Guilt free TLC

Have you ever said to yourself I don’t have enough time to look after myself, or, isn’t it selfish to take time out for me when I have a family to look after? My question is, and how is that working for you?

Well, if that is not working for you and you are feeling run down, overwhelmed, undervalued, or the like, why not try something new? You can get out of the cycle and the old belief system of selflessness and move into looking after self. I promise you that when you do this you will have so much more to give to others and ultimately be better role models to your family of how to love life, not just survive it.

I have found in my own parenting experience, my business and through the many parents I come across, there is one major factor that gets overlooked – if you are not ok, how can anything else be ok. It does begin with you! You can overcome many obstacles and uncomfortable situations by valuing you, by being in control, by making sure your health and wellbeing is at its best levels and by you being in charge of your ‘happy’. Quite often we hand this over to others, waiting for them to satisfy and notice the needs we have. My experience has shown me that it comes from within first, not from ‘out there’.

I like to use the metaphors of vehicles, as I believe life is a journey and people generally feel the silent and invisible push to move forward in their lives. Let’s look at a family car. Parents feel a responsibility to keep the family car in good condition, up to a safe standard, using the right fuel and properly serviced so their family can get from A – B in comfort and as safe as possible. The car expenses and upkeep are put in the family budget and schedule because this is important to have this asset in top condition. Read more ...

Problem solving can be taught as a simple strategy which contains 5 parts

• identify the problem
• brain storm the possible
• solutions weighing the solutions
• choose an action
• act on it

Children can learn and use this strategy to find solutions to the daily problems. If they do not have this ability they will disown their problems, blame others, lie or pretend the problem doesn't exist.

Problem solving is a simple strategy which contains 5 parts
identify the problem
brain storm the possible solutions
weighing the solutions
choose an action
act on it

Children can learn and use this strategy to find solutions to the daily problems. If they do not have this ability they will disown their problems, blame others, lie or pretend the problem doesn't exist. But you can help them!

Rachel Flower interviews host Dyan Eybergen about her new show After the Stork.

We all know babies don't come with instruction booklets, and for most of us making our way through the infant stage pales in comparison to the challenges we face as our babies start to grow up. Have you ever been at a loss as to what to do with a screaming toddler in a grocery store? A five year old who refuses to eat? A school-ager who will not do homework? A teenager refusing to talk to you? Dyan talks with Rachel about the premise for After the Stork where parents will learn to trust their intuition and develop creative ways to effectively parent. In this segment Dyan shares some of her favourite parenting tips to enhance family relationships:

Tips:

1. use allowance to teach financial responsibility
2. Give your children a "feelings" vocabulary
3. give your children choices whenever possible
4. do not make dinner time about "eating"
5. have one night of the week for family time

I am the mother of 3 children 4 to 16 years old, run my own business and my husband works away on a 10/4 roster. I have become a master blender; that means knowing what activities I can ‘blend’ to make sure that everyone’s needs and wants are met. I have also become very aware of what situations and tasks could not be blended as they needed my full attention. I then created a very flexible routine around this. It seems to work most of the time, and as my children grow I change where required to fit with their needs and values at the current age stage.
Below are some blending activities, as well as what I have found are full focus times. I will also attempt to age group, as there are different needs at different ages.

Activities for 5’s & under-
• Baking and cooking together. They love standing on a chair, watching, stirring and touching. Give them their own bowl and let them go for it. They may make a bit of mess, however you have got your kitchen tasks done and had a chat along the way.
• Walking (either pram-ing it or on their little bikes). Great way to get out, get exercise and talk about bugs, butterflies, birds and trees.
• Get together with friends at the park. Big people and little people combination time!
• Reading a book. Don’t forget all important tickle time and share laughing.
• From about 3 let them help you clean. Give them their own cloth and/or bucket of plain water and guide them through the task.
• Sing and dance together.

Activities for primary school ages-
• Baking and cooking again. Both my older children can bake and make a couple of main meals. Very helpful on make your own dinner night!
• Get out and kick a ball or play catch. Great for developing their skills and revisiting yours, and lots of laughing.
• When at sporting practice, catch up with new and old friends, take a book you have been meaning to read or listen to your iPod. Remember to be watching them too! Read more ...

AnnaMarie Squailia discusses three children's books: Horton Hatches an Egg, The Amazing Pig, and A Day's Work, along with an activity you can use to engage your children around the value of honesty.