Parenting Tips Written by: Hong Kong Speech and Swallowing Therapy Centre Senior Speech Therapist Eunice Siu In our daily interactions with others, we not only observe others’ behaviors, but also “explain” and “predict” others’ behaviors. Theory of mind is the ability to infer or substitute other people’s mental states, such as their thoughts, beliefs, desires, and intentions, etc., and to use this ability to explain other people’s thoughts, perceptions, and predict their behaviors. Theory of mind can be subdivided into “emotion recognition”, “beliefs” and “pretend play”.   The developmental period for children’s theory of mind is from approximately 3 to 7 years of age. However, before the age of 3, children need to master the following

Parenting Tips Written by: Unleashing Mind  Professional  Counselling Academy Psychotherapist  Lee Wai-Tong Painting can give us room to express our feelings. I use a brush to create a dialogue with myself in another language, soothing my emotions or gaining insight and unlocking my heart.   Crying over trivial stuff   In my past child counseling sessions, some parents came to me for help. They did not understand why their son, Ming, often cried over trivial things, such as being late for TV, late for dinner, or when his father came home late, etc. They mentioned the situation to Ming, but they did not understand why, which caused them trouble. Therefore, I suggested conducting a drawing assessment

Parenting Tips Written by: American Association for Play Therapy, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Registered Social Worker Chan Tsz Wai     According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a sense of security is the second basic human need, just after physiological needs. Children who lack a sense of security may exhibit many behavioral problems. Without sufficient support to confidently explore the world, and without enough confidence that someone can provide safe protection, they may send misleading signals through problematic behaviors to express their emotional needs. Often, parents think that managing behavior more strictly will solve these behavioral issues in children, but this approach can backfire, leading to even less fulfillment of the child’s emotional needs.   Years of

Parenting Tips Written by: Mr. Chiu Wing Tak, a senior education expert and honorary advisor to the Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters​ A student asked me, “Is there a quick fix for learning English?” I replied, “No!” While other subjects may have shortcuts, English does not. English is a language, and language is a skill. Learning a language is about mastering a skill, which requires patience, perseverance, and courage. Just like practicing Tai Chi or playing table tennis, one must practice daily and be consistent to achieve success. Therefore, there are no quick fixes for learning English!   Here are three methods that have been successfully used by others; you might consider trying one

Parenting Tips Written by: Child Psychological Development Association, Psychological Counselor, Mr. Ching Wai Keung “His handwriting is always out of line; it always ‘flies’ all over the place!” “He can’t even write within the boxes; he usually takes up two boxes for one character!” “He often skips lines or spaces when writing!” “It seems like he doesn’t apply enough pressure when he writes; his writing is so faint that it’s almost unreadable!” These comments reflect the experiences of many children learning to write in K2. When children write, they need to coordinate many abilities, the simplest being the strength and dexterity of their finger muscles (fine motor skills). If there is insufficient training in fine motor

Parenting Tips Written by: Pang Chi Wah, Registered Educational Psychologist, New Horizons Development Centre It is quite common for young children to become “shy kids” when they encounter strangers or find themselves in unfamiliar environments. How can parents help them break through this barrier and avoid hiding behind them every time they meet new friends? Are Children Afraid of Strangers or Anyone? In fact, shyness is a common experience for young children. They may not understand the motives or intentions of others, or they might feel scared in new environments. This is a normal reaction. Shyness is an inner psychological state, and parents should analyze their child’s reactions to different people to determine whether they are