When children “act out,” refuse certain foods, or struggle with transitions, it often ties back to their sensory world. Understanding the eight senses helps you recognize what overwhelms or soothes your child; create environments that support regulation (quiet corners, movement breaks, sensory play); and foster empathy by remembering your child’s behaviour is communication.

Mean Girl Aggression (MGA), also known as relational aggression, is a form of emotional or social bullying. It can show up through gossip, exclusion, social manipulation, and online bullying. Much of it happens quietly and behind screens, which means adults often don’t see it happening at all. MGA is usually covert and passive-aggressive. It’s easy for those engaging in it to deny or downplay their behaviour, leaving the person on the receiving end feeling anxious, confused, or even like they’re overreacting. Over time, these experiences can lead to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, lower grades, substance use, or withdrawal from school and activities they once loved.

Healthy communication isn’t about perfect words, it’s about simple habits you can repeat. These five skills work across ages and stages, and parents can model and coach them in everyday moments.

Big feelings are part of growing up. When children learn to notice, name, and navigate their emotions, they handle stress better, relate more kindly to others, and bounce back from setbacks. That skill set, often called emotional intelligence, can be taught and practised at home in small, everyday moments.

Here we’ll share practical ways to build these skills, with simple language you can use right away.

Relationships don’t fail overnight. They fray, slowly, through stress, miscommunication, and the push–pull of daily life. Most couples wait longer than they need to before reaching out for help, often because they feel they “should” be able to fix things on their own. If you’re wondering whether it’s time for couples counselling, that curiosity is already a meaningful first step.