Contemporary Issues – Dr M’s thoughts

Supporting Big Feelings

Practical and psychological support for parents and children Week 2: When Your Child’s Feelings Feel Too Much for You Sometimes it’s not just the child who feels overwhelmed — it’s the parent too. There are moments in parenting when a child’s emotions do not remain contained within the child. Instead, they begin to moveContinue reading “Supporting Big Feelings”

Supporting Big Feelings

Practical and psychological support for parents and children Week 1: When Big Feelings Take Over Sometimes, children don’t have the words to tell us how they feel — but they show us in other ways. There are moments in parenting that can feel sudden and overwhelming. A child who was calm just minutes before mayContinue reading “Supporting Big Feelings”

Trauma-Informed Awareness in the Workplace: Language, Policy, and the Culture of Care

Introduction Workplaces, like people, hold stories. Within every organisation are individuals who carry experiences of stress, loss, and sometimes trauma — experiences that may be invisible but deeply shape how they perceive safety, trust, and belonging. Trauma-informed awareness in the workplace invites us to look beneath behaviour and performance, to recognise that what appears asContinue reading “Trauma-Informed Awareness in the Workplace: Language, Policy, and the Culture of Care”

When Academia and Education Drain the Soul: Burnout, Stress, and the Hidden Costs

Education should be about inspiration—sparking curiosity, sharing knowledge, and shaping futures. Whether you’re teaching preschoolers their first songs, guiding teenagers through exams, or mentoring university students on their research journey, the profession starts with passion. But what begins as a vocation can too easily turn into a heavy burden. Overwork, being overlooked, subtle gaslighting, andContinue reading “When Academia and Education Drain the Soul: Burnout, Stress, and the Hidden Costs”

The Soothing Power of Sensation: Why Early Sensory Experiences Matter for Babies’ Development

When you watch a baby reach for the grass beneath them, wiggle their toes in soft sand, or splash joyfully in water, you’re witnessing something profound. These simple, natural moments aren’t just adorable—they are crucial developmental experiences. As a psychologist who works with early childhood development, I often speak with parents and early years practitionersContinue reading “The Soothing Power of Sensation: Why Early Sensory Experiences Matter for Babies’ Development”

“The Quiet Echoes of Childhood: Understanding and Managing the Long Shadow of Trauma”

I often sit across from adults who are struggling—not just with present stress, but with the lingering echoes of pain that began decades ago. These are echoes from classrooms, hospital corridors, foster homes, playgrounds, and sometimes even battlefields. They come in many forms: the child who lost a parent too soon, the one who feltContinue reading ““The Quiet Echoes of Childhood: Understanding and Managing the Long Shadow of Trauma””

Learning Theory and Early Childhood Development: A Critical Analysis of Practice

The early years of life represent a critical developmental window, where the foundations for future learning, behaviour, and well-being are established. Early childhood education (ECE) must therefore be underpinned by theoretical knowledge that informs pedagogical decision-making and supports educators in meeting complex developmental needs. However, the use of theory in practice is not a matterContinue reading “Learning Theory and Early Childhood Development: A Critical Analysis of Practice”