Real children need real experiences with real people to grow up happy, healthy, strong, kind and resilient. In the second edition of this bestselling book from one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators Maggie Dent, Maggie explores the 10 essential building blocks that help children build resilience and self-esteem in our chaotic, uncertain world. We can’t change the world, however we can help our children to develop emotional buoyancy and competence by experiencing life's joys and successes, as well as its challenges and setbacks. When this is done within the safety of supportive relationships—especially in families and communities—one building block at a time from birth to 12, children can grow into being the capable, independent adults we all yearn to meet one day. About Maggie:Commonly known as the ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience. Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention. She is a dedicated advocate to quietly changing lives in our families and communities. She is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother. Maggie is the author of 11 books including her 2018 release Mothering Our Boys which is already a bestseller.

Real children need real experiences with real people to grow up healthy - just as they have since mankind began. This book explores the 10 essential building blocks that help children build resilience and authentic self-esteem in our chaotic, modern world. It's a commonsense, holistic approach that encourages connectedness, character and compassion. We can't change the world, however we can change the choices we make for our children.

Silence and stillness does have a magic to it. It doesn't matter where you find it — in your home, your workplace or your classroom. However in our fast-paced world it is getting harder and harder to find. In this book, one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators Maggie Dent explores the cognitive and emotional benefits of silence and stillness, demonstrating how crucial it is for children as well as adults, and details methods for creating it in your home or classroom. About Maggie: Commonly known as the ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience. Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention. She is a dedicated advocate to quietly changing lives in our families and communities. She is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother. Maggie is the author of 11 books including her 2018 release Mothering Our Boys which is already a bestseller.

It is easy in our fast-paced, competitive, consumer-driven world to forget that children are not mini-adults, projects to be managed or problems to be solved. This common-sense guide to parenting and caring for children under eight, reminds us that a child’s development cannot be rushed, or crudely measured again milestones. It takes an entire childhood to grow and there is no perfect when it comes to parenting. In her informed, heartfelt way, one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors Maggie Dent takes a comprehensive look at the 9 Things that truly matter in raising children, and why they matter so much. She uses the metaphor of a wise aunty, Wilma — a voice of ancient wisdom that seems to be disappearing amidst the chaos. With passion, warmth and humour, Maggie draws on current research and her extensive experience as an educator, counsellor and mother of four to guide parents and caregivers in their endless decision-making, to raise children who are happy, healthy, strong, kind and resilient. Commonly known as the ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience. Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention. She is a dedicated advocate to quietly changing lives in our families and communities. She is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother. Maggie is the author of 11 books including her 2018 release Mothering Our Boys which is already a bestseller.

This book provides a practical guide to raising children from pre-conception to teenage years. It includes areas of interest for parents-to-be, including how to prepare for conception in order to give a child the best start in life and ways to avoid stress during pregnancy and its negative effects on the unborn child. Parents, grandparents and teachers can learn how to support a child's development in fundamental areas like good self-esteem, resilience and managing emotions and behaviour. Practical activities and guidance is provided on how children can develop skills in setting and achieving goals, communicating, building and nurturing relationships with family and friends, managing stress, understanding health and nutrition as well as environmental awareness and social consciousness. These key life skills and personal qualities are the platform from which a child can create a happy, productive and fulfilling life. Parents are also introduced to a framework for managing their family life and making it all work.

The way children cope with the small things in life builds a foundation for dealing with the bigger problems later on. In ‘Everyday Resilience’, you can learn how to help kids deal with increasing challenges of friendship issues, academic pressure and self-doubt. With rising mental health issues amongst children and young people, it has never been more important to nurture resilience. By focusing on key traits, Michelle uncovers the answers to the age-old questions, such as how can I help my child be more confident? What do I say when my child is rejected by friends? And how do I help a child who is struggling academically? As a teacher, and founder of Youth Excel, she has witnessed first-hand what works. And it's now time for you to learn too. Packed with every day scenarios and practical steps, ‘Everyday Resilience’ provides every parent with tools to nurture strength in young lives. Michelle Mitchell is an educator, author and award-winning speaker with a passion for supporting families. Having left teaching in 2000, Mitchell founded Youth Excel, a charity supporting young people with life skills education, mentoring and psychological services. Bringing hands-on experience in the health and wellbeing sector, she is the author of the bestselling self-help books ‘Self Harm: Why Teens Do It And What Parents Can Do To Help’ and ‘Everyday Resilience: Helping Kids Handle Friendship Drama, Academic Pressure and the Self-Doubt of Growing Up’. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and two teenagers.

'Maggie is a national treasure.' Tracey Spicer, AM '. . . sage wisdom for parenting and supporting girls.' Mona Delahooke, PhD, bestselling author and pediatric psychologist The early years of a little girl's life will shape her future in powerful ways. Maggie Dent, Australia's queen of common-sense parenting, has investigated the development period from birth to age eight. Drawing on nearly 5,000 survey results, the latest research, and her own extensive experience as an educator, counsellor, facilitator, mum and grandmother, Maggie shows us how to help our girls build an emotional and psychological base for life. Secure foundations, Maggie argues, will help insulate our girls against anxiety and other mental health challenges as they grow into their teens and feel more capable and resilient while keeping their own authentic voice as they enter womanhood. Written with all the rigour, compassion and humour we have come to expect from one of Australia's best-loved parenting voices, this is both a deeply practical guide to raising girls, as well as a celebration and intimate meditation on the state of being female, which women of all ages will relate to.