As parents, we want to give our kids the best jumping-off point we can. If we nurture a healthy self-image in our children, we will have pretty much achieved our goal, because the rest will follow.

Have you experienced the battle of waking your child up in the morning to go to school? Sometimes even an early riser will procrastinate getting out of bed with various delay tactics. The good news is: You’re not alone.

When should a parent be concerned about a child’s introverted behaviour? On the next Family Matters we’ll be discussing the possibilities of deeper issues related to a child isolating him or herself.

Becoming a parent for the first time might cause you to feel a little anxious, or maybe even scared to the bone. But the unknown of your next adventure with your offspring shouldn’t have to cause you sleepless nights, wracking your brain as to how you’re going to manage the extra responsibility.

Every parent wants their child to listen well, follow instructions and be able to have a meaningful conversation with them. But, in so many homes, there are nagging parents and defiant children facing up against one another on a daily basis. We’ll talk about ways to effectively communicate with kids.

Our very own family members can be the most difficult individuals to get along with at times. On the next Family Matters we’ll discuss what to do about a father’s improper behaviour towards his daughter-in-law.

There’s a huge amount of emotional turmoil that children go through when divorce happens, and they will act out in various ways in order to attempt to deal with the hurt and loss. When a new partner comes onto the scene, this adds another aspect to what the child has to deal with.

Do you find yourself feeling anxious about life? Are you fearful about future events, or do you find yourself unable to control your restless mind? If any of the things mentioned describes where you are at, you’ll want to stay tuned for the next Family Matters where we’ll discuss what anxiety disorders are and how they can be treated.

If your child is being exposed to online chat rooms and other social media sites you are going to want to stay tuned for the next Family Matters. We’ll be discussing how much freedom is appropriate, and where precautionary measures need to be taken in order to protect your child from potential harm.

There are always concerns about the impact of divorce on children, but most people don’t actually know the far-reaching effects of such an event in the life of a child, through to adulthood.