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This week, Dr Rosina answers this question with practical strategies and ideas for parents raising preschool and early primary school children. "My four year old is very independent and gets frustrated when she can't do something or when we try to help. How do I stop her from getting irritated when things get hard?" Hope you enjoy this video and walk away with practical ideas you can put into place today to help your child manage their emotions and learn how to problem-solve!

Parenting expert Dr Rosina McAlpine on the Today Show In Australia, one in five families is blended, meaning parents and children from previous relationships come together to form new families. While the idea of blending households is becoming more common, the reality of making it work can be challenging. In a recent discussion, parenting expert Dr. Rosina McAlpine and stepmother Sarah Leonardi McGrath shared valuable insights into managing these challenges effectively. This blog explores their perspectives on navigating the complexities of blended families. The Unique Challenges of Blended Families Blended families often form following a significant life event, such as divorce or the loss of a parent. According to Dr. Rosina McAlpine, children in these situations can experience emotional turmoil, behavioral issues, and confusion, making the transition particularly delicate. Introducing a step-parent too soon can amplify these challenges, making it crucial for parents to have open and honest conversations with their children. The Role of a Stepparent: Authority vs. Friendship When Sarah Leonardi McGrath married former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath, she became stepmother to Holly and James. For Sarah, establishing her role was about finding a balance between authority and affection. Contrary to the idea of being a “friend” to stepchildren, Sarah emphasized the importance of setting clear boundaries and taking on the full responsibilities of a parent. “You can’t just have all the responsibilities without the rewards of being a parent,” she shared. Dr. McAlpine supported this view, suggesting that while it’s important to foster a friendly and open environment, children need clear parental roles to feel secure. Effective step-parenting involves showing love and providing guidance, rather than trying to replace a biological parent. Common Challenges for Stepparents The emotional complexities of step-parenting are often underestimated. As highlighted by a viewer's comment, step-parents can feel undervalued despite their emotional and financial contributions. The sentiment of “you’re not my parent” can be particularly hurtful. Dr. McAlpine advised that such reactions are usually a reflection of a child’s unresolved grief or confusion. She stressed the importance of managing personal emotions and focusing on the child’s needs. Putting Children First: Keys to a Successful Blended Family Both Sarah and Dr. McAlpine agreed that the success of a blended family depends significantly on the strength of the couple’s partnership. United parenting helps create a stable environment where children can thrive. Dr. McAlpine advised parents to seek support for themselves to manage their own emotions effectively, emphasizing that children benefit most when parents demonstrate mutual respect. Sarah’s guiding principle in her step-parenting journey has been to treat her stepchildren as she would want someone to treat her own children if she were no longer around. This golden rule has helped her build a strong, loving bond with her stepchildren. Conclusion Blended families are increasingly common, but they require careful navigation, clear boundaries, and a lot of love and patience. The experiences shared by Sarah Leonardi McGrath and Dr. Rosina McAlpine offer valuable lessons for step-parents striving to create harmonious family dynamics. At the heart of successful step-parenting lies a simple yet powerful principle: put the children's well-being first, always.

Parents are often criticised by others as being "bad parents". Many parents and carers also judge themselves and feel guilty for making parenting choices that leave their child and themselves  both  feeling negative emotions. However, it is important to remember that supporting a child's social, emotional, academic and psychological wellbeing is challenging and stressful - especially in the busy and complex world we live in. To succeed, parents can benefit from parent education programs and accessing resources to nurture their child's development. Parenting isn't about perfection  - it's about progress. Every parenting challenge is an opportunity for the parent to learn, grow, and with this new understanding, to create a loving environment where their children feel valued, understood, and supported - the ideal context to support a child's mental and physical wellbeing. To read the full article written by other parenting experts see https://www.momjunction.com/articles/everything-need-know-bad-parenting_00256/

Dr Rosina McAlpine Parenting Expert Empowering parents with research-based strategies to help children develop essential life skills and thrive. About Dr. Rosina We all know that to be successful, children need to have a range of life skills like strong self esteem, a positive attitude, be motivated to learn, good communication skills, an understanding of how to eat well and exercise, to develop a love learning and be inspired to achieve great things. My passion is to empower all parents with the skills and parenting resources to be able to support their children’s development across all areas of life. My heartfelt best wishes to you in your parenting journey! Learn More Dr Rosina in the Media Navigating the Challenges of Blended Families: Insights from Parenting Experts One and Done - The Project Self-regulation: Supporting children to be able to manage their emotions, thoughts and behaviours Support for parents disappointed by their child's life choices 1 2 3 4 5 Media Enquiries Pressures faced by parents and children... Today's kids have so many pressures and challenges to overcome, and so parents need the parenting skills to help their kids navigate life safely and successfully. Some of the many difficulties children face are: Bullying Self Esteem issues Peer pressure around alcohol, drugs and sex Anxiety and depression Uncontrollable emotions Health problems like obesity and many more... You're here because you care about your children and want the best for them. If you're like me, then you're looking for reliable, research-based parenting advice, parenting tips and a positive parenting program that will help your children develop all the life skills they need to succeed in the world. Learning these skills and being able to pass them onto your children allows parents to feel more in control and your children to be empowered to manage difficult situations as they arise. Children aged 0–11 made up 6% of all people receiving mental health-specific services 33% of Children are clinically Overweight or Obese Explore Dr Rosina's Programs and Resources Evidence-based practical parenting resources to enable parents to reduce the stresses of managing family life and acheive the balance we are all looking for. The one thing that all parenting and child development experts agree upon is that good parenting is about teaching kids life skills. Life Skills Parenting Program Essential life skills for children… We all know that to be successful, children need to have a range of life skills like strong self esteem, a positive attitude, be motivated to learn, good communication skills, an understanding of how to eat well and exercise, to develop a love learning and be inspired to achieve great things. My passion is to help our son and to empower all parents with the skills and parenting resources to be able to support their children’s development across all areas of life. I have done all of the research to develop an affordable, practical and easy to follow parenting program. Designed with the busy parent in mind, this step by step program is filled with parenting advice, resources and parenting tips on raising kids so you can help your child gain valuable skills and succeed in life, no matter how busy you are! Learn More Parenting Blog Parenting resources and articles… Keep up to date with Dr Rosina's Blog to receive her latest posts with lots of information and resources to help you on your parenting journey. There is no question that parenting can be difficult at times. Information is how we can help prepare ourselves to manage these challenges. Learn More Life Skills eBooks Series 7 Key life skills for children… Developed for the busy parent who wants to give their child the best chance in life, this Life Skills Based Positive Parenting eBook series gives parents a step-by-step guide on how to empower their child with key life skills in just 15 minutes at a time... every parent can find 15 minutes once or twice a week right? Each of the seven eBooks is filled with practical positive parenting advice, good parenting tips, information about child development so parents can develop good parenting skills for raising kids and teaching them life skills. Each life skills eBook has been developed to EMPOWER you, to HELP your children. Easy-to-follow structured 15 minute activities that you can do to make a difference in your child’s life. Aimed at Children 4-14, it’s never too early or too late to start! Learn More Inspired Children Book How the leading minds of today raise their children... The experts in this books share the most important parenting advice for raising kids who are capable, happy and well-adjusted, and show you how you can help your kids learn to regulate their emotions and manage their behaviours as well as parenting tips on how to help your children develop good self esteem and resilience to overcome life's many challenges. Learn More If you’d like more information about our programs, get in touch today. Contact Us Testimonial When I was watching one of your videos I was enjoying it so much that I didn’t want to stop , I feel so close to you because when you are talking, you gave me the feeling that you want to help people and share your experience with us. Thanks for that feeling. Thanks for everything and I wish you success with your program.” — Rona from Belgium "Your vision for children and their future is fantastic. You have brought together so many people from different fields of life all with the idea of enhancing the future of our planet through children, intertwined their ideas and placed us all into a ‘melting pot’. The message is simple, you are putting it out there, communicating to and reaching far more than we can alone. Well done!!! — Dr. Brett Grant B.Sc., M.Chiro. Chiropractor "I have noticed many different improvements in Charlotte’s behaviour and attitude. Without the guidance from your program, I would have never thought of each individual life skill to teach her. Thank you so much for your wonderful program." — Angela and Charlotte Burgess - Castle Hill

Testimonials “Dr. Rosina McAlpine is a visionary who cares deeply about the future of our planet, and is doing her part to help parents prepare and guide the stewards of our future, today’s precious children. Dr. Rosina really sees the big picture. As a University professor, she has experienced the difficulties that modern children are facing in their transition to adulthood. And as a Mom with a young child, she can also see that there are some simple, yet powerful things that parents can do to enhance their children’s development today, to create a generation of powerful, competent and compassionate adults. In her “Win Win Parenting Program”, Dr. Rosina outlines a series of ideas, tips and exercises that parents can do interactively with their children. These focus on the areas of Personal Power: Self-esteem and resilience, Health and Wellbeing, Communication and Relationships, Education, Careers and Money, Environment and Social Understanding, Relaxation and Play, and Inspired Creativity. I can recall being a young parent, juggling small children, a household, and a full time career, and the day to day hustle and bustle would take over. This e-book series is perfect for busy parents like that, who can benefit from easy to implement ideas to laser focus on what is really important. My absolute favorite in the program is on Relaxation and Play. I have made the mistake of letting relaxation and play slip from my priorities to handle “the important things” more than once in my life. Dr. Rosina’s reminder to make Relaxation and Play a priority is so important for our physical and mental well-being as parents, and for the emotional bonding that we do with our children and spouses. And her tips and ideas for relaxation and play are just so much fun, and are easy things you can do right at home. Health and Wellbeing provided a great common sense approach to eating right in our fast paced, fast food world. I loved her tip on the benefits of stretching, as it is rarely talked about, and yet simple and so important to general good health. Dr. Rosina really shows her intention to make a positive impact in this world in “Environment & Social Understanding”. She takes a very courageous look at some of the issues of our time, and encourages parents to engage in thoughtful conversation with their children about these issues. Encouraging this type of thoughtful communication in our homes clearly empowers our children to be the thought leaders of tomorrow. Personal Power includes life skills on “Understanding and Claiming Personal Power” with a detailed description of several different emotions including anger, jealousy, sadness and happiness. I felt that the exercises suggested some judgment of the emotions, that “happy” is better than “anger” for example. I feel that all of the emotions are there for a reason, and provide guidance to us in our daily actions, and I didn’t completely agree with those exercises. Communication about the emotions is critically important between parents and children, so this is a step in the right direction. Personal Power also includes an explanation of the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence, which is a must read for all parents. That distinction helped me to understand some of my own personal experiences in a whole new light. This concept helps parents focus on their children as “beings” apart from what they are “doing” and the implications are huge. I highly recommend the Win Win Parenting program to any parent. Dr. Rosina has made a very thoughtful and thorough contribution through this work.” — Jane Cabrera, The Parent Success Coach www.TheParentSuccessCoach.com “Hi Dr Rosina I am writing to you to thank you for the terrific program that you have created. I have a six year old daughter and we have just started your Win Win Parenting program and she is really enjoying it. Charlotte loves the one-on-one when we spend our 15 minutes together, twice a week. She knows that it’s her special time with mum and we talk about things that are important in life. Since starting your program Charlotte has learned many life lessons and is actually putting them into use without my coaching. One example of this is: Charlotte lost a charm bracelet of mine and offered to save her birthday and Christmas money to buy me a new one! This was just after completing the value of money task. Second example: I caught Charlotte re-organising the fridge door (we may have been trying to leave for school at that time, but the intent was there!) When I asked her what she was doing, she answered that she was making the fridge more “productive”. This was a few weeks after completing the organisation and tidying skill. I have noticed many different improvements in Charlotte’s behaviour and attitude. Without the guidance from your program, I would have never thought of each individual life skill to teach her. Thank you so much for your wonderful program.” — Angela and Charlotte Burgess - Castle Hill " I use most of the weekly lessons for our homeschool circle time. My kids are pretty young almost 4 and 2½ but they absolutely LOVE the short sessions and I sense they feel empowered at the end. Some lessons seem kind of deep for their young age, yet I do them anyway. Since I’m using ‘grown up’ concepts and language, they feel like I’m treating them as grown up. Surprisingly, the Self-Esteem/Self Confidence lesson was a BIG hit! Thank you so much for putting this together for us parents!” — CoffeeCriss (via YouTube) "Dr. Rosina, thank you for your incredible program! I have a 10-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son, and your activities bring them together, teaching them to listen and appreciate each other’s perspectives. These are life skills rarely taught in schools, and I love how the sessions are short yet powerful. My children feel more confident, smart, and empowered to trust their instincts and beliefs." — Ivanka Grant, Chatswood "Since starting the program, my six-year-old daughter has been applying lessons in real life. After completing the 'Value of Money' task, she offered to save her birthday and Christmas money to replace my lost charm bracelet. After the ‘Organization’ lesson, I even caught her rearranging our fridge! These small but significant improvements show how impactful this program is." — Angela & Charlotte Burgess, Castle Hill "After seven months of using the Win Win Parenting Program, I can confidently say it is an invaluable resource. My children love the activities, and it has strengthened our bond by opening up meaningful conversations. I have also noticed significant positive changes in my 10-year-old daughter—she is more responsible, organized, and confident. I highly recommend this program to all parents, especially those with school-aged children!" — Win Win Parenting Program User "Dr. Rosina, I loved watching your videos—you make me feel like you genuinely care about helping people and sharing your experience. Thank you for your passion and for making a difference!" — Rona, Belgium "As a visual arts teacher, I’ve spent 20 years inspiring children in the classroom. When I discovered Win Win Parenting, I realized I could be doing more to teach my own children valuable life skills. Your program makes it easy! Each segment is short yet insightful, fitting into our busy schedule. The activities are fun, and I feel closer to my children because of them." — Jane Blatchford, Head Teacher, Young Artists Visual Arts School

Life Skills eBook Is Your Child Prepared for Life’s Challenges? Are you worried that your child is struggling with key life skills needed for success? Signs like low self-esteem, a negative attitude, emotional outbursts, disconnection, weight issues, and bullying could indicate that your child is heading for trouble. The 7 Key Life Skills – Preparing Your Child for Life Help your child navigate the ups and downs of life by equipping them with essential life skills. Ask Yourself These Questions: Does your child have low self-esteem or lack confidence? Is your child overweight? Do they struggle with emotional outbursts or behavioral control? Is your child being bullied or acting as a bully? Do they give up easily or struggle with change? Are they succumbing to negative peer pressure? If you answered YES to any of these, you’re not alone. Why Life Skills Matter Did you know that an increasing number of children experience: ✔ Anxiety & Depression ✔ Bullying & Social Pressures ✔ Obesity & Diabetes ✔ Drug Abuse & Addictions ✔ Mental Disorders & Even Suicide Your child may be facing one or more of these challenges right now. To overcome them, they need the right life skills—and as a parent, you need effective parenting strategies to guide them. Prevention is the Best Solution Even if your child isn’t facing these issues now, why wait? Research shows that helping children develop key life skills early significantly reduces the risk of future problems like anxiety, depression, obesity, and addiction. We all know the saying: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” So don’t wait until it’s too late! Imagine Your Child Thriving... How great would it feel if your child: ✔ Had confidence and high self-esteem ✔ Tackled challenges with courage and enthusiasm ✔ Was motivated to learn and grow ✔ Could make and keep meaningful friendships ✔ Understood smart money management (earning, saving, spending wisely) ✔ Managed stress and maintained work-life balance ✔ Controlled emotions and behaviors while building healthy relationships Help Your Child Master These Essential Life Skills! Today’s children face more social and technological pressures than ever before—pressures we never had as kids. From school and social circles to online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and the internet, challenges are everywhere. So as a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, how can you ensure your child thrives, not just survives? The Solution: The 7 Life Skills eBooks Our 7 Life Skills eBooks include 12 engaging life skills activities per book—designed to equip your child with essential skills for success in today’s fast-paced world. Give your child the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges with confidence. Quick View Relaxation and Play - Life Skills eBook Price $9.95 Quick View Inspired Creativity - Life Skills eBook Price $9.95 Quick View Environmental and Social Understanding - Life Skills eBook Price $9.95 Quick View Education, Careers & Money - Life Skills eBook Price $9.95 Quick View Health and Wellbeing - Life Skills eBook Price $9.95 Quick View Communication and Relationships - Life Skills eBook Price $9.95 Quick View Personal Power - Life Skills eBook Price $9.95 Learn More About a Life Skills Approach to Parenting