Young children under the age of 3 to 4 years old live in the present.  Although they are often brought together in playgroups, they simply are not capable of more advanced adult-like interactions like “socializing” or playing together (they actually “parallel” play). Their left brain (rational/analytical/language skills) and right brain (creative/emotional) are not yet fully talking to each other (via the corpus callosum), and their behaviour is in fact governed mostly from their right brain hemisphere. Kids are emotional creatures, and many parents try to be rational with them using adult concepts to drive their behaviour.
One parenting technique is the use of consequences for managing behaviour. “If you hit your brother again, then you won’t get a popsicle”. The reality is that a …

Middle ear infections (acute otits media or sometimes called “glue ear”) are very common with children between age 6 months to 3 years old. They are the 2nd most common childhood illness, and the leading cause of surgery (bilateral myringotomy) for young children in the US.  The root cause of infections are most typically a diet high in dairy or wheat, congestion from allergies or colds and exposure to second hand smoke. About 1 in 10 pre-school children experience middle ear infections at some time.
Ear tube surgery is typically recommended by doctors (but not by most naturopaths) after a period of 3 to 4 months of chronic ear infections or significant hearing loss.  Getting your child’s hearing professionally tested is always a good idea as …