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Chinese New Year With a Toddler: We Didn’t Do It Perfectly - But We Survived It Together
Chinese New Year stretched all of us this year. There was a Chinatown meltdown, car-ride check-ins, overstimulated evenings, and traditions quietly let go. My toddler said he was okay — and also that he wanted to go home. Both were true. We didn’t do it perfectly. But we didn’t lose each other. And in a season full of expectations, that felt like the only tradition worth protecting.

Shirlyn
1 day ago4 min read


How Family and Friends Can Help a Toddler Feel Safe (and Be Themselves) During Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year can be overwhelming for toddlers. Here's how family and friends can help young children feel safe, respected, and free to be themselves during festive gatherings.

Shirlyn
Feb 134 min read


Chinese New Year Visiting With Young Children: A Calm, Respectful Guide for Overwhelming Family Gatherings
Chinese New Year visiting can be overwhelming for young children. This calm, respectful guide explains why festive gatherings feel hard — and how parents can support children without forcing manners or behaviour.

Shirlyn
Feb 75 min read


Toddler Behaviour in Different Environments: Why Children Act Differently in Different Places
Children aren’t inconsistent — they’re responding to the environment. This post explores why a child can be loud and playful at home yet quiet or cautious elsewhere, and how temperament, warm-up styles, and emotional safety shape the way they show up in every space.

Shirlyn
Jan 316 min read


When Toddlers Don’t Open Their Presents (And Why It’s Not About You)
When a toddler opens one present and stops, it’s easy for adults to read meaning into that pause — ingratitude, disinterest, or missed manners. But for young children, stopping is often a sign of regulation, not rejection. This piece explores why some toddlers stay deeply with one gift, what brain science tells us about attention and capacity, and why slowing down may be exactly what they need.

Shirlyn
Jan 26 min read


Toddler Noise in HDB Flats: Why My Child’s Footsteps Aren’t a Nuisance, They’re Life
A neighbour’s complaint about my toddler’s footsteps made me question how far parents are expected to go to keep the peace. But children’s laughter and stomps aren’t noise — they’re life. Here’s why empathy matters more than silence in HDB living.

Shirlyn
Oct 11, 20256 min read


Why Our Energy Becomes Our Child’s Energy: Co-Regulation in Real Life
Bedtime battles, bursts of energy, and moments of calm - our children mirror the energy we bring. This post explores co-regulation, why our moods are contagious, and simple ways to help kids find calmer rhythms.

Shirlyn
Aug 15, 20255 min read


The Night the Tea Fell — And What It Taught Me About Toddlers, Accidents, and Trust
When my toddler swiped my cup of tea across the table, it wasn’t just porcelain that shattered - it was a reminder of how little eyes watch, learn, and carry our responses with them. This is a story of accidents, aftershocks, and the surprising ways love and calm leave the deepest imprint.

Shirlyn
Aug 15, 20254 min read
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