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.

Toddlers often ignore the word “no” — not out of defiance, but because they respond more to tone, body language, and connection than words alone. This post explores what’s really going on when we say “no,” why it often backfires, and what to do instead.