Big Bear's Treehouse

27/12/2025

Play is so powerful

Learning is not just about repetition. Neuroscience shows that a child’s brain forms new neural connections through practice, but the number of repetitions required depends on engagement. When a task is dull or forced, it may take hundreds of attempts to build a lasting connection.

Play changes everything. When children are actively engaged and enjoying themselves, the brain becomes more plastic, more responsive, and more efficient. Instead of 400 repetitions, a child can form the same connection in as few as 10 to 20 attempts. The excitement and motivation of play act as a catalyst for learning.

This explains why children often learn complex skills faster when they are having fun. Games, role play, and playful exploration not only make learning enjoyable but also deeply strengthen the neural pathways that support memory, problem-solving, and creativity.

Parents and educators can use this insight to design learning experiences that are playful and interactive. When the brain is having fun, it works smarter, learns faster, and builds connections that last a lifetime. Play is not a break from learning; it is learning at its most efficient.

14/12/2025

We’re sharing this with care.

This post from Dr Justin Coulson speaks directly to the impossible position many Jewish parents and children are in right now, having to carry fear, vigilance, and questions no child should have to hold.

We’re sharing it because it names what many Jewish families already live with, and because it offers guidance grounded in honesty, dignity, and belonging.

At Big Bear’s Treehouse, we believe:
• Children need truth held with steadiness
• Safety is built through connection and community
• No child should feel targeted or unsafe because of who they are

To our Jewish families: you are seen here. You belong here. This Treehouse stands for safety, shelter, and care, always.

To all parents and carers: much of what’s shared here applies to every child navigating a world that can feel frightening. Calm, honesty, and connection matter.

We encourage you to read with gentleness, and to hold space for one another today.

🤍🌳

Send a message to learn more

26/11/2025

Tis the season to be grateful.

For some families, Thanksgiving is a big celebration. For others, it’s just another Thursday with school runs and dinner dishes.

Wherever you are, I hope there’s at least one small, steady thing that helps you feel held today.

Wishing our Big Bear’s Treehouse community a gentle Thanksgiving Day.
Julie 🤎

26/11/2025

It’s not the big things that build a child’s sense of safety — it’s moments like this.

Shared joy.

Warm eyes.

A grown-up responding to their cues.

These tiny relational exchanges help children feel they belong and that they matter.

Such a beautiful reminder from the Center on the Developing Child.

20/11/2025

Some days we don’t need answers or advice.
We just need someone to sit with us and really hear our story. 💛

18/11/2025

Toddlers feel everything with their whole little bodies — and sometimes it bubbles over in ways that can feel huge for us too. 🌿

I love this gentle reminder from Queensland Health: when a toddler is overwhelmed, they’re not trying to be difficult… their brain is still learning what to do with all those big emotions.

Our calm presence becomes the thing that teaches them safety, regulation, and connection — not perfection. 💛

Sharing this conversation because it explains it beautifully, and I know many of the families I work with will find it comforting and incredibly helpful.

'Toddlers are busy brain builders; they're literally wiring their brains to manage emotions. When big feelings erupt, they're telling us they need our help.'

As an early intervention clinician, Karen knows first-hand the rollercoaster ride parents face with toddlers.🎢

Her role involves helping parents to navigate the crucial early years, building skills that foster lasting emotional health for their little ones and themselves.

'When a toddler has a tantrum, it's because their emotional system is overloaded. They're not giving you a hard time; they're having a hard time,' she explained.

'As caregivers, staying calm in these moments teaches our kids it's safe to feel their emotions and that we'll guide them through.'

For Karen, effective parenting isn't about perfection, but about connection and consistency. 👐

Discipline, she said, actually means 'to teach'. It's less about control and more about clearly and calmly helping children understand boundaries, making them feel secure.

Karen also champions the importance of emotional literacy, advocating the use of stories and everyday moments to help children name and understand their feelings.

'Even toddlers benefit from learning words for their emotions, like jealousy, excitement and frustration. It builds their self-esteem and gives them tools they'll use their whole lives.'

Her best advice for parents? 'Be kind to yourself. Parenting is tough, and it's okay to make mistakes. It's how we reconnect afterward, like admitting when we're wrong, talking through emotions, that truly strengthens our bond with our kids.'

Thanks for your invaluable insights, Karen, and all you do to support Queensland families! ❤️

👉 Hear more from Karen in the latest season of It Can’t Hurt To Ask: our mental wellbeing podcast for parents. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

https://it-cant-hurt-to-ask.captivate.fm/listen

24/10/2025

some great times for helping children stay safe online

The internet is forever, so sharing too much online can pose significant safety risks for youth. While staying in touch is simple, protecting your information and privacy requires extra care. Download our new infographic on staying safe online here: https://bit.ly/42RvOxq

24/10/2025

What a smart way to show consent to a teenager without appearing to lecture at them.

22/10/2025

✨ Kind Words for the Week ✨

Parenting isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.
Our children don’t need us to have all the answers; they just need us to show up, listen, and connect.

Let’s take a deep breath this week and remember that being present is enough. 💜

19/10/2025

🌈 Children’s Week 2025

This week we celebrate the courage, creativity and connection that children bring into our lives — and the gentle reminders they give us to slow down, listen, and be kind to ourselves.

💜 “When we meet ourselves with kindness, we teach our children what safety feels like.”

Here’s to growing safe spaces — for our children, and within ourselves.