Tanya Forster Psychologist

Tanya Forster Psychologist Tanya is a Psychologist and the CEO of Macquarie Health Collective

26/05/2026

The magic of “I wonder…” ✨

25/05/2026

We want our kids to “catch our calm”, but it is so hard to stay calm ourselves!

One strategy to help you survive those tough moments 💛

22/05/2026

Steps to help your child calm in those tricky meltdowns ✨

20/05/2026

If your child is hitting or really dysregulated in some way, sometimes safety means moving them to another room.

To be clear, this is not a time out.

It is not a punishment.

It is a regulation strategy.

We might pick our child up and say “I’m going to carry you into your room. You are not in trouble. I am right here.”

We would then stay with them in their room while they ride out the wave.

Only when a child is regulated, can we help them to reflect and learn the things we want them to learn 💛

19/05/2026

Hitting isn’t okay.

But it’s also not the whole story.

When children hit, it’s often because they are overwhelmed, frustrated, or struggling to cope in that moment.

💛 Behaviour is communication.

If we respond with shame, we often miss the opportunity to understand what’s underneath.

And understanding is what helps change behaviour over time.

We can hold a clear boundary and stay calm, connected, and curious.

Both matter.

14/05/2026

When siblings are hitting, everything can escalate very quickly.

And in those moments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure what to do.

So we come back to one clear priority:
💛 Safety.

We move in quickly, step between them, and calmly say:
“I’m not going to let you hit.”

This isn’t about being harsh.

It’s about showing your child that you are the sturdy leader - bigger, stronger, wiser, and kind.

You’re setting a boundary that keeps everyone safe.

Everything else can come after that.

Save this for the moments that feel intense 💛

13/05/2026

Sibling conflict can feel constant.

And one of the hardest parts is knowing when to step in…and when to hold back.

💛 A simple way to think about it:

Step in when:
- someone is being hurt
- things are escalating
- safety is at risk

Stay close when:
- they’re arguing
- negotiating
- feeling frustrated but safe

Not all conflict is something to stop.

Some of it is where children practise:
- communication
- problem-solving
- managing frustration

Our role isn’t to eliminate conflict. It’s to support them through it, while keeping everyone safe.

Save this for the moments you’re unsure what to do.

12/05/2026

If it feels like your kids are always fighting… you’re not alone.

Sibling conflict is one of the most common challenges parents face.

But it’s not random. As frustrating as it is, it is actually quite normal.

💛 It usually comes down to a few things:
- big feelings
- developing skills
- competing needs

Your children are learning to:
- share
- wait
- tolerate frustration
- cope when things don’t go their way

And they don’t have those skills fully developed yet.

So what we often see as “bad behaviour” is actually children struggling in the moment.

And that’s why how we respond matters so much.

Because these are the moments where learning happens.

Save this as a reminder on the hard days.

05/05/2026

So many parents feel guilty taking time for themselves.

That inner voice can be loud:
“This is selfish.”
“I should be doing more.”

But when we ignore our own needs for too long, it starts to take a toll.
💛 On our energy
💛 On our patience
💛 On our ability to show up the way we want to

Our children don’t need a parent who is constantly selfless.

They need a parent who has the capacity to be:
- present
- responsive
- steady

And we can’t do that from a depleted place.

Plus, when we take care of ourselves, we show our children something powerful - that it’s possible to care for yourself while also caring for others.

And that’s something we want them to carry into their own lives.

Save this for when that inner voice feels loud.

04/05/2026

As winter sport starts up again, it’s easy to focus on performance.

How they played.
What they achieved.
Whether they won.

But the most powerful message we can give our kids is much simpler.

💛 “I love watching you play.”

No expectation.
No pressure.
No outcome attached.

Just connection.

This tells your child that they are valued
not for how they perform- but for who they are.

And that’s what helps them build confidence that lasts.

Save this for the sideline this weekend ⚽️

Address

165 Brisbane Street
Dubbo, NSW
2830

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tanya Forster Psychologist posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Tanya Forster Psychologist:

Shortcuts

Share

Category