Dedri Hamman Educational Psychologist, 5 Abington Avenue, Cape Town (2026)

11/03/2026

Sibling conflict is rarely about the toy. It is usually about fairness, control, tiredness, or struggling to share attention. If you find yourself stuck in constant refereeing, a simple shift helps: stop the moment, keep the boundary steady, and coach the next step.

Start with safety and calm. Step in early and keep it short: “Stop. Safe hands.” If you need to separate them, do that first, then speak.

Next, state the rule in one line, the same line every time: “We do not hit,” or “We speak respectfully.” Then name the problem without blaming either child: “You both want the same thing,” or “This is a turn-taking problem.”

Offer two fair options and let them choose: “Take turns for five minutes each, or choose different toys.” When they settle, add a quick repair question: “What will you do next time instead of shouting or grabbing?” Then move on.

Try to avoid “Who started?” It keeps children focused on winning, not learning. Calm, repeatable steps teach the skill over time, and that is what changes the pattern. 🌿

10/03/2026

✨ 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 ✨

We are excited to introduce two wonderful additions to our practice, both here to help ensure every family’s experience feels smooth, supportive, and well cared for.

𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿, 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿
Shaunay brings a calm, organised presence to the practice and plays an important role in keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. From day-to-day coordination to helping create a warm, welcoming space, she is a steady support for both our team and the families we work with.

𝗔𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁
Alyssa supports the practice in the afternoons, helping with the later part of the day so that communication and admin continue to run efficiently. She is friendly, helpful, and always happy to assist when you reach out.

Please join us in giving Shaunay and Alyssa a warm welcome. 😊

09/03/2026

For children, play is how they process feelings, practise self-control, build confidence, and make sense of their world.

When a child is stressed, overwhelmed, or emotionally stretched, play is often the safest place for their nervous system to settle. You might notice it in the way they repeat the same game, act out school scenarios, or shift between big imagination and big feelings. That repetition is not random, it is their brain trying to organise experience and regain a sense of control. 🧠

Play is also where children develop the skills that make everything else easier, frustration tolerance, problem-solving, social skills, turn-taking, and the ability to recover after getting something wrong. These are steady foundations, and they are built slowly, through everyday moments.

If you want to support a child this week, protect a small pocket of unhurried play. Not as a reward, and not as a bribe, but as a necessary space for growth. ✨

06/03/2026

The first 1 000 days can be deeply meaningful, and also deeply demanding. Many parents feel pressure to get feeding, sleep, routines, and soothing “right”, while they are exhausted, touched-out, and trying to make sense of constant change. When you are overwhelmed, it can be hard to tell what is normal adjustment and what needs extra support. 🧡

Parent guidance offers practical, calm support that is tailored to your baby, your home, and your values. Sessions can help with:

• building gentle, repeatable routines that reduce daily stress
• understanding cues and what your baby or toddler may be communicating
• soothing strategies that feel realistic and consistent
• toddler big feelings and early boundary-setting
• parental overwhelm, anxiety, and the mental load of early caregiving

📞 Book a consultation at https://edpsych.education or call 079 541 1621.

04/03/2026

One of the most important building blocks in the first 1 000 days is something that looks very ordinary: everyday back-and-forth connection. It is often described as serve and return, your baby “serves” (a sound, a look, a gesture), and you “return” (you respond with your voice, face, touch, or words). That back-and-forth teaches safety, trust, communication, and emotional regulation over time.

Here are easy, practical ways to do it, without turning it into another thing to do “perfectly”:

1️⃣ Copy and name
If your baby makes a sound, copy it, then name what you see: “You are looking at the light.” This builds connection and early language.

2️⃣ Pause and respond
When your baby looks at you or reaches, pause your task and respond, even briefly: “Hello, I see you.” That tiny moment matters.

3️⃣ Turn routines into connection
Nappy changes, feeding, bath time, and dressing are full of “serve” moments. Talk gently, describe what is happening, and use a familiar calming phrase.

4️⃣ Follow their attention
If they are fascinated by a toy or picture, stay there with them. You do not need to redirect constantly. Shared attention is a powerful developmental support.

5️⃣ Repair counts too
If you were rushed or distracted, you can return to connection with a soft voice and a calmer moment. Consistency matters more than perfection.

Serve and return is not about entertaining your baby all day. It is about repeated small moments of responsiveness that build a steady foundation. 🤍

03/03/2026

“It takes a village to raise a child.” This quote matters because it tells the truth that so many parents forget when they are exhausted, overwhelmed, or trying to do everything perfectly. A baby does not only need a parent, a baby needs a supported parent.

In the first 1 000 days, your nervous system becomes your child’s anchor. When you are held, you can hold. When you have help, you have more patience. When you have rest, you can respond with steadiness instead of survival mode. 🧡

The “village” does not have to be big. It can be one person who checks in, a partner who takes a shift, a grandparent who comes for an hour, a friend who drops off food, or a professional who helps you make sense of what your baby needs and what you need too.

If you are in a season where everything feels like a lot, this quote is your permission slip: you were never meant to do it alone.

27/02/2026

Sometimes life feels manageable, until it does not. Stress builds quietly, emotions start spilling over, sleep shifts, motivation drops, and the things that used to feel easy begin to feel heavy.

Therapy offers a safe, supportive space to slow down, make sense of what is happening, and build practical skills that help you cope better in everyday life. It is not only for crisis moments. It can also be a proactive step when you notice patterns that are affecting your wellbeing, relationships, parenting, school life, or work.

We provide therapy support for children, teens, and adults, tailored to each person’s needs and life stage. This may include emotional support, stress management, coping strategies, and guidance through challenges such as anxiety, overwhelm, life changes, social stress, and the emotional demands of modern life.

If you are unsure whether therapy is the right fit, that is a common place to start. You can reach out for a conversation, and we will guide you towards the most suitable next step.

📞 Book a consultation at https://edpsych.education or call 079 541 1621.

25/02/2026

If the first part of the year has felt chaotic, the answer is rarely “push harder”. More often, the answer is “make it simpler”.

A strong bridge into March is to choose three anchors and repeat them consistently for two weeks. When the anchors are stable, everything else becomes easier to manage.

😴 Anchor 1: Sleep
A predictable bedtime routine supports mood, attention, and emotional regulation.

🤝 Anchor 2: Connection
Five minutes of calm presence daily builds emotional safety, especially for children and teens who struggle to talk directly.

📅 Anchor 3: One routine that reduces friction
Choose the one that creates the most tension (mornings, homework, after school, bedtime) and simplify it. One routine done consistently beats five routines done occasionally.

Write down your three anchors and keep them visible for the week. You can adjust later, but for now, keep it doable.

23/02/2026

By late February, many families feel the pace shift. Routines should be settling, but the reality is that Term 1 can still feel demanding, especially when children, teens, and parents are all carrying full schedules.

This quote is a useful reminder for this point in the term. Many people are trying their best with what they have, even if it does not look perfect. Progress is often quieter than we expect. It is the child who returns to school after a tough day. The teen who starts speaking up a little more. The parent who chooses one calmer boundary instead of reacting in the moment.

If February has felt bumpy, you do not need to start over. You can adjust. Small, practical shifts can make March feel steadier, more manageable, and less emotionally charged.

20/02/2026

Many adults reach a point where they realise they have been coping on hard mode for years. They may describe chronic overwhelm, time blindness, difficulty starting tasks, unfinished projects, forgetfulness, emotional reactivity, or the constant feeling that they are behind, even when they work hard.

An adult ADHD assessment helps bring clarity. It supports you in understanding what is driving your challenges and what kind of support will actually help. It is not about judgement, it is about insight, direction, and practical next steps.

This can be especially valuable if you have struggled with attention and organisation for a long time, if work or studies feel harder than they should, or if you are noticing that stress and overwhelm are impacting your relationships and wellbeing.

If you have been wondering whether ADHD may be part of your story, reach out. We will guide you through the process and help you decide on the most suitable next step.

📞 Book a consultation at https://edpsych.education or call 079 541 1621.

18/02/2026

Overwhelm often gets mislabelled as “I am failing” or “I should cope better”. In reality, overwhelm usually has a pattern: too much demand, too little recovery, and a nervous system that stays switched on.

Common signs include struggling to start tasks, jumping between tasks, forgetting small things, procrastination that turns into panic, feeling snappy, and ending the day with guilt instead of relief.

A practical reset is to simplify your next 24 hours into three steps:

💚 Choose one priority (not five). What actually needs to happen today?
💚 Choose one support (water, a short walk, an earlier bedtime, a boundary, a break).
💚 Choose one thing to drop without explaining yourself to everyone.

This is not about doing less forever. It is about helping your brain and body move out of survival mode, so you can think clearly again.

16/02/2026

In a season where love is everywhere, it helps to remember that love is not only what we give to others. It is also how we care for ourselves when life feels full.

Many adults move through their days on autopilot, carrying work pressure, family needs, mental load, and constant decision-making. Over time, that “just push through” approach can show up as irritability, exhaustion, brain fog, sleep difficulties, low mood, or feeling emotionally flat. It can also affect patience, connection at home, and confidence at work.

Support does not have to wait for a breaking point. Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do is pause early, name what is happening, and get the right support in place. 💛

Dedri Hamman Educational Psychologist

11/03/2026

10/03/2026

09/03/2026

06/03/2026

04/03/2026

03/03/2026

27/02/2026

25/02/2026

23/02/2026

20/02/2026

18/02/2026

16/02/2026

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