Watch some children out for a walk and you’ll see a lot of meandering to and fro as they make fascinating discoveries on all sides. So why do adults seem to prefer to walk in straight lines instead? What do our kids know that we’ve forgotten?

It’s so easy to fear, misunderstand, or dislike those people, places, and things about which you are truly ignorant. But sometimes getting know to them does more than take away the fear or the potential for misunderstanding; sometimes it turns strangers into family.

If there ever was a perennial parental complaint, I’d have to say it is “why won’t my child listen to me?” When you know some of the most common reasons why your little one is ignoring or defying you, you have a better chance of being heard and getting what you want.

Bullies and their victims are as much iconic figures in school life as rock stars and cowboys. Lately anti-bullying crusaders have spoken out against bullying in all its forms. As laudable as these measures are, I fear denunciation and zero-tolerance policies at schools do not address the difficult truths of bullying.

Going for a walk with no purpose in mind other than enjoying a spot of fresh air and a change of scenery is one of life’s simple pleasures. And it’s one that is probably under-appreciated, not least by the younger generation.

The course of child development is a multidimensional one, and while evidence suggests that children are maturing physically more quickly than ever before, there are big questions about whether they are sufficiently developed emotionally and psychologically before they enter serious relationships and start making babies.

Young children need someone to look at the same things they are looking at to enjoy or understand their own experiences fully. This is a deep need that stays with us for life and perhaps explains something about how therapy works.