Category "育兒資訊"

In recent days, there have been continuous reports of students attempting suicide, a situation that is cause for concern. As parents, we often feel that adults face much greater pressure dealing with work, family, and financial issues than children do. However, Dr. Wong Chung Hin, a specialist in psychiatry, reminds us: “Clinically, cases of emotional distress due to stress are observed in primary, secondary, and university students. Parents should carefully observe any changes in their children’s behavior, patiently listen to their thoughts, and refrain from making hasty criticisms. The most important thing is to believe in your children and encourage them to express themselves.”

The reasons for emotional issues arising from stress in children go beyond academic performance and include family expectations, peer relationships, school bullying, family problems, and family history. Dr. Wong recalls, “When facing the death of a family member, relatives are often busy dealing with post-mortem matters or various rituals, forgetting to take care of the child’s emotions. In addition, some children experience their parents’ divorce or even abuse, which can also affect their emotions.”

Emotional changes vary, and parents need to be attentive

Dr. Wong further emphasizes, “Some children are more adept at expressing their feelings, but many do not know how to express their emotions. As children grow older, some are less willing to share their feelings with family. Therefore, parents and teachers should pay close attention to any changes in their children’s emotions, behavior, and performance.”

Parents should pay attention to the following signs:

1. Emotional expressions on the face, such as appearing gloomy, tense, crying, or sad.
2. Changes in lifestyle habits, such as disruptions in sleep patterns (insomnia or excessive sleep), changes in appetite, or spending a lot of time isolated in their room.
3. Unwillingness to go to school.
4. Physical changes, such as diarrhea, and stomachaches. Parents might easily attribute these to health issues, but a deeper understanding reveals their connection to emotional stress.
5. Self-harming behaviors, including self-hitting, cutting, or expressing thoughts like “I don’t want to live.”

Each child expresses emotions differently. If the child exhibits the above-mentioned signs only temporarily, returning to normal after the stress has passed, it is referred to as “Adjustment Disorder.” However, if the situation persists and continues even after the stress has subsided, seeking assistance from a professional is advisable.

When children have emotional expression issues, parents should start by trusting and not hastily criticizing.

Dr. Wong points out that these emotional problems are often challenging to detect: “Some patients, as mentioned above, may not know how to express their feelings. However, there are also cases where they do express themselves, but their parents or teachers do not see it as a problem. They don’t believe the child and instead think that their reluctance to go to school is a sign of laziness. After listening to the child’s concerns, parents or caregivers should believe the child and avoid making hasty criticisms. This is also about raising awareness of emotional issues; they may have insufficient awareness and not know how to handle them. Alternatively, they may worry that seeking help will result in negative labels from others and be hesitant to seek medical attention.”

Dr. Wong warns, “Delaying treatment may worsen the condition, possibly leading to irreparable situations. Some parents worry that taking their child to see a doctor means resorting to medication and fear potential side effects. However, the truth is that medication is not the only form of treatment. It needs to be assessed first and can be complemented with psychological therapy. Many cases involve individuals who believe they are fine or expect to heal on their own after a while, leading to prolonged conditions.”

Once a child’s emotional changes have been occurring for a significant period, impacting daily life, or if thoughts of self-harm or suicide emerge, seeking help promptly is imperative. Dr. Wong also reminds parents that if a child reads news about suicide recently, parents should be by their side, explaining that this is not a solution to emotional problems, to prevent the news from affecting the child emotionally.

近日學生輕生新聞不斷，情況令人擔憂。作為父母，我們總會覺得大人要面對工作、家庭和生活開支，壓力比孩子大得多。但精神科專科黃宗顯醫生提醒：「臨床上可見，因壓力導致情緒困擾的個案有小學、中學及大學學生，家長應細心留意孩子的行為表現有否不同，耐心聆聽孩子的想法，不要太快作出批判。最重要相信孩子，讓孩子敢於表達自己。」

孩子面對壓力導致情緒出現問題的原因除了學習成績，更包括家人期望、朋輩相處、校園欺凌、家庭問題及家族史等。黃醫生憶述：「當面對親人離世，家人總會忙著處理身後事或各種儀式，忘了要照顧孩子的情緒。另外，亦有些孩子面對父母離異，或甚遭受虐待等，都會影響情緒。」

情緒變化各異 家長要留意

黃醫生續指：「部分孩子較懂得表達自己感受，但不少孩子都不會表達情緒，而隨著孩子年齡漸長，有些也不太願意與家人分享感受。所以家長及老師應要多加留意孩子的情緒、行為及表現有沒有變化。」

家長可留意以下表現：

1. 情緒流露在表情上，例如表現悶悶不樂、緊張、哭泣及難過等
2. 生活習慣變化，例如作息時間（失眠或睡不停）、胃口變化或經常困在房間等
3. 不願上學
4. 身體上的變化，例如肚瀉、肚痛，家長很容易會以為是健康出現問題，經深入了解後才知悉與情緒壓力有關
5. 出現自傷行為，包括打自己、𠝹手，或甚曾提及「唔想做人」等想法

每個孩子表達情緒的方法都不同，如果孩子出現上述情況只是短暫，壓力過去後便回復正常，這稱為「適應障礙症（Adjustment Disorder）」。但當情況持續，即使壓力過去後仍然出現，便應尋求專業人士協助。

孩子表達情緒問題 家長要先信任 勿輕易作批判

黃醫生表示這些情緒問題情況很多時會難以發現：「部分患者如上面所指，他不懂得表達自己的情況。但亦有部分是表達了，惟其家長或老師不認為有問題，不相信他，反而認為他不願上學是懶惰的表現。家長或照顧者聆聽孩子的問題後，要相信孩子，更不應輕易作批判。因為這亦關乎對情緒問題的意識，他們可能對情緒問題認知不足，不知道要如何處理。又或他們會擔心求助後，會遭受旁人負面標籤，而不敢求醫。」

黃醫生提醒：「延遲治療可能會令病情更嚴重，甚至出現無法挽回的情況。有些家長擔心孩子去看醫生便要吃藥，又擔心藥物副作用等。但事實上藥物治療並非唯一的治療，需要先作評估，並可配合心理治療。另有不少個案會認為自己沒有事，又或過一段時間會自己痊癒，導致病情出現拖延。」

一旦孩子的情緒變化已持續發生一段時間、已影響日常生活，甚至出現傷害自己或萌生輕生念頭時，必須盡快求助。黃醫生最後亦提醒家長，若孩子閱讀近日有關輕生的新聞時，家長應陪伴在側，向他解釋這不是一個解決情緒問題的方法，以免孩子被新聞牽動情緒。

親子閱讀資深工作者：菜姨姨

有沒有小朋友吵著要你說故事呢？而且要你說不停，你下班回家的時候，他拿著一大疊書，要你把書說完他才肯吃飯，或者要你說到兩個小時。這一個常見的問題，也在我的講座裡經常碰到，各位家長你們試想一下你和小朋友親子共讀，你最希望的是甚麼呢？

你一定是希望留著一個溫馨的回憶，因為他聽你講故事的時候，他特別乖，特別覺得有安全感。但是如果小朋友 反過來將聽故事變成你的壓力，他要你說很多的故事，甚至乎他不肯聽別人說，只想聽你說，好像一種獨佔你的私人時間，我想你要考慮一下怎樣幫自己解決這個問題。

我建議大家在親子共讀的關係裡，用15至20分鐘和小朋友好好分享一個故事，就算半個小時也可以。但你每一天都需要花上兩個小時，把一整本書說給他聽，他還是覺得不足夠，還是要你一直說下去，好像支配著你。如果是這樣，這不是共讀的關係了，是一個家教的關係了。我們要以身作則，要告訴小朋友：「我要有作息時間，今天故事時間是15分鐘，媽媽給你說兩本書，說完之後我們可以去做其他的事情，或者在你玩或吃飯的時候，才去討論剛剛說的那個故事有甚麼信息也可以。」

但是你成為了一個收音機，一直好像錄音機給他講故事，都不是我們做親子共讀想見到的。所以各位家長要記住小朋友要你說故事是一件幸福的事情，我們不要因此害怕和小朋友說故事。我們應控制自己的時間，大約半小時內輕輕鬆鬆說完一個故事，然後和他一起吃飯或者去玩，再去討論這個故事。我相信小朋友在一個有質素的共讀關係裡，會更加喜愛閱讀，更加覺得閱讀能帶給他一個新的境界。

Parent-child reading senior worker: Choi EE

Do you have kids who insist on you telling them stories? And not just any stories, they want you to keep going. When you come home from work, they have a stack of books and won’t eat until you finish all of them or want you to keep going for two hours. This is a common issue that I frequently encounter in my lectures. Parents, think about it: when you engage in parent-child reading with your kids, what do you hope for the most?

You certainly hope to create a warm memory because when they listen to your stories, they are especially well-behaved and feel secure. However, if the children turn listening to stories into your stress, demanding many stories, even refusing to listen to others, and only wanting to hear you as if they’re monopolizing your personal time, you should consider how to resolve this issue for yourself.

I suggest that in the context of parent-child reading, spend a good 15 to 20 minutes sharing a story with your child, and even half an hour is fine. However, if you find yourself spending two hours each day telling them an entire book, and they still feel unsatisfied and demand that you keep going as if they’re controlling you, it’s no longer a parent-child reading relationship but more of a tutoring relationship. We should set an example and tell the child, “I need to have some personal time. Today, storytime is 15 minutes, and Mom will tell you two books. After we’re done, we can do other things, or we can discuss the story we just read while you’re playing or eating.”

You shouldn’t turn into a radio, constantly narrating stories like a recording machine, as that’s not what we want in parent-child reading. So, parents, remember that when your child asks you to tell a story, it’s a joyful moment. We shouldn’t be afraid of telling stories to our children. Instead, we should control our time, casually finish a story in about half an hour, and then have a meal together or engage in play, followed by discussing the story. I believe that in a quality parent-child reading relationship, children will develop a greater love for reading and see it as a path to new horizons.

Source: Senior Parenting Education Expert Bally

In fact, preparing for the transition to first grade can be more stressful and time-consuming. If you were to ask me, I would recommend that parents should start from Pre-Nursery to “analyze first and then plan.” But how to analyze first?

Many parents are not entirely clear about the various types of schools in Hong Kong. For instance, we have traditional government-subsidized schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools, private schools, and international schools. What are the differences between these types of schools? What are their educational philosophies? What is the ideal type of school for parents based on their financial situation and aspirations?

They should first understand and analyze this, which will give them a goal. Once they have a goal, we can move on to the next step, which is to personally attend the orientation sessions of each school. Why do we believe that parents should start preparing from Pre-Nursery (PN)? Because many schools often hold orientation sessions only once a year. These orientation sessions often occur at the same time. If we wait until the year of K2 to attend these sessions, and we are interested in three different schools, and all of them schedule their sessions on the same Saturday at the same time, parents may miss out.

Secondly, it’s important to note that these orientation sessions have limited spots. While many people may sign up, there are often only a few hundred to a thousand slots available. During the course of a single day, there may be over 5,000 registrations. With such high demand, it’s possible not to secure a spot, which means you won’t have the opportunity to attend. This is why we need to prepare one to three years in advance, considering whether the school’s philosophy is suitable for your child.

If you have been attending orientation sessions for your preferred schools for the first one or two years, by the final year, you should revisit your top one to three choices multiple times. This is because educational changes in Hong Kong happen rapidly and frequently. By attending multiple sessions, you can confirm your preferred school.

In many cases, the first time someone attends may be the mother, and the second time, it may be the father. It’s essential for the family to be in agreement, so attending orientation sessions together to understand the school’s philosophy is crucial. Once everyone has a shared understanding, you can move on to the third step, where the family sits down to discuss the direction of your child’s education. What kind of education do you envision for your child’s future? Do you want a very traditional teaching method, or do you want a happy one? Some schools are called “Happy School,” but many parents mistakenly think that a “Happy School” may not be effective.

In fact, there are two major categories of “Happy School” now. Some “Happy Schools” focus solely on happiness, but their curriculum may not align with the first-grade curriculum. Others combine happiness with effectiveness, and students from these schools have the ability to select their preferred schools because they can keep up with the first-grade curriculum. Therefore, parents need to understand what a “Happy School” is, what their teaching philosophy is, and how effective they are.

Once parents reach a consensus, it’s time to truly and thoroughly select the school that is most suitable for the child. Many times, parents may choose the best school for their child because it’s considered the best. However, what is considered the best may not necessarily be the most suitable. As parents, our goal should be to find a school that is the best fit for our child. For example, if a child is very active, parents may wonder whether they should choose a more traditional school that enforces discipline and expects students to sit still. But what if the child is like a “wild horse” and sitting still is not their nature? Or if a child struggles with English, should they attend an English primary school, or should they go to an international school?

In reality, consider this: if a child’s learning abilities are far from meeting the school’s primary requirements, they may not even want to go to school. If a child is weak in English and strong in Chinese but chooses an English primary school, they might not understand what the teacher is saying, and they would have no interest in English at all. In this case, you could argue that the child doesn’t need to attend school because they won’t grasp what the teacher is teaching, and their poor performance in English could negatively impact their overall academic progress and their interest in learning.

Parents often ask how to make the right choice. To analyze this, let’s use the analogy of a small fish in a big pond versus a big fish in a small pond. If a child attends a school where their learning abilities and performance are in the middle to upper range within that school, their confidence will increase, and they won’t feel inferior to their peers. However, if they attend a school considered “good” or prestigious but their abilities are not up to par, they may struggle and feel like a small fish in a big pond. In this scenario, the child is likely to be unhappy throughout their learning journey and may feel underestimated.

So, I would recommend that parents, first and foremost, understand how to choose a suitable school. You need to comprehend the school’s educational philosophy and evaluate the academic standards for students after they enter first grade to determine if your child is a good fit in terms of English, Chinese, and mathematics. If you believe that your child can handle these aspects well and is already coping with them, then this school is likely the right fit for your child.

資料來源：資深親職教育專家Bally

其實升小一真的要比較緊張和多花一點時間準備。問我的話我會建議PN開始就應該要「先分析，後部署」。但如何先分析呢？

其實很多家長都不太清楚香港有幾多種類型的學校，例如原來我們有傳統的政府派位學校、直資學校、私立學校和國際學校，究竟這幾種學校的分別是甚麼？他們的教學理念是甚麼？其實家長的經濟環境或他們期望的理想是入讀哪一類學校？

他們要先了解和分析，就會有一個目標。有了一個目標後，我們會進入下一步，真真正正地親自聽每一間學校的理念。為甚麼我們覺得PN開始就要準備呢？因為原來學校很多時候每年只會進行一次簡介會。這些簡介會很多時候會在同一時間舉行，如果我們在K2那年才去聽，但我們心儀有三間學校，都撞正在同一個星期六同一個時段舉行，家長就已經聽不到。

第二就是原來這些簡介會，會有很多人報名，但只有數百至一千個名額。而他們只是進行一天，那一天內原來有五千多人報名。當有五千多人報名時，可能你會抽不到，就沒有機會去聽，所以我們要準備前一至三年的時間，考慮學校的理念是否合適自己的小朋友。

如果我們已經在頭一兩年都聽得七七八八，聽過了自己心儀學校的簡介會。到了最後一年，我們就要找回自己最理想的一至三間再聽多次，因為近年香港的教學改變得很快，而且也很多。如果我們再聽多次，便有助肯定自己心儀的學校。

很多時候第一次去聽的可能是媽媽，第二次去聽的是爸爸，我們的家庭一定要一致，所以大家去聽理念是很重要的。如果大家都有機會理解到，就要進入第三個部署，家裡人坐下來商量究竟我們想小朋友未來擁有教育的方向是怎樣？

我們究竟想要很傳統的教學方法？還是想要很開心？現在有些學校叫Happy School，亦有很多家長以為Happy School，就等於可能未必有成效。

其實現在有兩大類的Happy School，有些Happy School只有開心，但到時候是追不到小一進度，有些Happy School開心之餘有成效，到時他有足夠的能力可以挑選自己心儀的學校。因為他入讀到心儀的學校還能追得上，所以家長要了解甚麼叫Happy School，他們的教學理念和成效如何。

當父母達成共識時，我們就要開始真真正正地，挑選一間最適合小朋友的學校。有很多時候父母會選擇最好的學校給小朋友，因為那間是最好的，但其實最好未必是最適合。我們身為父母其實要找一間最適合小朋友的學校，舉一個例子如果小朋友很好動，家長很多時候會覺得我是否要找一間比較傳統的，綁緊他，希望他坐定一點。如果他像「甩繩馬騮」是不行的。又或有些小朋友的英文不太好，我是否應該找一間英文小學給他讀呢？或是否應該找國際學校給他讀呢？

其實大家可以想想如果當那間學校由小一開始，他的學習能力根本未到達學校的主要要求，小朋友根本就不會想上學。如果一個小朋友不擅長英文，擅長中文，而他選了一間英文小學，小朋友根本聽不懂老師說甚麼，他對英文完全沒有興趣。即是我們叫那個小朋友根本不需要來上課，因為他不會學習到老師說的東西，英文一科可以拖垮整個學業及他整個學習興趣。

家長會問如何為之正確？我們用一個大塘小魚或小塘大魚來分析，如果我們讓一個小朋友讀一間學校，他在學習能力和成績方面都是在這間學校的中上等級。小朋友在整個學習過程中自信心會提升，他不會被比下去。但如果讀一間我們認為很好的學校或是名校，但小朋友的能力根本讀不了，可能會墊底，就會變成大塘的小魚。小朋友在學習過程中，往往都會很不開心，可能被人看輕。

所以我會建議家長首先如何選一間合適的學校，你要先理解學校的理念，看看學校小一後的程度，你的小朋友在這方面是否合適。在英文、中文、數學方面，是否有足夠能力掌握。如果你覺得都可以的，小朋友現在就正在做這樣事情，他完全應付得到這間就是合適你的學校。

Written: Founder & Volunteer Director of Good Love Passion, Lam Ho Pui Yee

When a child is around 6 months old, they start babbling, constantly making sounds and single words. They also enjoy playing with toys that make sounds. However, even before they learn to speak, they already understand how to communicate with the people around them using crying, sounds, facial expressions, gestures, or body language. In fact, children first learn to communicate with people using facial expressions and gestures, then they learn verbal communication, and finally, they learn to communicate through text. Therefore, accurately recognizing other people’s facial expressions helps in assessing their emotions and attitudes, thus influencing a child’s cognitive development, emotional development, and social skills. Parents’ facial expressions, actions, and postures are often what children find most attractive.

Children observe and respond to their parents’ facial expressions and emotions. For example, a gentle expression can make them feel comfortable communicating with you, a smile can boost a child’s confidence in expressing themselves, and a nod from parents indicates acceptance. Through these developments, children gradually understand, learn, and care about people’s emotions. Different parts of the body express emotions in various ways, and expressions can be categorized into facial expressions, body expressions, and verbal expressions.

To establish good parent-child communication, parents need to pay attention to several aspects:

1．When children cannot clearly see their parents’ facial expressions, it is recommended to use actions as a substitute for speech responses. For example, hugging them tightly, giving them a kiss, gently stroking their hair, or gently touching their cheeks are all important non-verbal communication methods.

2. If parents can embody a childlike and expressive role in their daily lives, children can learn a wealth of emotions and expressive skills from their parents’ facial expressions. This will undoubtedly benefit them throughout their lives.

3. Many parent-child interaction patterns involve “non-interaction” – even though they are together, there is no eye contact, conversation, message exchange, or actions, and there is no emotional sharing because everyone is watching TV, using the computer and phones, or doing their own things. Eye contact can train focus, so regularly gazing at each other with caring eyes and listening to each other’s sharing is one of the conditions for good communication.

4. Creating a quiet and simple environment helps children concentrate. True and comprehensive communication happens when they can clearly see your facial expressions. Therefore, it’s appropriate to turn off sound-producing items like the TV, tablet, or take away their beloved toys during communication.

On the journey of a child’s growth, parents who are willing to provide unconditional love and ample communication space make children feel accepted, allowing them to break free from their cocoon. Children love it when their parents appreciate them, so encouragement often has a greater impact, whether through eye contact or speech; both can be used more frequently.

撰文：GLP 全力愛創辦人兼義務總幹事林何佩儀

孩子在 6 個多月大的時候牙牙學語，不停地發出聲音和單字，還喜歡玩有聲音的玩具。但他們在未學會說話前，其實已懂得用啼哭、聲音、面部表情、手勢或身體語言來與身邊的人溝通。事實上，幼兒是先學習以表情和手勢與人溝通，接著學習口語溝通，最後便學習以文字溝通。因此，準確認知他人的表情，有助於判斷他人的情緒和態度，從而影響孩子的認知能力發展、情緒及社交能力的發展。而父母的面部表情、動作和姿勢，往往都是最吸引孩子的。

孩子會對父母的表情和情緒，作出觀察和反應。例如溫柔的表情可使他們放心與你溝通、微笑能加強孩子表達的信心、當父母點頭示意則表示接納。透過這些發展，使幼兒逐漸了解、學會和關心人的情感。而表達情緒的身體部位各有不同，可以把表情分為面部表情、身段表情和語言表情三種。

要建立良好的親子溝通，家長有幾方面需要注意：

1. 當孩子還未能清楚看到父母的表情，建議可多用行動替代說話來回應，例如抱緊他、親親他、撥動他的頭髮，或者輕輕撫摸他的臉蛋，這些都是說話以外的另一種是語言溝通的重要方式。

2. 父母若能落實在生活中，扮演一個有童心和多表情的父母，這樣孩子就能從父母的面部表情上，學會豐富的情感和表達技巧，將來必定一生受用不盡。

3. 不少親子相處型態是「不互動」－ 雖然在一起，但沒有眼神接觸、對話、交換訊息或動作，更沒有分享情緒，因為大家都在看電視、電腦和手機，或各做各的事情。眼神接觸可訓練專注力，所以常用關心的眼神注視對方，聆聽對方分享，是良好的溝通條件之一。

4. 營造清靜簡單的環境，有助孩子集中精神，當他們清楚看到你的表情，才算得上是真正的全面溝通。所以，當溝通時適宜關掉發聲的物品，包括電視機、平板電腦，或拿走他心愛的玩具。

父母在孩子成長的路途上，願意給予無條件的愛和充足的溝通空間，讓孩子覺得被接受時，他們方能破繭而出。孩子都喜歡父母欣賞自己，所以鼓勵的效果往往比較大，無論眼神還是說話，都可以多用。

資料來源：兒科專科醫生趙長成

小朋友生病時，部分家長會十分緊張，馬上帶小朋友看醫生或者餵藥。但亦有部分家長會覺得小朋友靜待一陣子就會自然痊癒。實際上，這說法某程度上是正確的，例如輕微的疾病如傷風、咳嗽那些，讓他靜待後會留下一些抗體，可以保護下次免受感染。但家長要注意並非所有疾病都適用。

如果一些菌是強勁的，靜待自然痊癒就會出事了，譬如肺炎鏈球菌或腦膜炎雙球菌，一旦感染後24小時內，10人中就有1位死亡。就算不至於死亡，也有1至2位可能也會終生殘廢，或併發後遺症。所以是否靜待自己痊癒，就要視乎那個病是輕微抑或嚴重。

第二，就一些病而言，就算醫生能斷症，藥物的效果都未必那麼快發揮。如剛才提及的肺炎鏈球菌，有時也有抗藥性，所以都是母親說的那句「病向淺中醫」，醫生就不一定給予藥物，最重要看就是你有否出現併發症，有否一些潛危機。

反而吃藥就是徵狀治療，這裡未必是最重要的，是否靜待自己痊癒，就是看你是否幸運。如果只是輕微的疾病，你靜待自己痊癒是沒問題的，但如果是嚴重的疾病，就可能會帶來遺憾。所以在醫生立場，則永遠認為謹慎一點較好，即是生命永遠不要用來作賭博。

Source：Pediatric Specialist Doctor, Chiu Cheung Shing

When children get sick, some parents may become very anxious and immediately take their child to the doctor or give them medicine. However, some parents believe that if they wait for a while, the child will naturally recover. In reality, this approach is somewhat correct to a certain extent. For mild illnesses like the common cold or cough, allowing the child to rest can help them develop some antibodies that can protect them from future infections. However, parents should be aware that not all illnesses can be treated this way.

For some strong bacteria, waiting for a natural recovery can be dangerous. For example, with bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae or Neisseria meningitidis, if you wait for natural recovery, there can be serious consequences. Within 24 hours of infection, 1 in 10 people may die. Even if death doesn’t occur, 1 to 2 individuals may end up with lifelong disabilities or complications. So whether you wait for natural recovery or not depends on whether the illness is mild or severe.

Secondly, in the case of some illnesses, even if a doctor can diagnose the condition, the effects of medication may not necessarily be immediate. As mentioned earlier, with bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, there can sometimes be antibiotic resistance. That’s why there’s a saying that “diseases are shallow in Chinese medicine.” Doctors may not always prescribe medication; what’s most important is whether you develop complications or have any hidden risks.

On the other hand, taking medication is symptom management, which may not always be the most critical factor. Whether you wait for natural recovery depends on your luck. If it’s just a mild illness, waiting for natural recovery is fine, but if it’s a severe illness, it could lead to regrets. So from a doctor’s perspective, it’s always better to be cautious, meaning that life should never be used as a gamble.

Source : Registered Educational Psychologist, Pang Chi Wah

Even if approximately seven to eight out of ten parents prefer morning classes for their children, some may still opt for afternoon classes. When children wake up and leave for school together with their parents, they can take naps, which may lead to better learning. Generally, there are higher expectations for children attending morning classes, but what issues might they encounter?

However, young children, especially those in K1 or N1, may have longer sleep times. Therefore, they may experience emotional issues when getting up in the morning. In such cases, parents should choose afternoon classes for their children, even if they are reluctant. It’s not because you couldn’t secure a spot in the morning class but rather a deliberate choice.

The reason for this choice might be that both parents finish work very late, possibly returning home after 7 p.m., and then spend time with their child until midnight. Quality family time is precious. Do you value study time more or family time more? Sleeping until 11 a.m. the next day is not much different from taking an afternoon nap, as it amounts to a full 10 hours of sleep from midnight to 10 a.m. In other words, even without an afternoon nap, there is enough sleep quality and sufficient family time.

If you’ve applied for morning classes and your child is unwilling to wake up early, they will need to gradually adapt. This adaptation can begin with waking up at 10 a.m. and gradually moving to 9:30 a.m., 9 a.m., and 8:30 a.m. There are also several techniques for waking them up. For instance, there was a case where instead of waking up their head, they woke up the body. This involved massaging the feet, waking up the feet, waking up the abdomen, waking up the back, and then waking up the hands and feet. In addition, providing ample light by pulling back the curtains, turning on the TV, and introducing the smell of breakfast can help. If there’s a favorite food aroma, it’s even easier to get the child out of bed when it smells delicious.

Parents should be prepared on both fronts. On one hand, they shouldn’t automatically assume that morning classes are the only good option. On the other hand, if for certain reasons, they choose morning classes, they should add more gradual steps to the waking-up process and provide multi-sensory stimulation to help the child wake up through their willpower. This is because the concern is that if their willpower wakes up but their body isn’t synchronized, it can be very challenging.

資料來源：註冊教育心理學家彭智華 

家長即使未到十居其九，也有十居其七八也想孩子讀上午班。孩子和家長一起起床，一起出門上班上學，也可以午睡，學習比較好。基本上，大家對讀上午班的期待會高一點，但是會遇到甚麼問題呢？

但是幼兒，特別是K1或N1的小朋友的睡眠時間可能多一些。因此，早上起床時可能產生不少情緒問題。在這情況下，家長即使不情願，也應讓孩子讀下午班。不是因為你申請不到上午班的學位，而是刻意申請讀下午班，原因是甚麼呢？

原來夫婦二人很晚下班，可能7時後才回家，然後跟小朋友玩到12時。親子時間是很寶貴的，你覺得學習時間重要，還是親子時間重要？第二天早上可以睡到11時，其實跟午睡沒有分別。因為由晚上12時睡到早上10時，足足10個小時。換句話說，就算沒有午睡，也可以有足夠的睡眠質素，還有充足的親子時間。

如果申請入讀上午班，而孩子又不願起床，將來就要循序漸進地適應。可能由10時起床，慢慢到9時半、9時、8時半，還有叫他起床時是有數個技巧的。曾經有一個個案，叫他起床時不是叫醒他的腦袋，而是叫醒身體，包括按摩腳部、叫醒腳部、叫醒肚子、叫醒背部，然後叫醒手腳。再加上充足的光線，拉開窗簾，再開電視機，然後加上早餐的氣味，最後才叫醒他。如果有喜愛食物的氣味，香噴噴的話會更容易令孩子起床。

家長要有兩手準備，一方面不要必然覺得上午班才是好，另一方面如果因為某些原因要讀上午班，起床的時間加多些循序漸進的步驟，以及多感官的刺激，令他最後才是以意志醒來。因為最擔心他的意志醒來，但身體未同步，就會非常辛苦了。

資料來源：註冊臨床心理學家饒方莉

很多家長晚上睡覺的時候都很頭痛的，因為小朋友不是不肯睡覺，就是一定要家長陪伴他們睡覺，甚至到了深夜起來的時候一定要去找家長，如果不是就會哭鬧不願睡。面對小朋友一些睡覺的問題，我們有甚麼方法可以幫到小朋友學習睡得更加好或自行入睡呢？

首先家長要明白小朋友睡得不好或不肯入睡，是一個惡性循環，就是過分依賴家長安撫。這個惡性循環，即是要家長在身邊拍他、抱他、呵他，小朋友才會產生睡意。而家長陪伴他、安撫他的行為成為了一個先決條件，而沒了這個先決條件，小朋友到了深夜的時候就會驚醒，必需要找回家長。

所以我們要幫助小朋友學會自我調節 (Self-Soothing)或讓孩子學習自行入睡，這個方法是很重要。研究指出，三個月大的嬰兒大概會慢慢開始培養一種自我調節Self-sooth的能力。而大概到九個月的嬰兒，其實有50至80%的嬰兒都能夠一覺睡到天光，所以家長必需相信小朋友是有這個能力，幫他自己進行自我調節，可以自行入睡。

但我們要幫助他培養的，我們要先建立一個睡前的常規，包括睡房。最好是一個全黑的環境，因為全黑的環境就可以產生褪黑色素 ，是我們腦部的一種物質幫助我們產生睡意，及可以加速我們睡眠。第二， 是我們嘗試給小朋友建立一個睡前一定會做的指定動作，可以是哄他睡覺、唱歌、按摩又或是說故事，但只有一個指定動作，你可和小朋友討論是甚麼指定動作，他會想做的。每晚在那個時間，我們就做這個指定動作，接著便關燈睡覺去。這個指定動作就會令小朋友腦部開始知道差不多要睡覺了。

第三，要記得藍光對小朋友有很多影響。藍光會擾亂我們腦內褪黑色素的分泌，而這會影響睡眠，令到我們失眠或影響睡眠質素。所以家長記著在睡房裡絕對不可以有電子產品，以及在睡前的1個小時不可以讓小朋友使用任何電子產品，這樣都可以幫助小朋友睡覺。

第四個方法是有限度安撫（Control Comforting）。這個方法就是我們會給予一些安撫小朋友，可以隨著他們的年紀，安撫的時間會慢慢縮短。例如和小朋友談天，我陪你5分鐘，然後媽媽便會出去。5分鐘後可以和小朋友說：「媽媽現在出去，一會兒可能隔5分鐘後，再回來看你。如果你可以幫自己閉眼安靜在這裡，嘗試一下自行入睡，媽媽便會親你一下。」然後，將出房間的時間慢慢增加，可能5分鐘、10分鐘、15分鐘，讓小朋友在房裡面單獨慢慢學習，培養自行入睡和self-sooth 自我調整的能力。

如果到了深夜時小朋友醒了找家長的時候，我們應該怎樣處理？其實是同樣的原則就是陪小朋友一會兒，然後鼓勵他自行入睡。如果可以的話，將時間一直延長，直至他可以自行入睡。

Source : Registered Clinical Psychologist, Yiu Fong Lee

Many parents experience headaches when their children have trouble sleeping at night. This could be because the children either refuse to sleep or insist on having their parents with them while they sleep. Some children even wake up in the middle of the night and cry unless they find their parents. What methods can help children learn to sleep better or fall asleep on their own?

First, parents need to understand that a child’s poor sleep habits or refusal to sleep can create a vicious cycle of excessive dependence on parental comfort. In this cycle, children require things like being patted, held, or soothed by their parents in order to feel sleepy. Parental presence and soothing become prerequisites for their sleep, and without these conditions, children may wake up in the middle of the night and seek their parents.

Therefore, it’s important to help children learn self-soothing techniques or to teach them how to fall asleep independently. Research indicates that around three-month-old infants gradually begin to develop the ability to self-soothe. By about nine months of age, 50 to 80% of infants can sleep through the night. Parents should have confidence in their child’s ability to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own, and they can assist in this process.

However, what we need to help them develop is to establish a bedtime routine, including the bedroom environment. It’s best to have a completely dark room because darkness stimulates the production of melatonin, a substance in our brain that helps us feel sleepy and speeds up our sleep. Secondly, we should try to establish a specific bedtime ritual for the child, which could involve cuddling them to sleep, singing, giving a massage, or telling a story – but it should be just one designated activity. You can discuss with the child what this designated activity should be, something they would enjoy. Every night at that time, we perform this designated activity, then turn off the lights and go to sleep. This designated activity will signal to the child’s brain that it’s almost time to sleep.

Thirdly, it’s important to remember that blue light can have a significant impact on children. Blue light can disrupt the secretion of melatonin in our brains, which can affect sleep and lead to insomnia or poor sleep quality. Therefore, parents should ensure that there are absolutely no electronic devices in the bedroom, and children should not be allowed to use any electronic devices in the hour leading up to bedtime. This can help children sleep better.

The fourth method is controlled comforting. This method involves providing comfort to the child but gradually reducing the comforting time as they grow older. For example, you can engage in a conversation with the child, saying, “I’ll stay with you for 5 minutes, and then Mommy will leave. After 5 minutes, I’ll come back to check on you. If you can try to close your eyes and stay quiet here, Mommy will give you a kiss.” Then, slowly increase the time before leaving the room, maybe 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 15 minutes, allowing the child to gradually learn to fall asleep on their own and develop self-soothing abilities.

What should we do if the child wakes up in the middle of the night and seeks their parents’ presence? The same principle applies here: stay with the child for a while and then encourage them to fall asleep independently. If possible, keep extending the time until they can fall asleep on their own.

資料來源：教育心理學家沈嘉敏及鄧偉茵 

對話式閱讀顧是家長和小朋友以對話的方式進行閱讀，跟傳統伴讀最大的分別就是傳統的伴讀基本上可能是家長和小朋友說故事，或者有些伴讀家長的用意是教小朋友認字，以認字為主。但對話式閱讀好處不是在於認字，而是希望能夠藉著對話的方式讓小朋友和家長建立良好的關係，以及希望能夠幫助小朋友多表達。

對話式閱讀便是由小朋友當一個主動的角色，可以主動發問，透過這些問題、答案去引導他們，加強他們閱讀理解的能力。當家長和小朋友進行對話式閱讀時，可以思考一下要問甚麼問題及進行的步驟是怎樣。家長問問題有很多不同方法，我們會教他提示的框架，框架裡包含5種不同問問題的方法，就是英文縮寫「CROWD」。

C是Completion ，可以用填充的方式問。R即是Recall 回想，回想之前故事是說甚麼。O便是Open-ended questions 開放式，你猜猜之後會發生甚麼事呢？W便是Wh questions，即是六何法，何時、何地、何人等等。最後便是Distancing生活體驗題，究竟我們看的事物和日常生活有甚麼連繫呢？

對話式閱讀也有一個步驟的框架－「PEER」

第一個是引導，也就是問題的種類。第二便是問完之後，可以給予小朋友一些回應

便是Evaluation。Evaluate便是盡量正面鼓勵小朋友，例如他答對了，你說：「你做得很好，很留心聆聽」。如果他答錯也不緊要的，我們也要鼓勵他：「你很努力地嘗試！」然後再嘗試一下在圖書裡尋找答案

然後E便是Expand，小朋友說話句子比較短，我們可以把它擴展，例如加一些形容詞令句子更加豐富。最後便是Repeat，小朋友聆聽完後重覆說出這個故事，那麼便可以提升小朋友的口語能力。

Source: Educational psychologists, Shum Ka Man and Tang Wai Yan

Interactive reading is when parents and children engage in reading through conversation. The main difference between interactive reading and traditional reading aloud lies in the fact that traditional reading aloud often involves parents telling stories to children or, in some cases, parents’ intention to teach children to recognize words, focusing primarily on word recognition. However, the advantage of interactive reading is not just about word recognition; it aims to foster a positive parent-child relationship and help children express themselves through conversation.

In interactive reading, children take on an active role, where they can ask questions and guide the conversation through these questions and answers, thereby enhancing their reading comprehension skills. When parents engage in interactive reading with children, they should consider what questions to ask and what steps to follow. There are various ways for parents to ask questions, and we teach them a prompting framework that includes five different question types, abbreviated as ‘CROWD.’

C stands for Completion, where questions can be posed in a fill-in-the-blank manner. R represents Recall, encouraging children to remember what happened earlier in the story. O denotes Open-ended questions, allowing children to speculate about what might happen next. W represents Wh questions, covering the six Ws: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Finally, D stands for Distancing questions, which prompt children to relate the story to their own life experiences, asking how the story connects to their daily lives.

Interactive reading also follows a framework called ‘PEER.’

The first step is ‘Prompt,’ which refers to the types of questions asked. The second step is ‘Evaluate,’ where after asking questions, you can provide responses to the child. ‘Evaluate’ involves giving positive encouragement to the child, such as praising them when they answer correctly, saying, ‘You did a great job; you listened very attentively.’ If they answer incorrectly, it’s still important to encourage them, saying, ‘You tried very hard!’ and then attempt to find the answer together in the book.

Next is ‘Expand’ (E), which means expanding on what the child says. If a child’s response is brief, you can add adjectives or other details to make the sentence richer. Finally, there’s ‘Repeat’ (R), where after listening to the story, the child repeats the story, which can help improve their oral language skills.

資料來源：兒童行為治療師葉偉麟

很多時候我們家長看到小朋友有一些負面的情緒，例如生氣、發脾氣或是很不開心的時候，我們也很想快點息事寧人「你不要這麼生氣吧！」，或會責備他，有時候甚至會喝罵他：「你立即給我閉嘴！」，或「一！二！三！」命令。亦有一些家長會說說道理：「我們做人不應該這樣的，應該冷靜一點」，但這些方法也不是太有效，為甚麼會這樣呢？

原來這跟我們的腦部結構有密切關係，如果我們認識了腦部結構，對我們管教孩子是很有幫助的。我們只要認識兩個部分，第一個部分稱為杏仁核（Amygdala） 。杏仁核有兩顆，在我們後腦。當我們受到驚嚇、威脅的時候，它會發出一些訊號，讓我們可以攻擊或是逃避的，杏仁核具有反射作用。

另一個部分稱為前額葉皮質（Prefrontal Cortex），便是讓我們有沒有彈性，即是有沒有同理心。但是杏仁核和前額葉皮質，這兩個部分是不能夠同時運作的。小朋友的前額葉皮質發展要從兩歲至二十多歲才完全成形的，才可以聽明白你說的道理，可以想到你在想甚麼、你的感受。

因此小朋友大部分的時間都是被那兩顆杏仁核控制，所以你看到很多小朋友經常有很多情緒、經常這麼容易暴燥和容易發脾氣。

我們如何讓杏仁核停止運作呢？這一件事情很重要的。我們讓杏仁核停止運作的方法便是幫助小朋友說出他們的情緒，特別是當小朋友有負面情緒的時候，作為家長要幫他們說出來，譬如你說我看到你很不開心、我看到你很失望、很傷心，因為當你說出和形容了他的感受，他的前額葉皮質便會輸送安撫的信息到他的杏仁核 ，讓杏仁核立即停止運作。

千萬別倒轉！看到他有情緒，說出家長你自己的個人感受：「我真的很生氣！」、「你這樣做是不對的！」或「我覺得很生氣！」你這樣只會

刺激小朋友的杏仁核，令他們更反抗。所以我們在管教小朋友的第一步，不是管他或教他，而是先連繫他的情緒，再重新調整。

Source: Pediatric Behavioral Therapist, Yip Wai Lun

Many times, as parents, when we see our children experiencing negative emotions like anger, tantrums, or extreme unhappiness, we often want to quickly resolve the situation by saying things like, “Don’t be so angry!” or we may scold them, sometimes even yelling, “Shut up right now!” or using a countdown like “One! Two! Three!” to command them. Some parents may try to reason with their children, saying, “We shouldn’t behave like this; we should stay calm.” However, these methods are not always very effective. Why is this the case?

It turns out that this is closely related to the structure of our brains. Understanding the brain’s structure can be very helpful in parenting. If we are familiar with two specific parts of the brain, it can aid us in disciplining our children. The first part is called the amygdala, which is a pair of almond-shaped clusters located in the posterior part of our brain. When we are startled or feel threatened, the amygdala sends signals that prepare us for either a fight or flight response. The amygdala operates on a reflexive level.

Another part is called the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for our flexibility and empathy. However, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex cannot function simultaneously. The development of a child’s prefrontal cortex takes place from around the age of two to over twenty years old before it fully matures. Only then can they understand your reasoning and consider your thoughts and feelings.

As a result, most of the time, children are primarily influenced by the two amygdalae. This is why you often see children experiencing various emotions, becoming easily agitated, and prone to tantrums.

How do we stop the amygdala from functioning? This is very important. The way we make the amygdala stop functioning is by helping children express their emotions, especially when they have negative emotions. As parents, we should help them speak out, for example, saying, “I can see that you’re very unhappy,” “I can see that you’re very disappointed,” or “You seem very sad.” Because when you express and describe their feelings, their prefrontal cortex will send soothing messages to their amygdala, causing the amygdala to stop functioning immediately.

Whatever you do, don’t react negatively! When you see that your child is emotional, express your own personal feelings as a parent: “I’m really angry!” “What you did is not right!” or “I feel upset!” Doing this will only stimulate the child’s amygdala and make them more resistant. So the first step in disciplining children is not to control or teach them, but to first connect with their emotions and then readjust.

Written by Marriage and Family Therapist, Child Play Therapist, Rachel Ng

When my son was in the first grade, I often encountered the same group of parents at the pick-up and drop-off station. One of the parents had a son who coincidentally attended the same school and grade as my son, so we gradually became acquainted. It was also during that time that I began to witness what was called “monster parents”!

She would frequently ask about my child’s extracurricular activities because her son was enrolled in various classes every day, sometimes even attending two in a single day. On the other hand, I struggled to list many activities for my son. He enjoyed exploring and creating games at home, finding his own joy. I also saw that he was able to grasp the lessons taught at school, so I felt that there was no need for him to participate in additional extracurricular activities. Always, my wish for him was to be happy.

However, gradually, when most of the parents around you gather and chatter about what their children are learning, what levels they’ve achieved in music and language exams, and so on, I, who originally believed in the “go with the flow” approach, began to feel anxious. I couldn’t help but question whether I was a lazy, unambitious, and neglectful mother who didn’t plan for her child’s future!

And so, I also began to enroll my child in various courses, but the resistance I encountered was beyond what I had ever imagined. During the years from my son’s second to fourth grade, even though the number of courses he attended was not extensive, conflicts often arose between mother and son due to the insistence on him participating in additional extracurricular activities. I couldn’t bear to see both of us suffer from the results of these clashes, so I asked myself: “What is truly important for a child? To possess a wealth of knowledge but carry an unhappy heart, or to have a lively, cheerful, and positively charged life?” Even though I hadn’t yet studied marriage and family therapy at that time, I still believed that a harmonious family relationship was the cornerstone for a child to have a healthy life.

In the end, I decided to no longer “force” my son to participate in activities he disliked. By letting go in this manner, I actually created space for him to learn to take responsibility for his own decisions. He would let me know what he wanted to learn or even if he wanted to attend Chinese tutoring at the appropriate time. These exercises in autonomy and responsibility, unwittingly, became invaluable assets for my son in the future. They proved beneficial in his education and career, leading to success in every aspect.

In reality, many parents, like myself back then, find themselves in an environment of intense competition, where they see other mothers doing the same crazy things. This makes those actions seem not crazy, but rather the norm. Even if reluctantly, they feel compelled to do the same. However, children find various ways to express to us that they are struggling, that they cannot accept it! The question is, do mothers really see it? If parents have a short-sighted perspective and are anxious only about gaining an initial advantage, focusing solely on creating fleeting competitive edges for their children while neglecting to establish qualities that contribute to their long-term development, then in the end, the casualties may extend beyond just the mother-child relationship to include the child’s life itself!

撰文：婚姻及家庭治療師、兒童遊戲治療師吳綺琴

記得兒子讀小一個的時候，筆者常常在接放學的站頭遇見同一群家長。有一位家長的兒子，巧合與我兒子同校又同級，所以我們漸漸熟稔起來。也在那時開始，見識到甚麼叫做「怪獸家長」！

她常問我的孩子參加了甚麼課外活動，因為她的兒子每天都參加不同課程，有時還要一天趕兩場，而筆者就乏善足陳。兒子自小喜歡在家裡「搞東搞西」，創作出很多遊戲，自得其樂，我亦看到他能掌握學校所學的東西，於是覺得沒必要再參加甚麼課外活動。從來，孩子快樂，就是我對他的祝願。

但漸漸地，當你身邊大部分的家長，聚集時都七嘴八舌地談論孩子學甚麼，考了甚麼級數的樂器及語文等，令原本相信「順其自然」那一套的筆者，都開始焦慮起來，不禁懷疑自己是否一個懶惰、不求進取和不為孩子將來打算的媽媽！

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於是，筆者也開始為孩子報讀一些課程，但所遇到的反抗，卻是我從來沒有想像過的。由兒子讀小二至小四的幾年間，雖然報的課程不多，但母子也常因要他上額外的課外活動而起衝突。筆者不忍見兩敗俱傷的結果，於是又問自己：「對孩子而言，甚麼才是最重要呢？雖有滿身學問，但帶著一個不快樂的心境；抑或是一個活潑、開朗，充滿正能量的人生呢？」雖然筆者當時還未修讀婚姻及家庭治療，但仍相信和諧的家庭關係才是孩子得到健康人生的最重要基石。

最後，筆者決定不再「強迫」兒子參加他不喜歡的活動。就這樣「let go」，反而給予空間讓他學習為自己的事情負責任，他會在適當的時候，告訴我想學甚麼，甚至參加中文補習。這些自決及為自己負責任的鍛鍊，在不知不覺中，成了兒子日後很寶貴的資產，無論在他求學或工作上，都無往而不利。

其實不少家長都像筆者當年一樣，在這競爭激烈的環境中，看見其他母親都做著同一樣瘋狂的事情，便不覺得那樣是瘋狂的，而是理所當然的；就算是不情不願，都一樣要做。但是，孩子會用各種不同的方式，反映給我們知道，他們很辛苦，他們接受不來！問題是，母親們又看不看到呢？如果家長的眼光短淺，只怕輸在起跑線上而焦慮不安，只顧為孩子營造短暫的競爭優勢，而忽略為孩子建立有利長遠發展的質素，那麼恐怕最後輸的不只是母子關係，還有是孩子的人生！