Deborah MacNamara

Deborah MacNamara, PhD, is a developmental counsellor and is on faculty at the Neufeld Institute. She makes sense of kids for the adults who are responsibile for them. Deborah is the author of Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (or anyone who acts like one), and Nourished: Connection, Food, and Caring for our Kids (and everyone else we love).

Child Learn & Play

The ‘discipline’ approach that prevents kid problems

It is called soliciting good intentions, and the aim is to work ahead of challenging problems instead of when emotions are really stirred up.

Child

Build your child’s village—and teach them how to connect with each other

Because none of us can do this alone.

Parenting

When saying goodbye is HARD—help your toddler manage separation anxiety

We can’t avoid separation, but we can help them learn how to cope.

Parenting

How to tell your child is realizing her human potential—year-by-year

People with realized human potential are separate, social and adaptive beings.

Parenting

Why consequences don’t work—and what to do instead

Young children simply cannot think about how an action will affect them later. Here’s what you can do instead.

Life

The mother in us is born, too

Mothering must rise up in us, not be scripted onto us.

Parenting

Am I loved and cared for? Why every child should be able to answer ‘yes’

To help our children rest in our care we will need to give them more attention than they demand and more connection than they seek.

Parenting

Your child’s tears are actually signs of resiliency + security

We can’t spare our children from all that comes with the world they live in—this is impossible. It is our job to make sure we don’t send them into it empty-handed.