About
Hi, I’m Sue and I am really pleased to welcome you to Calm Koala…
Along with child care hints, tips and training for parents, I will be guiding you around the best age appropriate products and equipment for babies and toddlers.
This information will be supported by high quality reviews explaining the importance of identifying your child’s individual needs and thus encouraging positive child development.
Although… this About Page is the ‘awkward bit’, where I also explain about myself and how I got here!
The Very Beginning!
As the eldest sibling in a large family I soon became accustomed to what seemed a regular delivery of small humans arriving on the scene.
I grew up always watching out for the ‘little ones’, baling siblings out of ‘sticky situations’ and sharing out everything to go around everyone.
Mostly, this was ok as I carved out a place and ‘role’ for myself in a large often bewildering family situation.
My First Big ‘Break’
So, when friends of my parents began to offer me babysitting opportunities, I realised that I could be paid for doing what seemed to come naturally and something that I really enjoyed.
This seemed totally amazing!
Once I realised that I could make money doing what I loved and was good at, I decided to train as a Nursery Nurse. After searching various training opportunities, I enrolled on a Montessori course.
I found the Montessori ethos of supporting and encouraging young children in discovery and problem solving for themselves, comfortably fitted with my own principles of holistic early years life skills and education.
Following along from this, I set up and ran my own successful early years Daycare Centre and worked as manager of a large Children’s Centre.
Moving On…
Over this 20-year period I developed a passion for encouraging parents to search for appropriate products and toys to match each child’s individual needs to support positive development.
Consequently, I spent many years researching, choosing and of course… playing with, a wide selection of children’s toys!
As Albert Einstein declared,
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
I have always found it really rewarding to watch young children successfully mastering new concepts.
From a toddler picking up and matching coloured bricks, to a pre-schooler managing to put his coat on or recognising the letters in her name.
Over this period I found myself being asked several questions repeatedly.
“Is it really important to treat each child as an individual?”
…was what I was constantly asked, by often hassled and exhausted parents close to the end of their patience.
Even growing up in the same environment, with the same routines and family members, every child will have individual needs.
This recurring question led me to develop a keen interest in supporting parents to understand the link between the importance of identifying appropriate individual needs and positive child development.
After running regular Positive Parenting courses and having parents returning and recommending their friends, I was regularly asked if I could make this course material available to parents out of my locality.
So, the idea of starting this site on the internet was born!
I have worked closely with parents, carers and children of all ages and another query that kept cropping up was…
“Is it really important to keep my child curious?”
Curiosity is what sparks a child’s imagination to explore and discover, leading to fascination and wonder of the world about them.
This is a vital quality to encourage at any age, with questions and practical experiments to enable a child to learn, achieve and build their self-esteem and confidence.
After all, as Beatrix Potter pronounced in Peter Rabbit…
“Even the smallest one can change the world!”
Onwards and Upwards…
So, with my own two children grown and happily settled doing what they love, I have finally decided to take my key philosophy ‘to help others, help themselves’, turn it around and apply it to myself!
As a wise man once said…
“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for life!”
So, moving with the times, I have decided to move my successful ‘Parenting Skills and Child Development’ business brand online and work for myself!
An Added Extra!
Prompted by the other constant question or musing that I continually hear from colleagues and the parents I work with…
“I wish I could stay home with my baby / toddler and not have to go back to work.”
I will also be offering the opportunity to start your own successful part-time or full-time business in the subject area that is your hobby or passion.
If this is an idea that you have previously thought about or you would like to build an extra income stream?
Now is the time to act!
I can assure you that this is a completely FREE offer with the opportunity to build 2 free websites with training and live, interactive support 24/7.
Just have a browse over at our Work From Home page and give it a try with nothing to lose.
I decided to go ahead with my passion and… can now bid you a warm welcome to Calm Koala!
This is obviously entirely your own choice and if you choose to go down this route, I will be here with ‘Calm Koala’ quality support, advice and guidance for any valid child care or start-up business issues you may need to chat through!