By being mindful of the example we set — both in the habits we encourage and the behaviours we avoid — we’re not only guiding our children’s actions today, but also building the foundation for the kind of person they will grow up to be.

To the extent that we have helped Squish on her language journey, I can think of a number of strategies we’ve employed that are worth sharing — some which are obvious, and others you may never have considered. Here are my top 5 tips for toddler language learning.

What will Trump’s America be like for kids? In answering this question, three issues come to mind. For the sake of alliteration, let’s call them: guns, gender and gestation.

Over time, our staff learned to identify some of the best dads based on some tell-tale comments. When we heard them talk about certain fathering habits or topics, we knew those guys really get it. They incorporate traits and attitudes that translate into great fathering.

Birth rates across the West are plummeting, and our economies will suffer untold carnage in the years ahead — all because we have failed to assign value to the unseen work, that most important job of child-rearing. Still, we have an opportunity to turn this mess around.

For Squish in particular, the arrival of number two will be a game-changer. Here are three things she has to look forward to — three things that will change her life for the better.

There are many ways for us to spend time together, but I believe the most bonding of these is when we read together. There in my lap, she feels safe, secure, close and loved. What more could a toddler want?

If there is just ONE THING you have on hand to give to new dads, I encourage you to have the "Help Me Grow Guide: The First Year". It’s an easy way to bring dads into the wonderful life of their child and encourage their participation right from the start.

Encouraging your kids about good behaviour is one of the most effective ways to train, or disciple, your children.

The toys my 14-month-old chooses to play with confirms my suspicion that girls and boys are born with in-built predispositions towards different activities and skills.

Twelve weeks ago, my wife, my 12-month-old daughter, and I packed up our apartment in the United States for Squish’s biggest adventure yet — three months of travel, missions and adventure from the Great Lakes to Sydney, Australia and the jungles of Indonesia.

Loving needs to be unconditional. That’s what we’re all called to do as husbands and fathers. When a family member has a need, we take action. Even if it’s inconvenient! Love is more about commitment than feelings. But thankfully, the loving feelings will often follow the loving actions.

One of the highlights for us has been watching our little Squish enjoy her time in the Early Learning Centre — a school we initially built for other children, but that our own daughter now attends!

The West’s fertility crisis is ultimately an identity crisis. If Western civilisation is fundamentally oppressive, why would we want to perpetuate our existence? If we Westerners are destroying the planet, why should we continue populating it?

Three years and three months after we began trying, Angie is finally pregnant! In the end, Angie and I cannot take credit for this miracle of pregnancy. There are no silver bullets, but there were three things that seem to have made a big difference in our case.

With so many rapid geographical and cultural changes, the learning curve has been steep, both for us as parents and for our 13-month-old daughter. Here are three tips from our travels so far for navigating cross-cultural travel with your baby.

This weekend, Squish met her Australian cousins for the first time, and the experience was as fun as we had anticipated, for babies and parents alike. To set the scene, let me tell you a bit about my family.

Over the course of this guide, we'll break down the different areas of your baby's development and what to expect by the time you have a three-month-old.

Disagreements and tension with our children’s mother can’t help but spill over into how we relate to our kids. Our words and actions (or our inaction) can have powerful consequences for our families and children.

The lesson we learnt is not to worry too much about our child’s milestones, especially if they’re within the broad, acceptable ranges. Every child is different and might bring their various skills together at odd times and in odd combinations.