Expert Profile
Alma-Jane O'Donnell
Senior Child & Family Practitioner for Goodstart Early Learning
Alma-Jane O’Donnell holds a Master Degree and Graduate Diploma in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health and has more than 20 years’ experience working internationally and nationally with 'at risk' families/children in the homeless, child protection and early years settings.
Alma has extensive experience in program and service development in home visiting and early learning. Alma has presented in Australia and overseas on work done with families in child protection services and intervention to reduce the impact of trauma on development 0-5, both therapeutically and in early learning services. Alma-Jane currently works as the Senior Child & Family Practitioner for Goodstart Early Learning and is responsible for the management and practice support of Goodstart’s Child & Family Service.
Questions answered by Alma-Jane O'Donnell
Toddler pushing boundaries
I have a 16 month old who is pushing the boundaries - being rough with other babies to get a reaction and looking me in The Eye and throwing food on the ground when he understands I’m saying no. What should I do?
Trouble self settling
My 19 month old is waking through the night and demanding Mum to go back to sleep. I always patted her in the cot and shhhh and it worked. It is not working. She is expecting it. If I don't she will scream standing up in her cot. Tresillian gave some advice about not touching her and having dad do it, just talking positivity and walking in and out every couple of minutes. Obviously I can not do that. Was a great baby often self settled until she started teething. She has a dummy. We are expecting a second child any day.