‘Get up!’
‘Hurry up! It’s time to go.’
‘Do your homework now. You should have done it already!’
‘You will study tonight.’
Nobody likes to be told what to do. It gets our back up and makes us resistant to what’s being asked. Read more
Meal time matters. It’s a widely acknowledged fact. Researchers have found that families that eat their meals together have children who are 35% less likely to engage in disordered eating, 24% more likely to eat healthier foods and 12% less likely to be overweight. Read more
Many of our children don’t like to admit this – and if they’re reading this article, they’ll say it’s not true – but until at least the age of 16, our children need us to be actively involved in a good portion of their lives. Read more
“Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.” – Susan Lieberman Read more
The long days of school holidays can be challenging for families. Work commitments keep parents out of the home and away from their children. And if they’re lucky enough to have time off, children complain about how ‘bored’ they are.
Fun kids are laughing, playing and generally having a good time on the playground. But they’re also building skills that will lead to better relationships. Read more
Being in love feels amazing. And it’s incredibly good for you. New research shows having parents in love is also incredibly good for our kids. Read more
I recently wrote about how to find joy during crisis. Much of what I included came from my Facebook community, who shared their stories of joy and happiness out of a stressful and difficult time. This included parents who have had the immense pleasure of watching their previously anxious and unhappy children thrive. Read more
Pandemic parenting. It’s intense and surreal (and sometimes claustrophobic). There are so many new expectations on parents at the moment. Many of us are working from home, managing our own stresses in a new environment with more or less technical difficulties. Read more
I’ve been receiving a lot of questions from mums and dads who are divorced and separated about parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic. I understand why – even if you are on the same page as your ex-partner generally, the unsettling times we are living can throw a spanner in your carefully constructed parenting regimes. Read more