Tips & tools for you & your family
My three children are not totally spoilt, but they don’t think it’s a big deal to buy a replacement this or a new that. Over the course of the summer holidays we must have spent in excess of £100 on ice creams alone and I doubt it was considered a major treat. We go on … Continued
It’s the anomaly that hits every parent. One day your sweet, lovely child is there. The next, they’re replaced with a sullen, screen-sucking teenager who refuses to look up from their phone and acknowledge your presence. If you’re lucky, you’ll get responses like “school was fine”, “I’ve done my homework” — and on the rare … Continued
Parenting is hard, parenting with ADHD even more so. Add distracting technology and limiting screen time seems impossible. We know, we’ve been there. Screen time self-control depends on the brain’s executive function – and ADHD undermines executive function. That’s why kids with ADHD find it harder to avoid excessive gaming, social media and other digital … Continued
It’s never too early – or too late – to let kids help out with chores. Many parents know the value of having kids do chores – from teaching good life habits to building confidence as a contributing member of the family. But sometimes it’s hard to think up the right chores for the right … Continued
“There is no Wi-Fi in the forest but I promise you will find a better connection” – Author Uknown Summer is here! And with it, the age-old parenting conundrum of how to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays. But the answer doesn’t have to be screen time! In fact, with a little know-how, … Continued
“Play is the way kids try the world on for size and imagine their place in it” – Raffi Why is it that everything feels so choreographed these days? Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE routine. It gives me structure – a way of organising my life – day-in-day-out. And it’s great for kids! You can find out … Continued
We tend to overly complicate our kids’ lives in this modern world. From scheduled playdates to structured activities to meticulously planned-out road trips, we’ve forgotten the beauty of puttering around our own homes and neighborhoods finding imaginative things to do to pass the time. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, in a 2007 study on … Continued
“Fifty-six percent of all working parents say the balancing act is difficult, and those who do are more likely to say that parenting is tiring and stressful, and less likely to find it always enjoyable and rewarding.” – Stressed, Tired, Rushed: A Portrait of the Modern Family, NYTimes.com, November 2015 It doesn’t matter what you … Continued
The holiday season is behind us for another year and we’ve had over a whole month to recuperate. Let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief, shall we? As much as I enjoy the holidays, there is much that seems compulsory about them. It’s the time of year when you break out Great Grandma’s recipe folder. … Continued
From toddlers to teens, our world is now dominated by screens. With plenty of experts and material on the matter, parents have often asked for a guide that helps them take charge of technology in their home. So, we decided to review Noel Janis-Norton’s book — Calmer, Easier, Happier Screen Time — to see if … Continued