Sibling rivalry is a common and frustrating concern amongst families. It can put a huge strain on parents and cause much anxiety, especially if one child’s behaviour is overly aggressive or cruel towards another child or children. We’ve outlined strategies to help cope with sibling rivalry.
... Continue Reading.
Engaging in child-led, one-to-one play with children on a regular basis is a key element of building attachment and supporting children’s development. This type of play is something that parents often engage in with pre verbal and very young children but do so less as children ages, however it continues to be hugely beneficial and a great tool for addressing a wide range of relational and behavioural concerns.
... Continue Reading.
Feeling angry is a completely normal and healthy response to countless situations. It might be a reaction to being verbally or physically hurt, a response to a decision that feels unfair or a natural reaction to distressing situations in the wider world. As we get older, we learn to manage our angry reactions so that they don’t negatively impact our own lives or the lives of others. But children are not yet equipped to regulate this intense emotion and they need our help.
... Continue Reading.
The National Eating Disorder Charity, Beat, estimates that around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder. Read on for a better understanding of eating disorders and how to help as a parent.
... Continue Reading.
Small people have big feelings. It’s normal for children to be overwhelmed by emotions regularly and they rely on us to soothe and bring them back to a state of calm. Think of babies and how often they need holding and comforting, toddlers who can dissolve into tears over the wrong colour pants and adolescents who explode when we say the ‘wrong’ thing. Emotional regulation is something we develop as part of growing up, however for some these feelings can feel excessively big and not always easy to manage.
... Continue Reading.
January 27th is Parent Mental Health Day. A day designed to bring to the fore the topic of parents struggling with their mental health and to help those individuals find a voice. It’s a topic that is so important to promote especially as without support, parental struggles can have a detrimental impact on their children.
... Continue Reading.
January is a great time to re-evaluate and take stock of what’s important in our lives. Many of us start the year with great intentions but inevitably revert to past behaviours. It’s human nature. However, some goals we set ourselves are just too big for us to maintain.
We suggest focusing on those smaller more manageable ways to create change. We’ve put together some easy-to-implement resolutions for parents to incorporate into their everyday lives. Why not see if just one of these resonates with your hopes for the year and try and focus on that one?
... Continue Reading.
Read Our Top Tips for Teachers to Help Students with Anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common and growing mental health problems amongst children. It is likely that most classes will have at least one child suffering with anxiety. Schools can be an anxiety provoking environment due to overstimulation and pressures around learning and friendships.
Our therapists have put together their top tips for opening-up conversations about anxiety and supporting children who may be suffering.
... Continue Reading.
The end of the academic year can bring lots of change and excitement as children prepare for end of term performances, sports days and trips as well as looking forward to the next chapter of their schooling.
However, all of this can be deeply unsettling for children, especially the most vulnerable who rely on school as a place of routine and familiarity.
... Continue Reading.
Having worked as an arts based child/adolescent counsellor for the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the multiple ways in which art can be therapeutic. It can be a way of self-regulating (calming), a form of self-expression and perhaps most exciting of all, a place for self-discovery.
... Continue Reading.