Each month we share ideas, research, and strategies to help parents on their journey to becoming a confident parent. We base our parenting blogs on the many different concerns that parents bring to our online consultations. Here you’ll find tips and resources on a range of topics such as early years development, neurodiversity, divorce & separation, loss & bereavement, emotional regulation, sexuality & gender, and much more.
Engaging in child-led, one-to-one play on a regular basis is a key element of building attachment and supporting children’s development. This type of play is something that parents do naturally with pre verbal and very young children but do so less with older ages, however it continues to be hugely beneficial and a great tool for addressing a wide range of relational and behavioural concerns…. Read more.
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…. Read more.
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…. Read more.
Weaning a baby is a significant milestone that requires careful consideration and planning. It marks the transition from exclusive breastfeeding or formula feeding to introducing solid foods. Many parents may feel uncertain about when to start and what foods to introduce first. In this article, guest blog writer Faith McNamara explores some common questions about baby weaning with expert Maternity Nurses…. Read more.
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…. Read more.
Quite simply parenting isn’t an easy job. For those who struggle with their mental health, parenting can provide another level of turmoil and apprehension. There are many parents who are battling silently and alone with their mental health. It can be hard to find a voice. It’s a subject that should matter to us all, especially as without support, parental struggles inevitably have a detrimental impact on our children. However, even living in an era where mental health and wellbeing are high priority, speaking out when experiencing such lows isn’t easy…. Read more.
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?… Read more.
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…. Read more.
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…. Read more.
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…. Read more.
