We are constantly told that reading to young children is a good thing, usually in terms of learning to read, expanding vocabulary and getting ahead educationally. But the truth is that books do so much more. During challenging times there can be nothing more comforting than a book that resonates, enlightens or just seems to understand…. Read more.
Many children experience anxiety. It may be in relation to a particular area of their lives such as school work or friendships, or it may be a generalised feeling of unease or worry that surfaces regularly. We’ve outlined strategies to help cope with anxiety…. Read more.
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…. Read 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.
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.
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…. 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.
