Following a recent run of family celebrations, two things struck me. One was how toxic the balloons tasted when I was blowing them up, and the other was how much plastic rubbish there was after each of the parties. This got me thinking about what alternatives I could use to the usual plastic paraphernalia that surrounds parties, without becoming a plastic-obsessed party pooper. Anyone with children knows the drill following a party. They come home high on sugar, clutching a plastic party bag full of plastic-wrapped sweets and a variety of plastic tat that gets discarded as soon as the sweets h ..read more

On Children by Kahlil Gibran Your children are not your children.They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.They come through you but not from you,And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts,For they have their own thoughts.You may house their bodies but not their souls,For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which yo ..read more

Motherhood can be a rollercoaster journey, full of glimmers, magical memories, tough days, long nights and moments of doubt. Being a mum is twofold: supporting your child to grow and be healthy and happy, and also nourishing yourself to grow too. In becoming a mother, you can learn so much about yourself, though this can be met with uncertainty, limiting beliefs and negative internal chatter, especially of ‘not being a good enough mum’ or feeling guilty for needing (and wanting) your own space. Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) can support mums to move beyond this. It is a tool that can help ..read more

What if we could remove the stigma associated with a diagnosis of dyslexia? What if we could get people to see it as a potential advantage, rather than a setback? What if, in the process, we could vastly improve our children’s experience of their dyslexia?  A diagnosis of dyslexia is too often a cause of great concern and worry for both parent and child. Why? Because it is seen as a ‘difficulty’; a ‘disadvantage’ or a ‘disability’. Even the word ‘dyslexia’ translates as ‘a difficulty with language’! It stems from the combination of two Greek words: ‘dis’ meaning ‘lack’, and ‘lexi’ me ..read more

Elderflower is a forager’s favourite pick between May and June. The trees are found throughout the UK in woods, along roadsides and among hedgerows. The heads are ripe for the picking when there are lots of tiny white flowers, which have a sweet, summery scent. The flowers are edible once cooked, but mildly toxic if eaten raw. Pick the flower heads on a dry, warm and sunny day, and give them a good shake to remove any bugs or beasties. To bottle both the taste and smell of summer, you will need a good basketful of the flower heads. This is the number one ingredient to make cordial and many oth ..read more

The benefits of mindfulness for adults are well publicised and include reduced stress, improved immunity and better pain management. There is also now a growing body of evidence suggesting that mindfulness can also be beneficial for children, with studies showing that it can help them to regulate their emotions and improve their concentration and sleep. A really important part of mindfulness is learning how to appreciate what is going on in the present moment. Often we are preoccupied with thinking about the past or the future. Mindfulness teaches us to calm our minds so that we can be fully p ..read more

Art is a healthy form of self-expression for everyone, but especially children. Creating art opens unimaginable doors, whether it’s physical art, dancing, singing, writing, drama, film or playing an instrument. Young children have a natural curiosity to explore the world around them and express themselves freely. They enjoy making sense of new experiences and discoveries. Art allows children to utilise their imaginations, learn and process emotions, and receive positive attention from the adults in their lives. Creativity can be a positive outlet in this crazy, upside-down world. All human bei ..read more

I’m an attachment theorist, but at times I find myself dismayed by the way our misunderstandings about attachment so often make parents feel inadequate. I’d like to set the record straight about what really creates secure attachment. Attachment theory was developed by John Bowlby when he observed children’s reactions to being separated from their parents during World War II in England. Attachment theory is now supported by an impressive body of academic theory and research, but the basic idea is simple and intuitively obvious. Human babies are born helpless because of their big brains. To surv ..read more

“Do babies really need massaging?” is a question we have been asked, as well as “Do babies need to relax or need help with their stress?” If we approach massage with this adult motivation, it may seem a strange notion to massage an infant, and it’s true that babies do not carry the adult stresses of life like paying the bills or juggling jobs and parenthood. However, they can benefit hugely from as little as 10 minutes of massage daily, because not only is it relaxing, but it also runs far deeper and has long-lasting benefits. Forming a connection and a bond for life Attachment and bonding are ..read more

"Forest School!” calls the leader. “Caaaamps!” chime in 119 other voices. We’re in a field. Cold, wet, muddy. It’s the middle of a Welsh summer. And there’s a hurricane coming. We’re getting ready to batten down the hatches. To make sure that everything is shipshape, pegged down and ready for the coming storm. And we go at it with a will. I see a determined 4-year-old dragging a heavy spade, helping a group of camp elders to dig a new fire pit. There are 6-year-olds holding down flapping canvas, hair and voices whipped wild by the rising wind. Groups of enthusiastic teenagers sing rousing sea ..read more