Family

Advice, tips and lifetsyle features aimed at parents, children and families.

Are you washing your clothes properly? 11 expert tips for doing laundry the proper way

Many of us have just been getting on with the laundry for years – but are we always doing it in the best possible way?

For example, new research shows clothes last longer and shed fewer microfibres in quicker, cooler washing cycles.

“Consumers claim their clothes can lose their fit, softness and colour after fewer than five washes – this means it’s more likely they will...

How you can stop worrying so much when your children are outdoors

Your kids love being outside but you always worry they might hurt themselves. How can you worry less?

Parent coach Lorraine Thomas, founder of the Parent Coaching Academy, says: “Understandably the outdoors can be a bit scary for parents, but rather than focusing on the potential negatives, focus on the positive benefits of being outside.

“To overcome any doubts and fears,...

Why eco-anxiety is a good thing – depending on how you use it

In 2019 climate emergency was placed front and centre, and that’s likely to continue being the case.

The news stories can be overwhelming, whether it’s seeing footage of the bushfires in Australia, or the World Bank predicting the Maldives could be completely submerged by 2100 due to rising sea levels.

We’re increasingly wising up to the crisis, particularly with the help of...

What does 2020 have in store for the housing market?

Some fresh signs of life have been springing up in the housing market.

The average UK house price jumped by just over £4,000 between November and December last year, according to Halifax. And some property websites have reported seeing a boost in activity during December 2019, compared with a year earlier – perhaps indicating more people are considering moving in the near future....

Kate Ferdinand: I love the kids with all my heart

She’s been trolled on social media, suffered anxieties about her body and spent time in therapy – but ex-Towie star Kate Ferdinand has come out of the other side stronger.

She’s found happiness in family life with her husband, former Premier League footballer Rio Ferdinand, and loves being a stepmother to his three children, Lorenz, Tate and Tia.

Today, the former reality TV...

Early miscarriage can cause post traumatic stress: A midwife explains why

Losing a baby can be devastating for a woman, whatever the stage of her pregnancy. Yet if a miscarriage is early, it can often be brushed off as little more than a blip on the reproductive journey.

However, new research by Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage has found around 29% of women experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) a month after an early miscarriage – a...

Ten clever daytime hacks to help your child get a good night’s sleep

Children sleeping well is one of the holy grails of parenting, and many mums and dads swear by the bedtime routine of bath, book, bed to help little ones have a good night’s sleep.

But it’s not just immediately before bed that steps can be taken to encourage an unbroken night for both children and parents – there are plenty of things that can be done during the day too.

“A...

How will divorce affect your children? Our expert offers advice

My husband and I have just split up – how are our children likely to react in these early stages of the separation?

Child psychotherapist Rachel Melville-Thomas, spokesperson for the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), says: “In the complicated task of setting up two homes and new arrangements for children to see both parents, how are the children really feeling as time goes...

Dad reveals the five things he has learned after having child number 2 in a hilarious blog

In a hilarious blog, father of two Chris McGuire reveals what he has learned from having Baby #2!

It’s a funny thing: LIFE. Don’t you think?

We only really get any clue of what’s actually happening around us much later – with the benefit of time and distance.

This is certainly true when it comes to parenting.

Now that I’m a dad of two, my...

How to dig your way out of debt in 2020

With Christmas and the New Year celebrations now over for another year, many people are experiencing a sinking feeling.

That awful moment where you know you can't put off looking at your bank or credit card statement. The due dates on your regular payments – or the bills landing for those items you bought on credit online.

Tempting as it is to stick your head in the sand,...