Family

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

Confused about retirement savings? 7 popular pension myths busted

The minimum amounts that can be put into workplace pensions will be stepped up from April, as UK savers are encouraged to put aside more for their retirement.

Under automatic enrolment rules, from April 6, the minimum that can be put in by employers and their staff will increase from 5% of qualifying earnings to 8%. Within the new 8% rate, at least 3% must be paid by the employer,...

Five things consider if you're thinking of relocating for work

Would you up sticks and move away from your area if you were offered better career prospects or a bigger salary? The dilemma of whether to relocate for work or stay put can be tricky to answer – particularly for those who already have strong ties with their local community.

Among employees who have never relocated, 59% of men and 65% of women say the desire to stay near family is the...

More than half of children have 'fear of failure' – 10 ways to help them beat it

It's natural for parents to want their children to pursue their dreams. But sadly, a fear of failure is holding many youngsters back, and often they don't even try to achieve their goals because they're too frightened they won't succeed.

New research has found that more than half (57%) of children aged four to 12 years old have a fear of failure, and that fear has prevented almost a...

Why playing board games is so good for kids – and how to get them to join in

If you're a parent who'd love to spend more time with the kids, and are desperate for them to stare at screens a little less, there could be a way of tackling both – by playing board games together.

The benefits of board gaming are far-reaching; allowing parents to have much-needed conversations with the kids, as well as developing children's interpersonal skills, and boosting...

What is social media app TikTok and is it safe for kids?

TikTok is one of the hottest social media apps on the planet right now, and kids are flocking to the platform in droves.

Recent stats suggest it has more that 500 million active users worldwide, and we're not surprised, given its totally addictive format.

But if you're a parent, you might be wondering exactly what youngsters are doing on there, and more importantly, if there...

It takes two minutes to fall in love with a dog - study reveals

A new study has revealed that it takes dog lovers two minutes and seven seconds1 before they know a dog is 'the one', according to new analysis.

The research has been released by National Dog Adoption Day and Animal Friends Insurance and is based on the average time spent looking at a dog's photos before more than 2000 would-be dog owners sent adoption enquiries to dog rescues. The...

How to parent when you've split up

From Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin to Cheryl and Liam Payne, via Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy, there are no end of celebrities who have to juggle co-parenting because they've split.

Cheryl said at the time: "There's no animosity whatsoever. We are learning all the time. And it's good, it's healthy. We're just like any other couple that have gone through this, but we have a few...

Why giving your children fewer toys could make your whole family happier

Modern family life can be complex, chaotic and stressful – but it doesn't have to be this way.

According to child development expert Denaye Barahona, if parents try to live according to the basic 'roadmap' of buy less, fear less, referee less, hurry less and entertain less, life will be a whole lot simpler, and thus less stressful.

And the simpler life extends to the kids...

Six reasons why it's important to read bedtime stories to your children

Finding the time to read a bedtime story to a child has huge benefits – both for the child and the person doing the reading.

"Reading a regular bedtime story to children is a simple activity that encourages children to enjoy reading and gets them into good reading habits that will set them up for the future," says Judith Parke from the National Literacy Trust (NLT). "When parents...

Worried about your child’s mental health? Here’s how to spot the early signs

Children as young as six are suffering from stress. Claire Spreadbury talks to Dr Preethi Daniel about the warning signs, and how you can help.

It’s all too easy for families to get caught up in the Ferris wheel of life. And it’s not just the adults who are struggling to keep up. If you Google ‘depression in children’, the NHS will tell you that one in four young people will...

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