My seven-year-old child is really scared about climate change and what’s going to happen to our planet. What’s the best way to talk to her about it, and help her feel less anxious?
Scientist and environmentalist Matthew Shribman says: “It’s understandable that your daughter is worried, but she’s not alone. A recent report by McCain entitled Nation’s Conversations found children were...
The British Psychological Society says it is vital to talk openly to children and reassure them about the changes they are seeing around them due to Coronavirus.
Some of the changes, like people wearing face masks or empty supermarket shelves, can be scary for children, so they are likely to need to talk to someone they trust about some of the imaginative misinformation they might...
New Sky Original comedy Breeders is billed to explore the paradox that every parent knows but never admits: that you would willingly die for your children, but often you also want to kill them.
“The series is based on things that happen to me as a dad,” reveals star Martin Freeman, noting it’s “trying to be a bit darker and more thought-provoking about life as a parent.”
Even if you’re the kind of person who will try everything from offal to deep-fried Mars bars, that doesn’t necessarily mean your children will be the same.
Most kids spend years being fussy about what they eat, and that can be an uphill battle for parents.
However, dinner time doesn’t always have to be a struggle, food writer Jack Monroe has learned. In fact, she’s developed...
My baby is 12 months old and is just starting to speak. Is there anything I can do to help her learn to communicate better or more quickly?
Infant language expert Dr Robert Titzer, founder of Your Baby Can Learn and an expert speaker at The Baby Show https://www.thebabyshow.co.uk , says: “I suggest parents apply the following principles that have been shown in studies to enhance...
It’s every parent’s instinct to keep their child away from harm, but as young people spend huge chunks of their time online, keeping them safe in the digital world can be really tricky.
Safer Internet Day’s global theme of ‘together for a better internet’ is encouraging young people, parents, teachers and organisations to work together, to make sure the internet is used safely and...
My 13-year-old son seems upset about something but won’t talk about it. How can I encourage him to be brave enough to open up about his feelings?
Speaking ahead of Children’s Mental Health Week (February 3-9) ( childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk ), Sue Rogers, a mental and emotional health expert at Action for Children ( actionforchildren.org.uk ), who leads The Blues Programme, an...
If your child is nagging you for a mobile phone, it may help to know what age other parents decide to give one to them.
The answer, it seems, is from the age of just seven.
A new study by Childwise has found 53% of children are mobile phone owners by around the age of seven, and by the age of 11, nine in 10 have their own device. Once children are in secondary school, phone...
My daughter is 10 and wants to get her ears pierced, but I think she’s too young and it’s causing arguments. What do other parents do?
Daena Borrowman from jewellerybox jewellers https://www.jewellerybox.co.uk says: “Currently, in the UK and Ireland, there’s no legal age in place for most piercings, meaning it’s all on the parents before their child is 16. Although a survey we’ve...
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.
