You know you thought having the ‘Birds & Bees’ talk was difficult? – try having it these days as digital tech has transformed sexual culture. Helping teenagers to cope with this, as they mature, is not only a task for schools or parents. It really needs to be addressed by big tech & governments too. […]
I found an interesting article on Health Central about Teenagers finding the change in routine very stressful around the Christmas holiday time. Here are some tips to help you get through the holiday period when you have a teenager with ADHD: Plan out their holiday homework. Once your child reaches secondary school, teachers often assign […]
I am a real advocate of families sitting down and eating together as it creates a bond, a connection and makes life fun. Kids can chat about their day, their worries or just spend time with you, and you can share your life with them in a easy and natural way simply through sitting down to […]
Communication can dry up during adolescence which is why people identify so much with Harry Enfield’s Kevin and Perry characters and that’s why the teenage stage has often been called the “grunt stage” but communication is a two-way process. Most of us are great at talking but less good at listening and understanding, and we […]
My husband is in Ireland visiting his Mum’s grave with his 94 year old Dad. Judy died during the pandemic , not due to Covid but due to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. My father in law Arthur looked after her at home for 10 years and after her funeral we all went to Ireland to […]
“You are the sum of the 5 people that you spend the most time with.” This phrase was made well known by Jim Rohn long before social media became a huge part of everyone’s life. This means that now your teenager is the sum of their 5 biggest digital influences. Get talking with (not […]
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” ~ Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790, Scientist, Publisher and Diplomat Do you feel like you’re always wading knee-deep through your teenager’s piles of discarded clothes, dirty glasses, crisp packets and […]
I am a real advocate of families sitting down and eating together as it creates a bond, a connection and makes life fun. Kids can chat about their day, their worries or just spend time with you, and you can share your life with them in a easy and natural way simply through sitting down […]
I’m featured in The Telegraph newspaper. How to talk to teenagers about gender without seeming out of touch Talking to teens about gender can feel like a minefield for many parents, but it’s important to keep the lines of communication open If you’re the parent of a teenager or a pre-teen, like me, you […]
I was invited to talk on Sky News and Channel 5 News about the wonderful new pack for parents that will help you to talk and teach your kids about the dangers of airbrushing as well as helping you to think about the influence of the media on their self esteem and body confidence from Media Smart. The […]
I remember being rung up on a Bank Holiday Monday by a Polish journalist last year, asking me my opinion on some new tracking device that tracks children through their mobile phone as well as talking on The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5 about the pros and cons. I told her I didn’t […]
Failing Forward One of my favourite parenting stories is about a famous research scientist who made several important medical breakthroughs. He was asked by a journalist why he was so successful and he told the story of a very early lesson he learnt from his Mum when he dropped a carton of milk in the […]
I have been working with parents who were beside themselves to discover that their teenage daughter has been consistently lying to them, to her friends and to her teachers. There are are two aspects to this article as it’s not just about lying – as it’s also about a […]
We’ve just come back from our hols in Spain and we all had brilliant time so here are some of my top tips for enjoying not surviving your Summer Hols with your teenage kids. 1. Daydream and visualise it going well. Spend just 5 minutes a day, last thing at night, focusing on the […]
I was interviewed on LBC Radio http://www.lbc.co.uk/ discussing the latest survey by the charity Relate revealing that mental health issues are bringing increasingly more young people into the counselling room. 64% of those counsellors surveyed said mental health/depression was the most common new issue affecting young people. Relate, one of the largest provider of counselling […]
