Find out why we love this year’s Pinterest predicts
You are here because you know experiences in the first years of your child’s life lay the foundations for health, learning and well-being for the next fifty (or more!). Sometimes when people talk about that it can feel like they’re piling on the pressure, but you know we’re here to help parents ditch the worry and find the joy – and that’s why we’re all for celebrating ‘inchstones’.
Pinterest produces an annual trends report,[1] telling businesses the things they expect to take off in the upcoming year. These are often things like colour trends for interiors or weddings, but this year’s report caught our attention because they expect to see parents celebrating ‘inchstones’ and we’re here for that!
Behind the headlines: Is shouting at children as bad for their mental health as physical abuse?
Over the past few weeks there have been a lot of headlines warning that shouting at children causes the same level of harm to their mental health as physical and sexual abuse. Lots of parents have seen these headlines and panicked, asking us for more information.
Before you spend too much time frantically trying to remember when you last raised your voice in frustration, read on to see why the headlines don’t tell the full story of this research study.
Helping out – tips for babies, toddlers and children
Doing chores has been linked with social[1] and thinking skills[2] as well as children’s happiness[3]. Read on to get some simple ideas to help your child learn by getting them involved in helping with everyday tasks.
You might leave tidying, cooking and other household chores until your little one is having a nap. Often having a tiny helper can make it feel like everything is taking longer, but children love to help.
Recent research finds out what influences young siblings' relationships
If you have more than one child, it’s not unusual to be asked, “How do they get on?” Research published at the beginning of July this year suggests that the answer for most families will be, “It varies!”
According to figures published in May 2023, in the United Kingdom 56% of families had two or more children.[1] Which means most children will have at least one sibling, and if you’re wondering what you need to do to help your children get along with each other you aren’t alone.
New beginnings - our top ten tips for starting childcare or school
One day you suddenly find yourself standing at the gates of the childcare you’ve chosen so carefully, on their first day, clutching their little bag and wondering where the time went. We talked about this on our podcast , because we know how hard it is!
The transition to a childminder, nursery, school or any other childcare arrangement is a big milestone for parent and child alike. The good news is, there are things you can do to prepare yourself and your child as you begin this next chapter together.
It takes a village... but where are they?
You might have heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but for lots of different reasons we don’t always feel we’ve got a village – especially in the early days of parenting.
In the app, you’ll find lots of ideas to support your child’s development, and more information if you are interested in understanding the science behind their skills.
Book review – Parenting for Humans by Dr Emma Svanberg
Parenting for Humans is not, like many parenting books, about your child. Instead, it’s described as ‘a book for you as a parent’. It helps you to see that whatever you know or have read, you bring your emotions and experiences to your parenting.
Dr Emma Svanberg (aka the Mumologist), is an award-winning clinical psychologist, who works with parents, parents-to-be and professionals focusing on how to understand yourself so you can live a more fulfilling life.
Find the joy in family life with realistic parenting
No two parents or children are the same – for us that's the beauty of being here to support you and your child on what is a truly unique journey. 'Unique' is one of those words that's often used, but when it comes to what you're experiencing, or about to experience, there's no other term for it.
Our view is that you should be able to really see and enjoy your child's progression, without the pressure of comparison, but with the acknowledgement that parenting is sometimes hard work.
It’s time to put the ‘supermum’ to bed
The feeling that we need to be everything to everyone can be overwhelming as a parent, and research is showing this is particularly true for mothers. The expectation to excel at every area of your life, while also managing much of the mental load and practical tasks at home, makes it almost impossible to feel you're meeting your own expectations. We're seeing more and more research, and support, showing that this idea of being a 'supermum' (or dad) is not only unrealistic but also harmful - so here is why you can give yourself permission to put that expectation to bed once and for all.
A 2022 poll from Bupa[1] has shown how harmful the idea of being a ‘supermum’ is to our mental health. It seems like everywhere we look there’s a social media post, t-shirt or parent talking about the mythical ‘supermum’ who works, parents, cooks, cleans, blogs, looks perfect and does it all with a smile.
