Finding yourself overwhelmed by life admin? The Fair Play method might be the shake-up your family needs
Have you found yourself frustrated by being the only one to remember appointments, what’s most needed on the shopping list and how your toddler likes their snacks presented? If it sometimes (or always) feels like you’re juggling an impossible to-do list in your head while coordinating your whole family’s daily life you are probably taking on most of the mental load that comes with parenting. But, even when you recognise this in your family dynamic, how do you work towards sharing the stress more equally – and so feeling less distraught when someone suggests you might have forgotten to pick up their favourite cereal, or empty the dishwasher first thing?
There are always times when the mental load of parenting will fall more heavily on one parent than another, and there are many reasons for this both personal to you and formed by the society we live in. It may be because of the way parental leave is structured, the expectations you feel most deeply as a mother or father or how you and your partner divided roles before children arrived.
Stressed about screen time? We take a look at the realities, and impacts, of toddlers watching screens
Screen time: something all parents dread having to talk about with other people. Every family will have a different approach to it, perhaps based on how you felt about it as a child or how your routine fits in with watching screens. Whatever your approach, there is a constant stream of information coming towards parents about how much screen time is too much for young children. We’ve looked into some of the most recent research, which suggests there might be a way to balance screen time to reduce any negative impacts.
The first, and most important, thing to stress is that screen time is not always bad. In fact, sometimes screen time can help us be the best parents we can be.
Not just a ‘well done!’ – positive parenting is more than praise
Researchers have found that positive parenting practices support young children to develop self-regulation and social skills – but what are exactly are they?
You might have read articles, or heard people talking, about self-regulation (noticing and regulating our emotions, thoughts and responses). This is often something that comes up in relation to emotions. But developing self-regulation is also linked to cognitive and behaviour skills.
A book full of tiny truths about parenting, which might just spark your creativity
Your House Keys are in the Dryer: A Parenting Haiku Book by Alisha Gaddis is a collection of haiku poems written by mums. They range from emotional and nostalgic, to hilarious and some so true it hurts a little to think about them.
This collection of poems manages to capture many of the realities of parenting in the short 5-7-5 haiku format. It makes this a perfect book to pick up in those short moments you have to reflect, or when you need a quick distraction from reality.
Beyond the headline – things to think about when you see reports about research
It can be hard to pick your way through the information you see in the media and online. Research findings are often simplified and can take you from thinking you knew exactly what you were doing to a feeling of knowing nothing at all! Our articles are one way to get a balanced view but even with the app at your fingertips, it can be helpful to have some pointers for spotting what the headlines don’t tell you.
Why do things we think are fact seem to change?
Stairs can be hard work – and not just for your toddler
It can be quite tiring for your toddler to learn how to come down the stairs; and it might be exhausting for you while you help them! As your toddler concentrates on holding their body weight on one leg at a time to descend the stairs, you might find yourself running up them to help. No matter how fit you are, and how few stairs there are, this could leave you a little out of breath – why is this?
Unconscious breathing – we don’t think about our breathing most of the time
How research is busting antiquated myths about dads
Much of the research we read about babies involves studies of mothers and babies, with fathers often left out of the picture. But increasingly, researchers are including dads in their work and finding more about the ways everyone who cares for your baby plays an important role in their development.
In 2014, Adrienne Burgess, CEO and head of research at the Fatherhood Institute, outlined five myths about dads, which (in most cases) are untrue.[1]
Storytelling – harness the joy now, it is great for your wellbeing
Whether you are the dedicated "bedtime reader" or your child comes home from nursery or someone else's house with a tale about what happened that day, stories are an intrinsic part of your life. They help us make sense of life and understand others.[1] We use stories (often unwittingly) to connect ourselves to others, share memories and build relationships.[2]
As an adult, talking about books you've read or conversations you've had can continue to boost your own language and understanding of certain topics and subjects – we never stop learning! You might not have time to start reading War and Peace, but embracing the everyday stories around you can do wonders for your wellbeing.
Is it time to think differently about being tidy?
“Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing.” American comedian Phyllis Diller
Looking after yourself – think about the five ways to wellbeing
Your toddler is learning so much about themselves now and starting to want to be more independent and make choices. This is a brilliant time for their development but can be a challenging time for you – and with a busy life it can be easy to forget about looking after your wellbeing. Stop for a moment today and think about how you take care of yourself as well as your toddler.
