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.
Sunshine and happiness: getting outside to play in natural light can benefit you and your toddler
It seems a bit obvious, and not very useful to hear, but remember to go outside! Getting out into sunlight can make you happier, improve sleep and be good for your body.
Heading outdoors can be the just the thing on a tricky day, resetting everyone’s mood and giving your body a bit of fresh air and exercise, but the benefit of being outside in natural light is often overlooked – and it shouldn’t be!
Too tired to play? Our tips for when you’re feeling exhausted
Being a parent can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride. You might have the most fantastic day with your toddler playing and enjoying time together before a calm meal and bedtime routine. But other days it can feel that nothing is going quite right (for you or your toddler), which leaves you feeling worn out and simply too tired to play. These tips should help.
Find some of your toddler’s favourite toys and make sure they can reach them – then stay close by and watch, offer a smile and some encouragement.
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.
More amazing things you can learn from your toddler
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: toddlers are inspirational. They have an intuitive way of thinking about things and their headspace isn’t as full as yours might be. It doesn’t harm to revisit ways of thinking that may be totally forgotten about.
Be in the moment
Laying the foundations for positive wellbeing and good mental health
The Children’s Society publish The Good Childhood report each year. In the 2022 report, they found that children’s happiness with ‘life as a whole’ was significantly lower than 10 years earlier.[1] We know that early experiences lay the foundations for future wellbeing and positive mental health – so what can you do to support your toddler now (and in the future)?
We know lots about how important early experiences are for future learning – but sometimes the connections between both physical and mental health and our early experiences can seem to be forgotten.
Poetry for your soul – and your mental health
Studies are showing what many written word-lovers have known for years – poetry is good for your mental health.[1] How can you use this knowledge to make your experience of parenting a little more positive?
Poetry can feel like a very elitist or exclusive artform, and one which (if you’re not already a fan) is too scary to get into when you’re a busy adult: the equivalent of walking into a pub and finding the eyes of every regular boring into you.
Time for you and your toddler – take it when you most need it
We know that some days feel harder than others and pressures can come from almost anywhere. If you are having one of those days, take a breath and absorb yourself in your toddler.
Take some time to unwind by creating a moment for you both to connect
Nobody’s perfect – some ideas to help you ditch the parent guilt
Ever feel the pressure to be that parent who gets everything right, thrives in every aspect of life, and documents this on a perfectly-curated social media feed? Often this pressure comes from seeing other people’s feeds pop up in our moments of stress. The thing is, all that you’re seeing is their highlights reel.
It’s rare for people to post pictures of their child screaming and launching their dinner onto the floor because broccoli is the root of all evil... but moments like this are probably happening behind the scenes of all the beautiful moments which are captured.
A favourite mug or evening podcast – harness the power of your daily rituals
Do you start the day with a cup of tea in your favourite mug? Need five minutes scrolling before you can relax in the evening (however tired you are)? These are things that you might not think about – until the day you can’t fit them in. Your small daily rituals are important for your wellbeing, so should still be a part of your life, without feeling like another pressure.
Simple daily rituals can reduce your stress levels
