This blog is for parents who want to read something original and real about parenting, not the same old same old…lots of science, lots of humour and a load of good tips that really work! And an occasional rant.

parenting tips

Parenting Tips From the Campsite

Camping is a great leveller, we’re all back to basics, and our normally private parenting techniques are exposed for all to see. The campsite ladies’ toilets and washrooms are a…

Teenagers: Payback Time

The summer holiday is a great time for catching up with long-lost family members, like your teenagers. I think of the teenage years as ‘payback time’, a time when you…

fun

Are We Having Fun Yet?

We used to sit down as a family before any school holiday and all say what we wanted from it, so that we all knew. I would say things like…

sporty families

Sporty Families

The summer has finally arrived, the Olympics are about to start, and there is a new health report out which tells us that inactivity is very bad for you. This is…

I Don’t Want to Go to School Today

It’s funny how when our children say things, we can hear something different. Take ‘I don’t want to go to school today’: Sometimes we hear ‘I WON’T go to school…

New Ways of Saying Things

We humans haven’t been communicating with words for very long –  we’re not as practised at this as we are with body language –  and it amuses me to think…

things you are not allowed

Things You Are Not Allowed

I found myself having a Saturday evening alone with my twelve-year-old daughter yesterday. At around 9pm I observed vaguely that it would be quite nice if we had some chocolate…

The Point In Experiencing Failure

When I was a child, one of my absolute favourite toys was the Post Office set. I found it so exciting, all those stamps and envelopes and air mail stickers……

fathers-day

Fathers Day

For all the dads reading this, as it’s Fathers Day, I asked my 20 year old son for some input about dads for today’s post. He told me that last…

introvert child

Do You Have An Introvert Child?

This week I’ve been reading a book which explores the characteristics of introverts versus extroverts. I know which I am (only an introvert would buy a book with a title…

social connections

Why We Need Social Connections

Welcome to everyone who has just subscribed to this blog!  Thanks to those who have Liked the Facebook page too.  In another week of isolation (looking after children in various…

language tips

Language Tips From Enid Blyton

When my daughter was younger, she loved the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton. We built up nearly the whole series which I used to read to her every night…

angry children

Angry Children

I’ve had a few queries about managing children’s anger this week, and more specifically how they express it and how we can teach them to manage it. There are certainly…

interesting books

Interesting Books

I set up this blog mainly as a way to provide a forum for all the parents who have completed the Communicating with Kids course, or the Parent Effectiveness Training…