Author Archives : admin

Thirteen reasons not to smack

THIRTEEN REASONS NOT TO SMACK YOUR KIDS


I find it astonishing that smacking children is still being debated in some countries. I live in a country where violence against children has been illegal to for many years – as illegal as it is to hurt your dog or beat your spouse. It’s astonishing as all the evidence points to the fact that smacking is ineffectual, leads to seriously…

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Parent Allies Guide to the Festive Season

The Parent Allies Guide to the Festive Season


‘Tis the season to be jolly! And stressed! And broke! And also, the season to sort of regress to your seven year old self at family gatherings! Fa la la la la-la la la la! Ah, I jest, I jest. We’ve got this. We so do. (Some minutes.) However. Just in case you need a little fortifying of your parenting…

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A parent's job is not to control children

THE JOB OF A PARENT IS NOT TO CONTROL CHILDREN


Our horns were locked, my six year old and I. Once again we were fighting over food. I wanted her to just try the lentil soup. “I know you’d like it,” I cajoled, on edge. She physically turned away from the table. She’d said no and now she was flatly refusing to engage. I knew I was feeling triggered but…

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The second step towards becoming a Parent Ally


This is part of a series called “4 steps to becoming a Parent Ally” The first in the series can be found right here. So, you’ve spent some time analysing the preconceptions you bring to your parenting. You’ve bought right into this idea that you want to modernise your parenting, raise empathetic children ‘cos that’s what the world needs. You’ve decided to shift…

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How to be an ally to your school going child

5 WAYS TO BE AN ALLY TO YOUR CHILD IN SCHOOL


Here in England we are three weeks into the new academic year. After a wonderfully relaxing summer of camping, festivals and family time we were all gearing up for the new term to begin. Just hours into the first day my phone is alight with emails and messages from the School Office, reminding me that the holidays are well and truly…

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Child rights in the classroom - perspective from a teacher

CHILD RIGHTS AT SCHOOL – A TEACHER’S PERSPECTIVE


I got into teaching as my way of having children around me, we had tried for years to have our own children and been unsuccessful. I wanted an all consuming job that championed the curiosity and enthusiasm of children; teaching seemed perfect. Spending time with other people’s children, my nieces especially, had shown me that learning comes in all forms…

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