For some families, starting school feels exciting. For others, it brings a whole host of worries that seem to grow as September gets closer. Will they cope with the routine? What if they struggle to make friends? Will school understand them? How do I know if what I'm seeing is typical, or whether they might need extra support?What if everyone else seems to know what they're doing and I don't? When Nicola Edwards, from Just Bee Children's Wellbeing, and I were talking about ch

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Dr Jess, AKA The Child Centred Dentist. Dr Jess is a Specialist Paediatric Dentist based in Yorkshire. I approached Jess after getting lots of comments in my Q&A about managing children’s oral health when your child is distressed around this. While this is not the focus of my work, I often speak with families around the difficulties of keeping their teeth clean and visiting the dentist. Whether this is related to typical development

The recent news about the preventable deaths of 56 babies in Leeds has been devastating. I know many will feel overwhelmed by this news, whether it has impacted you personally or if you are expecting a baby. It can bring up feelings of distress and perhaps lots of questions. As a psychologist working with families in Leeds, I want to offer some thought about how to navigate these emotions and thoughts that show up. Whether you’re processing this as a parent, an expectant pare

Infancy is a time of rapid brain development and crucial emotional and social growth. The psychological wellbeing of infants lays the foundation for their future cognitive, emotional, and social abilities. In this blog post, we explore why infant mental health matters and the vital role it plays in shaping healthy individuals and societies. Building Brain Architecture During the first years of life, a baby's brain undergoes remarkable growth and forms critical neural connecti

Being a parent is demanding and complex. And when you’re a neurodivergent parent, it comes with unique challenges. Here are three ways to leverage your unique strengths to build a parenting style that celebrates who you are and helps your family thrive. Build Routines That Celebrate Flexibility and Creativity Routines can often feel like a double-edged sword. For ADHD parents, the structure may feel comforting but tricky to maintain, while autistic parents may find routines d

As parents, we try to provide the best possible care for our little ones. One framework I have found parents really benefit from is the "Circle of Security." In this blog post, we will delve into the Circle of Security framework, understand its core principles, and explore how it can empower all parents. Understanding the Circle of Security The Circle of Security is a well-established framework developed by psychologists Glen Cooper, Kent Hoffman, and Bert Powell. For childre

As parents, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by societal expectations and the pressure to be perfect. Striving for perfection can lead to higher levels of stress, and unrealistic standards that may overshadow our experience of parenting. In this blog post, we'll explore the concept of "good enough parenting" and discuss how embracing imperfection can create a more balanced and fulfilling experience of parenting. Redefining Perfect Perfection is an elusive goal that can nev

For some people, the experience of birth can be far from how they imagined. The memories and emotions associated with birth can be overwhelming and traumatic. Birth trauma is significant, and can have long-lasting effects on a person's wellbeing. There are many ways in which you can be supported to work through this and reduce your distress; one of these is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). In this blog post, we will explore how EMDR can be a powerful tool

This week I have been lecturing. The students are on placement across lots of services within the north, working with children and their parents experiencing psychological distress, in a school-based setting. With the students, we had lots of conversations about the challenges they face in working with children and schools to deliver effective psychological support. One of the things that came up time and time again was the lack of awareness of how trauma impacts children in

Parenting can be a challenging journey to navigate. You'll be pulled to instill values in your children that feel important to you, but figuring out what these values are may be a challenge, or come as a surprise to you. As society evolves, so do ideals and aspirations. This is where values-led parenting comes into play. Instead of merely focusing on achievements and success, this approach to parenting places emphasis on fostering a strong foundation of core values that guide

Screens and technology play a huge role in our day to day lives in the modern world. However, we know that screens can be addictive for adults, let alone the developing brains of children. Engaging in therapeutic activities in the great outdoors has proven to be a transformative experience, offering numerous advantages for children's holistic development. Let's explore some of the remarkable benefits of outdoor therapy and why it's crucial to incorporate it into children's li