Last week my 11-year-old son casually dropped into conversation that he'd set up a WhatsApp Channel.
It wasn't a big announcement or some dramatic reveal. In fact, he seemed slightly confused by my reaction. Apparently some of his classmates had created their own channels, so he'd decided to have a go too.
My response was something along the lines of, "A WhatsApp what now...
"Isn't it unfair that perimenopause symptoms seem to start at exactly the same time as your kids' hormones?"
The words came out of my mouth while sitting on a sports hall bench after what should have been a completely ordinary parenting drama involving forgotten trainers.
At the time, I meant it as a joke.
But the more I thought about it afterwards, the more I...
If you’re looking for a family day out in Devon that feels a little calmer and more nature-focused, Wildwood Devon is a lovely option to add to your list.
Set within beautiful woodland near Escot House, Wildwood Devon offers something a bit different from your typical attraction, with a focus on native wildlife, natural habitats and plenty of space for children to explore.
As a nursery nurse, Tuff trays are honestly my jam.
I absolutely love them — and if I’m being completely honest, I think I sometimes enjoy setting them up just as much as my children enjoy playing with them!
Some of our best days at home have started with a simple Tuff tray idea . There’s something about seeing a tray set up and ready to go that instantly gets children...
Looking for an easy baby activity you can set up in minutes? A treasure basket is one of the simplest ways to keep your baby engaged using everyday items you already have at home.
If you’d like to understand more about why they work so well, you can read my full guide to treasure baskets here .
If you’ve ever noticed your baby ignoring their toys and heading straight for the wooden spoon or a random household object… you’re not alone.
A treasure basket is one of the simplest (and most effective) ways to tap into that natural curiosity — and it’s something I’ve been using for over 20 years, both in nurseries and at home with my own children.
If you’ve ever looked at Dutch braids and thought, “That looks amazing… but I have absolutely no idea how to do that,” you’re not alone.
We first came across Dutch braids because they were needed for gymnastics competitions. But since learning how to do them, I’ve started noticing them everywhere — from school playgrounds across the UK to family days out and birthday parties....
When it comes to nutrition in pregnancy and early childhood, advice can often feel overwhelming. Even confident parents can find messages around what babies and children “should” be eating contradictory or constantly changing.
My own background is in childcare, early years and child development, which meant I felt fairly relaxed about pregnancy, baby and toddler nutrition. It was a...
There comes a stage in primary school when friendships start to feel very different.
In our house, we’ve slowly moved from carefree playground friendships and big groups of friends to smaller, tighter circles where the drama seems to happen more often. Little squabbles have turned into hurtful comments and confusing fallouts, and some evenings end with teary conversations at bedtime...
Getting teenagers to eat a proper breakfast before school can feel like a daily challenge — even when we start the morning with the best intentions.
Mornings in our house usually begin calmly, with everyone thinking we have loads of time… and somehow end with us rushing out of the door in a manic panic five minutes after we were supposed to leave. I love coming up with new ways to be...
If you’ve ever turned up at school without your child’s PE kit again or realised you forgot to pack the after-school snack (because you also forgot there was after-school club), then welcome — you’re officially in the ‘ too tired to parent ’ era.
My mum friends and I joke about it all the time — the brain fog, the exhaustion, the “I swear it was Friday five...
I’ve always been pretty relaxed about my children using devices. They both do a lot of sports clubs that keep them busy, and I love that they spend time each week with different groups of friends.
I think tech is here to stay, so my attitude has always been that I want my children to grow up knowing how to use it responsibly. But recently, I noticed things might have slipped a little...
