January 23, 2022

Ecopsychology – Why Being in Nature Makes our Kids Happy

January 23, 2022/ Rachel Tomlinson

In this modern age our children are spending increased amounts of time inside, and in front of screens. This increased indoor activity was prior to the global pandemic which has resulted in potential time spent isolating, lockdown or reduced access to certain activities, so there are even less opportunities to “get out and about”. Spending time outside is not just about fun an exercise for our children, it is an essential and necessary part of their development. So why is being outdoors so beneficical and how can I encourage my child to get outdoors?

May 03, 2020

5 Tips for Helping Your Child to Feel Happy

May 03, 2020/ Rachel Tomlinson

We all want our children to be happy right? Amongst other important things of course, but what are some ways that we can support them to feel happy?

Firstly, let’s be clear that children (or even us adults) cannot be happy all of the time, that’s not the purpose of these tips. We experience a vast range of emotions, all day, every day…which is normal. Besides this we cannot control the feelings we have, all we can do is learn to cope when we experience emotions that dont “feel good” or are uncomfortable. We can also focus on certain behaviours that are more likely to encourage your child to notice and appreciate the moments in their world that make them feel happy or positive.

March 15, 2020

9 Tips for Speaking to your Kids about the Corona Virus (COVID-19)

March 15, 2020/ Rachel Tomlinson

Lots of people are pretty fearful right now about the Corona (COVID-19) virus. We are constantly being inundated with information about the virus; whether that be on the news or social media, its dominating conversations, or we see the empty shelves at our local supermarket and worry. Many parents are looking for reassurance and strategies to support their children at this time. Although I’m writing in response to the Corona virus pandemic, these strategies can be applied to any “big” event happening in your community that might impact on you and your child; like natural disasters and other health issues etc.

February 11, 2019

Finding the "Middleton" Ground with Screen Time

February 11, 2019/ Rachel Tomlinson

There are a lot of confusing messages about screen time and how much we should allow our children to use screens (including television/phones/video games). This post explores some of the science behind how long we should allow our children to use screens as well as some practical tips for families to counteract the detrimental impact of too much screen time/internet use. It is in response to an interview given by Prince William where he speaks about the challenges he and Kate Middleton face in implementing a good balance within their own family. It also refers to a very recent piece of research on the same topic.