Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant and Laura Reitsis, Safeguarding around dogs. Keeping children safe around dogs outdoors isn’t about avoiding dogs or teaching children to be afraid of them. Instead, it’s about helping adults and children understand how to interact safely and respectfully so that everyone can enjoy shared spaces.

By Grace Olson, Author. Scheduling self-care is vital if we are to be capable of performing well as a parent, and looking back at my early experiences of parenting, it really was a ‘performance’. As a parent you have to keep your feelings in check and you have to demonstrate the type of behaviour you want from your children even if your emotions are exploding within you.

So how can we do this? How can we schedule any sort of self-care into our busy lives? Well, the easiest way is to allow yourself some time each day to read a book. This year (2026) the government has launched an initiative called The National Year of Reading. They want to encourage the nation to read more physical books because it has become clear that scrolling through social media and reading electronically is harming our brains. It disrupts sleep, increases anxiety, reduces attention span and can lower self-esteem as we look at the ‘perfect’ lives and success of other people (which are often fake).

Written by Hannah. Sometimes I drive past the hospital where my first daughter was born, and I shudder. The experience was awful. The birth was traumatic. The care felt neglectful. Birth trauma is something I lived through and for a period of my life, it consumed me. It was exhausting. I was anxious and irritable. I became flaky with friends. Large groups of people felt overwhelming. I withdrew from relationships and developed separation anxiety from both my husband and my daughter. I poured every bit of energy I had into my daughter and into trying to be a good mother.

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant.

When and how to start: readiness over age

The first thing to say is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all age for toilet training. Instead, focus on your child’s developmental signs:

• Showing interest in the potty or toilet (you can have a potty available from baby stage)

• Staying dry for longer periods

• Communicating bodily needs (with words or gestures)

• Disliking dirty nappies

• Able to sit independently which can be from around 6-9 months

These signs suggest your child may be ready to begin introducing potty skills. It is important to emphasise that you don’t need to wait for perfect readiness — starting with gentle exposure can help your child understand the process gradually.

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. At its core, bickering is when children argue over seemingly minor things – who gets the blue cup, whose turn it is to feed the dog, or whether someone “looked at me in a funny way!” It might feel endless at times, but in many cases, it’s part of normal development. Bickering won’t disappear overnight, but with some small changes you can make a difference!

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. If you’ve noticed your child talking to an invisible friend or referring to someone who isn’t physically present, you might be wondering if it’s something to be concerned about. The good news is that imaginary friends are a perfectly normal and common part of childhood development.

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. Running off is a natural part of early childhood development. It’s often about the sense of freedom and excitement that children get from moving independently and they may not yet have a full grasp of the dangers involved, like cars or busy streets. Running feels like a game, and they may find it fun to get ahead of you or explore areas you haven't yet reached. Sometimes, it’s simply about testing boundaries, pushing limits to see how far they can go before you stop them.

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. Teaching children about money from a young age equips them with essential skills for financial independence. Here are ten effective strategies to help your child become money-savvy (with a bit of help from GoHenry!).

Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant. This is a question we get asked regularly! Do you feel like you're talking, asking, requesting, or even pleading with your little one, only to get no response or action? It can be exhausting, draining, and incredibly frustrating when all you hear is your own voice All. Day. Long!!

Written by Natasha Kitson, Maternity Mentor. Returning to work after having a baby is a journey marked by challenges, adjustments and a whole new perspective on what work-life balance truly means. I don’t believe it truly gets the recognition it deserves, and employers often expect us to work as if we haven’t just had time out to birth and raise a small human.  For many new mums, this period involves navigating a complex mix of excitement and apprehension as they step back into the professional world while balancing the (often wholly demanding) needs of their new family.