Fatsec - KIDS

Grace Victory's top tips on how to take the stress out of travelling with toddlers

Web Admin / Saturday, August 13, 2022 0 397 Article rating: No rating

Ah, the sheer joy (and chaos) of going on holiday with your toddler. As a family, we just got back from our first sunny holiday to Turkey and, after not travelling for two years, it was bloody wonderful to put our toes in the sea, eat Lays with a Fanta on the balcony, and chase our little boy around a pool all day, because he’s a lightning-speed crawler!

Going on holiday with children is a completely different experience, and one that you have to embrace and surrender to. You won’t necessarily be able to sit on a lounger reading for hours, but making memories and showing them little corners of the world makes everything worthwhile.

Our trip was… intense! When people say “going on holiday is just parenting while being hot”, they are absolutely right. My partner and I had to tag-team mealtimes, de-escalate mini meltdowns in front of other holiday-goers, and, yes, there were moments we felt embarrassed and as if everyone must think we’re bad parents. Truth be told though, Cyprus found his voice on our holiday, and wanted to use it to shout at every opportunity – but that’s just kids, and while it can be hard when you feel like you can’t control a situation, it is absolutely normal for children to test your boundaries, even when you’re in paradise.

So, what I’m trying to say is going abroad with your little ones in tow is hard, but there are ways to manage, things I recommend for the plane, and little tips and tricks we did to minimise stress.

Grace Victory's top tips on how to take the stress out of travelling with toddlers

On the plane

Take lots of games and things to keep your kids entertained. Reusable sticker books, suction toys to stick on the window, their most loved book, and a tablet to watch their favourite shows (remember to download episodes at home so they can watch without WiFi).

I also recommend snacks upon snacks upon snacks. When you think you’ve packed enough snacks, pack more. I opted for crisps, cut up pieces of fruit, and then some trusty Ella’s Kitchen pouches. And we fed our little boy a proper meal before the flight to make sure he was full enough for the four hours we were in the air.

Use packing cubes for your hand luggage to separate changing stuff, feeding stuff, important documents etc., so you have easy access to things! Don’t forget to pack spare outfits for both your kids and you in case any accidents occur. There is nothing worse than being covered in sick, and you haven’t packed a fresh pair of leggings.

On holiday

It goes without saying that children shouldn’t be in the sun for long periods of time, so taking a UV pop-up tent with you is a great idea! You can

Mr. Men Little Miss launch book series exploring kid’s emotional wellbeing

Web Admin / Friday, August 12, 2022 0 415 Article rating: No rating

The new titles in the classic series focus on emotional wellbeing, getting the conversation started early, and helping the next generation to flourish

The Mr. Men and Little Miss books by Roger Hargreaves have been staples in the lives of children for generations, and their colourful pages have made their way onto many a childhood bookshelf.

But, now, a new Mr. Men Little Miss series is launching, and 10 books that focus on exploring emotional wellbeing are hitting the shelves. The Discover You series has been created to help kids address their emotions, and work through feelings, and has been designed to be used as a tool to help parents explore these topics with their children.

Titles in the series include: Try Again – a book about resilience; Be Kind – a book about kindness; Worries – a book about feeling anxious; and All Different – a book celebrating diversity.

Each book works through its topic in the classic Mr. Men Little Miss style. Worries, for example, tells the story of Mr Worry, who worries about everything – sometimes, it starts with a funny feeling in his tummy. As Mr Calm and Little Miss Sunshine help him to ease his worries, the story prompts conversations about the worries that we all feel, how they make us feel, and the things that we can do to ease them.

Mr. Men Little Miss launch book series exploring kid’s emotional wellbeing

The new release comes at a time when a report from the NHS saw the rates of probable mental disorder have increased from 2017 from one in nine to one in six. With much evidence pointing to the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown for this increase.

Books and reading have long been celebrated for their ability to build comprehension skills, but also emotional intelligence, and to support wellbeing. In fact, research from the National Literacy Trust found that children and young people who like to read are three times more likely to have better mental health than those who don’t. Beyond that, regularly reading to a child can strengthen the bond between parents and children, creating a supportive and open home environment.

When it comes to facing mental health and wellbeing topics head-on, it can be difficult to know how to explain such complex subjects to children. But, as Dr Elizabeth Kilbey, a children’s clinical psychologist working with Mr. Men Little Miss, explains, it's worth pushing through the challenges.

“Through my 20 years experience, I’ve learnt how tough it is for children to understand emotions and personality traits and how difficult it can be for parents and children to talk about these complex ideas,” Dr Kilbey says. “Even though it is really tough, it is vitally important we get this right for them. That’s why I’m working with Mr. Men Little Miss to launch their new Discover You book series. The stories bring to life a range of different emotions and feelings to help children understand what it means to be happy, sad and everything in between.”

Beyond the new book released, Dr Kilbey also shares further tips for parents, and free resources to help young children explore their emotions at Read more

What is parentification, who does it affect, and is it always bad?

What is parentification, who does it affect, and is it always bad?

Web Admin / Monday, July 4, 2022 0 484 Article rating: No rating

Our relationships with our parents can be complex. Yet, many of us know we can count on them to provide emotional support, advice and guidance. But what happens when our roles become reversed?

Even at the best of times, our relationships with our parents can be complex. Yet, we all know there are certain responsibilities we can rely on them for whilst growing up (and often beyond): to provide unconditional love and support, to protect us, give us a home, support us while we’re getting an education, seek medical care on our behalf, and help teach us right from wrong.

But what happens when the roles become reversed? And what kind of long-term effects can that have on who we become as people?

What is parentification?

While growing up, did you ever feel like you had to help take care of your parents or siblings? Perhaps you were expected to help look after a middle brother or sister, while your parents looked after the youngest? Maybe you were expected to help learn how to change nappies, give baths, or make tea for your siblings when your parents were busy. Or perhaps you had to take on helping more due to a parent’s long-term or chronic illness.

These can all be signs of parentification. Parentification is when you take on excessive levels of responsibilities that can impact your development. This could mean taking on tasks around the house that are too much or shouldn't be expected of you at that age, or taking on emotional caring responsibilities, which can lead to you hiding or suppressing your own needs, wants, and desires.

As explained by one Counselling Directory member, “Parentification occurs when a child is put in a position where they have to grow up ‘too early too soon’. For highly empathic children, because they have the warmth, compassion, and depth that is beyond the normal, their family members come to – usually unintentionally and unconsciously – lean on them.”

While having a little responsibility can be beneficial and is considered a good thing, too much too young, or inappropriate types of responsibility, can have a detrimental effect.

The parent-child relationship

Emotionally, it is reasonable to expect unconditional love and support from our parents. Physically, it’s normal to expect food, shelter, and some form of structure. Together, all of these things can create an environment where we can safely learn, grow, and mature. But, sometimes, that relationship can become reversed. Instead of giving these things, a parent expects to receive them.

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Is a lack of mental health support affecting school children’s education?

Is a lack of mental health support affecting school children’s education?

Web Admin / Friday, May 27, 2022 0 449 Article rating: No rating

As nine out of 10 school staff feel that children’s education is suffering due to a lack of mental health support, what can be done to better support the next generation?

In research conducted by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), it was found that nine out of 10 school staff felt that children and young people’s education is suffering due to a lack of mental health support.

Surveying school staff in England, 64% of respondents shared that they felt their school didn’t offer enough mental health support to students. Furthermore, while 95% of respondents who worked at schools offering counselling to students reported that demand for these services had increased since the pandemic, just 12% shared that funding had increased, and 20% said that it had actually decreased.

Simon Grieves is the headteacher at Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, in Derbyshire, and this trend is something that he has seen first-hand.

"As we recover from the pandemic, we have seen a significant increase in demand for counselling and at the same time it has become harder to access mental health support outside of school,” Simon shares. “We strongly believe that having easily accessible counselling available in school supports good mental wellbeing. It helps more students continue to access school who might otherwise refuse or opt for elective home education.

"Good mental health supports good progress in lessons and ultimately good examination outcomes. In my view, every child should have access to counselling in school, in the same way that every child has a statutory right to career support. Funding to make this possible should be provided.”

In the survey, 96% of respondents reported that they believe funding for mental health provisions for students should come from the government, and 89% said that additional funding for mental health provisions in schools should be ringfenced, meaning that schools can buy in services.

Currently, many schools in England are forced to use alternative methods to pay for counselling services, with 44% of respondents sharing that their school funds the counselling with the money that comes from pupil premium, and 22% shared that it is funded by the Covid-19 catch-up premium.

In response to this, the BACP is campaigning for the government to fund a paid school counsellor in every secondary school, academy, and further education college in England – England currently being the only country in the UK not to have adopted this model.

“It’s horrifying to see the impact that lack of mental health support is having on children and young people's lives, education and future prospects,” Jo Holmes, BACP’s children, young people and families lead, said.

“Schools are facing an immensely difficult situation as they desperately try to meet the mental health needs of their students, often on a shoestring budget. Our survey shows that nearly all schools that offer counselling are facing a rise in demand for these services since the start of the pandemic. It’

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