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What would help your family today? Choose a topic, then narrow it down by age if you like. Each guide comes with a practical resource you can print or download free.
These ideas are starting points. Use the parts that fit your child and your circumstances.
Help for everyday family life
44 articles across all age groups
Teenage sleep: agree one helpful change together
Talk about the whole evening, understand the challenge and choose a realistic sleep-supporting habit.
Read the guide : Teenage sleep: agree one helpful change togetherAfter an argument with your teenager: how to begin the repair
Return when you are calmer, own your part clearly and agree a better way to handle the next disagreement.
Read the guide : After an argument with your teenager: how to begin the repairPocket money and first budgets: helping your teenager make choices
Agree what a small budget covers, practise tracking spending and review choices without shame.
Read the guide : Pocket money and first budgets: helping your teenager make choicesTalking about puberty: small, straightforward conversations
Make body changes easier to ask about, respect privacy and help your child find reliable answers.
Read the guide : Talking about puberty: small, straightforward conversationsStarting secondary school: make the unfamiliar parts easier to picture
Turn broad worries into practical questions about people, places and the everyday school routine.
Read the guide : Starting secondary school: make the unfamiliar parts easier to pictureParents’ evening: leave with a clear picture and one next step
Prepare a few useful questions, ask for examples and agree who will do what after the meeting.
Read the guide : Parents’ evening: leave with a clear picture and one next stepEnding a gaming session: agree the stopping point before play begins
Understand the game, make the finish clear and plan what happens after the screen goes off.
Read the guide : Ending a gaming session: agree the stopping point before play beginsSibling arguments: helping children disagree without hurting each other
Set a clear safety boundary, hear each child and agree a practical rule for the recurring problem.
Read the guide : Sibling arguments: helping children disagree without hurting each otherWhen mistakes feel enormous: helping a child try again
Acknowledge the disappointment, separate the mistake from the child and make the next attempt small enough to try.
Read the guide : When mistakes feel enormous: helping a child try againWhen your child does not want to read: finding a way back to stories
Separate reading enjoyment from practice, offer real choice and work with school when reading feels difficult.
Read the guide : When your child does not want to read: finding a way back to storiesWhen a toddler hits or bites: keep everyone safe and teach the next step
Respond calmly in the moment, care for the hurt child and look for a useful skill to practise later.
Read the guide : When a toddler hits or bites: keep everyone safe and teach the next stepA calmer toddler bedtime: building a routine you can repeat
Choose a short wind-down sequence and adjust the difficult part with patience and support.
Read the guide : A calmer toddler bedtime: building a routine you can repeatPreparing for potty training without turning it into a race
Make toileting familiar, check comfort and agree a calm approach with everyone who cares for your child.
Read the guide : Preparing for potty training without turning it into a raceToddler toothbrushing: making a necessary job more manageable
Keep brushing predictable, offer small choices and ask for dental advice when pain or sensitivity makes it difficult.
Read the guide : Toddler toothbrushing: making a necessary job more manageableLearning to take turns: small games before difficult sharing
Practise the back-and-forth of taking turns in relaxed moments, with adult help when sharing feels hard.
Read the guide : Learning to take turns: small games before difficult sharingSharing books with your baby, one page at a time
Enjoy pictures, sounds and familiar stories without needing to finish a book or turn reading into a lesson.
Read the guide : Sharing books with your baby, one page at a timeYour first baby group: going along without pressure to fit in
Make a small plan for a first visit, from checking the basics to starting one conversation.
Read the guide : Your first baby group: going along without pressure to fit inReturning to work after a baby: planning the everyday handovers
Map the practical pinch points around childcare, work and home, then share responsibility for the whole task.
Read the guide : Returning to work after a baby: planning the everyday handoversLeaving your baby with a trusted carer: a first handover
Prepare a short, clear handover and agree what happens if either you or your baby needs support.
Read the guide : Leaving your baby with a trusted carer: a first handoverVisitors after a new baby: making room for help and rest
Choose visits that fit your family, ask for useful help and find kind words for saying not today.
Read the guide : Visitors after a new baby: making room for help and restHousehold responsibilities: agreeing a fair share with your teenager
Make the job clear, teach what is needed and review the workload without turning home into a scorecard.
Read the guide : Household responsibilities: agreeing a fair share with your teenagerWhen your teenager’s friendships change
Listen without dismissing the hurt, respect their voice and help them recognise when adult support is needed.
Read the guide : When your teenager’s friendships changeSupporting a teenager through exams without adding more pressure
Ask what help is welcome, make the practical jobs easier and keep life bigger than the result.
Read the guide : Supporting a teenager through exams without adding more pressureA family phone agreement that includes the adults
Talk about what phones are for, where they cause friction and how everyone will ask for help.
Read the guide : A family phone agreement that includes the adultsMore independence for your teenager: agree the next step together
Move from a broad argument about trust to a specific plan, including what happens if things change.
Read the guide : More independence for your teenager: agree the next step togetherStarting primary school: familiar things to practise together
Focus on people, places and asking for help, with support that fits your child.
Read the guide : Starting primary school: familiar things to practise togetherFriendship fallouts: listening before you try to fix them
Understand what happened, help your child consider options and involve school when support or safety is needed.
Read the guide : Friendship fallouts: listening before you try to fix themHomework without taking over: helping your child get started
Clarify the task, choose a manageable first step and let the teacher know when more support is needed.
Read the guide : Homework without taking over: helping your child get startedWhen your child says school feels hard: starting the conversation
Listen for the specific difficulty, agree one next step and work with school on support.
Read the guide : When your child says school feels hard: starting the conversationAfter school: making room to land before the next demand
Try a gentler handover from school to home, with fewer questions and a plan that fits your family.
Read the guide : After school: making room to land before the next demandToddler mealtimes: taking a little pressure off the table
Choose one change to the mealtime atmosphere without turning food into a contest.
Read the guide : Toddler mealtimes: taking a little pressure off the tableNursery goodbyes: making a settling-in plan together
Work with your child’s key person on a clear handover, useful updates and a plan that can change.
Read the guide : Nursery goodbyes: making a settling-in plan togetherGetting dressed: helping your toddler take one small step
Practise one part at a relaxed time, choose manageable clothing and build in the help your child needs.
Read the guide : Getting dressed: helping your toddler take one small stepLeaving the park: helping toddlers move from one thing to the next
Make the ending clearer, offer one manageable choice and show what happens next.
Read the guide : Leaving the park: helping toddlers move from one thing to the nextToddler big feelings: what to do in a difficult moment
Keep everyone safe, use fewer words and leave the teaching for a calmer moment.
Read the guide : Toddler big feelings: what to do in a difficult momentHelping an older child find their place when a baby arrives
Make room for mixed feelings, familiar routines and small moments that still belong to your older child.
Read the guide : Helping an older child find their place when a baby arrivesChatting with your baby when you do not know what to say
Everyday words, familiar songs and a little time to respond can be enough to start.
Read the guide : Chatting with your baby when you do not know what to sayGoing out with your baby: make the first trips manageable
Choose one purpose, pack for your own baby and give yourself an easy way home.
Read the guide : Going out with your baby: make the first trips manageableSharing baby care without one person managing everything
Make the noticing, planning and finishing visible, then agree a realistic way to share the work.
Read the guide : Sharing baby care without one person managing everythingWhen bonding with your baby takes time
Closeness does not always arrive in one big moment. Find small ways to connect and words for asking for support.
Read the guide : When bonding with your baby takes timeTalking with your teenager when answers are short
You ask how the day went. The answer is “Fine”. You try another question and get a shrug. It can be difficult to know whether to…
Read the guide : Talking with your teenager when answers are shortSchool mornings: make one thing easier tomorrow
If the school morning regularly ends with a search for shoes and everyone feeling rushed, you do not have to redesign the whole day. Start with…
Read the guide : School mornings: make one thing easier tomorrowToddler play without the pressure to buy more
You do not need a new activity box every week to spend time playing with your toddler. A familiar book, a song or something they are…
Read the guide : Toddler play without the pressure to buy moreNew baby, extra hands: asking for help that actually helps
When someone says “Let me know if you need anything”, it can be hard to know what to say. You might want company, a meal or…
Read the guide : New baby, extra hands: asking for help that actually helps