Online safety is an ongoing fear for many parents and professionals. How do we ensure that young people are kept safe from the risks that they cannot see? Further, because many of us grew up in a world where technology was not as fast growing, and do not use technology in the same ways, we are looking to protect children from things that we do not see or know about. So, where are the risks? Apps and online safety Being aware of how Apps are used, and their risks to young people is important. Taking time as a parent and…

A frequent conversation that I have with parents in parent coaching sessions, is the challenge of navigating why their child with ADHD might be lying. Whilst all children can lie, for many reasons, including: To avoid trouble or punishments To protect their self-esteem Their developmental stage affecting their understanding of lies To gain attention or impress others Due to impulse control difficulties meaning they react without thinking through Poor working memory affecting their recall To avoid overwhelm To maintain control To protect the feelings of others It avoids conflict To avoid shame Storytelling slips into exaggeration   ADHD and lying…

The silent treatment is a punishment that many have experienced in their lifetimes, but it has only been in recent years that we have begun to understand the impact of it on children’s brain development (and latter adult’s emotional experiences). The silent treatment refers to the refusal to speak to someone which moves from a spectrum of refusal to talk due to stubbornness, to the use of silence to manipulate others as a form of emotional abuse. When used in the latter, the silent treatment is utilised to coerce, manipulate or control someone else by making them so anxious or…

Friendships are an interesting aspect of life for us to navigate. However, since technology, our friendships have adapted, but have they made us more anxious and intense in our friendships, and limited us from forming healthy connections? When we develop friendships, there are key stages that we normally process through: Stranger – we do not know each other Acquaintance – we initially meet someone, we might know their name and have had some brief interactions Casual connection – we spend more time together, have mutual interests and enjoy each others company Close connection – trust and connection have built over time, you confide in…

Avoidant Attachment Styles An avoidant attachments style, refers to a child who has learnt that they are not supported emotionally and therefore has developed hyper-independence as a safety response. They do not lean on, or trust others to help them as they have learnt that people cannot be relied upon. Therefore, they learn to down-regulate their feelings in order to protect themselves, as they have no belief that others will help them. A child with an avoidant attachment style is less reliant on their caregiver, and learns to internalise or down regulate their emotional responses, therefore not seeking help when…