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  • Neurodiversity: the New Normal

    Neurodiversity: the New Normal

    Diversity is an accepted and expected part of life in 21st-century Britain. We are all aware, for example, of gender diversity or cultural diversity. The concept of neurodiversity, however, is not yet viewed in the same way, writes Vicky H. Bourne... As a young adult receiving a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome I was initially delighted. For the first time in my life I had a reason and explanation for my differences. All of my previous difficulties, misunderstandings and mistakes now made sense. I liken it to reading a detective novel where you discover โ€˜whodunnitโ€™ on the final page. Rereading the book, you find the clues were already there in plain sight; you were simply looking at the story from the wrong angle. Neurodiversity There is a range, or diversity, of ways in which human brains think, learn, process information and relate simply social constructs, reflecting nothing more than what society...

    Neurodiversity: the New Normal

    Diversity is an accepted and expected part of life in 21st-century Britain. We are all aware, for example, of gender diversity or cultural diversity. The concept of neurodiversity, however, is...

  • How to use energising activities to support children with ADHD

    How to use energising activities to support chi...

    Many of you reading this probably know someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. You may even have it yourself. Over the years,ย itโ€™s become common to caricature those with ADHD as disruptive schoolchildren causing havoc in the classroom. While this is certainly the case with some children with ADHD, most of the children I work with have the opposite problem. Their mind isnโ€™t actually in the classroom at all, but a million miles awayโ€ฆ As someone who grew up with ADHD, I know what itโ€™s like spending day after day in the classroom with your head in the clouds. I was fortunate (some might say unfortunate) to have parents who were overly laissez-faire with my education. Although had they been pushy parents, I assure you it wouldnโ€™t have made the slightest difference. At school, there was this inner feeling of โ€˜I canโ€™t be botheredโ€™, which prevailed when I tried to concentrate....

    How to use energising activities to support children with ADHD

    Many of you reading this probably know someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. You may even have it yourself. Over the years,ย itโ€™s become common to caricature those with ADHD as...

  • A woman gazes at a child cradled in someone's arms, depicted in soft grayscale tones, conveying warmth and intimacy.

    Special Time: being with a newborn baby

    Modern life is very fast. Weโ€™ve got used to it, but a newborn hasnโ€™t. He has a startle reaction if his mother lifts him up too quickly.* So the early months after the birth can be an opportunity for the mother to lift him slowly, and to enjoy an intimate โ€˜special timeโ€™ with her newborn. Unfortunately, many women today feel they are plunged into motherhood, with minimal preparation. How can a mother relax and enjoy being with her newborn when she has so much to learn about the practicalities of looking after him? โ€œThere should be midwives after the birth. Thatโ€™s when you need them.โ€ [6 months] First mother: โ€œThereโ€™s not nearly enough follow-up after the birth. Everyone just leaves you to get on with it.โ€ [23 months; 4 months] Second mother: โ€œThey say: โ€˜Well, youโ€™ve just had a baby,โ€™ meaning: โ€˜What did you expect?โ€™โ€ [7 months] Mothers today are...

    Special Time: being with a newborn baby

    Modern life is very fast. Weโ€™ve got used to it, but a newborn hasnโ€™t. He has a startle reaction if his mother lifts him up too quickly.* So the early...

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Pregnancy & Birth

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  • A close up of the hands of a father and child walking together in a green grassy field

    A father's experience of postnatal depression a...

    Becoming a father twenty years ago was a challenging experience, made even more difficult by my wifeโ€™s battle with severe postnatal depression and PTSD stemming from a traumatic birth that I witnessed. Back in 2004, mental health was rarely discussed in the media, which meant that many women suffered in silence for years. The struggles of fathers during the perinatal period were even less acknowledged. As a father, I made the difficult decision to give up my self-employed work to care for my wife. This shift brought about significant financial worries, especially since we had just purchased our first home. We were fortunate to have family nearby, but many families today find themselves moving away from their support networks. I vividly remember experiencing feelings akin to grief, longing for my past life I vividly remember experiencing feelings akin to grief, longing for my past life. It felt like we were...

    A father's experience of postnatal depression and the need for better support

    Becoming a father twenty years ago was a challenging experience, made even more difficult by my wifeโ€™s battle with severe postnatal depression and PTSD stemming from a traumatic birth that...

  • A new mother cradles her newborn in a birthing pool, surrounded by soft, warm water, capturing an intimate moment of early bonding.

    Vaginal Birth After Three Caesareans (VBA3C)

    Shannon Whitlock shares the fight she took on to have the birth she longed for When I became pregnant with our fourth baby, I knew I would have a fight on my hands. While pregnancy was something I was familiar with, spontaneous labour and vaginal birth were not. They were things I felt I needed to experience. However, the way I was treated during that pregnancy was beyond what I could have prepared for. To understand how I ended up on the path of a VBA3C (vaginal birth after three caesareans), we need to go back through the pregnancies and births of my first three children. I was 18 when I discovered I was pregnant with my first child and six months into a new relationship with my now husband. I had planned and wanted this pregnancy, but I would be lying if I said I wasnโ€™t shocked. The pregnancy...

    Vaginal Birth After Three Caesareans (VBA3C)

    Shannon Whitlock shares the fight she took on to have the birth she longed for When I became pregnant with our fourth baby, I knew I would have a fight...

  • Two women stand together outdoors, one wearing a purple wrap with a baby nestled closely. Lush greenery serves as a backdrop.

    Postnatal Recovery: the importance of support f...

    Postnatal care is the poor little sister of the birth world. Our culture focuses entirely on the baby rather than the needs of the new mother. This is reflected in the fact that the majority of the gifts given to new parents are baby clothes and toys. Yet, babies do not care for plush toys and clothing. What they need most, beyond warmth, shelter and food, is loving carers. It makes sense that attention and gifts, rather than being directed at the baby, ought to be directed at the mother. This wisdom is still part of many cultures around the world today, where new mothers are given a period of rest and nurture, lasting about a month, and during which other people take care of the household. It used to be part of western culture too, yet it has been lost in favour of a culture which glorifies a mother...

    Postnatal Recovery: the importance of support for new mothers

    Postnatal care is the poor little sister of the birth world. Our culture focuses entirely on the baby rather than the needs of the new mother. This is reflected in...

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Family Time

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  • How to make a May Day hanging flower tin

    How to make a May Day hanging flower tin

    Who would not be utterly overwhelmed when opening their door to find a beautiful posy of blooms hanging from the door-knob? Long ago, the custom was to deliver these little surprises to friends and family on the first day of May. I think it is a lovely tradition but it can be used for other special days as well, such as Motherโ€™s Day, birthdays, or anniversaries. Imagining the delight and surprise on the recipientโ€™s face is almost the best part. You will need clean can cream paint (I use water-based eggshell)ย  piece of old lace fabric (I find plenty at all the wonderful vintage fairs throughout the year) fresh blossoms paintbrush tape measure scissors needle and matching sewing thread To make Make sure your can is clean and dry and then paint it inside and out. Leave to dry completely. Measure the circumference of the can and then cut enough...

    How to make a May Day hanging flower tin

    Who would not be utterly overwhelmed when opening their door to find a beautiful posy of blooms hanging from the door-knob? Long ago, the custom was to deliver these little...

  • Three families share their festival experiences

    Three families share their festival experiences

    ยฉ Green Gathering and Adam Tatton Reid Green Gathering As an eco-conscious family passionate about the outdoors, last yearโ€™s Green Gathering festival in Chepstow was an absolute delight. Held in the stunning Piercefield Park, this off-grid festival is a celebration of sustainability, community and nature, with a wonderful family atmosphere. The moment we arrived, we were welcomed by friendly staff and the lush green surroundings. The festival felt spacious, with a layout that was simple to get around, giving us plenty of room to explore and relax. The variety of activities for children of all ages was one of the highlights. Our younger children loved the Kidsโ€™ Garden and Village Green, where they could try crafts and circus skills and shop at the Swap Shop. We were entranced by the interactive shows in the Raconteursโ€™ Delight, and the Enchanted Woods were magical and peaceful, by day and by night. Teens...

    Three families share their festival experiences

    ยฉ Green Gathering and Adam Tatton Reid Green Gathering As an eco-conscious family passionate about the outdoors, last yearโ€™s Green Gathering festival in Chepstow was an absolute delight. Held in...

  • A child snuggles close to an adult while reading a colourful book in a cosy, softly lit bedroom.

    How reading aloud helps foster a lifelong love ...

    Of all the wonderful things my mum has done for me, reading to me has got to be near the top of the list. A love of reading has enabled me to live many lives, time-travel, explore the world and believe in the impossible. From board books as a baby, to carefully chosen library books, to chapter books, my mum always read to us, sometimes accompanied by a cup of tea to soothe her throat, as a mammoth reading session was inevitable because my brother and I insisted on โ€˜just one more chapterโ€™. Eventually, as we grew, our reading sessions progressed to sitting in comfortable, companionable silence as we each read our own books side by side. Now whenever I see my mum I ask her what she is reading. Itโ€™s usually a murder mystery, whilst Iโ€™ll normally have my head, not to mention my heart, stuck in some kind...

    How reading aloud helps foster a lifelong love of books

    Of all the wonderful things my mum has done for me, reading to me has got to be near the top of the list. A love of reading has enabled...

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A Chance to Win

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