Understand your child’s development through milestones, expert insights and practical advice covering cognitive, emotional, social and physical growth.
Experts emphasise the importance of gentle, respectful dialogue when recognising signs of eating disorders, prioritising support over diagnosis to help prevent escalation. If you think someone you care about may have an eating disorder, silence is not always the kindest…
Experts highlight innovative approaches for recognising warning signs and creating safer environments to prevent self-harm, emphasising early intervention and direct emotional support. Self-harm can become a reinforcing loop because, for some people, it briefly eases distress such as shame, panic,…
A case of central precocious puberty in a young girl highlights the growing trend of earlier puberty onset, driven by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, amid advances in diagnosis and treatment. Gabby was six when she had her first period…
Autistic girls face unique challenges during puberty, with research suggesting earlier onset and heightened sensory sensitivities. Experts emphasise the importance of specialised preparation to ensure a smoother transition, highlighting practical, emotional, and safety considerations for parents and carers. For many…
As the school year begins, parents are encouraged to support teenagers’ independence through gradual routines and open communication, avoiding excessive surveillance and fostering healthy boundaries around technology and well-being. Parents often want to turn the end of the holidays into…
As social anxiety begins to be recognised beyond shyness, experts emphasise the importance of early diagnosis and personalised care to prevent the condition from worsening and affecting everyday life. Feeling nervous before a presentation, first date or crowded gathering is…
As the new school year begins, experts urge parents to stay involved in their children’s emotional wellbeing, amid rapid growth in gender-affirming treatments and concerns about early diagnosis, identity labelling, and mental health risks. As summer gives way to a…
As bedroom trends shift towards more calming and personalised spaces, choosing the right colour palette can support teenagers’ emotional needs and reflect their personalities, with expert advice emphasising softer tones and collaborative decision-making. Choosing a wall colour for a teenager’s…
A growing body of evidence and expert opinions indicate that intense autistic meltdowns, especially when accompanied by frightening reactions, could contribute to trauma-like effects, prompting calls for more compassionate management strategies. The question of whether repeated autistic meltdowns can leave…
Emerging guidance highlights the broad normal range for baby walking, reassurring parents and encouraging support over pressure amid evolving developmental benchmarks. Parents often worry when a toddler is slower to stand, cruise or take those first unsteady steps, but paediatric…
Follow-up research from the University of Turku reveals that a Finnish digital programme for children with anxiety not only offers sustained benefits but continues to improve their well-being over two years, highlighting its potential as a scalable, accessible treatment option.…
A recent Tufts University study uncovers how teenagers’ relationships with their dogs influence their strategies for coping with peer-related stress, highlighting both potential benefits and limitations for adolescents dealing with social anxiety. A new Tufts University study suggests that the…
