In our educational system and in our homes rewarding (or bribing) children to behave the way we want to is rife. We dangle prizes, stickers, certificates, house points, happy points, golden time and even money (in some high schools) in front
‘Focus is not something you find but something you create’ – Jeff Goins. I have many ideas of things I would like to do in my life – whether in my business, family or leisure time. I’m sure like me something
For some vulnerable children who’ve experienced a difficult start in life things being all fair and equal is so very important. In fact it’s like they have an internal spreadsheet that tots up everything; “Billy spent three minutes on the computer
Awareness of Attachment Theory is becoming more prevalent in our educational system and rightly so. There’s still a long way to go, but even in the three years I’ve been training schools in this area I’ve seen more interest and basic
As a parent of three adopted children secondary trauma is something I think about often – the impact of living with children who’ve experienced early trauma. However I’m also beginning to see more of this in education. I’m sure it’s always
Two of my children are now in Secondary School and the assessing begins – in fact it started way back in Primary School. Assessment of levels of achievement each year, targets to reach, standards to maintain, constant measuring and assessing where
The summer holidays have well and truly ended as this week we’ve seen the children go back to school and for many of us we’re gone back to work. I started workshops again this week with three brilliant schools in Bradford,
I was watching a film this week and someone was asking this lady why she had married her husband, she said in reply “because we all need a witness to our lives, the ups and downs and comings and goings”. This
Transitions are quite often difficult for vulnerable children. Moving up years in school, coming towards the holidays, moving house or going on holiday for a while. Change basically is something that can create anxiety for children who have experienced lots of
This weeks blog title is ‘what inspires you?’ and I’ve been thinking about that for a few days. I could give the normal answers of different famous people, or those who’ve been through adversity, or my family and friends. Whilst that
I hear many times from educators that they are constrained by the government targets and drives these days. I can see that in how they feel they have to run their schools. But my question today is – do they HAVE
As a nation we seem to be very down on extreme emotions – it’s not the done thing to be too sad and certainly not cool to be too happy! Melancholy, stress, exuberance, crazy singing and dancing in the street –
Sometimes when you’re in the thick of things it’s hard to see any progress – how far have you come? Has the journey been worth it? What difference have you made along the way? In our blog buddies title this week
This is a phrase I’ve heard many times over the years and up until we adopted our children I wholeheartedly agreed I think – that actually the fear of fear is the thing that immobilises us. Now however there are so
This weeks theme for our blog buddies post is ‘build’ and a song by Newton Faulkner has been running around my head – especially these few lines:- Look how far we’ve come Look what we’ve made Started from nothing, building Brick
‘This is my childhood: there will be no other’ was the title of a conference I attended today in Bristol run by BASPCAN (British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) and DNA (David Niven Associates). It
‘The toughest thing you ever did could well be the best thing you ever did.’ Our blog buddies title this week and one I could write on from a few different angles but I’ve decided on one. This week in my
Working for yourself can be stressful at times, it can also be exciting, invigorating and down right fulfilling. Since I left the Corporate world six years ago to adopt our children it’s been a roller coaster of emotions with varying degrees
