Being a parent isn't always easy, and the world our children are growing up in is changing incredibly quickly. I want to cover some of the things that affect our children both in and outside school - online safety, mobile phones and social media, friendships, attendance, anxiety and wellbeing, SEND, reading, behaviour, sleep and simply getting children talking about their day.

These won't be long articles or lectures! Just a short thought, occasionally something I have come across, and links to useful information that might help.

Most importantly, I hope they encourage conversations between parents and children and between families and our schools.

We certainly won't have all the answers, but one thing I strongly believe is that when home and school work together, our children benefit.

I hope you find them useful.

1. Talking about what happens online

Keeping conversations open

Children's online lives can sometimes feel like a different world to the one we grew up in. One of the simplest things we can do is keep talking to them about it.

The NSPCC recommends having regular conversations about what children are doing online: who they are talking to, which apps and games they use, and importantly, how their experiences make them feel.

It doesn't need to be an interrogation! A simple "What's good on Roblox at the moment?" or "Show me what everyone's talking about" can be a much better starting point.

Useful for parents: Social media | NSPCC

 

2. Is your child worried about school?

When school feels difficult

Sometimes children tell us they are worried about school. Sometimes they don't tell us at all.

YoungMinds highlights that school anxiety can show itself in lots of different ways - difficulty getting ready, poor sleep, headaches or stomach aches, becoming angry or withdrawn, or worrying excessively about seemingly small things.

The important thing is that home and school talk to each other early. We would always rather know that something is becoming difficult for a child so that we can work together to understand why.

Useful for parents: School Anxiety and Refusal | Parent Guide to Support | Young Minds

 

3. Reading - it doesn't always need to be a school book!

Reading is reading!

We understandably talk a lot about children reading at home, but reading doesn't always have to mean sitting down with a school reading book.

Comics, magazines, football programmes, recipes, joke books, instructions for a game. If a child is interested in it, encourage them to read it.

One of the things that really matters is children seeing reading as something enjoyable rather than simply another task to complete. BookTrust has some excellent information and ideas for families about encouraging reading and reading enjoyment.

Have a look together: BookTrust | Getting children reading

 

4. Attendance - every day has something in it

The little things children miss

When we talk about attendance, it can be easy to focus on percentages. But attendance is really about experiences.

A missed day isn't only a missed maths or English lesson. It might be the day a friendship develops, the class starts something exciting, a child finally understands something they have been struggling with, or they get chosen for something they weren't expecting.

National data continues to show absence remains a significant issue in schools, with illness accounting for a substantial proportion of absence.

Thank you to all our families for helping us get children into school regularly and on time. And if attendance is becoming difficult, please talk to us. Working together early really does matter.

Have a look together: Resources for families | Children's Commissioner for England

 

5. WhatsApp and group chats

Group chats

Many parents will know that children's friendship issues don't necessarily stop when they leave the school gates anymore.

Messaging and group-chat apps can be a great way of keeping in touch, but disappearing messages, large groups and gaming chats can also make things difficult for children. The NSPCC recommends talking regularly about who children are communicating with and what they are sharing.

A useful question this weekend might simply be: 'Is there anything happening in any of your groups that you wouldn't want me to see?'

Not to catch them out - just to start a conversation!

Parent guide: Chat apps | NSPCC

 

6. One question at the end of the day

Beyond 'How was school?'

Ask a child 'How was school?' and there is a reasonable chance the answer will be:

"Fine."

Conversation over!

Instead, try something different:

What made you laugh today?
Who did you help today?
What was difficult?
Tell me something you know tonight that you didn't know this morning.

There doesn't always need to be a big educational activity at home. Talking, listening and showing an interest in children's learning matters too. Evidence reviewed by the Education Endowment Foundation highlights the value of schools giving parents practical ways to support learning at home.

Give one of those questions a try!