Family Life

How to Encourage Independence Safely at Every Age

Parenting is the only job where the ultimate aim is to be made redundant. You spend years holding a child close, only to spend the next decade slowly loosening your grip. The objective is to raise an adult who can stand on their own two feet, make sensible decisions, and function without you hovering over their shoulder. However, handing over the reins is rarely straightforward. It requires patience , nerve, and a scaffolded approach that respects the child’s current capabilities rather than just their age.

Start Small in the Early Years

Autonomy starts long before a child asks...

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Tips for choosing a good divorce solicitor

Going through a divorce is difficult for everyone involved but can be made less stressful with the help of a good solicitor. You want the divorce to be fair and the outcome for both parties to be a positive as possible, even in this hard situation. Looking for the right solicitor can be overwhelming. With so many options, it's hard to know where to start, or what factors you should consider.

Picking the right divorce solicitor can make all the difference in ensuring you receive what you're entitled to and get the procedure over and done with as quickly as possible.

Good...

How dolls help parents who lost a child

Tragedies happen, and they can be incredibly difficult to get out of, especially for parents who lost their children. To help them cope and ease the pain, experts recommend healing sessions and therapies. One of these would involve the use of realistic dolls, also called reborn dolls, to help bereaved fathers and mothers who suffer from their loss.

Some women who experience postpartum depression after losing their baby in a miscarriage or stillbirth languish in silence. A lifelike reborn baby might help them externalize that grief. On the other hand, parents who lost their little...

Silly Squad Summer Reading Challenge

Libraries across Devon and Torbay are calling for children to sign up to the Silly Squad Summer Challenge and read six books this summer as part of the 2020 Summer Reading Challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge will run from Saturday 4th July to Saturday 5th September. The online launch event will be on Saturday 4th July, a specially commissioned event featuring Rob Pudner of Entertainingly Different. Other events include weekly online Bounce & Rhyme, weekly digital craft sessions, Library Llama Live online event with Sidmouth Library, Really Wild Learning in Torbay, author...

Barristers launch remote arbitration service for splitting-up parents

TWO family law experts have launched a virtual Arbitration Service for divorcing or separating parents to get legally binding decisions potentially remotely about their children rather than going through court.

Founders of the Westcountry legal service, Children in the Middle, family barrister, Elizabeth McCallum and Exeter-based barrister, Sarah Evans, have set-up the service to offer people quick decisions with the same enforceability as a court order.

Elizabeth says: “When there are disputes about children, such as how much time is spent with each parent, what their...

How to start again after a divorce

Few experiences in life will be as painful as the breakdown of a relationship. You’ll not only be grieving the loss of your partnership, but you will need to imagine a different future for yourself.

While you will likely struggle with various emotions, such as sadness, grief and confusion, there are positive steps that you can take to move on from a relationship. Find out how you can start again after a divorce.

Quickly Sell Your Home

It might feel almost impossible to distance yourself from your ex-husband or wife if you both own a home together. To prevent...

Vet advises Exeter pet owners to avoid feeding dogs and cats barbecue scraps

With temperatures set to reach up to 30 degrees this week, an expert is warning pet owners against the potential dangers for dogs and cats eating food from the barbecue.

According to a 2019 study, one in three Brits feed their pets food directly from the dinner table but barbecue foods in particular can be extremely unhealthy and even dangerous for animals.

Leticia Fidalgo Buron, vet and technical manager at Webbox, said: “While many of us love a barbecue, it’s important that people don’t leave food unattended or feed their pets scraps - even if they look like they’re...

New family walking trail MonsterHero Safari comes to Exeter

A new interactive family story-trail around Exeter will launch on Saturday 4th July. The MonsterHero Safari Trail works on smartphones, challenging families to find hidden ‘MonsterHeroes’ around the city which appear on the phones when you reach their hiding place.

Families and households in Exeter can search the streets for 10 cute and colourful ‘MonsterHeroes’. Using only smartphones, the safari allows players to learn each of the MonsterHero’s name, story, and superpowers. Once all 10 MonsterHeroes are found, a free e-book, that tells the story of their first team-up, will be...

Top 4 Unique Pet Gifts for Your Children

Pet gifts are nice treats that you can provide for your own pets. When it comes to your children’s pets, you also have to consider if the kids will approve it. Choosing a pet gift for your children can be tricky but it can also be exciting. It gives you a three-way benefit where your children and their pets have a closer bond, you and your children also become closer and you also learn to appreciate the beauty of your children’s pets in the process. To help you with your selection, we’ll suggest 4 unique pet gift ideas for your children.

1. Marimo Moss Ball Pets

Kids would love...

Housebuilder gives parents a sporting boost to keep children active

Parents in South West are being offered an online ‘sports day at home’ pack thanks to a leading housebuilder’s partnership with Team GB.

With the current Covid-19 crisis still unfolding, many parents have had to get used to home schooling amid the uncertainty of when their children will return to school.

Now Persimmon Homes South West, thanks to its ongoing partnership with The British Olympic Association, is offering parents the chance to download special sports packs for free and start planning their own sports day at home.

World Championship silver medallist...

Top 7 amazing 1st birthday cake ideas for your baby

Out of the most important things in life, celebrating a child’s first birthday is something every parent wishes for. It is the most wonderful feeling ever. And, what can be better than celebrating it with a delightful cake? Cakes are simply loved by all the people, irrespective of their age. Also, cakes have become symbolic of birthdays. Even if there is a birthday party or not, a cake is an evident part. So, here we present before you some amazing 1st birthday cake ideas for boys and girls. Pick one for your baby!

A car cake

A car cake is an ideal choice when it comes...

Family Life

How to Encourage Independence Safely at Every Age

Tips for choosing a good divorce solicitor

How dolls help parents who lost a child

Silly Squad Summer Reading Challenge

Barristers launch remote arbitration service for splitting-up parents

How to start again after a divorce

Vet advises Exeter pet owners to avoid feeding dogs and cats barbecue scraps

New family walking trail MonsterHero Safari comes to Exeter

Top 4 Unique Pet Gifts for Your Children

Housebuilder gives parents a sporting boost to keep children active

Top 7 amazing 1st birthday cake ideas for your baby

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