Family Life

What Stress Can Do To Your Child (And How to Act on It)

Stress is often thought of as an adult problem, but children can experience stress, too. School pressures, social challenges, family changes, and even busy schedules can all contribute to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. While some stress is a normal part of growing up, prolonged or excessive stress can affect a child's emotional, physical, and behavioural wellbeing.

Understanding how stress can impact your child is the first step towards helping them manage it effectively. By recognising the signs early and providing the right support, parents can help their children build...

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New 'Tinder style' friendship app for mums

Mush is a new free app that connects mums with other local, like-minded mums and generates friendships.

It’s mission is to make the lives of mums more sociable and fun, enabling meet-ups in real life with other mums who can support each other.

A recent study commissioned by Mush found that 80% of mums prefered to go to a playgroup with a friend, 50% go to shops for adult interation, 22% have only one other mum friend and 60% go through a full day without adult interation.

Mush was born through the experience of its founders Katie & Sarah, who had two small...

Families Need Fathers raise awareness of losses of non-resident parent

On Sunday 26 February, the Exeter branch of Families need Fathers are screening a revolutionary documentary about the so-called ‘Men’s Rights Movement’ at The Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre.

Labelled ‘a backlash to feminism’, film-maker Cassie Jaye sets out to document the mysterious and polarizing world of the Men’s Rights Activists, or MRAs. After a year filming the leaders and followers within the movement, she learns the various ways men are disadvantaged and discriminated against.

The issues range from male victims of domestic violence, suicide and depression to the right...

Half term fun in the East Devon countryside

During half term families can join the East Devon Countryside Rangers at Seaton Wetlands on Tuesday 14 February 2017 for a day of fun learning how to make gardens more wildlife friendly, followed by bird watching for children.

During the Wildlife Gardening event, which will take place between 10am to 2pm, one of the Countryside Rangers will demonstrate willow coppicing and refreshments will be served from the Discovery Hut. No booking is required for this event. Cost for materials: £7.50 per bird box kit, £3 for other craft activities.

Countryside Team Leader, James Chubb...

Enjoy a great value day out this half term at The Donkey Sanctuary

Come rain or shine, there is plenty of fun and adventure to keep the whole family entertained at The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth this February half term.

With free admission and free parking, The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is a great value option this February half term. Open from 9.30am until 4pm every day (winter opening hours), enjoy the great outdoors and meet some of the 500 donkeys, mules and hinnies who are cared for at the Sidmouth site.

Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the stunning Jurassic Coast, explorers young and old can discover mile upon...

Crealy to giveaway luxury lodge holiday and iPads this February

Visitors to Crealy Adventure Park & Resort could be in with the chance of winning prizes for the whole family in their Fab Feb Giveaway, with over £5,000 worth of rewards to be won. One lucky winner will be drawn daily throughout half term, which runs from Monday 13th February to Friday 17th February.

Josh Haywood, General Manager said: “We are excited for the return of our Fab Feb Giveaway. There are some amazing prizes to be won. It’s our way of thanking our guests, and surprising a lucky family each day throughout the half term.’

The Fab Feb Giveaway prizes include...

Talking about mental health

‘Time to Talk Day’ on Feb 2 aims to encourage around the clock conversations about mental health issues, says a family law specialist who is committed to encouraging more openness about anxiety and stress-related difficulties.

Donna Hart from The Family Law Company, which helps many to deal with difficult and often mentally challenging family issues, explained: “At the moment, too many of those with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless by the way they are treated by others. This is something we can all help to change.

“Talking about mental...

Charity secures funding for adoption support services in SW

Families for Children, local adoption agency and charitable trust, are delighted to announce they have secured a Practice and Improvement Grant from the DfE for Adoption Support.

The grant, of just under half a million pounds, will enable the charity to provide vital new support services to meet the growing and diverse needs of adoptive families and children across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset , Dorset and the Isles of Scilly.

At a crucial time for Adoption in the UK, Families for Children will use the grant to develop a program of new support services to compliment and...

Is Divorce Day caused by Christmas – or is there more to it?

While some start the New Year armed with resolutions to be more active or eat a healthier diet, others are contemplating more substantial changes in the form of a separation from their spouse, says family law specialist, The Family Law Company.

It is commonly reported that family lawyers receive a higher than usual number of enquiries in early January on ‘Divorce Day’, the first Monday back at work. The Christmas break is often held responsible for this increase for various reasons including finances and spending more time together leading to family rows.

Associate...

Divorce survival guide launched as break ups set to peak post-Christmas

As divorce enquiries are set to spike after the festive period, a South West law firm has produced a guide to surviving divorce, including advice from divorcees on hope to cope. The period straight after the Christmas holidays can be one of the peak times for couples to start divorce proceedings – so much so that the media has dubbed the first working day after the festive break “divorce day”. Liz Allen, partner and head of the family team at leading law firm Stephens Scown LLP explains: “The reasons for this spike in break ups are hard to pin point, but perhaps the financial stresses of...

Samaritans volunteers on duty over festive period

In a typical month the Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch of the Samaritans charity receives 1,800 telephone calls from people in distress - and that figure increases in December and especially around Christmas time.

Those calls - along with SMS text messages, emails and face-to-face meetings - are dealt with by some 100 volunteers who work at the central Exeter base of the charity.

This Christmas and New Year - as always - they will be on duty around the clock.

“Many people love Christmas and New Year with their families and friends, but it’s not the same for...

Family Life

What Stress Can Do To Your Child (And How to Act on It)

New 'Tinder style' friendship app for mums

Families Need Fathers raise awareness of losses of non-resident parent

Half term fun in the East Devon countryside

Enjoy a great value day out this half term at The Donkey Sanctuary

Crealy to giveaway luxury lodge holiday and iPads this February

Talking about mental health

Charity secures funding for adoption support services in SW

Is Divorce Day caused by Christmas – or is there more to it?

Divorce survival guide launched as break ups set to peak post-Christmas

Samaritans volunteers on duty over festive period

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