Between: A guide for parents of eight to thirteen-year-olds

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Sarah specialises in ‘gentle parenting’ (she is often credited as being the founder of the movement) and childism (the unconscious discrimination of children in society). Ensure rules are enforced, and if they are broken, there are consequences. Don’t engage in empty threats. True discipline in society however is rare. Most children today are punished. Punished for being a child, punished for not acting like an adult, punished for being too inquisitive and eager to learn and punished for not having a well developed centre of self control in their brains. The dictionary definition of punishment is: “causing or characterised by harsh or injurious treatment; severe; brutal” . When children are punished no real learning takes place, the role of the child is passive. The goal of the adult is control and conformity. Tiger parenting, French parenting, helicopter parenting, free range parenting, old fashioned parenting. The twenty first century has seen a tremendous surge in new trends of parenting styles. Why, might you ask, is there room for another one?

Between Two Worlds (a free - Sarah Ockwell-Smith The Bridge Between Two Worlds (a free - Sarah Ockwell-Smith

Do let your tween’s form tutor and whoever is responsible for student wellbeing know if they are feeling very anxious before starting. Often, schools have special settling-in procedures for tweens who they think will struggle. Vairāk par visu bērniem ir vajadzīga mūsu beznosacījuma mīlestība – vienalga, vai viņi gūst panākumus vai pieļauj kļūdas, kad dzīve ir viegla un kad dzīve ir grūta. Gentle discipline calls for parents to work with their children to resolve problems that underlie their difficult behaviour, rather than acting punishing out on them. Even if the school is running settling-in sessions, ask if you can have a video tour of the building, or at least some photos of your child’s new form room and form tutor. Familiarising themselves with these before the beginning of term can help them to feel more comfort- able when they start. Try to buy any uniform needed several weeks before the start of term, so that your tween can wear it around the house, including new shoes (blisters in the first week aren’t fun). If they must wear a tie as part of their new uniform, keep practising at home until they are a pro at tying it.Only one entry per person allowed. Second or subsequent entries will be disqualified. Entries will not be accepted via agents, third parties or in bulk. Time passes in the blink of an eye. Surely it was only yesterday when that warm, mewing bundle was placed in your arms, eyes fixing on yours with all the intensity and knowing of an old soul who has lived many times before, yet in a tiny body, so fragile and new. Through sleepless nights and weary days, you came to know each other. Your world and your priorities shifted, and you slowly assumed a new identity that centred upon your child. A child who orbited you like a satellite, with you the safety of a home planet and the constant pull of gravity keeping you tied as one. Their dependence on you sometimes felt so very heavy, so all- consuming, and there were days (and many nights) when you reminisced and wished for your carefree past. Gentle parents come from all walks of life. Some choose to birth naturally at home, some elect for a Caesarean section. Some carry their babies in slings, some use prams. Some breastfeed, some formula feed. Some stay at home, some return to work. Some home school their children and others take a more mainstream educational route. They all have one thing in common though, their choices are all informed and educated and made out of respect and empathy for their children as well as themselves. This is gentle parenting, nothing more, nothing less. The prize draw opens at 12:01 am BST on 28.01.2021 and closes at 11:59 pm BST on 10.03.2021. Any entries received outside these specified times and dates will not be eligible for entry into the prize draw.

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Sarah has authored 14 parenting books, translated into over 30 languages, which have sold over half a million copies. She is currently writing her 15th. Sarah is a mother of four young adults. After graduating with an honors degree in Psychology; she embarked on a career in Pharmaceutical Research and Development. After she became pregnant with her first child, Sarah retrained as an Antenatal Teacher, Hypnotherapist, Infant Massage Instructor and Doula. Since 2005, she has worked with thousands of families, providing expert advice and support.

She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Children have a right to grow up free from violence – without fear of being hit and hurt by those that are meant to care for and nurture them. Did you know that the word discipline actually means “to teach”? ‘Discipline’ stems from the word ‘Disciple’. What is a disciple? The dictionary describes it as such: The CEO of NSPCC, Peter Wanless, doesn’t agree with the criticism that this is ‘new age dogma’ that will lead to a ‘snooping’ culture.