Creating a Simple Plan this Half Term for Calm, Creative Days (That Still Leave You Time to Breathe) Half term arrives like a double-edged sword, doesn’t it?On one hand — no school runs, no lunchboxes, no clock-watching for pickup time. Bliss!On the other hand — no school runs, no lunchboxes, no clock-watching for pickup time.…

Introduction: The School Photo Envelope If you close your eyes, you can probably picture it: that stiff little envelope from school, sealed with tape, holding the official proof that yes—you once rocked that awkward haircut or that too-bright jumper. For many of us, school photo day is equal parts nostalgic and hilarious. Now it’s our…

One of the simplest joys of parenting is curling up with a picture book at the end of the day. The hush of turning pages, the closeness of sharing a story, and the way children’s eyes widen at a funny rhyme or surprising picture — these are moments we tuck into memory. But books aren’t…

Introduction: The Weight Parents Carry Parenting doesn’t come with a tidy instruction manual. Instead, it often feels like juggling knives while riding a unicycle — messy, unpredictable, and just a little dangerous to your sanity. You’re packing lunches while reminding someone to put on socks. You’re signing a permission slip while answering work emails. You’re…

Introduction: Why Storytelling Matters There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens at bedtime. The lights dim, the day’s noise softens, and your child curls into your side, eyes wide and ready for one last adventure before sleep. For many families, this is the most tender moment of the day — a pause between the…

Introduction: When the Tablet Becomes a Battleground It starts innocently enough: a five-minute video while you finish dinner, an educational game to keep them busy on a rainy afternoon, or a quick swipe through a story app while you make a cup of tea. But soon, five minutes becomes thirty, thirty becomes an hour, and…

Raising Curious Problem-Solvers (Without Buying a Craft Store) There’s something magical about watching a child in deep, focused play—brows furrowed, tongue sticking out, entirely consumed by figuring out how to make a toilet paper roll into a telescope and a giraffe and a robot. That, my friends, is creative thinking in action. At Spoon &…

Playing Pretend: Why Imagination Builds Real-Life Superpowers Picture this: your child is crouched under the table, holding a banana like a phone. “Hello? Yes, this is the doctor’s office. Teddy is very sick.” Their voice is serious, their brow furrowed, their whole being wrapped up in the story they’ve created. That, my friends, is learning…