Family

Advice, tips and lifetsyle features aimed at parents, children and families.

What does 2020 have in store for the housing market?

Some fresh signs of life have been springing up in the housing market.

The average UK house price jumped by just over £4,000 between November and December last year, according to Halifax. And some property websites have reported seeing a boost in activity during December 2019, compared with a year earlier – perhaps indicating more people are considering moving in the near future....

Kate Ferdinand: I love the kids with all my heart

She’s been trolled on social media, suffered anxieties about her body and spent time in therapy – but ex-Towie star Kate Ferdinand has come out of the other side stronger.

She’s found happiness in family life with her husband, former Premier League footballer Rio Ferdinand, and loves being a stepmother to his three children, Lorenz, Tate and Tia.

Today, the former reality TV...

Early miscarriage can cause post traumatic stress: A midwife explains why

Losing a baby can be devastating for a woman, whatever the stage of her pregnancy. Yet if a miscarriage is early, it can often be brushed off as little more than a blip on the reproductive journey.

However, new research by Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage has found around 29% of women experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) a month after an early miscarriage – a...

Ten clever daytime hacks to help your child get a good night’s sleep

Children sleeping well is one of the holy grails of parenting, and many mums and dads swear by the bedtime routine of bath, book, bed to help little ones have a good night’s sleep.

But it’s not just immediately before bed that steps can be taken to encourage an unbroken night for both children and parents – there are plenty of things that can be done during the day too.

“A...

How will divorce affect your children? Our expert offers advice

My husband and I have just split up – how are our children likely to react in these early stages of the separation?

Child psychotherapist Rachel Melville-Thomas, spokesperson for the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), says: “In the complicated task of setting up two homes and new arrangements for children to see both parents, how are the children really feeling as time goes...

How to dig your way out of debt in 2020

With Christmas and the New Year celebrations now over for another year, many people are experiencing a sinking feeling.

That awful moment where you know you can't put off looking at your bank or credit card statement. The due dates on your regular payments – or the bills landing for those items you bought on credit online.

Tempting as it is to stick your head in the sand,...

Megxit: How Harry and Meghan can keep wider family ties strong when they leave

In an extraordinary turn of events for the monarchy, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a bombshell statement announcing their plans to “step back” as senior royals, and instead split their time between the UK and North America.

The couple took to Instagram to share the news, apparently without consulting the Queen or the Prince of Wales about the public announcement first....

Megxit: Other times Meghan and Harry have bucked royal tradition

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they are to "step back" as senior members of the royal family, and moving forward, will divide their time between the UK and North America.

The news arguably comes as a shock – apparently even to the Queen, who reportedly wasn't consulted before Harry and Meghan made the announcement.

However, the decision isn't entirely without...

Five signs your relationship won't last, according to a therapist

Keep an eye out for these red flags.

Every relationship has its bad days, but how do you know when you and your partner just aren't meant to last?

Even if you were head over heels to begin with, relationships don't work out for all kinds of reasons and the signs you're wasting your time can be way more subtle than arguing or cheating.

Thankfully there are some...

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