Special Needs or Additional Needs is like an umbrella sheltering and hiding a huge collection of diagnoses underneath.

I’ve been sent this question to my Sue Atkins Parenting Show podcast – where we all discuss every possible aspect of parenting, giving you advice and support on topics which affect your daily life. It’s bursting with practical tips, techniques and ideas. Come and join us and listen wherever to listen to your favourite podcasts. […]
Divorce Step by Step – Top Tips To Keep Yourself Sane

To help you navigate the journey through Divorce I’ve recently launched a new series of free Divorce videos called Divorce Step by Step. The Divorce Step By Step videos have been set up specifically to help you address the range of issues and matters you have to face when going through a divorce. I have […]
Navigating Through Divorce Positively

“One day at a time – this is enough.” ~ Ida Scott Taylor 1820-1915, Author Click here to buy The Divorce Journal for Kids Navigating through Divorce Positively A bad marriage can make parenting and life in general stressful. The loss of the family structure can be very upsetting and distressing for everyone involved […]
Divide your To Do List into 3 Categories: Essential, Important and Trivial.

I work with many stressed out parents struggling to balance their work/life balance and I created my Weighing up your work – life balance audio course to give parents practical solutions, simple ideas and a fresh way to manage their time. I have written, talked and blogged a great deal about Manic Mums and Dazed […]
The ‘Cornflake’ Rush Hour – 10 Top Tips To Reducing Early Morning STRESS!

The Cornflake Rush Hour – early morning stress ! Close your eyes for just a few minutes & just relax and breathe deeply and slowly and concentrate on what happens in your home in the mornings. See in lots of detail your typical early morning routine. Notice what you say…… how you say it….. what […]
The danger of airbrushing. Start talking to your kids before the beauty industry does !

I was invited to talk on Sky News and Channel 5 News about the wonderful new pack for parents that will help you to talk and teach your kids about the dangers of airbrushing as well as helping you to think about the influence of the media on their self esteem and body confidence from Media Smart. The […]
Divorce and Your Special Needs Child – Things to Consider.

Divorce is always difficult for the whole family but if you do find that you are heading for a divorce here are some things to consider if you have a child with additional needs. Things to Consider Divorce is a difficult time for all family members, but especially for your children. A child that has […]
Caring for Siblings of Very Sick Children.

Caring for a seriously ill child takes a tremendous toll on the whole family, physically, mentally and emotionally and your healthy children are no exception. They too suffer from lack of your time, and may feel resentful and angry about the time, energy and focus that naturally has to go on to their sick brother […]
‘But I don’t want to go!’ – making sure your child does spend time with their other parent after divorce.

One of the hardest things you will have to do as a divorced parent is to encourage your children to go with your ex when they don’t want to go, particularly as they turn into teens and want to spend more time with their friends. But as a parent I think it’s really important that […]
Putting Your Children First in Divorce

Putting your children first I’ve been recently working with a couple who are divorcing and we were looking at how to handle the new roles that both these parents now face whilst going through the transition. One area I discussed with them was accepting that their ex has a continued role to play in their […]
Divorce Without Damage – Your Parenting Plan

Your Parenting Plan This is an example of the sort of basic parenting plan that I help the parents I work with to create, as they go through the transition of divorce. It will help you think through the numerous issues related to co parenting your children from now on – it is designed to […]
It’s a fine balance between spying, controlling, teaching and trusting our kids online.

I remember being rung up on a Bank Holiday Monday by a Polish journalist last year, asking me my opinion on some new tracking device that tracks children through their mobile phone as well as talking on The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5 about the pros and cons. I told her I didn’t […]
Are childhood sweethearts a thing of the past?

Life long teenage sweethearts are an endangered species according to findings which turns the spotlight on the differences between the generations apparently. “Childhood Sweetheart” conjures up something magical doesn’t it as if the relationship is defying the usual scientific laws? Think Jamie and Jools Oliver, Wayne and Colleen Rooney, Jessica Ennis and Andy Hill (long-term […]
Step Dad Advice – Bringing together two separate families is a process, not an event. It takes time and flexibility on everyone’s behalf to settle into new family relationships.

I’m delighted to have been invited to write some articles for Dad Info – a wonderful website for Dads and Step Dads. Today here is my article on what the Americans call ‘Blended Families’ but what I like to call ‘Slow Burning Casserole Families’ 🙂 ‘Bringing together two separate families is a process, not an […]
Sue Atkins New Year Weekly Challenge – 52 Ways To Be Present In Your Child’s Life

Bringing up kids isn’t easy – it’s tiring, exhausting, overwhelming and downright challenging at times – as well as hugely rewarding, wonderful, mesmerising and humbling. But in the socks & pants of life it’s easy to get a bit stuck in the nagging, negative mindset when we are parenting. It’s also very easy to stick […]