Rhythm is there to be a helpful guide rather than a taskmaster, and it can and should be flexible.

Rhythm is not just for children. Having an evening each week to go to for a run or a date night with our partner each month (even if it’s a takeaway pizza on the sofa in front of the TV) can make a huge difference to our lives, as we can anticipate that enjoyment and feel we have a right to it.

The typical classroom, with other children ready to point out, correct, and even laugh at every mistake, and the teacher all too often (wittingly or unwittingly) helping and urging them to do this, is the worst possible place for a child to begin.’

Rather, it’s about treating our children with respect and compassion, consciously slowing down and reclaiming our children’s right to play, and creating a rhythmic, intentional home environment where our children feel safe and flourish.

Playful parenting is so much more than just getting down on the floor and ‘playing’; it’s an approach to everyday interactions with children which can help with the hardest parts of parenting — arguments, big emotions, anxiety — and bring more joy into every part of our life. It can help us to reconsider what it means to be a parent, and allow us t

Unconditional Positive Regard. Coined by the psychologist Carl Rogers, it means that, when we’re interacting with someone, we choose to accept and think the best of them, regardless of what they say or do.

With younger children especially, leaving an invitation to play for them to find in the morning can be a great way to buy you time to have a quiet coffee first thing.

Think about your dream home environment. Your child’s is probably not very different!

school is the biggest source of stress for young people.