Life Chances

Overwhelming evidence suggests that, within the context of the early years of a child’s life (0-5), the single most important factor influencing a child’s intellectual and social development is the quality of parenting and care they receive and the quality of the home learning environment that this creates. What parents do is ultimately more important than who parents are.

The Church is already involved with parents and children but could we adjust our social actions to make more of a difference for this group?

Being a fair parent increases your authority If your child thinks you are fair, they obey you as they see you as legitimate authority. Harsh disciplinary strategies backfire. Instead of eliciting a healthy fear, they undermine parental legitimacy. More ... From an article by Child and Family Blog Stuff - developing a healthy relationship with material things Are we preparing our children to be happy and free adults as we immerse them in a society where image is king and consumerism seems to control us? Some insights from parents... More ... The vulnerability problem of the bully  Bullies lack ability to care because to care sets them up to get hurt too much - they are wounded individuals and have hardened hearts. How do we restore emotional norms? More ... From research by The Neufeld Institute No Crying at the Dinner Table  A film that highlights the common stigma in families against expressing emotional vulnerability. It presents a portrait of intergenerational trauma, grief, and secrets about things left unsaid. More ... From a video by Carol Nguyen 15 things for young people to do if they are feeling lonely  Anyone can experience loneliness. Almost 70% of young people said they have felt alone some or all of the time during the pandemic. Here are some tips.. More ... From an article by the Mental Health Foundation Does childhood trauma affect our relationship with God? The victims’ sense of being loved, accepted by God can be disrupted leading to difficulty in believing in God’s love. They may question God’s power and justice. Underreport God as absolute or just. More ... From a research study published in the Internation The 5 side-effects of compassion Compassion affects the brain, cardiovascular health, slows ageing, increases emotional connections and motivates kindness. More ... From an article by Dr David Hamilton Does ‘lockdown learning’ question conventional education? Many parents are recognising a disturbing truth revealed by the COVID-19 crisis: school is often regimented and boring and does not fit the way that their children learn naturally. More ... From a article on Child and Family Blog Understanding and responding to grief  How can you help someone grieving a loss? Grief may feel like a rogue wave that rises from one day, or even one moment, to the next, but you can help others ride out the wave and sail to a calmer sea. More ... From an article by The Gottman Institute Low-level, poorly resolved conflict between parents affects children's mental health  Damage is done not by a few instances, but by chronic interactions. Children become more sensitive to episodes which are exhausting emotionally and increase insecurity. More ... From an article on Child and Family blog Whole people - healing communities Trauma interrupts normal child development and exacts deep costs, to both the individual and the community. Here is a story of one neighbourhood working to change its destiny.. More ... From a video on PBS Adversity in childhood is linked to mental and physical health throughout life  There are behavioural, emotional, neurobiological and physical consequences affecting cardiovascular, immune, metabolic and brain health. More ... From a study in The BMJ Launch of screening for children and adults for trauma  Early identification of trauma and providing the appropriate treatment are critical tools for reducing long-term health care costs for both children and adults. Should the NHS introduce screening? More ... From an article by Center for Youth Wellness, Cali Imagine your community as a human library  What would it look like if every community member saw themselves as an educator or mentor? Each of us has unique stories, skills, passions and experiences. When we share these gifts with each other.. More ... From articles by CommunityShare Chatta - positive impact in speaking, writing and learning Designed to increase the quality and quantity of parent/child interaction via school. 40% greater progress in both speaking and understanding than children without Chatta. More ... From an article by Chatta Youth STEM Matters  Glasgow based social enterprise, YouthSTEM2030, is determined to empower young people around the world to use science, technology, engineering and maths to change the world through progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. More ... From YouthSTEM2030 Nails A person who speaks words that build up and encourage is a tree of life, but a person who speaks words that overwhelm and depress crushes the spirit. In other words, kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. Prov 15v4 MSG More ... From a track by Z317 Music How to respect my ethnic name Things you should never say. Equally inappropriate actions. How to help. "I'm very proud of my name. It represents identity, my parents history and my culture." More ... From an article by Anparasan Sivakumaran Geek Challenge Yarl IT Hub is a non-profit in Sri Lanka created to improve education, employment + entrepreneurship in community. Two competitions; YGC Senior - an entrepreneurship competition open to all youth, YGC Junior for junior students in schools. More ... From an article by Center on Business and Poverty How can parents build children’s self-esteem without turning them into narcissists  Parents’ ideas about how to instil self-esteem e.g. with lavish praise, can inflate a child’s narcissism: a sense of one’s importance and entitlement. Some tips.. More ... From an article by Child and Family The Skill Mill Working with young offenders, changing their identity from one of offender to an employee with legitimate income, self-respect and a desire to change their behaviour and contribute positively to society and the economy. More ... From an article by The Skill Mill How to repair the little things so they don’t become big things  Unspoken questions like “Do I matter to you?”, “Do you accept me as I am?” are always being asked internally. If it feels the answer is “no” to any question, our survival system sets off alarms. More ... From an article from the Gottman Institute Managing ‘back to school’ anxieties  Children will be returning to their classrooms and there will be a vast range of emotions that come as a result, from both children and parents. A few principles that might help... More ... From an article by Care for the Family Why 10 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)? The ACE Study revealed certain things we've been taught not to see, speak about, ask questions about. When these are explored, one finds high prevalence, relationships to major public health problems and to life expectancy. More ... From a blog by ACEs Connection Learning through play: more than laughter and smiles  Play works as an emotional toolbox—a safe space in which many emotions can be experienced without consequences or worrying about whether the emotion is acceptable to the big people in children’s lives. More ... From a blog by Child and Family A parent asks her child what she could have done better The conversation could have hurt but it needed to be one that healed. Parent offered a generous and kind-hearted gift by engaging with the child - "let's heal together and grow stronger." More ... From a video by Alison Cebulla, ACEs Connection Family matters for student performance Student performance cannot be understood apart from family dynamics. What should our communities and larger society be doing to help ensure that future generations of children have a stable, supportive, family life? More ... From an article from the Institute for Family Stud The difference a positive adult figure makes Footballer Ian Wright talks about his teacher - Mr Pigden. More ... Turning on the subtitles improves literacy In a longitudinal study of continuous caption use at home, children who viewed with captions scored significantly higher in tests of word identification + passage comprehension compared with non-caption viewers More ... From an article by Turn On the Subtitles ACEs e-learning A number of free, government funded, online courses which take under 1 hour to help you and contacts in the community find out more about Adverse Childhood Experiences - stressful events occurring in childhood which raise risk of poor life outcomes. More ... Geoff Knott Edtech for good: using tech to navigate the impacts of Covid-19  Education faces some fundamental shifts. There has been unprecedented demand on Edtech companies to help organisations in this uncertain period and adapt. More ... From an article on Digital Agenda 10 books for children to read to celebrate racial diversity Could primary school age books such as these help over the long-term to reduce the tensions we have seen in recent times and eventually change the culture? More ... Geoff Knott Is there a case for student mental health days? Allow students to take mental health days off from school the same way you would a physical health day. Keeping track of these catch those struggling before it's too late. Saves lives. More ... From a TEDx talk by Hailey Hardcastle The roots of resilience in children and young people  Two short animations explain what resilience is and how we can nurture the resilience of children and young people, particularly in educational settings. More ... From animations by Juliette Ttofa Deeper Learning An education philosophy that says students learn best with real work that resembles what they will likely encounter outside of school. An alternative to presenting students with atomized, decontextualized pieces of a subject. More ... From an article by LA School Report Healing from sexual abuse can start with one word After Rena Romano gained the courage to speak out about her experience of childhood sexual abuse, she discovered that few victims have the same supportive experience. More ... From a Tedx talk Strong families - flourishing children Children living in families with higher levels of resilience and connection are much more likely to flourish. This is true across all levels of income, health status and exposure to adverse childhood experiences. More ... From an article by The Sector (Early Education) Why your child is acting differently right now As the threat of Covid-19 disrupts school, daycare and other activities for children, some parents are noticing changes in behaviour in their children as try to deal with stress and anxiety. More ... From an article by Today.com Roots of youth anxiety  Today youth must define themselves and the shape of their lives by referencing their own preferences, desires, and choices. This creates a powerful and relentless type of ethical responsibility for their own well-being. More ... From an article by the Institute of Family Studies Space to Breathe - wellbeing for staff “Soulful Wellbeing for School Staff” days take teachers out of the classroom for the day and give them tools for self-care and to establish healthy habits around wellbeing. Measured impact high. More ... Geoff Knott Hair Love An Oscar-winning animated short film tells the heartfelt story of an African-American father learning to do his daughter’s hair for the first time. More ... A video from Sony Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) Adults who report more positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are less likely to suffer from depression or poor mental health – and are more likely to have healthy relationships. More ... Geoff Knott Upshift A UNICEF innovation programme, now in 22 countries, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. A local initiative for self-starting groups of 13-18s to come forward with ideas to address social problems within their community. More ... From a video by UNICEF Creating a world where every child can access education  The key barrier is not a lack of infrastructure, but continuous and rigorous support for teachers. More ... From a keynote by Bridge International One person's story of how adverse childhood experiences affected their life  Children who experience stressful childhoods are more likely to; develop health-harming and anti-social behaviours, perform poorly in school, be involved in crime. More ... Geoff Knott Policy recommendations re Adverse Childhood Experiences - 4  A look at strands of policy in the areas of 'Collecting evidence of the extent of adverse childhood experiences' and 'Innovating new models'. More ... Geoff Knott Upbeat - a healthier approach to boys' wellbeing 6-session course gives 13-16s a toolkit to take care of their emotional wellbeing, engage in honest conversations and spot signs when things aren’t going well. More ... From a resource by the Salvation Army and YouthSca Policy recommendations re Adverse Childhood Experiences - 3 A look at six policy strands in the legislative theme of 'Building capability and capacity in services and communities for trauma-informed best practice'. More ... Geoff Knott Common Good Schools Programme Unique 10-week programme enables young people to put the principles of Common Good thinking into practice-respecting the dignity of each human being, contributing to positive social relationships, demonstrating stewardship and valuing community. More ... Geoff Knott Essentials for parenting toddlers and preschoolers  A free, online resource designed for parents of 2 to 4 year olds, Essentials for Parenting addresses common parenting challenges. Help parents build a safe, stable, and nurturing relationship with their child. More ... Geoff Knott Policy recommendations re Adverse Childhood Experiences - 2 A look at policy strands in first legislative theme; Building knowledge and expertise of trauma-informed best practice by creating a cross-government, multi-agency group of practitioners to establish and promote. More ... Geoff Knott Tranquiliti - wellbeing of students at the heart of school strategy Technology generating student-led insights into key drivers of academic success, while directly supporting students’ flourishing. More ... From an article by Tranquiliti Policy recommendations re Adverse Childhood Experiences - 1 As the UK increasingly becomes ACE-aware through various initiatives, there are policies that have been enacted in USA and Canada since 2014. Analysis of such legislation reveals a great awareness of the effect of ACEs. More ... Geoff Knott Early enterprise education  The UK currently lags behind when it comes to youth enterprise education. The consequence of this is that we risk dampening the country’s future economic prosperity. Some programmes tailored to young people. More ... From a report by Gem Consortium The repair of intergenerational trauma - James' story How a childhood of trauma and adversity led James to feel despair, loneliness and rage. Walk with James as he begins to heal and create a new and hopeful future. More ... From an animation by Beacon House Prenatal parental stress linked to behaviour problems in toddlers. Expectant parents’ emotional struggles predict emotional and behavioural problems in 2-year-olds. More ... From research by University of Cambridge’s Centre How to help children handle grief after the death of a parent  Intense feelings can be particularly hard to process for bereaved children dealing with the loss of an important figure like a parent. What can a parent or family member do to lovingly support a young child? More ... From an article on Huffington Post Reimagining Education Together  If we are to truly prepare young people for life, work and citizenship in the modern world, we need both a broader view of success and a broader view of the learning ecosystem. More ... From a report by Big Change Moving to opportunity? Does moving to housing in low-poverty areas increase life chances? Breaking up pockets of poverty by using benefits to encourage low-income families to move to "high opportunity" neighbourhoods? More ... From an article on NPR No Isolation robot Enables children with long-term illness to virtually attend school, socialise with classmates and remain connected. It becomes their eyes, ears and voice in the classroom. More ... From an article by Noisolation Preparing for a transition How do we help our children with change, whether that's leaving home, a new school, new house or new member of the family? Growing up inevitably involves change but sometimes we don't find it easy to manage. More ... From an article by Parenting for Faith Harvard study shows the dangers of early school enrolment  Children haven’t changed, but our expectations of their behaviour have. They are increasingly required to learn academic content at an early age that may be well above their developmental capability. More ... From an article by the Foundation for Economic Edu Story of a trauma-informed school Children are coming to school already in a state of anxiety and they do not need anyone adding to that anxiety. We're not punishing children because they are behaving badly, we're trying to understand what has happened to them. More ... From a video by ACE-Aware Scotland Two-by-Ten strategy  For 2 mins each day, 10 days in a row, teachers have a personal conversation with a disruptive student about anything the student is interested in. Resulted in 85-percent improvement in student's behaviour and in all the other students' behaviour. More ... From an article by ASCD The lasting effects of childhood trauma  Have you ever met a person who woke up one morning and says, "My ambition is to become an addict." When people are in tremendous pain, their range of choices is limited and not only that their brains are affected by those early experiences. More ... From an interview on STV The positive effects of expressive writing  Expressive writing or journaling has a healing quality, encouraging writers to process and find meaning from a difficult life circumstance, to let it go, and to create a new story for their lives. More ... From The Imagine Project Can being in nature speed up healing? At Oslo University Hospital, sick kids aren’t confined to bed. They fish, chop wood, shoot arrows and paint pictures, all in a woodland cabin 650 feet from the building. More ... From various articles Opening Doors - creating a trauma informed workforce A video to open discussion on knowing how to adapt the way companies work to make a positive difference to people affected by trauma and adversity. Trauma is everybody’s business. More ... From a video by NHS Scotland More than eight in ten men in prison suffered childhood adversity  Children who experience ACEs are more likely to adopt health-harming and anti-social behaviours as adults, are at much greater risk of poor health throughout life, and may have greater needs for support from healthcare and other public services. More ... From an article by Public Health Wales The Little Book of Adverse Childhood Experiences  Over half of the people you will meet today have lived with and been affected by ACEs. How would it alter the way you interact with them and your expectations of them, if you saw them through this lens? More ... Geoff Knott Identity Dwyane Wade is a US, 13-time All-Star basketball player who has just retired. His success belies his upbringing. To celebrate his final season, he has been swapping jerseys with NBA legends. Before he said goodbye, he was presented with 5 more. More ... Geoff Knott How compassion can triumph over toxic childhood trauma   Supportive relationships are a key ingredient for change. Support from friends, family, spouses or neighbours or involvement in community can boost the quality and security of life for people. More ... From an article by The Conversation Vroom - boosting a child's learning An app for parents and educators containing over 1,000 brain-building interactions you can do with your children. More ... Geoff Knott Dad - a girl’s first and most influential love  Evidence demonstrating the remarkable potential of the father-daughter relationship and the disastrous consequences for all when it is ignored. More ... From a blog by the Institute of Family Studies Little forest folk Spending time in nature allows for a deep connection to the natural world and exposure to a learning environment full of imagination, challenge, inspiration, awe and wonder. Why and how to use forests instead of classrooms for learning environments. More ... From a video on TED-Ed Childhood trauma could affect the next generation  For every type of “adverse childhood event” (ACE) a parent went through, their children had 19% higher odds of poorer health and 17% higher odds of having asthma. More ... From an article by Quartz The value of real-world learning experiences Real-world learning experiences, like summer camps, can significantly improve children’s knowledge in a matter of just days, a new study suggests. More ... From an article by Ohio State University First Star Academy Placing young people who are in care into academies on university campuses to support, inspire and belong. The results are startling – over 90% who attend in the USA go on to study at university versus national average of 3%. More ... Geoff Knott Realising the potential of early intervention  Early intervention is as pertinent to societal concerns today as it ever was. A report by the Early Intervention Foundation gives some insights into the latest state of play. More ... From a report by Early Intervention Foundation One school’s story of building resilience  Steps that staff have been taking as they work to put relationships and well-being at the heart of every single learning opportunity they offer to the 500 children in their care. More ... From a video by ACE-Aware Scotland Divorce rate falls by 28% after relationship education programme Can we scale up Relationship Education services to saturate a community? Could Relationship Education make a larger impact than for just a few couples? More ... From a blog by The Institute of Family Studies In our efforts to protect, are we increasing children's anxiety? To become a confident, competent adult, should children go outside more, make their own mistakes and figure things out? Putting children in control helps them learn to solve problems, and cope better in new environments. More ... Geoff Knott Refugee football Each week on a Thursday night 7-8pm at a local Leisure Centre, Emmanuel Church volunteers gather up to 25 teenagers from almost as many different countries to play football. More ... From an article by Emmanuel Church Oxford The Heckman Equation Early nurturing, learning experiences and physical health from ages 0-5 greatly impact success or failure in society. The best time to develop skills, social abilities is in the very early years when developmental support is most effective. More ... From research by Professor James Heckman Teenage mental health and family life It should be fairly self-evident that the main way we cope with life depends in large part on the security we get from what is going on at home. Research shows two key factors.. More ... From an article by the Marriage Foundation 'Just Breathe' A film made after a 5-year-old talked with his friend about learning how emotions affect different parts of the brain, and how to calm down by taking deep breaths. More ... From a video by Wavecrest Films Raising aspirations Why are positive role models considered powerful? An experiment in Uganda goes some way towards answering this question. More ... From an article by the World Bank Micro-society schools  With MicroSociety, school is society, a thriving, modern-day, mini-metropolis—complete with a government centre, entrepreneurial hub, non-profit organizations, consumer marketplace and community gathering spaces. More ... Geoff Knott Stories of resilience  Over the past 18 months, some charities in Scotland working in partnership with churches have been running a remarkable campaign to help make Scotland the first Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Aware nation in the world. More ... Geoff Knott Breaking the silence on child abuse Nobody really knows how many adults were abused as children, either sexually, physically or emotionally. The devastating long-term impact of child abuse is only beginning to be widely understood. More ... From a guest blog by Tony Thompson Are you a gardener or a carpenter? Caring deeply about our children is part of what makes us human. Do we shape them like a carpenter or create a protected and nurturing space for them to flourish as in a garden? More ... From a book review of The Gardener and the Carpent How to be a resilient parent  Numerous researchers have concluded that how parents respond to stressors is much more important than the stressor itself in determining the outcomes for themselves and their children. More ... From a study by Center of the Study of Social Poli Six things about resilience and wellbeing  Lessons learned in improving resilience and emotional wellbeing in answer to the question, "Could life be more than just a struggle to keep my head above water?". More ... From a blog by Mind and Soul Foundation Being truly present with our families  Constitutive of a happy and satisfied life is living in the presence of those we love. Consistently. More ... From a blog by Bacon from Acorns The value to a family of reading Reading aloud has been found to be significantly beneficial to both children and their parents. More ... From an article by CNN Becoming a trauma sensitive school  Beacon House have a great list of resources on their website as recommended to them by teachers, parents and mental health professionals. More ... Geoff Knott Fostering empathy in children  It’s easy to ask children of any age to apologise, and preparing children to understand why apologies matter is a crucial part of their development. More ... From a blog by Famly Children’s well-being and social relationships, UK: 2018  Children’s well-being is an important part of the nation’s well-being. Childhood sets the foundation for a well-functioning and healthy adulthood. More ... From an article by ONS No Questions Asked  Youthscape study discovers a profound lack of questioning around God, faith and religion among the young people they spoke to. More ... From a report by Youthscape Spear The Spear programme helps 16-24-year-olds,who are not in education, employment or training, into work or training in partnership with employers. More ... Geoff Knott The effect of a dog in school  A comfort dog is a counselling support. They possess the two most important qualities of an effective social worker or counsellor--unconditional acceptance and warmth. More ... Geoff Knott Community mothers  How do you reach migrant families that stretched social services do not have time to relate to? Berlin trains unemployed mothers that are long-established in Germany but are themselves from immigrant backgrounds. More ... From a blog by Apolitical Relationship red flags  Six warning signs that indicate a relationship is in trouble and that are particularly important to root out before they do permanent damage. More ... From a blog by The Institute of Family Studies 2018 Modern Families Index  A significant proportion of UK’s working parents are struggling to cope with long work hours – and stalling and downshifting their careers for family life. More ... From a report by Working Families and Bright Horiz Bullying insights Early childhood settings provide an opportunity for educators to effectively prevent and stop the emergence of bullying behaviour and to foster the development of positive social interactions. More ... From a report by PromotePrevent Yondr - helping to live phone-free  The effect on school campuses has been dramatic; increased attention, more socialising, better grades and lower number of discipline issues. More ... Geoff Knott Children’s or Youth Work Apprenticeships  An option for children and youth workers? The Government part-fund costs and the apprentice must receive training towards vocational qualifications. More ... Reasons to prioritise Early Years Early Years development is at the heart of social mobility. The reasons underscore the importance of focusing on ideas and interventions that can impact child outcomes as soon as possible. More ... From a blog by Nesta Window of tolerance  An insightful video by Beacon House which explains how a child with many adverse childhood experiences swings from fight/flight to freeze/collapse; and what adults can do to help More ... A video from Beacon House Can kindness be taught?  Teaching kindness really does make a difference. Better behaviour, discipline rates down, inclusiveness up, grades up, student conflicts down, teacher-student relationship stronger. More ... Geoff Knott The power of touch Touch sends a powerful message – it can do and say much more than words ever could. More ... Geoff Knott Alike  The example we set for our children - how we choose to lead our lives - is much, much more important than what we say. More ... From a video by Daniel Lara and Rafa Mendes Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago  With the exception of France, parents these days spend a lot more time with their offspring - especially fathers. Britain is one of the leading countries. More ... From an article in the Economist What makes families resilient?  Children who know a lot about their family tend to be more resilient and therefore have better chances for good outcomes when faced with challenges. More ... From research by Dr Marshall Duke Family breakdown - a major influence on teen mental health  More than a third of children whose parents had split up reported poor mental health, compared to only a fifth with parents who were still together. More ... From a report by The Marriage Foundation Making the case for new school designs  Our model of schooling is more than 100 years old and has barely changed in that time. 10 questions to help thinking. More ... From a blog by The Innovation Unit Teachers - born to make a difference Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be. More ... From a Tedx talk by Rita Pearson Legislating to become trauma-informed Information on policies aimed at reducing trauma and toxic stress and promoting resiliency and trauma-informed practices in institutions. More ... Geoff Knott Bullying Junior  Each year approximately 30% of students worldwide are the target of bullying.  Lives are lost or forever changed. How can we challenge such behaviour? More ... From material by No Bully Far beyond the waves  Charlotte and Gavin wait in hope to be parents, but are also aware that it might not happen. They trust God regardless of their disappointments.  More ... From a video by CV School and community needs as real-world catalysts for learning By using real-world problems as projects for children to solve, a primary school empowers, engages, and excites students. More ... From an article by Edutopia Reducing reoffending by keeping mothers and children together  Diverting women from prison and keeping families together can save money and help break the intergenerational cycle of incarceration. More ... From a blog by Pew Research Language as a child wellbeing indicator  A report on how language development in early years links to social, emotional and learning outcomes in later years. More ... Early Years Foundation Creating a love of reading  Research into role of mothers and fathers - different impact on development? More ... From a blog by the University of Wollongong, NSW, A Therapeutic Treasure Box  A book packed with tools, methods and suggestions that will be indispensable to therapists, parents and anyone working with traumatised kids. More ... Geoff Knott Restorative justice in schools  Restorative justice programmes have had a measurable impact on school behaviour and educational outcomes. More ... Geoff Knott Increasing the time parents read to their children  Nudges increased parental engagement, doubling reading time and benefiting children. More ... Geoff Knott Becoming a trauma informed environment  Research into Adverse Childhood Experiences has meant trauma-informed practices are rising globally in schools, prisons, etc. More ... Geoff Knott What do parents hope and fear for their children?  The Parent Report from Spurgeons Childrens Charity looks at parents’ hopes and concerns for their children and where they turn for help. More ... Geoff Knott Commission on Inequality in Education  As well as factors including location, income, etc., the importance of parental engagement in education was assessed. More ... Geoff Knott Reimagining senior school  In the USA, 13 schools in 11 cities are exploring new, innovative ways to engage students and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. More ... Geoff Knott Working with young women in prison  Young female offenders and ex-offenders in particular are in desperate need of positive role models, new skills, new opportunities and new aspirations. More ... Geoff Knott Counting your blessings improves mental health   Recent evidence suggests if the practice of gratitude is added to counselling, it shows great psychological benefits. More ... From research by Joel Wong and Joshua Brown, India Street Play - communities brought together by kids playing in the road  Closing a street for several hours, several times per year so that kids can play in the street and through that neighbours can meet each other. More ... Geoff Knott Within My/Our Reach - an opportunity to improve relationships  Workshops birthed out of 30 years of research in the field of relationship health given to over 300,000 people. Results; lower divorce rates, better communication skills, reduction in violence. More ... Geoff Knott Dads want to succeed as fathers but parent relationship needs to be strong There is a narrative of absent fathers who had multiple children with different women and abandoned them. However, research on those fathers offers another, more uplifting story. More ... Geoff Knott Voice for the voiceless  What you won’t find in the news each day Is that five hundred babies were aborted in the UK Their silence in death matches our silence in life An inconvenience kept out of sight More ... Geoff Knott 10 myths about parenthood and mental health NCT have debunked popular myths and misconceptions about mental health as related to pregnancy and early years parenting. More ... From an article by NCT Gen Z: Rethinking Culture  Research on youth culture to help to understand how to connect effectively with today’s young people and share the good news of Jesus. More ... From research by Youth for Christ Ollie's story  200,000 children are affected by parental imprisonment each year. Here is the story of one of them. More ... From a video by PACT Random App of Kindness  Is it possible, through an app, to teach children empathy? Early results promising.. More ... Geoff Knott Children's books that encourage kindness towards others  Kindness is one of the most important character traits and books can help show the best ways to be kind to others or why kindness matters. More ... Geoff Knott 8 things to remember about child development  Harvard University's Centre for the Developing Child has published a list of key findings about aspects of early child development. More ... From an article by Harvard University's Centre for Safe Families for Children  Helps stop children being taken into care. Instead they are placed temporarily with volunteer Host Families, mostly from churches. More ... Geoff Knott Let's Talk  Short videos and education packs that encourage conversations about key mental health topics. More ... Geoff Knott The Beginning of Life  This beautiful film, supported by UNICEF, explores the impact of a child’s early environment on their cognitive, social and emotional development. More ... Geoff Knott Circle of Security  An early intervention programme about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened. More ... Geoff Knott A Parent’s Guide to Self-harm  Selfharm UK have published 'A Parent’s Guide to Self-harm' and an article 'Ten Top Tips for Parents of Children who Self-Harm'. More ... From an article by Selfharm UK Fatherhood: the impact of fathers on children’s mental health  From pregnancy and early years through to adolescence, fathers are a major influence on a child’s emotional and behavioural health. More ... From a report by the Centre for Mental Health Grandparents and children - two-way benefits? We intuitively know that grandparents contribute to children's wellbeing but what are those benefits and are there reciprocal ones to grandparents? More ... Geoff Knott Encouraging creativity  Creativity is very relevant to the way people work and also discovering who you are - what interests you and what could be your vocation. More ... Geoff Knott Books that help children understand migrant and refugee experiences  A great resource to help get children focusing on identity, belonging, conflict, migrant and refugee experiences - helping them make sense of the world around us and our place in it. More ... From an article by The Centre for Literacy in Prim Teaching children about emotions  Helping children to understand and manage their emotions is a key to their future health and development. More ... Geoff Knott The things I would tell myself before I had children  Emi Watson is a mum of two and a Digital Advertising Sales Manager. In this extract from her blog on the Mental Health Foundation website, she reflects on the changes she has experienced since becoming a mum. More ... From the Mental Health Foundation The 'Missing' First Year? While parents have a general understanding that what happens in a child’s early years can last a lifetime, many don’t realize at what age babies and toddlers can begin to feel complex emotions. More ... Geoff Knott Empowering the young to lead Learn to Lead - a programme for youngsters that takes engagement to a new level. Applicable to church children and youthwork? More ... Geoff Knott Forecasting which children will cost society the most  20% of the population accounts for the lion’s share of social costs such as crime and welfare dependence as adults. Can we predict at age 3 and intervene? More ... From research by King’s College London, Duke Unive Higher levels of education do not mean higher levels of tolerance  Education is said to make people more tolerant by enhancing their knowledge and reasoning skills. As the generations become better educated and enlightened, does society become more tolerant? More ... From an article by Jan Janmaat, UCL We are Family: the changing face of family ministry How is the Church working with families today? What does this ministry look like? What training and resources are available for those working in this field? More ... From research by CGMC and The Methodist Church 10 tips for building resilience in children and teens  Building resilience — the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress — can help our children manage stress and feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. More ... From a guide by the American Psychological Associa EasyPeasy - learning through play, every day  Nearly half of children arrive at school ‘not ready to learn’. EasyPeasy is an app for parents to use that supports learning through play at home and shows significant improvement in school readiness skills. More ... Geoff Knott £17bn per year - the cost of late intervention Results of research of the costs of ‘late intervention’: the acute, statutory and essential benefits and services that are required when children and young people experience significant but preventable difficulties in life. More ... From a report by EI Foundation How families are combining work and family life Earlier this year, Working Families published their 3rd Modern Families Index - a snapshot of family life in the UK today. In particular, it focuses on how families combine work and family life. More ... Working Families Adverse Childhood Experiences - a doctor's story Gabor Maté has worked worked in a palliative care and in an area challenged by hard core addiction, mental illness, HIV and related conditions. He talks about the importance of early years' development. More ... From a talk by Gabor Maté 5 steps of emotion coaching to help child development  Successful parents tend to do 5 very simple things with their children when they were emotional. Children who had “Emotion Coaches” for parents were on a more positive developmental trajectory. More ... Geoff Knott The Village This is the story of a remarkable village in Luquan, Kunming which has taken 166 special needs children from the Kunming orphanage into their families. A picture of God adopting us. More ... From a video by Care for Children Home for Good - a home for every child that needs one Sunday 6th November 2016 is Adoption Sunday. It is an opportunity each year for the Church to share the good news of our adoption into God’s family and to respond to the needs of young people in the UK care system. More ... From Home for Good What to expect, when? A simple guide which takes parents of 0-5 year olds through the expectations of each age band and how they can support their children’s learning and development. More ... A publication of 4Children Four Styles of Parenting  Developmental psychologists have identified four parenting styles and all have different impacts on children; Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive, Uninvolved. What is impact on children? More ... From an article by Kendra Cherry How a community becomes trauma-informed A few weeks back, I wrote about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the effect they have on adult health including mental illness, doing time in prison, and work issues, such as absenteeism. More ... Geoff Knott 'You'll either be a millionaire or locked up.' We can all encourage youngsters as they grow up and that can, without you knowing, have a great affect on their future. To illustrate this, here are two stories: More ... Geoff Knott Why mindset matters A fixed mindset believes intelligence is static which leads to children not achieving their potential. A growth mindset on the other hand believes that intelligence can be developed and leads to higher levels of achievement. More ... Geoff Knott Private schools helping primaries in deprived areas   In Silicon Valley, California, there is a very high achieving set of schools – Valley Christian Schools. They have linked with a primary school in a local area where there are lots of social issues. The results in this primary school have risen More ... Geoff Knott Where is the village? It is said that it takes a village to raise a child, but where is that village today? Bill Milliken, now 75, reflects on lessons he has learnt from helping troubled students in the USA stay in school, graduate, and succeed in life. More ... From a talk by Bill Milliken, co-founder Communiti Three resources for parents of toddlers Free downloadable resources for you to give away in your community to parents of 1-5's and advertise your parent and toddler group based on resources of SKIP, a community campaign in New Zealand. More ... Geoff Knott Three resources for expectant and new parents Free downloadable resources for you to give away in your community to expectant or new parents and advertise your parent group, based on resources of SKIP, a community campaign in New Zealand. More ... Geoff Knott The marriage gap between rich and poor parents  The Marriage Foundation has found that a marriage gap between rich and poor parents exists throughout Europe, contrasting marriage rates between top and bottom income quintiles. More ... From a briefing paper by The Marriage Foundation Key factor that predicts community involvement A study in 2013 found that attending cultural or sports events was the largest predictor of civic engagement. Young people who said they went "often" to theatre, ballet, classical concerts, museums, galleries or sports events More ... Geoff Knott Youth club for young refugees and asylum seekers An example of a church which started a youth venture among vulnerable young refugees and asylum seekers. "Once the basic needs are provided for [by the authorities], their other needs take a back seat. More ... Geoff Knott Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and future health A multi-year survey of 17000 patients looked at their health and also asked what childhood traumas they had experienced. When the doctor conducting the research first saw the results, he was stunned. “I wept,” he says. More ... Geoff Knott John Pounds, Thomas Guthrie, Thomas Cranfield A cobbler, a minister, a tailor. Men of faith who started teaching poor children in the late 18th/early 19th century that led to a revolution in the British education system. More ... Geoff Knott Resources for youth mental health "Some people with mental health problems today are almost guaranteed to live a life in poverty. And the number of people who suffer from poor mental health is larger than you might think." More ... Geoff Knott Wide division in building good childhood foundations in high-low socio-economic families "Social mobility begins in the home. Parenting has not received the attention it deserves. Parents provide the foundations for children’s progress in later life" More ... Geoff Knott Help children by helping their parents In 1986, in a few of the poorest neighborhoods in Kingston, Jamaica, researchers held an experiment that has done a great deal to change our thinking about how to help children succeed. Its message: Help children by supporting and coaching their parents. More ... From an essay by Paul Tough, author Too many children in care ending up behind bars  An independent review, established by Prison Reform Trust. Around half of the 1,000 children currently in custody in England and Wales have experience of the care system. This is despite fewer than 1% of all children in England More ... An independent review Prison Reform Trust The effect of inter-parental relationships on children The quality of the inter-parental relationship, specifically how parents communicate and relate to each other, is increasingly recognised as a primary influence on effective parenting practices and More ... Professor Gordon Harold and Dr. Ruth Sellers After-school clubs help poorer primary school pupils to get ahead Taking part in after-school clubs can give primary school children from poorer families a boost in academic performance and provide them with important social skills. According to a new working paper More ... From article-Emily Tanner NatCen Social Research The opportunity of work experience and community service Why do university educated, professional classes continue to move ahead while those at the bottom can remain stuck? What can we do about the advantages that are lacking? More ... Geoff Knott 6 resources to help with education When the Life Chances initiative was launched in January 2016 to help the poorest children in the country, one of the 4 areas of focus was education. Many churches are already involved in giving assemblies, etc., but what might be extensions More ... Geoff Knott Lifesavers - financial education and savings clubs The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group and pfeg, the Personal Finance Education Group are rolling out LifeSavers, a national financial education programme for primary schools. Could you register a primary school you are involved with? More ... Geoff Knott School Kit - for parents to help their kids get the best out of school TLG have just launched a video-based course called School Kit. School can often present challenges to children and to parents. School Kit brings together the experiences of lots of parents and unpacks More ... Geoff Knott 6 resources to help relationships - families and early years In my last blog about this subject, we looked at resources that could be helpful in developing good parenting for early years. In this one, let's look at resources that churches can use to help relationships. More ... Geoff Knott 11 resources for parenting - families and early years "Families are the best anti-poverty measure ever invented. They are a welfare, education and counselling system all wrapped up into one. Children in families that break apart are more than twice as likely to More ... Geoff Knott