Joanna Lovell - Parenting Journalist

Women who've had a traumatic birth encouraged to have birth debrief A midwife says they can help women heal

Are you ready to home-school again?

Why the teacher strikes bring back "nightmare" lockdown memories Can you relate?

Be prepared!

Teachers vote FOR strike action The announcement was made on Monday evening.

This is worrying.

Mum's warning after daughter, 11, groomed on Spotify 'Predators will exploit any app children use'

Is she right?

Divorced mum nails it as she reveals the ONE thing women really want for Christmas Do you agree?

"I knew I was meant to be his Mummy":
The lovely Molly has told why she CHOSE to complete her family via - after having a biological child.

If you're considering adoption, read this!

'We completed our family via adoption – and you could too' Mum Molly is raising awareness during National Adoption Week

Absolutely am not ready for this!
It was only yesterday I dropped him off for his first day in reception, wasn’t it?!

Sharing again for anyone who has a little one staring in reception this week

(To put this into perspective, four years later this seems like a lifetime ago and I'm already wondering what age she can walk to school herself)

My youngest child has started school and now I feel redundant as a Mummy A single mum says life will never be the same now her daughter has started school

So, on the day most schools break up, after 16 MONTHS of being sent home to self isolate, it's announced daily testing for pupils IS as effective as self isolation and ONLY 1% of kids in contact with COVID-19 get the virus. Why didn't they do this study sooner?
You can't make this up!

Daily testing in schools 'as effective' as self isolation A new study has found testing can control transmission of COVID-19

As COVID-19 cases soar and self isolation rules run until 16 August, parents in Yorkshire are considering taking their children out of school early to protect their summer holidays. Would you?

Should schools break up NOW for summer? Some parents are taking their children out of school early

SCHOOL BUBBLES: It seems there's a lot of confusion about what will happen at the end of term for those schools which are open after July 19.
Put simply:
School bubbles can be scrapped from July 19. Schools can decide whether to keep them or not for the very last week of term. If they keep them, they remain responsible for contact tracing and will send home whole bubbles as they do now. If they scrap them, NHS Test and Trace become responsible for contact tracing and will inform close contacts.
Either way, self isolation rules REMAIN as they are now, until 16 August.
Self isolation rules are NOT scrapped on 19 July at the same time as school bubbles.
So, if your child comes into contact with a COVID-19 positive pupil during the last week of term (19 - 23 July) they WILL HAVE TO SELF ISOLATE during the first week of the school holidays.
Hope this helps!

Parents who are sick of seeing their children sent home from school to isolate. Are you considering taking them out of school early to avoid isolating in the summer holidays?

"Read the room of educators and school leaders. Phones are NOT THE PRIORITY."
That's the response of just one mum who is raging about the government launching a consultation with parents over a mobile phone ban when what a lot of us are actually focussed on at the moment is the increase in COVID-19 rates in schools, our children having to self isolate and wondering what on earth will happen in September!
"We want to hear from you about managing COVID spread in schools - not phones!"
Full story via Netmums
https://www.netmums.com/coronavirus/parents-urge-government-to-focus-on-covid-19-plan-for-schools-instead-of-mobile-phone-consultation

Parents demand government prioritises school plan for September A Department for Education tweet has completely missed what's important to parents RN

A nursery and now a school fully closed in our area.

Experts say it is crucial to get a picture of childhood obesity and critics say it's wrong to 'punish a child for the number on the scales'
Will you opt your child in our out?

Pupils to be weighed at school more often over lockdown obesity fears Would you opt your child in or out?

As footage of singing, dancing footie fans arriving in London emerges today ahead of tonight's game, parents ask why they can't watch 'their own kid' at school sports day – yet 22,500 fans can pack a stadium to 'watch people they have no connection with.'

https://www.netmums.com/coronavirus/parents-confusion-as-sports-days-that-can-go-ahead-are-cancelled--yet-22000-fans-gather-at-wembley-for-the-euros

Parents' fury as school sports days are cancelled Government guidance says they CAN go ahead

Would you allow your child to be vaccinated?

Chris Whitty's two reasons for vaccinating kids against coronavirus It could help keep schools open

Be aware! Poor girl ran from the water screaming in pain.

Mum's warning after daughter stung on UK beach She's urging other parents to buy water shoes

When you complain to Marks and Spencer - and get this response...

Mum stunned with M&S response to complaint over son's pyjamas She complained via Facebook and got the best reply

Punishing children doesn't work - apparently. Parenting expert Sarah Ockwell-Smith has offered us an alternative to try....
What do you think? Do you punish your kids? I know I do.

Expert warns parents NOT to 'punish' children Sarah Ockwell-Smith says there's a misconception that children only learn if we make them feel bad first

I've followed the recovery journey of this little boy over the past year and I just truly find him inspirational.
Watch the video in this story and tell me it didn't move you! A year on from that fateful day and Max is 'smashing it'

'My son lost his leg in a hit and run – but look at him now' He's already back at gymnastics, football and rugby

A pleasure to speak to the lovely Molly for this Netmums feature about - can you relate?

10 things adoptive parents wish you wouldn't ask about their children Mum-of-two Molly adopted a baby during lockdown

As lockdown eases further, more victims of domestic abuse are expected to take the opportunity to flee this week. I hope this
Netmums piece with DV survivor Sharon Bryan from National Centre for Domestic Violence - NCDV helps at least one person find the courage to safely escape.

How to escape a violent relationship when you’ve got children Sharon Bryan from the National Centre for Domestic Violence advises victims of domestic abuse how to escape, as safely as possible.

Vital info for parents of newborns.
Her daughter almost suffocated.
The Lullaby Trust also advises against them.

Mum urges other parents NOT to use sleep pods for babies The Lullaby Trust has also warned against using them

Has she got a point?

Mum's rant as shops sell 'inappropriate' kids' clothing She says shes had to buy boys' clothes to 'cover her up'

Was an absolute pleasure to speak to this star of a dad. He's on a mission to raise awareness and acceptance of

'10 things I wish you wouldn't ask about my autistic son' Carl Goodwin has created a series of TikTok videos to raise awareness of the developmental disability

Heard it all now!
Teachers say they're 'TikTok daft' pupils and their parents should pay for the damage!

Teachers' fury as pupils use face masks to destroy school chairs It's happening across the country, thanks to a TikTok viral trend

I think if we're really honest, most parents would say they let their kids on their screens more during lockdown

Report warns of lockdown generation who are addicted to their screens Are your children glued to their devices?

Absolutely ridiculous or absolutely necessary?

Headteacher bans 'sexist phrases' including 'boys and girls' It's sparked a fierce debate

Not bad for 89p!

Mum's simple trick completely transforms worn-out school shoes ... and parents are amazed!