Enhancing Parental Involvement in Education

We’ve just conducted the biggest UK survey EVER of parents returning to work after parental leave, and the findings are a wake-up call for every employer. The reality of return: 89% of parents felt anxious about going back 87% said the return to work was hard 73% didn’t get the support they needed 1 in 4 (26%) left their job as a result I know those stats will resonate for so many of you. What would have helped: 89% said peer-to-peer support would have improved their mental health 64% said coaching would have boosted their confidence More than half wanted tailored parenting advice 3 in 4 said better support would have increased their sense of belonging at work Employers have a lot to think about, and few are equipped to deal with the mental whiplash parents experience when returning to work - and that’s ok. You can’t do everything. But you need to do something if you want to stop haemorrhaging talent - that’s why I created Growth Spurt. Thank you to everyone who took part in this research, all 5,329 of you. You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eZGxx2fM

Parenting a child with neurodiversity, additional needs or a physical disability presents a unique set of challenges and rewards, especially when you're also trying to advance your career. The journey can be as demanding as it is fulfilling, requiring us to find that delicate balance between our professional responsibilities and our children's specific needs. My son is autistic and from my own experience, here are a few strategies that have helped me manage this dual role: ✨Open Communication: Keeping an open line of communication with your employer about your situation can lead to understanding and support. It’s crucial for negotiating flexibility or accommodations when needed. ✨Structured Scheduling: Balancing work and parenting a neurodiverse child often requires strict scheduling to ensure you can meet your professional obligations and attend to your child’s needs, such as therapies or appointments. ✨Support Networks: Leverage support networks, both professional and personal. Connecting with other parents of neurodiverse children can provide not only emotional support but also practical tips and resources. ✨Self-Care: Taking care of yourself is vital. It's easy to get overwhelmed, so make sure to carve out time for your own well-being. I’d love to hear from others who are on this journey. What strategies have worked for you? How do you balance your professional aspirations with the demands of parenting a neurodiverse child?

🌟 Parenting with ADHD amidst school holidays - how's it going? I don't know if there's truly ever a balance when we juggle parenting our neurodivergent kids while we are neurodivergent ourselves and working. Here are some immediate 🆘 strategies: 1. Establish Routines: Consistent routines can provide structure and stability for you and your children, reducing anxiety. 2. Movement: Get you and your children out in nature as early as possible to stimulate their minds and move their limbs so there's less chance for frustration to set in. 3. Create quiet space: Dedicate a soft and relaxing sensory corner with comfy cushions so they can unwind from overstimulation. 4. Parent with Love and Logic: Use positive reinforcement (works better than punishments), teach them coping strategies to support their executive function and emotions, and educate them about their physical needs. 5. Self-care matters, but Boundaries work better: Prioritise your mental and physical health by saying no to things that zap energy. Say yes to restoring peace and balance after a hectic day or week. Seek support if you need to. 6. Celebrate Small Victories: Parenting with ADHD comes with its successes - Yes it does! Celebrate small achievements and milestones, both yours and your children's. Remember that every child with ADHD is unique, so it's important to tailor parenting strategies to your child's needs and preferences. I often support parents of ND kids in organisations through facilitated discussions. Get in touch to find out more. #ParentingTips #Motherhood #Neurodiversity #SupportiveCommunity #ADHDAwareness

Enhancing the NICU Experience: A Call to Implement Family-Centered Care As both a NICU mother and a NICU professional, I have seen firsthand that improving the NICU environment requires more than medical advancements—it demands a deep understanding of the parents at the bedside. Parents enter the NICU overwhelmed by shock, fear, and grief, all while juggling emotional distress, physical recovery (often from traumatic births), financial strain, and psychosocial challenges. Their entire world has shifted, yet they are expected to grasp complex medical information, advocate for their baby, and make critical decisions—all while feeling powerless. To truly enhance the NICU experience, hospital systems, organizations, and institutionsmust focus not only on neonatal survival but on the well-being of the entire family. This includes: ✅ Prioritizing psychological safety—ensuring parents feel heard, valued, and included in their baby’s care, rather than dismissed or overlooked. ✅ Addressing health disparities—acknowledging how race, language, social determinants, and financial constraints shape NICU experiences and access to care. ✅Strengthening parent-infant bonding—facilitating opportunities for skin-to-skin contact, parental involvement in rounds, and equitable participation in care. ✅ Recognizing financial burdens—providing tangible support for transportation, lodging, and paid family leave to ease the strain on NICU families. ✅ Expanding mental health resources—implementing trauma-informed care to address PTSD, postpartum depression, and the silent grief that accompanies a disrupted birth experience. The NICU is more than a hospital unit—it is a baby’s first home and the beginning of a parent’s lifelong journey of advocacy and love. Policies, guidelines, education, and research that prioritizes compassion, equity, and family-centered care will not only improve health outcomes for babies but also transform the NICU experience for the families who must navigate it- from hospital to home. This is why I am part of the Family-Centered Care Taskforce —to ensure that the voices of NICU families are not just heard, but actively shape policies and practices that impact care. It’s also why I started Mom and Me LLC, a concierge care practice dedicated to supporting NICU graduates and their families beyond discharge. The journey doesn’t end when a baby leaves the hospital—families need long-term support, guidance, and advocacy to help their children thrive. By prioritizing family-centered care in both research and practice, we can create a NICU experience that fosters not just survival, but true healing and connection—for both babies and their families.💚💜 #nicu #nicufamilies #neonatalcare #maternalinfanthealth #familycenteredcare

When I was 16, my classmates were pressured to become doctors and engineers. But my father didn't care if I was 'successful.' Here's the advice he gave that went against everything society believed: As a young boy growing up in 1980s rural India, the importance of contributing and giving back to society was ingrained in me from a young age. India hadn't forgotten the struggles it had been through history. For the last 1,000 years, the country suffered under the hands of external invasions that extracted wealth out of the country and left its societies poor. When India took independence in 1947, our people felt a sense of duty to rebuild what was ours. Most parents took on the burden and pressured their children to pursue higher studies and high-paying professions. In my teenage years, I experienced this competition firsthand. I needed a high score on these competitive exams to get into a prestigious engineering or medical school that would set me up for the rest of my life. But, I refused to prepare for years and years just for 1 exam. It was probably a little disappointing for my father, but he never showed anger or displeasure. When other parents asked, he'd say: "Whatever they (his children) may become, they will become great citizens of the world. Then they may take up a profession, and they may influence society positively." He encouraged me to → explore different paths → choose organically what I'm good at → work on making it even better. I ended up evolving through changing themes of career ideas, eventually landing in technology and entrepreneurship over the next decade. The idea of exploration and passion deeply shapes our culture at Incepteo. Instead of locking young people into a specific role for life, we let them explore potential career opportunities at our company. • Salespeople join and become project managers • Developers join and become business analysts And, as a father, I try to empower my children in the same way. Some things (like basic maths) can't be avoided, but I try to give them a degree of freedom because it unveils their creativity and passion. People do better when they're not living in the shadow of someone else. Let them explore their own paths and enjoy the journey themselves. 

Yesterday was ‘International Literacy Day’ first celebrated in 1967 to promote literacy as essential for dignity and human rights. When I founded my business back in 2001, it was originally called ‘Reading Matters’. As a primary school teacher and literacy coordinator, I learnt to appreciate first hand how a love of reading was one of the greatest gifts parents can instill in a child. A study across 31 countries found that being enthusiastic about reading and a frequent reader was more of an advantage, on its own, than having well-educated parents in good jobs. Reading is more than just a skill. It's a gateway to imagination and learning. When kids love books, they grow up curious and ‘smart’. Here are 5 tips to help your child enjoy reading: 1️⃣ Start Early: Introduce books when they are babies. 2️⃣ Be a Role Model: Let them see you reading often and show them reading is fun. 3️⃣ Make it a Routine: Consistency builds habit and reading doesn’t just have to be saved for bedtime. 4️⃣ Create a Reading Space: A cozy corner with good lighting and comfy seating can make reading inviting. Keep books within reach. 5️⃣ Let Them Choose: Visit libraries & bookshops. Relate books to their interests. Reading does not only need to involve books – it could be the back of a cereal packet, instructions to a game, recipes, magic tricks etc   Reading together really helps to strengthen the parent-child relationship. It's a gift that lasts a lifetime.   How do you encourage your child to enjoy books, when there are so many other things vying for their attention?

I spent a delightful morning chatting with Susan Ng on CNA938 Radio programme 'Families Ties' about the topic 'The Future I build'. As part of the Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE)'s COMPASS Panel, I have long spoken about the skills-focused mentality that the modern working world adopts, when hiring. 🏆 While academic achievement remains important, it’s clear that success in tomorrow’s job market will depend on 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆. The conversation centered on how parents can equip children with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a dynamic, interconnected future. ⭐ A few key themes stood out: 1. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Teamwork is essential. Future workplaces will prioritize individuals who can bridge perspectives, communicate clearly, and contribute to shared goals.Encouraging children to engage in group projects, sports, or community activities helps them practice empathy and leadership. 2. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 Change is inevitable, (Just look at the MANY changes announced in the world, over the last few days, regarding trade!) and setbacks are part of growth. Teaching children to adapt, problem-solve, and persevere through challenges builds the resilience they’ll need to navigate uncertain industries and roles. 3. 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work across borders will be critical. Exposing young people to diverse perspectives—through language, travel, or even local community interactions—prepares them to contribute meaningfully in multicultural environments. 4. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 Prioritize curiosity and critical thinking over memorization. Success hinges on how to learn, not just what to know. Parents can foster curiosity by prioritizing creativity and critical thinking over rote memorization, emphasizing "how to learn" rather than "what to know." 5. 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Equip kids to lead through ambiguity, embrace new tools, and see change as opportunity. Discussing real-world examples of innovation helps normalize change as an opportunity, not a threat. 𝑻𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔: the foundation we build today isn’t just about preparing for specific jobs—it’s about nurturing adaptable, empathetic, and resourceful individuals ready to shape the future. What skills or values do you believe are most essential for the next generation? Let’s keep the conversation going. #FutureOfWork #CareerReadiness #Parenting #SkillsDevelopment #Leadership Listen in to the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/g8jiP-un

As parents, we often find ourselves helping our children navigate through the maze of career choices and educational paths. Recently, I had a conversation with my daughter that led to an insight some of you might find useful in a similar situation. Instead of immediately diving into comparisons of schools and degrees, I suggested a reverse-engineering approach. Here's the essence of our discussion: 𝟭. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀: Encourage your child to find professionals currently excelling in their desired field. 𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝘂𝘁: Guide them in crafting respectful messages to these professionals. Suggest that they express genuine interest and ask for advice. 𝟯. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:   - What skills, technology and tools are essential in their daily work?   - What education or training proved most and least valuable in their career?   - What advice would they give to someone aspiring to enter the field? 𝟰. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: This approach helps identify the most relevant skills and knowledge, potentially saving time and resources on those degrees and programmes that sound impressive but add little career value. 𝟱. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: This process not only provides valuable insights but also helps your child start building professional connections early. By encouraging this proactive, research-based approach, we empower our children to make informed decisions about their future. It teaches them to seek practical advice, think critically about their choices, and take ownership of their career path. Have you tried similar strategies with your children? What has been your experience in guiding them towards their professional goals?

The unseen impact of work on our #children's #mentalhealth - as working parents, we often grapple with guilt over missed soccer games or piano recitals due to work commitments. But have you ever wondered how our work really impacts our children's emotional well-being? A study delved into the relationship between work and family life. The findings, especially relevant in today's heightened focus on mental health, shed light on the #unseen stakeholders at work - our children. Key Insights: - Children's emotional health improves when parents prioritise family over work and find joy and creativity in their jobs. - Fathers overly involved in their careers or constantly distracted by work at home may inadvertently contribute to their children's behavioural problems. - Mothers with authority and discretion at work, and who prioritise self-care over housework, tend to have mentally healthier children. The research suggests that the quality of parental engagement, rather than the quantity of time spent with children, significantly impacts the mental health of our children. This is a call to action for us parents to reassess the value we place on our careers and explore creative ways to be physically and psychologically available for our children. #WorkLifeBalance #Parenting #MentalHealthAwareness #ChildDevelopment

Creating Inclusive and Family-Friendly Events As the new academic year begins, a wide range of activities—including social events, award ceremonies, and club meetings—are starting to take place, often scheduled after 5 pm. These events are highly valued, as they foster personal connections, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and help build networks crucial for future opportunities. No one wants to miss out on these valuable experiences! With that in mind, I kindly urge organizers to consider the needs of those with family responsibilities when planning these events. While I am fortunate to be able to afford after-school care (2:45-5:30 pm), attending events after 5 pm often requires me to either hire additional help or rely on my spouse to manage pick-up, dinner, and other family duties. Unfortunately, not everyone has these options available, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear of missing out, and concerns about being excluded from important networking opportunities. To help make these events more inclusive, here are a few suggestions: • Whenever possible, avoid scheduling work-related events after 5 pm. • Consider hosting social gatherings from 3-5 pm as a great way to conclude the workday. • Lunches, as well as morning or afternoon coffee/tea sessions, can also be excellent alternatives. • If events must be held after 5 pm, please consider providing accommodations for families with children. This could include setting up a kids’ area, offering babysitting services, or choosing a child-friendly venue. Thank you for taking the time to consider these suggestions and for making every effort to ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued. Cheers!