V is for Voice

It’s not always easy to speak up for ourselves, even as grown adults, and learning to do so, particularly for those that are shy, takes time and practice. Here are 10 ways children can find and exercise their voice.

Feel Good on the Inside, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerOctober 19, 2022children, confident kids, self esteem for kids

U is for Understanding

The world for our children has changed way beyond that of the one we as parents grew up in. Children today are more aware than ever of the huge and many global issues we face; they find themselves in an unprecedented technological age, which has led to an overexposure and addiction to digital devices and social media which has in turn created an unrelenting pressure to be seen as ‘perfect’; similarly, academically, they are under more pressure than ever to perform and achieve; not to mention the effects of the last few years!

Feel Good on the Inside, Inspiring People, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerMay 20, 2022parenting, positive parenting, parenting books, parenting groups, modern parenting

T is for Team Player

Non-competitive board games are a great way for kids to learn the value of being a team player. Here’s our pick of the best including some good old fashioned freebies!

Spark Thinking, Inspiring PeopleEmily SayerMarch 25, 2022board games, games, childrens game, team player, inspiring children

S is for Storyteller

Fictional or factual, stories offer us the power to imagine, to dream, to wonder what if. With stories, the possibilities are endless. They spark the creativity within each of us, while also giving us a chance to learn about the world and better understand others. Equally, telling stories allows us to explore our inner selves and strengthen our own identities.

Creative Kids, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerSeptember 20, 2021storyteller, storytelling, stories, children's stories, small brands

R is for Resilience

Life is a rollercoaster! There are a lot of lumps and bumps in the road which we must learn to overcome, managing our emotions and even embracing the challenge.

Feel Good on the InsideEmily SayerAugust 9, 2021resilience, resilient children, child psychologist, child psychology, childrens wellbeing, raising kids

Q is for Quiet Times

Life is busy! Our kids are constantly bombarded with activities and technology, resulting in over-stimulation. Help teach them how to relax, embrace some downtime and find calm amid the chaos with these simple ideas.

Feel Good on the Inside, Sparked, The SparkEmily SayerJune 24, 2021downtime, quiet time, relax kids, kids meditation, kids yoga, mindfulness for kids

P is for Problem Solver

From shape sorters to jigsaw puzzles, learning how to solve problems starts from a young age and offers so many benefits to children, boosting their confidence and instilling in them vital skills which they can transfer to real life problems! Here’s our favourite problem solving kids brands.

The Spark, Feel Good on the Inside, Educating For the FutureEmily SayerMay 12, 2021problem solving, problem solver, critical thinking, toys, STEM Toys, Problem Solving Toys, Confident Kids, Resilient Children, Raising Kids, Jigsaw Puzzles

O is for Originality

Originality is one, the ability to think independently and creatively and two, the quality of not being the same as anything or anybody else. Being ourselves, treading our own paths, is the only way to truly achieve personal satisfaction and fulfilment. Here’s our rundown of our favourite brands advocating ‘originality’.

Creative Kids, Feel Good on the Inside, Inspiring People, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerMarch 18, 2021originality, original, freestyler, be yourself, self confidence, self esteem, confident kids, independent thinking, creative kids

N is for Nature

Nature provides our children with a greater understanding and respect of our world, as well as their place within it all the while fuelling exploration, discovery and adventure. Here’s are favourite ‘nature’ brands.

Do Good on the Outside, Inspiring People, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerFebruary 17, 2021nature, natural world, wildlife, microadventures, exploration, outdoor play, den building, earth lover, forest school

M is for Mindfulness

Mindfulness offers kids and adults alike so many benefits from lowering stress and anxiety to regulating our emotions and feeling more positive. All key skills which will help the next generation better navigate life’s lumps and bumps. We’ve pulled together our favourite mindfulness brands.

Feel Good on the Inside, The Spark, Spark Thinking, Inspiring People, SparkedEmily SayerJanuary 25, 2021mindfulness, mindful, breath, mental wellbeing, childrens mental health, self esteem, self control, big emotions, small businesses

L is for Listening

Whether informative and educational or entertaining and amusing, podcasts are a great way to encourage good listening, improve attentions and spark imagination. Here’s our pick of the best podcasts for kids…

Inspiring People, The Spark, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerDecember 17, 2020good listener, listening, podcasts, kids podcasts, ted talks

Christmas Toy Appeals

This Christmas, more than ever, there are families who need our support, who have faced a particularly tough time due to the pandemic. By giving a gift we can help bring a bit of festive fun and joy to these children and their families. Here’s a few charities and organisations who need your help!

Do Good on the OutsideEmily SayerDecember 2, 2020toy appeal, christmas toy appeal, christmas giving, christmas donations, children's charity

Amazing Children In Lockdown

If ever there was a time when the kindness and potential of our children to help change the world was apparent, this year has been it! Young people here and across the globe have done some amazing things during lockdown to help others and raise money for a good cause.

Creative Kids, A World to be Proud Of, Do Good on the Outside, Inspiring PeopleEmily SayerNovember 20, 2020amazing children, world changers, charity, kindess, potential

K is for Kindness

We are living amidst a kindness revolution and if asked what qualities we’d like to instil in our children, we suspect that kindness ranks pretty highly! We all want to raise kind kids and here are just a few of the brands we love who can help you do that while spreading the message of kindness near and far!

A World to be Proud Of, Do Good on the Outside, Feel Good on the InsideEmily SayerNovember 11, 2020kindness, kind kids, be kind, kindness revolution, random acts of kindness

J is for Joy Finder

Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be filled with joy! Joy isn’t something which is based upon our circumstances - it’s about finding magic in the everyday, the simple pleasures that life has to offer, which are many a time the small, ordinary things that don’t cost a penny. Here’s are favourite joy inducing activities.

Feel Good on the InsideEmily SayerOctober 15, 2020joy, joy finder, happiness, happy, little things, magical moments, simple pleasures, joy of the ordinary, baking, painting, dancing, play dough, wellies

I is for Inclusivity

Inclusion is a universal human right! Irrespective of our race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, physical or cognitive abilities we should all feel included. As citizens and parents we must educate ourselves and our children, listening, learning, reading, watching, and talking about the richness and diversity of people. Here’s five of our favourite brands doing their bit to promote inclusion.

Inspiring People, Feel Good on the Inside, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerOctober 8, 2020inclusivity, diversity, inclusion, education, gender neutrality, disability, motherhood, developmental needs

H is for Happiness

It’s not possible to be happy all of the time, we all have good days and bad days, including our kids! But there are many ways in which we can teach our children to sure up their mental wellbeing, savour the good times, ride out the tough times, and be joy finders. Here’s our top 5 happy brands…

Feel Good on the Inside, The SparkEmily SayerSeptember 24, 2020happy, happy kids, happy journal, happy newspaper, happy news, happiness, mental wellbeing, kids wellbeing, positive parenting, positivity

G is for Growth Mindset

Having a growth mindset is so important - it is what enables us to get over those hurdles which life has a habit of throwing at us, giving us opportunities to learn, improve and succeed. Essentially it teaches us not to give up! Here’s our top five growth mindset brands.

Inspiring People, Spark Thinking, Feel Good on the InsideEmily SayerSeptember 10, 2020growth mindset, resilience, mindfulness, childrens mental health, confidence, determination, successful kids, small brands, shop small

10 Quick Ways to Reduce your Plastic Consumption

We don’t need to preach to you about the impact of plastic on our planet. We all know the devastating effects it’s having on our natural environments and animal populations. Plastic stays around forever, it’s not recyclable. But unfortunately plastic has become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Cutting it out of our lives completely isn’t easy but there are some quick ways you can reduce your consumption. Here’s our top ten for Plastic Free July.

A World to be Proud Of, Do Good on the OutsideEmily SayerJuly 7, 2020plastic waste, plastic free july, plastic free, eco friendly, go green, zero waste, sustainable living, plastic pledge

Beyond a Black Square

In terms of our pledges to Listen, Learn and Educate our littlest minds to grow up in a new paradigm, Stib has compiled a list of wonderful kid’s books championing diversity and inclusivity to help our children our children embrace and support our multicultural world.

Educating For the Future, A World to be Proud Of, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerJune 24, 2020bame, diversity, reading, inclusivity, childrens books, empathy, storyteller, racial equality, positive parenting, raising kids