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

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

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

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

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

F is for Freestyler

Being a freestyler is about celebrating our differences, and learning to be our true selves. It is only by allowing our children to express who they really are and enabling them to follow their passions, that we can give them the best opportunity to make their mark on the world. Here’s our summary of the best freestyle brands.

Creative Kids, Feel Good on the Inside, Inspiring People, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerFebruary 27, 2020be unique, freestyle, diversity, be yourself, passion, expression, individuality

D is for Diversity

Our differences should be celebrated, because it’s our differences - the diversity of cultures, religion, race, gender, languages and history across the globe and in our own communities - which makes the world go around and life so much more interesting!

Inspiring People, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerJanuary 17, 2020diversity, difference, culture, childrens books, reading

B is for Balance

In the second of our A to Z of brands we love we take a look at those companies doing their bit to nurture well-balanced children, in more ways than one!

Educating For the Future, Feel Good on the Inside, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerOctober 29, 2019kids yoga, childrens yoga, balance, balanced kids, kids wellness, kids wellbeing, healthy snacks, kids snacks, healthy kids snacks, healthy kids, kids education

Ask A Stibler - I Don't Want to Play Football

James, aged 7 from Wellingborough, used to play with his friends on the play equipment at school during break-times, but recently his friends have gone football crazy. James hates football. He likes swinging and climbing on the wooden fort. He asks us what he should do to get his friends back.

Do Good on the Outside, Spark Thinking, Feel Good on the InsideEmily SayerMay 15, 2019kids wellness, parenting, childrens mental health, team player, football, playground games

Ask a Stibler - I'm Not Invited to a Party

Sophia, aged 8, from London wrote to say she hasn’t been invited to the birthday party of a girl in her class who she thought was her friend . What should she do?

Feel Good on the Inside, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerMay 15, 2019selfbelief, self belief, mr fox, advice for kids, parenting, childrens mental health, kids wellness, children, be yourself

Educating For The Future

Artificial Intelligence, which is gathering pace & widely spoken of as ‘the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ is going to see our young people in the eye of a storm of change not witnessed since the advent of electricity. It is estimated that a fifth of the workforce will be automated by 2030 (that’s 800 million workers*) and it is likely that a huge number of the jobs our children end up in haven’t even been invented yet. So with this in mind, how can we best prepare the next generation for a future that’s largely unknown?

Spark Thinking, Creative Kids, Inspiring People, A World to be Proud OfEmily SayerApril 4, 2019worldchangers, education, children colouring pencils, colouring pencils, inspiring children, childrens mental health

Resilience: Helping Our Children Bounce Back

We are honoured to have Berkshire based Psychotherapist, Hester Bancroft, offer up her expertise on building resilient children who are good ‘problem solvers.’

Feel Good on the Inside, Inspiring People, Sparked, Spark Thinking, The SparkEmily SayerApril 3, 2019parenting, wellbeing, childrens mental health, resilience, resilient children

Playtime for Earth Lovers

Getting little ones out in the fresh air is so important, yet how many times have you found yourself stuck inside because you’re not quite sure how to keep them entertained outdoors? Well there are a lot of simple things you can do to initiate play outside while simultaneously helping your child learn about the environment, encouraging their curiosity and appreciation for the world around them.

Creative Kids, Feel Good on the Inside, Do Good on the Outside, Inspiring People, Spark ThinkingEmily SayerMarch 25, 2019education, creative toys, earth lover, caring for the environment, parenting, children, creativity, kids, kids crafts

Selfcare for Kids

Self-care is the current buzz word, but it’s not just busy mums who should be making time to care for their mental health, there are also lots of things we can be encouraging our children to do in order to look after their own wellbeing. Now while being happy 365 days of the year clearly isn’t realistic, there are things both young and old can do to not only feel a bitter in our own heads, but also to make the world a bit of a brighter place for those around us - feel good on the inside, do good on the outside!

Here, Chartered Psychologist, Yoga Teacher and Health Coach, Suzy Reading, who specialises in self-care and helping people manage stress and emotions, offers us seven ways we can empower our kids with their own tools for self-care.

Do Good on the Outside, Feel Good on the Inside, Spark Thinking, Inspiring PeopleEmily SayerFebruary 15, 2019education, wellness, childrens mental health, selfcare, selfcare for children, colouring, wellbeing, parenting