The Spark Blog
Category: tips
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How to make a comfort box for an anxious child
Anxiety is a very unpleasant experience for your child and for you as their parent. Finding tools and techniques to help them combat anxiety is something every parent seeks to do. In this short article Children and Young People counsellor, Linda Smith looks at an effective method known as a comfort box. Helping an anxious…
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![Tips for first years transitioning to university]()
Tips for first years transitioning to university
In February, UCAS reported that a record-breaking number of young people started university last September and this year is likely to be no different. Scotland is home to a total of 19 universities, welcoming students from around the world. Every university offers its students the chance to meet new friends, grow as a person, learn…
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![How to Help a Child Deal with Parental Separation and Divorce]()
How to Help a Child Deal with Parental Separation and Divorce
As a counselling and support charity, The Spark often works with couples trying to avoid parental separation. Sometimes, however, it is best for everyone involved that a relationship comes to an end. From time to time our counsellors are involved in helping couples separate amicably by providing emotional support, alongside mediation and/or legal proceedings. Frequently…
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![Child behaviour management: A Guide for Parents]()
Child behaviour management: A Guide for Parents
Behaviour management is part and parcel of being a parent or carer. All children will at some point display challenging behaviour and in the heat of the moment knowing what to do can be hard. Putting the right behaviour management techniques into practice can be even harder. In this short introduction to child behaviour management…
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![Managing challenging behaviour in children]()
Managing challenging behaviour in children
Managing challenging behaviour is one of the biggest tests any parent will face. From toddler tantrums to pre-teen arguments over clothes and mobile phones, no parent or carer ever gets a free pass. Maintaining safe boundaries for your child while instilling confidence and independence can often feel like an impossible balancing act. This in itself…
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![How to Detox the Negative Body Image Triggers in Your Life]()
How to Detox the Negative Body Image Triggers in Your Life
Negative body image triggers are seemingly inescapable. Beautiful bodies that are sculpted to perfection invade our smartphones, TV screens, magazines and more every hour of every day. This can leave many of us feeling oversized, inadequate and unhappy in our own skin. There are, however, some simple changes we can make to fight back and…
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![Starting secondary school – tips for young people]()
Starting secondary school – tips for young people
Starting secondary school is a big step for young people. The transition from primary school to high school can be a breeze for some, a challenge for others and somewhere in between for most pre-teens. As thoughts turn to Primary 7’s beginning the move to high school we asked our team of children and young…
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![Spotting the signs of emotional distress in children]()
Spotting the signs of emotional distress in children
Spotting the signs of emotional distress in children and young people is not always an easy task. For parents and carers, finding out how our kids are coping with the challenges of life can be as difficult as prizing them away from their smartphones. In this short resource from The Spark – Scotland’s largest provider…
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![Try making a relationship resolution this year]()
Try making a relationship resolution this year
Here’s a question that came to mind on Hogmanay: why do we rarely make New Year resolutions about our relationships? Typically, we opt for an act of self-improvement like eating better, exercising more, quitting smoking or spending more time reading books that will broaden our minds and less time binge-watching Amazon Prime. All are important…
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