For Families

Becoming a big brother or sister is a big deal for a little person. Here are gentle, practical ideas for helping any child feel proud, included, and ready - whether you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend.

A close-up of a child's hand gripping a crayon, carefully colouring a rocket and planets on paper

The fine motor skill benefits of colouring, explained

Colouring looks like idle fun, but it's quietly building the hand strength, coordination and control young children need for writing later - here's what's actually happening.

A child joyfully stacking colourful wooden blocks in child-led, unstructured play, surrounded by crayons and drawings

Why unstructured play matters when your family is going through big changes

With a new baby in the house, it's tempting to feel you should be doing more structured activities with an older child - here's why unstructured, child-led play is doing real work too.

A child sitting quietly by a window, colouring alone at their own pace, with a nursery cot in the background

Why children adjust to a new sibling at different speeds

There's no set timeline for a child to settle into being a big brother or sister - here's why comparison isn't a fair measuring stick, and what actually helps.

A parent and child colouring together on the rug, with a caregiver gently holding a new baby nearby

Why colouring helps a child adjust to a new sibling

Simple, calming and screen-free - here's why colouring is such a helpful way to support a child who's becoming a big brother or sister.