JANUARY 2024
WORK
5 Ways to Be a Happy Working Parent
Parenting expert Anita Cleare, author of The Work/Parent Switch, shares five tips to help you win at working parenthood.
Your Guide to Prioritising a Busy Home and Work Life
Following on from tips to help with time management, Carey Ann from Explore Learning shares advice for prioritisation and offers a free downloadable planner to help you move away from unachievable to-do lists and maximise family time.
Work
Home
You
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7 Top Tips for Juggling Work and Eldercare
From scheduled call times to flexible working patterns, we share seven tips to help you manage work and caring for your elderly relative.
Six Steps Towards Inclusive Leadership
Inclusive leadership is a journey, not a destination and while it’s an ongoing process, there are specific steps that can help set you up for success. Morgan looks at six ways in which leaders can ensure they’re being inclusive.
find out more
5 Considerations to Maximize Your Success in the Return to Office World
Many of us are continuing to develop our working patterns, either returning fully to an office-first approach, or blending onsite and remote, with an increasing emphasis on presence in person. Head of Thought Leadership, Jennifer Liston-Smith shares ideas on how we can embrace this next phase.
Our Social Scene
Our January resource pack is here to help your employees step boldly into 2024 with a blend of insight and inspiration. The selection of resources has been curated to help your people navigate the balance between work, home, personal development and wellbeing with confidence. They can look forward to top tips, expert advice, and a dash of motivation to make this their best year yet. Whether your employees are aiming for career milestones, better work-life balance, or personal growth, we’ve got them covered.
Insight & Inspiration
Social Scene
How to Maintain a Strong Relationship with Teachers and Carers
These days, ‘hustle culture’ encourages us to chase our dreams and work hard to achieve our career goals. it can be difficult to know how to pursue your goals without sacrificing your wellbeing and burning out in the process. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you’re giving your career your all without compromising your mental, emotional and physical health.
These days, ‘hustle culture’ encourages us to chase our dreams and work hard to achieve our career goals. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you’re giving your career your all without compromising your mental, emotional and physical health.
How to Give Your Career Your All – Without Sacrificing Your Wellbeing
Don’t work harder, work smarter. Easy to say, but where do you begin? Business skills trainer Graham Roberts-Phelps provides a pot-pourri of time-management thoughts, tips, tricks and techniques.
Take a Dip Into These Smarter Working Tips
There are many reasons why continued education and adult learning can be valuable. In this article we’ll explore the benefits of continued education and share some top tips on how to juggle your existing workload with the potential addition of more.
Continued learning: Why it’s Important and How to Manage it While Working Full-Time
Other Stuff
Events and Seminars
Blogs
Research and Whitepapers
Library
January 2023
Navigating Difficult Conversations
March 2023
Resource Roundup March Awareness Events
International Women's Day
special edition
April 2023
Celebrating Neurodiversity
May 2023
Maternal Mental Health and Wellbeing
June 2023
Carers Week
Pride Month
July 2023
Surviving & Thriving This Summer
August 2023
Return to School
September 2023
Alzheimer's Awareness Month
October 2023
National Work-Life Week
November 2023
Men's Health & Wellbeing
Navigating the New Year with
HOME
From the internet to our families, there is no shortage of people trying to better themselves. Caroline thinks that change isn’t always the answer, but that being happy with who you are could be the key.
Accepting Who You Are and Being Content with Yourself
April is Stress Awareness Month, so we’ve put together eight key steps to help reduce stress levels and improve your mental wellbeing.
8 Key Steps to Reduce Stress
Corporate Life Coach Kate Horwood gives a run-down of a morning routine to kick-start your day - and how to crow-bar that into your busy schedule.
Create a Morning Routine to Boost Positivity and Energy
Together with financial wellbeing experts, Nudge, we consider how to better manage our money by setting goals or budgets and learning to be thrifty.
Healthy Money Mindset
If having goals gives us hope and opportunity, if they energise us and give us direction, why is it that we don’t all set goals? And even if we do, why do they so often get abandoned? Psychologist Carly Sime takes a closer look at where we might be going wrong and considers how we can break the cycle and better set ourselves up to succeed.
The Truth About Goals
YOU
January 2024
Navigate the New Year Insight and Inspiration
november 2023
Personal & Parenting
Men’s Health & The Workplace
The Importance of Prioritising Men’s Health
As it stands, health and wellness are still topics that are largely overlooked by the male population. Statistically, men are 32% less likely than women to visit a GP and are living shorter lives due to lifestyle choices that negatively affect both their physical and mental wellbeing.
A Man’s Mental Health Story
Our guest blogger, Kieran, shares his mental health story and paints the picture of how the best way to ‘man up’ is to speak up and seek help...
Men's Health & The Workplace
Practical Advice
Male Infertility: Facts, Stats and Where to Go For Help
Fertility Network chief executive, Gwenda Burns, looks at male fertility and the importance of getting men to talk about problems.
Healthy Snack-Hacks for Work
Workplace nutrition specialist, Lily Soutter, shares her tips for healthy snack-hacks to get you through the workday.
7 Strategies for Managers to Support Men’s Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental health not only impacts an individual's personal life, it can also affect their productivity and morale at work. In this article, discover 7 strategies that managers and team leaders can use to support their male colleagues’ wellbeing.
In the month of Movember, we take a moment to celebrate not just the moustaches that may sprout but, more importantly, the resilient individuals behind them — men who are fathers, sons, partners, carers, friends, and dedicated professionals. This resource pack contains articles filled with top tips, expert advice and personal stories, as well and resources tailored to empower the men in your workplace on their journey to maintain a healthy work life balance, find support, and prioritise health and wellbeing.
Balancing Parenthood and Self-Care: 5 ways Fathers Can Prioritise Their Mental Health
Fatherhood can be a challenging yet rewarding journey. The fine balancing of priorities that’s frequently required can lead to many dads feeling overwhelmed and neglecting their own health, while they struggle to put the needs of their family first.
In the hustle and bustle of our professional lives, we are likely to come across colleagues who may be facing various challenges, from mental health issues and physical health concerns to workplace burnout.
4 Ways to ‘Be There’ for a Male Colleague Who Might Need It
November isn’t just a month for crisp autumn weather and pumpkin spiced beverages; it’s also Movember-a month dedicated to raising awareness about men’s health issues, including prostate cancer.
Movember: Tips for Managing a Cancer Diagnosis… and Work
Acclaimed author Royston Guest flags up key signs of workplace burnout and how to avoid it.
Workplace Burnout: Signs to Look Out For & How to Overcome It
october 2023
Self Care
Work-Life Balance
The Power of ‘Authentic’ Positive Self Talk
Self-talk is how you talk to yourself; the inner voice that influences what you do and how you feel. Dr Kate Beaven-Marks explains how to channel it so that it's framed positively.
7 Key Steps to Reduce Stress
We've put together eight key steps to help reduce stress levels and improve your mental wellbeing.
The Key Strategies to Find Balance
Championing National Work Life Week is one thing, incorporating balance into your daily routine is another. Our expert coach gives her top three strategies to help it happen.
The Work-Life Triangle
Our Work+Family Coaching Team and Head of Thought Leadership, Jennifer, share a useful coaching tool for integrating work and life to fit your values.
6 Ways to Get the Most from Your Employee Benefits
One of the reasons many of us choose to work on a salaried basis rather than freelance is because of the range of company benefits employers provide. There's no better time than the present to evaluate your benefits and explore how they can work harder for you.
To say I’m a “busy working mum of two” seems bit cliché. Do you know any working mums who aren’t busy or come to think of it, any working people or any mums that aren’t either? Here’s Bronwen’s advice on how to figure out the work-life juggle…
Finding Work-Life Balance as a Working Mum
This year, Bright Horizons is delighted to be the sponsor for National Work Life Week! This annual campaign aims to encourage employers to provide activities for their people, and to showcase their flexible working policies and practices to create a culture that allows everyone to be their best – both at work and at home. In this pack of resources, discover expert advice, top tips and personal stories that support overall wellbeing.
National Work Life Week
Calling 'In' Vs. Calling 'Out': The Art of Allyship Within Today's Flexible Workplace
In this article, we explore how ‘calling in’, an inclusive and empathetic communication model, can help foster a workplace culture of growth and mutual respect for all.
Why Self-Care Planning Benefits Your Wellbeing
We take a look at how creating a self-care plan helps to promote mind and body wellness, while reducing feelings of anxiety, stress and overwhelm.
With good mental health we are better able to cope with day-to-day life and all it throws at us - and make the most of our potential. These ten top tips will help you look after your mental health and overall wellbeing.
10 Ways to Look After Your Mental Health
Are you divorced, separated, single, a lone parent? If so, you may be so busy with work and childcare or eldercare that Valentine's Day just passes you by. Or maybe this day for lovers makes you yearn to be in a relationship again.
Top Tips for Juggling Work, Care… and Dating!
Discover some top tips to ensure you are making the most of working from home.
Top Tips to Ensure Working from Home is Working for You
Trying to reconcile the demands of work and life can be extremely difficult. Leadership & Parent Transition Coach Rebecca Ford-Johnson explains how you might succeed using your own preferred natural style.
Thinking Work-Life Blend, Not Work-Life Balance
Let’s look at what we can do to acknowledge the pressures that working carers face and make practical provision.
Retaining the Talents of Working Carers
Communication and Care
Coping with Alzheimer's and Dementia
Tips for Talking to People with Dementia
Care home and eldercare experts, Helping Hands, share some strategies for communicating with a loved one who has Alzheimer's or Dementia.
"How do I Answer a Question Like That?" When Dementia Makes Conversation Difficult
Discover some helpful guidelines for navigating "difficult" conversations with loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Looking After Someone with Dementia
When you care for someone who's living with dementia, there's no simple set of answers for every situation. These tips don't promise a 'one size fits all' solution, but they may offer helpful guidance to you as you care for your loved ones.
How to Cope with Denial in Dementia
Care home and eldercare experts, Helping Hands, discuss how to cope with denial in Dementia patients and how to help a loved one with a new diagnosis come to terms with their condition.
How to Cope with an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, it can shatter your world and cause a wide range of complex emotions. Explore how to manage the news of a diagnosis, as well as next steps…
9 Stimulating Activities for a Parent with Alzheimer’s
Encouraging your parent to maintain their interests and relationships can not only lead to a better quality of life, but it can even reduce the effects of the disease (particularly memory impairment).
Brain Games to Improve Your Memory and Mental Health
Discover some top brain games for your mental upkeep...
Our friends at Helping Hands share expert advice on how to help a loved one with Dementia navigate time.
How to Help Someone with Dementia Tell the Time
September is host to Alzheimer's Awareness Month, an important event which aims to raise awareness and support all those affected by this disorder. In this pack, we’ve included practical and emotional support for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or Dementia. Caring for someone with a cognitive disorder can be challenging, so we’ve put together some expert advice and resources to help make your employees’ journey a little easier.
Different Dementia Types and Symptoms
World Alzheimer's Awareness Month serves to encourage people to take action in improving the lives of people affected by dementia. Discover more about Alzheimer’s and Dementia in this article.
How to Help Ensure a Relative with Dementia is Treated with Dignity ('This is Me')
If you're supporting a relative with dementia, you may worry whether they will be provided with the personalised care and support they might require. Completing a 'This is me' document with, or for, your relative can help ensure health and care workers are aware of the little details that can make a big difference.
Managing the Transition
7 Ways to Manage Back-to-School Anxiety
As you prepare your child for the transition from holiday to school, it’s important to manage any feelings of overwhelm to ensure they’re able to start the school year feeling confident and ready to learn. Discover 7 ways to manage back-to-school anxiety…
Navigating the Transition to School
Navigating the transition to school can be an unsettling time for both children and parents alike.
Returning to School with Confidence
If your child has preschool jitters, our partners at Role Models have tips to help them return with confidence.
Expert Guidance on Going Back to School
Our partners at Holland Park Education share their top back-to-school tips for different subjects and age groups.
Teen Education: Back to School, Back to Reality
MyTutor, our expert partners in tutoring, discuss 4 effective behaviours for helping your teen ease back into education.
Going back to school is always a busy time for both parents and children, getting started early can alleviate the pressure for everyone.
How to Adjust to a New Routine
September means 'Back to School' and new routines. Childcare expert Michelle Barr gives her advice on ways you can adjust that can help you gain a lean, mean, everyday routine.
The Morning Routine: Getting Children Ready for School
Whether your child is going back to school or struggling with a new morning routine, getting ready for school or nursery doesn’t have to be a struggle. Here are some top tips for discovering how to get ready for school in a way that works for your family.
Getting Back Into
Back to School Checklist
As families prepare for children to return to school after the summer holidays, we know that the transition back to the classroom and the re-establishment of term-time routines can be a struggle - for everyone involved! That’s why we've created this Resource, filled with advice, top tips and support on how to make the transition back to school smoother, to help your employees and their children make the most of this exciting new school year.
Getting Back Into the Swing of Things
august 2023
In a busy daily life, it can be frustrating if the little time you have with your children is used for constant discussions about homework. But there are ways to make the evening ritual more enjoyable for everyone.
How to Establish a Good Homework Routine
After school clubs can be great for children to get involved in a fun activity, as well as giving you extra time in the afternoons if you can’t leave work to do the school pick-up. But knowing how many and which after school activities your child can manage can be difficult. We've got some pointers to help you determine what's right for you and your family.
How to Choose the Right After School Activities for Your Child
Out of ideas for what to put in your child's lunchbox? We've looked online for some new lunchbox ideas to try out this autumn.
How to Pack a Punch with Easy-to-Prep Packed Lunches for Parents on the Run
Practical Support and Ideas
Do you feel overwhelmed at times? Wish you could make life easier and have more time for loved ones and yourself? Carey Ann from Explore Learning shares tips for managing time and family.
Time Management Tips for Busy Parents
THE SWING
of Things
Travel
Expert Tips for Flying with Children
Many parents get nervous at the thought of traveling with young children. However, with a little planning and sticking to a routine, you’ll manage to arrive at your destination with your sanity intact.
Are We There Yet? Long Car Journeys with Children
We share tips for making long trips with your little ones easier.
Summer Reading & Extended Learning
Summer Living
How to Instil Teen Street Smarts When Travelling
Learning to be independent is part of growing up. Though it’s not easy to relax the rules and push back the boundaries as your child grows, giving them appropriate levels of independence will help them become confident and well-adjusted adults.
With the summer holidays upon us, we know there's a lot to juggle for working parents, so we've created a range of activities and resources to help you and your family make the most of the sunny season. In this resource pack, we've included fun family activities, tips for travel, support for parents and more. We hope these resources will help you and your family to survive and thrive this summer!
Surviving & Thriving
This Summer
Summer Holiday: 10 Essentials to Pack for Your Toddler
Summer holidays are an exciting time for the whole family, but packing for a trip with young children can be overwhelming. From wardrobe and toiletry items to activities and extras, these tips should help you ensure that your little traveller has all the necessities for a safe and enjoyable vacation.
Top Summer Reads for Teens
Finding the perfect summer read can be difficult, especially for teens. With school out and plenty of free time, it’s important to find a book that’s both entertaining and engaging.
7 Reasons to Keep Your Child Learning This Summer
While our children have made big strides since their return to school, there’s still some work to be done to catch up from the past few years of disruption. Discover 8 reasons to extend your child’s learning into the summer…
9 of the Best Learning Apps to Keep Your Tweens and Teens Busy
To keep your child’s brain ticking and thinking, we’ve spent time trialling a range of educational apps, from problem-solving and resilience to ones with an emphasis on learning and key skills needed for their lessons.
Why Summer Reading is Important and How to Make it Fun
Discover a few ways to help your child look back over their summer and be proud of their reading accomplishments.
Reading with Your Children: The Knock-on Benefits and How to Make it Enjoyable
We look at benefits of reading you may not have realised as well as offering ten tips on how to make the most of this precious experience.
Fun Summer Activities
Are the summer holidays a time for your child to just rest and relax? Or should it be a time to present them with new situations, opportunities and challenges? We consider how you might help your children ease a little out of their comfort zone in a safe and appropriate way.
Take Your Children Out of Their Comfort Zone This Summer
11 simple ideas to encourage children to enjoy the outdoors during the summer season.
How to Create Outside Play Opportunities This Summer
Learning to ride a bike is a fun and brilliant skill for children to learn, and having the right equipment can make things a whole lot easier.
Tips for Helping Your Child Learn to Ride a Bike, Whatever Their Age
In this article, we’ve rounded up the best ideas that can be enjoyed by babies, toddlers, and teenagers.
Fun Outdoor Activities for Children of All Ages
Sweet(ish) sixteen year old Daniel expresses how he would like to be treated over the summer, while our coach Iole Matthews gives some top advice on how to make that work within the family.
Teen Vs Adult: What They’d Like (or Not) and How to Manage That
When the school holidays arrive, everything changes. We take a closer look at where the rules might get relaxed and whether it might be a good time to introduce new roles and responsibilities, and encourage new habits.
Summer Rules: 10 Changes You Might Want to Consider in Your Household
While we may love longer summer evenings, when you have young children the later nights can mean more difficult bedtimes. We look at some quick wins that will (hopefully) help your child get a good night’s sleep and leave you able to function the next day.
Solving Summer Night Blues with a Young Child
We’ve got some tips to ensure your children are protected in the sun while making the most of the good weather this summer.
7 Top tips to Stay Sun Safe
Mum, You Do Know I’m Gay, Right?
“I was in the kitchen when he told me. I think it was more of a statement than a question. I suppose he wanted to just get it out of the way and move on.” Martine talks about how her son came out to her and how she and her family are adapting.
Coming Out Conversations – Advice for Parents
What all children want and need from their parents is unconditional love and support, and this is especially the case when they begin to explore their sexual identity.
Children are inherently curious and will ask questions about families that are different to their own. Here are a few tips to help teach them about diversity.
Mum and Mummy: Our Two-Mum Family
Lucy shares her journey and some of the challenges she’s faced being part of a two-mum family.
Beyond Rainbows: 3 Ways to Make Sure Your Culture is LGBTQ+ Inclusive
Jamie, our Growth, Learning and Development Manager in the US, highlights three things to consider to ensure inclusivity goes beyond Pride month.
Talking to Children About Diverse Families
June is host to Pride Month, and every year, we look forward to celebrating, raising awareness and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. We hope you’ll find our collection of articles informative, useful and supportive.
Support for All
LGBTQ+ Support
JUNE 2023
Our partners at Autumna share information about a few of the LGBTQ+ retirement living options in the UK.
LQBTQ+ UK Retirement Living: Discover the Options
Further support and signposting to organisations outside of Bright Horizons who are there for you...
BeLonG To (Ireland)
LGBT Foundation
Mind Out
Outstanding
TENI (Ireland)
Support for Carers
Adjusting to Reversed Roles: Becoming A Carer for Your Elderly Parent
It can be an emotionally difficult transition for many, the moment you realise you’ve become a carer for your ageing parent. Let’s explore a few of the most common relationship changes that can occur, as well as some suggestions for how to navigate them in a way that strengthens rather than weakens your bond.
How to Balance Work with an Emotionally Needy Parent
If you have an emotionally dependent parent, it can often start to affect all aspects of your life - not just the evenings and weekends. There are a few things you can try to mitigate those feelings of guilt, reassure your loved one and reclaim your time.
Carers’ Rights Day: Information and Support
Carers Rights Day is an important day to let all carers know that they have rights unique to them and are supported in their caring journey. We’ve collated some support information from the Carers UK’s ‘Looking After Someone’ guide to share with you.
Should I Invite My Elderly Father to Live with Us?
“My dad’s been angling to move in with me ever since my mum died. I know it wouldn’t work out - but am I being mean by not taking him in?” Eldercare specialist and life coach Dr. Lesley Trenner provides her expert advice on this personal dilemma.
Helping Your Ageing Parent with Hearing Loss
According to Age UK, around 40% of people over the age of 50 in the UK have some form of hearing loss. Hearing loss can occur due to ageing, regular exposure to loud noise, a history with middle ear disease or a family history of hearing loss. We explore some top tips for addressing what may be a sensitive topic with your parent.
Unfortunately, strokes are common amongst the elderly, and according to the NHS, “you’re more likely to have a stroke if you’re over 55.” Our Friends at Helping Hands shed more light on strokes and treatment.
What to do When an Elderly Parent Refuses Help
We share some of the unexpected challenges and unforeseen learnings that working women have experienced during this unique journey.
10 Steps to Take When Ageing Parents Need Help
Helping Hands share 10 steps to take when ageing parents need support…
Top Tips and Advice
Main Types of Elderly Stroke Types and Treatments
Every year, we celebrate and honour the complex and heartfelt work that carers do. 2023 is no different! This June, we've collated expert top tips to support you as you care for your elder relatives and loved ones. We hope you find them to be insightful and useful.
5 - 11 June
5 Tips for Sharing Caregiving Responsibilities with Family
Whether taking on the role was through choice or circumstance, it’s natural for it to be accompanied by feelings of resentment between the primary caregiver and the rest of the family from time to time. To minimise frustration and animosity, we’ve compiled some tips to help you and your family share the caring responsibilities so that all the work doesn’t fall to one person.
7 Steps for Carers to Consider When Navigating the Care Maze
To help you navigate this tricky life stage, we share seven bite-sized practical steps to consider when preparing to care.
MAY 2023
Maternal Mental Health & Planning
Maternal Mental Health & Pregnancy
5 Tips for Trying to Conceive While Working Full-Time
Trying to conceive can be stressful for your mind and body. Try these tips to help you relax and look after yourself while working full-time.
Timing Your Maternity Leave
Some mums like the idea of ‘tools down, feet up’ a few weeks before their due date, while others choose to work as close to the big day as possible. We look at what to consider when planning when to leave the office and take your maternity leave.
& Planning
& Pregnancy
& Motherhood
The Tipping Point
Emily describes the moment she tipped from thinking of herself as a pregnant woman into a mum-to-be.
Making the Most of Your Keep in Touch (KiT) Days
Keep in Touch days during leave provide a great opportunity, but you don’t want to end up feeling like a spare part with nothing to do. Here, we share our top tips on how to plan and make the most of them.
Tips for Working from Home While Pregnant
There are pros and cons for being pregnant and working from home. We take a look at a few and share suggestions for how you can enjoy a comfortable and well-connected pregnancy while working from home.
Parental Guilt Wasn’t Enough. I Felt Work Guilt Too
“Many working parents feel guilty about putting their kids in childcare. But there’s another side of the guilt coin too: not being the employee you once were.” Maureen looks back on the double-dose of guilt she felt when she returned to work after maternity leave.
5 Ways to Care For Yourself While Caring For Your Young Child
Here are 5 things that you can start doing for yourself to ensure your wellbeing alongside parenthood. And, by the way, they’re best served without a side of guilt..
You may be a parent, but unfortunately, your superpowers don’t exempt you from sick days. From stomach bugs to seasonal flus and everything in between, there will undoubtedly come times when you’ll be incapacitated and in need of a day (or two) in bed. But, how do you manage to parent these days when parenting is a full-time job?
Challenges and Insights From Being a Mother
Mental Health Support and Tips For New Mums
Helen Bowden, maternity expert at Tinies, highlights some important aspects of maternal mental health and tips on how to take care of yourself after giving birth.
Maternal Mental Health & Motherhood
6 Parenting Hacks For When You’re Sick
May is host to Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, which is dedicated to spreading awareness surrounding mental wellbeing before, during and after pregnancy. We hope you’ll find our collection of articles to be insightful and supportive.
mATERNAL mENTAL hEALTH & wELLBEING
Maternal Mental Health
5 Ways to Manage Work Pressure While Pregnant
When you’re juggling a job as well as a growing bump, the stress levels can shoot up. Pregnancy can change how you approach work in a number of ways, but looking after your (and your baby’s) health should always be the priority. Take a look at five tips to help you manage.
This April, we’re shining a light on neurodiversity and all its nuances. We’ve collated some helpful resources, ranging from expert top tips and advice to inspiring personal stories. We hope these resources will help provide you with insight, learnings and support.
CELEBRATING nEURODIVERSITY
april 2023
Work + You + Neurodiversity
6 Ways to Support and Empower Neurodivergent Employees
The majority of people are neurotypical, meaning their brains function and process information according to society’s expectations. However, nearly 15% of the UK population are neurodiverse. Discover ways to better suit all your employees’ needs and improve both their wellbeing and productivity.
Creating a Better Work Environment for All by Embracing Neurodiversity
It’s estimated that 1 in 7 people in the UK are neurodiverse, and it’s important that within every organisation everyone does their best to create working environments and cultures that are inclusive and accommodating for all. As the saying goes: a rising tide lifts all ships. In this article, we explore a few ways this can be done…
I Might Look Organised but That’s Because I’m Not
“I keep a very neat and tidy to-do list on my desk and am always updating it. A colleague commented on how organised I was. It just couldn’t be further from the truth.” Chloe explains how she copes with the learning disorder she hides so well.
Parenting + Neurodiversity
Managing Relationships: Growing Up with a Father on the Autistic Spectrum
Louise shares how her father’s autism affected her relationship with him, but how knowledge and a better understanding has helped them both move forward.
How to Support Your Child if They’re Showing Signs of Dyslexia
Our SEND expert, Dawn, shares advice on how you can support your child if they are showing signs of Dyslexia.
Seven Tips for Parents of Children with Autism
Kelly, mother of an autistic six-year-old daughter, offers these tips to any parent who is finding their way along the journey with a child diagnosed as having a condition ‘on the spectrum’.
What to Do If You Think Your Child Has Autism
If you have concerns about your child’s social, emotional and cognitive development then you may want to take action. Here are signs to look out for and what to do next to help your child develop and thrive.
9 Tips for Encouraging a Child with SEN
We share ways you can encourage your child with SEN.
Diagnosing Autism: It Can Be Difficult with Girls
When her teenage daughter was finally diagnosed with autism, everything fell into place for Caroline. Here she shares what she learned at a talk on girls and autism by renowned expert Sarah Hendrickx and relates it to her own experience in the hope it will help other parents also concerned about their child.
Don’t Judge My Child or My Parenting
Mum, Lisa, recounts the journey she’s been on to get a diagnosis and help her autistic son.
Top Tips for Talking to Your Child About Neurodiversity
Dawn, Bright Horizons Early Childhood SEND Director shares 5 top tips on how to talk to your little one about neurodiversity…
Life with a Side of Autism
“Getting a diagnosis for our daughter took eighteen months. Believe me, that’s quick, so if you feel something’s not right, you have to speak up.” Mother-of-two Kelly shares her journey of discovery and offers advice to other parents wondering if their child may be on the autism spectrum.
Medication & Dedication: How We’re Helping My Daughter Get Through School
“My teenage daughter has both ADHD and dyslexia. She gets extra time for school exams, but it’s so hard for her because she has to focus for far longer than anyone else”. Jill sheds light on the journey so far, and how both she and her daughter have adapted.
SEND Parenting Survival Guide
SEND expert, Natalie, explains and sets out her parenting survival guide. Natalie is a parent of a child with special educational needs. She shares her personal experiences and offers 10 tips for parents based on her learnings…
Sensory Processing Disorder
SEND specialist, Cheryl Bedding, shares information on the extra three senses and how you can support and enable a child who may have undeveloped senses to thrive.
Ways to Spot if Your Child May Have a Learning Difficulty
Our Special Educational Needs Early Childhood Director, Natalie, looks at some of the key struggles that might indicate a child has a learning difficulty, such as Dyslexia, and how to help.
How to Support Your Child if They’re Showing Signs of Dyspraxia
What exactly is Dyspraxia and how can you support your child at home and build on their nursery experiences if they are showing signs of Dyspraxia? Dawn, our Area Childhood Director who specialises in SEND, sheds light.
This March, we celebrate International Women’s Day! In honour of all working women and working mothers, we’ve compiled a collection of resources to help support, inspire and empower. We hope you’ll enjoy these thought-provoking pieces written by experts and thought leaders, and most especially, other women!
Special Edition
march 2023
International Women's Day Past and Present
Motherhood and Work
5 Ways Managers Can Drive Gender Equity in the Workplace
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity. In 2023, equity within the workplace (and beyond) isn’t just a ‘nice to have,’ it’s essential. Discover 5 ways you can better foster gender equity in your team…
Women in the Workplace – Providing a Choice Not a Compromise
Far too often we allow circumstances to force women into making a compromise between their families and their career, when what we need to do is give them a choice.
3 Ways for Employers to Break Gender Bias
Our Head of Thought Leadership, Jennifer Liston-Smith joins the drive to #BreakTheBias. She offers 3 evidence-based tips on where we can make progress on gender roles in the home, workplace and beyond.
International Women's Day Past and Pressent
Personal Stories
How Will You Choose to Challenge
Our head of thought leadership, Jennifer Liston-Smith, reflects on challenging gender stereotypes for International Women’s Day.
Planning for Parental Leave
Our Head of Coaching and Consultancy, Iole Matthews, shares eight ideas to consider as you prepare for a smooth transition in those months before you go on leave.
A Critical ‘Moment That Matters’
The Parent Transition:
Jennifer Liston-Smith reminds us of the need for employers to support parental leave returners, particularly in the hybrid world, and the difference it makes to have a well-supported leave in terms of keeping career on track as well as family wellbeing.
Raising Strong and Confident Girls
International Women’s Day is a wonderful time for parents to celebrate the achievements of girls and women with their children. Reflecting on how we raise girls (children who identify as female) every day can help you encourage confidence and high self-esteem in your child.
How to Continue Breastfeeding When You Return to Work
Going back to work needn’t mean putting an end to breastfeeding. However, the thought of doing both can seem stressful. We asked Joanna Brett, NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor, for her advice for women returning to work who want to still breastfeed.
Upfront and Honest About Parental Leave
Talking to your line manager about parental leave can be daunting, more so if they’re unfamiliar with what’s involved. Leadership and Transition coach, Ben, offers advice on the best way to approach it.
I Sobbed Going Back to Work but Smile About It Now
“After an amazing ten months on maternity leave, I’m now back at work. I dreaded it for months.” Yet despite her fears and first-day tears, Mary has learned to relish both work and the precious time she has with baby Jasper.
My Return to Work After Maternity Leave
Our Field Sales and Marketing Executive, Rose Norton, shares her story and tips on navigating your return to work after maternity leave.
Some new parents worry that becoming a parent may mean they lose their cutting-edge in the workplace. No such issues for Elizabeth who feels there is no end to the transferable skills she’s gained.
The Return to Work: Managing Children’s Expectations
On returning to the workplace after a decade, Emily explains how she tried to manage her children’s expectations and fears through the process.
Return to Work: Facing the Fear
As she returns to an office after a decade of freelancing, our new content manager Emily, shares her best bits and biggest challenges.
#EmbraceEquity
Becoming a Mother Made Me Better at My Job
March is host to many key awareness events, namely the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal, Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Endometriosis Awareness, and International Women's Day on the 8th. Other important days to note are Self-Injury/Harm Awareness Day, as well as World Sleep Day. We have collated a collection of our articles, advice pieces and personal stories to help support you and your family navigate these topics.
Resource Roundup
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Endometriosis Awareness Month
March Awareness Days
Care and Support Through Terminal Illness
When Estelle's mum faced her final days, she received palliative care from a Marie Curie nurse, "an angel in our darkest hour." Estelle recalls her surprise that non-cancer patients were offered such support and explains, as a Marie Curie Ambassador, how the charity provides support for anyone suffering a terminal illness.
Sharing Your Cancer Diagnosis with Work
Dealing with a new cancer diagnosis can be a scary and overwhelming journey. There may be big emotions tied to personally processing this news, sharing it with family and loved ones, and coming to terms with how your life might change. If you work, you’ll likely also be wondering if, how and when to tell your boss and colleagues.
Been Diagnosed with Cancer? What to do Next?
Expert advice from Reframe, leaders in cancer support.
5 Ways to Be an Endometriosis-Friendly Manager
OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH
AWARENESS dAYS
sELF-INJURY AWARENESS dAY
iNTERNATIONAL wOMEN'S dAY
wORLD sLEEP dAY
In the UK, around 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth are living with endometriosis. In fact, it's the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK.
Tips to Manage Endometriosis While at Work
Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK.
08
WED
Self-injury awareness Day
Why People Self-Harm and How to Help
Our team explains why people self-harm and offer 12 guiding principles to help parents support their children.
I Think My Child is Self-Harming: What Can I Do?
Self-harming can affect anyone. A recent national study reported that 7.3% of girls, and 3.6% of boys, aged 11 to 16, had self-harmed or attempted suicide at some point. The figures for 17- to 19-year-olds were 21.5% for girls and 9.7% for boys.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity. In 2023, equity within the workplace (and beyond) isn’t just a ‘nice to have,’ it’s essential. Discover 5 ways you can better foster gender equity in your team...
How to Help Teenagers Sleep
Psychologist Rebecca Holt suggests nine ways to improve your teen's sleep.
Positive Parenting: Help Your Baby to Sleep Independently
Our childcare specialists suggest a range of alternative Positive Parenting strategies to help babies fall asleep on their own.
World Sleep Day
Insomnia for Ageing Adults
Consistent, low-quality sleep can have a detrimental effect on general health and wellbeing. If Insomnia is something that you or a loved one suffer from, keep reading. We’ve put together some self-help measures to put into practice…
Building Resilience: There’s a Nap for That: Sleep!
The importance of sleep is well-documented, so it might seem surprising that only 1 in 3 of us suffer from poor sleep. So, what can we do to get more of the good stuff?
FRI
17
World sleep day
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sELF-INJURY AWARENESS DAY
“When my mum was diagnosed with dementia, she gave Power of Attorney to me and my siblings... Eldercare specialist and life coach Dr. Lesley Trenner provides expert advice on this pressing family matter.
My Family Can’t Agree on My Mother’s Care
If you’ve noticed your parent or elderly relative is becoming less able to cope in their own home, it might be time to suggest some outside help. Adam Pike from SuperCarers gives some advice on how to successfully broach the subject.
How to Persuade Your Elderly Parents to Accept Outside Help
Here are some guidelines for those “difficult” conversations.
How Do I Answer a Question Like That? When Dementia Makes Conversation Difficult
Conversations with Family and Ageing Parents
It’s not What You Say, But How You Say It That Matters
We all engage in a multitude of different relationships every day, but how well do we communicate? Learning to speak so that the other person listens is a skill that is more than worth its weight in gold.
We’ve Discussed This Already (But Only in My Head)
Is one of your goals to improve your relationships? Jennifer invites you to distinguish between the conversations you’ve actually had out loud and those that have only happened in your head.
Talking to your line manager about parental leave can be daunting, more so if they’re unfamiliar with what’s involved. Leadership and Transition coach Ben offers advice on the best way to approach it.
How to have Good Conversations Around Menopause - At Work and with Your GP
Our friends at Henpicked offer advice for seeking menopause support at work.
Co-Operative Communication
Iole Matthews, Head of Coaching Services, shares how using an “I” Statement at work can allow for better working relationships and increased productivity.
Conversations at Work
“Coming Out” Conversations Advice For Parents
5 Ways to Manage Eco-Anxiety
We suggest five ways to support teens experiencing this new type of teen anxiety.
Is My Teenager Ready for Contraception?
Talking openly with your teen about sex and contraception might be something you’ve been dreading, but it’s an essential conversation to have, for both of you.
How to Talk with Your Teen
It’s well known the teen years can prove tricky comms-wise, coach Richard Andrew flags top tips on how to get chatting.
The Birds and The Bees: Rites of Passage
As the father of two girls, Sergio knows that it can be difficult to broach the topic of sex and relationships with your children. But if you discuss it from the ‘respect’ angle, it opens up a window of possibilities.
Conversations with Tweens and Teens
Talking to Children About Current Affairs: Keep It Simple
A bit of news is healthy for children, as long as it comes in child-sized portions with a decent helping of parental explanation to follow.
5 Ways to Explain Menopause to Your Child
For women, menopause used to mean that the days of childbearing were coming to an end but these days, women are having children much later in their lives. This means that more women are experiencing perimenopause and menopause while still actively involved in raising young children and teens.
How Do I Talk to My Child About Race?
Young children are inquisitive by nature and your child may be starting to notice differences between themselves and their friends. Has your child started to ask questions about people they see at the shops or at the park? Don’t shy away from what they’re pointing out - dive into it.
How and When to Tell Children You’re Expecting
Announcing a pregnancy is exciting news, but what’s the best way to tell a child you’re expecting another? Here are eight tips to help you plan your announcement for soon-to-be-siblings.
How to Have Difficult Conversations with Your Children
With all the turmoil going on right now around the globe, our children may be asking us some hard questions about the world they live in. We offer some ways to support you in those conversations.
Conversations with Children
Conversations With Family and Ageing parents
Converstions at Work
Conversations With Tweens and Teens
In this edition, we’ve curated a range of resources for your employees (managers, colleagues, parents and carers) to support communication in their everyday relationships - both personal and professional. These articles are designed to help employees improve navigating difficult conversations and effective communications in their work (and family) lives.
Coaching & Development Solutions to help businesses retain and develop employees through life’s big transitions, including the parent transition and becoming a carer – supporting your people to thrive at work and at home
Coaching and Development
Workplace Nurseries, providing parents with reassuringly high-quality and convenient care at or near their workplace
Workplace Nurseries
Nursery Partnerships, which can save employees 30% on nursery fees at no cost to their employer
Nusery Partnership
Parental Leave Toolkit, our unique digital coaching solution for new parents and the managers who support them
Parental Leave Toolkit
Work+Family Space, an easily searchable hub of information, resources and advice on a wide range of work and family topics
Work+Family Space
One to one Virtual Tutoring in Maths and English for children (ages 4-16 years) accessible though the Back-Up Care benefit
Virtual Tutoring
Our award-winning Back-Up Care network, which saves our clients over 100,000 days in productivity each year
Back-Up Care
Our family services includes:
We monitor and evaluate our service provision through ongoing employee and client feedback to ensure its quality and positive impact. We provide our clients with access to live usage and engagement analytics.
We have a strong commitment to corporate sustainability and, through our registered charity the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, we work to transform the lives of children and families in crisis.
We have been consistently recognised as a UK Best Workplace by the Great Place to Work Institute every year since 2006.
We look forward to always delivering the best for our clients, families and our own employees.
A partner, provider and employer of choice
For over 30 years, Bright Horizons has been supporting the evolving needs of working families. Through bespoke family care solutions, we are helping employers to anticipate the challenges facing their employees and equip them with the tools they need to thrive. From workplace nurseries and hybrid worker solutions to back-up care when your employees need it most, our work and family solutions enhance your ability to attract and retain key talent, giving your teams the peace of mind and confidence to do their best work. At Bright Horizons, we are always looking forward, creating and developing solutions to help businesses succeed and create a happier, more efficient and profitable workforce. With operations in the US, UK, India, Australia and the Netherlands, we’ve a wealth of experience in supporting multi-national clients.
Our history
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We provide holistic solutions to the challenges facing parents and carers in the workplace today. These include comprehensive care services, coaching and development provision, digital resources, family network events, and manager/ organisational guidance. They address the practical, emotional and cultural needs of organisations and individuals. What we offer is good for employers and good for employees. Everybody wins.
How we do it
We help to increase our clients’ employee wellbeing, engagement and productivity, supporting career progression and improving recruitment and retention of talented and diverse workforces.
What we do
About Bright Horizons
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