Have you ever thought ‘I’m unlucky’ or ‘Bad things always happen to me’? Maybe your sports team lost a match, you misunderstood your homework or a parent vetoed your plans with friends. Everyone has bad days and life won’t always go your way. But if you find yourself complaining a lot, or blaming other people …
Do you ever feel as if you’re the person everyone turns to for advice? Perhaps you’re proud you can help others – it’s a sign of your kind nature that friends feel they can open up to you. But it’s also normal to feel overloaded if you’re regularly hearing about other people’s problems. Responding with …
If somebody told you to picture one of your friends, and then asked how you met this friend, you might be able to answer with one simple word: hobbies. Whether it’s via a neighbourhood netball group or an after-school crafting club, many of us make friends for life through our extracurricular activities. But are shared …
Our emotions can change from moment to moment – one minute you might feel full of energy, the next you’re stressed, frustrated or just plain tired. Other days your emotions may feel overwhelming, or seem out of control. The good news is that we all have access to a simple and powerful tool to help …
Algorithms on social media are one of the tools used by technology companies on the apps, games and websites we use every day. They show you content you enjoy so that you spend more time on their sites. But in doing so, they can influence your thinking. Algorithms can lead you into an echo chamber …
Our friends are some of the most important people in our lives. They’re the ones who lift us up when we’re down, celebrate our successes and help us make sense of the world. Spending time with friends should leave us feeling like we belong and bring out the best in us. Friendships offer a support …
The late fantasy novel author Terry Pratchett, who also wrote The Unadulterated Cat, a wry-yet-loving look at the many different faces of cats, wrote: ‘In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods. They have not forgotten this.’ Pratchett, who passed away in 2015 with his own cat sleeping beside him on the bed, was touching …
We all struggle to get certain things done. Do you hate unloading the dishwasher or always put off doing your homework? Or maybe you dread cleaning out a rabbit hutch or leave getting your school bag ready until the very last minute. But whatever it is that you put off doing, there’s a trick that …
From finding your way around to getting into the swing of a hectic timetable, starting a new school takes time and energy. There’s a lot to get used to and you might feel a little lost for a couple of weeks, but at least you know that pretty much everyone’s in the same boat. Think …
How do you respond when a teacher, coach or parent credits you for doing something well? Receiving praise can be lovely, but it might also make you feel shy or embarrassed at being singled out. What about when someone says you need to improve? It’s natural to feel uncomfortable when you receive homework from a …
