Tooled Up Member Webinars
The home of evidence-based resources on all aspects of parenting, education and family life
Schools that are part of our Tooled Up Education community can provide their parents and teachers with access to Dr Weston’s exclusive resources, covering areas such as aspiration, resilience, mental health and behaviour.
As a member of the Tooled Up community you will have access to a whole host of evidence-based resources, which will enable you to support your children or students in a way that makes their lives and educational journeys both easier and more enjoyable.
Dr Weston's Wednesday Wisdom
In an ever increasingly busy and demanding world, Wednesday Wisdom provides a reflective 2 minute read every week that readers constantly tell us they look forward to. Full of topical and relatable experiences that help provide reflection, motivation and support in achieving a balanced family life.
Over the years, thousands of people have benefitted from and continue to enjoy the parenting and educational talks from Dr Kathy Weston at Tooled up Education and have subscribed to Wednesday Wisdom. Join them now for free and receive your own weekly digest of inspiring, engaging and mindful parenting directly from Dr Weston herself.
“I just wanted to say how grateful I am to read your Wednesday Wisdom email. Perfect size for the time I have to engage and reflect and think about the topics you touch on. It helps me to evaluate my parenting and take a step back to look at scenarios that play out.”
Parent – October 2020

Same Page Parenting
Once upon a time, many years ago, as part of some training I was doing on couples therapy, I came across a case study scenario, shared by a colleague, that I have never forgotten. It featured two parents with a young daughter, who they described as ‘aggressive and very naughty’. In fact, she had taken her shoes and thrown them at her parents in a ‘fit of rage’; an incident which made them wonder if she might need some sort of psychological help.
Parenting Question of the Week
Our children’s first ever nanny stayed with us for almost four years before leaving us after the birth of her second child. Since then, we have employed four nannies, each one staying with us for short periods. We have now moved country and I am worried about introducing yet another person to the kids. What is the best way to handle this?
Our Promise: We will answer all questions, and, whilst we may share your question and answer to help others, we will never declare who asked it.
Researcher of the Month

Mishika Mehrotra, PhD student, University of Cambridge
University
The University of Cambridge
Research Interests
Mishika’s research interests include finding ways in which parents and caregivers can promote children’s cognitive development and school readiness.
This month, we highlight Mishika Mehrotra, an exciting researcher to look out for in the future! Mishika is a Gates Cambridge Scholar studying within the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge. Her PhD will add new evidence to an existing body of research which focuses on the importance of dinnertime family conversations in children’s development. She plans to examine the link between dinnertime chat and children’s executive functions.
“Executive function” is an umbrella term which refers to the higher order mental processes that we use to manage our thoughts and behaviour in order to meet the demands of any given situation. As well as being a measure of general intelligence, well developed executive functions are associated with a range of positive outcomes for children, including increased social understanding, academic achievement and fewer behavioural or mental health difficulties. Parenting can play a significant role in their development.
Mishika is working with 70 families with children aged between four and six, to measure the impact of mealtime family conversation. She is obtaining recordings of natural family interactions at home and will assess their quality. She will quantify the impact of family conversation by meeting with children virtually to play games and carry out tasks designed to assess their cognitive abilities. She hopes to publish her findings in 2024.
Implications for parents – Regular family mealtimes, featuring positive interactions, are beneficial to children’s cognitive development and wellbeing. If eating together is not feasible in your home, seek to put aside some other regular time, where you can converse with your child in a similar way. This could, for example, be in the car or whilst you are out for a walk.
Encourage rich conversation by asking open questions and talking about the past and future, as well as abstract ideas and concepts. Aim to use ‘mental state’ language – that which refers to feelings and emotions. We know that mealtime conversations are only beneficial if they are characterised by warmth and positive affect, so try to avoid topics which cause tension or stress.
Tooled Up News

Children’s mental health in the post-pandemic world
Holidays are well and truly back, the sun is shining, school closures feel like a distant memory and, despite the high numbers of infections, Covid-19 no longer dominates either the headlines or our everyday conversations. News and discussions about current affairs are now rightly focused on the horrifying and urgent situation in Ukraine. However, as we embark on this post-pandemic period, researchers are becoming increasingly aware of the long-term impact that the pandemic has had on the mental health of our children.

Ten Evidence-Based Tips for Parents on #SaferInternetDay
Over the past few years, I have interviewed some of the most eminent researchers, criminologists and experts on digital risks and vulnerabilities and asked them what parents need to do to keep their children safe online. Here are 10 tips that I have derived from this work, which schools should emphasise in
Tomorrow, all the hard work comes to an end as #examseason closes. Good luck to all our schools and pupils. Parents, if you want to show your teens some appreciation, here's 20 ways you can celebrate > https://bit.ly/3mOq5mB
Looking ahead to Monday, please join us for a very special webinar where our resident Parenting Expert, Dr Weston will be putting your questions to Dr Anna Conway-Morris, an Adolescent Psychiatrist. There's still time to sign up here > https://bit.ly/39jVLNp
From the Tooled Team to all parents and staff across our school communities:
This Armed Forces day, we're sharing recent research findings, compiling what life is like for children and families whose parents or carers serve in the armed forces. Schools and families can find additional resources to use here > https://bit.ly/3QnnTzM
Disagreeing with your co-parent about parenting decisions? Too busy with everyday life to share what you appreciate & admire in their parenting? Use our new template to spark a discussion about strengths and the areas where you don't share the same view > https://bit.ly/3O9ZtIJ
This #pride, we're sharing resources that celebrate families in all their wonderful variety. If you enjoyed our podcast with Dr Weston and Professor Susan Golombok, you might find our book list that celebrates different types of family forms useful > https://bit.ly/3mMCWpq
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is out now! Visit our website to read the full text here > https://bit.ly/3xE8HWs
Today is the day! Join us for our Tooled Up Transitions webinar where Dr Kathy Weston shares some of the best evidence-based tips to support children as they move onto the next educational stage, as well as small things you can do at home. Sign up here > https://bit.ly/39jVLNp
Festival season is officially upon us and if your teens are lucky enough to be heading to #Glastonbury, or any festival this summer, make sure they have the best experience by using our handy packing checklist before they head off. Download it here > https://bit.ly/3Oa3FYA
Representation matters, especially for young people with 'diffabilities'. We've collated a list of books featuring strong characters with either disabilities or neurodevelopmental differences to help children feel seen. Download the guide here > https://bit.ly/3banMYq
Last week was Healthy Eating week, so to help all our Tooled Up parents with dinnertime inspiration, Dr Weston will be speaking with Claire Gillies, founder of @deliciousreal16, a meal planning, recipe development & cookery tuition company! Sign up here > https://bit.ly/39jVLNp
Got a question for a Consultant Psychiatrist? Well, our founder @parentengage will be chatting to the brilliant Dr Anna Conway-Morris on the 27th June eve and getting through as many questions as they can! Parents can submit questions anon too 🙂 Registration via our site!
It is that time of year when we starting thinking about transition and how we can effectively support children and young people as they move into their next educational stage. We have resources, tips and talks to help young children right through to teens heading off to Uni!
To celebrate #Pride, we'll be sharing resources from leading experts on what the evidence says about children from new and non-traditional family forms. First up, is our podcast with Professor Susan Golombok here > https://bit.ly/3QxM3rN
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is out now! Visit our website to read the full text: https://www.tooledupeducation.com/wisdom/hero-to-zero/
Being able to put food on the table can be a source of worry for many parents. We will be running a webinar with meal-planning expert, Claire Gillies, who can help broaden the mind when it comes to planning, quick and economical meals! Head to our site to register your free spot.
July & September 📢📢📢We've got two brilliant teacher webinars coming up, in which Dr Kathy Weston @Parentengage and @GemmaGoldenberg will discuss the impact of learning environments. Find more information on our website: http://tooledupeducation.com
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is out now! Visit our website to read the full text: https://www.tooledupeducation.com/wisdom/children-in-clinical-settings/
We put together an exciting list of 10 informative, exhilarating or educational ideas with plenty accompanying links for teens and tweens this summer. View the list here: https://www.tooledupeducation.com/resource/10-quirky-activities-for-teens-this-summer/
Some fantastic webinars coming up for parents from our partner @TooledUpTips. @theGSAL families please register at http://tooledupeducation.com. Login details are in the weekly bulletin. #webinars #tooledup #parenting https://twitter.com/TooledUpTips/status/1533811781260480512
We've got some fantastic webinars with brilliant guest speakers coming up throughout the summer! Tooled Up members can register on our website: https://www.tooledupeducation.com/
We already provide resources that turn this advice into action. Check out 'My Coping Menu', any of our "Wobble" resources, that help children puzzle anxiety out or download resources that nudge children to try new sports, foods or set new goals!
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/may/22/focus-on-coping-not-curing-how-to-help-an-anxious-child
Promoting critical thinking, developing fact-checking skills & discussing what to do if they do come across something that upsets them is essential. The Tooled Up library is full of resources that will help you to initiate these important conversations.
Have you heard about this worrying character that has spread far into the realms of YouTube and Roblox? It’s crucial to have open and frequent conversations with your child about digital hygiene, the things that they might encounter online, and staying safe. ⬇️
In a recent webinar, Dr Weston was joined by relationship therapist, @SueWintgens to discuss the importance of connection and communication in couple's relationships. Find the recording of this webinar in our online library now:
https://www.tooledupeducation.com/resource/the-importance-of-connection-for-couples-with-sue-wintgens/
The death of a sibling impacts upon every aspect of a young person’s life. Understanding how to effectively support surviving siblings is essential for all parents, carers and educators and evidence-based approaches are key.
https://www.tooledupeducation.com/resource/supporting-young-people-through-sibling-bereavement-with-dr-laura-towers/
@TheOngarAcademy Parents can access our "30 Things You Might Say to Teachers at Parents’ Evening" resource via our portal, if stuck for questions!
This story is devastating. Parents could use this article as a springboard for family conversations about racism, bullying and unacceptable behaviour. Our children carry our values into the world. They can and should be agents of positive change.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-61535184
Our Wednesday Wisdom is out now! Read this week's full issue here: https://www.tooledupeducation.com/wisdom/lived-experience/
Once exam season is over, it’s time for your teen to reward themselves for all of their hard work. There are numerous activities they could do to celebrate the end of exams and enjoy some well-earned fun. Take a look at our list for some inspiration: https://www.tooledupeducation.com/resource/20-ways-to-celebrate-the-end-of-exams/
Testimonials
"I thought the talk last night was absolutely fantastic. It really helped us to have a vision and how we can support [Child] to develop his resilience."
ParentYarm School
"So informative - lots of food for thought as a teacher and a parent of two girls. Thank you."
ParentMerchant Taylor's School
"So informative, thought-provoking, practical, awesome!"
ParentSouth Hill School
"Thank you so much for such a wonderful Q&A, it was so informative and rich with information. I am certain our parent community will use all these resources!"
School Welfare CounsellorSt. Catherine's British School
"Expert and engaging, Kathy gives rich, evidence-based guidance. You will come away inspired and empowered"
Dr Johnny Noakes
Eton College
"It is no exaggeration to say that Dr Weston’s input into our pastoral programme has been transformational. Her presentation to more than two hundred staff was the most inspirational – and practical – training we have received on how to support adolescents through the changes of the teenage years."
Headmistress
Francis Holland School
"Kathy’s talk was engaging, interesting and highly informative throughout. She balanced factual information with personal advice and practical tips to ensure that the talk was relevant and accessible from the outset."
Head Teacher
Sarum Hall School
"Just to say you are amazing at what you do.. really really informative and helpful to parents and can’t recommend tooled up highly enough!"
Teacher
Davenies School
"I just wanted to say that it was great to meet you yesterday. Thank you so much for giving such an impressive and insightful talk. We have had lots of positive comments today about it. You struck just the right tone, and I know that the advice will have been invaluable to so many of our parents. It’s such a vital and important message and we are very grateful to you for sharing your knowledge and insights."
Teacher
Highgate School
"Thought provoking, deeply engaging and totally relevant to every aspect of my work. Thanks so much for your passion and drive."
Teacher
Stopsley Community Primary School
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Have a Question?
If you are interested in learning more about Tooled Up Education, have a technical question, press enquiry or any other query, please follow the link below or get in touch with Dr Weston’s team on email: office@tooledupeducation.com