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.
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
Carpe Diem
The bank holiday gave us all a chance to drop what we were working on and spend time together as a family. We managed to go for a walk, but this time, somewhere different! A change is as good as a rest, as they say. Chatting to close friends, who I have not seen for a significant period of time, was, quite frankly, exhilarating! To find out that my social skills still (largely) function was reassuring.
Top Parenting Question of the Week
Should I allow my 12-year-old to use Snapchat? He says all his friends are on it.
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
Dr Jerica Radez, Trainee Clinical Psychologist at The Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and Research
University
University of Oxford
Research Interests
Dr Radez is a first-year trainee clinical psychologist with an interest in adolescent mental health. Her PhD focused on understanding and overcoming barriers to seeking professional help for teens with anxiety and depressive disorders. She is now working on early intervention in psychosis in adolescents.
Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental health problems in adolescents, yet only a minority of the young people affected access professional help. Dr Jerica Radez and colleagues undertook a qualitative study with teens in UK secondary schools to find out what they perceive to be barriers to help-seeking, and what would encourage them to do so.
After conducting school-based screening of 1200 11-17 year olds, 22 teens who met diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depression were interviewed by Dr Radez. The team identified four main reasons why teens are not very likely to access professional help: (1) Teens find it hard to make sense of their difficulties, (2) they find it problematic to communicate about their mental health, (3) they don’t always want to seek help and often feel a need to solve problems independently and (4) despite this adolescent desire for autonomy, they need assistance from school and parents to seek help, which is not always there.
Implications for parents – The teens in the project said that regular, unpressured chats about how they are feeling would be beneficial. Parents should seek to learn more about what behaviours are cause for concern and should normalise help-seeking in family life. Parents should familiarise themselves with where to get help and discuss options with their teen.
Implications for schools – Schools need to ensure that all staff are aware of red flags for anxiety or depression in pupils. It’s important that clear pathways are in place for help-seeking and schools should normalise the need for help.
Implications for GPs – Dr Radez’s simple screening tool, just published this month, is specifically designed to screen for anxiety and depression in teens, quickly. GPs may find this useful when assessing teenagers.
Our Clinical Partners
We take pride in working in close collaboration with some outstanding clinical professionals who are leaders in their fields. We only signpost parents and carers to those that share our commitment to evidence-based approaches.
Mrs Pauline Riley-Hunte
Consultant Chartered Clinical and Child Psychologist.
Associate Fellow with the British Psychological Society (BPS), a ‘Registered Psychologist’ with the UK Health Care Professions Council ( HCPC) and a certified member of the Allied Paramedical Board, Barbados.
Mr Will Napier
Chartered Counselling Psychologist (C Psychol)
Chartered Counselling Psychologist (C Psychol), Post-Masters Certificate in Counselling Psychology (PGCert Couns Psych), Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology (MSc, Couns. Psych), Cognitive Science (First Class) (BSc Hons) and Theology MA (First Class, Oxford University)
Tooled Up News
Collaboration to build communities
At Tooled Up Towers, we have what Carole Dweck would call a ‘growth mindset’; we aren’t afraid to learn, grow and persevere. That is why we reach out and seek as much collaboration as possible with like-minded individuals or organisations who, like us, are absolutely passionate about improving children’s life outcomes.
Tooled Up’s role in early intervention in children’s mental health
This week, Professor Stephen Scott, an eminent British consultant psychiatrist, wrote an article to fellow psychologists and medics, which talks about the importance of paying attention to children’s general mental health, sooner in life, rather than later. “What is the point of being physically well if we are miserable and don’t have a good life?” he asks.
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is out now! Have a read at https://cstu.io/0ca7c1
Save the date! To celebrate Father's Day, Dr Weston is delivering a talk for all Tooled Up parents on the evening of 17 June 2021. Tooled Up parents look out for your exclusive invitation!
#evidencebased #parenting #raisinggirls #raisingboys #fathersday
https://cstu.io/3465e7
We're always grateful to receive such positive feedback on Dr Kathy Weston's talks!
#evidencebased #parenting #raisinggirls #raisingboys #raisingthefuture #resilience #parentalengagement
Dr Kathy Weston's quote of the week
#evidencebased #parenting #raisinggirls #raisingboys #raisingthefuture #resilience
Proud of a new collaboration between @philosophyfound and my digital library of evidence-based resources for schools: @TooledUpTips. Two organisations committed to enriching children’s thinking and giving parents the tools they need to initiate great conversations!
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is out now! Take a look at https://cstu.io/5f3510
#exams #motivation #parentalengagement #parenting #anxiety #copingskills
"Is my 12 year old ready for Snapchat?" Have a peek at Dr Weston's response to this week's parenting question on the front page of the Tooled Up Education site. See: https://cstu.io/7e4430 and if you have a question, why not submit it? All questions are treated anonymously.
Children need purpose in their lives, hope, optimism, as well as adults they can trust and confide in. At Tooled Up, we support parents with positive, proactive 'conversational scaffolds' they can use to facilitate child-parent communication and those trickier chats with teens.
Parents, do you want your child to feel more positive about themselves, their lives, their bodies as they grow and develop? Well, we have a resource for that! Our 'Wellbeing Journal' for tweens and teens has been specially developed for maximum impact.
https://cstu.io/39882c
Delighted to have launched Tooled Up with @belfasthighsch1 this week. Welcome to the #tooledupcommunity. Excited to be working together #supportingparents, #children and #families with the very best #evidencebased tips and giving parents access to a world of #parentingtips.
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is out now! Have a read at https://cstu.io/b79eb0
#wellbeing #parenting #selfesteem #evidence-based
Greatly looking forward to launching our first Tooled Up Teacher book club with one of our 'Tooled Up' schools @AbbotsHill tomorrow. We will be discussing "Beyond Wiping Noses: building an informed approach to pastoral leadership with schools" by @sputniksteve 😀
Last chance to grab your space for next Tuesday. Hope to see you there for the webinar. Register free to hear the big parenting questions from a national survey answered with research-based evidence. Register here https://cstu.io/8ba0de
#wellbeing #parenting #selfesteem
#anxiety & #depressivedisorders are the most common #mentalhealth problems in #adolescents, yet only a minority of young people affected access professional help.
@JericaRadez explores why. Delighted to announce that she is our #researcher of the month: https://cstu.io/cce26c
We're really pleased to announce our collaboration with the wonderful folks at @TooledUpTips with some resources that can be used as a springboard for encouraging philosophical thinking at home - its easier than you think! Take a look here https://buff.ly/3uYYZeF
Have you secured your place for our first ever webinar with @TooledUpTips yet?!
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6pe0z2j6R6GcAWhKJaCq5w
Dr Kathy Weston's quote of the week:
Listen to the podcast that @parentengage has done with Dr Helen Dodd on play and enjoy the information video on the "importance of play" in the Tooled Up library.
Published today our paper about why adventurous play might decrease children's risk for anxiety. This forms the basis for my @UKRI_News #UKRIFLF Grateful to @kathrynlester1 for being a fantastic co-author. Please share @mbrussoni @EllenBSandseter @timrgill https://rdcu.be/cdSXL
Published today our paper about why adventurous play might decrease children's risk for anxiety. This forms the basis for my @UKRI_News #UKRIFLF Grateful to @kathrynlester1 for being a fantastic co-author. Please share @mbrussoni @EllenBSandseter @timrgill https://rdcu.be/cdSXL
On 10th May, our founder, @Parentengage will interview, expert @DashaNicholls on the theme of eating disorders in children and young people. As part of our research for the podcast and to inform the interview, we welcome questions.
Email: research@tooledupeducation.com
Excited to announce the @parentping and Tooled Up collaboration. A webinar with a difference! Taking the latest national parent survey questions and addressing them with evidence-based answers. #wellbeing #parenting. Find out more and register free here: https://cstu.io/6e6368
Looking forward to launching Tooled Up @belfasthighsch1 next Wed 21st evening to parents and carers. We look forward to sharing the very best of evidence-based tips and giving parents access to a world of parenting support and Tooled Up Tips! #parentingtips #evidencebased
Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental health problems in adolescents, yet only a minority of the young people affected access professional help. @JericaRadez explores why. She's our *researcher of the month* on: http://www.tooledupeducation.com
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is out now. Visit https://cstu.io/a24efe and have a read!
So far in 2021, I have given 42 talks on a range of topics and themes for schools, conferences and businesses. If your school, organisation or business needs a speaker, get in touch today! #evidencebased
https://cstu.io/bf7ec1
🚨 Live Webinar Announcement 🚨
We're pleased to announce a free webinar on building positive self-esteem in children in partnership with @TooledUpTips! Places are limited so sign up now - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6pe0z2j6R6GcAWhKJaCq5w
Give your tweens and teens this 10 day 'Wellbeing Journal' to fill in over Easter. It's entirely evidence-based and should get them thinking, reflecting and feeling more resilient. 💪Available now in the Tooled Up library.
https://vimeo.com/530704511/6169239b99
Can't wait to launch Tooled Up Education to the parent and community @AbbotsHill this evening! After the talk, all families will be able to access a world of content, designed to help them feel informed, supported and empowered on their parenting journeys.
Yours for the taking, reading, downloading Tooled Up parents in Tooled Up Schools! We researched it, worked on it, curated it and are now delivering it into our innovative library. 😊
Proud to add a fabulous new resource to the Tooled Up library that effectively helps parents apply existing knowledge and research around the impact of 'counting acts of kindness'. It looks good and it's designed to be impactful. #altruism #parenting #kindnessiscool
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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