Development & school

Milestones, language, learning and school.

When a parent is seriously ill: what do you tell your child?
The instinct is to shield children. Bloom explains why telling them honestly protects better than staying silent, what to say at each age, and how to keep daily life standing. Read more...
Talking about bodies and boundaries: safety starts with words
Children who know the right words for their bodies are better protected. Bloom explains why, and gives what to say at each age — without it becoming a heavy conversation. Read more...
Talking to children about death
"Are you going to die too?" Bloom explains why honest, concrete words beat gentle euphemisms, how children understand death at each age, and what to say after a death. Read more...
What can your baby see and hear? Sight and hearing in the first year
A newborn sees clearly to about 25 centimetres — exactly the distance to your face. Bloom describes how sight and hearing develop and which signs need checking. Read more...
Friendships that change: when your child feels left out
She played with the same friend for years and suddenly she doesn't belong any more. Bloom explains what changes in friendships and how to help without taking over. Read more...
Moving up to secondary school: choosing and settling in
Choosing a secondary school, friendship worries and the big move itself. What to look for when choosing, and how to help your child settle in. Read more...
Dyslexia in children: the signs and how to get support
Reading stays hard while your child is clearly bright. The signs of dyslexia at different ages, how to get support and an assessment, and what helps at home. Read more...
Homework and concentration: how to help without taking over
The same fight at the table every afternoon. Bloom gives an approach to time, place and breaks — and explains why your role is coach and not co-author. Read more...
ADHD in children: recognising the signs and getting help
Being lively isn't the same as ADHD. Bloom explains where the line runs, why girls are so often missed, how the route to a diagnosis works and what helps at... Read more...
Bullying: the signs you can spot at home and what to do
Children rarely say they're being bullied. Bloom describes the signs you can see at home, what to say once they start talking, and the steps to take with school. Read more...
Starting school: preparing your child for reception or kindergarten
Off to big school. What your child really needs to be able to do (less than you think), how to handle the goodbye, and why the first weeks are so... Read more...
Late talkers: when should you worry about your child's language?
The girl next door speaks in sentences and your child says five words. Bloom gives the milestones with honest margins, the signs that genuinely matter, and what you can do... Read more...
Settling into nursery: getting through the goodbye at the door
She clings on and you walk to your car in tears. Bloom explains how settling in really works, why a short goodbye beats a long one, and when to raise... Read more...
Rolling, crawling, walking: baby milestones and why comparing doesn't help
Your friend's child is already walking and yours is still sitting. Bloom sets out the milestones with honest margins, and explains which signs genuinely are a reason to check in. Read more...