Big Kids: Ages 5-12

Behaviour tips, snack ideas, activities, and support for the school-age years. When they're not little anymore but still need you.

25 guides Updated April 2026 By Heather, Darling Mellow

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Essential Reading

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Deep Dives

Detailed guides on specific topics.

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Everything else you need to know.

Big Kid Behaviour Tips: Powerful Ways to Support Ages 5 to 8

Big Kid Behaviour Tips: Powerful Ways to Support Ages 5 to 8

Big Kid Behaviour Tips: A Calm, Realistic Guide for Ages 5 to 8 Big kid behaviour tips can…

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PlayPress Toys UK: Eco-Friendly Cardboard Playsets Kids Actually Love

PlayPress Toys UK: Eco-Friendly Cardboard Playsets Kids Actually Love

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small…

May 2025 · 3 min read
Mothering in the Middle: What No One Tells You About Parenting Big Kids

Mothering in the Middle: What No One Tells You About Parenting Big Kids

It’s not toddlers, and it’s not teens – it’s somewhere in between. And it’s weirdly emotional. The Quiet…

Apr 2025 · 3 min read
Is This Even Learning?”: 21 Things That Absolutely Count as Education (Even If School Wouldn’t Call Them That)

Is This Even Learning?”: 21 Things That Absolutely Count as Education (Even If School Wouldn’t Call Them That)

This morning, one child built a cardboard ramp for a marble. The other used lipstick to write “NO…

Apr 2025 · 3 min read
What I’m Still Learning as a Mum of Tweens

What I’m Still Learning as a Mum of Tweens

What I Am Still Learning as a Mum of Tweens I thought the hard part was the newborn…

Apr 2025 · 2 min read
Things I Wish I Knew Before My Child Turned 10

Things I Wish I Knew Before My Child Turned 10

Somewhere between the last Barbie phase and their first eye-roll lies the mysterious realm of the tween years…

Apr 2025 · 4 min read
Why Every Mum is Quiet Quitting the School Run in 2026 (And What They’re Doing Instead)

Why Every Mum is Quiet Quitting the School Run in 2026 (And What They’re Doing Instead)

It starts with a single skipped commute. Then another. Before you know it, you have Marie Kondo’d the…

Apr 2025 · 4 min read
Top 10 Language Learning Apps for Kids (That Aren’t Duolingo)

Top 10 Language Learning Apps for Kids (That Aren’t Duolingo)

Because variety is the spice of fluency... and sometimes, kids just need a change. Let’s be honest, Duolingo…

Mar 2025 · 3 min read
Friday Night Binge: I Watched The Duchess – Here’s the Verdict

Friday Night Binge: I Watched The Duchess – Here’s the Verdict

It’s Friday night, one child is at her dad’s, and my youngest is still recovering from this mystery…

Mar 2025 · 2 min read
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Child’s Phone Bill?

What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Child’s Phone Bill?

It starts with “Can I have a phone?” and ends with data overages in the triple digits. If…

Mar 2025 · 2 min read
How to Handle Mood Swings in Tweens Without Losing Your Mind

How to Handle Mood Swings in Tweens Without Losing Your Mind

One minute, your tween is laughing and hugging you; the next, they’re rolling their eyes and storming off.…

Jan 2025 · 3 min read
Navigating the Challenges of Parenting Tweens: Tips for Effective Communication

Navigating the Challenges of Parenting Tweens: Tips for Effective Communication

Parenting tweens (ages 9-12) presents unique challenges as children seek independence while still requiring guidance.  Effective communication is…

Jan 2025 · 5 min read
Parenting Tweens: Surviving Drama, Social Media, and Sass

Parenting Tweens: Surviving Drama, Social Media, and Sass

Parenting tweens is like stepping into a world of chaos, comedy, and unpredictability. Those magical years when your…

Nov 2024 · 4 min read
How to Survive the Back-to-School Chaos Without Losing Your Mind

How to Survive the Back-to-School Chaos Without Losing Your Mind

Let’s talk about it, mums: the back-to-school chaos is real. You think you’re ready, shoes are bought, uniforms…

Aug 2024 · 3 min read
When the Kids Are Away: Why Do I Revert to a Teenager Every Weekend?

When the Kids Are Away: Why Do I Revert to a Teenager Every Weekend?

Here we go again—another weekend where the house is quiet, no kids, and I should be embracing the…

Jul 2024 · 3 min read
The Summer Screen Time Sh*tshow: How Much is Too Much?

The Summer Screen Time Sh*tshow: How Much is Too Much?

Let’s face it—summer hits, school’s out, and suddenly the screens become a lifeline. But how much screen time…

Jul 2024 · 3 min read
Back-to-School Prep 2026: The Only Checklist You’ll Actually Need

Back-to-School Prep 2026: The Only Checklist You’ll Actually Need

It’s July, and even though we’re all soaking up the summer, the back-to-school panic is sneaking in. If…

Jul 2024 · 3 min read

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