Wednesday Wisdom
Tooled Up tips for loving parents around the world
16/07/2025
Holiday Safety
In just a few day’s time (or already, for some schools), children across the UK will finish the academic year and start out on their holiday break. For many parents, it’s a difficult time of year. As well as all the usual work and domestic responsibilities, we’ve got to find ways to keep our kids entertained and occupied. And, of course, safe. Safe in the sun, safe in water, safe on the road, safe on their devices, safe when playing out.
09/07/2025
Talking About Food
At this time of year when, frankly, we might all be running on fumes, food-related stress can quietly build. The long, unstructured days of the holidays loom ahead; days when snacks multiply, routines vanish and worries around eating, exercise and body image can start to simmer.
02/07/2025
Seasonal Overwhelm
Here in the UK, the long summer break is looming. The approach to the holidays is always a busy time of year. For those lucky enough to take some leave, workload often increases, as we rush to finish projects before we put the out of office on. Daily life moves forward in what feels to me like a precarious balance. All the balls can just about remain in the air, so long as nothing unexpected happens, to tip things too far one way.
25/06/2025
Summer Strategies
It’s here. We’ve waited for it all year. We’ve talked about it with friends. We’ve dreamt of it, planned for it, and it has kept us going on those cold winter nights. Ah, summer… you promise so much… relaxation, unstructured time, memorable adventures and blissful family bonding. But do you always deliver?
18/06/2025
A Day to Remember
As a parent, there’s a special pleasure in seeing your children through other people’s eyes. In the everyday challenges of family life – school, homework, clubs and bedtimes – you can lose perspective on the bigger picture. Birthday parties offer a chance to witness your child in their natural habitat: playing and interacting with their peers, and being a typical kid.
11/06/2025
Sport for Strength
I am the Head of Research at Tooled Up, but outside of my work, I am proud to say that I am the Strongest Natural Woman in Scotland, and second strongest natural woman in the UK & Ireland. In this week’s edition of Wednesday Wisdom, I wanted to reflect on my sporting journey and share some insights that may open up conversations with young girls and women in your lives about the role sport can play in building body confidence.
04/06/2025
Baby, Bathwater?
Without naming names, there is a campaign knocking around social media arguing for a ban on all tech being used as part of teaching and learning in schools. Several celebrities are piping up all over the place (on Zoom) to extol the poisonous evil (their words) that is technology. They talk about radiation being emitted from interactive whiteboards, pour water on any digital platform that ‘gamifies’ learning and wish for a return to a simpler time when learning didn’t involve a screen of any kind.
28/05/2025
Girls' Digital Lives
Not a week goes by without questions coming in from our Tooled Up community of parents and educators, who are keen to support the young people with challenges relating to body image, identity, friendship, fairness, confidence, dating and peer pressure.