Experts from Parent Zone
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Vicki Shotbolt
Vicki is the founder and CEO of Parent Zone. She has spent over 20 years working in the family and parenting sector and is on the executive board of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety.
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Eleanor Levy
Eleanor is a journalist and editor of ParentZone.org.uk. With a background in writing about families and young people, she has worked on women's and youth titles, as well as the odd football magazine.
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Yusuf Tamanna
Yusuf is a journalist and Junior Writer for Parentzone.org.uk. He studied Information & Communication Technology at university and has worked in secondary schools teaching IT and Computer Science across London.
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Rachel Rosen
Rachel studied economics and social history at Barnard College of Columbia University, where she also served as a peer educator in the field of women’s health, leading workshops on bystander intervention, sexual health, body image and more. She has a particular interest in the intersection of public health and economics.
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Ann-Marie Corvin
Writer and social media expert Ann-Marie’s areas of specialism include media and technology, and she has worked as a digital correspondent for Broadcast, Media Week and Campaign.
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Marjun Ziarati
Marjun Ziarati is a journalist and writer for Parent Zone. She is also a qualified teacher with four years' experience teaching modern foreign languages to secondary school pupils across London.
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Lucy Doyle
Lucy is a former writer for Parent Zone. She studied Spanish at University College London and previously worked as an international events researcher, where she wrote content for conferences on topics such as cyber-security and the cloud. She writes in her spare time, with a particular interest in social issues and gender equality.
Articles from Parent Zone
Displaying 1-69 of 69 articles
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Education and the future
A parent’s guide to GCSE grades
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Education and the future
Children in Scotland are returning to school next week after an extended time away, with those in the rest of the UK following soon after. How can you help your secondary-age child deal with all the changes?
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Education and the future
Everything you need to know about the upcoming re-opening of schools in the UK
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Education and the future
Children in Scotland are returning to school next week after an extended time away, with those in the rest of the UK following soon after. How can you help them deal with all the changes?
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Education and the future
All the information you need for this year’s unconventional results day
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Parenting
A parent’s guide to fake news and helping your child question what they see or hear online
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Games, apps and tech
A guide for parents to some of the most popular apps children use online
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Education and the future
The two-year technical qualifications are designed to prepare students for work. Here’s what you need to know about them
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Parenting
With the news dominated by images of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, children are likely to have questions about what they have seen and heard. Here are some suggestions for how to start the conversation
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Games, apps and tech
Despite only launching in 2018, TikTok has enjoyed a dramatic rise to become one of the most popular social media apps on the planet. Here’s everything parents and carers need to know about it.
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Games, apps and techSafety and settingsHealth and wellbeing
While it's true that things can go wrong online, most children only have positive experiences. Here are some fun online activities your child can enjoy during lockdown which will also help boost their digital resilience
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Games, apps and techSafety and settings
Parents have long had questions around how much screen time is too much – but should we be extra concerned during lockdown?
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Education and the future
Some pupils in England are expected to return to school at the start of June. But which years will be going back, and how will it all work?
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ParentingEducation and the future
Short answer: no. Long answer: no, but there are ways you can help motivate them…
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Games, apps and tech
Facebook Gaming has already been enormously successful on desktop, but is now ready for the next stage in its life with the launch of a dedicated mobile app. Here's everything you need to know.
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Health and wellbeing
With a UK lockdown over the winter months, you may be wondering how you can continue to support your child's emotional wellbeing during this unprecedented period. Here's our guide on where your child can get mental health support.
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ParentingHealth and wellbeing
Family life has undergone a major upheaval over the past year, with households spending time together 24/7. Here are some tips to help you reduce the inevitable tension and get along smoothly with one another
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Games, apps and tech
Since it burst onto the scene in 1983 with a roster of lovable characters and colourful games, Nintendo has become almost synonymous with family-friendly gaming. The company’s latest console – the Nintendo Switch – has taken the world by storm and is a hit with children and adults alike.
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ParentingHealth and wellbeing
It would be easy to downplay birthdays and other annual celebrations during the COVID-19 epidemic, but it’s important that children aren’t left feeling like their lives have been put on hold. Here are some tips for ensuring those special days are still marked in style.
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Parenting
It can be hard enough for adults to tell fact from fiction, especially in such a fast-moving and uncertain situation – so how do we help children as they look up the latest news on the COVID-19 epidemic? Here are our expert tips
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Parenting
The coronavirus crisis is stressful for most families, but it poses a particular set of problems for separated families. Here’s what the law says about shared custody – and some tips to make it easier on everyone
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ParentingHealth and wellbeing
Social distancing and self-isolation bring challenges for everyone, but teens face a particularly hard time. So how can you help?
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Education and the future
As children and young people across the UK are sent home from school, we break down the government’s new guidance on the cancellation of GCSEs, AS, and A Levels to try to offer a little clarity
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Health and wellbeing
With schools closing and many adults working from home, families are going to be cooped up – and that may present some difficulties for children and their parents. Here are our tips for keeping everyone’s spirits up as much as possible as we self-isolate.
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Health and wellbeing
We talk about ‘detoxing’ and ‘taking a break’ when we want to escape the stress digital tech can bring. But the internet itself also offers new ways of unwinding. One of the most peculiar – and popular with young people – is ASMR.
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Games, apps and tech
Wattpad is a popular online platform that allows millions of people to share their stories. But concerns have been raised that there is no quality control and pornographic and other troubling content is slipping through.
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Health and wellbeing
Find out more about how you can help young people manage their money and understand gambling-related risks.
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Games, apps and tech
Are you confused about memes, or unsure what a meme even is? You’re not the only one. Don’t worry: we’re here to help.
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Games, apps and tech
When you hear the word ‘gambling’ the first image that comes into your head is probably a lottery coupon or a Las Vegas roulette wheel, not a child betting in their favourite online game. But a report by the Gambling Commission found that almost 40 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds had spent their own money on gambling.
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Safety and settings
The so-called Momo challenge understandably caused many parents concern, even though it turned out to be a hoax. Thankfully there is no evidence of direct harm caused to any child, but that doesn’t reduce the worry and confusion for parents.
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Health and wellbeing
If you feel as though you and your family could make some changes to get back in control of your screen time, here are some easy hacks to help you do it.
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Parenting
Here are some things you can do to teach your child to be kind and respectful online and to expect this from others.
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Safety and settings
Many parents worry that their child could be groomed online. Here’s what you need to know to help protect them
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Safety and settings
Facebook Secret Conversations allows your child to send and receive private messages and images you won’t be able to see, even if you have the log in details to their account. Here’s what parents need to know
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Safety and settings
Child-friendly terms and conditions on social media; a parent’s guide
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Relationships and sex
Helping LGBTQ+ children and young people meet others safely: a parent’s guide
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Health and wellbeing
Ten tips for talking to teachers if your child is being bullied at school.
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Education and the future
A parent's guide to managing your child’s homework effectively
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Parenting
What age can your child be left alone? When can they drink? We answer parents’ frequently asked questions about legal milestones in their children’s lives
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Games, apps and tech
Viral challenges continue to shape a lot of young people’s experiences online. fare harmless and just good fun, but some are more sinister and could pose risks. Here's what parents need to know
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Education and the future
Some practical tips for parents to pass on to their children on how best to prepare for university
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Parenting
But what exactly is digital resilience? And what can we do as parents to help our children develop it?
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Education and the future
Five tips to help your child tackle their first week at a new school with ease and confidence.
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Education and the future
Sex and relationships education: a helpful rundown of what is – and what could be – taught in schools
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Parenting
Find out more about Parent Zone's online digital parenting course
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Parenting
Tips for parents on navigating screen time and technology rules when families meet up
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Health and wellbeing
With graphic images being shown on the front pages of newspapers and on daily news bulletins, even very young children are exposed to upsetting information.
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Games, apps and tech
Top tips on how to help your child make their online presence work for them and create a positive digital footprint
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Parenting
Useful online tools to help with organisation and communication if you are a separated or divorced parent
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Parenting
The really important things that every parent needs to know about online safety.
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Games, apps and tech
Everything you need to know about Pokémon Go, including concerns for parents and safety tips
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Games, apps and tech
With the summer holidays just around the corner, we've gathered some of the most exciting apps we’ve found to get kids outdoors and enjoy what nature has to offer
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Parenting
Advice for parents on the rise of viral fight videos online
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Parenting
Setting parental controls on Netflix and using Google Maps to explore are just two of the ways tech can help you enjoy time together as a family. Read our top tips for parents
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Games, apps and tech
The growth of social media has brought with it some strange modern phenomena. One of the more recent ones is the viral online challenge...
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Health and wellbeing
91% of teens have taken a selfie. Should parents be worried or are they just harmless fun?
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Safety and settings
Most popular social media services don’t allow anyone under 13 to join. Even so, lots of younger children manage to set up accounts. What can parents do?
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Games, apps and tech
How to know your Zoellas from your PewDiePies in the world of vlogging
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Parenting
Sadly, once your child explores the online world, they may find a troll waiting for them. Here's how to help them cope.
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Safety and settings
We hear a lot about the negative effects on children of using the internet but it can also be a positive thing. Here’s our guide for parents.
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Games, apps and tech
Screen time: a common sense guide for parents
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Health and wellbeing
Obesity: a guide for parents. What is it, and what can you do if your child is overweight?
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Health and wellbeing
Children need boundaries in all aspects of their life to make them feel safe. They are especially important - and particularly difficult - in digital life. Here are five tips to help.
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Relationships and sex
A quick guide to LGBTQ+ terms.
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Safety and settings
Separating online risk from things that could actually cause children harm: a parent’s guide
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Relationships and sex
Negging is on the rise online as well as off. But what is it – and how can you help your child cope if it happens to them?
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Health and wellbeing
How parents can help children and young people boost body confidence and self-esteem
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Parenting
Video: how to keep your child safe when using their mobile phone
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Parenting
What goes online stays online. Some advice to help you and your child understand the long-term implications of publishing all about your life.