Have you ever watched your child tap, scroll and click for hours without looking up? With UK lawmakers now debating whether to follow Australia’s lead and restrict social media access for under-16s, concerns about screen addiction, mental wellbeing and addictive online design are firmly in the spotlight.

This Children’s Mental Health Week (9th-15th February), I am taking a look at the core aspects of a child’s life that are important from a mental health perspective and offer advice on how families can help improve their children’s health and wellbeing.

Jones Myers family law solicitor Katie Jennings has successfully completed the key first stage of her training to become an accredited Family Law Mediator. Katie, who is based at the niche family law firm’s York city centre office, has undergone training with the Family Mediators Association, completing her assignments in the evenings and weekends.

York is gearing up for another action‑packed February half‑term as the JORVIK Viking Festival returns from 16–22 February 2026, bringing a full week of hands‑on history, craft activities and Norse‑themed entertainment to the city’s streets and historic venues.

A new year often brings about new reflections and new ambitions, whether it's rekindling old friendships, beginning a new hobby, learning a language or setting off on an adventure to a distant land. Many of us use the first few months of a new year to make plans for ourselves or for our families.

A charity that has helped more than 20,000 children and young people with a free wig service has received a £12,000 boost from a leading principal contractor.

This title may be a little confusing as it almost suggests I am using old pieces of artwork to celebrate the new year. This is totally not my intention. I hope all you wonderful young artists and your families and friends had a joyous time and are now looking forward to a healthy, happy creative new year.

We sent the Charlesworth family to experience the magical: Of the Oak in The Chapel at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Not a typical art exhibition but an immersive sound-and-video installation that invites you to step metaphorically inside an ancient oak tree.

A recent poll by cancer charity Maggie’s, found that nearly half of people worry about speaking to family and friends with cancer. Maggie’s cancer charity is well known for its compassionate support for people living with cancer and those close to them.

Yorkshire children’s cancer charity Candlelighters is showcasing the role of outreach play specialists, within the broad range of services it offers to the families of children with cancer. Emily Wragg, Candlelighters’ CEO explains: “We’re proud to fund two NHS outreach play specialists based at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

Jones Myers has helped to enhance the quality of life for disabled Artmakers by contributing presents for a festive fundraiser. Support from the niche family law firm has helped to raise £3,000 for Henshaws which supports people living with a range of disabilities to discover their talents, put them into practice - and realise their full potential.

Preliminary findings in a rapid inquiry into NHS maternity services are due this month. It's the latest in a series of investigations stretching back twenty-two years. All have been well-intentioned, but somehow, again and again, they fail. Why? Missing the mark The people who run these inquiries are accomplished professionals who bring expertise in systems, processes, and governance.

Making arrangements for the care of children over the Christmas period as a separated parent can feel daunting, and without a court order specifying where children should live or spend time during school holidays or special occasions, disagreements can quickly arise. There are however, several ways to ease the pressure and reduce any potential conflict.

As Christmas draws nearer, Durham Cathedral is inviting people to experience the joy of the festive season with a programme of special services, concerts and events, in celebration of the birth of Christ starting from 29 November. Each year, visiting the cathedral for Advent and Christmas is part of many people’s annual tradition.

Winter is a time of change and transition and historically a time of shortage in terms of food and the need to ration. In the modern world we tend to not notice as we have lights all year round but, our bodies haven’t changed much since hunter gatherer times and they respond to the cues from nature.

Our second visit to Trentham Winter Lights was every bit as enchanting as the first. Last year, my then 4- and 7-year-olds were utterly captivated by the spectacle, and this year the magic returned with a delightful twist. The trail featured a subtle Wizard of Oz theme, punctuated by rainbows that appeared at every turn, creating a wonderfully whimsical atmosphere reminiscent of a storybook.

Studies show that children who spend more time outdoors experience lower levels of anxiety, improved focus, and stronger immune systems. Exposure to natural light and unstructured play boosts mood-regulating chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. It also creates happier children which equals less stress for parents, carers and teachers.

As the clocks have now gone back and the nights are drawing in, Paragon Veterinary Practice in Carlisle is reminding pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their animals safe and visible during walks. With reduced daylight hours and darker mornings and evenings, pets and their owners are more at risk of being unseen by drivers or cyclists.

This Christmas, British Garden Centres is inviting homeowners across the country to spread festive joy and light up their streets as part of its #LightUpChristmas campaign with the launch of its sparkling new competition, Light Up Your House.

A groundbreaking trial exploring the potential of blood tests to diagnose dementia is now underway at two NHS Trusts in Sheffield marking a significant step toward improving the UK’s dementia diagnosis rate.

There are some spectacular bonfires and firework displays across Cumbria around November 5, the anniversary of Guy Fawkes’s attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. An organised display is safer, cheaper and much more fun than doing fireworks at home. And the best way to get to the display is by Stagecoach bus.

School can be a stressful environment for many children and the Autumn half term is the perfect opportunity to rest, reset and re-connect. We can support our family’s mental health all year round, but half term is the ideal time to reconnect as a family, boost our mood together and make deeper connections.

I decided to have yet another attempt at tidying my studio. There`s usually a reasoning or prompt behind these bouts of `cleansing` and last week was no exception. This time there was a double incentive. Firstly, after months recovering from an op I saw my studio in a different light.

New research from Neighbourly found that 71% say being neighbourly is still a core national value 84% believe we should be doing more as a society to encourage neighbourliness #TheExtraHour campaign encourages people to use an hour to do something good Community spirit may be part of the UK’s national identity, but new research suggests it’s not what it once was.