Better Parent Blog
Parenting advice, study tips and everything in between!
The Day Your Child Stops Holding Your Hand
Fathers should make time for their children now because there are only a few short years to know a child as a child before they grow into adults. Children need a present parent more than expensive gifts, career achievements or a busy schedule. Start small and start today, even with a warm smile when you walk through the door.
R100,000 Giveaway to Celebrate 11 Years of WorksheetCloud!
WorksheetCloud celebrated 11 years with a giveaway of over R100,000 in prizes for 60 families in Term 4 2025. Active WorksheetCloud learners earned prize draw entries by completing activities through the WorksheetCloud Rewards Hub, with prizes for both learners and parents.
AI, should I? Making sense of AI in your child’s school life.
Children can use AI for schoolwork, but with guidance. AI can help with research, language barriers and building future digital skills, while over-reliance can weaken independent, creative and analytical thinking and raise concerns about cheating and plagiarism. Parents should learn about AI and teach responsible use, and schools need clear policies on ethical AI use.
Back-to-school blues. How to ACTUALLY enjoy the start of the year!
To help children enjoy the start of the school year, acknowledge their feelings about the holidays ending and talk through their worries. Re-establish bedtime and wake-up routines several weeks before school starts, set up a regular homework time and quiet workspace, encourage extra-mural activities, share positive school memories and help them set realistic goals for the year.
Earn EPIC Rewards While You Study – The New WorksheetCloud Rewards Hub
The WorksheetCloud Rewards Hub lets learners earn Knowledge Points by answering practice questions on WorksheetCloud and use them to unlock rewards available during the current term. Learners find the Rewards Hub in a tab on their WorksheetCloud dashboard, alongside features such as Avatars, Sidekicks and a Leaderboard that make studying more engaging.
My child struggles to make friends – what can I do to help?
Parents can help a child who struggles to make friends by practising greetings at home, arranging playdates, enrolling them in extra-mural activities that match their interests and teaching respect for personal boundaries. Model friendly behaviour, share your own childhood friendship stories and avoid comparing your child’s social needs to yours or their siblings’, as one close friend can be enough.
What if my child fails their exams?
If a child fails their exams, treat it as a chance to find and address the gaps. Talk openly without judgement, meet the teacher, involve the school counsellor and consider an educational psychologist’s assessment. Then build a structured routine with short daily practice and small goals, set realistic expectations and celebrate improvement, not only top marks.
Parental burnout – I’m just too tired to adult
Parental burnout is physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that can lead to chronic fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety and a short temper. Parents can reduce burnout by setting realistic expectations, being honest about their struggles, letting children do tasks they can manage themselves, making weekly time alone, exercising, laughing more and accepting that there is no perfect parent.
My child is addicted to technology. What can I do?
Rather than banning technology, parents can manage a child’s technology addiction by building healthier habits. Model good behaviour with screen-free hours for the whole household, explain the risks using facts, require schoolwork before screen time, redirect screen time towards educational content, track usage with monitoring apps and keep phones in a box overnight.