The Groovd blog

Guides written by teachers, for parents and grandparents.

When "thoup" is actually soup: what parents need to know about the S sound October 2026When "thoup" is actually soup: what parents need to know about the S soundIf the little one in your life says "thoup" instead of "soup", or "thchool" instead of "school", you've probably noticed. You might... Gifts for grandchildren that are still being used in January: a teacher's picks by age September 2026Gifts for grandchildren that are still being used in January: a teacher's picks by ageEvery January I count which Christmas presents came back to school and which ones I never hear about again. Here is what... Do grooved handwriting books work? A teacher's honest answer September 2026Do grooved handwriting books work? A teacher's honest answerParents bring me a grooved handwriting book every couple of weeks and ask the same thing. Here is what they do, who... Anxiety in children: signs to look for and what actually helps September 2026Anxiety in children: signs to look for and what actually helpsTummy aches, clinginess, refusing to go. Here is what anxiety actually looks like in a young child, how to tell a normal... Why is my child lying? What it means and what actually helps September 2026Why is my child lying? What it means and what actually helpsMost parents panic the first time they catch their child lying. It is a normal part of development, it usually means one... The benefits of playing games with your child: what the science actually says September 2026The benefits of playing games with your child: what the science actually saysI sat in a workshop in Malaga last week and heard a child psychologist explain what happens in a child's brain during... How to help your child focus at home: the brain break method teachers use September 2026How to help your child focus at home: the brain break method teachers useA child who cannot sit still for homework usually does not need a lecture. Here is the two-minute method I use in... Why tidy-up time is secretly teaching six things September 2026Why tidy-up time is secretly teaching six thingsTidying up is faster without your child. That four-minute shortcut quietly costs them six things, and there is a better way to... Phonics at home: what parents actually need to know September 2026Phonics at home: what parents actually need to knowPhonics trips up most parents, usually because nobody explains the words the teacher is using. Here are the terms that matter, five... Fine motor skills activities for children: why they matter and how to build them at home September 2026Fine motor skills activities for children: why they matter and how to build them at homeFine motor skills shape handwriting, independence and even how long a child can sit and attend. Here is the station I set... The benefits of puzzles for children: what a teacher sees every day September 2026The benefits of puzzles for children: what a teacher sees every dayPuzzles build problem solving, spatial reasoning and the kind of patience that carries into everything else. Here is what 25 years at... Progress over perfection: managing your emotions as a parent September 2026Progress over perfection: managing your emotions as a parentThe hardest part of parenting has very little to do with your child. Perfection is the wrong target, and the shifts that...