Here’s a counterintuitive idea.

If you want to help your child learn something new, even if you don’t feel confident in the subject yourself, one of the most effective things you can do is model the wrong way to do it.

Yes, deliberately get it wrong.

It sounds strange. It works remarkably well.

Do you have a child who always seems to be in a hurry? Whether it’s finishing homework, racing through piano practice or rushing around the playground, some children seem to function at full speed all the time. While enthusiasm and energy are wonderful traits, rushing can often mean mistakes, missed details or frustration. Often, children rush because they want to get something over with. You might see it when they immediately put their pen down the second they finish the last sum on the page or when they write that final full stop and call out, “Done!” before really checking their work.

Supporting your child with creative writing can feel intimidating, especially if it’s not something you naturally enjoy yourself or feel you’re good at. There can be doubt over where to start or worry you won’t ‘do it right’.

The truth is, you don’t have to be a great writer to help your child become one.

Some of the most effective ways you can support your child have nothing to do with your own writing skills. It’s about encouragement, exposure to different ideas and building their confidence through practice.

We often praise speed - quick finishers, fast readers, rapid problem solvers - but what if we started focusing on strategy instead? The best thinking isn’t about going faster, but going ‘better’. This starts with helping children develop time management as a skill, rather than a race. Time can feel abstract for many children. Without the right tools, they may rush through tasks, peak halfway or feel overwhelmed before they even begin.

Homework is a word that can trigger sighs from children but, more often, from parents. One question we are often asked is: How much should I actually be helping with this?

The answer isn’t black and white. Some parents end up doing most of the homework themselves. Others, determined to promote independence, never get involved at all, assuming their child needs to figure it out themselves. Both extremes can miss the mark.