Starting 6 October, 2025: Leadership, Learning, and Life Skills
Welcome to this week's news, all summarised with amazing AI.
Modern parenting requires new strategies to help children thrive in an increasingly digital world while developing essential life skills, values, and digital literacy.
06.10.25 - 12.10.25
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Parents News Summary
Digital Privacy Concerns
Parents sharing children's emotional moments online for clicks raises serious privacy and dignity concerns for young people.
Screen Time Management
Nearly half of parents rely on screen time daily, with kids averaging 21 hours weekly, double the ideal amount.
Education Challenges
Schools and parents navigate new technologies like AI while maintaining focus on core learning and attendance responsibilities.
Back to Basics Movement
Many families are embracing '90s style parenting with screen free play, outdoor activities, and real world connections.
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06.10.25 - 12.10.25
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Parents News Articles
The Guardian - 12.10.25
Parents who film their children crying for clicks should take a good look at themselves | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
Toddlers have big feelings. But sharing their tantrums and pain on social media is not a ‘teachable moment’. It’s cruel, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
- The article criticizes parents who film and share videos of their children crying, having tantrums, or being upset for social media attention, calling it exploitative rather than educational.
- It argues that filming a child's vulnerable moments breaches their privacy and dignity, undermining the parent's duty to provide emotional safety and comfort.
- Some parents justify these videos as "teachable moments" or educational content, but the author views this as self-serving and insincere.
- The trend reflects a troubling shift where parents engage more with their child's online image than with the child's real emotions or needs.
- The author concludes that true gentle parenting involves presence and empathy, not turning a child's distress into content for clicks or validation.
- A mother and father were fined after their daughter missed nearly 200 days of school without authorization between 2024 and 2025.
- Despite spending up to £70 weekly on taxis and being offered help (including a minibus service and charity support from Barnardo's), the teen refused to attend or board transport.
- The girl, who is SEN registered, reportedly struggled with school routines like roll call but was described as well-behaved when present.
- The court heard the parents made consistent efforts to get her to school but could not physically compel her to stay.
- The father was fined £200 plus costs, while the mother received a community order and fines totaling £350, as magistrates stressed attendance remains a legal responsibility.
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06.10.25 - 12.10.25
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- Technology is deeply embedded in kids' lives: Nearly all children under 12 watch TV, and majorities use tablets (68%) and smartphones (61%). Even 82% of children under 2 watch TV, showing that screen use starts very young.
- AI and smart devices are emerging in childhood: About 10% of kids aged 5–12 have used AI chatbots like ChatGPT, while 40% use voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa.
- 85% of parents say their child watches YouTube rising sharply among children under 2 (now 62% vs. 45% in 2020). Over half of kids watch it daily.
- 42% of parents admit they could manage screen time better; most allow device use for safety, learning, or entertainment, while others cite concerns about inappropriate content and overuse.
- Two-thirds of parents want tech companies, and over half want lawmakers to take greater responsibility for protecting kids online.
- AI is becoming a standard part of K–12 learning, with schools introducing "responsible use of AI" agreements, but policies vary widely and often lack clear guidelines.
- Parents are encouraged to learn how AI is being used, from tutoring apps like Khan Academy and Duolingo to classroom tools and AI detection software that can sometimes misidentify student work.
- Teachers are still adapting to AI integration, facing challenges with misinformation, grading integrity, and lack of professional training, though new programs like Stanford's CRAFT aim to help.
- Engaging with school leaders is key, parents should ask about AI policies, approved tools, teacher support, and ways to participate in shaping school AI guidelines.
- Ongoing conversations at home are essential, families should discuss ethical AI use, balance technology with real-world interactions, and model responsible behavior to build trust and understanding.
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06.10.25 - 12.10.25
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Tech-Free Parenting Trend
The Independent -6.10.25
Introducing the new parenting trend — raising your kids like it’s the 90s
Watching a movie rented from Blockbuster, threading a charm bracelet, and taking on your friends with a game of Hungry, Hungry, Hippo. Those 90s trends we miss so dearly are the ones that are inspiring millennial parents, Amber Raiken finds
- Many millennial parents are embracing a "raise kids like it's the '90s" movement, emphasizing simple, screen-free play and real-world connection amid growing concerns about children's tech dependence.
- Activities like board games, bike rides, crafts, and outdoor play are replacing constant digital entertainment, inspired by nostalgia for slower, unplugged childhoods.
- Parents such as Courtney Schultz and Chelsea Delgado report that limiting screen time improves their children's communication, focus, and emotional balance.
- Experts, including pediatricians, support the approach, noting it helps kids build grit, resilience, and social skills that screens can erode.
- While technology can't be eliminated, families are encouraged to balance it with outdoor, self-directed play, easing children into healthier habits over time.
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06.10.25 - 12.10.25
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Teachers News Summary
AI Integration
AI tools are transforming classrooms, helping teachers with planning and administration while requiring new skills and guidance.
Teacher Retention
Research focuses on understanding what motivates people to become teachers and strategies for improving recruitment and retention.
Educational Platforms
Digital learning tools like UCL's Learning Designer and Tapestry are empowering teachers globally to create better educational experiences.
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06.10.25 - 12.10.25
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Teachers News Articles
- UCL's Learning Designer platform empowers teachers to design and manage technology-enhanced lessons, supporting creative and effective use of digital tools in classrooms worldwide.
- Built on decades of educational research by Professor Diana Laurillard, the platform uses the "Conversational Framework" to help teachers plan, analyze, and refine their teaching strategies.
- Free and globally accessible, the tool supports multiple languages and offers online video guidance, ensuring inclusivity for educators in over 180 countries.
- Used by more than 40,000 teachers annually, it has enabled the creation and sharing of 300,000+ learning designs, strengthening collaboration across the global education community.
- Recognized for professional development, it features in UCL and FutureLearn courses, helping teachers confidently apply blended and online learning methods in modern education.
- AI is reducing teacher workloads by helping with lesson planning, report writing, and administrative tasks, allowing teachers to spend more time with students.
- Schools are cautiously adopting AI, with most still in early stages and usage varying widely between teachers and departments.
- Concerns remain about plagiarism, accuracy, bias, and pupils relying too heavily on AI instead of developing core skills.
- Some schools, like Birchgrove Comprehensive in Swansea, are proactively teaching students how to use AI responsibly and encouraging staff to become more AI-literate.
- The Welsh government and Estyn are calling for clearer national guidance and training to ensure AI is used safely, ethically, and effectively in education.
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- Labour has pledged to recruit more teachers amid growing concerns about teacher shortages.
- Dr. Sam Sims (UCL Institute of Education) highlights findings from an Ambition Institute report on what influences people to become or stay teachers.
- The report explores differences between teachers' and non-teachers' motivations and barriers to joining the profession.
- Sims emphasizes that improving recruitment requires addressing workload, pay, and professional development opportunities.
- Retention strategies should focus on supporting teachers' well-being and creating stronger career growth pathways.
- Tapestry began in 2012 when former teacher Helen and her husband Steve Edwards created a digital platform to help nurseries and parents track children's learning
- Originally focused on nurseries, Tapestry has grown into a comprehensive learning platform for ages 0–11, offering a continuous digital journal
- The platform strengthens home–school connections, allowing teachers to share photos, videos, and updates in real time.
- Entirely bootstrapped and family run, Tapestry has rejected outside investment to stay affordable and mission-driven
- The company continues to innovate with new designs, AI tools, and planned integrations while staying rooted in educator needs.
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06.10.25 - 12.10.25
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Extra Pearls
For Parents: Digital Boundaries
- Create device-free zones in bedrooms and dining areas to promote better sleep and family connection
- Establish "tech curfews" 1 hour before bedtime to improve children's sleep quality
- Model healthy digital habits, children mirror parents' screen behaviors more than following rules
- Use co-viewing strategies: watch content together and discuss themes, values, and concerns
- Prioritize outdoor play and hands-on activities that build problem-solving and creativity skills
For Teachers: AI Integration
- Start small with AI tools, use for lesson planning templates before moving to student-facing applications
- Develop clear classroom policies about AI use that promote learning rather than replacing critical thinking
- Create AI literacy lessons that teach students to evaluate information quality and bias
- Collaborate with colleagues to share effective AI tools and troubleshoot challenges together
- Focus on teaching skills that complement AI: creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex problem-solving
Remember: Technology should enhance human connection and learning, not replace it. Both parents and teachers play crucial roles in helping children develop healthy relationships with digital tools while maintaining focus on core developmental needs.
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