Latest news with #qualitytime
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Head of £31,000-a-year school which Prince George may attend and Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow sent their children warns parents need to spend more quality time with their offspring
The headteacher of a £31,000-a-year private school tipped to be attended by Prince George has urged parents to spend more quality time with their children. Adam Pettitt, head of prestigious fee-paying Highgate School in north London, urged families to ensure their offspring have more time away from mobile phones. His school has attracted celebrity parents including Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Dame Emma Thompson. And it was recently toured by the Princess of Wales, prompting speculation she and husband Prince William could be considering the school for eldest child George, 11. Highgate School, founded 460 years ago, is a co-educational day school for pupils aged between four and 18 - with annual fees for its secondary school currently charged at £31,575 plus obligatory lunch fees bringing the total to £32,640. Mr Pettitt, who has been Highgate head since 2006, made his call for parents to make the most of screen-free 'quality time' for their children as he entered the debate about potential bans or limits on pupils' mobile phone use. A group of secondary schools across the south London borough of Southwark have recently teamed up to demand more restrictions - as they encouraged youngsters not to get such devices until Year 10, in which pupils are aged 14 and 15. The alliance of 16 Southwark schools published a plan calling for 'higher sanctions' for pupils having smartphones rather than non-smartphones confiscated - that is, those with internet access. Highgate School has already been operating its own ban on mobile phones, which Mr Pettitt says has 'reintroduced conversation to form rooms'. He has now written to a national newspaper insisting on the importance of parents diverting their children from constant screen time towards other activities. He told the Times: 'Age-based limits on mobile phone use are a welcome first step, but how adults spend time with children is paramount. We must not only limit screen time but actively promote what should replace it. Children need to play, to have protected screen-free time, and to enjoy fun, shared experiences with the adults who care for them.' Mr Pettitt added that the headteachers taking action in Southwark were 'right to tread carefully when advising on families' - and 'also correct that it requires a partnership with parents to address the effects of screens on children'. He previously warned parents about children and mobile phones in a letter, shared online in April, in response to controversial TV drama Adolescence. Mr Pettitt wrote about what he called 'a shocking and deeply thought-provoking series' and one particular scene in which the central character Jamie's parents admitted they were unaware about the dangerous online content he was accessing. He said: 'The online world is all-encompassing, and we teeter into it as if into an abyss. But it is no substitute for actual human interaction with those closest to us. 'This is important at home, too. Our children absorb things from us. Our views, actions and habits shape them. 'If we like reading, it's more likely our children will like reading. If we support a team, it's more likely our children will support that same team. 'We end up not only having things we do in common; we'll be doing them together. In the Pettitt household, it's crosswords and cooking. 'You'll all have those special but really not so special routines which mean you spend time together and time chatting. 'If we have wired into our routines time to be together for some part of every day, time to chat every day, we'll see more quickly when they withdraw, we'll notice if something is awry.' The Princess of Wales has shared online and spoken often about the hobbies, outdoor experiences and home interests her children enjoy - including recently George's love of painting and watching him and Louis play rugby at weekends. She has recently sparked speculation that Highgate School could be one of the next options for George after being seen seen visiting both Highgate and nearby University College School in Hampstead, north London. Both schools are about 30 miles from the Wales' Windsor base, potentially meaning journey times of more than an hour each way. Highgate School has been hailed for its 'world-class' drama department and has been the choice of school for the children of famous actors such as Dame Emma Thompson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law. Its alumni include the former child actor Freddie Highmore, now 33, who starred alongside Johnny Depp in the 2004 film Finding Neverland as well as in the following year's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. The Princess, now in remission from cancer, was seen at £10,525-a-term Highgate School just after it closed for the Christmas break at the end of last year. An insider told the Mail on Sunday in February: 'The family did go round and have a look and apparently, it's because the school has a rather brilliant drama department - genuinely world class. 'Kate spent quite a long time talking to two of the teachers there, including the Head of Drama, and was asking them about the drama curriculum and extracurricular activities and what opportunities there might be for appearing in school plays. 'One of the reasons they're drawn to visiting Highgate is that the department is known as somewhere that feeds into RADA. 'Highgate has got a very strong focus on Shakespeare with a nuanced and intelligent approach to drama. 'It's where people send their children if they want somewhere more elevated than the Brit School. 'Apparently, Kate was advised that this school will help George out, but not in pressurised way.' It has been suggested that the Princess's alma mater, Marlborough College in Wiltshire, could be the royal couple's preferred choice for not only George but also his younger siblings Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis. They are currently attending Lambrook School in Berkshire, with George due to move to his next school in autumn next year. The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be 'thinking outside the box' and continuing to look at options other than Marlborough College.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Louise Thompson reveals she has taken son Leo out of nursery to spend quality time together as they enjoy a 'swanky' day out in London
Louise Thompson has revealed that she took her son Leo out of nursery for the day to spend quality time together. The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, said she wants to 'soak up any opportunity I get to spend' with her three-year-old before he starts school next year. Louise said she was 'pretty apprehensive' as she took Leo to a child-friendly theatre performance where he sat through the full '50 minute performance as good as gold'. Sharing snaps during the sweet mother and son day out to Instagram on Thursday, Louise penned: 'Today I took my little bestie out of nursery for a 1:1 day date. 'We feel v lucky that Leo's nursery runs year round allowing us (and lots of other working parents) to work long hours during the week both in and out of term time. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'He is old for his year so he won't be starting school until next September - I feel like he will practically be cartwheeling in at that point - but I still want to soak up any opportunity I get to spend with him, because I know that after that point things won't be nearly as flexible and I also know that I will never get this time back. 'So bring on the impromptu hang sessions. 'I arranged to go to this amazing kids theatre over in East London called The Unicorn Thestre. We watched an adaptation of 'the koala who could', written by one of our favourite children's authors Rachel Bright. 'I've never taken Leo to the theatre before so I was pretty apprehensive given his attention span, but he sat through the 50 minute performance as good as gold. 'It felt really unpretentious (unlike a lot of adult theatres), kids could move freely, chat, eat snacks loudly, go to the loo etc and the seating arrangements felt suitably informal. We had a great time.' Louise revealed the pair got the Uber boat to the theatre and afterwards went shopping and enjoyed a 'swanky' lunch. She continued: 'We hopped on an Uber boat there which added to the fun and we met another couple who were running the exact same operation. 'Then after we headed to Battersea power station for a little browse of the Lego shop and also bought some new shoes and had a swanky Italian lunch date… lol at me eating carbonara while Leo chows on lamb chops and hopped on the boat west to head home. Louise shares son Leo, three, with fiancé Ryan Libbey and nearly died when giving birth after undergoing an emergency C-section in December 2021 due to suffering 'serious complications' 'Managed to take an intense finance call with Leo mumbling around in the background this afternoon and kept other things afloat… so all in all I'd say Thursday was a success. 'The ven diagram of trying to feel like a good parent and a good business woman is a funny one. I'll try and mock something up which will make us all feel like less of a failure… but today was one of the rare moments where I feel like I won at both. x I'll sleep sweetly tonight.' Louise shares son Leo, three, with fiancé Ryan Libbey and nearly died when giving birth after undergoing an emergency C-section in December 2021 due to suffering 'serious complications'. She ended up in intensive spent and spent five weeks in hospital, leaving her with PTSD and post-natal anxiety due to her near-death experience. Louise has since documented her recovery and family life on Instagram. The mum-of-one, who was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis diagnosis in 2018, has since been diagnosed with Lupus, Asherman's syndrome, suffered a second Hemorrhage and has also had a stoma bag fitted. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed. Asherman's syndrome rare condition where scar tissue builds up inside the uterus and Lupus is one of the chronic autoimmune conditions where the body makes antibodies against itself and starts to attack it. And a stoma bag is a medical device that a person uses to remove body waste. After being through something so traumatic Louise confessed that she struggled a lot more with her mental health, rather than her physical. She previously explained: 'The mental stuff was a lot worse, physical, you can often fix a physical problem, the mental torture was really hard to grapple with.'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Your Daily Couples Horoscope for May 11, 2025
Communication is key in any relationship, but sometimes things fall through the cracks. Our daily couple horoscope can help you find what's been lost and maintain that spark! You're feeling a little more settled in and might be ready to really think about merging families. If you're already long past that, you will probably just need to jointly cope with family needs. Make sure you eat at least one meal together. That kind of bonding is impossible to substitute for. You're feeling good enough that you may offer to cook. If so, things should go quite well. You're feeling a little tight-fisted right now, but try not to inflict that on your partner unless you've got your finances entwined. Even then you may want to hold back and see what happens. You're feeling great and should be able to express yourself as clearly as ever. Your partner will love to see you this happy, though they may have issues of their own roiling around down deep. You're going to step back and let your partner take center stage for now. It's not about fairness, exactly. You'd just rather watch them shine for a while as you recharge your batteries. What does the moon say about your emotional nature? Master your emotions with a Natal Moon Report! You've got to make sure that you spend some solid quality time together today or tonight. You need bonding in a big way. It doesn't have to be profound, but it does have to be honest. Your feelings are all over the map right now and that might confuse your partner. Don't worry too much about it. You can easily set things straight later and you need to find your center now. You can instantly see what's wrong or right with your partner thanks to powerful instincts that feel familiar. You may not have to act on this knowledge, but you'll know what to do just in case. You are going to be in a really different space now and your partner might get a little worried that it's a long-term thing. Try to reassure them that you'll be back to normal really soon. You need to try something new in your relationship even if your partner is kicking and screaming. Be diplomatic but also firm. Things can get a lot better if you work with new ideas. You're going to have to deal with your own feelings as well as those of your partner, and while that won't be easy, it also won't be impossible. Just get down to business and it will clear up soon. See if you can find a way to share your fun energy with your partner, who is most likely going through some strange emotions at the moment. It won't be hard to woo them back to smiling. Looking for a better romance? Find the empowerment you need with our Karma Love Report. 💞
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The best gift experiences to give Mom this Mother's Day
I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Quality time is the best gift you can give your mom this Mother's Day. Trust me, as Yahoo's gifting editor, I love nothing more than coming up with clever, one-of-a-kind gifts, but I also know that the perfect present isn't always something you wrap — it's something you do together. That's where these unforgettable Mother's Day gift experiences come into a handful of these gift experiences can be done solo (Mom needs a minute, OK?!), most of them are intended to be a bonding moment for you two. There's a pottery kit that you can order right off Amazon, a virtual flower arranging class and an at-home chocolate tasting, among others. In some cases, it's better if Mom calls the shots, which is why I've sprinkled in a few gift cards that she can redeem for cooking classes, spa days and photoshoots with the family. Given that a lot of these picks are digital, you can snag 'em at the last minute. But since you still have a little time to spare, go ahead and make your pick now, so you can rest easy until Mother's Day. Update, May 8, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Shop Mother's Day gifts: Best Mother's Day gifts for 2025 | Mother's Day gifts under $50 | Unique Mother's Day gifts | Last-minute Mother's Day gifts | Best Mother Day gift experiences | Best Mother's Day flowers
