Trinity PR

Independent Healthcare PR

  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Digital & social media
    • Media Relations
    • Media Campaigns
    • Issues & Crisis Management
    • Design Print & Copywriting
    • Patient Advocacy
  • Clients
  • Credentials
  • News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Let it slow! As Christmas approaches, Priory expert urges parents to stop over-scheduling their children

A top UK child psychiatrist is calling on parents to ‘schedule unscheduled time’ for their children and make a New Year’s resolution to cut back on their children’s extra-curricular activities.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, clinical director of the Priory’s Wellbeing Clinics and medical director of the Priory’s Woodbourne Hospital in Birmingham, spoke in the countdown to Christmas – when many families are feeling the strain of back-to-back classes, sports fixtures, endless concerts and club events, with little time for downtime or spontaneous family fun.

Dr van Zwanenberg said she was not advocating undirected hours of unfulfilling TV-watching and phone-talking.

But she said; “Whatever the time of year, it is so important that young people have time to relax and to be allowed to act their age – as well as get an adequate number of hours’ restorative sleep.  One of the most crucial points in determining the balance of activities versus unstructured time is to work out how much time there is for quality family time – and what better time than the Christmas break than to implement a new ‘regime of relaxation’.

“Sport and clubs are beneficial in many ways but should not take precedence over other important aspects of young people’s development – and that includes relaxing with your family and learning how to embrace boredom.

“Downtime is when a child’s imagination really takes grip, and when they learn to structure their own time and take charge themselves. Children who are directed by adults every moment of their lives never learn to direct themselves.”

She added: “Many older children and teens are already faced with the prospect of returning to mock exams at the start of a new term and whilst revision and preparation is important over the holidays, many can end up feeling over-stretched and stressed, especially if they are also involved in an unmanageable amount of extra-curricular activities during term time.

“I have seen some young people – who are talented academically and at extra-curricular activities become very anxious due to the pressure to succeed in so many different aspects of life. They are literally exhausted trying to fit everything in.  This can then impact on family dynamics as they become irritable and harder to communicate with.”

She said that allowing children to be bored was essential for their cognitive and social development, especially in areas of imagination and self-sufficiency.

Whilst many children will be receiving new tablets, smartphones and games consoles this Christmas, parents shouldn’t be afraid to limit their use in favour of re-learning how to simply “amuse themselves”, and spending time chatting to an older relative or guest.

Her comments follow recent research by top doctors in the United States who said children under five should spend no more than an hour a day in front of television or computer screens – and infants under two should not view them at all.

In a stark message about the growing risks of digital technology, the US doctors halved their previous recommended limit of two hours a day of screen time for children aged over two after reviewing new evidence.

The professional organisation for paediatricians in the US said children’s health and development were increasingly being put at risk by the proliferation of screens in people’s homes.

It said: “Multiple developmental and health concerns continue to exist for young children using all forms of digital media to excess.”

So, to help families get the best out of the Christmas break – and that enforced break from the term-time routine – Dr van Zwanenberg suggests some pragmatic tips for parents and carers to help keep children’s commitments in check:

 

  • Walk and talk – the Christmas holidays is a great excuse to get out and enjoy the fresh air, without the distraction of the TV or tablet. Use the time to chat openly; laugh and maybe broach sensitive subjects that have been off limits during term-time (parents might be surprised at what teenagers suddenly decide to share)

 

  • Get board, not bored! – from Scrabble to Snap to Uno, Pointless to Pictionary, board games are back and can be a great bonding experience for all members of the family, whatever their age, interests (and inhibitions), playing as equals

 

  • Tear up the timetable – use the festive fortnight to take a break from all regular commitments, clubs and sporting fixtures. The rest will benefit both body and mind. And consider whether you really want to return to all these activities in 2017

 

  • Switch off social media and socialise with your nearest and dearest – Shut the door on the rest of the world and focus on family

 

  • And finally, make 2017 the year for re-dressing the balance and making some serious but sensible choices about prioritising time and not allowing the endless expectations placed on young people today to succeed, result in stress and poor self-esteem.

 

News

2019

  • Are you prepped for Pilates?
  • Health Summit calls for widespread tech adoption to improve patient safety
  • Ditch the itch as chicken pox season approaches!
  • Heart Month 2019: New study comes under the spotlight as CRY marks a decade of funding expert pathology
  • A “100-year-old” test is still the gold standard for preventing sudden cardiac death
  • The six “low & no” beers to keep tabs on in 2019
  • What’s top of your health fix-it list for the new year?
  • What to do after Dry January

2018

  • What’s top of your health and wellbeing resolutions?
  • Highlighting the benefits of working in care on BBC Woman’s Hour
  • How to look after your mental health at Christmas
  • Putting the needs of others first this Christmas Day
  • The birth of a new approach to maternity planning for parents-to-be
  • How to help children living with mental health conditions
  • Innovative new mattress from leading medical manufacturers aims to reduce the burden of pressure ulcers for clinicians, caregivers and patients
  • New stats show over 80% of people think the government should be doing more to prevent sudden cardiac deaths in young people
  • Take a step in the right direction this party season
  • Know your skin type: Know your scar
  • “Over 4,500 young people tested for heart defects in Wales.” News comes as leading charity returns to Cardiff & reaches key milestone of 50 days of screening
  • Cannabis use fuelling rise in psychosis among young adults, says top Priory expert
  • How to make yourself more employable?
  • World Mental Health Day: offering support to friends affected by Postnatal Depression
  • New report released to promote best practice standards of care for the management of medication across primary care
  • Everything you need to know about medical management
  • Urology Week will encourage you to confront your leak
  • Fresher pressure: student stress and anxiety – how to be mentally prepared for university
  • CRY’s screening team carries out its 1,000th test in memory of Alex Reid
  • 5 Things To Consider Before Your Baby Arrives
  • Are you a slave to scrolling? Scroll-free September aims to break your addiction to social media and improve your mental health
  • 5 Healthy Back To School Tips For Parents
  • The importance and benefits for an organisation of working towards early talent diversity
  • New research shows sudden cardiac death in elite footballers is higher than anticipated
  • New poll reveals 44% of parents would support a ban on under-16s having smartphones
  • Lifting the lid on treatment options for SUI
  • How taking a selfie could help heal your scar
  • Summer, Sun and SUI
  • School’s out for Summer…but survey shows 45% of people don’t realise you need to protect a scar from the sun
  • I’m suffering from depression and anxiety – how do I tell my boss?
  • What every parent needs to know about their children’s scars
  • Phoenix Hospital Group announces partnership with London Eye Diagnostic Centre
  • #12 YEARS…#12 LANDMARKS…#12 YOUNG LIVES LOST EVERY WEEK IN THE UK
  • Are parents micro-managing Millennials? The influence of parents on graduates’ early career decisions
  • Women across the globe encouraged to unite and share the message that living with SUI is no laughing matter…
  • With the World Cup approaching, nearly half of us don’t realise when we’re binge drinking
  • Body dysmorphic disorder and cosmetic surgery
  • Hitachi Medical Systems Europe wins the contract to supply 6 ultrasound systems in the UK
  • Stars and their scars
  • New technology transforming blood and stem cell collection
  • More needs to be done to attract men into social care
  • New Report Released To Promote Best Practice For The Management Of Medication Across Secondary Care
  • 5 things you need to know about Stress Urinary Incontinence ahead of running the London Marathon
  • Preparing Yourself for Hip & Knee Surgery
  • The Fertility Show Returns to Manchester this Weekend
  • Charity fears families could be “falsely reassured” after a young sudden cardiac death
  • How to help a loved one who is suffering from an eating disorder
  • Hope for young British children living with neurological conditions
  • Trinity celebrates the launch of the Tatler Beauty & Cosmetic Surgery Guide 2018
  • Control Your Choice
  • Technology use in the NHS to eliminate medication errors
  • Coping with infertility on Valentine’s Day
  • Why should you consider blood cord banking as a pregnant mum-to-be?
  • Phoenix Hospital Group announces acquisition of 25 Harley Street
  • Failure to breastfeed can fuel depression in new mothers
  • What happens to your body when you stop drinking

2017

  • 5 Ways to Get your Body ‘Baby Ready’ for 2018
  • Leading Mobile Healthcare Company Opens New Facility in Manningtree
  • Trinity PR supports the launch of the revolutionary ARIETTA 850 at BMUS 2017
  • Coping with the Death of a Friend
  • New Report Released to Promote Best Practice Standards of Care for the Management of Medication across A&E Departments
  • Survey Reveals Crisis of Confidence in Medicine as a Future Career
  • Ahead of Alcohol Awareness Week (13– 19th November), Dr Venkat discusses the impact of alcohol on your fertility
  • Trinity PR at this year’s Fertility Show
  • Durham Remains at the Heart of Fundraising for Leading Cardiac Charity
  • 5 things you should know about STI’s and fertility
  • Give Your Kids The Healthiest Start To The New Term
  • Cancer patients with depression are “being overlooked” says leading Priory psychotherapist
  • 3 super foods that increase sperm count
  • Tickets on sale for The Fertility Show
  • Multidisciplinary Team is the Key to Rapid and Effective Management of Patient Wounds
  • Hundreds of walkers take great strides to support charity
  • Omnicell Joins Forces to Raise Awareness of the Importance of Adhering to Medication
  • Coping with infertility on Father’s Day
  • Is it safe to exercise when going through chemotherapy?
  • Let’s open up and support mental health awareness week
  • The truth about your weight and fertility
  • The Secrets of a Couture Smile
  • The Great North-South Fertility Divide
  • 3 ways to achieve a youthful look
  • Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
  • What to do when you have a skincare emergency
  • Don’t wait until it’s too late…
  • HSFC Director Dr Geetha Venkat uses Arab Health 2017 to address the region’s fertility ‘time bomb’
  • Trinity PR delighted help launch London Medical Concierge
  • Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2017 (22 – 28 January)
  • Battling the cold weather: how to manage seasonal symptoms with a long-term health condition
  • 5 top yoga moves to improve your fertility
  • The top 3 facial surgery trends of 2017 predicted by leading plastic surgeon Daniel Ezra

2016

  • Alcohol And You: Why The Office Party Is Often Your Most Important Wake-Up Call Of The Year
  • How to navigate the festive season whilst undergoing fertility treatment
  • Let it slow! As Christmas approaches, Priory expert urges parents to stop over-scheduling their children
  • MPs from all parties sign up to pledge to stop young sudden cardiac death
  • Trinity clients first on board with national charity alliance
  • Limit young children’s screen time to no more than an hour a day, says Priory expert
  • World COPD Day!
  • Daniel Ezra, oculoplastic facial surgeon, guides people on how to maintain a perfect social media profile
  • Trinity PR at The Fertility Show this weekend
  • Dyspraxia in the workplace: hidden challenges, hidden assets
  • Trying for a baby? Eat pumpkin seeds this Halloween to boost your fertility says Dr Venkat
  • myGP™ transforms winter flu immunisation programme roll-out
  • Women’s health…in the spotlight
  • Omnicell’s new awareness campaign aims to help organisations prepare for GS1 standards
  • 5 top tips to help smokers quit during Stoptober
  • Fertility Treatment on the NHS
  • Leading OculoFacial Plastic surgeon comments on the most talked-about face in fashion
  • Rain won’t stop play for charity supporters…
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month
  • Keep Calm and Conceive
  • Trinity PR excited to launch new report Cosmetic Surgery: The Road to Reform
  • MyClinicalCoach looks set to help millions of patients with long term health conditions
  • HSFC offers new shockwave therapy to treat erectile dysfunction
  • Keeping up appearances…
  • Ingenious new device from Clement Clarke strives to change the way young children are taught to inhale their medication
  • Acclaimed artist to auction palette in second exclusive charity partnership
  • Clinical Health Coaching helps GP practice empower patients and bring transformation of care
  • The changing face of parenthood in the UK
  • Trinity PR has been taking some tips from experts at the Priory Group on how to make the summer holidays memorable for the right reasons!
  • How can digital patient-facing technology support a future NHS?
  • Cosmetic Surgeon warns of the rise of “re-do” surgery
  • Right patient, right dose, right time!
  • Pioneering study highlights hope for young people living with curvature of the spine
  • It’s time for a digital detox!
  • Totally Health launch their new annual benchmark statistics on the effectiveness of Clinical Health Coaching
  • Dr Venkat advising all athletes and spectators travelling to Rio to take extra precautions against the Zika Virus
  • Trinity PR supports the launch of the myGP smartphone app to transform patient access to care
  • New research reveals that cancer patients want more information on their fertility options
  • Could speaking French improve a chronic eye condition?
  • Mental Health is as important as physical health
  • Omnicell announces new contracts with five UK hospitals
  • Anniversaries: a date to be celebrated or a date that’s just too painful to bear?
  • Trinity PR speaks to Dr Sara Payne, MBE, about her stroke journey
  • As many as one in seven couples suffer from ‘secondary infertility’
  • Arlene Phillips support 3rings with Express interview
  • CRY reaches out to young people affected by heart problems
  • Daniel Ezra comments on GMC regulation of cosmetic surgery industry
  • Inspiring Mum Goes On The Run
  • Alarming number of doctors experiencing mental health issues
  • Trinity PR is looking for a new team member
  • “Labels are for jars, not people”
  • Mr Daniel Ezra comments on BAAPS advertising guidelines
  • Trinity supports new client 3rings for Mother’s Day
  • New look Naidex, back to business for 2016!
  • Singer Pixie Lott speaks from the heart as she fronts national TV appeal for cardiac charity
  • Omnicell welcomes Lord Carter’s report to help drive efficiency and cost savings across the NHS
  • Spreading the news about screening
  • Is this the end for the ‘traditional’ drug cupboard in hospitals?
  • Leading fertility expert urges couples hoping to conceive to have more sex!
  • Canvassing opinion on the pressures affecting doctors
  • Looking for your perfect PR match?

2015

  • Apex lays down its support for homeless charity this Christmas
  • Britain’s Stress Problem Is Affecting Our Fertility
  • Marking 20 years of Cardiac Risk in the Young
  • A spotlight on medication adherence
  • Apex announces its launch into the UK pressure area care market
  • Dyspraxia- “Is it a battle of the sexes?”
  • Europe’s biggest provider of 24 hour care say we need to improve Dementia care to provide for our ageing population
  • Help us to tackle medication non-adherence
  • A good way to end the week…
  • Five ways NHS staff can keep happy and healthy
  • Leading cardiologists come through together in the heart of London
  • Trinity PR Excited To Be Involved In Launch Of New Report On The Role Of Assistant Practitioners From Skills For Health
  • Trinity celebrates launch of children’s book “You’re so clumsy Charley”
  • How a throw-away paper cup can save the life of a child with asthma
  • If you’re heading to Whitstable Oyster Festival this weekend ……
  • Why we need to break the British reserve and ask for a second medical opinion
  • Omnicell Comments On Jeremy Hunt’s Announcement To Help Tackle Medication Non-adherence
  • Dr Venkat Answers Questions On Donor Conception As A Single Mum
  • Trinity PR Supports Global Organisation, C-path, As First Ever UK Office Opens
  • Yet Two More Sudden Cardiac Deaths…
  • Top Tips For Inducing Labour
  • Join The Care Certificate Thunderclap
  • The Right Medicine: Expert Debate
  • A Chapter In Life That No Mother Should Ever Have To Write
  • Evening With Public Health Minister Jane Ellison
  • CME Medical Launches Safety Campaign For NHS Trusts In Line With NPSA Deadline
  • New Figures Outline Cost Efficiencies With ‘Unsung Heroes’ Of The NHS
  • End Of Dry January, Start Of Wet February, March, April, May…
  • Eye Health In A Digital World
  • Top Tips To Get Ski Fit
  • New Year, New Face: January Named As Busiest Month For Cosmetic Surgery
  • Music’s Ode To Life
  • ‘Dry January’ On The Up- But More Consumer Awareness Needed On Lower Strength Options

2014

  • Cheska’s Christmas Classical Chart
  • The alternative guide to Festive feasting!
  • Join our team
  • Trinity PR proud to work alongside national charity CRY during hard hitting new campaign
  • Bereaved parents attend Westminster event to help launch a hard-hitting new ad campaign to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death
  • Pioneering pilot study takes the “puff” away from the E-cigarette debate- and replaces it with real research
  • Medical experts debate acute hospital care at key conference
  • Harley Street Fertility Clinic’s Dr Venkat to have a weekly slot on BBC Asain Network
  • Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt and one of UK’s best known musicians, Suggs, show support for Pancreatic Cancer research
  • Destination Diabetes: – celebrating the arrival of the London Diabetes Care Plan
  • Trinity PR works alongside national charity during annual awareness week to call for greater understanding of issues faced by young people living with Dyspraxia
  • New campaign to help tackle the issue of medication non-adherence
  • Menopause month: Tackling Taboos
  • Daughter raises funds for nursing home in memory of late father
  • Webchat with HSFC director Dr Venkat and Mother & Baby Magazine
  • Trinity PR supports Pancreatic Cancer awareness month this November
  • Trinity takes to the Heart of London for annual fundraising event
  • Happy Anniversary NHS!
  • Beautiful Beetroot
  • Sibling Support
  • Skills for Health Media Bulletin
  • Treatment for BRCA Gene Mutation
  • We are moving
  • Abraxane for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer added to National Cancer Drugs Fund List
  • National Apprenticeship Week (3-7 March 2014)
  • Pancreatic Cancer UK launches “two more months” campaign ahead of crucial decision by The Cancer Drugs Fund
  • Trinity PR adds exciting new client from the medical device sector to its current portfolio
  • The Heartbreaking Agony Of Losing A Partner Before The Age Of 35
  • We’re looking for a new Trainee PR Account Executive
  • Raising awareness of egg donation within the Asian community
  • Excellence in compliance saluted across London NHS Trusts

2013

  • In celebration of the festive season, Trinity PR developed a popular sprouts story that captured the media’s attention
  • Pancreatic Cancer: Time to change the story
  • BSIR annual meeting 2013: Conference news- amputation rates too high experts warn on world Diabetes day!
  • Digital vs. Traditional – it’s all in the mix for PR agency selection
  • Don’t hang up on Dyspraxia
  • Trinity PR embarks on new working partnership with Steadfast Clinics Ltd
  • Millions of patients given new hope of beating their back pain: 40 % could be cured with antibiotics
  • Rebuilding faces, mending smiles; the life changing work of Project Harar
  • One day all this will be yours…
  • Health News Watch: Tackling the “Big 5”
  • Get a sprint on this spring in aid of help for heroesget a sprint on this spring in aid of help for heroes
  • Don’t let the winter chill freeze your back

2012

  • Have a fertile New Year!
  • Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) 10th Parliamentary Reception
  • Women applaud on-going development of techniques that let them to say ‘no’ to hysterectomy
  • Competition hots up in the Gulf…
  • Trinity: the midas touch
  • We’re in!
  • Is Telehealth the answer?
  • Cataract surgery access slammed
  • Don’t let asthma hold you back…follow the Olympic lead
  • Calls for urgent review of cardiac screening policy among black athletes
  • The Sunshine Vitamin: Are you getting enough vitamin D?
  • The Middle East Market
  • Guild of Health Writers
  • Newlife: raising the bar in reproductive health
  • Cardiac screening in the young soars overnight as Fabrice Muamba hits the headlines
  • Trinity supports The London Clinic’s clinical trial and patient recruitment programme
  • Our website
  • Hello Dubai!
  • Super sprint
  • Call for increased access to clinical trial data
  • Charities’ tax relief fears
  • Hope on the Horizon…
  • Sign-up in support of screening

tel: + 44 (0) 20 7112 4905 • e-mail: info@trinitypr.co.uk • Address: 34 High Street, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1RW / Privacy Statement

Awards

Awards

Links

LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Twitter
DJA
Hughes Design
MENU
  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Digital & social media
    • Media Relations
    • Media Campaigns
    • Issues & Crisis Management
    • Design Print & Copywriting
    • Patient Advocacy
  • Clients
  • Credentials
  • News
  • About Us
  • Contact Us