The power of words

Words may not be sticks and stones but they can really hurt - they can do deep, long-term psychological harm if the wrong sort are hammered into children by their parents.

So be careful what words you feed your kids - that's the message conveyed in an article in Child magazine tomorrow, one of several that seek to give parents new insights into raising children in ways that work for both.

"Positive parenting", for example, is a phrase that is being heard more often. The concepts behind it will be explored, such as using the consequences of children's actions, instead of outright punishment, to discipline them.

Are many parents, in their concern over their children's academic progress, inadvertently providing them with an unbalanced life - mostly work and little play? That's another for parents to chew on.

Comic actor Alan Montanaro is back in his inimitable style, providing both humour and food for thought inspired by his drama classes for youngsters - this time it's to do with learning from children instead of the other way round.

In short, inspiration and information abound in tomorrow's free issue of Child, out with The Times.