On Thursday 12 June, we had the pleasure of welcoming the award-winning GP and author, Dr Dominique Thompson, as our latest Pyemont Lecturer. Her enlightening and entertaining talk, "How to Grow a Grown Up: Parenting Tips for the 21st Century," captivated the audience with practical advice based on her acclaimed book of the same name. Notably, her book was a finalist in the 2020 People's Book Prize and has been featured on Sky TV and in The Times.

Dr Thompson is widely recognised as the UK's leading GP on pupil mental health and is the author of The Student Wellbeing Series (Trigger Publishing). Her expertise in teen wellbeing shone through as she delved into why young people today might be facing more challenges than ever before. She offered invaluable insights into what parents, guardians and educators can do to equip children with the essential life skills needed to thrive in our rapidly evolving world.

In today's society, children are under immense, constant pressure to be "always on" and present their "best self." She highlighted the critical need to prepare them for a challenging future. A key takeaway from her powerful message was the importance of fostering independence in children, emphasising its crucial role in their mental wellbeing.

We are incredibly grateful for Dominique Thompson's visit and for sharing her wealth of knowledge with our community. If you're interested in learning more about her work and gaining further insights into raising resilient children, be sure to visit her blog at www.growingagrownup.com.