Budding presenters

Emma Forbes is one of the nation’s best loved broadcasters and personalities and has two children, Sam and Lily aged 10 and 14.

As her kids reach their teens, Emma started Forbes Style to use the opportunity to share her experiences and engage with her readers, discussing views on being a mother, wife and career woman.

So, the Cool Mum Hunting team have tracked her down to ask her for advice on how we can bring up to speak up and be heard.

Being a presenter, you are obviously pretty confident at speaking in front of people, what advice do you have for other mums for bringing up budding presenters?

There’s no magic solution, but there are certainly things that as parents we should do which are fairly obvious and logical…

Praise – praising the good stuff – as much as possible!! This usually encourages them to want to continue doing well so that they’ll carry on getting positive attention from you.

Teaching them good values – such as treating others as you would like to be treated yourself. Bring them up with respect and an empathy towards others.

Role-playing games – When my kids were younger I did think it very important they get used to reading aloud and ‘presenting’ things (like homework etc) as these skills are invaluable later in life. My daughter used to dress up as well and I think you need to encourage this so that your kids have confidence from an early age. Never stifle their creativity

Spending time with them – making them feel loved and listen to them. They might be little but they have their own thoughts and ideas… empower them to voice this and be interested in what they have to say.

Explaining work ethics as they get older, and teaching them how to deal with situations through your own experience.

I think that confidence comes from happy kids – so nurturing and loving your kids as much as possible can only build happy confident children.

Good advice, now for Cool Mum Hunting’s nosey 12 Quick Qs:

1. What did your parents want you to be when you grew-up?

I don’t think they had a plan – I think I was too busy with my own ideas – from an ice-skater to a vet, to a ballet dancer!! I think they just wanted me to do something that made me happy and fulfilled in life – I was lucky in that there was no pressure to do or follow any one career route

2. What are you top five essential kid purchases…?

Arnica – in every shape and form! Gel, cream and tablets – brilliant for all bumps and bruises

Books – encourage them every step of the way to get into reading – you can’t start too young and buying books that interest them is essential. My daughter reads everything the Twilight novels and my son reads Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy but when they were younger they loved everything by Roald Dahl. Enid Blyton also does amazing childrens books that I really think bring children up with a sense of magic and wonder. Speaking of magic, Harry Potter is also good!

Comfy shoes – sounds mad, but if your kids have shoes that are ‘owee’ you will never get them to walk anywhere happily!!! Mothercare do great own branded shoes that are affordable – and their gold printed ballet shoes are adorable! I also love branded baby shoes – baby Uggs and Converse are too cute.

When mine were tiny I loved those bouncy chairs – I think they are essential for all new mums!! They kept mine happy! I really liked the Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo and the  Lindam Bounce About Plus

Good collection of DVDs – for what I call Disney/duvet days when they are poorly – you want a good supply of funny, sentimental, you name it movies!! I love films that really bring you together as a family. Elf is a really good Christmas film and animation is usually a good route to go down, we love Disney and Pixar films as well as the latest blockbusters! As the kids get older their tastes change though so you have to be prepared for when they no longer want to watch cartoons with you!

3. Best Kid Presents?

Ones you don’t normally let them have!! The noisier, non-practical presents!! When they are tiny – they love anything that goes bang – from drums to castanets!! As they get older – again things that they don’t normally have -something personalised, or just different…

4. Best book of all time?

Horrid Henry…

5. I hated it when…?

I hated it when I realised I do exactly the same as my mother used to do to me – is every time we go out saying ‘ are you sure you will be warm enough’ it drove me mad and am sure it irritates my kids!!!

6. What are your green credentials?

I recycle where I can and I try to buy eco friendly products where I can and if they are nice packaging!! (sorry but it’s true!!)

7. What good habit would you hope to pass on to your kids?

My energy and enthusiasm for life and that if you are going to do something do it 100% or not at all…

8. What did you learn for your second kid, that you wish you’d known first time round…?

Pretty much everything!! First time round everything is scary and unknown – second time round I just thought everything was a lot easier….I think second time round I was more relaxed about the night-time and sleeping and therefore my son was much better at night!! I let him find his own routine and wasn’t as worried.

9. Slummy mummy confession???

My slummy mummy confession is that I often take my kids to school in my pjs…with a coat on top!!!

10. 80′s or Noughties?

Hmm… tough call. On the one hand I loved the 80’s as life was simpler, Woolworth’s pick and mix, and just a bit more Enid Blyton….and modern technology means us mums have to work a lot harder to keep up with it all!!

11. What scares you most about your kids future?

A lot really. I think kids today have so much to deal with. From finding a job to the world that we live in now. If I worry too much about it I wouldn’t sleep but my main objective is that they grow wings from a loving happy home which will put them in a better position to face the big bad world outside.

12. I want my children to remember me as…

I want my kids to remember me as a cool mum who was always there when she was needed…..never ever far away from them and that we had a lot of laughs!!