Embers the Dragon

Hertfordshire is just one of many places to recommend the program https://www.hertfordshirefamiliesfirst.org.uk/december-2020/current-news/mental-health

I always thought the key to motherhood madness was caffeine, locks on the toilet door and the peaceful bliss of screen time. It turns out the real key is small, blue and rocks a skinny scarf! If you haven’t met Embers and his friends yet you need to. We were first introduced to Embers the Dragon through my daughters school who were part of a research trial. I didn’t think much more about the cute little cartoon until we got home from a particularly disastrous school run and I would have sold the house for the chance of a hot cup of tea. Like every parent, mum guilt kicked in at the thought of plonking the kids in front of a screen but sanity won out and when the littlest asked for Embers it killed two birds with one stone. After trying and failing to get the episode up on the big TV, I left my eldest daughter to it (I swear she entered the world knowing the wifi password) and left the room to the gentle tones of the theme tune. One cup of tea and a sneaky biscuit later and I returned to find them still curled on the sofa watching this dragon. No fighting, no hair pulling, no sofa territory squabbles. I decided to sit with them and catch a few minutes and before I knew it I was nodding along to the sage advice of Mrs Owl, That bird knows her stuff! When the kids were in bed that night I dug a little deeper into the world of Embers the Dragon. On the surface it a clever series that the kids loved but behind the bright primary colours and engaging story lines were worksheets, play ideas and activities to try out as well. All accompanied by chatty, friendly videos of the people behind the program, telling it how it is in such a frank and refreshing way that I was practically standing on the table giving it the whole ‘I am mother, hear me roar!’. Empowering stuff indeed. Over the next 8 weeks Embers became our regular companion and I quickly learnt that although I wouldn’t have said my home life was in any way ‘bad’ it could also be so much better! It was like the ability to listen and understand what the kids were trying to say had been updated. They were calmer, happier and more confident. I enjoyed playing activities with them and feeling like we talked more and shouted less. My littlest sleep the best she has in years and suddenly we got our grown-up time back in the evening. Dare I say it, even our relationship saw the benefit of the little blue dragon! The whole house seemed to become less stressful. Embers and his little friends are now a firm fixture in our life. I know the theme tune, I know what the colours mean, I even think I’m learning to speak bumble bee. But unlike other children’s programs, where this would be an annoying addition to my life, prodding at my mum guilt when I least expect it, I now feel proud and excited at all the things I do for my girls. The girls love Embers, and he is now firmly their favourite use of screen time and play time. I give the Embers the Dragon program 5 stars! – or maybe that should be golden Keiki leaves?