Image source

The parenting journey is the most incredibly difficult and entertaining experience you will ever go through. For the most part, all you can do is grab hold of your child’s baby grow and then hang on for dear life as they navigate the world and find out who they are as a person. However, there are times where you need to step in and act as the wise woman you are, and that is when the struggle becomes real.

All of us just treading water and trying to do what we can with the information we have, but that does not mean we have all the answers. Nope. Not at all. Instead, we follow our gut, guide our kids based on what we believe to be morally right and hope that they survive their childhood as best as possible.

Image source

You need to teach the respect, help them understand why there are rules in place, how important manners are, why school is important and how to go after their dreams, all while playing the role of day-to-day mum or dad. As we said, it is a struggle. But amongst all of this, it is absolutely imperative you hold a few crucial conversations. Trust us, you and your kid will massively benefit from them.

1. Sit Down And Ask Them How They Are

We can all be a little obsessed with our own child. You want to be with them every waking minute (even though they stress you out no end) and talk to them and understand who they are better. But when was the last time you asked them how they are; how they really are. We don’t just mean, “how was your day, sweetheart?” We mean asking them how they are doing in general. No one wants to unload their feelings without a prompt, so give your child the floor and let them tell you whatever is on their mind or, better yet, in their hearts. It could take a bit of patience on your part, and a bit of trial and error in the way you ask, but once they are comfortable you will be amazed at what spills out of them. So long as you are sympathetic and not pushy, you will be amazed at who your wonderful little one is and you’ll be teaching them a) how to express their emotions and b) that it is okay to express them.

2. Talk To Them About Being Street Smart

It would be absolutely amazing if we all lived in the fictional world of some Disney film where we could let our kids run around the streets without having a single worry or twinge of anxiety about what if this happened or what if that occurred. Unfortunately, that is not possible these days. Whether you blame that on the press, the way society has gone or your own insecurities don't matter; parents don’t feel confident enough to make that kind of Mayberry dream a reality. However, there will come a time where you have to let go which is why it’s so important you talk to them about being street smart. You want them to be kids but not naive. You need them to be aware of the potential dangers out there and how to spot them coming from as far away as possible. If you know they can spot dangers then you know they are more likely to be safe, and that’s all a parent wants; a safe and happy child.

3. Have A Chat About Compassion

Raising a child that boasts a wealth of compassion is far better than raising one that is just focussed on making money because compassion is what makes someone want to make a difference. It is the foundation for making them open-minded and sympathetic to their surrounding, especially people. A great place to start is teaching them what a compassionate act is and how they can have compassion for other people, whether they be less fortunate or seem as though they have it all. The intrinsic rewards of showing compassion and actively wanting to help others go far beyond anything else. That is where happiness and purpose come from.

4. We Can’t Leave Out The Birds & The Bees

We get it, this is a conversation you would rather not have because the idea of your little one growing up and becoming sexually active is disconcerting, to say the least. But they will grow up, it is their destiny, and so the best thing we can do is talk to them about sex. That means teaching them about the responsibilities involved such as using contraception, whether that be a microgynon pill an implant or condoms, as well as how to own their sexuality and not feel pressured to do anything. Trust us, your kids are going to feel just as embarrassed about this chat if not more, but it is up to you to open the door and start educating them. They will learn about this at some point, so it is whether you want to be the guiding voice or leave it to their friends-slash-the internet.

5. Discuss The Growing Issue Of Bullying

This is a part of growing up that has gotten disgustingly out of hand, thanks to the Internet. It isn’t just being done face to face anymore, it is being done through social media and instant messengers and that has had a severe effect on young people, and we mean that in the most serious way possible. Bullying is such a real problem and your role is to teach your kid how and why it is important to speak up if they are getting bullied or indeed know someone that is. You need to make the effort to talk to your children about the topic of bullying, but make sure you read advice about how to first and how to spot the signs that they are being bullied so that you avoid making any mistakes that push them further away. Most parents weren’t brought up in the internet age, so this can be new and terrifying, so it’s as much about educating yourself as it is guiding your kids. It’s hard but so important.

Tweet

We talk a lot about girls toys and activities on the Lilypad, mainly because I have two girls (makes sense eh?) but we don't want to leave the boys .... or indeed the adrenalin fuelled girls out, so we are talking cars today! 

Not being entirely savvy as far as boys Christmas wish lists are concerned, I didn't know that zooming onto everyone’s Christmas list this year are the Wave Racers, the revolutionary new wave technology aimed at ages 6+. Players can race on their own or against friends with expandable track sets, providing hours of fun for any racing enthusiast!  

I remember my brother having car racing tracks when we were kids but they were nothing like these. The Wave Racer cars are capable of reaching sensational speeds and the track sets feature a number of different stunt capabilities offering young racers the chance to perform stunts and tricks such as 360 loops, side by side racing and mid-air jumps! The innovative new range allows you to activate your racer by waving your hand over the sensor. The faster you wave your hand, the faster your Wave Racer will go! 

Complete a full 360° vertical loop at ultra-high speed with Skyloop Rally. 

There are a number of Wave Racer sets to choose from but the features of this one include:

• Tracks can be combined with other Wave Racer Sets
• Revoluntionary wave technology
• The longer the players wave their hand, the longer the car will run for
• The faster players wave their hand, the faster the cars speed
• Contents: 24 track pieces and one Wave Sensor Car
• Assembled dimensions: 59.5L x 43.5W x 26H cm
• Batteries required: For car 2 x AAA (Not included)

The Wave Racer range is available to buy now from Smyths Toys and Toys R Us with an RRP from £19.99 - £49.99 but we have the chance for you to win one .... all you need to do is enter below.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Terms & Conditions

The Prize: Wave Racers Skyloop Rally
The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Rafflecopter and notified within 7 working days by email
By entering this competition, you understand that your details may be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
There is no monetary equivalent.
Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
End Date 09/12/2017 at 12am

Tweet

A few weeks ago I read about So Shape on the NorthernMum blog and realised that this was a challenge that I could do. I am not a big fan of a "diet" but I love a challenge so was intrigued straight away. 

I have a love / hate relationship with sugar, I hate how much I put in my tea but I love how it tastes so I decided to take the So Shape 14 Day Challenge to try and kick my sugar habit.

There are 3 So Shape challenges, which consist of either 5 days, 14 days or 28 days. This gives you the option to try it out for 5 days or if you are seeking serious results then the 28 day challenge is probably more suited. But how does it work? 

We have all seen (and probably tried) the fad diets where you have cereal for two meals a day or a milkshake but inevitably in all instances I have ended up becoming bored or hungry and given up. With So Shape there are 22 flavour options to choose from, so getting bored of having the same thing never happens. 

I chose to do the 14 day challenge in my (desperate) bid to quit my habit with sugar and so the first thing to go was my morning cup of tea. I swapped it for a So Shape "milkshake" but it isn't made with milk, just water and the perfectly measured So Shape pod. I was expecting to start feeling the need for my mid morning snack and was amazed when the cravings didn't kick in.

 The So Shape plan has cold shakes, hot soups, pasta meals and even iced frappes!  If I am honest, some of the meals felt a little like baby food but they are still food, which in my book is a bonus. The plan recommends that you eat a proper meal at lunchtime and gives you a selection of "free foods" which included some of my favourite things such as chicken, mushrooms, salad and certain vegetables (although potatoes are off the menu).

I have tailored the plan around work and social engagements too, so if I know I am going out for dinner, then I would have a So Shape meal for lunch instead. I have loved the flexibility of the plan and being able to select up to six different flavours on the 14 day plan meant that no day is the same. 

The other thing that isn't the same is my waistline, in the 14 days that I did the challenge I lost half a stone and that was without exercise ... I know, I know, that is next on my list. 

I have also changed how I view what I am eating, I haven't become obsessed or started calorie counting but I have become more conscious of the choices I am making. I am conscious that I am getting older (let's not mention the approaching big 4-0) and I need to be making long term adjustments to my lifestyle. The So Shape challenge gave me the chance to remove the "naughty" temptations in my every day diet and actually realise that I don't miss them. 

Finally, there is the added quirk of your daily quote on your So Shape pods, just to make you smile!

So if you want to try to reboot, remove or choose to seek a complete rebirth yourself, we have an exclusive discount code "LITTLELILY10" to get 10% off your 14 or 28-day So Shape Challenge, UK only! 

Tweet

Anyone that reads our blog will have followed our Water Babies swimming adventures over the years and know how important I feel it is to learn to swim.

But what about a doll that swims? Who else could it be other than Baby Annabell!

We all know Baby Annabell as the No 1 selling doll brand in the UK so when Zapf Creations launch a new doll there is lots to be excited about. We were told that the Baby Annabell Learns To Swim doll splashes, moves her arms and legs when she comes into contact with water, and floats on her back. As always, she has cute accessories, so the little water baby includes a towel and inflatable water wings with cute sheep design

Even more exciting news was hearing that Olympian Rebecca Adlington had partnered up with Zapf Creations and Baby Annabell for this launch, so we wanted to know more!

Rebecca Adlington says: “Learning to swim is an important milestone, helping to instil confidence from an early age as well as being a really fun bonding experience between a parent and child. If your little one is nervous it can be a challenging process – expect plenty of tears and tantrums, however initial fears can be overcome by slowly building confidence and trust.” Whether your child is an anxious swimmer or an excited water baby, Rebecca Adlington’s top tips will help turn your child into a little Olympian in no time.

Children can be initially nervous of the water, baby steps and lots of praise will help them overcome a lack of confidence. Try taking them alone to just watch for the first time, then toes in next time and so on, along with lots of positive praise to help encourage them to take that first dip.

Toys are a brilliant tool, they are such a good distraction for anyone who doesn’t normally like putting their face in the water or splashing. Toys such as the new Baby Annabell Learns to Swim doll are a great way to give children (and parents!) the courage to take those first steps towards swimming

Swimming is huge bonding experience. The learning process is a lot to do with trust and really builds a closer relationship between and parent and child. For this reason, try not to use your phone during lessons to avoid distractions.

The younger you start swimming lessons the better. It is all about building confidence and awareness of the water from a young age. Swimming also helps with a child’s muscular development and is fantastic for understanding their physical abilities. We started our Water Babies journey when our youngest was 12 months old but we could have started so much sooner. 

Make good use of the equipment that’s there. Whether it’s armbands, noodles, or vests, use whatever your child is more comfortable with. I tend to do five minutes with floatation equipment and five without, this helps when they’re really young and still building confidence. 

Tweet