Category: School Days

1. Homeschooling & staying connected

   Posted on 5:00pm Monday 23rd Mar 2020

   We are in week one of our homeschooling due to the Corona virus and my new "co-workers" are yet to figure out how to make a decent cup of tea.

   We are all adjusting to our new normal and we have already had multiple websites crashing, due to so many people logging on at the same time. It is interesting to learn how impatient we all are when we simply expect something to work.

   

   We are all so used to access to the world at the touch of a button. What with anytime-anywhere convenience, people crave immediacy and instant gratification while the always-connected nature of today’s world means that consumers – and businesses – expect to get things faster than ever before.

   A new study by promotional products retailer 4imprint, reveals the true extent to which Britain has become an impatient nation.

   Some of the stats are surprising .....

   • 84 percent of UK adults class themselves as impatient
   • Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) admit they have become less patient in recent years
   • 41 percent said nothing is more frustrating than wasted time
   • 21 percent put their impatience down to getting bored quickly
   • 18 percent said they are so used to getting things instantly from the internet they often expect it in every aspect of life
   • 13 percent said they hate waiting for anything
   • Three in ten admit they binge watch boxsets because they don’t want to wait to find out what happens next
   • 34 per cent cross the road before the green man appears
   • A quarter say they will hang up the phone if they are on hold for more than five minutes
   • 24 per cent will walk out of a shop or restaurant if there aren’t enough staff/ all the staff are busy, or menu hasn’t come quick enough
   • 21 per get frustrated if someone doesn’t text you back immediately        
   • 18 per cent never read to end of articles
   • Work is major cause of impatience
   • A third claim the pressures of modern life have made them constantly pushed for time.

   Can you relate to any of these? The research was commissioned following a surge in demand from businesses that need promotional products delivering within 24 hours.

   So with home schooling the children and working from home, I have a sneaky feeling that work "may" rise a little higher on my own impatience list in the coming weeks.

   We may have become an impatient nation but staying connected to our friends and family is important right now. Curbing our impatience and remembering to be kind in unprecendted times is what we all need to do. 

   This is a collaborative post.

    

    

    

    

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2. When & where can I go pumpkin picking in the Midlands?

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 11th Oct 2019

   We are now officially in pumpkin season! The weather has changed, Autumn is definitely upon us and all we can think about is that Halloween is approaching!

   Last year we wrote a post about 5 Things To Do With A Pumpkin Other Than Carve It but nothing says Halloween more than a carved pumpkin outside your house. But where are the best places in the Midlands to get your pumpkins this year? We have been taking a look!

   

    Manor Farm Fruits - Tamworth

   12th, 13th, 19th & 20th October and Saturday 26th October to Sunday 3rd November 10am – 4pm (stock permitting)

   There is no need to book tickets, you can just turn up on the day and pay.  

   • Choose your own pumpkins (prices vary)
   • Bouncy Castles ( up to 1.3 meters)
   • Climb and Crawl Straw Bales Pyramid and Mini Maze
   • Spooky Space Hoppers
   • Face Painting
   • Creepy Sneaky Scare Tunnel
   • Pumpkin Express Tractor Rides (£3.00 per person)

   The Strawberry Cabin Team Room is also open serving hot and cold food all day including Halloween Cup Cakes and lots of other delicious Pumpkin dishes!

   Prices

   £5 per child ages 2 to 12
   £1 adults
   Under 2 go free.

   

   Pumpkin Week at Hatton Adventure World - Warwick

   Tickets are valid on any one day between 26th October to 31st October 2019. We have enjoyed Pumpkin Week at Hatton in previous years and it is a great day out for all the family.

   Tickets can be purchased online up until 10am on the day of visit. (Making a saving on the door prices)

   In addition to pumpkin picking, there are lots of things going on during pumpkin week including :

   New Haunted House

   Pumpkin Carving in the Events (closes at 4pm)

   Pumpkin Hunt

   Pumpkin Carving Competition judged at 4.15pm

   Along with all the usual Hatton activities

   ADULT - £16.95

   CHILD - £16.95 

   UNDER 2 - Free

    

   

   Hill Top Farm - Leamington Spa

   Between Saturday 19th October to Thursday 31th October (stock permitting) their pumpkin field will be open for you to pick your own pumpkin.

   The field will be open between 10am-4pm each day and they are taking people down to the pumpkin patch via tractor rides every 30 minutes.  You can then select your pumpkin and take it home with you to carve!

    

   

   Planters Garden Centre - Tamworth

   The Pumpkin Paddock returns for 2019! This Halloween event includes lots of family fun such as pumpkin picking, carving, games and more! It is not really pumpkin picking like at pick your own locations but it is a great location and very child friendly.

   Every £5 child ticket includes picking a pumpkin, which you can pick from the paddock area, carving it and being able to take it home. Anybody not wishing to take home a pumpkin can purchase an adult ticket for £1.50.

   

   Essington Farm - Wolverhampton

   PYO is open again on the 12th October 2019. 🎃 Go and pick your own perfect pumpkin from all different shapes and sizes. This is farm so always best to wear appropriate clothing and footwear, especially if it has been raining.

   Top Tip from Essington Farm :Remember, if you keep the stalk on your pumpkin it will easily last until November!!

   We will be updating this listing throughout October, so do let us know if you find a great pumpkin patch! 

   And finally ......

   Once you have carved your pumpkin up and created a Halloween masterpiece, the best thing to do then is make some delicious pumpkin soup! 

   

    

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3. Jake Shoes : Review

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 25th Aug 2019

   The summer holidays are a great way to wind down, however there is nothing than can wind parents up more than school shoe shopping. 

    

   Recent research has revealed, 87% of parents wished they could spend more time with their children while parents say that less than half (45%) of the time they spend with their child is quality time. However in the interests of honesty, spending time shoe shopping isn't really on my quality time wish list.

   It is no secret that I love online shopping and shoe shopping is no different. I think that we all believe children need to have their shoes fitted in a shoe shop and whilst a proper shoe fitting for children is essential, buying the shoes in the fitting store isn't obligatory.

   This year, we have had feet measured in a well known high street store but didn't actually love any of the shoe designs. This is where Jake Shoes have the advantage. They have all the well known brands such as Lelli Kelly, Ugg, Converse and Vans but they also stock some of the lesser known brands that you won't necessarily find on the high street and more importantly won't find the same shoes on every child in the classroom. Most parents have experienced the "joy" of having the wrong shoes or pumps come home and the uneviable task of tracking down the right ones, thats why having an extensive range to choose from online has multiple benefits.

   

   Once I had determined that my youngest daughter had gone up a whole shoe size over the summer (eek), we sat and browsed our way through the range online at Jake Shoes. We chose the Lelli Kelly Tracey Bow Bar Shoes in black patent because they have the great name and quality of Lelli Kelly and looked sturdy enough to take all the playground running around! 

    

   We will update this post once the shoes have been put through their paces but our first impressions are good, we are happy with the style, the fit and the beautiful little socks that come with a pair of Lelli Kelly shoes!

   We were gifted the shoes for the purpose of this feature, however our experience of Jake Shoes online shopping has been brilliant. So to those parents getting hot under the collar in shoe shops all over the country in preparation for back to school ..... there is another way!

   Finally and whilst we know that it won't be in time for September 2019 but we are delighted to be able to give our readers the chance to win a £20 voucher to spend at Jake Shoes. (And it doesn't need to be spent on school shoes!) All you need to do is enter below!

   Good luck!

   Jakes Shoes £20 Voucher

   Terms & Conditions

   The Prize: Jake Shoes £20 voucher
   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Gleam and notified within 7 working days by email
   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.

   UK Entrants Only

   End Date 06/10/2019 at 12am 

   This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Twitter, Instagram or Facebook

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4. How to prepare your child to return to school

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 5th Aug 2019

   After a long summer holiday, when the school reopens, a little anxiety can creep in and more often than not, parents face the challenges of getting the children back into their routine. As again the child has to familiarise with the school environment, they have to again learn new things, make new friends, so on and so forth. The child, on the other hand, faces a different problem altogether, as he/she has to again come to the routine of getting up early and making themselves ready for school. Apart from that, after a long vacation, children tend to forget subjects they were taught in their previous class and here comes the problem of again making them learn the same things and bringing them back in track. 

   Many schools give holiday homework which is good for a child to brush up his/her knowledge. Apart from this there are many simple things that can be done to make your child or more appropriately prepare the child to return to school. Lets figure out some simple things that can be done to make the child get rid of return to school fear:

   

   Learn with fun: This is a simple formula to be followed while on vacation. While you and your little ones are enjoying the holidays, you can spend some time on teaching things which you child has already studied and which he/she would be studying in the next class. This will make it easy for you child to grasp things when taught in class, as this has already been taught by you.

   Read books daily: Purchase story books and other knowledgeable books and make it a habit to make them read these books daily, so they don't lose the flow of reading and this will also add to their knowledge. Also keep reminding them that their school is going to reopen soon, so they get prepared for the final day.

   Go shopping together: you have to shop new books, new uniform, and new shoes! Take your children along. Make them feel excited about return to school. Buy the books together, buy them new shoes and also some learn and fun stuff like creative writing books, painting books, so they feel excited about the same. My girls love shopping and are small stationery addicts, so this is a day of fun for them! 

   Early to bed and early to rise: As the children have to again make a habit of early to bed and early to raise, its better to keep the school routine going. Get up early and go for a walk with your kids, this will make them feel fresh and healthy and they will also get into the habit of getting up early. Similarly make them go to bed early. NO late night cartoon watching or playing games as the summer draws to a close. You all need to get back into the school run routine. 

   I absolutely adore having the girls home over the summer but following these simple things to make your child ready for the new session of the school without any hassles and without they having a fear of return to school after a long and tension free summer.

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