Category: School Days

1. How to Get Your Children Interested in Your Day Job

   Posted on 9:00pm Tuesday 14th Aug 2018

   First things first – why would you want to get your children interested in your day job? While some parents prefer to keep their work and home life separate, for others, it is important to bridge the gap where possible and teach their children about life as a working adult. If like me, you work from home this is great, although not everyone can do this and it will also depend on your specific job, but for many, this is a perfect way to introduce youngsters to the concept of ‘going to work’.

   Similarly, this has many varied benefits for everyone involved. Here are a few of the main benefits:

   Benefits for You

   It’s no secret that parenting is hard, and for many, trying to juggle parenting and a career is a daily struggle. Therefore, any way of making things easier is always going to be gratefully received and much appreciated!

   If your children begin to learn about your job and perhaps understand a little about what you do every day, the gap between work and home life decreases. When you head off to work, your children will be able to picture you at work throughout the day; for younger children, in particular, this can be an excellent way of reminding them why mummy or daddy has to go to work every day.

   

   Benefits for Your Children

   Children are naturally curious, and by allowing them an insight into the world of work, you will be indulging their curiosity and encouraging them to ask questions and develop an interest in what you do. Depending on your job, it could also help your little ones learn new skills and perhaps even develop a passion for the industry of their very own!

   Benefits for Your Employer

   Keeping employees happy and healthy is a big must for businesses – after all, a happy workforce is a productive one. By allowing employees the freedom to relax a little and introduce their families to their colleagues or work environment, they will be working towards a stronger team of employees, something which is ultimately beneficial for the business as a whole.

   Workplace Fun for All the Family

   If you’re sold on the idea, all that’s left to do is to decide how you want to introduce your children to your working life. There are many different ways in which you can go about achieving this – here are a few to get you started.

   Team Building

   Forget any ideas you may have of trust falls or sitting in a circle in a stuffy meeting room, trying not to fall asleep. Team building has come a long way since the dull activities you have probably encountered multiple times in your career – now, it is something to be enjoyed rather than avoided. Team building activities and events can easily involve the whole family and can take place pretty much anywhere, at any time. They can range from team building activities in the evening after office hours to interactive quizzes or treasure hunts to fun games testing each other’s skills – and competitiveness, of course!

   Family Fun Day

   If the fun aspect is what you’re after, then a family fun day will be the perfect event for you. Usually taking place on a summer weekend day, fun days are great opportunities for your family to meet your colleagues and vice versa. It’s a relaxed, light-hearted approach which will suit younger children as they can easily find other children to run off and play with, giving you time for a breather!

   Charity Events

   From traditional fundraisers and bake sales to office fancy dress challenges, sponsorships and sweepstakes, the general motto for charity events is the more, the merrier! If you are planning an upcoming charity event at work, ask your manager if you can get your kids involved – whether it’s helping to wash cars, donating old toys or attending a fete, family-friendly events are always likely to be more popular.

   Since the benefits of mixing home and work life are clear to see, when will you be brave enough to take the plunge and allow your family to learn about what you do at work?

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2. 5 cheap ways to keep the kids cool this summer

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 11th Aug 2018

   Despite the slight drop in temperature and a few rainy days, it seems that the Great British summer is here to stay. Never have we ever – since having our own children, at least – known such scorching summer sunshine. With a bounty of beautiful days on the horizon, it will be easier than ever to have a chilled-out summer with loads of cost-efficient garden fun.

   But the heat isn’t always so awesome. High temps often equate to tired, cranky kids. And, if you’ve got more than one, that’s sure to mean sibling squabbles peppered with tears and tantrums. It’s not the one at all. I’m not about that.

   So, in an attempt to keep the kids comfortable, calm, and collected, I’ve rustled up five tips for cooling down your young ones. It’s OK, thank me later.

   1. Pop some iced water in front of a fan

   Yes, you’ve officially become your mother. But, the truth is, placing iced water in front of a fan really can keep the room cool, *shrugs*. If you’ve never heard of such a contraption, be warned: it isn’t all that glam, but it defo does the job. Pop a washing up bowl, mixing bowl, any-old bowl filled with ice water in front of your fan. The ice water will cool the air above the bowl, which the fan then circulates around the room. Science, huh. Obviously if you don't want to keep refilling ice bowls, you could always look for and actual air cooler or humidifier.

   

   2. Make some lollies out of fresh juice

   Is there anything as luscious on long summer days than a homemade ice lolly. Not only will this keep the kids cool, it also serves as a fab family activity. Lolly moulds can be picked up cheap as chips from the Pound store, and towards the middle of summer you can get them discounted in most supermarkets.

   3. Stock up on strawberries and suchlike

   Believe it or not, too many ice lollies can actually trick the body into warming up! While one or two will certainly be refreshing, if you really want to cool down, it may be better to give the kids other snacks instead. As well as yoghurts, watermelon and strawberries, drink plenty of tap water, and if your little ones are a fan (pun unintended) anything spicy will set the body off sweating and work to cool you all down. It’s true.

   4. Seek out the shade

   When you’re all spending a day at the beach, the park, or even in your back garden, it can be tempting to set up stall in the direct sun. But think more long term. Whether you’re reading, playing football, or building sandcastles, shade is a must. Look for an area that gives you the best of both and don’t forget water and suncream.

   

   5. Pull out the paddling pool

   An oldy, but always a goody. Nothing keeps kids cool in the high heats of the summer sun quite like a paddling pool. You don’t need to invest in a deep tub or anything fancy, just a small inflatable pool is enough for laughs and splashes. Pulling out the water pistols and balloon bombs is always a hit, too.

   How do you keep the kids cool in the summer?

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3. Let’s take things slow this summer

   Posted on 7:00am Monday 6th Aug 2018

   Finally, summer is here. It’s the six weeks we’ve all been waiting for, right? No more school runs, no more bodging together packed lunches at the crack of dawn, no more after-school activities. Perhaps – for a few days at least – we’ll be able to lay in past the dreaded 7 o’clock alarm. We’re really living the life, guys. This is the good life.

   

   So, can I ask, why are we so insistent on making summer time just as hectic as the weeks outside of the holidays. Oh. My. Gosh. We don’t half like to make things difficult for ourselves.

   Hands up, who’s enrolled their kids onto some sort of STEM activity? Why? Hands up, who’s scheduled in swimming, picnics in the park, a day at the beach? Why? Hands up, who’s spent evening-after-evening trawling Facebook evenings and Days Out With The Kids in an attempt to make every day adrenaline-packed and eventful?

   Oh, that’s right. The entire population of Internet-using parents have just raised both arms, both legs, and are twinkling their toes for good measure.

   Why do we do this to ourselves?

   Forgive me if I’m wrong, but we spend the whole of term time ensuring our children do their homework. We ferry each of them to their chosen extra-curricular. We spin on our loving bosoms to ensure that every school event, school run, and school project is done on time to a passable the highest standard. 

   And yet, when we finally get a few weeks to down tools and recuperate, we just can’t let it lie. We throw chaotic activities, blast our routine out of the water, and make life ten times harder than it really needs to be.

   And it’s not just about us. As Helen Lovejoy of The Simpsons famously said, ‘Think of the children!’ Surely they need a break from the hustle and bustle of the nine-while-three. Learning is hard!

   Remember in the good old days when summer was all about water fights, marbles, riding your bike, playing hopscotch on the yard, going to the park with your mates? Those where the good old days. We ate cheese sarnies and sat in the sun and enjoyed a Mr Freeze ice-pop for afters. And those were the best days.

   

   Whether it’s social media, and the need to impress. Whether it’s the normality of our relentless fast-paced lifestyles. Whether it’s the pressure from others to meet the ever-demanding highs of parenting trends. Whatever it is. Let’s call it quits.

   How about we strip things back. Paint some rocks. Read some books. Eat a jam sandwich and an equally unhealthy dessert. Sit in the back garden and set up Swingball. Bounce a tennis ball against a wall and learn how to catch. Get some chalk and make a hopskotch. Let our kids call on their friends and spend their days doing nothing. Let’s make ice pops from fresh juice and lemonade from real lemons.

   

   Let’s take things slow this summer, let's put down the technology and enjoy the rest that we all deserve.

   (I just need to take my own advice now).

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4. Kindness really does rock

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 19th Jun 2018

   We all want our children to invest a little time into hobbies and creative pursuits. While I’m not against screen time, alternative family activities are certainly time well spent. Let’s be honest, it certainly can be a challenge nowadays. What with Kindles, consoles, and all kinds of kids TV, tearing them away from a tablet can be quite the task.

   This is why my girls and I are huge fans of the new craze in the UK, Kindness Rocks.

   

   So, yeah, 2017 was the year of the fidget spinner, bottle flipping, and the almighty dab. Gawd bless all parents across the country. We survived it. But this year, the newest craze has got a little more cultural, creative, and, well, kind.

   The Kindness Rocks movement encourages children to children (and adults, might I add), to decorate pebbles and leave them in places where walkers-by are likely to find them. When strangers fall upon a Kindness Rock, they can take it for their own or share the joy and hide the special stone somewhere new.

   It really is that simple, but so very wonderful, right?

   

   I have to say, we’re now painting rocks on a weekly basis, in our house. As soppy as it may sound to those of you who aren’t in the know, this movement is doing more than spreading kindness outside in the big wide world, it’s responsible for bringing the family together too.

   While enjoying crafting with the kids is enough of a reason to get involved in Kindness Rocks, it does send out a pretty important message.

   

   I love that our girls are so excited to create something together and go out and brighten strangers’ days with their handicrafts. Not only does this really reinforce how vital it is that we do nice things for others, it also instils in them a sense of confidence; their creations, their little pebbles, can really have an impact on how someone else feels.

   Where did this incredible craze come from? Over the pond, actually. That said, it’s really taking the UK by storm. Hundreds, thousands of people are signed up to local Kindness Rocks Facebook groups, many of which are actively designing and dishing out their pebbles in towns, parks, and cities across England.

   So, what do you think? Are you in on it, and have you seen any Kindness Rocks lurking around? We’d love to see your makes and finds – please do share!

   

   And now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to hide some painted pebbles. Stay kind.

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