Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: News

  1. Who benefits?

    Posted on

    The Lilypad blog is not controversial or political, we like humour and peace but we also share information about things that are important and what is important to families is making sure that they have enough money at the end of each month to feed, cloth and put a roof over their children's heads.

    Now my daughters have a better wardrobe than me, like to eat me out of house and home and have enough doll's houses and play houses to call a village, so the benefit should surely be called "mummy benefit" not "child benefit", as I am the one in need of new clothes and my favourite treats to actually remain in the kitchen cupboards long enough for me to enjoy them. I am joking of course ( I hide my treats).

    There is no escaping the news this month that the Government are making significant changes to the child benefit system which mean that not everyone will automatically get the same amount of child benefit, as has historically happened. It has been announced that higher earners will now see their benefit taken away over a phased process. The current system means that parents are currently able to claim £20.30 in child benefit a week for their first child, and an additional £13.40 for any further children they have. The benefit is worth around £1,000 annually to parents with one child, £1,700 to those with two and £2,500 to parents with three. This is certainly not money to be sniffed at!

    Having children is our choice, obviously, and a choice that many of us make over and over again. On the face of it, it does appear to penalise those higher earning parents who have worked hard to command such salaries but equally the "pot of money" is not endless, so it must be capped somewhere. The system is never going to satisfy everyone and the qualifying levels can be quite confusing but I found a clear outline on the MyFamilyClub website here.

    The benefit system in this country is acclaimed all over the world, yet berated by the very people that receive it. I don't always agree with Government decisions but ultimately they have a budget to manage, the same as every family does. 

  2. Do you love Crocs ... but need wellingtons? New competition!

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    Do you love Crocs but the current weather stops you and the little ones from wearing them? Did you know that Crocs do Wellingtons too? Perfect for this horrid weather!!

    They are:

    • Waterproof rain boot
    • Fully molded Croslite™ material for lightweight cushioning and comfort
    • Reflective heel logo
    • FREE UK Delivery

     Croc wellies

    Prepare for the winter - or get out and enjoy the typical British Summer weather! Now kids (and grown ups) can enjoy classic Crocs comfort – even on the rainiest days. They have a fabulous waterproof build that keeps puddle-jumping feet cozy and dry.

    We are delighted to be working with Jelly Egg to launch our first competition of 2013 to WIN a FAMILY set of Croc wellies ...... you just need to enter here.

    What are you waiting for? Go .....

     

     

  3. Loved By Parents - Websites We Love

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    Its always nice to open an email that says :

    "Hi there, Happy New Year! We have chosen your wonderful website to be featured on this months 'Websites We Love' page" 

    LBP_Websiteswelove_small (2)
     
    So thank you Loved By Parents and if you want to see us (and the other great sites) featured, just click here! 
     

  4. Fisher Price toys over the decades

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    You know that we are fans of Fisher Price on the Lilypad and since being founded back in 1930, Fisher Price has been providing quality toys for children for nearly a century. Join us in taking a look at just part of the toy manufacturer’s rich history. 

    Fisher Price has always successfully combined education and enjoyment, ensuring that children have fun while they learn. In their early years, their toys were made with pine and heavy steel parts. They would resist splintering and hold up well to constant use. The first toy the company ever sold was Mr Doodle in 1931. It wasn’t long until they discovered that they could have better designs and brighter colours on toys by using plastic, with Buzzy Bee being their first toy to make full use of plastic. By the end of the 1950s, 39 Fisher Price toys were made that incorporated plastics. 

    One of Fisher Price’s oldest, but still much loved, products is the Rock-A-Stack. First introduced in 1960, the Rock-A-Stack is an interactive toy in which different coloured rings have to be placed onto a pole in order of size. It is ideal for helping children develop their hand eye coordination, as well as being a great way for them to learn about different colours.

    Fisher_Price

    Little People for little hands

    Little People, Fisher Price’s most popular toy range, was brought in during the 1960s. Argos sell Fisher Price Little People, maintaining the high standards the company has always been recognised for. The Little People line includes figures of people and animals, and various play sets to interact with. The figures were originally wooden, but are now moulded from plastic, which allows for more detailed features. 

    By including electronics in the range, Little People toys can now talk and sing for the first time. This provides the most interactive and realistic collection Little People has ever had. You can even get poseable figures, making the Little People experience all the more fun. Since their creation over 50 years ago, Fisher Price’s Little People have entertained children all over the world. With the collection being as popular now as it ever was, you can expect Little People to stick around for a while yet.

    Fun on wheels

    In 1970 the Chatter Telephone was introduced, and it has been one of their best selling products. The toy is a phone with a smiley face set on four wheels. When pulled along it makes a fun chattering sound. The Chatter Telephone has always been popular amongst children, and when the company tried to replace the classic rotary dial with buttons and lights in 2000, consumers complained and the rotary device was returned the following year. 

    The Power Wheels range was established in the 1980s and is a set of battery powered ride-on toy cars for children aged between 1 and 7. The brand was purchased by Mattel in 1994 and immediately became a part of Fisher Price’s range. 

    In the late 1990s Fisher Price launched their Rescue Heroes range. The toys depict various recue personnel and the equipment they would use. The range was so popular that in 1999 an animated series was released. There have since been various Rescue Heroes cartoons on a number of channels, and in 2003 there was even a movie. 

    These days, consumers have access to a range of Fisher Price toys, from classic originals to new, modern creations. The Fisher Price collections available today are just as fun and educational as they have ever been. The high standards and quality that the company is recognised for are maintained in every product, and it is still a joy to watch children play with them.