10 reasons to love Pinterest!

Hey readers, 

The past fortnight I have fully emerged myself in Pinterest. I used it previously sporadically but this time I got stuck right in. Went a bit crazy with pinning and now would say I am fully Fletched pinner! I have written my case for why I love Pinterest.

1. Escapism - it is a place where I can get lost in beautiful stuff or ideas and not have to go anywhere.

2. Don't have to spend a penny even though you have put loads of ideas together. Cheaper then visiting eBay.

3. You feel connected in an unusual way with random people. You don't have to get too personal but you feel a sense of online community.

4. Let's face it is a great source of inspiration for ideas.

5. Instead of instantly going to Google I hit Pinterest.

6. It is a place to learn something new and stumble on something that you may not necessarily think off.

7. When I am depressed I go there to look at funny pictures, bad parent fails or Pinterest fails and honest it can make me feel so much better.

8. It is a great distraction to eating.

9. It's great for writer's block and there are loads of boards or pins to get your creative juices flowing.

10. It can get you excited the endless possibilities and can help you think in a different direction.

Do you use Pinterest? Do you find it helpful? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

Anti- Homework

Hey readers,

One of the things that pisses me off about school is sending children home with homework.

 Firstly, I believe we should stop homework because kids have a long day at school learning, why then come home to do even more work. 

Let's give children a break and allow them to play and let them wind down. I think if the child has to constantly be meeting deadlines to get work completed then it could lead to loss of enthusiasm to learn. 

I know that people are more willing to learn when they are less under pressure.

There is the risk of cheating by copying each other work in order to get the work done. Therefore getting rewarded for falsework which really doesn't help anyone in the long term.

How many arguments are met through parents having to deal with the additional responsibility of getting the kids motivated to complete their work? 

There is not enough time in the evening and it can cause potential friction between child and parent. Homework reduces the amount of family time spent together, it is important to have quality time with the family and to socialise.

A different reason for being against homework is the child for a large. A portion of the school day is sedentary. So, to come home and then be made to sit down for even more time is not really good when instead they could be having fun and doing some physical exercise.

There is no real link that homework increases learning or grades*. Causing unnecessary pressure and frustration for child and parent. There is no real cleat link to say that homework increases the chances of a child gaining better grades.

My child is exhausted from coming home from school as he uses all his energy to learn, concentrate and listen to instructions. To then try to get him to complete his homework is pretty pointless. 

He is halfhearted and not really concentrating because of being so tired. I feel it is important that when he is at home that there is that time to relax. So, there is a clear and definite break from education. 

Children need to have time to wind down and relax. It helps them sleep and not be overactive with keeping their brain wired for long periods. Not to mention the fact that if they are calmer in the evening they will sleep better and feeling fresh in the morning to be more motivated to work on education at school.

I am all about learning but I think there should be a balance between learning and play. I think with homework included in the mix of a school day it is unevenly balanced. I don't really feel it is healthy nor necessarily to include homework in the curriculum.

 Sometimes you get the feeling that it is more about meeting targets then the actual child's development and health.

What do you think about homework? Do you like it or not? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

*"What research says about the value of homework: Research review." The Center for Public Education, web. 17th February 2007.

10 Reasons Why Animals Are Good For Children

Hey readers,

I believe that animals are really great for children and help them learn in so many ways. Let me express them reasons below:

1. Animals teach children how to be gentle and soft towards animals. 

2. Animals can help with learning, mainly dogs because children who are not feeling confident in reading out loud are more willing to do so when dogs are around. They feel more confident in reading to dogs which can really help enhance their education.

3. Animals can be loving and be a companion towards children. 

4. It can give responsibility to the child to learn to clean, feed and make sure the animal is loved.

5. Stroking animals can help lower blood pressure and calm down a child who is angry or anxious. By giving the child something to focus on, therefore can help relax the child through touch and stroking movements that are slow and gentle.

6. Animals help provide love and build a relationship of trust between child and animal.

7. Having animals around can help strengthen the immune system.

8. Living with an animal can provide compassion in children.

9. Sharing a common interest of looking after animals with other siblings can help enhance the relationship of the siblings because they have a common thing that they are both interested in.

10. Having an animal to cuddle can help reduce loneliness, isolation and feelings of hopelessness. 

What do you think about animals and their effects on children? Love to hear your thoughts down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Reasons to love soft play.

Hey readers, 

 Now I am not a particular fan of soft play areas but I will venture out to one for my boys. When you're a child they are magical places and fun let's not forget. I will go out of my comfort zone to make my boys happy, not all the time but quite often even if I dread and sweat over it. Because let's face nothing beats making out children happy. 

* So I thought as I am a bit jolly having a drink *ahem* I would write some positive points about soft play and a reminder of why it is good to out to the daunting places.

* You can get a hot drink when they around like crazy lunatics. I dont often get the chace so as my bous get lost in all this newness and adventure with the hub I can relax sipping away at my tea.

* The little darlings get knackered out, therefore, a great way to get rid of all that pent up energy.
You can guarantee they will sleep through the night after a two-hour full-on session running around like Bolt! You're instantly winning at a stress-free evening and a quiet one to boot.

* It is a great place to go when it is raining as let's face it staying in can be hard to entertain when they are little and so energetic.

* It can help your child socialise, communicate and take it in turns with playing with the equipment. They will also use their working out skills, not to mention co-ordination with climbing up the padded walls, swinging from rings and kicking a football about. 

* A change of scenery for your child and play area can help stimulate and be engaging. Such as softball pit, slides, rope bridge. 

* As it is child friendly you don't have to worry about the noise your child makes and know that it is a safe environment to take your child.

* It's a physical activity to help get them active and use their bodies.

* As it is unstructured it allows your child to be free and use their creative skills and imagination. Which is all very good for their development. 

* It allows children to take risks and build their confidence in a newish environment. Inturn gives them confidence in themselves to be more expressive.

* it is dry when the weather is terrible.

* Mostly my children love soft play and get enjoyment in going as it is great fun for them.  
 
Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 11/10/2020

10 things I want for my boys

Hey readers,

I thought I would compile a top ten desires that I wish for my sons to acquire. So here goes: -

1. Happiness, obviously essential in my opinion, do whatever it is to reach happiness as long as no one is getting hurt.

2. Appreciation for life and the small things as beauty is everywhere.

3. Your own mind to use it in a creative way that makes you HAPPY.

4. Please be kind to one another.

5. Enjoy nature, people take it for granted but it is something else beyond beautiful.

6. Learn the art of moderation, I know mummy hates it but I promise you it will make life easier and a smoother ride.

7. Read because boy is it great escapism and has helped me in times of need.

8. Don't take life too seriously - don't think what needs to be done just enjoy the moment and simply be.

9. Don't rely on money it only lasts in the immediate moment but later you will be screwed.

10. Be true to yourself.

what kind of things would you add to the list of things you want for your children.  

 

Cheers for reading X

Top 10 advice for new parents

Hey readers,

Reminiscing on the time when I was blessed with having my first child I remember all those mixed feelings ranging from excitement, love, happiness, optimism, scared, paranoid, frightened, hopeful, dread, worry all rolled into one day, it is exhausting. 

It is such a massive change to have a child. It is such an experience from being at the hospital with all the support from the staff to suddenly leave or home is a very frightening experience.

 I never felt so frightened with the unknown and doubting how I was going to cope with something so small and precious. The massive realisation of knowing that I was my son's carer for all his needs and having this massive responsibility was just overwhelming.

I remember the first night at home, my husband was in the middle of a phone call in the other room and I was in the living room with my son and end up getting myself in a state and having the biggest panic attack ever. 

It was terrifying knowing that this is now my reality. No one in the pregnancy classes talks about emotions/mental health and how very delicate you are when your newborn arrives.

 The whole experience feels so isolating and a very lonely place to be. It does not help with the sleep deprivation enhancing emotions making the smallest thing blow at of proportion.

 Though do not fear it does get better with time and experience I thought I would offer my top ten list of things I wish someone would have told me when I had my firstborn.

1. Bottle feeding.

It's ok to bottle feed your not less of a woman because you do it. You do what is right for you.

2. Go outside.

Go out, don't stay in for six weeks it's utter bollocks. Don't let the walks cave in nothing beats a bit of fresh air and new scenery.

3. Books.

Save your money don't invest in parent books, focus more on you and what you think.

4. Trust. 

Trust in yourself you know more then you think

5. Sleep.

Forget the washing, have a sleep, you earned it and you are granted permission to live in a pigsty.

6. Skills.

Somethings as a mother doesn't come naturally for instance it took me about six months to grasp how to change a nappy and work the frigging steriliser. You have skills some are better then others it doesn't make you a crap parent your just human. We all have strength and weaknesses. Just learn to work with them and you will get through it.

7. Blog.

Write a blog, you feel less lonely and feel connected more with 'real' mummies

8. Youtube.

Learn to  love YouTube, it will help you during those late-night feeds

9. Help. 

Ask for help, no shame in it, if anything it is the strength that you recognise a problem and your willing to get it sorted out.

10. No pressure.

This notion of supermum is a pure fantasy we all make mistakes, mess up but we love our children non the less. 

Cheers for reading X