Positivive benefits of video games for kids

Hey readers, 

Playing video games for kids gets a bad press but did you know that actually there are positive benefits to playing video games. Here are 10 benefits of video games for kids. 

  1. Teach them problem-solving. 

Traditionally video games train problem-solving and strategy development skills by getting the player to solve increasingly complicated problems. In many cases, there is time pressure which develops speed and decision-making skills.  

2. Sparks creativity. 

Ample research has shown that video games can stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving. And they help to keep your cognitive abilities sharp as well. Gaming can also have other big benefits when it comes to creative problems and works. Video games can also help to set up perfect challenges that help gamers to expend energy. Engaging in an activity that is either stimulating or engaging leads to an increase in dopamine levels in the brain. 

3 Visual-spatial awareness.  

When we are talking about spatial awareness in games it refers to the spatial skills that we have and our ability to rotate and conceptualise 3-D objects and decipher maps, graphs and diagrams can help with spital awareness.

 Studies have found evidence that video games can increase processing speed, cognitive flexibility, working memory, social skills, and problem-solving skills. The bottom line: it's absolutely possible to develop important spatial awareness skills while playing games such as Minecraft, Roblox and The Sims.  

4. Social connections. 

Studies have found that playing video games, especially those that are social and collaborative, can lead to more prosocial behaviours (behaviour that is positive, helpful, and aimed toward social acceptance and friendship) among children. 

Video games have created a fun and engaging way of connecting with people and can act as an essential teaching tool in developing social skills. Video games can help build cooperation skills and supporting skills as players have the option to work together to form alliances and create teams working cooperatively.

5 Improve concentration.  

Video games help improve children's concentration. And it was the kids who played action video games which showed the biggest improvements. Not only did they perform better on attention tests. They also improved their reading speed without any loss of reading comprehension. 

6. Improve coordination.  

Managing a controller with their hands while watching a screen with their eyes improves kids' hand-eye coordination. In fact, research from the medical journal PLOS One found that surgeons who played video games improved their hand-eye coordination and precise muscle movement. 

7. Enhance memory. 

According to some research studies, video games improve problem-solving skills. These research studies reveal that some parts of our brains may grow as a consequence of playing. These parts are associated with strategic planning, memory and spatial navigation.

8. Reduces stress.

Specifically, video game play has been found to lead to improved mood, reduced emotional disturbance, improved emotion regulation, relaxation, and stress reduction. Importantly, the moderate play has been associated with better outcomes than either excessive play or a lack of play.

9. Improve self-esteem.  

Specifically, video game play has been found to lead to improved mood, reduced emotional disturbance, improved emotion regulation, relaxation, and stress reduction. Importantly, the moderate play has been associated with better outcomes than either excessive play or a lack of play.

10. Good learning tool. 

 Many modern education institutions incorporate video games as a teaching methodology. This helps these children improve their academic skills by providing video games that are specifically aimed at enhancing their cognitive and creative skills.

What do you think about kids' video games? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X  

How to save money on your clothes

Hey readers,

Times are tough and we are looking for ways to cut down our costs of spending one way we can do that is by reducing the amount we spend on clothing. I have 5 tips on how to save money on your clothes. 

 1. Recycle old clothes for vouchers

These schemes all reward you for recycling old clothes:

• H&M - receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £25 shop) if you recycle a bag of unwanted clothes or textiles from any store in any condition at a branch of H&M.
• Marks and Spencer - receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £35 shop) if you donate items to Oxfam (either clothing or soft furnishings). They must not be damaged or soiled as clothes will be resold. You can also donate items in M&S stores under the retailer's 'Shwop' scheme - you won't get a voucher but Sparks members will get a free treat if they scan the QR code on the donation box.
• New Look - take good-quality, pre-loved fashion to a Hospice charity shop (find them here), scan the QR code on the counter and receive 15% off your next shop at New Look.
• Schuh - receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £25 spend) when you bring an old pair of shoes (any brand).
• Sweaty Betty - receive a £10 voucher (to be redeemed against a £50 spend) when you recycle an old pair of leggings (any brand) to the store, which can also be done online.

2. Shop out of season.

We know, it’s exciting to buy things pre-season. When it’s icy outside, that lightweight sundress makes you feel like spring is right around the corner. But if you’re buying in anticipation of what’s next, you’re paying the maximum retail price. If you shop for what’s not happening, you’ll get a much better price. Sure, it might feel weird to buy a sweater when it’s nearly triple digits outside, but it’ll save you some cool cash.

3. Where to buy second-hand clothes

There are many places where you can buy second-hand clothes, either in-store or online. 

For stores try local charity shops, or antique shops if you like vintage clothing. Many such shops have now reopened with all the necessary Covid-related measures in place. You will need to be prepared to browse as obviously everything is a one-off item and you can’t guarantee what will or will not be there. But there are many bargains to be had and you will be helping to support either a charity or a local business

There are also many online auctions and selling sites, for example:

* eBay

* Facebook Marketplace

* Depop

*  Preloved 

As well as searching for specific items that you want, it can also be worth including the word “bundle” or “job lot” in your search. You can often find a listing that includes several items which a seller does not have time to list individually, so can work out at incredible value. And if there are some of the items that either don’t fit or you don’t like, you can always pass them on to friends or your local charity shop: you will still bag a bargain.

5. Try 'swishing'

 'Swishing' is the term for swapping items of clothing or footwear with other people. Instead of shopping for new garments, it’s worth getting a group of friends or colleagues together to swap unwanted clothes.

6. Upcycle existing garments

Changing your existing clothes is one way to freshen up your wardrobe without throwing out and replacing the whole lot.

Merion Willis, the Craft Editor at Lovecraft's, said embroidering flowers, geometric patterns or fun lettering to clothing can give a personal finish.“Adding embroidery to tired knitwear is a super-fast way to brighten it up.”

What do you think of my tips on how to save money on clothes? Have I missed a good way to save money that you use that has helped you? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 5/09/2022

 

They can be nice together now and again 😉 

What does an autistic shutdown feel like?

 Hey readers, 

As I am getting older I have noticed that the way I manage to respond emotionally has changed somewhat. I have reduced the number of times I have a meltdown and I am more likely to respond to a situation by going into a shutdown mode. 

 I don't know whether this is a direct response to getting older or having more experience of life. It could simply be down to the fact that a shutdown is the better response for me as it is less emotionally draining and easier to hander after the event as well.

 You have to realise that meltdowns not only are emotionally charged during that the moment of the event but also there needs to be a time to recover after the situation.  Compared to a shutdown you use less emotional resources which results in an quicker time to recover emotionally. 

Although one does wonder does a shutdown in the long term causes harm if you are suppressing emotions however that is something I probably will blog about at a later date.

Meltdown. 

You may be wondering what I mean by the terms of a meltdown. 

A meltdown in regards to a autistic one, as opposed to a toddler one, is a response to the mind or body when it is feeling overwhelmed. It may at times appear to happen without warning.

 

By rights, anyone can have a meltdown an autistic meltdown is stronger and more frequent. I tend to find I need time after my meltdown to recover and deal with processing the situation.

 With my meltdowns I tend to shout because I am angry and lose control because mainly as a result of the change, I am flapping and pacing, I sometimes self-harm, hyperventilate and struggle to put my thoughts into words and express myself clearly. I am also very anxious and can have panic attacks again linked to control and not knowing what is happening or being in control of a situation. 

Shutdown. 

So on the other side, we have a thing called a shutdown and you probably can work out from the name what the behaviour will be towards this term. 

Due to the overwhelmingness of the situation and the inability to know how to deal with the situation an autistic person will sometimes literal shut down like a computer. 

The characteristics of a shutdown tend to be for me is when I go mute, I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to hide away in a corner away from anyone or any stimulation time. 

 I like to hide in the darkness as this tends to help calm me down. As before shutdown mode, I do often get sensory overload when too many different sensory things all occur at once whether that be the level of noise in the background, the lights, business etc. 

 So I seek out a quiet, dark and calm environment where I can just be still and don't have to think. Going into shutdown mode for me is a safe place where I can regain regularity within my body and mind. It is the time when I can stop thinking the most and not have to collect so many messages to my brain, it is a break to breathe and just be. 

One of the reasons I prefer shutdown to a meltdown is that they take up less emotional guilt which I feel after a meltdown I will be honest I am aggressive and get very frustrated. 

Autism affects me with change and not knowing what is happening strongly and I would call myself a control freak and hate not knowing what is happening. 

If people are late it sends my anxiety high and then waiting for a response pushes me right over the edge. So you can see I like to know what is happening, I am not a placid easy come, easy-go type person. I hate uncertainty which causes me great anxiety hence it displays itself in anger. 

So shutdowns I prefer are less emotional and time-consuming before and after a meltdown, but they come with a cost not only do you feel shit for a long time. 

Meltdowns chip away at your confidence as a person especially if you're having them frequently and as an adult, I think as a child you are more socially acceptable to have a meltdown but people judge you. 

Over time, this really affects your mental health, so you can see the correlation of why so many autistic people have mental health conditions as well to deal with.   

Shutdowns are easy to manage they take less time because they are slower you are calmer in a sense so that helps although over the long term could fuel depression which has happened to me in the past so be mindful of that. 

So you can see why shutdowns are more attractive if you had to choose between two as a way of dealing with the neurological and emotional factors of autism issues that occur frequently throughout most autistic persons' lives. 

Cheers for reading X 

60 autumn blog post ideas

Hey readers,

Sometimes it can be challenging to think of ideas on the spot so I have 60 fantastic blog ideas for the autumn period so you don't have to stress. Hope they help find some inspiration.  

1. Autumn wardrobe capsule.

2. Outdoor activities to do during autumn time.

3. Your favourite autumn Instagram captions.

4. How to deal with darker days.

5. A seasonal recipe.

6. A coat wishlist.

7. A favourite autumn Instagram account to follow.

8. Things to do in autumn with the family.

9. Your favourite knitwear.

10. Morning routine.

11. Evening routine.

12. A list of autumnal walks in your local area.

13. Autumn bucket list.

14.  How to carve a pumpkin. 

15. Different ideas to decorate a pumpkin.

16. Autumn self-care routine.

17. Autumn wellness tips. 

18. Things to do on a rainy day. 

19. Slow cooker recipes.

20. Hot chocolate recipes

21. Ways to embrace Hygge.

22. Why do you like autumn.

23. Your favourite autumn candles. 

24. Halloween nail art.

25. Halloween DIYs.

26. Autumn photo props.

27. How to take blog photos on darker days.

28. 10 autumn stables.

29. Frugal autumn meals.

30. How to cut down on your heating bill. 

31. Autumn bag essentials. 

32. Autumn hairstyles.

33. Loves and lusts for autumn.

34. What's worth watching on the telly this autumn.

35. Your favourite Halloween movies.

36. How to keep warm this season.

37. Places to go pumpkin picking. 

38. Autumn date ideas.

39. Product Review.

40. What I am thankful for this year.

41. Your favourite autumn scents.

42. Blog post ideas for autumn. 

43. Share a Q & A autumn tag.

44. Best bloggers to follow this autumn. 

45. Your autumn workout routine.

46. How to save money during autumn time. 

47. How to layer clothes.

48. How to deal with dry skin.

49. Where to get cheap Halloween decorations.

50. No cost fall activities.

51. Top 5 autumn beverages.

52. Autumn stables you can not live without. 

53. Autumnal activities to do with children.

54. Autumn/Halloween decorations you have in your home.

55. Favourite Halloween memes

56. Halloween costume ideas.

57. Do an autumn photography challenge.

58. Blogging essentials for autumn. 

59. The boots you need this autumn.

60. Share an autumn music playlist. 

Have I missed any good autumn blog post ideas out of the list? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

 

My Sunday Photo 18/09/2022

We had fun enjoying the Polination event in Birmingham listening all about senses and taking it all in. 

100 of the best mummy blogger Instagram hashtags!

 Hey readers, 

I love Instagram it is a great way to see loads of different types of interests and gives so many visual ideas. You can check out my Instagram account here I often post about parenting (I do have two boys aged 8 &10). 

I also post about food and saving money I am not one for sticking to one area as I get bored easily and get distracted. I go by the philosophy that variety is the spice of life so I am going t tell you you should be tailoring your Instagram to be a certain style of feed. I miss the old Instagram when people just posted random shit, people seem so obsessed with making the feed a certain and the colour theme and all that bollocks.

 I digress but my point is I do enjoy Instagram, I post whatever tickles my fancy often parenting because I am a parent it influences my life it is fun and hard so yeah that is one theme. 

So do I like to use hashtags, of course, they help with reach because if you didn't use them then fewer people would see you're imaged because they wouldn't be tagged with the hashtag.

 Obviously, your feed does what the hell you want but if you're going to get more engagement the most way would be hashtags. If parenting is your jam then you might find this post helpful as I unveil 100 mummy blogger hashtags that can help give you some inspiration for you to use when tagging on your photos.

100 hashtags for mum bloggers on Instagram. 

1. Mumlife. 

2. Mum.  

3. Momlife. 

4. Instamum.

5. Pbloggersuk.

6. Motherhood.

7. Parenting.

8. Mummybloggeruk. 

9. Mumbloggeruk. 

10. Familytime. 

11. Mummyblogger. 

12. Raisingboys.

13. Dailyparenting. 

14. Mumofboys. 

15. Family. 

16. Motherhoodunplugged. 

17. Mama. 

18. Ukmumssquad. 

19. Pblogger. 

20. Boymum. 

21. Happydays. 

22. Memories.

23. Familylife. 

24. Capturingmemories. 

25. Realparenting. 

26. Familyfirst. 

27. Love.

28. Documentyourdays. 

29. Mumblogger.

30. Parentblogger. 

31. Mumlifeuk.

 

32. Mumblog.

33. Ukmummyblogger. 

34. Ukmums. 

35. Kidsofinstagram. 

36. Momsofinstagram. 

37. Channelmumvillage. 

38. Parenthood. 

39. Familiesofinstagram. 

40. Parentbloggeruk.

41. Childhoodunplugged.

42. Mumbloggers. 

43. Magicofchildhood.

44. Mumssupportingmums. 

45. Mummydaries. 

46. Instamummy. 

47. Mummylife. 

48. Ukmumblog. 

49.

50. Dailymotherhood. 

51. Mommybloggers. 

52. Momblogger. 

53. Family blogger. 

54. Motherhoodunfilitered. 

55. Familyof. 

56. Ukparentbloggers. 

57. Pbloggers. 

58. Mumsofinstagramuk. 

59. Mumbloguk. 

60. Ukmum. 

61. Mommyblogger. 

62. Justanothernormalmum. 

63. Cutekidsclub.

64. Lethembelittle. 

65. Kidsofinstagram. 

66. Unitedmotherhood. 

67. Childhoodunplugged. 

68. Rememberingthesedays. 

69. Momswithcameras. 

70. Littleandfierceones. 

71. Magicofchildhood. 

72. Igmoms.

73. Lifecloseup. 

74. Littlestoriesofmylife. 

75. Worldoflittles.

76. Motherland.

77. Themagicineveryday.

78. Capturedmoments.

79. Developinglife. 

80. Mbloggers.

81. Whatevertheweather.

82. Celebratingmotherhood. 

83. Familylove. 

84. Candidchildhood. 

85. Letthekids.

86. Simplychildren.

87. Letthemexplore. 

88. Runwildmychild.

89. Thehappynow. 

90. Clickinmoms. 

91. Wildandbravelittles. 

92. Kidsfashion. 

93. Mytinymoments. 

94. Cameramama.

95. Thatsdarling. 

96. Simplemamahood. 

97. Nothingisordinary. 

98. Livethelittlethings

99. Blessed.

100. Mycolourfulkids. 

There you have 100 mummy blogger Instagram hashtags you can use at your disposal!

Cheers for reading X