How to help your child start secondary school.

 Hey readers,

Starting secondary school can be an exciting but challenging time for children. 

As a parent, there are several ways you can help your child transition smoothly into this new phase of their education. Here are some tips:

1. Communication. 

Talk openly with your child about their feelings and concerns about starting secondary school.

 Please encourage them to share their thoughts and listen attentively to their worries.

 Assure them that it's normal to feel anxious and that you're there to support them.

2. Attend orientation events. 

Take advantage of any orientation programs or open days the school offers. 

These events allow your child to familiarise themselves with the school environment, meet teachers and staff, and connect with other students.

3. Visit the school beforehand. 

If possible, visit the school with your child before their first day.

 This will help them become familiar with the layout of the building, locate classrooms, and identify facilities like the cafeteria, library, and restrooms.

 It can also alleviate some of their anxiety about navigating a new environment.

4. Establish routines. 

Establish consistent practices and schedules to help your child feel organised and prepared.

 Plan regular bedtimes and wake-up times to ensure they get enough rest. 

Help them pack their school bag the night before and lay out their uniform or clothing for the next day.

5. Encourage independence. 

Secondary school often requires more freedom and responsibility from students. 

Please encourage your child to take ownership of their school-related tasks, such as organising their materials, completing homework, and managing their time.

 Teach them organisational skills and help them develop a system for keeping track of assignments and deadlines.

6. Foster social connections. 

Encourage your child to make new friends and build social relationships at their new school. 

Encourage participation in extracurricular activities or clubs that align with their interests. 

Remind them that many other students are also starting fresh and looking to make new friends.

7. Stay involved. 

Maintain open lines of communication with your child's teachers and stay engaged in their school life. 

Attend parent-teacher meetings, stay informed about their academic progress, and address any concerns or challenges that may arise. 

Showing interest and support will help your child feel more secure and motivated.

8. Monitor stress levels. 

Monitor your child's stress levels during the transition period. 

Please encourage them to talk about any difficulties they may be facing and offer guidance and reassurance. 

If you notice persistent stress or adjustment difficulties, consider contacting the school's counselling services or seeking professional support.

Remember, every child is different, and their needs may vary. Be patient, supportive, and understanding as your child navigates this significant transition. 

With your guidance and encouragement, they will gradually settle into their new school and thrive academically and socially.

Cheers for reading x 

How to make oobleak

Hey readers, 

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid that is made from corn-starch and water. It is a fun and easy science experiment that kids of all ages can enjoy.

Here is how to make oobleck. 

Ingredients:

* 1 cup corn-starch. 

* 3/4 cup water. 

* Food colouring (optional). 

Method.  

1. In a large bowl, combine the corn-starch and water.

2. If you are using food colouring, add a few drops to the water before adding it to the corn-starch.

3. Stir the mixture together until it is smooth.

4. The oobleck is ready to play with!

Tips. 

* The amount of corn-starch and water you need may vary depending on the brand of corn-starch you use. Start with the measurements listed above and adjust as needed.

* If the oobleck is too dry, add a few drops of water. If it is too runny, add a little more corn-starch.

* You can add other ingredients to oobleck to change its properties. For example, you can add glitter, shaving cream, or soap bubbles.

* Oobleck can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

Here are some fun things you can do with oobleck. 

* Throw it at each other.

* Make it into shapes.

* Roll it around in your hands.

* See how it reacts to different forces, such as gravity, pressure, and temperature.

Experiment with different colours and textures.

* Oobleck is a great way to learn about the properties of fluids and have some fun at the same time. So what are you waiting for? Go make some oobleck today!

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 30/07/2023

 

I was feeling a bit rubbish yesterday with my mental health. So I thought, you know what? Treat yourself and it was worth every penny. 

How to stop self gaslighting.

 Hey readers,

The manipulative technique known as gaslighting refers to someone who challenges your perception of reality. 

It often serves as a means of exerting control over a person or circumstance since the result confuses and destabilises you, making you question your abilities. 

Self-gaslighting is a closely comparable term and idea that may not be as widely known but has the same potential for harm.

Self-gaslighting occurs when you start to doubt your reality and discount your emotions due to internalised doubt and a critical external voice. Some famous self-gaslighting words are "Maybe it wasn't that bad," "Maybe she didn't mean to hurt me," and "I am being overly emotional." 

So why do we act in this manner?

Discover the reasons why self-gaslighting occurs, as well as a method to stop it and replace it with self-trust, below.

Why do we tend to self-gaslight?

The external "voice" that might direct your self-gaslighting behaviour could be from someone you repeatedly heard, such as a carer or an authority figure who was interested in keeping control over you.

 Because we depend on our parents and other authority figures to survive as children, it is not in our best interests to question them.

 We lack the ability or desire to criticise or hold them accountable. In such cases, rage must be channelled within.

To maintain reliance on our carers, we may grow a self-critical voice and focus unpleasant emotions towards ourselves.

 When a problem isn't caused by the environment or the people around us, the developing brain tells us that "the problem must be me." This causes us to doubt our knowledge.

Additionally, the voice of scepticism could come from social sources rather than just one individual. One term for this is "collective gaslighting."

 In this country, for instance, the idea that white people are more critical and valuable than people of colour has been perpetuated via messaging, deeds, and legislation. 

Consequently, a person of colour may assume as they age that they are lacking and undeserving of something.

But regardless of who you are or what your internal story is, you can regain control and stop any self-gaslighting that is taking place.

1. Consider whose viewpoint this is.

These contradicting beliefs frequently don't appear out of thin air. They have become embedded in your mind since you have heard them before. 

There's usually someone who persuades you to think this way about yourself.

It can have been a parent, boss, sibling, ex, or acquaintance. Even if the individual had good intentions at the time, you should discover the source of these beliefs to distance yourself from them.

2. Find out who has this opinion by digging deep.

Do some personal history digging to see if you have unwittingly become accustomed to gaslighting yourself?

Who has taught you that you shouldn't rely on your judgements, preferences, experiences, and memories?

Did it begin in infancy and feel "natural" in your marriage?

Did your parents discourage you from having confidence in yourself because they didn't like who you were or what you did?

Did your husband criticise your thoughts, actions, demands, and grievances? Or did he gradually reduce your feeling of self to serve his interests by chipping away at it?

Stop claiming ownership of things that are not yours!

3. You Hold Responsibility for Your Illness.

Another method you gaslight yourself is by blaming yourself.

 You blame yourself for your symptoms even if you know you have an invisible illness and have no control over it. 

You punish yourself if you get flare-ups. And you think unfavourable, destructive ideas.

Society is quite good at making someone responsible for their illness.

 It is your job to recover if you are ill; if you don't, you aren't working hard enough. 

For those of us with a chronic, invisible illness, however, this is not true. 

We often have no control over these ailments, and no matter what we do, they won't go away. Therefore, it is useless to blame yourself for a situation out of your control.

4. Remain rooted. 

Keep as much of your awareness in the present as possible because reality doesn't always feel stable. 

We have power over the present, but we cannot change the past. Take part in enjoyable and relaxing activities.

Remember that your past does not define who you are today, and validate your work that counts.

5. Combat Self-Negative Talk.

Have you ever made the mistake of criticising and calling yourself a failure after it? 

It's time to combat those instances of negative self-talk. Replace negative thoughts with positive and self-compassionate affirmations rather than allowing them to rule your mind.

 Remember that everyone makes mistakes, and they present chances for growth and learning.

What do you think about self-gaslighting? Have you ever experienced it? I love you. Hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X

How to save money on school uniform.

 Hey readers,

Even though it is the start of the summer holiday, you might already think about buying the next academic year's uniform. 

As let's face it, school uniform is not a cheap purchase, and if you cater for the fact that you have more than one child, it might be best to plan earlier rather than later to save money and less stress. 

If your trying to save some pennies because of the cost of living, then you have come to the right place as I have some top tips on saving money on your child's school uniform. 

1. Buy second-hand.

Check if your school or PTA (Parent Teacher Association) has a second-hand selling group where you can pick up some pre-loved items. 

If this doesn't exist at your child's school, see if you can set one up on social media and invite other parents to join.

Alternatively, you could check out these social media sites and apps to buy uniforms and sell any old items: 

Facebook Marketplace: You can search for items and pick them up for free if the seller's local.

Facebook groups: Local community groups can help you connect with families in your neighbourhood and search for second-hand uniforms. 

Freecycle: This app allows people to gift or lend unwanted items to people living nearby. 

Olio: Like Freecycle, this app allows people to give away items they don't want to those in the local neighbourhood.

Vinted: There are over 500 results for school uniforms on the app, and you can filter it only to show the sizes you need. 

eBay: You can search for specific items and bid for them, which means you could get a great deal.

2. Audit the Old.

If you just shoved last year's uniform into a cupboard at the end of term, get it out and look at what you already have that might last a few more weeks.

 If your child wears summer dresses or shorts, it's worth holding out on buying warmer clothes until the weather turns, as they may already be too small for them by the time they need them. 

Wash and then lay everything out and persuade the kids to have a quick trying-on session before you make a list of the essentials you do need to buy.

3. Beware of multipacks.

But beware: multipacks are not always the most economical option. While a pack of four or five polo shirts might be good value, you may not need multiple skirts or trousers (knee slide dependent).

Working out the price per item and how much wear it will get could help cut unnecessary costs. 

That said, finding fellow parents in the market for new school wear and splitting the price of a multipack could also be a canny way of saving money.

4. Check for grants.

Some parents will be eligible for a school uniform grant worth £200, depending on their income and where they live. 

The grants are typically available for people receiving benefits such as Universal Credit and child tax credit.

You may also be eligible if your child receives free school meals. 

Not every council in England offers this, but you can check what’s on offer via the government website. Grant schemes also differ across the UK.

5. Buddy up.

Alternatively, if you spot an excellent multipack offer and you don't need all of the items, parents could buddy up with a fellow parent and split the costs.

Buddying up with families with children of different ages is also a great way to pass around clothes when they're outgrown.

6. Only buy what you need. 

Before buying a variety of new items for your kids, consider whether they are necessary because, trust me, you bet every school year there is a new trend meaning new backpacks, new pencil cases etc. 

But don’t fall into the trap of buying things just because your kids want them. It’s also important not to fall for the expensive fad school accessories, which are trendy at the time but won’t be in a few months. 

Stick to buying things that last and won’t go out of ‘fashion’.”

To give you a helping hand, KiddyCharts has this printable back-to-school checklist for parents to use. Check it out here.

7. Size up.

As most children experience growth spurts during puberty, you may feel you have wasted your money on a uniform that will soon be too small.

I recommend sizing up one or two sizes on blazers and trousers.

 Children get away with a little oversized blazer, especially when a shirt and jumper are layered underneath.

Long trousers can also be taken up to fit your child, and the hem can later be let down as they grow.

Some supermarkets have designed ranges with this in mind. 

Marks & Spencer sells trousers with a “grow-proof hem”, which are made with extra length. The hem can quickly be taken down by unpicking it and pressing it with an iron.

8. Shop around. 

Shop around;  the government have introduced legally binding guidance which requires schools to make uniforms affordable for all. 

This means you shouldn’t have to stump up extra cash or be limited to certain stores for items, and schools must remove unnecessary branded items.

Most supermarkets stock polo shirts, trousers, skirts and sweatshirts, often sold in multipacks – and snapshot Which? Analysis this month found them to be modestly priced.

 For a primary school pupil aged eight to nine, I found a pack of polo shirts from George by Asda for £3.50, while a group of two black trousers from the Morrisons Nutmeg range cost £9.

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 23/07/2023

Aw, my son's leaving assembly for year 6!

He has come so far, oud of him. Looking forward to seeing what his next adventure will hold for him 😍

A to Z of self care.

Hey readers, 

Making the effort to look after your physical, mental, and emotional health can significantly improve both your short- and long-term wellbeing.

It is crucial that you set aside some time for yourself, regardless of where you are in life or how busy things seem to be.

To get you started, here are 26 self-care suggestions from A to Z.

A - ask for help. 

B - books.

C - clean your room. 

D - speak to the doctor. 

E - exercise. 

F - use a face mask. 

G - write down what you are grateful for. 

H - hydrate. 

I - important life admin.

 

J - journal. 

K - know yourself.

 

L - let it out. 

M - make your bed. 

N - learn to say no!

 

O - organise.

 

P - pamper. 

Q - quiet time

R - relax. 

S - sleep. 

T - talk. 

U - unplug for 1 hour right now. 

V - volunteer. 

W - go out for a walk. 

X - exhale. 

Y - do some yoga.

Z - get some. Zzzs.

Cheers for reading X