Category: School Days

1. It's Good To Be Bored

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 9th Oct 2018

   I have a favourite saying to my girls and it is "only bored people get bored". But do our children really ever get the opportunity to be bored these days? With so many playdates, after school clubs, extra curriculum activities and this is without the draw of YouTube or on demand TV, do children have time to be bored?

   

   The ease of access to technology, particularly in our house means that there is always something to watch and even to watch other children playing (this is a bizarre concept to me). However new research has revealed that kids have been spending just 3 hours per day away from their screens, while only 31% of parents admitted to giving a bored child a digital device to keep them occupied.

   Conducted by BIC® as part of its Young Artist Award, the study found that kids complain about being bored on average 122 times a month – that’s 1,500 times a year. With the words “I’m bored” being dreaded by 69% of parents.

   In response to the findings, renowned child education consultant Dr Martin Stephen said that “boredom is a brilliant platform from which children learn to use their imaginations …. It’s important that we continue to develop core skills such as drawing and writing.”

   He continued, “Drawing and writing with a pen aren’t old fashioned and out-dated – they’re proved state-of-the-art and affordable boosters to the child’s body and brain: the ultimate fertiliser for the imagination.”

   My girls do love their iPads but we always encourage screen free times with creativity and a family board game. From the study's findings, here are the top 10 ways that parents try to banish their children's boredom. 

   

   1. Playing board games with them (42%)
   2. Putting on the TV (40%)
   3. Providing a pen and paper for drawing / writing (39%)
   4. Handing them a book to read (34%)   
   5. Providing a tablet/iPad (31%)
   6. Cooking with them (26%)
   7. Going to the zoo or park (24%)
   8. Putting on a games console (20%)
   9. Taking them to a friend’s house (17%)
   10. Playing imaginary games with them (17%)

   So while, ,creativity can be encouraged via digital games it’s important that we continue to develop core skills such as drawing and writing as it’s been proven that these skills aid creativity and imagination.

   “What a child sees and does on a screen can encourage creativity but all too often it’s the creativity and imagination of the designer, not the child. Drawing and writing with a pen aren’t old-fashioned and out-dated - they’re proven state-of-the-art and affordable boosters to the child’s body and brain: the ultimate fertiliser for the imagination.”

    

   Rebecca Huda, BIC^® UK and Ireland’s Product Manager – Stationery, comments: “It’s challenging to consider boredom as a positive thing, but I think we’re all aware that taking a bit of time away from constant noise and activity, has a positive effect. It’s good to be able to let the mind wander and through our competition, we’ve seen that kids in the UK have amazing imaginations”.

    

   It is good to let the mind wander ..... to be fair I think mine wanders off completely at times (but I digress) however this research is really interesting for us as parents to recognise that although we encourage the online design and educational games, there really is nothing like picking up a pen or pencil and creating something all of your own!  

   

    

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2. Back To School With Moj Moj!

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 17th Sep 2018

   Back to School. It seems like we have been back for weeks now. 

   The alarm clock goes off every morning and the dawning realisation that I have to brave the school run again dawns on me. The girls both (thankfully) enjoy school so once they are up there is never a huge drama about going (it is usually me they have to drag out of bed). 

   

   After the first week or so back, we were thrilled to receive a goody bag from our friends at Moj Moj. We like to think it was a reward for surviving the first week back at school and both girls dived into the mega bag of goodies to see what they had been sent. 

   As you can see, it was a truly great bag of goodies!

   

   Moj Moj are a big favourite in our house at the moment and we have talked about them recently on the blog. They are one of our current favourite collectibles as Moj Moj squish, squash and stretch and are totally adorable. Moj Moj are perfect for cute little collectors aged 5 and up.

   Each creature belongs to their own group of family which include Adventure Seekers, Party Animals, Couch Potatoes, Happy Campers, Sun Bathers and Day Dreamers.

   

   Each "blind bag" pack contains two Moj Moj and there are so many to collect, duplicates don't happen very often but even if they do, swapping with your sister, or your friends is half the fun. There are 95 squishy Moj Moj to collect and they come in all shapes and sizes with different animals and fun, bright colours to squash and squish.

   You can buy Moj Moj mystery packs at Smyths Toys, they are £3.99 a pack which makes them ideal pocket money treats. We are therefore thrilled to be running a little giveaway at the moment for you to win your own Moj Moj bundle so if you want to be in with a chance to win your own Moj Moj to squish and squeeze, just enter below. 

    Moj Moj giveaway

    

   Terms & Conditions

   The Prize:  1 x Moj Moj bundle (1 prize)

   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Gleam and notified within 7 working days by email
   There is no monetary equivalent.
   Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
   If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
   End Date 29/09/2018

    

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3. The Original Moj Moj : Giveaway

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 10th Sep 2018

   It is no secret that my girls love a collectible and if you mix a collectible with a squishy toy, what do you get? A Moj Moj (and happy children). 

   

   Moj Moj squish, squash and stretch and are totally adorable. Moj Moj are perfect for cute little collectors aged 5 and up. The characters include family groups such as Adventure Seekers, Party Animals, Couch Potatoes, Happy Campers, Sun Bathers and Day Dreamers ... not to mention the sparkles!

   

   MGA Entertainment, Inc are the makers of some your favorite brands including our other favourites L.O.L. Surprise! and they totally understand that as parents we want children's toys to be safe. So it is good to know that their toys are  subjected to a rigorous testing process that not only meets, but quite often exceeds legal requirements. 

   

   Each Moj Moj pack is priced at £4 but we are thrilled to be able to give you the chance to win a Moj Moj bundle of 5 packs (each including 2 Moj Moj). There are over 95 to collect so lots of chances to find new little creatures to squish and maybe you’ll strike lucky and find one of the ultra-rare characters in your packs.

   All you need to do is enter below: 

    Moj Moj giveaway

   Terms & Conditions

   The Prize:  1 x Moj Moj bundle (1 prize)

   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Gleam and notified within 7 working days by email
   There is no monetary equivalent.
   Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
   If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
   End Date 29/09/2018

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4. Back To School Stationery Checklist

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 25th Aug 2018

   The summer holidays are almost over and it seems like everywhere you look there are "back to school" signs up in the shops. 

   It is interesting to think that parents might be battling the stress and soaring cost of back-to-school shopping by hunting for loose change down the back of the sofa … and borrowing from their own children. A Coinstar Back-to-School survey among UK parents showed 65% of British mums and dads say they find the process of shopping for new school kit stressful - and expect to spend an average of £328 per child to return to school. 

   

   We may not be looking for coins down the back of the sofa but having a teenager with a stationery habit, we need to look for the best (and long lasting) stationery products to go back to school with, so her is her essential Back To School Stationery Checklist! 

   Highlighters

   This is the top choice. Forget essentials like pens and pencils, our teenager is a big fan of a higlighter as apparently it makes her work much more interesting. The Stabilo pastel shade highlighters are a particular favourite and are available from most retailers.They also do a super cute mini pastellove set for £8.78.

   

   Pens

   This might sound silly but buying a pen is apparently no easy task. The teen is extremely specific about the type of pen she likes and the colour it has to be. I am quite sure that we have pens in every colour available (you can tell that she likes to be expressive in her workbooks). The Stabilo range of writing pens have a variety for her to choose from (lucky really!!) 

   

   Maths set

   Oxford metallics maths set and ballpoint pen in silver and rose gold - £9.99. Rose gold is really popular at the moment, so makes it very on trend from Maped Helix, who are a British company that have been synonymous with the stationery world for over 130 years. 

   

   Those added extras

   Some may say that stationery is quite boring (don't utter those words to the teenager) but it is good to add a little fun to your school set and this year, Helix are featuring a  'Pepsi' stationery range that are destined to be the must have school product for 2018.

   

   So while there are some children who are happy with a couple of pens and a calculator to go back to school with, it is good to know that you don't need to break the bank to find different products out there for those who like that little bit extra. This is useful, especially when forty-two per cent of parents are worrying about costs and have said school clothing was the biggest expense they faced before September, followed by extracurricular fees (18%), school supplies (15%), electronics (14%), and tutoring (10%).

   It seems that whilst parents are crunching the numbers before school even starts, the only thing the kids are worried about is making sure that they have a pencil case to put all their new stuff into! 

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