Category: School Days

1. Christmas ideas : Batteries not included

   Posted on 9:45pm Wednesday 2nd Nov 2016

   It is November so I am officially allowed to mention Christmas.

   As usual at this time of year, the big names are launching their predictions of what will be the biggest toy of the Christmas season.  And while there are the usual cuddly toys and computer games, reassuringly there are several interesting, educational toys in the mix as well as items that provide learning or skills while having fun. And while there is nothing wrong with any of these presents, sometimes you want to give your children something different, something educational or to help with their learning.  Sometimes, you want to give them something that gets them away from the TV screen or the smartphone!

   

   Day Trips

   Children always look forward to a day trip somewhere, whether to the local museum, castle or an animal park or farm.  Anything that holds their interest will be keenly anticipated.  So why not build on this by booking tickets ahead of time and giving them as a Christmas gift?  Even if the tickets don’t look like much, you can always print information about the location from the internet to make it seem even more exciting.

   If there is a certain place that they love to visit, then why not get a membership as a Christmas present?  Memberships can save money if you go more than once a year to a place and the promise of regular visits will no doubt excite the kids.  Museums, zoos, aquariums and even music venues offer memberships that often gain access to special events before the public too – another added bonus.

   Get crafty

   Winter can be difficult as parents because the children can’t get outside and enjoy themselves as they do in spring and summer.  Therefore, Christmas can be a great opportunity to get them involved in some form of craft or art with Christmas at The Works, with lots of ideas that they can learn over the winter and come back to any time there is a rainy day or they are bored. Making something is both educational and very satisfying so this is a good basis for a present.  You can buy lots of ready-made kits or create your own scrapbook so they can have their own journal or memory book that will last long after the Christmas decorations have come down. 

   Photography

   Creating a scrapbook is a brilliant project to do with your children and a kit containing the basics makes an ideal present.  Whether they have their own camera or smartphone or simply use yours (with a little adult supervision) taking photos and adding them to a scrapbook is very satisfying. 

   Nature walks are a great opportunity to take those photos so why not add in a nature guide to presents pile?  That way, they can learn about what they are photographing and can even write about it in their scrapbook or create crafty embellishments to go with it.

   Baking

   Baking must be tied in first place as the best activity for kids to do with parents, alongside crafting.  Most of us love to have home baked goodies and some of these recipes are extremely easy to do.  Buying a children’s baking set for Christmas will inspire them and even if you start with a packet mix from the supermarket, they will love creating something everyone will enjoy.  And maybe, they will take to it so much that they will end up being the next baking superstar!

   Do you try and find alternatives to the usual Christmas list demands?

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2. Winter allergies and what can help.

   Posted on 8:31pm Thursday 27th Oct 2016

   With a child that suffers from Asthma and a husband that suffers with nasal polyps, the change in the weather is always approached with some trepidation and we know from experience that allergies are not just reserved for the summer. A lot of people suspect they have hayfever but if you have symptoms during the winter, you haven't got hay fever, you may have an allergy to something other than pollen, such as pet fur or house dust mites.

   

   Pets are very often the cause of an allergic reaction, which is a histamine reaction that is usually characterised by coughing, wheezing, chest tightening, itching, nasal congestion, rash, watering eyes, sneezing, chapped lips, and similar symptoms.

   As winter approaches, our cat spends more time in the house and out of the cold but aside from banning the cat from the bedrooms, my husband has tried countless nasal sprays to try and ease the conjestion in his nose (and enable him to breathe easier to go to sleep) and traditional treatments for nasal allergy symptoms which typically include antihistamines or steroids never really seem to work.

   

   Unlike the types of treatments that need to be taken routinely or in advance of symptoms, we were asked to try Serenz, which is a hand-held device designed to quickly relieve symptoms associated with nasal allergies. Serenz uses only carbon dioxide, which we all know is part of the air you breathe and the best part is that Serenz works quickly against nasal allergy symptoms without causing drowsiness. The Serenz nasal spray is easy to use; all you need to do is simply turn the bottom of the product using the blue paddle to release the carbon dioxide. You then insert the product into your nostril and press the button for ten seconds and then repeat in the other nostril. 

   

    

   Serenz

   The size of the Serenz nasal spray is bigger than the ones usually available over the counter and it is not really pocket sized but when it works, this is irrelevant as the benefits far outweigh whether you can fit it in your pocket. 

   • Before you start taking a nasal spray, read the instructions that come in the box (although you don't need a prescription for Serenz)
   • Clear your nose by blowing into a tissue.
   • Take the dose as directed.
   • Take as often as directed.
   • Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you experience any side effects 

   My husband said that the initial sensation is not particularly pleasant but for a man that has suffered for many years, this is an acceptable discomfort for the relief it gives. 

   So if you want to try Serenz for yourself ...

   Buy Serenz here

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3. Pumpkin Week at Hatton World

   Posted on 5:04pm Monday 24th Oct 2016

   

   We make no secret of our love for Hatton World and we enjoyed their Water Wars over the summer so were delighted to be invited back for their annual Pumpkin Week in the run up to Halloween. Pumpkin Week runs from the 22nd to the 30th October 2016 and despite the weather turning colder, the constant stream of activities were enough to keep the chills away (unless you count the ghosts!)

   

   It was busy when we arrived so we would definitely advise to book in advance, not so much as the fact that you won't get in but more so that you don't have to queue with excited children who just want to go in search of "anything Halloween related".

   

   As usual, Hatton Adventure World go all out with their decorations and from the minute you step out of the car, you can see the pumpkin field and know that you are in for a good day. 

   The top activities are:

   • Agnes the Witch -  Join in with potion stirring and storytelling by Agnes the Witch - be sure to check the timetable for this though!
   • Haunted House - The thing we liked most about this is that they tailored it to age ranges .... making it a little scarier for the older children!
   • Jaspers Dilemma - We pre-booked our timeslot when we arrived and loved the magic show which is always sprinkled with a little bit of adult humour.
   • Free Pumpkin for every child - you just have to go through the field and find the perfect one.
   • Pumpkin carving

    

    

   

   We always have a range in ages in our party and this is the one thing that Hatton Adventure World is very good at, we managed to pet small animals but then keep the older girls amused (literally) by milking a cow. 

    

   We managed to squeeze in some of the other activities that we always enjoy at Hatton, such as the small fairground rides and the park but the girls were determined to seek out the best pumpkin and set about deciding how to go about it in a sea of pumpkins.

   

   Every child gets a pumpkin of their choice ....... be warned, apparently it can take aaaaaaaages to select the perfect one. You are given a green bag in which to carry your pumpkin, although we "may" have needed a replacement due to the sheer size of the pumpkin! We initially thought that the pumpkins had been placed there but we soon realised that we actually had to pick them ..... be careful as they can be a bit spiky!!

   

   We left our pumpkin selection till the end of the day and I am glad we did, I would not have fancied walking round the rest of the park with the weight of those pumpkins. Apparently I also now need to find a receipe for Pumpkin pie! (help me)

   

   Hatton Country World is a great family day out at any time of year but at Halloween it is really special. There is nothing better than getting out in a real pumpkin patch to choose your pumpkin. It is a day full of fun and fresh air. 

    

   As I said before, it really is better to book in advance as you not only get quicker entry but a better discount too. 

    

   Book 7 days in advance - 25% discount / Book 4 days  in advance - 17.5% discount / Book 1 day in advance - 7.5% discount

    

   Walk up tickets are available to purchase on the day from the admission kiosk at £15.95

   It is definitely a more fun way to get a pumpkin than popping to the supermarket. 

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4. The Mums Survival Guide to Half Term

   Posted on 4:48pm Sunday 23rd Oct 2016

   We have all had that moment when you look at the calendar and realise that it is somehow the end of the Autumn term – and it’s this week!  Panic sets in as you contemplate extra meals, extra activities and what to do with them when it rains, which it is sure to do.  But there’s no need to panic because there are some great ways to survive half term and here’s a few to get you started.

   

   Plan ahead even if its last minute.

   Just because we are in the half term week, doesn’t mean you have to abandon planning and wing it for the week.  Take a little time after the kids have gone to bed to do some research and get an idea about things to do for the week.

   Don’t forget to have back up plans to bring into use if something unexpected crops up.  You might want to go for a walk with the kids and the dogs to the local park and let them run off some steam – but what if it rains all week?  Have a list of indoor and outdoor activities and places to go to cover all eventualities.

   Local events

   Half term is a magnet for children-related events to take place and a quick search of your local area is bound to reveal plenty, especially around Halloween.  There are also lots of free ideas if you are working to a budget – museums with free entry that are having a half-term event are a classic example.  Many of the big museums around the country offer free entry for the whole family or for the kids so for the price of a single adult, you could keep them occupied all day.

   Some of the national cinema chains often have promotions on children’s films for half term and often have morning sessions where costs are much lower than normal.

   Jet off somewhere and escape the cold. 

   The Friday when school breaks up is usually known as the the "great getaway" with many families choosing to escape the wet and windy weather of Great Britain and indulge in some warmer climates but for the children, it has to work too. According to Booking.com, surviving a family holiday has more to do with social media than socialising for this generation.

   Today’s teens (12-15 year olds), put the impetus on social media and keeping in touch with friends at home while away. Specifically:

    * The majority (89%) of 12-15 year olds prioritised a strong Wi-Fi connection as essential

   * Having the chance to take cool photos for social media was important for nearly half (44%)

   * Staying near a pool or a beach and enjoying lots of activities were also ranked in the top five important factors

   * Conversely only a quarter (25%) of 12-15 year olds think it’s important to make friends with other children on holiday

   By contrast, 5-11 year olds are much more sociable and long for holidays by a cool pool or beach:

    * Staying near a pool/cool water slides (73%) or beach (58%) are deemed the two top priorities for children aged 5-11, followed by activities they can’t do at home (54%)

   * Playing with other children is important to nearly half (42%), while over a third would like to have all the ice cream they can eat on holiday (34%) and food that isn’t usually allowed at home (32%) 

   

   Let them stay up late

   Staying up late is a big treat in our house, so escaping the daily routine of the school run means that we don't have to be too regimented with half term bedtimes. If you are away over the half term (or even if you are not), letting the children stay up past bedtime "might" mean that you get a chance of a lie in too.

   Things to do at home

   If you are not able to jet off to sunnier climates, remember that you don’t need to spend the entire week racing madly from one event to another – you can simply have days in the house.  Take time to plot out something to do during those days so the inevitable “I’m bored” doesn’t surface.

   Baking is a great activity for parents and kids to do together and you don’t need to be Mary Berry to rustle up some little cakes.  Supermarkets have packets of ready to go cupcakes and other sweet treats that you and the kids can create that have almost guaranteed results.  Or you can be a little more adventurous and grab a recipe from Pinterest – don’t forget that it doesn’t have to be baking.  You and the kids could make a meal for whoever is at work or invite some friends around for a dinner party – this might appeal to older kids.

   Finally .....

   Don’t forget that you don’t have to fill every minute of half term with activities and places to go.  Let the kids have some time to simply play while you relax.  That way, you are more likely to survive half term and even enjoy the holiday!

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