Category: School Days

1. Is it cool to be clever?

   Posted on 5:32pm Wednesday 5th Oct 2016

   Both of my girls have settled into school now and both finding their way in their new surroundings. It is interesting to see new friendships being made and how once upon a time my eldest daughter wanted to be known for being the best in her class but now is just as interested in being cool.

   We all have some friends that are confident, sassy, composed as well as friendly. Such people come under the “cool” category but it seems that every pre-teen wants to follow the trends that can make them look like the coolest person on earth. Let's be honest though, you are a cool person if you are happy with the things you have and are confident as well as optimistic. You don’t have to go through detailed books to learn the characteristics of a cool person. It’s the small things that can make you look cool.

    

   Being yourself

   Being yourself is enough to make you the centre of attraction. A cool person never hesitates while expressing his or her views. It seems that you are considered a cool person if you pay no heed to people’s opinion about you.

   Social

   Being social is a quality not everyone is born with. However, most people develop their social skills with time. A cool person tends to make new friends and are more forgiving. People love being with them most of the time.

   Humorous

   Humour and a cool person go side by side. A cool person knows how to break the ice or ease the tensed situation. They can even look cool when they joke about the bad things that happened to them.

   So ...... Cool v Clever?

   Being clever is a quality that enables you to turn the things around and it isn't always about getting top marks in a maths test. One of the main characteristics of being clever is the ability to think creatively. Cleverness makes you capable of analysing the situations and acting accordingly. It is a driving force that helps you solve problems more quickly.

   Speak last

   A clever person usually speaks after listening to others. They are clever because they evaluate others opinions before giving their own. They have the capability to analyse the aspects of discussion.

   Problem solvers

   A person that knows the tactics to solve a problem is no doubt a clever person. He or she usually follow the simple and clever solutions to sort out an issue.

   Confident

   You usually find that that clever people are generally positive, and that’s what stimulates the confidence in them.

   Can you be both cool and clever?

   Most people think that being cool and clever require two different versions of a personality that cannot be merged. Each possess their own characteristics and personally I am a firm believer in that you can be cool AND clever at the same time.

   In the end, I will be teaching my girls that you can create the same uber cool and expensive MAC mascara look with the more cost effective Maybelline version but the cool and clever girl will have enough money left over to buy herself a book too!

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2. Back To School : School Reviewer

   Posted on 11:52am Wednesday 7th Sep 2016

   And breathe.,

   The kids are "almost" all back to school and the summer holidays are officially over. I have to admit that I fall into the category of mums that gets really sad when the start of term is looming, I adore having the girls at home over the summer and whilst there is no doubt it puts more pressure on my purse strings, I love not having the madness of the school run and the daily regime.

   

   That said, this year has brought new adventures with new schools for both girls. My eldest had her SATS at the end of Year 6 and (without entering the proud parent realms too much) did exceptionally well so starts her senior school at a high level, which I obviously want her the maintain. I am forever telling her that knowledge is power and learning will give her options in the future. From a parents perspective, I am always trying to make the best decisions for my girls, which is why I was delighted to find www.schoolreviewer.co.uk which is the one site that empowers parents with the knowledge that they are doing all they can to ensure their child’s educational journey is as happy, fulfilling and as rewarding as they can possibly make it.

   I am a big stat geek so I love that School Reviewer is the only site in the UK that not only gives parents the invaluable stats and knowledge about every UK school at every level. There are presently 41,826 establishments on record within the School Reviewer database and they have detailed profiles, academic data and OFSTED reports for most of these. All that information in one place! But that is not all, it also ....

   • Identifies which homes fall into which catchment areas.
   • Allows parents to talk with other parents on school forums, both individually as single schools and nationally.
   • Is the only site with walk through question by question downloadable videos for GCSE math’s, SATS and 11+ papers.
   • Is recruiting tutors for free to create the biggest and most trusted tutor site for parents in the UK.
   • Is the only one to show how a 100% A+ grade can be scored on all papers. (Wow!!)

   Getting the right education is important for our children but as parents new schools, new uniform and new areas can be just as daunting, so having a forum is a great place to buy and sell school uniform and find like minded parents in your area. The School Reviewer "Parents Forum" opens up an avenue for parents to interact and discuss a whole range of topics and this isn't restricted to your local area, you can chat to parents regionally or nationally, which is a really interesting feature.

   Education is a journey for both the children and us as parents (this is without mentioning the fear that descends when we are asked to help with some of the homework) so having a resource to help you and your child is a winner in my book. But don't take my word for it, go and take a look for yourself .....

     

    

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3. Talking to your child’s teacher about asthma

   Posted on 11:11am Tuesday 9th Aug 2016

   We have spoken openly about asthma and the affect it has on us as a family, so we have been working closely with Asthma UK about children starting school and are therefore delighted to share this information on their behalf.

    

   You know the location of every spare inhaler within a five-mile radius. You know exactly when the neighbour’s birch trees start releasing their pollen. Even before your child starts to wheeze, you know the signs that their asthma symptoms are getting worse.

    

   You are an expert at your child’s asthma – and it still catches you out. So it’s understandable to be nervous at the thought of handing them over to a new teacher on the first day of the school year.

    

   Make sure you’re all on the same page

    

   Lots of parents tell us that they worry about leaving their child with other people – and it’s a fact that children are much more likely to go to hospital with their asthma in September than in August. But there are things you can do to make sure that you and your child’s school are working together to reduce the risk.

    

   Sharing and talking through your child’s asthma action plan with the school is a great start. At a glance, a teacher or classroom assistant can see exactly what they need to do if your child starts feeling worse. And because it’s personalised to your child, you know they’ll get exactly the treatment they’ve been prescribed. If your child doesn’t have one yet, ask your GP or asthma nurse, or download an asthma action plan here. Your GP can help you update the action plan every six months to make sure it includes any new triggers or changes to their medicines.

    

   Prepared, not pushy

    

   Parents sometimes tell us that they worry about being seen as ‘pushy’ or over-protective if they speak to their child’s teacher about their asthma. But more than a million children in the UK are affected by asthma – so the odds are that there’ll be a couple in your child’s class. A few minutes’ discussion could help your child AND their classmates to stay well, and make sure they don’t miss out.

    

   Every child’s asthma is different, but asking a few key questions can help you make sure the school is prepared.

    

    

    

   Keep lines of communication open

    

   It’s not just about the start of term, though. Starting the conversation about your child’s asthma now makes it easier to update teachers during the year – for example, if your child is more tired during the day because symptoms have kept them up at night. And teachers can feed back to you too: maybe your child benefits from the warm, humid air of the swimming pool.

    

   We’ve collected more back-to-school tips from asthma experts and other parents at www.asthma.org.uk/back-to-school - you can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    

   And if you’re concerned about  your child’s medicines, feeling under pressure or have a question you’ve always wanted to ask, call the Asthma UK Helpline. Our friendly asthma expert nurses are on the line Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm – just call 0300 222 5800.

    

   Thank you Little LilyPad for donating this space to Asthma UK – we wish ALL parents and children a happy and healthy new term.

    

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4. No School Run: Enjoy the Benefits of the Summer Holidays

   Posted on 9:08pm Thursday 4th Aug 2016

   We’ve all been there, that feeling of impending doom when we realise that the children’s summer holidays have again crept up on us unannounced, followed by a sense of panic as you wonder just what you’re going to do with your children over the six weeks’ holiday.

   When we have children, it’s easy to build up a routine, so when the summer holidays do raise their head, it can seem like there’s so much to consider. I have a theory about this and make a consicous decision that the summer holidays don’t have to be associated with stress and panic.

   

   Children Don’t Worry About Money, So Neither Should You

   During the holidays, it’s not unusual to have a series of requests fired off at you, all more expensive than the last. Instead of buckling under the pressure and turning the summer holidays are a financial commitment, think of some free alternatives that can be allow children to spread their wings.

   Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a day out at the zoo or amusement park, but children only need two things to prosper outside, and that’s space and freedom. So if you have a local park, make full use of its facilities. A big park nearby, then why not schedule a picnic?

   The summer holidays are not about how much money you’re able to spend on your children, but how much quality time you can instil into the school holidays. As such, children are very rarely going to hold you to account as to how much their day out cost.

   Just Go with The Flow

   When the children are off school, it’s very easy to try and come up with some sort of schedule to ensure the children are fully entertained at all times. However, while having a number of activities prepared can only be a good thing, try not to instil a heavy schedule onto the children themselves.

   Of course, ensure you still employ your own rules around the home as you normally would, but remember children are having a break, so the last thing they need is more schedules to contend with.

   Instead, why not have a few days where you watch some family films, or have them lounge in a paddling pool in the garden?

   Remember, just because you may not be doing what other parents are doing from a financial point of view, it doesn’t mean that your children are enjoying themselves any less. Children are programmed to have fun, it’s a default setting and a child can make fun of almost any situation as long as they are given the tools.

   Enjoy!

   The summer holidays are not only for your children to enjoy some relaxing time, but also for parents to spend some real quality time with their children, that’s just not possible when they’re attending school. As such, you should ensure that you enjoy the time as much as your children do. This state of mind not only allows for greater clarity, but it also ensures that you are not left exhausted and stressed by the thought of it all. 

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