Usually it is after the winter holidays and when the New Year begins that we give some thought to where we are in life and if we want to make any changes or resolutions. However, autumn and the new school year are as good a time as any to take new classes, learn new skills and hobbies, or even launch an exciting business venture.
Read more"Hooray for Half-term!" shout the kids, while parents everywhere hesitate and groan. Just when life had settled into a routine and we were beginning to get used to dressing for work and school, the days flew past and half-term stares us in the face. However, there is no need to fear, for there are many exciting and inexpensive ways to entertain children of all ages. Whatever you decide to do, reme...
Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed your baby, however it comes with many challenges, and is not as straight forward as it may seem. Depending on how the childbirth experience went, some women are not able to feed their babies straight away, which will in turn affect their milk supply.
Summer can be a very expensive time for families, especially those with multiple children. The childcare expenses, holidays, and days out all quickly add up. With several countries still having Covid restrictions, if you are not travelling abroad, there is still lots of fun to be had in the UK for a staycation!
Enrolling your child in an early years setting is a big transition for both parents and children. This may be the first time they have to be apart and it can be daunting for both. Giving parents the peace of mind that their child will be receiving the best of care and ensuring that children are safe and have an environment where they can explore, imagine and be creative.
The temptations of junk food and fast food aimed at children are constantly around us. As parents, our role is to model healthy eating habits for our children to ensure they have the knowledge to lead a healthy lifestyle.
There is no doubt that the pandemic, coupled with lockdown restrictions, affected the mental health of a great majority of the population. As restrictions are now easing, we need to ensure that we take care of our mental health to ensure that we are prepared for this next phase with a sound body and mind.
While many are eagerly waiting for the days lockdown restrictions are lifted, for some Life after lockdown may feel uncomfortable. In lockdown, we had an opportunity to be comfortable, we spent time with our families, we played board games, and made fun arts and craft activities. We tried new recipes and had all of our meals together.
Good oral hygiene is an important practice that parents need to be aware of from their child’s birth. This will ensure that their child is being set up for life- long oral hygiene, prevention of tooth decay, infections, and other dental problems. Public Health England revealed that in 2019, 23% of 5 year olds in the UK have had dental decay. This costs the NHS almost £40 million ...
While many are eagerly waiting for the days lockdown restrictions are lifted, for some Life after lockdown may feel uncomfortable. In lockdown, we had an opportunity to be comfortable, we spent time with our families, we played board games, and made fun arts and craft activities. We tried new recipes and had all of our meals together.
The Coronavirus Pandemic undoubtedly caused immeasurable loss, grief and took an immense toll upon the world’s population like nothing we have ever experienced. While many struggled with the sudden isolation, some sought comfort in being secluded in their homes. Getting back into the “normal” routine may not seem so familiar anymore. However, on the flip side, the seasonal ...
The coronavirus has changed our lives in a number of ways, and one of the most drastic changes has taken place in the way we work. Large swathes of the population are now working from home, and research from Direct Line* suggests that this trend is set to continue once life returns to normal (with 13 million Brits set to request permanent flexible hours). For many of these workers, working from ho...
The coronavirus has changed our lives in a number of ways, and one of the most drastic changes has taken place in the way we work. Large swathes of the population are now working from home, and research from Direct Line suggests that this trend is set to continue once life returns to normal (with 13 million Brits set to request permanent flexible hours). For many of these workers, working from hom...
While many of us find ourselves unemployed or furloughed, now is the perfect time to reassess our career goals or seek a new career path. With extra time on hand, it is a good idea to upskill your talents, or learn a new trade.
The Coronavirus Lockdown has been without a doubt, challenging times for all parents, however even more so for single parents who have nobody to share household and childcare responsibilities with. Being alone with a child, or multiple children 24/7, without a break can take a toll on a parent’s mental health. In this blog, we will look at some ways parents can work around the challenges. Re...
With so many parents stuck trying to work from home while also home-schooling their children, it makes it difficult to be on top of all aspects of our lives. Many families we spoke to found it challenging to ensure they stay active as well as eat healthy food. In this blog we offer some suggestions how families can encourage healthy eating habits among all family members as well as stay active.
With restrictions gradually easing after 3 months of Lockdown, many of us have had to survive without anything that is not essential. While it is important to help the economy and support local businesses when we can, not everyone may have the financial resources to do that, as many families have been hit financially. With that in mind, here are some ways to control spending in life after Lo...
Some people may find the sudden isolation suffocating and the silence deafening, and this will evoke all sorts of thoughts and feelings. Remember, this is only a temporary measure and soon life will get back to normal. But in the meantime, it is important to feel content with your surroundings.
How to Support Your Mental Well-being while in Lockdown
Every school may have a different approach to expectations during Lockdown. Some schools are conducting live lessons online and children are expected to be present and participate. Check with your children’s teachers to find out what homework or projects they have been given, how it is to be submitted and when it is due by. Prioritise your children’s schedule by ensuring they do ...
Home schooling children during the lockdown will look different for every family and depend on different circumstances. In the age of social media, we can easily fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to our friends and invoke feelings of inadequacy of how we are handling things in our own homes. Parents who must work full time will not have the luxury of time to devote to colour coded schedule...
Home schooling Children during Lockdown
Home schooling: An alternative approach
Father’s Day around the world is meant to be a joyous day celebrating dads who sacrifice for their families and to acknowledge them for their positive role and influence in raising a family. For some families headed by a single mother, this can be a difficult day full of mixed emotions such as anger and grief, as it serves as a reminder of unpleasant past events. For four years s...
How to Throw a Simple, Budget-Friendly Birthday Party for Your Child
My family was in the middle of a move when I had the big ultrasound appointment at St. George'sHospital. I left my husband and 2 year old son at home with the movers while I headed alone to myappointment. In those initial weeks of my pregnancy, I felt a sense of heaviness that I had not feltwith my son, so I would joke with my husband that I think I'm having twins. So much so that I hadstarted to ...
Expecting a child with a physical or mental disability can be an emotional experience. The worries and questions you may be experiencing are all normal. However, you can calm many of your anxieties by making the right adjustments for your new life with a special needs child. Here are some important steps to take to get ready for your new role as a parent.
My name is Stella and I have been a single mum for 9 years. I have been raising my three childrenalone without any support family members. My beautiful children are 11, 4, and 2 years old. Thepast 3 years have been extremely difficult for me. I lost my home, my work, and my father passedaway. I had no family support, no income and no benefits. I would have to go to the food bank tofeed my kids.Wit...
Moving to a new neighbourhood is challenging, even more so if it is a new country as well. The fact that all of my family and friends were across the ocean did not help the situation. Soon after that, being a new parent was another challenge that had to be faced. However, as I reflect on this journey a decade and a half later, with five children, it seems there are a few things that helped me not ...
What is your ideal holiday with the children? Do you imagine relaxing on the beach or camping innature? Do you want to meet your relatives back home or visit your ancestral homeland? Or do youwant to use it as a learning opportunity to teach your children valuable lessons about the world? It isgreat travelling to developing countries with your children and it is not as hard as you may think!Before...
Moving to a new neighbourhood is challenging, even more so if it is a new country as well. The fact that all of my family and friends were across the ocean did not help the situation. Soon after that, being a new parent was another challenge that had to be faced. However, as I reflect on this journey a decade and a half later, with five children, it seems there are a few things that helped me not ...
What is your ideal holiday with the children? Do you imagine relaxing on the beach or camping innature? Do you want to meet your relatives back home or visit your ancestral homeland? Or do youwant to use it as a learning opportunity to teach your children valuable lessons about the world? It isgreat travelling to developing countries with your children and it is not as hard as you may think!Before...
How to Practice Self-Care with a Newborn
How to Practice Self-Care with a Newborn
Stacy, Crazy mum of three
How my Birth Experiences Inspired me to Found Tranquil Birth Hypnobirthing & Post Natal
Preparing For Parenthood: Six Ways Disabled Parents Can Get Ready
If you’re a single dad, you already know how hard it can be. If you’re about to embark on the journey - whether by choice or circumstance - you’ve probably heard that you have a difficult road ahead. While this is certainly true, it’s important to remember that the path is also rewarding - maybe the most rewarding path you could ever take. Every single dad faces their own s...
When people think of networking, they envision a formal event with important and wealthy businesspeople. However, networking is more than simply attending events. Its purpose is to make contacts. As the saying goes, “It is not what you know, but who you know.”
Many kids these days are computer literate before they even start school. It seems that everywhere we look, there are new ways for young people to get online. For some parents, this can be frustrating when it’s hard to get their children to focus on school work, but in some cases, your kids can actually benefit from going online.
International Women’s Day began as a movement for women’s suffrage. The earliest instance was in 1909 in New York as women were demanding the right to vote. In 1910, a woman called Clara Zetkin from Germany came up with the idea of an International Women’s Day. She organised a conference of 100 women from 17 countries so that women could collectively fight for their rights. Thus,...
As a working mother, it can be very exhausting and overwhelming to manage a career, household, and children all at the same time. The slightest shake up to the routine or a last-minute emergency is bound to make your stress and panic go into overdrive. How can a working mum stay on top of things to ensure that each day goes as smoothly and calmly as possible?
Being a single parent is one of the hardest jobs there is, and it can be overwhelming even on a good day. Fulfilling all the tasks associated with being head of the household while making sure your children are safe, happy and well taken care of can lead to quite a bit of stress, so it’s important to find healthy ways to cope and focus on your mental health.
Help and Support For New Mums
A question many mothers may ask when going back to work is whether it is possible to find a job which is compatible with their childrens’ schooling and how does the law protect them in matters concerning flexibility to balance their work and home life. It may appear a rather daunting task to find an employer who will be accommodating when it comes to matters regarding the children, lim...
Protecting children’s identities online
Parents are often faced with managing a busy schedule including job related responsibilities, household duties, and raising their children. These demands occasionally result in parenting stress, which is stress associated with being a parent. Parenting stress is associated with both parenting behaviors and child adjustment. Numerous studies have shown that parents who report higher levels of ...
Diet is even more important in babies and small children as their bodies and brains are still developing. Because they are so small, they are much more vulnerable to some of the harmful chemical effects from food.
Starting school can be very scary for children so preparing your child for school is essential to make the transition a little bit easier for your child, below are five ways you can get your child ready for school.
They call it the “Terrible Twos” but toddler tantrums can start at any age. You’ll know the signs soon enough – the screaming, the shaking and the rolling on the floor. It can be upsetting for parents, but here are 10 tips to deal with a tantrumming toddler – and avoiding the tears yourself.
There are many parents who struggle with their children being picky eaters, this can be a very frustrating and emotional for both parents and the child. This blog will provide tips for how you can try to slowly get your children to start eating again!
There are many parents who would love to adopt however do not believe they have the right qualities or do not know how or where to start, this blog will briefly inform you on how easy it can be to become an adoptive parent.
For many single parent families, food is one of the biggest weekly expenses. It’s scary to think how much we spend on food, drink, snacks and treats, but is there a way to cut food bills down to size without cutting out your favourite foods?
Facebook is a social network which lets you create a page about yourself. You can add friends, write on people’s pages, share photos and videos including live videos. Facebook Messenger allows you to instant message in group chats or one to one. Facebook allows live streaming.
The internet is amazing. Children can play, learn, create and connect - opening up a whole world of exciting possibilities. But with the digital world changing all the time, how can you make sure your child’s staying safe?
Are school holidays hurting your business?
An NHS guide for parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years with lots of useful hints and tips from experts in child health including hospital specialists, doctors, health visitors and pharmacists. Download the FREE app and watch the video online here >> http://www.ellisonviewsurgery.nhs.uk/links/medical-advice-for-parents-of-children-under-5/
Here are NCT's top ten tips on managing life with two under two…
More and more pre-schoolers are using their parents’ computers, smartphones or tablets to play games, use apps, and watch their favourite TV shows. There are simple things you can do to make sure they’re using the internet safely.
Last year, with much fanfare, the government announced their new deal for parents: 30 hours of free childcare for “hardworking families”. This is double the 15 hours currently provided for three and four-year olds. In addition, two-year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds will now be offered 15 hours of free childcare.
On paper, it may appear that parents receive a wealth of support from agencies, local groups and charities. But, research shows that parents often feel isolated and lacking in the information that can support their family.
