Getting back into a school routine

After the school holidays of six week of should I say bliss or at least no rushing around.

I would say lie-ins, but since becoming a parent I have discovered that because my son wakes up so early there really is no such thing anymore.

However there is no rushing around like there is on a school day, and the routine can often be lost as you are more concerned in making sure you make the most of the school holidays and take a good well earned break from the norm of a school day.

“So how do you get back into a routine?”

We began to recreate the routine for Henry a week or so before the school returned, by making sure that the first thing he has is his breakfast, without any distractions, we get him dressed by half past seven, brush his teeth at about quarter to eight and between 7:45-8am get his shoes on and then get him ready to leave at about twelve minutes passed.

Once he has eaten his breakfast then he can play, watching a bit of TV or watch his tablet.

The other thing we did during the six weeks holiday, as he was due to move up a class and finds change often quite overwhelming, prepared him for the year ahead. Our sons school kindly created a little book going through the changes that will be happening in the year head, by showing who will be his new teacher, the one to one teachers who will be looking after him, his classroom, where he will be playing outside and where the toilets are etc. This has really helped.

The Book his teachers made for him to help get him ready for the new year ahead

The other thing we have done to prepare him for the school year ahead is getting him more familiar with the roads and knowing when to cross when to stop and to keep watching at all times for his safety as last year he wore reins to school as he did have the tendency to run off, but this year we didn’t want to use the reins and have him walk to school without them, and I got to say this has really worked.

I really thought he would kick off on the first day, being that he will be heading into a new entrance and new classroom, but so far not a murmur, and when he has completed his day without a fuss we give a little reward afterwards.

In his first week we then began to reintroduce him back into doing his homework after he has had his treat, again with no distractions and the homework includes doing a bit of writing or reading his book.

His homework books

Henry’s current reading book from school

I also made sure that we took him in his PE kit on Monday too. If you find it hard to get into the routine to start off with introducing the routine in gradually.

The other thing I would suggest is if your child’s school do Meet and Greet session where they tell you more about what is happening in your child’s school year then go, because this will help prepare you and and your child too, and with Henry’s one we got to see inside their classroom, so you get an idea of where they will be learning and what activities they will be doing.

Remember you can keep up to date with my blogs by following me on WordPress.com and if there is a topic you would like me to cover regarding parenting and I would love to hear of your getting back to school routine is, by commenting below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Advertisements

Six weeks of fun

It has been six weeks of fun, yes there have also been times where I have wanted to pull my hair out, but it still has been fun.

This year because we have been on a tight budget we have gone to parks and National Trust parks, which you do have to pay to get in, but it is a good price for what you get, and great places to have a picnic and explore.

There is a lovely little park near Motspur Park where there is a softplay cafe, paddling pool, climbing frame, swings and a basketball court.

Frenchan Park summer 2019

We also took Henry to Haven in Combe, which was huge, and not far from the Hastings, which we also spent sometime walking along the seafront, went on some rides and had some lunch.

The Holiday camp was huge, it was a Caravan Park, with a clubhouse, arcade, pub/restaurant, shop, playgrounds and indoor and outdoor pool.

Haven Combe Summer holidays 2019

Another great place we took Henry was to Bocketts Farm, which is not far from Leatherhead. Really great if you have a variety of children on different ages. They have indoor and outdoor play areas, lots of animals who you can touch, hold and feed, plus a cafe and picnic areas so you can have a spot of lunch too.

Bocketts Farm Summer holidays 2019

We also my husband and I took Henry to watch the local football team, Leatherhead FC. So if your children are into sport why not take them to their local football club to watch a game, even if it is lower league. With Leatherhead FC children under 8 go in for free.

So it is back to school and time to begin a new school year.

Remember if you would like to follow my blog then you can do so by clicking below and you also can contact me if you have a comment or would like to cover a topic regarding parenting by commenting below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Bed-wetting

Bed-wetting is very common in young children, and I am not afraid to admit I used to wet the bed too as a young child, as I would be often be too scared to go to the toilet on my own.

Now my son in experiencing the same, so I will go with him to help avoid the bed from getting wet.

Be patient with your child and remember it is just a phase that they will grow out of. If you feel there may be more of a problem to their bed-wetting then do seek medical support, as going from wearing nappies to not, can be a massive transition for your child especially at night time.

It has started to become less and less. There are bed mats you can buy to put on their bed, underneath their sheet to protect their mattress from getting wet. For us they have worked massively.

The ones we buy are from ASDA Little Angels, and are really good value for money.

Make sure you have spare bedding so you can easily change this over if wet. It may mean do a lot more washing of your bedding and bed clothes, but stick with it as now a few nights Henry, our son, hasn’t wet the bed at all, so do be persistent, and try the dream wee, so getting them up whilst a sleep and sitting them on a potty or toilet if not too far, and take them straight back to bed once they are done.

This has worked a treat, and try avoiding drinks an hour before bed time, but make sure they stay hydrated through out the daytime instead.

I hope you found this useful and if you have any questions then feel free to ask. You can comment below or fill out the form below, and remember to follow me on WordPress.com if you would like to read more of my blogs to come.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Preparing for a baby

Preparing for a baby can be mind boggling as there are so many different products out there, that it can be pretty overwhelming and lets face it expensive too.

Congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan, on their new addition, their baby boy, Archie. It’s time for those sleepiness nights and nappy changing, and life does change from this point forward.

I wish I had been more prepared, and one piece of advice I would give to parents to be, is to set up a hospital bag as soon as possible. If I had realised and done my research beforehand, I would have made sure I had everything I needed, as my waters breaking at 31 weeks was a shock.

The items you will need are:

• Baby wipes
• Breast pads
• Maternity pads
• Cotton wool balls
• Nappies
• Couple of baby clothes, babygrows and couple of vests, of different sizes just in case

Please don’t spend money on a fancy changing bag, any bag will do as long as it got a few compartments and can fit in your items.

Make sure you have a cot, preferably one that can be leveled down, as your baby grows and you have a baby monitor in case baby is sleeping in another room.

You can also purchase a baby chair which rocks the baby back and forwards, but not necessarily needed to begin with, but is up to you.

Get as much sleep as you can, as when the baby comes sleep deprivation can be tough and for my husband and I this was a culture shock, and took a lot of time to adjust.

Remember to enjoy your baby, and that the time flies by so try to make the most of each day, as before you know it they are starting school.

I wish I had been more relaxed and I think if I had prepared myself a lot more I would have been.

I hope you find this blog useful and remember if you would like to be kept up to date with my posts then you can do by following me on WordPress.com.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Limiting screen time for kids

Limiting screen time for kids can be tricky, as wherever you look people are watching their phones, laptops, tablets and TV’s.

However I do think it is important, to do other activities aswell as watching TV or his tablet.

We will go for a walk to the park, take Henry on a train or bus, do some reading or he will play out in the garden.

Having no technology for a few hours or so a day, can help all round, as we can get lost in our phones, as parents we need to be on high alert a lot of the time, so limiting screen for ourselves is important too, and sets a good example.

Here are 12 tips on how to limit your child’s screen time:

1. Set the example
2. Remember your the parent so you can set boundaries in terms of screen time
3. Set limited viewing times
4. Encourage other activities
5. Play with your kids
6. Check to see what they are watching
7. Set Parental control
8. observe child’s change in behaviour
9. If it is keeping them awake, limit screen time until 6pm
10. Have some family time, at meal times and going out for the day
11. No TV in bedrooms
12. Listen to the radio instead of the TV on some days

So I hope this has helped you, and remember to like this post if you did below, and remember to follow me on WordPress if you would like to kept up to date on my blogs.

If there are any topic regarding parenting you would like me to cover then please get in touch, by filling in the form below.

Kind regards,

Carrie x

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Message

Submit

12 toddler plane activities

Soon we will heading into a another half term, and then the summer holidays, and if you are going on holiday and flying this year, then here are 12 toddler plane activities, how to entertain a child on a flight.

Soon we will taking Henry on his first ever flight and I will be honest I am pretty nervous about it, but something I feel I am ready to do.

Please watch this video below by The Hidden Gem.

It can be tricky but sitting Henry down for long period at a time, so we going to do a small short flight this year to see how he likes it.

Please if you liked this blog then please click below, and remember you can keep up to date with my posts by following me on WordPress.com.

If you have any topics you would like me to cover then please let me know by filling in the contact form below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Message

Submit

5 Products I’d recommend

There many products I’d recommend to parents, but as parent we can become easily become overwhelmed by choice, so I have picked 5 that stand out for me:

1.Bibs with sleeves brilliant to use whilst weaning and helps having to keep washing their clothes as let’s face it, what child doesn’t get messy during meal times?

2. School bottles non spill and great for taking water out and about, and to school

3. Rubber dice, great for rolling, counting and building. If them they aren’t so hard like wooden building blocks

4. Photo books, great way to get them talking and sharing with others of memories. You can create one from your phone using your Google images

5. Easel. Great for drawing and sticking magnetic letters on, to help practice making words and drawing pictures.

 

 

Do you have a product you’d recommend to parents. Get in touch by commenting below or fill out the feedback form.

If you would like to stay updated about my blogs then remember to subscribe and follow me via WordPress.com

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Message

Submit

5 tips on how to keep kids entertained

Keeping kids entertained can be tricky but just the simplest of ideas can bring the most entertainment.

Here’s five tips on how to keep kids entertained.

1. Pack of balloons

What child doesn’t like balloon. My son can play with a balloon all day. Why not play with them and see how long you can keep the balloon up in the air for. Try not let it touch the ground.

2. Crafts

All you need is card, colour pencils or crayons some bits of cloth or lolly pop sticks, glue and stickers.

3. Explore the Garden or take them to a local common or park 

Kids love being outdoors and what best way to do take advantage and create a checklist so they have to find a twig, a leaf or a flower. 

If you leave or take them to the seaside, why not look for certain types of pebbles and shells. 

4. Flash cards

These are brilliant and Henry will ask to do these as we use these as part of Henry’s homework.

They have pictures, letters and words

5. Cleaning

Give them a duster or a cloth and make a game to see how many things they can clean in a minute or so and set a timer.

If you have any tips then please share in the comments below or fill out my feedback form below.

Please click like button below if you liked this blog and remember to subscribe and follow me on WordPress.com

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Message

Submit

What to do with your kids during the Easter Holidays

What should you do during the Easter holidays?

Well why not create an Easter egg hunt, just get a load of chocolate foiled eggs, which you can get from your local supermarket and hide them in the house or garden and create clues as to where the eggs could be, and you can get the whole family involved.

Or you can visit some places in your area for local Easter egg hunts near you. Check this website link below for details:

https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/blog/easter-egg-hunts-near-you

Why not take a trip up to London, last year we visited the London Aquarium, the London Dungeon, Shreks Adventure or go on the London Eye. They are really great activities but do book in advance as they do get fully booked during these holidays.

You have Dungeons in other areas like Blackpool and Edinburgh. There also other Sealife centres aswell, in Manchester, Weymouth, Brighton, Blackpool, Gweek and Lock Lomond.

Remember in Blackpool you can visit the Blackpool Tower where they have the circus and usually they will do an Easter show, and Weymouth Tower (Jurassic Skyline).

If the weather is sunny and warm, why not take a trip along the River Thames and visit some of the top UK attractions like Hampton court, or central London, take a river boat cruise up to Tower Bridge and back.

Why not go to a Theme Park and book a break away, they are doing deals at Chessington World of Adventures at the moment, where kids go free, check out the link below for details:

https://www.chessingtonholidays.co.uk/offers/kids-play-free.html?adcode=CHUK-S-CH-ALL&agent=CHW09&utm_content=Kids_Play_Free_2019&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG10OWXRNgu6mCvpik9US1FUBcfu4Din3HudRhhDNssToKTbucF9MzooaAnbiEALw_wcB

Legoland Windsor is my favourite out of all the theme parks and they’re doing an offer too during the Easter Holidays if you wanted to book a break away. Check out link below:

https://www.legolandholidays.co.uk/events/easter-breaks.html?adcode=LLUK-S-LLH-ALL&agent=LH453&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG11lBilt10T9gHSn6ewmalOnbhcYMlB7AyfInmkK0GG6YDGepvND_u4aAjz-EALw_wcB

If you are on a limited budget then fear not, there are still places to go for free, like the Museums in Kensington in London, like the Science Museum, the V&A and Natural History museum. Or take them to the Transport Museum up near Covent Garden.

Take them to see Buckingham Palace and have picnic in St Jame’s park, Green Park or Hyde Park and check out Kensington Gardens, where you can see the luxurious Kensington Palace, where Prince William and Kate live.

There are many activities to do at home too, like take them to a local park and create an Easter Egg hunt there and make a party of it, and invite your children friends to come and join in.

Create some activities at home, like get them to paint some eggs in different colours using children’s paint, and why not use some child friendly glue and get them to create some Easter cards, and pictures.

Here is a video by Emily Norris who share’s some activities to do on a rainy day.

Never fear there is always plenty to do, so why not try these out and just have fun, and remember if you liked my blog then please subscribe and follow me on WordPress.con

If you have anything you would like me to write about in regards to parenting then please contact me via my feedback form below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Message

Submit

Preventing Tantrums and meltdowns

Every now and again our little ones can turn into little monsters. When Henry has a tantrum it usually because he wants something but gets frustrated when he can’t get what he wants or because I am guilty of looking at my phone a lot when he is trying to grab my attention.

This brings me to tip 1

Put devices away and give them the attention they are after, I am forever guilty of paying attention to Youtube than to Henry so I give him the attention he needs .

Try and see things from their point of view as a lot of the time it is because we aren’t looking it at from their perspective and they are just being annoying, there is nothing worse when trying to talk to someone and they are typing on their phone or tablet.

Preventing a tantrum can be tricky but once you can notice the triggers then you can help put them at bay.

Tip 2 Create a space where they can calm down, or time to chill out and do their own thing.

Example if it is sunny outside and light outside now we are coming into spring we will let Henry, our son play and let of some steam in the garden.

Tip 3 Let treats be treats and not something they get just for the sake of it. For example if Henry has behaved at school and does his homework he can have a Kinder egg.

Tip 4 If it is frustration then get down to their level and try to go through what it is by communicating effectively by asking and pointing to things what it might be that is upsetting them. Henry for example doesn’t like it when we open packets for him, he wants to do it himself so we let him, but stand by to offer assistance should he need it. Show them what they need to do rather than tell.

See blogpost I have written in the link below: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/2019/03/14/teaching-our-kids-everyday-tasks/

Tip 5 If you see they are about to explode into to range or the begin to stamp their feet in anger, reinforce good behaviour and try to keep calm yourself, the last thing you need is you both having a tantrum, and if you need a bit of time out, or they do allow them that time.

Lastly remember tantrums don’t last forever and at some point in our lives we all want to have a good old explosion so allow them to express themselves, ignoring doesn’t always work neither does shouting, or smacking so try and avoid these actions the best you can.

I hope you found this helpful, and if want to keep up to date with my blog then you can do so by subscribing and following me on wordpress.com, plus you can contact me should you have any questions by commenting below or filling in my feedback form, see link below:

https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/feedback/

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X