So it is half term here in the UK and my son has gone to his holiday club, and then we off to a cat cafe and book swimming, but there are other things you can do so check this weeks Cheat Sheet for inspiration.
Please let me know if you like these cheat sheets, and I enjoying putting then together to share ideas of having fun and stress free, and are completely free to download and print off.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie Challoner
Thank you for following me on this blog and so pleased that you like my blogs and I hope they are helping you. There is no manual when it comes to kids, and it can be demanding but enjoyable too. My son has such a personality that I do find it hard to tell him of sometimes because he does make me laugh.
With Henry he loves to make me laugh and he can get super hyperactive but just loves having fun and can be hard to get him to settle down. He does have ADHD and so it managing his concentration, and he can get over excited, but his laugh is infectious and is such a character.
I want to build his confidence in himself and encourage him to talk about where he has been and what we did and who we met, and it just helps with proper conversation.
I did write a blog a while ago talking about building kids social skills: Kids and Social skills
It is important because I don’t want Henry to feel self conscious about talking to others like I was, and encourage him to be able to have a good chat with someone, whether it be other children and adults.
Then there is playing games and sports. Today we for the first time this year played out in the garden, so tomorrow going to make sure I have better clothes on to play, as I had a jumper dress on and so need to wear something a bit more practical so if I get muddy I don’t care and helps to use up his energy. When a child still has loads of energy I find it is a lot trickier to have quiet time and settle in the evening, so being active in the morning, at school and early evening when it is still light outside can really help with that, and have a good sleep ready for the next day.
At the weekend my son made Lemon Drizzle cake with Grandpa and he had his apron and hat on that I bought him for Easter check out this picture that I posted on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq5ZUntNgLI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
I have written a blog about building kids skills: Spending time with my son and building his skills and if they are interested in what you are doing then show them as one day they will need to (an example) cook for themselves and make their own meals and like cooking it can really help them be healthy and making good choices, when it comes to food.
These things are a way to build their memories . It will help with their conversations at school and talk about what he did and inspire other kids to do the same. Kids can learn a lot from others children so if you can have playdates or join a club of some kind can really help with that. I remember my friend Hayley who would have a tidy bedroom unlike mine and it encouraged me to tidy it up and riding a bike came from learning from the kids I played out with on the housing estate I grew up on.
My son learned from his friend Nell on riding his bike and that is where their social skills improve and the more interaction they have the better.
They also like repetitive learning I call it, where you have a structure that they do each day to develop their habits, and become normality like reading each day at the same time on the same day. Each Sunday when my son is back to school on the Monday do his homework and in the morning, we will also go for a walk each morning on a Sunday except of when he is unwell which happened recently, but then we had cuddle time watching the TV to wind down for the evening and my son still loves a story before bed and make sure in the mornings he and I have breakfast.
By doing these things it helps them to continue these habits on and important teach them to wake up properly in the mornings and be refilled with a good amount of energy. My son has lots so we will travel somewhere and explore. Often when we travel back by train we will sit on the platform to watch the trains before we leave the station and so having fun is important as well as life skills for him to see different things and meet other children.
Getting kids involved with everyday living will help them build their life and experiences. Making the most of each day and be fearless. I hate now that I am scared of heights because there was a time I wasn’t and yes, going on a rollercoaster can be dangerous but it can also be fun too, and would like to go a plane again and go and visit a country abroad and be my sons first trip on a plane so going to save money to do that and go on more train rides, to visit different places in the UK.
So lets see if that happens. If you have any tips or there are topics about parenting you’d like me to write about then please leave a comment below.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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
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
So yesterday we (my husband and I) were spoken to by one of the teachers at my sons school, because our son has been pinching other children.
The one thing they are trying to install which we are starting to do at home is say to our son Kind hands and Kind feet. We don’t pinch other children because it hurts and not nice for his friends when he pinches them.
We do use time out, I will give Henry a warning and then if he continues to misbehave I will put him in his bedroom for time out, and explain to him that this is not good, and his behaviour is making me sad, not happy.
This does tend to work, and today he would’t put on his shoes. I did tell him off, because he just was for no reason was refusing to put them on. So I explained to him firmly that this is not good and his behaviour is not acceptable and that he needs to put on his shoes otherwise we can’t go to school. I did let him know he was making me sad, and he reacted to this by wanting to give me a hug and then he let me put his shoes and socks.
Shouting and ranting doesn’t in my book work, and makes you look like you are having a tantrum which can cause their (the child’s) behaviour to get worse. So staying calm but being firm is the key to handling bad behaviour. Usually with the same with biting it can be a sign the are trying to communicate, our son does get frustrated when he feels he can’t put his point across, however he still needs to understand that pinching is not the way to go about it, and it has to stop.
Children will misbehave, and it is how you react and respond that can make all the difference.
If you need to leave the room to count to ten do so, as sometimes it can get too much. It can feel like there is no resolution, but remember it won’t last forever and that it is just a fly in the moment thing and it will pass.
Here are some quick tips to help difficult behaviour:
If you have any questions or need support when it comes to parenting then why not get in contact with me via my form on my feedback page and I will provide some information and give as much support as I can.
https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/feedback/
I hope you find this useful, and many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
I wasn’t sure how to begin this blog as it is a very controversal subject as a lot of women suffer with Post Natal Depression and are frightened of saying anything like I did, because I thought people could see that I couldn’t cope.
I still have days where I struggle as a parent and wish I had a magic wand to fix it.
I wish I had Mary Poppins powers and could click my fingers and my son would be fed and ready for school, instead of having to fight nail and teeth to get him to get dressed.
I did cry a lot when my son was first born and this really went on for a long time and I felt like I was getting it all wrong. I found it hard when Henry started biting, hitting and pinching because he found it hard to communicate properly. At the time I didn’t realize that, that was a sign he was trying to communicate.
My Post Natal Depression went undiagnosed, and it was only later on that my world turned upside down and now I am on medication.
I hope this helps whom may going through the same emotions, and to let you know you aren’t on your own in any way, and there is help out there.
If you feel isolated and alone, then do talk to someone, but the worst thing is to stay silent and not say anything at all. I did feel suicidal on some days and that wasn’t to be selfish but because I felt I couldn’t do this, and felt like a failure.
I felt like I had no control over certain situations at times, and felt totally out of my depth, but I got through it and so can you. I still plan my days but I am lot more laid back than before, but still there are times where I feel I just can’t cope, so I take a step back and breath.
I have found meditation to really help. There is an APP called Headspace and it teaches you about meditation and I have been doing this everyday, and it has really helped control the mind and be at peace with myself.
Don’t get me wrong it isn’t about a quick fix but taking time to be mindful and give yourself some self care time, to stop the struggle that parenthood can bring, even if it is taking a nice hot bubble bath, washing your hair or getting your hair done at a salon, it can really make a huge difference to your well-being, and make you feel better about yourself.
Check out this link below which is another blog by a mum who also suffered with Postnatal Depression:
http://oc87recoverydiaries.org/postnatal-depression
If you would like to kept up to date with my blogposts on this site, then please subscribe and follow me on WordPress.com.
Should you need support from me should you be suffering from post natal depression, then please contact me, i’ll b happy to help all you need to do is feel in my feedback form and I will keep information confidential and will help as much as I can.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
Please see my new Mother and Baby chat video where I share details of how my son is getting on at school and what to do if you have concerns about their development.
If you have any topics you wish for me to cover in my next Mother and Baby Chat video coming soon, then please get in contact my commenting below or filling my feedback form, you can find this on my feedback form see link below https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/feedback/
To be kept up to date with my blogposts please remember to subscribe and follow me on via WordPress.com
Many thanks for watching and reading my blog.
Carrie X
Check out this video of 10 simple sensory activities. Some really good ideas
Hi please check out my new video showing, what I pack for my son for nursery.
He has now started school, but thought I would show what I packed for him, for when he went to nursery.
I will also do one soon for what I pack for him for school, and what he takes.
I like these types of videos seeing what other parents pack for their children and I will be doing a video of what I pack in my son’s changing bag, too.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
It feels so strange that as of next week my son will be starting school, and going to be honest I am a little apprehensive about it, because I know the first day will be tough. So far getting him actually in the school premises has been tricky, so not looking forward to wrestling with him, into school.
I know these times will pass and he will eventually get used to it, but getting him into the routine is going to be a huge transformation.
So far we have got him toilet trained. I hope I haven’t just jinxed that, and now we are trying to get him to pull his trousers up and down.
I know there will be other parents going through the same, and I do feel comfort from that, but it will be a massive transition for both Henry and I. I have enjoyed our time together, spending endless days playing indoors, going up to London, going on days out to various places like Legoland Windsor and taking him to softplay.
As a lover of Youtube I did come across a really good video by Emily Norris who gives tips on how to prepare your child for school.
We have Henry’s uniform all ready, and so all that has to be done is to put his name labels on it, and we are trying to get Henry to recognise his name, which he is starting to do.
Is your child starting school too, how are you preparing them?
I would love to hear from you.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
The parenting adventures 