Mamma Fairy

Starting school means many new changes for your child. They will need to learn their way around a much bigger space than nursey and they will need to get to know new teachers and new friends. They will also need to adjust to a new school routine and learn how to be more independent.

All of these changes can come as quite a shock for some children; however, there are many ways that parents can help to prepare their children for the transition from nursery to school. 
To help you get started, here are some helpful tips from Taunton School

Get familiar 

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It is important to get to know your child’s new school as early as possible, in order to help them settle in quicker. Take your child along to open days and events at the school to help them learn their way around. It is also a good idea to arrange a visit on a normal school day, so that your child can get an idea of what to expect from daily school life. You can also find useful information on the school website, such as uniform requirements or term dates.

Show support

Your child is bound to feel nervous about starting their new school. Show your support by letting them know that what they are feeling is normal and relate it to a time when you felt the same. This could be when you started school or a new job. Then move on to another good memory from that day to reinforce a positive outlook. Talk to your child about some of the positive changes they can expect from school, such as bigger playgrounds or choosing books from the school library.

Encourage independence

Finally, one of the most useful things you can do to prepare your child for school is to make sure they are comfortable doing simple tasks by themselves. This includes: dressing and undressing, putting on and taking off shoes, as well as going to the toilet and washing their hands.

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Every parent hopes that their child will enjoy school and happily run into class when the bell goes. However, in reality school can be a very challenging environment for children and some may find it harder than others to settle.

To help you to assess your child’s happiness at school, it is important to regularly ask your child about their school life and carefully observe their behaviour. Here are some great tips from Mill Hill School on what to look out for…

Mornings

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In the morning, is your child happy to get ready for school and do they leave the house without a fuss? School mornings are always a rush and are often a stressful time for parents, however, unless your child seems worried or upset about going to school, you shouldn’t feel concerned.  If your child does appear reluctant to go to school or regularly complains of feeling unwell, then this behaviour should be closely monitored, as it could be a sign of a problem at school.

Home time

At home time is your child keen to talk about their day? Do they want to share interesting facts that they have learnt in the classroom? Or tell you about what they have planned for tomorrow?
This is a good sign and shows that your child is interested and actively involved in their lessons.   If your child seems unusually quiet and reluctant to talk about school then there could be an issue that needs your attention.

Homework

When your child comes home with homework are they keen to get it done? Do they want to show off their skills? If your child is happy to receive homework and keen to do it independently, then this is a really good sign that your child is happy at school and enjoying their current topics.  Should you notice your child avoiding homework or missing deadlines, then it is time to intervene. Your child may simply find the current work difficult and require extra support.

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There are many ways in which parents can help their children to make the most of their education and perform well at school. A great place to start is by taking an interest in your child’s school life. The more supported a child feels at home, the more effectively he or she will perform at school.

To help your child to make the most out of their education, here are a few great tips from Manor Lodge School

1. Always show encouragement towards school and learning and show appreciation for your child’s achievements to help boost their confidence. 
2. Help to develop a love of learning, by demonstrating that learning can happen anywhere, not just in the classroom. This can be achieved by simply observing the wildlife in your own garden.
   

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3. Explain the importance of learning and talk together as a family about what you have learnt every day. This will motivate your child to listen in class.
4. Create a calendar for your child to help them to prepare for exams and homework. This will also help to develop your child’s organisation and time management skills.
5. Try not to set your expectations too high and instead allow your child to develop at their own pace. By putting too much pressure on children you can negatively affect their academic performance and cause stress.
6. When helping with homework, try to give your child helpful feedback instead of criticism. This means helping your child to think about different ways of solving questions.
7. Get to know your child’s teachers and try to be a part of the school community. This will show your child how much you care about their education. 
8. Encourage your child to ask questions and teach you about interesting things they have learnt. Get them to role play being the teacher. Repeating what the teacher has explained in class will help to store this information in their memory.
9. Support your child’s literacy skills by regularly reading with them. This could be reading a story at bedtime or asking your child to read a recipe while you cook together.
10. Learn together in your free time by visiting interesting places like museums, or by using educational online resources. 

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When your precious newborn that is wearing one of the most adorable baby clothes cannot stop crying and you are trying to soothe him or her the best way you can – it is a frustrating experience. You try feeding him or her, rocking the baby, or holding the baby and nothing works. There are times when babies do need to cry for the sake of exercising their lungs as it is a necessary part of their development. There is nothing that you can do to soothe them for that. In that case, it really is the best approach for them to cry it out in their crib or bassinet because that is what they really do need to do. However, let’s look over the variety of reasons that babies cry and what you can do to respond.

The Baby Is Hungry

This is the obvious reason for a baby to cry. The younger the baby is, the more often they will be hungry as their stomachs are tiny and can only hold so much in, and they get hungry again fast. That is why they cry often. If your baby is crying out of hunger, there usually are other signs that support that which is lip-smacking and moving a hand to the mouth. 

They Want To Suck Something

Babies that cry may only want to suck on something. If you offer them a bottle or if you try to nurse them but they move away from it, then that means they are not hungry. If you give them a pacifier and they are quieted down, then that is all they wanted. Sometimes babies will cry just for the purpose of wanting something to suck on. And it happens a lot because sucking is soothing to them as they did a lot of that in the womb. 

They Feel Lonely

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Babies do want company and the one thing that they can only do to let you know that they want some company is that they cry because that is the only way they are able to communicate. If you try feeding your baby, and the baby resists, and if you try to give your baby a pacifier and spits it out after, try holding your baby against the chest. If the infant quiets down after, then that is exactly why the baby was crying. He or she was lonely and wanted to be held.

They Are Tired

If you have a crying baby and you have tried to hold him or her but it doesn’t help, you have tried to feed the infant but the baby is not interested, and you gave the baby a pacifier but again, he or she wasn’t interested – then there is another reason that the baby is crying. He or she is simply tired. Again, the baby has no idea how to communicate this fact and will cry when or he or she is tired. And the best thing that you can do is rock your him or her and then put your baby into the crib and bassinet. If he or she falls asleep quickly, then that is why the baby was crying in the first place. Newborns need over 16 hours of sleep a day because they are growing. It is just in intervals as they need to be fed, changed, and need company often in between. 

They Are Wet Or Have A Soiled Diaper

One of the first things that many parents do when their baby begins to cry is to check their diaper, however, sometimes they can urinate often and if it was dry a few minutes ago, it can be wet at any time. A wet, or a soiled diaper is uncomfortable to sit in for a prolonged period of time and that will most definitely cause the baby to cry! 

They Want To Be Swaddled

Newborns feel the most secure when they are swaddled and as a result, if they are not, they will cry. If you try feeding and comforting your infant in other ways but it doesn’t work, then all your baby may want is swaddling. This will bring them the comfort they need and bring them back to those comfort memories as well of being in the womb as they were in that position for 9 months or so. 

They Are Hot Or Cold

Babies who are not comfortable temperature-wise will cry. If you are feeling cold, then there is a good chance that your baby is as well. And the rule of thumb is to place one extra layer on the baby if the baby is wearing clothing that would be comparable to what you are wearing. That means if your baby is wearing those cute baby onesie sayings clothes that have the same thickness as your clothing and the baby seems cold – then put a light jacket on. If the baby is warm, then remove a layer. You don’t want your baby to become overheated.  

Never neglect a high temperature as it could be a sign of something else at play. For peace of mind it is always worth getting it checked out. Even when im travelling I always make a point of knowing where the  pediatric urgent care near me is located.

They Want To Get Moving

Often babies cry because they hate being still and want motion. This means they will want to be rocked or they will want to be taken out on a stroll. If the baby quiets down after getting some movement, then that was the reason that he or she was crying. 

Remember again that the only ways that babies can ever communicate their needs are by crying. Yes, it is distressful to parents because it involves a lot of guesswork and there is the worry that the baby is sick. And that is a reason that the baby is crying as well but that is the last thing to be assumed. Eventually, you will get the reason right as far as why the baby is crying. And often what happens is that over time a baby will develop their own unique cries for their own different needs which will eliminate a lot of stress. That is because when the baby develops their own cries for different things, the parents will know! 

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Good organisation is key to a stress-free routine, particularly with regards to the morning school run. Below are some tips from an independent school in London to help parents master a good school routine.

The first rule of thumb is to always prepare everything the night before; homework, school bags, packed lunch and uniform. Anything that you or your child will need in the morning should be ready before you all go to bed. As a result, all you’ll have to do is eat breakfast, brush your teeth and get dressed, which should take no time at all. You can even go as far as planning breakfast.

If you want everything to run smoothly in the mornings, getting enough sleep is vital, so encourage your kids to have an early night. You’re all far more likely to wake up on time, feeling refreshed, if you’ve had a sufficient amount of sleep. 

As a parent, it’s a good idea to be up and ready before your children so that you can dedicate your time completely to helping them once they wake up. Once organisation and great timekeeping has become a habit for you, you’ll notice it becoming increasingly easier for you all. The trick is not to panic or rush; it’s better to be 5 minutes late and have everything in order than be on time but half dressed. 

Make sure you have a plan of action for after school that your kids are also well aware of. They’ll need to know who’s picking them up and what time or they might require some change for the bus. Either way, it should all be planned in advance. Encourage them to prioritise their homework, but be sure to reward them and let them have some leisure time once it’s complete. 

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For most of us, moving house is a very exciting time, albeit a stressful one. Whether you’re upping sticks and relocating to a totally different part of the country, or simply moving to a bigger and better house just a few streets away, the actual moving process can be exhausting both physically and mentally.

So how long does it actually take? That depends on a lot of things – namely how many people there are in your household, how much stuff you collectively own and where you’re moving it to.

There are, however, ways to make the whole process easier and faster, which we’ll outline here.

How you can make the moving process less stressful

Very much like packing for a holiday, you don’t want to leave it till the last minute before you start packing your belongings away. Even if you think you don’t have that many possessions, you’ll think otherwise when you’re working against the clock.

It’s best to start packing things away bit by bit in the lead-up to the big day.

Supplies for head-start packing

First, get yourself stocked up on the following:

• Strong cardboard boxes designed specifically for removals
• Bubblewrap
• Parcel tape (maybe even some ‘FRAGILE’ tape)
• Good household scissors

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You can find all of these things at places like Wilko, stationery shops and, of course, Amazon or eBay. 

Things to pack in advance

Then, once you’re equipped, start spending 30-60 minutes each day (depending on how much stuff you have) wrapping and packing items that you won’t need to use until you’ve moved into the new place. Think the following:

• Excess plates, bowls, cutlery, mugs, drinking-glasses, etc.
• Books, DVDs, CDs and other media
• Clothes and footwear (especially things that don’t apply to the current weather/season!)

Furniture and other essential items (like entertainment devices and kitchen appliances) can and should wait until moving day – otherwise you’ll be living a pretty spartan existence for the last few days or weeks in your old house.

How you can speed the home-moving process up

The journey from your old house to your new house will unfortunately take as long as it takes – there’s no way to safely speed that up.

Work methodically if your DIY’ing it

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Many people who are moving locally choose to rent a van and make a few trips. You can hire a regular Transit-type van or opt for a ‘Luton’ van – the latter being the largest type that you can rent with a regular UK driver’s licence. In any case, you’ll need to be strategic about the order in which you do things, because you’ll probably have to make more than one trip.

It might be wise to dedicate the first journey to moving just your furniture and other large items (such as fridges, washing machines, etc.), so that you can put them roughly in place before you bring over all your other bits and bobs. If you are lucky enough to fit everything in the van in one go, make sure your furniture goes in last.

Hire professional movers

By far the easiest and least stressful way to move is by paying pros to come and do it for you. Not only do they do all of the heavy lifting and all of the maneuvering around tight spaces, but they also have the expertise to pack your belongings securely and safely.

Twilley Removals is a professional removals company in London, with more than 100 years of proud history, and a certified member of the British Association of Removers (BAR). So, if you’re going to hire a moving firm, make sure you go with a reputable option.

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Many of us struggle with stubborn flabby belly and exercising sometimes do not help. No matter how slim a woman is, the tummy would always have a bit of roll. Hands up if you would like to slim and control the tummy bulges. What you need is high waist shapewear. This amazing shaping garment is rising in popularity because of its ability to offer a sleek firm look. High waist shapewear can effectively flatten the tummy and waist area instantly. If you want to look nicer in your favorite dress for that special date night and want to get rid of the love handles, high waist shapewear can do just that. The right undergarment will trim and tuck in all the right places so that you will feel good about yourself and step out with confidence.

Shapewear is an awesome invention but it can be overwhelming to choose what is best especially when faced with so many options today. How do we know what is the best plus size waist trainer?  How do we decide which will work best for our bodies?

How To Choose The Best High Waist Shaper

Below is a guide on how to choose the best high waist shapewear for women.

Which area are you trying to enhance or correct?

The first thing is to determine which part of your body you would like to hide or enhance. If you are searching for shapewear that can shape the entire torso then a bodysuit is ideal. There are bodysuits that feature an open bust that will actually lift your breasts and you will have to wear your own bra. A bodysuit that covers the chest will be able to minimize a larger chest. For shapewear that eliminates panty lines, slims the tummy, hips and rear, a pair of shaping panty is what you need.  If you would like to have slimmer thighs, go for a boyshort shapewear.

Where Are You Wearing The Shapewear To?

You have to first determine if you are wearing the shapewear on a daily basis, on special occasions or for your gym workout. For waist training workouts, then you may want to check out the best waist trainer for women. It is ideal for those who want an hourglass figure. There are also high-waisted shapewaer leggings that you can actually work out in. If you want something for everyday use, then you can look for a seamless shaping bodysuit, mid-thigh body shaper or panty shaper.

What Are You Wearing The Body Shaper With?

Another factor to take into consideration is what are you wearing the shapewear with.  Are you looking for one that can be worn under a dress? If you are worried about visible panty lines when wearing body-hugging dress, a better choice would be thong shapewear bodysuits.

Best High Waisted Shapewear for 2022

Some of the popular shapewear in the market today are full body shaper, butt lifter, waist trainers or waist cinchers, and more. Ahead are some of the best high waist shapewear that you may want to add to your wardrobe.

Mid Thigh Butt Lifter Bodysuit 

This high waist shaper is a 3 in 1 piece that can be used as a waist trainer, butt lifter and thigh slimmer. It features a front zipper that is easy to wear. This firm control shaper smooths the tummy, waist and hips, giving an hourglass figure. It has hook and eye closures on the shoulder straps for better fit. The push up bra design offers added support when you wear your own bra. The floral lace hem ensures that the shaper stays in place with no rolling up.  The crotch opening offers bathroom convenience.

High Waist Booty Panty Shaper

Made high quality soft and sweat wicking material, this high waist panty shaper is breathable and comfortable to wear all day. It features 3 clasps that can be hooked onto the bra to prevent the panty from rolling down. This seamless high waist panty has double layer fabric on the tummy for a firm compression and comfortable shaping power that highlights the natural curve.

Elastic Waistband Shaper Shorts 

This firm compression shaper short is specially designed to sculpt the tummy and tames the waist. It has a high waist and feature front zipper for easy wearing and better compression.

Made with a mix blend of polyester and latex, it is stretchable and resilient. It also has five alloy steel bones for back support and prevent rolling down

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