Mamma Fairy

A word very familiar to parents of small kids is wipes, from the moment the baby is born and has that anticipated and messy first poo (this also spells the end of what is considered acceptable dinner conversation) to teaching a heavily independent toddler to wipe when toilet training. You cannot leave the house without them, you add them in to weekly shop, you have them in the nappy bag, Nanny’s house, creche, the car, literally everywhere.

Wipes everywhere.

Think before you flush!! Pic Credit: Pixabay

Wipes for cleaning dirty bums, grubby faces, sticky hands, messy tables, not all the same wipe of course. This convenience item can be a God send for exhausted parents, but convenience as we know comes with a cost. There are of course many alternatives to wipes such as simply soap, water and a cloth but as Mum of 3 I certainly reach for the wipes more often than I should.

You might think what is the issue with one little wipe? Well wipes contain a small proportion of plastic which is one issue, but the other is the way people sometimes dispose of them.  Wipes seem like a wet toilet tissue, but they do not break down, even if the label states they are flushable. They are fit for purpose which is to be a strong, wet substance for cleaning, people or surfaces. In Clean Coasts we often find wipes as marine litter washed up on our beautiful beaches and it looks like they are fresh out of a packet. A wipe found on the beach may have made a journey from a toilet flush, through the sewage network,  and end up in your local lake, river, the ocean before finally being washed up by the tide. This can happen due to blockages along the wastewater network resulting in overflows to your local environment. I am not saying to ditch the wipes, ideally reduce their use but simply when you are finished using them throw them in the bin and never flush them down the toilet. 

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The concept of improving your homes kerb appeal is probably not something that you would give a huge deal of thought to unless you are selling your home. What exactly is kerb appeal….in its simplest form your homes kerb appeal is that first glance. You want the house to be attractive to potential buyers from that very first glance.  You want your home to naturally draw them in and capture the potential buyers interest.

One of the most significant benefits of improving your homes kerb appeal can be a fast sale of your home. That in itself is a very attractive prospect. Many of us have been there when a sale can drag on for months, not a nice position to be in and the risk also that you loose your own upcoming purchase due to the delay.

Some tips

I am not an expert in the field of property but we have between us sold 3 properties so thought it would be helpful to give some practical tips on what worked for us:

• the old adage rings true still….first impressions last so nicely painted door and clean windows is a must. Get out that power washer and give them a good clean!
  

  Pic Credit: Pixabay

• Cut the grass and tidy the garden, move bins out of view if possible even if you can utilise window boxes or hanging baskets. Even borrow them if you have to! If the outside looks untidy people will assume the inside is too even if it is not the case
• Don’t leave lots of clutter in the window that would be visible from outside keep them free and even perhaps a nice vase with flowers in the window. Keep it simple.
• If the window frames or door itself need a tidy up of paint, its totally worth it
• Likewise clean guttering and repair if necessary.

While we may have be taught over the years not to judge a book by its cover this doesn’t really apply in the case of selling houses, you want your potential purchaser to be captivated from the minute they set eyes on the house.  And that first view will be the exterior therefore taking the time and even some small investment can reap dividends in terms of 1) how quickly your property could sell and 2) how much you could achieve particularly if a number of buyers become interested in your property.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR CHILDS LEARNING STYLE

Knowing how your child learns best will enable you to support their learning in a way which plays to their strengths, ultimately boosting their performance. You’ll understand what ways of studying might work best for them, and you can also communicate this information to teachers so they’re fully supported at school. Here a private college in Berkshire outlines how you can identify your child’s learning style so you can help them get the most out of their education. 

 Kinaesthetic learners

 You’ll know your child is a kinaesthetic learner if they’re very physical and love using their body, for example, playing sports or dancing. These types of learners usually have good balance and learn best by touching things and doing activities themselves. They tend to use lots of gestures when communicating, and may enjoy things like clapping and counting on their fingers. Your child might also be a kinaesthetic learner if they find it difficult to sit still! You can support their learning by encouraging physical activities like writing, drawing and painting, and helping them explore topics through touch or movement, like role play or dancing. 

 Visual learners

 Visual learners like to observe the world around them and respond more to visual cues such as images. You might notice a visual learner lingering over the illustrations in books or showing a lot of interest in photos or charts which demonstrate concepts. Other indications that your child learns best visually include easily recognizing people and places, and having a vivid imagination. You can help this type of learner by using visuals to support their learning whenever possible and encouraging them to engage in activities like art and painting. They might also be drawn to screens so you can take advantage of this by letting them watch educational TV programmes and play games on their tablet which relay information visually. 

 Auditory learners

 This type of learner is drawn more to sound than touch or visuals, and is usually a good listener. They might show an aptitude for playing a musical instrument and absorb information better by listening to it. They probably love songs and singing, and might prefer reading aloud rather than to themselves. You can support an auditory learner by making use of repetition and providing verbal directions.

Your child might also love talking and having in-depth conversations about things, so facilitate discussions around topics to help them understand concepts. Meanwhile, parents and educators can achieve great success in helping children learn by customising teaching methods and resources based on their unique learning styles. If your child has autism, models such as the triad of impairments can help you better understand their needs so you can adopt the best teaching methods for them. A child with ADHD might be a highly proficient auditory learner, thriving in lecture and discussion environments, so they may have different learning strategies that could help them. Truly understanding and identifying a child’s particular learning challenges and preferences is key to creating an individual, effective learning environment that enables them to reach their full potential.

 Your child probably has elements of each learning style, but one might be more dominant than the other. Taking some time to identify which one that is will help you support their learning at home. 

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It’s important for children to learn that everyone fails sometimes, and that making mistakes is normal. It can be tempting as a parent to swoop in and try to prevent our children from doing something wrong, but they need to experience this in order to learn how to fix their errors and make better decisions in future. It’s also vital we don’t rush to solve our children’s problems for them, otherwise they’ll never learn to find solutions independently and in the process realize they’re capable of more than they perhaps thought they were. 

 Help them manage emotions

 The ability to manage uncomfortable or difficult emotions is part of being resilient, and children will only learn how to do this by experiencing the emotions and working through them. You can help by teaching them strategies for calming themselves down when they feel angry or upset, and exploring the emotions with them; for example, you could encourage them to practise deep breathing to deflect anger or write in a journal when they’re feeling sad. Learning to handle their emotions will help your child work through any difficulties they face in life and not let them derail them. 

 Encourage small risks

 Prompt your child to step out of their comfort zone whenever possible and try new things, even if they’re scared. Of course don’t encourage your child to do anything unsafe, but pushing them gently to explore different things will boost their confidence and self-esteem as they learn they’re capable of doing many different things.

 Your child’s resilience will develop over time and as a parent the best thing you can do is support them as they work things out for themselves. Resilience refers to the ability to overcome obstacles and recover from setbacks, and it’s a learned skill rather than something we’re born with. Children develop resilience by trying things out, failing, and trying again, and in the process learning they’re capable of bouncing back. Resilient children are able to approach life optimistically and take on new challenges, rather than shying away from them. Here’s some advice from a junior school in Kent on how you can raise a resilient child. 

 Model resilient behaviour

 Children learn a lot from watching how their parents approach life, so make sure your child sees you tackling challenges calmly and persistently to achieve a goal. You can get them involved in any problems you’re experiencing by asking them to help brainstorm possible solutions. This will show them that hurdles can be overcome by thinking things through and not giving up when things get tough. 

 Let them make mistakes

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It’s an exciting time when your child leaves school and starts college, but it can also feel like there’s a lot of pressure for them to pick the right courses. It’s hard not to think too much about the potential impact of their choices on their future, but it’s important they enjoy the subjects they choose. Here’s some guidance from a Sixth Form College in Hampshire on how you can support your child to choose the right college courses for them. 

 Pick subjects that interest them

Pic Credit: Pixabay

 Your child will probably be studying their subjects for a couple of years and in a lot more depth than at school, so they should be interested enough in the topics to want to focus on them for that long. Encourage them to spend some time thinking about what GCSEs they enjoyed the most at school. The more they are excited about studying a particular subject in depth, the more effort they’ll probably put into it. 

 Consider the next step

 While it’s not a good idea to look too far into the future, your child will probably have some idea of what they’d like to do after college so their choice of college courses should align with that. If they’re dead set on a particular path, they can specialize with their subjects and focus just on that. If, however, your child isn’t sure what they’d like to do after college, it’s best to keep the options open by studying a broader range of subjects. 

 Think about what they’re good at

 Playing to their strengths will give your child the best chance of performing well in their chosen subjects. If they had a natural aptitude for a certain subject at school, they might want to explore this further at college and specialize. If they were good at lots of subjects it can be harder to narrow things down, in which case they can think more about what they enjoy and what fits with their ideal career path. 

 Research thoroughly

 When deciding on college courses, it’s worth finding out exactly what each subject covers and what the curriculum is. Try to find out as much information as possible before making a decision. Also bear in mind compatibility between subjects and what learning pattern is required for each; for example, some subject combinations might cause timetable conflicts or require a form of learning or assessment  which your child doesn’t like, such as giving presentations. 

 When deciding on college courses, the sweet spot is finding subjects which your child enjoys, is good at, and which align with their future plans. 

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Getting involved in their local community gives children a sense of belonging and broadens their perspective on the world around them. It also helps forge their sense of identity and their place in society. You can get your child involved in the community in a variety of different ways, and doing so will only enrich their lives. Here a prep school in Hertfordshire outlines some of the other important benefits children get from community involvement. 

 Gratitude

Pic Credit: Pixabay

 Going out into the community and seeing how different people’s lives are will give your child a new perspective on their own life. They may realize how much they have to be thankful for in comparison to others, and by helping people in the community they’ll feel others’ gratitude toward them. This will boost their confidence and self-esteem.

 Altruism

 By volunteering on a community project which helps people in need, your child will learn how good it feels to spend time relieving others’ suffering in some small way or solving a problem for them. They’ll develop empathy and learn about the importance of always being kind to others and treating them how you would wish to be treated.

 Social skills

 Interacting with different members of the community will help develop your child’s social skills. They’ll engage in conversations with people they might not normally talk to and learn how to speak to people of different ages and from different backgrounds and cultures. 

 Open-mindedness 

 Seeing that people live their lives differently to them opens children’s eyes to the fact that life is not black and white, and the world is not the same everywhere. Through this they’ll develop the ability to be tolerant of others, as well as patient and understanding when people express different views or opinions to theirs. 

 Safety

 Getting to know lots of different people gives your child a network of friendly people looking out for them. This creates a feeling of belonging and safety, as everyone looks out for each other. They’ll learn who they can approach if they have a problem while they’re out and about, for example, people in positions of authority like policemen.

 Learning opportunities

 Participating in community activities will provide many different learning opportunities for your child; for example, volunteering in a care home will give them the chance to interact with elderly people and learn how different generations lived when they were younger, and volunteering in a shop will equip them with interpersonal and customer service skills.   

 The sky’s the limit when it comes to the benefits of community involvement for children!

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Pic Credit: Unsplash

Choosing a nursing home represents an extremely important life event. As each facility is associated with its own unique attributes, it can be difficult to find one which matches the discrete needs of your loved one. Let’s look at seven suggestions in order to take the guesswork out of the equation.

What is the Purpose of the Home?

Firstly, determine what is important in terms of long-term care. Examples include hospice, physical rehabilitation, social interactions, and care for dementia. These criteria are crucial if you hope to make an informed decision. 

Speak with Friends and Family Members

Always obtain the opinions of others; particularly those who are familiar with your loved one. The chances are high that they will be able to provide an objective opinion; helping you to narrow down the number of options at your disposal while still addressing primary care needs. 

Talk to Patients

Every nursing home claims to offer the best services to its patients. However, we need to remember that some are better than others. This is why it is a good idea to speak with the patients themselves. Ask them about their experiences and the quality of care that they are receiving. Not only will this provide you with valuable insight, but it might even be possible to develop a few friendly connections before your loved one is admitted. 

Visit the Facility

Take some time to visit multiple nursing homes with your friend or family member. Ask them how they feel about the facilities. If possible, take a guided tour so that you can get a better idea about what to expect. Here are some questions to ask along the way:

• What types of monitoring services are present?
• What is the overall physical state of the property?
• Can those with mobility issues access all portions of the complex?
• Are residents provided with regular access to outdoor areas (such as parks and gardens)?

Talk with Staff Members

In the event that your love done has specific physical or emotional requirements, encourage them to speak with on-site staff. They can clarify their concerns and determine if the facility in question is the best option. 

Examine the Nearby Surroundings

What attractions are found close to the facility? Assuming that your loved one can participate in day trips, this is crucial. Such a strategy is also a great approach if your family member is afraid of becoming disconnected with the outside world. 

Ask Plenty of Questions

Finally, never be afraid to ask additional questions. It may be wise to make an itemised list so that you can cover all bases when speaking with a staff member. 

Thankfully, reputable care homes such as Eastleigh nursing home in Somerset has developed a highly personalised approach with their residents. Their ultimate goal is to provide a seamless transition while still ensuring that your loved one receives the care that he or she deserves.  

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Car accidents happen every day. But things get difficult when your own family member gets into an accident, and that too is a severe one. At such times, the victim goes through a hard time both physically and mentally. And you keep wondering how you can help them without involving yourself too much in the entire scene. So, in this article, we have discussed the top things that you should consider as soon as your family member gets into an auto accident. 

Make Sure They Seek Medical Treatment 

After your family member gets into an accident, the first thing you should do is to encourage them to take medical treatment. Whether it’s a minor injury case or a serious one, it is imperative to get evaluated for faster recovery or to spot hidden injuries, which might become serious later. Also, make sure that you keep all the medical records safely in one place as the victim might need them if they decide to file a legal suit against the negligent party. 

Make Sure Your Collect all the Evidence 

The victim might not be able to handle the accident situation well. So, as a close family member or a friend, you should consider gathering all the evidence that you can regarding the accident. This can include taking pictures of the accident site and keeping all the medical records and bills safely as it can help the victim in case they want to seek a personal injury claim.

Help Them With Everyday Chores 

Life after an accident can be really tough, especially if the victim is the one who looks after the house. To help your family member, the best thing you can do is to help them with household chores that they might find difficult to do. While this might take a lot of your time, this is the most decent way you can show the person that you care for them. Be it carrying out basic tasks like helping them with walking or taking care of their meal and medicines; you can consider these things to show your support.

Get in Touch With a Personal Injury Lawyer 

You should immediately contact a lawyer if your family member has been severely injured in an accident caused by another party.  Depending on the type of accident and type of vehicle involved you may even need a specific kind of attorney, for example, providing legal representation for motorcycle crash injuries or injuries from a truck accident.

Experts in this area can advise victims and their families to gather as much information as they can to use it later to secure a fair personal injury claim. In simple terms, if your family member was injured due to someone else’s fault, you have the right to file a suit to secure fair compensation.

Encourage them to Recover Psychologically 

Some accidents can be traumatizing and can haunt you for weeks or even months. If you think the victim is psychologically stressed and unable to forget about the accident, tell them you support them and encourage them to recover faster. If needed, take them to a therapist who might help change how they see things and have bad memories of the accident. 

The victim can have a hard time dealing with an accident and the traumatizing effects it generally leaves on the person. Make sure they have your shoulder to lean on during such a time. 

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