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I have been involved in the education sphere for over 10 years now and this time of year I would often get a lot of questions on preparing for returning or starting college. However this is a start/ return like no other and tech will really be at the forefront of this and  choosing the right college tech is going to be more important than ever before. Irish brand Mint+, one of Ireland’s leading providers in smartphones and home tech has revealed five top tips for students to consider when purchasing their college tech essentials. They have very kindly let me reproduce these tips below.  Check out www.mintplus.ie for a wide range of back to college  tech offers including, ipads, iphones, smart watches, home tech and more!

Mint+ Back to College Tech Tips include;

• Memory – Make sure to buy a laptop or iPad that will stand the test of time. Remember whatever you buy needs to last for the duration of the course, so when buying a brand new laptop or refurbished iPad make sure it has enough storage space to store all your college assignments, lecture notes and whatever else needed over the duration of your course. Saving your files down on the cloud will keep documents  safe for years to come and free up some extra space on your device.

Mint+ Top Tip – if buying an iPad make sure it has at least 64GB space to  ensure you don’t run out of storage space any time soon.

• Size – While it looks unlikely that university students will be returning to lecture halls anytime soon, buying a lightweight, transportable iPad or laptop is important to ensure you get the most use out of any device. There is nothing worse than having to carry a heavy laptop or an iPad that does not fit in your bag. If your iPad or laptop makes your college day a little bit more awkward, the likelihood of it being left at home is high!

Mint+ Top Tip – Buy a small iPad or laptop that is easy to transport and is lightweight.

• Functionality – Be logical when choosing a new device, buying the latest and greatest products on the market can get very expensive. Buying an older model of an iPad saves a lot of money but does not downgrade the quality of the device. The latest advances in laptop and iPad technology aren’t huge and you won’t notice the differences in a model that is slightly older in comparison to a brand-new device.

Mint+ Top Tip – Do some research into the device your thinking of investing in before purchasing.  Compare the functionalities of brand-new devices with devices that are a few years older. Differences between slightly older devices and brand-new devices are not huge and buying the latest models on the market may not be worth spending money on.

• Think Green – Like fast fashion, technology and the production of smartphones and other devices has a huge impact on the natural environment. Buying refurbished or pre-owned devices can not only save a lot of money, but also helps protect the environment. Pre-owned and refurbished devices have a considerably lower impact on the environment as they do not require the same amount of natural resources, human manpower or international airfreight as brand new devices require.

Mint+ Top Tip – When buying pre-owned or refurbished devices make sure you buy from an experienced retailer who offers you a warranty and is established in the consumer electronics/refurbished device market.

• Guarantee – Always look for a guarantee with any tech product purchased. It’s not common but faults can occur from time to time, a guarantee will confirm that the manufacturer will repair or replace an item, if a fault occurs within a certain time frame after purchase.

Mint+ Top Tip – All Mint+ iPads and phones come with a one year warranty.

Hoping to ease the financial strain for one lucky student, Mint+ has launched its ‘Back to School Product Bungle Giveaway’, where one lucky student will win all their college tech worth €2,000. The Mint+ bundle giveaway includes a brand-new Apple iPhone 11, an iPad Mini 4, an OtterBox Cover of your choice, Beats by Dre Solo 3 Headphones, Smarter ikettle, an Apple Watch Series 3 and lastly a Google Wifi Home Router, which will ensure the transition of back to college is that little bit easier!

To enter is simple, check out @Mintplus.ie on Instagram and Facebook for details, competition is open until the 30^th of September.  Wonder could I enter?!!! What a great prize.

Teaching your children about the many cultures of the world is a great way for them to learn how to respect and celebrate diversity. It will also give your kids a deeper understanding of the traditions and customs their school friends may follow. The ability to respect other cultures is a skill that will benefit your child throughout their lifetime.

Here are some great tips from an independent girls’ school in Surrey, on how you can teach your kids to respect other cultures…

Make a calendar

Pic Credit: Pixabay

A really fun way to teach your kids about other cultures is to make a calendar of holidays and traditions celebrated around the world. For example, Chinese New Year, Diwali, Hanukkah and Ramadan. Add these events to your calendar and use each one as an opportunity to teach your child about the celebrations that are taking place across the globe. Discuss the people, the religion, the music, the food and any other interesting facts about the special occasion.

Get cooking

Expand your child’s cultural awareness through food. By cooking together you can introduce your child to many different foods from around the world. In addition, your child will learn about various ingredients, utensils and dining etiquettes shared by other cultures.

Watch and learn

Reading books and watching documentaries is an ideal way for your child to learn about different cultures and traditions. Books and media can help to transport us to anywhere in the world and experience new lifestyles. Spend time with your child exploring various cultures online and by reading books together.

Be a good role model

It is important for parents to be good role models and demonstrate cultural empathy and sensitivity. Parents must lead by example and always embrace diversity. If you are not open-minded about other people, you can’t expect your child to be. When your child asks questions, use them as an opportunity to help your child understand and respect cultural and ethnic differences.

Note: This is a collaborative post

School trips are an ideal way to extend learning outside of the classroom. There are many benefits associated with school trips. They not only provide fun learning opportunities, but they also help to develop a number of academic and personal skills.

Educational trips usually begin at nursery, with something like a bug hunt in a local park. However, as children get older, school trips can take students to many exciting destinations around the world!

These trips are arranged by nurseries, schools and colleges to support all kinds of subjects, such as geography, history and science, as well as languages.

St Hilda’s School in Harpenden believes that school trips are an important part of children’s education and here are some of their reasons why…

• Educational trips allow children to immerse themselves in what they are learning. This is not only more fun, but it is also more memorable. For example, it is one thing to read about a historic event in a textbook, but to actually stand in the exact spot where the event happened is quite a different learning experience!
  

  Pic Credit: Pixabay

• For older students there may be opportunities to travel abroad with their school. This experience can help to support personal development, as well as enhance a number of academic skills. For example, a trip to Spain can be very beneficial to children learning Spanish at school. This is because it allows children to fully immerse in the language, food and culture.
  Educational trips allow children to become more independent. They also encourage the development of personal skills, which can help students to build up their confidence. Furthermore, travelling with classmates on a school trip is not only fun and exciting, but it can help children to form new friendships.
• School trips can be used to motivate students. Teachers and parents can use the prospect of a school trip to encourage good behaviour and hard work.
• Finally, relationships between teachers and students often strengthen during school trips. This is due to spending more social time together. This can help students to show more respect for their teachers and improve the overall behaviour of a class.

Note: This is a collaborative post

A good parent and teacher relationship is essential to a student’s academic success. The more information shared between parents and teachers, the more your child will benefit.

Here is some great advice from an independent school in Letchworth Garden City, on how to build a successful teacher and parent relationship…

Attendance

Good attendance and punctuality will help to give a good impression to your child’s teacher.  Time management is not only an important life-skill for your child, but it can also help to build good relationships with teachers. This is because good attendance shows that you value your child’s education and appreciate the teacher’s hard work.

Parents Evenings

Pic Credit: Pixabay

‘Parent Evenings’ are an ideal opportunity for parents and teachers to communicate. Parents can find out how well their children are progressing at school and teachers can give advice to support learning at home. These events are vital to your child’s development and should not be missed. Use this valuable time with your child’s teacher to discuss any concerns you may have about your child.

After School

If you need to discuss an important issue and cannot wait until parents evening, it is important to find a suitable time. Parents often try to speak to teachers in the morning, when they drop their child into class. However, this isn’t always the best time for teachers. They will be busy getting their class organised for the day ahead. Instead it is best to wait until the end of the day, when the children have left, or arrange an appointment with the school office.

Thank you

A simple ‘thank you’ can go a very long way. Parents can establish a good relationship with a teacher by providing positive feedback. If your child has enjoyed a particular lesson, let the teacher know or encourage your child to tell them. You could also arrange a thank you gift at the end of term to show just how much their hard work is appreciated.

 Note: This is a collaborative post

Cycling: How will things change post-lockdown?

By Catherine Bedford, Dashel

Cycling has become more popular than ever during lockdown, as people dusted off their old bikes to enjoy the outdoors when they are taking their daily exercise. Now, with people returning to work, increasing numbers of are planning to commute by bike. This is great to avoid using public transport and spares using the car. 

But how is cycling likely to change as we enter this new normal?

Will it stay popular? 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Yes, I think that once people realise the benefits of cycling, they’ll be happy to continue. Firstly, if you’re cycling to work, you’re getting your daily exercise in the time when you’d previously have been sat on a bus or a train. This, in turn, saves you time going to the gym in the evening, freeing up time for you to spend with loved ones. 

Secondly, people are happier in their locality when cycling. As they move more slowly through their commute; they can learn more about the local area, spy shops and cafes that they might like to visit or find a green spot that they might like to go to with family at the weekend. You can also get some good old-fashioned fresh air.

Staying safe 

It’s vital to be safe and being as visible as possible to other road users is essential. But this doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Cyclists should ensure they’re legal and as safe as they can be while sticking within their budgets. For example, you don’t have to be clad head-to-foot in day-glow to be seen – a high-visibility sash that you can wear over your coat, and costs as little as around £8.00, will still ensure you’re seen.

Helmets are extremely important for safety. If you aren’t a fan of the traditional helmet shapes, there are some nice stylish ones out there these days!

New cyclists may not have realised that there are more routes than they’d have imagined where they can cycle away from cars. These cycle lanes really help keep you safe!

Will cycling fashion change?

I think that as people cycle more there will be a move towards more natural fibres. This will help ensure that they don’t arrive at their destination hot and sweaty. People will be far keener to wear cotton than polyester, for example. 

Already popular is wicking fabrics, which are breathable and help to wick away sweat. You may be surprised how much wicking fabric you already own. The chances are your trendy yoga gear is fine for getting on a bike with.  

I’d always go for comfort over fashion but, if you want to be a fashionable cyclist, there’s plenty of great, stylish fashion-wear out there and I think as people get more used to cycling as a way of life, they’ll find their own cycling style. Also, when new cyclists realise how much money they’re saving on travel expenses, they might start to invest those savings in specialist or stylish kit. 

I have one thing to say to all of you new and returning cyclists: Enjoy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catherine Bedford is Founder of Dashel. Dashel offers a range of slim, ventilated, lightweight cycle helmets manufactured in the UK. With a distinctive urban feel Dashel Helmets are made from recyclable materials – ensuring that they are low impact at the point of manufacture and produce very little waste at the end of life. The new Re-Cycle helmet will be ground down into new helmets at the UK factory when it is finished with. The helmets are portable, sold packaged in a handy rucksack that means there is no superfluous packaging. They come in an array of classic colours. Choose from black, blue, sage green and red. Dashel helmets are £79 and available from all good cycle shops and online at Dashel.co.uk

• Web: https://www.dashel.co.uk
• Instagram: dashelcyclehelmets
• Twitter: @dashelcyclehelmets
• Facebook: facebook.com/dashelhelmets
• Pinterest: dashel cycle helmets
• LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/catherine-bedford-b55a883

Traveling as a family is such an enjoyable experience, but it can be quite challenging as well. To make things easier for your family, take into consideration these travel upgrades that help lighten the load for your trip. 

All-Inclusive Deals

Planning a trip for your whole family can take a really long time. There are so many variables to consider, which is why opting for an all-inclusive deal can save you a ton of worries. These types of deals are made with families in mind, and have the top three necessities:

1. Hotel or accommodations
2. Food 
3. Entertainment 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

If you want to get away, don’t have time to plan, or just prefer to have someone else handle it, then go for all-inclusive packages. Remember to read reviews on deals and hotels before choosing; they are usually the best indication of whether the deal is good or not.

Private Transportation

Getting to and from places with a family can be a real hassle. You’ve got luggage, kids, strollers, and more to think about. What are some of the advantages you get with private transportation?

• You can reserve the transport for yourself 
• Get where you need to go in time
• Make sure you have enough space for all your luggage 
• Comfortable seating for the whole family
• More safety 

Having a private transportation option like Premiermini Cabs is truly one of the best ways to start and end a trip. 

Fast Passes 

Having a PSA Precheck, Global entry, or other fast check-in options shaves of hours of waiting, a great bonus for families with little kids, since waiting can really take a toll on them and their parents. 

Fast Passes are also an excellent tool to have at theme parks or other vents, basically anywhere where you don’t get caught waiting for an extended period. It can be a significant investment, but it pays off in fewer tantrums and more fun!  

Upgrade Your Travel

Getting upgraded to the better class in your transport choice can change the whole trip. Just consider that having a little more can turn an experience from uncomfortable to enjoyable.

That’s not the only perk; you’ll also get better food, board before other passengers, and have preferential treatment. 

Get Ready for Flying 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

One of the best things to do is to prepare kids for flying is to make sure that they have plenty to keep themselves occupied for the flight including entertainment, snacks, and a travel pillow for just in case they want to take a nap.

Bigger Rooms

One of the best upgrades you can splurge on to make your family vacation go smoothly is a bigger room or accommodations. This is one becomes more important as kids get older and need their own space; it also benefits parents that can take advantage of having their own space. 

Don’t forget, with both kids and grown-ups, one of the keys to a great vacation is being well-rested and comfortable. 

At the end of the day, these upgrades are an investment that you’re not likely going to regret. They enhance your holidays, so you can truly enjoy time with your family in the best way possible.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Creating a greener household can bring about countless rewards. In particular, adopting eco-friendly habits will reduce your carbon footprint and teach your family the importance of protecting the environment. Becoming more sustainable can also reduce your household expenses and boost your family’s savings. Luckily, there are countless simple ways for your family to become more eco-friendly. Here are some of the best green living tips for families:

Switch to renewable energy 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Switching to renewable energy can have a significant impact on your carbon footprint and significantly lower carbon emissions. Unlike traditional fossil fuels, renewable energy is generated from natural sources and releases no harmful pollution into the atmosphere. Renewable energy can also save families money on their utility bills as it is typically much cheaper than electricity from the main grid. If you are considering switching to renewable energy, then one of the most popular options is to have solar panels installed on the roof of your home. Your solar system should provide you with a reliable source of electricity year-round and could result in annual savings of £160-£430, according to Green Match. You also have the option to switch to a green energy provider that generates electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind. 

Reduce food waste 

The average family creates large volumes of household food waste each day. Much of this waste ends up in landfills, where it slowly decomposes and releases carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions. You can easily reduce your food waste by adopting sustainable habits in your household. Here are some of the best ways to cut your food waste: 

• Plan meals in advance and only buy items that you need for the week. 
• Check expiry dates and make sure that you eat food before it goes off. You should also store food correctly to extend its shelf life. 
• Grow fruit and vegetables in your garden. 
• Eat leftovers the next day rather than throwing them out. 
• Choose food items and products with the least amount of packaging. 

Buy sustainable clothing

Pic Credit: Pixabay

The clothing industry produces huge amounts of waste, and surveys show that the average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing each year. Fast fashion is contributing large volumes of pollution and having a detrimental impact on our environment. With that in mind, families should make an effort to become more sustainable when it comes to their clothing. One of the easiest ways to make your clothing greener is by purchasing quality items from ethical brands such as yuniont.com. Purchasing high-quality clothing items will reduce the need to buy new clothing as frequently, thus helping to minimize waste. Buying second-hand clothing from charity stores is another great way to recycle clothing and reduce the amount of waste associated with the clothing industry. 

Conclusion

There are endless ways to make your household greener. Teaching your family about the importance of sustainability is crucial, particularly when we are in an age of environmental decline. Try implementing the above tips to reduce carbon emissions, create a healthier living environment, and save money.

Note: This is a collaborative post

If you’re thinking of starting to return to normal life but you’re unsure after being in lockdown the don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’ve been self-isolating for a number of weeks or a number of months, getting back out there is definitely a little scary and overwhelming. Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to make the process a little less daunting. From checking the guidelines daily to only visiting places that you know are going to be quiet, the more you’re doing to keep yourself safe the better. With that in mind, here are 10 ways to ease your way back into normality after lockdown: 

Make Sure You’re Checking The Guidelines Daily

One of the most important things to when it comes to easing back into your normal life post-lockdown is to ensure you’re checking the guidelines daily. Things are still up in the air and with numbers changing every single day, the guidelines are changing too. Whether the guidelines are becoming a little stricter or they’re easing more, it’s important you know what you can and can’t do. The best thing to do in this situation is to set up an alert on your phone, that way you should be notified. For tips and tricks when it comes to setting up news notifications on your phone, you can visit this site here. 

Keep An Eye On Local Numbers

On a similar note, you also need to consider keeping an eye on the local numbers. Whether it’s for your own comfort or to help when it comes to making decisions as to whether or not you visit a certain location, having a clear idea of the numbers in your local area can really hope. These numbers are usually easy to find on local news accounts, or by searching on Google. 

Start By Going Out To Quieter Places

If you’re feeling uncomfortable about going out in an area where cases may be high, it might be better to start by going out to quieter places first. Whether that’s places where you can easily spread out or somewhere that is not easily accessible, if there are fewer people there you can ease your way back into the world. As you start to feel more and more comfortable, you can go to busier places. 

Go Out For Short Periods Of Time To Begin With

On a similar note, you could also try going out for short periods of time to start. Whether this means popping out for thirty minutes or doing your shopping in short bursts, you may feel a little more comfortable if you know you’re going to be back home before you know it. If you find that you feel a little more comfortable as you’re out, you can try staying a little longer. You’ll get more and more used to it the longer you stay out and about.  You can opt to keep your mask on until you feel more comfortable and secure with your surroundings. Just make sure to dispose of your mask after use and use alcohol.

If You Can Do Something Online Easily, Do It

For those that are really worried, you can continue to do as much as possible online. From ordering your prescriptions to doing your weekly food shopping, there are still a lot of services that are going to be available online. As you start to feel more comfortable, you can try going out for those smaller tasks. For more information when it comes to prescriptions you can order online, you can visit this site here. 

Make Sure You’re With Someone Who Can Make You Feel At Ease

If you do have to go out, you might find it beneficial to take someone with you that will make you feel at ease. If you start to feel uncomfortable they can  help comfort you and reassure you that everything is okay and if you really struggle, they can continue your errand for you while you wait at home or in the car. It may take some getting used to but if you have someone you trust with you, it will definitely feel much easier. 

Ensure You Follow The Safety Precautions

One of the best things you can do when it comes to easing your way back life after lockdown is to ensure you’re following the safety precautions. From wearing your mask to using hand sanitiser regularly, if you’re following the guidelines you’re going to feel much more at ease. For guidance when it comes to ways to stay protected from COVID-19 when out and about, you can visit this site here. 

Check Restaurants Procedures Before You Visit

If you’re visiting a restaurant, you may want to consider checking their new procedures before you visit, especially as some people are doing more than others. From tracking and tracing everyone who enters the restaurant to encouraging people to wear masks, you may find it better to go somewhere that is putting extra guidelines in place the first few times you decide to eat out. 

Slowly Build Up How Often You’re Going Out

For those that are still unsure, you can start to build up how often you’re going out. Whether this means going for a short walk or heading to the corner shop, the smaller you start the easier the whole process will be. 

Don’t Do Anything You Don’t Want To Do

Finally, it’s important you remember not to do something you don’t want to do. If you feel as though you need to start getting back into normality but you’re not ready, there’s nothing telling you that you have to go outside just yet. It’s okay for everyone to go at their own pace, especially when it comes to your own safety and the safety of others. 

With lots of ways to ease your way back into normal life after lockdown, you can be sure you’re not pushing yourself too far too soon. What else do you need to ensure you’re doing? Did we miss anything off of the list? Let us know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

As a very strange and unusual summer draws to a close we began to consider the challenges of winter so there is  never a better time to highlight the importance of being aware of the changing road conditions in the winter weather. As a family we love getting out and about.  The Dada Fairy and the oldest man love their Saturday morning cycle.  Great way for the pair of them to spend time together as well as getting out and about in the fresh air.

However as the seasons change so to do the road conditions and it is especially important to be mindful of the appropriate safety precautions for the road conditions and that is whether you are on a motorbike or a pedal bike.

Some of the things we do differently in winter include:

• Dressing for the weather – layer up being the best advice
• Critically be visible, that’s having lights fitted on your bike. Wearing a hi-viz at all times.
• Take good care of your bike making sure you check prior to each ride to ensure its road worthiness
• Tell somebody your plans – just in case
• Start easy – if you aren’t used to cycling I would start with smaller trips and build up the stamina. Trust me its not as easy as it looks!!!

As I have mentioned before, we farm very mountainous ground so in order to get around, my husband uses a hill motorbike. Ill be honest, at the beginning this terrified me but I know now safety for him is paramount. Some additional tips for motorcyclists include:

• Check your tyres prior to ever journey
• Visibility may be lower- signal earlier
  

  Pic Credit: Pixabay

• Reduce your speed – road conditions can be much more hazardous in winter.
• Check the weather before you set off – being mindful of wind, frost, fog etc.
• Be flexible. If weather isn’t looking in your favour don’t just chance it. Use resources such as AccuWeather

For much more helpful tips and advice on winter safety for motorcyclists please see   confused.com. However one thing I have learned over the years is despite taking every precaution you can, accidents can happen as unfortunately the behaviour of other road users is totally out of our hands. If you do find yourself in this unfortunate position do utilise the services of  good motorcycle accident lawyers.

In addition to the above, also very important to be aware when out and about walking with kids to use reflective clothing in the evening times, with it being dark so early now, its never been more important to highlight the importance of being seen.  Our local DIY shops sells reflective tape which I use on the buggy also. Its something I highlight to the kids in the hope that I instil its importance creating life long good habits.

Hope this post helps reinforce the importance of road safety particularly for the most vulnerable road users this Winter.

Take care when out and about this Winter – be safe, be seen and lets help save lives.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Being healthy, feeling good and taking care of your mental health is something everyone wants in life but what many might not realize until they try to achieve this themselves, is that self-care and maintaining a lifestyle focused around their health, can actually become rather costly. From gym memberships to expensive solutions, to everyday problems, the industry around making money from honest, hard-working people, such as yourself, who are just trying to make positive changes in their lifestyle, is huge and growing still. However, taking care of yourself doesn’t need to be such a high cost affair as there are lots of ways you can make changes in your life to improve its quality without breaking the bank. In this article, you will find out some of the easy ways you can start making the positive changes you want to see in your life whilst also keeping your purse strings tight.

Learning easy ways of eating healthy while on a budget

One of the best ways you can save money while making positive changes to your lifestyle is by finding cheap and easy ideas for healthy food. A great way to start this is by doing meal planning which will mean you never buy anything unnecessary when you do the big food shop every week. This also has the added boost of being environmentally friendly as it means you will have much less food waste.

Getting the essentials of your life sorted

Pic Credit: Pixabay

While it may not be the first thing you think of when talking about wellbeing in your life, but sorting out the practical essentials you need to make the day to day running of things go a bit more smoothly will have the positive effect of reducing stress and giving you peace of mind so you are able to get on with your life without any extra hassle or worry.  I often find reading into this issue a huge help and it gives me tips on what other people are doing to get their own lives in order. I have recently stumbled across this Benjy Grinberg and really found it fascinating and informative. 

Keeping things tidy

Another way of keeping your stress levels down is by keeping things tidy, particularly if you work at a desk often. You can buy desk organizers at most stationary shops but they tend to be very expensive so, instead, why not look up how to make your own desk organizer so you can save money and have a DIY project on the go.

Making the most of the great outdoors

Gym memberships can be vastly overpriced, and many people don’t even use them regularly enough to make the most of the money they are spending on them. One cost-effective way around this is to trade in your membership card and make the most of exercising where its free. Why not go for a run in your local park or do some morning yoga practice in your back garden before work each day. This is a great alternative because you get to do it somewhere you feel comfortable.

Note: This is a collaborative post