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Looking after your teeth – some tips

I love that phrase “smile and the whole world will smile with you“. A nice smile really is something we all strive for. I know for myself personally I have had a long journey to achieving my own perfect smile after years of avoiding photographs and not smiling. This has totally changed once I got my teeth straightened. I thought it would be useful to compile the tips I gleaned into one post as it might help others. Please do bear in mind, I am not a dentist, im simply sharing the information I gleaned on my own new smile journey. Always consultant a dentist or similar specialist if in doubt.

  • Brush you teeth at least morning and evening and not aggressively or don’t over brush!
  • Brush your tongue too! Yes this is actually a thing – see healtline for more on this.
  • Use a good quality fluoride toothpaste and mouth wash. Over the years there has been debate about fluoride both good and bad however the American Dental Association  advocates its usefulness in terms of teeth and gum health and in fighting cavities.
  • Floss….do not underestimate the importance of flossing, even for younger kids too. Get them into good habit of regular flossing
  • Avoid smoking, too much caffeine and limit sugar filled drinks and snacks
  •  Try to limit acid based foods that could potentially damage enamel
  • Aim to visit your dentist for a check up at least once a year and one thing I try to do is take my kids to get them into good oral hygiene practice

    child at dentist

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

  • Some dentists will advocate the chewing of sugarless gums to aid with the rebuilding of enamel
  • If like me you need some assistance from the experts to straighten and whiten teeth have a look at a reputable dentist in your by putting something like “dentist Peterborough”  into your chosen search engine. There is nothing wrong with seeking cosmetic assistance in this area. In fact hand on heart seeking assistance in the form of cosmetic dentistry has changed my life.
  • One of the things I did look into as an alternative to braces was veneers. I did decide it wasn’t for me however in terms what I learned, I though it might be useful to share that here in case it will help somebody.  In summary, the dentist drills the tooth an then bonds a porcelain cap to the tooth. I recall the dentist who I discussed this with saying it would take approximately 2 weeks to complete the process. I do love the look of the celebrity style perfectly white, straight teeth however the fear of the drill and the caps was too much!

I think from here on in my plan is prevention is better than cure. I do make a conscious effort to take good care of my teeth as naturally as we get older the enamel begins to wear and the more yellow dentine will show through and unfortunately no amount of bleaching or whitening can rectify this.  By taking on board some of the tips above hopefully his might help.  However as I said above I am not expert merely sharing what I learned over the years.

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

Tips to Consider when Sourcing Childcare

Keep in mind that these tips might need to be altered a bit depending on the age of your child/children but they should be a good starting point for finding the help and the care that you need.

  • Check references

No matter what, check the references of the applicants. Find out who they’ve cared for before, see what ages that they have experiences with. From there you can see if it’s possible to talk to the other families that they’ve worked with. Do what you can to get a vibe and a feeling about their level of care.

  • Be realistic about what you can pay

kids writing

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Finding the balance between paying a decent amount for childcare and paying too little can be tough. You don’t want to overpay but you don’t want to hire “just anyone” because they’re more affordable than the other options.

Be realistic about your pay scale before you start to look to hire so that you can then not set yourself up for unrealistic expectations.

  • Make certain your child is comfortable with who you choose as well

If your child is old enough to talk and communicate with you, have them be a part of the childcare choosing process. Let them meet the person that you’re considering hiring and see what kind of vibe that your child picks up from them.

Children have a great instinct about people that shouldn’t be ignored. If your child feels comfortable with someone, consider that in your line of decision-making during the process.

  • Make out a list of qualifications that you’re looking for

kids laughing

Pic Credit: Pixabay

When you’re hiring someone to care for your child, it isn’t a time to just wing it and roll with it. Have a list of qualifications that are a “must” for your choice, and don’t stop until you find someone that fits the bill. Even though you aren’t there to take care of your child during certain points of the day, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find someone else who can do a stellar job like you’re wanting them to.

These simple tips for outsourcing childcare are a great place to start. When it comes to finding someone to care for and love your child as much as you do, it’s always going to be hard shoes to fill.

Childcare.co.uk

Source: childcare.co.uk

Following huge amounts of online research and asking around and taking the above into account, I have come across childcare.co.uk who are the largest childcare site in the UK where over 2 million people have used it to find childcare or a job in childcare since it was launched in 2009. That is very impressive and a firm testament to its usefulness and value.  It is super easy to sign up and no payment details are required. It has 2 main strands:

  1. Search for childcare – simply pop in your post code and it will identify providers near you. Setting our reviews, experience, qualification and fees. There is also the facility to chat to carers.
  2. Search for childcare job – again simply pop in your post code and it will bring up those seeking childcare near you. From there you can safely talk to parents through the secure platform. This side of the site also provides access to over 250 training courses from leading training providers.

Resources such as childcare.co.uk can prove invaluable for parents, after all leaving your most precious people can be a very daunting experience so a service which is backed my years of experience, real parent reviews and a secure platform to be able to engage with the potential carer is hugely important in my view.

The site itself is very user friendly with a wealth of other features, for example you can even use it to find a local private tutor.  Its akin to a social network for parents, childcare providers and private tutors.  Sites like these have really come into their own during the current worldwide pandemic as you can access short term/ emergency child care locally as well as the usual longer term positions.  The world is evolving, particularly in terms of ways of working and technology and sites like this are enabling us to keep pace with it, for example easily find last minute childcare in your area.

It really is worth a look and id love to know what you think in the comments below.

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

3 Tips to Boost Your Family’s Wellbeing

Everyone wants a close family unit that is healthy and happy. Luckily, there are dozens of ways in which to build strong family bonds and help your family maintain good physical and mental health. With this in mind, here are three tips to boost your family’s wellbeing.

1. Maintain healthy habits 

Your daily habits will play an essential role in your family’s overall health and wellness. Here are some key healthy habits that you should maintain within your family: 

  • Follow a nutritious diet – what you eat has a significant impact on your health and fitness levels. You should encourage your family to follow a nutritious diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables. Try to keep unhealthy foods and snacks to a minimum and avoid keeping junk food in the house. Cooking with your children can be a great way to develop good eating habits and get kids interested in healthy foods. 

    eggs and tomatoes

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

  • Exercise regularly – according to the NHS guidelines, children should exercise for at least 60 minutes every day. Following an active lifestyle will keep your family fit and minimise their risk of developing medical conditions such as obesity and high cholesterol. Try to be active as a family and teach your children the importance of regular exercise. 
  • Avoid unhealthy habits – as a parent, you should be a positive role model for your children and encourage them to develop healthy habits early in life. For that reason, you should try to avoid any potentially harmful habits such as smoking or drinking excessively, particularly around young children. 

2. Create a welcoming living environment 

Your family is likely to spend considerable amounts of their time at home, so your living environment must provide a safe and inviting space. Home improvements can be a great way to enhance your living environment and boost the functionality and comfort of your home. For instance, replacing your flooring can instantly transform your home’s atmosphere and upgrade your style. According to experts at aflooringboutique.co.uk: “Carpet can create a comfortable and warm welcome with a cosy and stylish finish.” Carpet also requires minimal maintenance, which makes it a popular flooring option with families. Other simple ways to create a welcoming living environment include adding soft textures and furnishings, choosing a soothing colour scheme and adding personal touches such as family photographs and mementos. 

3. Spend quality time together as a family 

walking in woods

Pic Credit: Pixabay

All families should make an effort to spend regular quality time together. Doing fun activities such as cooking, playing games or going on family outings will allow you to develop strong bonds and grow closer as a family. Work and other daily commitments can make it difficult to spend lots of time together, but you should try to dedicate at least one night a week to enjoy time together as a family

Summary 

Your family is extremely important and everyone should focus on creating a positive family lifestyle that will support long-term health. Fortunately, there are many simple ways to improve your family’s overall health and wellness. Use the above suggestions to keep your family close, healthy and happy. 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

Polk Partners can be there for you in difficult times

looking at laptop

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Never in recent times has the world been facing such an unprecedented situation.  It is unheard of, job losses are high, ways of working have changed and we are facing a health crisis of unknown proportions. For most of us know we are turning to look at our finances in order to keep them in check as best as we can while the world faces this crisis. Financial difficulty is something we really dont need the added stress of right now.  But there are things we can do to help our situations. While some of us may like to borrow to assist with this current situation, some other may look to solutions which prioritize what a  clients need by offering a single monthly payment with low interest rates.

The last thing you want to do is become saddled with high interest bearing, repayable on demand credit cards.  Sites like Investopedia or Wikipedia can be useful if there are terms you don’t understand as often the financial world can be full of jargon which the average one of us might struggles to succinctly understand.  The fear of the unknown can be daunting and like most things in life knowledge is power.

Polk Partners

There are lots of organisations available who can help you in this regard, one that I am aware of is Polk Partners  who have a toll free number you can call if you do have any queries around high interest rate credit card debt. While doing some research for this article I was blown away by some of the statistics surrounding credit card debt in the USA – the average US consumer owns 3 credit card and county wide the total revolving debt stands at over a trillion. That is just mind blowing considering how expensive it is.  Which leads me to the average interest rate being around 16% – huge. In terms of the demographic, its those mostly in the 35-65 age category who has amassed the most credit card debt.

Some more tips

Some other things you can do to help your won debt situation include:

  • Switching cards – seeking out the best rates and moving your balance across
  • Switch to generic, shop brands for some items rather than the high end brands
  • Bring you keep cup for teas and coffees to avail of discounts or better still take your own from home
  • Review your utility providers – is there better value out there? Would switching save you money or even do you need all of them, eg some of the streaming services? Some provide very similar offering so maybe you don’t need all of them
  • I have written about this before, im a massive fan of the “loose change jar”. It is as it says we stick our odds and ends of loose change into a jar and then cash in for our spending more for holidays. Its simple but very effective. Its actually surprising how quickly it builds us.
  • Another thing that I do but probably not as much as I should is bring my lunch to work. I worked out I was spending an eye watering amount of money on lunches and vowed to cut that in half which I have done im delighted to say. There is room for improvement but my increased awareness has me making better decisions to save the extra cash to pay off loans or treat myself!!

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

Omega-3 and Vitamin D to Boost your Child’s Brain and Immunity!

Children need Omega 3 for every stage of their development. It boosts their brains, strengthens their immune systems and lifts their mood. It is also claimed to improve behaviour, reduce anxiety and helps to improve language. Sounds too good to be true – yet scientific research continues to show impressive results. We first began using Eskimo in 2015 and have used them almost every day since. I firmly believe that giving them the best start in this respect is critical and will stand to them long term. Kids are busy, between school, activities, play dates etc. We want them to preform to the best of their abilities and I really do feel that supplementing is a viable alternative. I simply couldn’t get the quantity of fish into the boys that I would like so for me the best alternative was a high quality fish supplement. I have done my research, I have spoken to other mothers online and in person and the brand that was mentioned most was Eskimo 3.

Brain Food for Kids

Eskimo 3 kids

Ready for the day, Omegas for adults and kids. Plus our sun-cream another essential component.

Omega-3s are important for every cell in the body, but for children, most of the research has focused on their role in promoting healthy brain development. Omega-3 fatty acids are the most critical building blocks of the brain – they are considered essential and must be obtained through diet or supplementation. Without these important fats, it can become difficult for children to concentrate, learn new information, and balance their moods properly.  DHA in particular is recognised as essential for normal brain function. It helps to improve membrane fluidity, which means that nerve impulses, or messages, are transmitted more effectively.   In animals, low brain DHA results in changes in behaviour and is associated with learning problems and memory deficits. In humans, studies indicate that DHA supports normal IQ and preserves learning and memory. Perhaps its the accountant in me but I like to do my research, I do read up on things to make sure I am making informed decisions. Lets face it, its our kids future I feel like I owe it to them to give them the best start in life I can. Having spoken with the lovely people at Eskimo 3, my attention was drawn to some important research which is summarised below.

A review of 7 different studies which reported on the results of DHA supplementation on school performance, found that 5 of the studies showed DHA improved school performance, including learning ability, reading and spelling.(1)  In a 2012 study (Richardson et al) found that Omega 3 DHA had a profound improvement in reading age, concentration and learning ability in children. Lower levels of DHA were attributed to poorer reading and impaired performance.(2)

One 2013 study by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine looked at how boys responded to Omega-3 DHA. Omega-3 DHA is as important to our brains, as calcium is to our bones. It accounts for 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain. In the study, (McNamara RK et al) showed that subjects who consumed less DHA had slower reaction times and exhibited lower levels of concentration compared with subjects who consumed more DHA.3  

Early omega-3 exposure may reduce incidence of children’s allergies

A recent 2017 article reported that eating oily fish or fish oil supplementation in pregnancy may be a strategy to prevent infant and childhood allergic disease, whilst a study in infants from birth to 6 months found that omega-3s were able to modify markers of immunity and potentially be protective against allergies.(4,5)  In addition, Bisgaard et al. reported a significantly reduced incidence of persistent wheeze or asthma at ages 3 to 5 years in children whose mothers took fish oil during pregnancy.(6)

All of this indicates that consumption of omega-3 during pregnancy by the mothers or intake of omega-3 in infancy may well be able to help reduce the incidence of allergic diseases, including asthma. However it is really important if you do have any concerns around allergies that you do consultant a professional such as Premier Allergy & Asthma. Premier Allergy & Asthma can also assist with conditions such as eczema or hives. 

How much is required?

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) state that you need 250mg DHA daily to support healthy brain function. Eating oily fish twice a week (think SMASH – salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring) will provide a healthy dose of omega-3 EPA/DHA.  Since it is almost impossible to get children to eat enough fish to meet the requirements, it’s smart to supplement their diet with a premium Omega-3 supplement such as Eskimo-3 Kids. If I get one fish meal a week with cleaned plates its pretty close to a miracle here. 

Vitamin D for Bones and Immunity

Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin”, is well known for its role in building strong bones and teeth. It’s not just about bones though. Vitamin D is needed for a healthy immune system – helping the body to fight off infections, making it a very important supplement during back to school time. The Irish Osteoporosis Society has called on parents to keep vitamin D intake top of mind. Some 88% of primary school children in Ireland have been reported to have vitamin D intakes below the recommended amount. Kids who do not get sufficient calcium and vitamin D are at increased risk for rickets (softening and weakening of bones in children, poor growth).

 

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Mamma Reviews

Why You Need Top Potassium Supplements for Keto Diets

When people do not feed on the right meals, they end up having lots of deficiencies. While there are lots of deficiencies that people can be affected by based on how they feed, some deficiencies affect people that seem to feed right. One of these deficiencies is potassium deficiency.

Sticking to a keto diet can go a long way in keeping you healthy. It, however, cannot keep you free from potassium deficiency. The implication of this is even with the right keto diet, you will need potassium supplements. 

That being said, below are some potassium supplements for the keto diet.

Nature Made Potassium Gluconate

This potassium brand has been around for a couple of decades. Also, it can be spotted very easily because of the yellow label that it is known with. Nature Made Potassium Gluconate is a potassium supplement that has the approval of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). This means it can always be trusted. If you take diets that are low in carb, it becomes very vital that you make potassium supplements a part of your meal. While you can always get a good amount of potassium from foods like kale, bananas, and spinach that are rich in potassium, you can never go wrong by taking potassium supplements.

If you constantly take trusted potassium supplements such as Nature Made Potassium Gluconate, you will be keeping your body safe from health issues that are associated with keto diets, as well as diets that are low in carb. In the absence of the right amount of potassium in your meals, you will always have to deal with muscle cramps. This is in addition to the fact that you will constantly feel weak and irritable. In addition to all this, you might have to deal with lots of skin issues.

 

To get the best from the use of Nature Made Potassium Gluconate, you must make use of a single tablet of this potassium supplement every day. If for any reason you think you need to take more than one tablet of this supplement daily, you will first have to consult your doctor.

While making use of Nature Made Potassium Gluconate, you do not have to worry about taking in something that is not natural as this supplement does not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Furthermore, it is free of starch, yeast, and gluten.

Solaray Potassium Supplement

When sticking to a keto diet, there are lots of potassium supplements you can take. One of them is Solaray Potassium Supplement. While it is not the most popular potassium supplement brand in the market, Solaray Potassium Supplement has been in the market longer than a lot of potassium supplement brands that are on this list.

If you made the consumption of keto diets a part of your lifestyle, you can depend on Solaray Potassium Supplements to get all your body’s potassium needs. While making use of this potassium supplements, you do not need to stay away from foods like avocado, banana, and kale that have a reputation for being rich in potassium.

Although there are lots of potassium supplements in the market, you can always trust Solaray Potassium Supplement to give your body its potassium needs because it has the approval of the United States Pharmacopeia. That’s not all. This potassium supplement does not contain artificial colors, artificial flavors, and preservatives. In addition to all these, this product is certified as gluten-free. It is not just labeled as a gluten-free product, it goes through a series of tests before being declared free from gluten.

To get the best from the use of Solaray Potassium Supplements, you have to take one tablet of this supplement once every day. This should be taken alongside a glass of water as this will go a long way in helping the body absorb the Solaray Potassium Supplement capsule easily.

NOW Potassium Citrate

You can always depend on NOW Potassium Citrate for your body’s potassium needs when you are on a keto diet or a diet that is low in carb. This potassium supplement is one of the best in the market and has been in existence for about four decades. By taking this potassium supplement, you can stay free from muscle cramps, irritability, skin diseases, and other health conditions that are associated with a low level of potassium in the body.

By taking a single tablet of NOW Potassium Citrate, you can have access to 99mg of potassium. Ideally, you are supposed to take just one tablet of this potassium supplement daily. If for any reason, you want to take more than one tablet of this potassium supplement, it is vital that you obtain permission from your doctor before going on with this.

NOW Potassium Citrate has the approval of the National Products Association. Due to this, you can be sure that it adheres to all health and safety standards that standard drugs have to adhere to. Furthermore, it is covered with gelatin. This implies that taking it will be quite easy as you do not have to deal with any funny taste in your mouth while swallowing it. That’s not all. This potassium supplement does not contain dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, and soy.

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

Best Tasting Meal Replacement Shakes Purchase Guide

Meal replacement shakes might be great for people that are looking to drop some weight. They, however, are not popular among certain people because they have a reputation of not being very tasty. While meal replacement shakes were not known to be tasty before now, at the moment, various meal replacement shake brands are very tasty. This means, if you have been avoiding meal replacement shakes because they were not so tasty, you can always enjoy them now.

Are you looking to buy some of the best tasting meal replacement shakes? If yes, below are some meal replacement shakes with great tastes.

MET-Rx

While the fact that MET-Rx comes in just two flavors might make certain people think it is not good enough for them, Extreme Chocolate and Original Vanilla, the flavors that NET-Rx comes in are known to be very creamy and delicious. Although this meal replacement shake’s strongest point is its taste, it has other strong points. It is low in fat, free from gluten, and free from aspartame.

Furthermore, MET-Rx contains 25 essential vitamins, as well as 90% of all the calcium that the body needs. In addition to these, it contains 36 grams of protein in each serving. The implication of this is this meal replacement shake can always help you stay full even without eating a real meal and also recover easily from workout sessions. While the amount of protein contained in this meal replacement shake has a role in making it filling, there is more to its ability to keep you full. Contained in each serving of MET-Rx are 250 calories which are the major reason you have to feel full after taking this meal replacement shake.

Garden of Life

protein shake

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Garden of Life can always be enjoyed in four flavors. These flavors are Lightly Sweet, Vanilla Chai, Vanilla, and Chocolate. This means you can never get tired of taking this meal replacement shake as there will always be something for you to switch to when you get tired of a certain flavor. While the fact that this meal replacement shake has a nice flavor is a good enough reason to purchase it regularly, there are other reasons you might want to purchase this meal replacement shake. 

One of these reasons is Garden of Life can help you develop lean muscles. It is a great post-workout drink. In addition to helping in the development of lean muscles, Garden of life can also help shoot up the body’s energy levels. This, therefore, makes it a replacement shake that can be taken before a workout session.

Contained in Garden of life are lots of probiotics that can help keep your guts healthy. In addition to the presence of probiotics that ensure easy digestion, this meal replacement shake also contains six grams of fiber which help with digestion. Although Garden of life has a great taste, it might not be the best meal replacement shake for people with large appetites as it contains just 115 calories.

Ample Meal

Ample meal shake is not just famous for being very nutritious, it is also delicious. Its creamy taste is a blend of cinnamon and vanilla. Ample meal shake is not just considered one of the best-tasting meal replacement shakes because people think it has a good taste, the firm in charge of producing it offers a quality and full taste guarantee. This goes a long way to tell how tasty it is.

To enjoy the amazing taste of Ample meal, you do not need to do much. You simply need to add cold milk or cold water to this product as it comes in powder form. Once cold water or cold milk is added to this shake, it becomes fit for consumption. Although Ample meal is not the only meal replacement shake that has an amazing taste, there is a likelihood that it is the best-tasting meal replacement shake available in the market.

Beyond the taste you get to enjoy when you consume Ample meal, you can also be certain that you are consuming a meal replacement shake that is made of natural ingredients. In addition to being free from artificial ingredients, Ample meal does not contain soy, gluten, artificial flavors, BPA, and artificial sweeteners.

So, if you are looking for a great tasting meal replacement shake or a  meal replacement shake that is filled with healthy ingredients, you can always resort to buying Ample meal.

Huel

green milkshake

Pic Credit: Pixabay

While Huel features just vanilla flavor, you can decide to purchase a version that does not come with any flavor. Huel does not only have a great taste. It is also vegan. It is a perfect blend of oats, sunflower seeds, coconut, flaxseed, and pea and rice protein. Although a meal replacement shake, Huel is made from real food

To get the best out of Huel, you simply need to mix it with cold water and you will be able to enjoy its amazing taste.

Iconic

Due to the fact that Iconic is made from absolutely natural ingredients, a lot of people do not expect it to be on this list. Regardless of its ingredients, Iconic is one of the most delicious meal replacement shakes available in the market. This meal replacement shake has up to five flavors. These flavors are Coconut Matcha, Golden Milk, Chocolate Truffle, Café Aulait, and Vanilla Bean. This means there will always be a flavor that suits you regardless of what your preferences are. You do not have to stick to any flavor because it is sweet, all flavors that come with this meal replacement shake have just the right amount of sweetness.

You can always have access to 20grams of protein from every serving of Iconic you consume. Furthermore, if you are into keto or paleo diets, this meal replacement shake is ideal for you. Iconic is free from gluten, soy, lactose, and artificial ingredients. 

Although Iconic has a great taste, it contains 130 calories per serving which means it is not very filing. You can, however, get the best from it by taking it alongside a healthy snack.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

How to Find the Best Tennis Racquet for Kids to Buy

Few sports can be as instrumental in child development as the game of tennis. From fine motor coordination to cardiovascular fitness, tennis helps develop a slew of characteristics.

But kids’ tennis is different from the adult sport and finding the right tennis racquet is one of its most puzzling aspects.

Why Can’t Kids Just Use Adult Tennis Racquets?

child playing tennis

Pic Credit: Pixabay

There was a time when kids didn’t get any special treatment in the game of tennis. Kids would have to practice and play on the same courts that adult tennis players used. And they would not have the option of using special gear, such as custom tennis balls and racquets.

Fortunately, things haven’t stayed this way for long. Today, kids tennis is a sport in itself. And there’s no shortage of custom gear available for children of all ages, including tennis racquets for kids. The reasoning is simple: kids are smaller than adults and their gear must account for this.

Benefits of Picking a Tennis Racquet for Kids

It pays to ensure that your child gets to practice and play with a tennis racquet for kids:

  • Less injuries Using the gear that doesn’t fit is perhaps the easiest way to end up with injuries in virtually any sport. And kids tennis doesn’t make for an exception. In fact, kids are even more susceptible to certain types of injuries than adults, since their skeleton hasn’t fully developed.
  • More comfort The feeling of psychological comfort is essential to being productive in training and performing well on the court. And being able to practice and play with the gear that fits is an important part of it. This holds true for almost every kind of sport, including kids tennis.
  • Better results Both motor development and skill acquisition happen much faster if the gear matches the child’s unique anthropometric characteristics. This in turn yields better results during training and performance, helping your child make better progress in tennis.
  • Higher consistency Seeing how your efforts bring about successful results is one of the most effective motivating factors. As your child becomes better at tennis a lot faster with the right gear, his or her motivation will rise. This will help solidify your child’s interest in the sport.

Clearly, there’s a lot to gain from simply picking the right tennis racquet for your kid but doing so can be a balancing act.

Tennis Racquet for Kids: Finding the Perfect Length

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has a set of guidelines based on the age of your child:

  • Up to 8 years old Tennis racquets of up to 23 inches in length are the best fit for this age.
    child playing tennis

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

    Along with using the red felt or foam ball, a 36′ x 18′ court, and a 2′ 9” high net.

  • 9 to 10 years old Kids of this age do well with the tennis racquets ranging between 23 and 25 inches in length. They can also play with the orange ball, on 60′ x 21′ singles and 60′ x 27′ doubles. And with the net height of 3′ center and 3′ 6” at net posts.
  • 11 years old and up Tennis racquets that range between 25 and 27 inches are a good match for this age. Besides this, kids in this age group can use the green ball. And play on 78′ x 27′ singles and 78′ x 36′ doubles. Utilizing the net height of 3′ center and 3′ 6” at net posts too.

The tennis racquet length is not the only factor worth considering, though. Grip size matters too.

Kids Tennis Racquet: Selecting the Best Grip Size

Grip size refers to the circumference of the racquet’s handle. Nearly all tennis racquets for junior tennis players come with the grip size of 4 inches. And this standard grip size works well for most kids.

If in doubt, though, it’s best to err on the side of a smaller grip size. Downsizing the grip size can be a challenge. Building it up, however, is as easy as applying grip tape on the racquet. The best strategy is to try several racquets to pick the one with the most comfortable grip for your kid.

Get Picky About Tennis Racquets for Your Kid

Having a good feel of the racquet is one way to nail it on the court. We hope our guide will help you find the racquet that will let your kid enjoy just that.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

Helping Your Child Make New Friends

kids reading

Pic Credit: Pixabay

While lots of children are very outgoing and sociable, many other children find the social aspect of school quite challenging. Lots of kids prefer to spend time alone, reading or playing video games. There’s nothing wrong with doing this, but social interactions are also an important part of your child’s development. Parents can help their children develop various social skills and encourage them to make new friends, as explored below by a junior school in the Cotswolds.

Start by teaching your youngsters a multitude of conversation starters to help get them out of awkward silences when they meet someone new at school. Beginning a conversation with certain people can be tough no matter what age you are, so teaching your kids some useful prompts will really help get them out of sticky situations and make new friends. Some examples of conversation starters are:

  • “What’s your favourite film/tv show?” 
  • “Do you play any sports/musical instruments?”
  • “I like your t-shirt/dress”

You should always be a good role model to your child when it comes to helping them learn different skills and behaviours. For instance, if you want them to be kind and considerate to others, then you must always be kind and considerate to others as well. You are your child’s biggest influence and they will often mimic your behaviour. Demonstrate confidence, curiosity and excellent manners when talking to people so that your child can learn appropriate ways to converse.

Try and encourage your child to interact with others as much as possible from a young age. Suggest some extra-curricular clubs your child could join and let them invite some of their classmates round for a playdate. It’s important for children to get to know one another in a familiar setting where they feel comfortable and at ease. 

 

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Mamma Reviews

Why Choosing a Cheap Dentist in Battersea may not be the Best Idea

When looking for a new dentist in Battersea, do you choose the cheaper dentist or the best dentist to look after the oral health of you and your family? Well, the choice is yours, but remember that going for the cheaper option may not be in your best interests in the long run. Especially when it comes to the health care of your loved ones.
child at dentist

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Good quality dental care in the Battersea area is pretty much assured by most qualified dental practices in the region. However, due to many dentist being put under even more pressure to meet the demands of a busy dental surgery practice, and to accommodate as many patients and they can every day to reduce waiting lists, sometimes you may be worried that they will perform dental procedures faster than they normally should.

Obviously, dentists will never want to compromise a patients dental health, but when they feel they have to rush treatments to catch up with their tightly scheduled appointments, you do wonder if they have taken enough time and care to make sure treatments are absolutely perfect. This can mean a patient going away after having a filling done for example, but still feeling that there are rough edges that haven’t been properly smoothed down. This may even cause some tongue or inner cheek soreness or irritation that would need a further appointment with the dentist to have remedied. Not good for an already busy dental practice to have to book in, and not good for your purse or wallet either!

 

Choosing the best dentists

Having high quality dental procedures done properly do take time. Quite often a dental practice will allocate you a one-hour slot with your dentist for a treatment that would normally only take one hour to complete. However, we all know that things may not go as smoothly to plan as you want. What if the patient has some anxiety issues? They may need to stop for regular breaks that can extend their one-hour session by 30 minutes or more. This means that everyone else following that patient will have their appointments delayed by at least 30 minutes unless the dentist manages to catch up some time by cutting other appointments a little short.

Ideally you will want to book your important dental procedures with a dentist that will allow a bit of extra time. This means they will be a bit more flexible and will have the time available to dedicate to giving you a complete and thorough treatment that is finished off perfectly with no rushing involved. Sounds good yes, but this will obviously come at a price. You may have to pay a little bit more to have a service like this, but doing this will not only give you a much better quality of treatment, it can also save you time, money and distress by not having to return again at a later date to have something corrected or repaired.

It is not only the time factor that is important when choosing a dentist in Battersea. There are other consideration to take on board that will make it worth your while going with a better dentist rather than a cheap one. These factors include:

  • Using state-of-the art dental equipment with the latest advances in treatments
  • Having highly trained dental assistants that receive regular updated training
  • Awards and accolades from the dental community and dental associations
  • Years of experience as well as up-to-date training in modern dentistry methods
  • Good reputation in the community with loyal, regular patients
  • Good social profile of the dental surgery with positive feedback from patients

So in conclusion, it is wise not to go with the cheapest dentist option in Battersea. Do some background research and choose the one that offers their patients the best all-round service, regardless of the price. You could actually save money and receive a much better service in the long run.