Mamma Musings

Extra-curricular activities offer numerous benefits to children. For example, they can help your child to meet new friends, they encourage your child to stay active and most importantly they are fun! 

To highlight the importance of extra-curricular activities, an independent school in Somerset shares more of their benefits below…

Health

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Extra-curricular activities can help to improve your child’s health in a number of ways. This is because many extra-curricular activities are physical; such as sports or dancing. These types of activities will not only help to keep your children fit and healthy, but keeping active has also been proven to support mental health.

Confidence

One of the biggest benefits of extra-curricular activities is how they can help to build your child’s self-confidence. This is because they provide an opportunity for your child to meet new people, gain new skills and explore a new environment. By taking part in a new creative hobby, your child will also be able to develop their own style. Art classes and drama groups are both great ways for your child to be creative and express themselves.

Personal skills

Taking part in extra-curricular activities can also help your child to develop many personal skills and gain more experience. Your child will have a chance to develop their communication, problem solving and teamwork skills, which will all contribute greatly to their future career. Furthermore, your child will learn how to plan ahead and manage their time more efficiently with a regular hobby.

Career prospects

Finally, participating in extra-curricular activities is the perfect way for your child to build an impressive CV. This will help your son or daughter to stand out from the competition when applying for jobs. Your child will be able to show an employer their personal interests and what achievements they have gained outside of school.

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Being able to interact with other people successfully is an important aspect of a child’s personal and academic development. Unfortunately, not every single child is naturally sociable; it’s often a skill that parents need to help them to improve, using various methods. Here are some top tips from a senior school in Surrey.

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There are lots of things you can do to help your child with their social skills, as soon as they enter the world. Try and familiarise them with social situations as much as possible by introducing them to lots of different people, both adults and children. You could consider joining a Mother and Toddler group in your local area where your child will be able to meet other little girls and boys and play with them in a structured environment, with you close-by.

As they get older, talk to your child about manners and elements of a healthy conversation. Teach them that listening is often just as important as talking and that it’s rude to interrupt. Lots of people struggle to initiate conversations with new people, so this is something you could work on at home too. Teach your child that questions and compliments often work well when starting a conversation, like “Did you have a nice evening? What did you get up to?” or “I like your dress, where did you get it?”. 

You could encourage your child to join an extra-curricular club, which will allow them to build relationships, as well as countless new skills. This will help their confidence and allow them to feel more comfortable in social situations. Having a hobby will also give them something to talk about with friends and relatives.

Your child will learn a lot of their behaviour from watching you, so always try and be a good role model. When talking to someone within earshot of your child, demonstrate respect and good manners, as well as the correct balance of talking and listening. Your child will be able to replicate your behaviour when faced with social situations of their own.

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Children who have a supportive home environment are more likely to succeed in school. They might try harder to impress you if they know you have a keen interest in their education and knowing that they have you to fall back on if things don’t go their way will encourage them to take risks they might otherwise be afraid of. With this is mind, I have teamed up with a senior school in Hampshire to offer parents the following advice on how they can be more involved in their child’s education and support their academic journey.

Chat to your child each day about school but try and mix up the questions so they don’t become mundane conversations. You should also aim to ask open-ended questions so that your child can’t just give you a blunt yes or no answer. For instance, you could ask which of their lessons they enjoyed the most that day and why, who they spent their lunch break with and whether or not there are any events or extra-curricular activities they’d like to be involved in. It might be worth giving them some space straight after school and having these conversations a little later in the evening, so they can relax a little bit before going back into “school mode”. 

Be sure to attend parents’ evening and try and communicate with teachers throughout the school year so that you can monitor your child’s progress and find ways to help them with any problem areas. The teachers will be able to recommend age-appropriate learning resources to look into, if necessary. You should also attend other events at the school, like school plays and sports day, to show your child that you care.

You might not be able to sit with your child each evening and help them with their homework, as other commitments can get in the way. However, you can still support your child’s home learning by providing with a suitable study space to do their work. This space should be well-lit, free from distractions and stocked with all of the appropriate equipment, like stationery and books.

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The internet is great for helping young people stay connected with their friends and access learning resources online, especially during the pandemic, but it can also be quite a dark and dangerous place if not used responsibly. With that said, it’s important for parents to sit down with their children and talk about internet safety on a regular basis. Here’s some advice from an independent school in West Sussex.

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It’s important to have some strict rules in place when it comes to using the internet within your family, both to limit screen time and to keep your child safe from harm. For instance, they should never share personal information online, they should never meet up with someone they’ve only ever met on the internet and they should think carefully before posting anything, as it can never truly be deleted. Some parents don’t allow their children to use the internet unsupervised/with the door closed, but that’s entirely up to you and dependent on your child’s age and how much you trust them.

You might not want to go into full detail about paedophiles, scammers and other horrors of the world with your young child, but it’s important that they know that there are people on the internet who sometimes pretend to be someone they’re not to inflict harm on others. With that said, your child should be weary of who they’re speaking to online.

Additionally, the other side of online safety is not just about your children covertly sharing their personal information that they should keep to themselves. It is also about only letting your child use sites that you can trust and about keeping your personal data like passwords and credit card information off and not on autofill for shared devices. The last thing you want is for your tech to get hacked and have your and all of your family’s information on the dark web. While we as a society have adapted and learned how to protect ourselves if breaches do occur through updated laws and options like eCourt services to deal with cyber crime, the best thing is to be vigilant and practice online safety. 

Do some research into the different websites and apps that your child uses and find out if they are age appropriate and if there are any parental controls that you can set-up. For instance, some online games have the option to switch off the chat function so that your child cannot talk to strangers. They also have payment blocks so that your children can’t make purchases without your confirmation. Be sure to stay involved in your kids’ lives, not just present. Check in with your child regularly to ensure everything is ok and make sure they know to report any bullying incidents they have spotted online and block the websites that you think they should be avoiding.

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If you’ve decided to launch a virtual business you might be wondering what it takes to actually see success from your venture. Whether you’re selling a product or offering a service, if you are going to ensure that your business is a success, you need to make sure that you’re clued up about the essentials. Yes, you can run your business how you like, but if you want to increase your chances of success, you need to be willing to take advice on board and implement it in your business strategy. Your strategy means everything when running a business, which is why using a data strategy framework, amongst other tools, will provide you with the information you need to help you establish goals and move your business forward.

Wondering what some of the business essentials are for making a success of your virtual business? Below is a guide to all of the ins and outs of what it takes to make a success of a virtual business!

Get your communication tools right 

When it comes to seeing success from your venture, it’s essential that you get your communication tools right. The last thing that you want is for your customers to feel like it’s hard for them to communicate with you; that’s why it’s so vital that you think carefully about the communication methods that you offer. When it comes to customer communication, the more options available, the better. For instance, a lot of businesses are now opting to take advantage of chat services – to learn more about live chat answering services, click here – to offer customers instance support as and when they need it. What it’s important to consider is the kind of support that your customers need you to provide for them. 

Good communication is the live blood of any business therefore it is important to consider the best option for your business in this regard. When it comes to a virtual business, location really doesn’t matter for example, you could use an answering service based in Texas to service your UK business.

Set up a virtual team

If you are going to make a success of your virtual business, you need to think about how you are going to manage all aspects of your business yourself. The chances are that you’re not going to be able to manage everything on your own, which is why it might be a good idea to consider setting up a team of  executive virtual assistants to help you.  This will pay dividends in terms of freeing your own  When managing a virtual team, make sure to implement the right team support software, such as Trello, Asana, and Slack, to make managing your team members as easy as possible. 

Hone your marketing 

When it comes to making a success out of your business, you need to make sure that people actually know about it – that’s where marketing comes into it. If you are going to give your venture a chance of achieving success, you need to ensure that you take your marketing needs seriously from the start. If you fail to market your business and no one knows about it, it has an extremely low chance of success. So, make sure to get your marketing efforts right. 

The truth is that launching a virtual business can be a great way to actually start something of your own as the overheads are minimal. However, it’s important not to underestimate the amount of hard work it takes to get a small business off of the ground. Hopefully, the tips and advice above will help you to ensure that you get your virtual business off the ground successfully. 

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Arts and crafts have been growing in popularity for years thanks to the increasing ease of access to materials and kits, the variety of options for crafting, and the multitude of benefits they’ve been shown to bring. It’s also a lot of fun! 

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If you’re looking for some ideas of constructive activities you can do at home with your children, why not give crafting a go? There are so many different styles out there; you’re sure to find something that the whole family can enjoy, however old they are. Read on for some interesting and unique autumn-themed project ideas!

Benefits of crafting

It’s widely known that crafting can have a positive effect on our mental and physical health, and this is true for both adults and children of all ages. Here are a few of the benefits you can all hope to enjoy as you create:

• Reduced stress and increased relaxation – similar to meditation, when you become immersed in art and creativity, your mind is better able to move away from worries and anxious thoughts
• Improved motor skills – by working on hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
• Increased confidence – from both completing projects, and learning that it’s ok to experiment and make mistakes
• Better mental agility – encouraging your brain to think in new ways and try new things helps keep it in top shape
• Boosted creativity – the more you use your creativity, the more it will grow, and it’s a skill that is useful in all areas of our lives

If this has piqued your interest, you’ll be glad to know that it’s very easy to get started with arts and crafts. The internet is full of how-to videos and articles, and you can get all the supplies that you need online from websites like reallymaria.com. 

Autumnal craft ideas to try

• Autumn leaf suncatchers: this simple craft project is ideal for younger children, and makes for a lovely and colorful addition to your window
• Pinecone owls: these are perfect for getting your kids out in nature, and the resulting owls (or other animals) are adorable
• Pom pom pumpkins: these fluffy pumpkins only need wool, scissors and a stick, but the result is a fabulously unique Halloween decoration
• Paper ball bats: another great choice for Halloween, these cute bats are quick and easy to create with kids of all ages
• Autumn leaf bookmarks: these easy-to-make creations encourage both creativity and reading – what’s not to like?
• Back-to-school bag tags: help your kids personalize their school bags with these DIY charms, that they can customize however they like
• Fairy leaf puppets: great for older children, these fairies are a bit more complex to make and full of enchantment
• Autumn leaf dinosaurs: yes, there’s a lot you can do with leaves! This creation is perfect for kids who love Jurassic Park 
• Painted acorns: this also gets the kids outside, and the result is genuinely pretty
• Simple black cat papercraft: this is as easy to make as the name suggests, and is great for Halloween or all year round if you’re a cat lover

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It’s widely accepted that parenting is the hardest job we’ll ever do in life – while also being the most rewarding. However, finding time to juggle all of life’s responsibilities can often feel an insurmountable challenge. Staying on top of your work, spending time with friends, socialising, visiting extended family, doing the household shop . . . they all take time and place demands on parents already busy looking after young ones. 

Finding ways to save time will help you relax more and relieve the stresses of everyday life. Here are five ways you could free up more of your day and put your time to better use.

Plan the clothing you’ll wear that week 

On a Sunday evening, take a moment to plan the outfits you’ll wear that week – everything from your shoes to your dresses and accessories. Most people aren’t at their best in the morning and you’ll likely have a hard enough time trying to get your kids awake, washed and ready – never mind trying to look after yourself. By working out what you’re going to wear that coming week, you’ll save yourself considerable time and stress each day.  

Agree a schedule and rules – and stick to them 

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Spend some time working out a household schedule and rules that work for everyone – you, your partner (if you have one) and your kids. If everyone already knows the rules, you’ll spend far less time discussing or arguing what can and can’t be done.

For example, having a fixed time for dinner lets kids know they can’t stay out late after school playing. Agreeing when your kids need to go to bed will also save you countless arguments at night. Even things like agreeing on the bathroom schedule in the mornings can save pointless quarrels (particularly with teens). As a rule, kids work better to schedules and if they already know the rules, they’re far less likely to break them. 

Order food in, once in a while

As a parent, you’re likely not keen on feeding your kids the typical junk food served by burger or pizza takeaways but there is now a huge range of pre-made, gourmet meals available which are suitable for even the most discerning of tastes. For example, vegetarian and vegan meal specialist, jikonilondon.com offers complete meals (available hot or cold) and weekly subscriptions delivered straight to your door. 

Ordering pre-prepared dishes will save you considerable time prepping food and doing the washing-up afterwards. Not only that, you’ll likely find you vary your diet more and may even find inspiration for creating your own dishes.

Keep important items in the same place

How often have you been rushing to leave only to find you’ve misplaced your house keys? Give important items like keys, mobile phones, your handbag etc a home. If you already know where things are, you’ll save yourself frantically searching each time you’re going out. Indeed, the same applies to any household items you commonly use e.g. paper, important documents or TV remotes etc.   

Learn to delegate

Most kids are inherently lazy – it’s not their fault, they have far more important things to think about like SpongeBob SquarePants. Giving your children simple household tasks will save you a lot of time doing mundane chores. If you give your kids an allowance, agree a set of jobs they need to do to earn it – e.g. setting/clearing the dinner table, helping with the washing-up or keeping their room clean. Having your kids do tasks to earn money is also a valuable life-lesson and helps prepare them for work later in life. 

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Online shopping has been a craze which does not show any signs for fading. From purchasing small items such as clothes to large objects including cars. Whether this is being advertised privately or on car sale sites such as Auto Trader or eBay. It is always worthwhile checking the new vehicle price from a reputable dealer or motoring site such as here which will give you an indication if you are getting good value or not. 

With the increase of online car sales, there has also been an increase in cars being sold which have a hidden past.  There are many steps you can take to avoid buying a car which has been damaged, stolen or still has outstanding finance. 

Easy and Simple Checks to Complete

There are many easy checks you can do yourself whilst viewing the vehicle. They are many buyer checklists available online but we will discuss the import parts to check over whilst viewing any used car.

Tyres

This is more than a simple kick to each wheel. Many years ago, this was a way to check tyre pressure or worn bearings, but these days they are better ways to go about this. When you look at the tyres, try to get down to that level on your knees. This will give you a better viewing point for the tyres. 

Check for things such as Tyre Brand and Tread. Remember the legal minimum is 1.6mm, so if they are below 3mm we would advise budgeting for some new tyres very soon. While the brand of tyre may not cause concern in most sales, if the seller has budgets on a premium sports car this may also need changing to ensure better performance. 

Check for Defects?

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Ensure you look over the vehicle bodywork during the day, and when it is not raining or the car is wet. This will ensure you get the best viewing of the car as dull light and water droplets can hide blemishes. Along with checking the bodywork for these marks, also take this time to check for kerbed alloys.

After checking the paint, don’t forget to check the glass to. Check for chips or cracks in each window. Remember anything in the drivers eyeline this could lead to a future MOT failure.

In addition to the outside, ensure you check inside. Notice any strange or overpowering smells when you first open the door, and inspect everything from the dashboard to the seats for stains, tears, or blemishes. Do not expect a used car to be perfect, but visible flaws can help during negotiations. The same careful attention to detail is valuable when evaluating opportunities such as commercial leasing in austin, where condition, value, and long-term suitability matter greatly.

Do not expect a used car to be perfect, but some blemishes can help you during the negotiations.  

Check Panels 

After looking over the bodywork for scratches and dents, look at the gaps between the panels. These should be symmetrical and consistent through the vehicle. If you notice that one or more panel gap seems to be overly large or small this could be a sign of repaired bodywork after a car accident. Another indication is that they are colour differences in the paint between the panels. 

A great way to check if a car has been in a major accident is to conduct an online Reg Check. For under £10, these reports will conduct over 20 different history checks on the car and highlight any issues to you. These issues can range from write off details, police stolen report, outstanding finance and so much more.

Check Fluid Levels

It is always a good idea to check the fluid levels on a used car. The most popular ones include oil, power steering fluid and brake fluid. Low fluid levels could mean poor maintenance of the vehicle which could lead to issues in the future. 

Whilst checking these, look for any potential leaks under the bonnet and where the car is usually parked. Also check under the Oil cap for any white liquid. White liquid is created when coolant mixes with oil and could be a sign that a head gasket has or is failing. 

Check Electrics

Check everything. From the window controls, wing mirrors, air conditioning, radio to sunroof operations and automated seat movements. Pretty much every button you can see, try it! 

Whilst checking each light, look for any chips or cracks in the light cases, or any moisture inside the unit. 

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Maths is such an important part of our kid’s education, because it is an essential life skill. Mathematics helps children to make sense of numbers, patterns and shapes and it also encourages them to think of new concepts and ideas.

Being positive about maths is hugely important. Many parents doubt their own maths skills or worry that their teaching methods will be different to current school techniques; however what many parents don’t realise is that they can teach their kids maths by simply applying it to everyday activities.  

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Read on for some great tips from an independent school in Surrey on how parents can teach their kids maths at home…

Home Learning

Help to develop your child’s math skills by practicing together at home. This doesn’t mean text books and calculators; simply teach them how they can spot maths in everyday situations. For example, you can count money, play games or measure objects. Encouraging your child to explore maths in this way will greatly enhance their numeracy skills and help to make learning fun. Use kids math games and worksheets to better involve your child in home learning math.

Online Learning

There are many online resources that can support your child’s maths learning, including educational apps. These are great because they can be downloaded onto a smart device, such as a phone or tablet. Many of these apps are free and often include games, which will help to make maths more fun. Download a maths learning app onto your family tablet and see who can get the best score!

Learning Tools

If your child is learning their time tables it can be helpful to display them on a poster at home. Find a large poster that clearly displays the times tables from 1 to 12 and pop it up somewhere they will see it every day. Regular revision from this poster will aid their memorisation and their understanding of multiplication.

Playing games

Finally, spend some quality family time together playing board games. Board games are another great learning tool for teaching maths because they get kids practicing without even realising. Dominos and Monopoly are both great games for practicing maths and reinforcing key STEM skills.

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Being a mom is one of the most demanding jobs that there is both physically and mentally. This is particularly true during the pandemic when it has been difficult to keep kids happy and entertained while they are off school. Of course, it has also been an incredibly stressful and worrying time for all, meaning the last few months have taken their toll on many parents.

So, how can you look after yourself as a busy mom? Read on for a few ideas which will hopefully help you manage.

Get More Sleep

It is amazing the difference that regular sleep can make, but this is something that very few parents manage for one reason or another. Making sleep a priority and finding ways to improve your sleep (such as not using screens an hour before bed or going to bed earlier) can make a big difference to your physical and mental health.

Have Your Own Hobbies

While you certainly do not have as much time to yourself as you once did, it is still very important that you have your own hobbies which allow you to enjoy yourself and relax. There are many hobbies which are well-suited to parents because they do not take much time and can be done at home, such as:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Reading
• Gardening
• Painting/drawing

Have Recovery Time

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Being a busy mom can take its toll when you spend all day on your feet, so it is important that you schedule time for recovery especially after full-on days. Go2 compression socks can aid with recovery by improving blood flow, reducing pain and even preventing varicose veins and blood clots. So, these can be a good investment and you can recover with your feet up as you watch TV in the evenings.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

When you spend all day keeping the kids entertained, cooking a healthy meal for the family can feel like another big chore. But a healthy diet is vital not only for your own well-being, but the entire family. Many parents find it helpful to plan their meals for the week and then cook as much as they can in one session, with Sunday often the best time to do this. This will help you to maintain a healthy diet which is important for looking after yourself and your family while also giving you one less thing to do each day.

Have People to Speak To

Every parent feels stressed from time to time, especially in the current situation. This is why it is important that you have people that you can speak to, whether this is other family members, friends or even people online. There are also many great parenting blogs and communities online which can be good places to vent, share experiences, and ask for advice.

Being a busy mom can certainly take its toll, but this post should help you to look after yourself so that you can be the best possible parent and feel energized throughout the week.

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