Mamma Musings

Mobile phones are a great way for us to keep in touch with our family anytime and anywhere. However, when is the right time to let your child have a phone? Read on for some helpful advice from an independent day school in Abingdon…

The Law

You may be surprised to learn that there is no legal age to own a mobile phone. Therefore, the right age to allow your child to have their first phone is really up to you as parents. To help you decide if your child is ready to own their first phone, ask yourself these two questions:

• Do you trust your child to use a phone sensibly?
• And are they mature enough to look after one?

Secondary School

It is common for parents to wait until their child starts secondary school, before they let them have a phone. At this age, children begin to make their own journeys to and from school, and socialise with friends in their spare time.

Which Phone?

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If you are considering purchasing your child’s first phone, a basic ‘feature’ phone might be a good option. This type of phone will allow your child to call or text you, without the risk of browsing the web unsupervised. Feature phones are also a cheaper alternative to smart phones, which may lessen the worry of the phone becoming lost or damaged. Alternatively, a smart phone does offer the added advantage of GPS technology. This allows parents to track their child’s location and can even help you to locate your child’s phone if it is lost or stolen.

Phone Safety

If you decide that your child is ready to have a mobile phone, it is essential to discuss the importance of using it safely and responsibly. You should also help your child to set up their phone and add important contacts in case of an emergency. If your child will have internet access on their new phone, be sure to add any necessary parental controls and discuss online safety.

Hopefully this advice will help you to decide when your child is ready for a phone and will also help to ensure they use one safely.

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Doing hobbies as a family is a great way to strengthen family bonds and spend quality time together. Hobbies will also allow you to have fun new experiences, learn new skills and make lots of exciting memories. There is an endless choice of low-cost or free activities that you can do as a family. Here are some affordable hobbies to try with your kids.

Cooking

Cooking and baking as a family will teach your kids valuable skills that will benefit them in later life. It is also a fun way to spend time together and educate your kids on the importance of a healthy diet and good nutrition. You can make cooking more enjoyable by giving your kids the freedom to pick new recipes that they would like to cook. You could also try ordering a cooking subscription box from Compass Cooks. These boxes are specially designed to get kids interested in cooking by delivering a monthly food box containing exciting easy-to-follow recipes from around the world.

Gardening

Gardening will encourage your kids to get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air. It is also a good workout that will help your family get the recommended exercise and increase their overall fitness levels. Along with the physical benefits, gardening also has therapeutic properties and can be a great way to relax and unwind. According to advice on minigarden, you can encourage your kids to try gardening by planting interesting plants and flowers, giving them a dedicated plot in your backyard, and starting a family gardening journal. You can also try growing fruit and vegetables in your garden such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and beets. Once harvested, you can cook tasty family meals using fresh home-grown ingredients.

Hiking

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Hiking is a cheap hobby that offers fantastic health benefits. Not only is hiking an excellent source of physical exercise, but it can also boost your mental health and wellbeing. This is because exercise releases chemicals that increase feelings of happiness and reduce stress. Going for regular hikes as a family will help you stay fit and allow you to enjoy time outdoors in natural surroundings. You can look for hikes in your local area by searching for recommendations online. Make sure that you choose a route that will suit the fitness levels and abilities of your family and remember to pack plenty of water and energy-rich snacks. Another fun way to enjoy hiking is by visiting a national park. There is a good selection of national parks across the UK and you can take part in many exciting outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking or cycling. You can find nearby parks by visiting the National Parks UK website.

Final thoughts

Having new experiences doesn’t have to break the bank. Trying new hobbies is a fun pastime that has plenty of benefits including learning new skills and improving your lifestyle. There are dozens of fun and low-cost activities that you can enjoy with your family. Try doing the above hobbies with your kids to reconnect and bring your family closer.

Doing hobbies as a family is a great way to strengthen family bonds and spend quality time together. Hobbies will also allow you to have fun new experiences, learn new skills and make lots of exciting memories. There is an endless choice of low-cost or free activities that you can do as a family. Here are some affordable hobbies to try with your kids.

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Reading offers so many benefits to children. Reading not only helps learning, but it can also be used for entertainment and relaxation. Whether your child has already developed a passion for reading or they are just starting out, here are some great reasons why parents should encourage reading at home…

Vocabulary

Regular reading of books, websites, magazines or other written materials has been proven to increase your vocabulary. When your child discovers new words, ask them to use a dictionary, or the internet to learn their meaning. This will help to enhance their vocabulary and will also benefit their writing skills.

Knowledge

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The more you read, the more you learn! New Beacon School believes that by encouraging your child to read regularly, you can help to expand their knowledge and spark their imagination. This will not only benefit them academically, but it will also benefit their social skills too.

Writing

Reading often will help your child to learn good sentence structure and the rhythm of words. They will also learn how to write well and how to effectively tell a story. If your child has a favourite story, you could set them a challenge to re-write their own ending to it.

Relaxation

If your child struggles with anxiety or has trouble sleeping, reading could be the answer! Following a good story can help your child to forget about their worries for a while. Next time your
child feels stressed, introduce them to a new book and let their imagination take them away to
somewhere new.

How can parents encourage reading?

Parents can encourage reading by incorporating it into everyday activities. Even something as simple as asking your child to read a recipe or a menu can be great practice. It is also important to show an interest in your child’s reading and ask questions about what they are reading at school. Reading together at bedtime is a nice way to show your interest and keep up a good routine.

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The splashback in your kitchen might be there for functional reasons, but it also offers some unique design potentials. Your splashback takes a beating from oil, sauces, and various other foods and liquids daily, so it needs to be easy to clean. That said, your splashback is the perfect spot to add personality into a room in the house that is often forgotten when it comes to design. Updating your splashback is also a cost-effective way to change the look of your kitchen without needing to redo your cabinets or worktops.

Identify your budget

Before you start shopping for splashbacks, you need to decide on a budget. If you need anything custom, you can always expect to pay a premium. If you choose natural stone, glass, or stainless steel for your splashback, you will likely pay more as it the installers will need to cut it to fit your kitchen exactly. Opting for tiles is a more cost-effective option, with hundreds of different styles to choose from at TREND Transformations Bolton.

Compliment your worktop

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You don’t want your splashback to clash with your worktop. Often most people will choose their worktop first since they are a more substantial cost, and the installation is more invasive. Worktops come in all different styles, textures, colours, and materials, including marble, laminate, granite, stainless steel, and even wood. Your splashback should pick up the colours in your worktop and accent them with complementary colours or textures. With so many different shades of tile to choose from, it won’t be hard to find an option that looks great.

Make it an art piece

When designing the interior of your house, you will typically factor in décor and artwork into the plans for your lounge, bedrooms, office, and bathroom. The kitchen is often seen as a functional space only, and not as an opportunity to be creative. While it may be full of appliances, cabinets, and food, there’s no reason you can’t bring some artistic flair into it. With minimal wall space available in kitchens, your splashback is the perfect spot for an art installation. Use funky and unique mosaic tiles to create a splashback that is a work of art and a focal point for your kitchen. You could use mirrors, cracked ceramic, glass tiles, or subway tiles to make something that is one of a kind.

Don’t forget the maintenance

One of the main deciding factors when choosing the perfect splashback is the maintenance that is involved. Many people are installing wooden splashbacks because they look rustic and exciting. That said, splashing oil, sauces, and water do not go well with wood and may cause it to rot or deteriorate because you can’t properly clean it. You want to choose a splashback that is super easy to clean with the wipe of a cloth. Traditional tide splashbacks have grout between tiles, which you need to clean often to prevent mould. That said, glass mosaic, without grout, is extremely easy to clean, as are stainless steel splashbacks.

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It’s widely known that busy dogs are happy dogs. 

Just like us humans, a bit of stimulation and exercise goes a long way, benefiting your dog both physically and mentally. A healthy balance of variety and routine will keep your dog entertained, warding off boredom and the dreaded naughtiness that comes with it.

Here are some simple and cost-effective ways to ensure that your dog stays in high yet well-behaved spirits.

Check out those beauty spots

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If you have a car, becoming a member of the National Trust would be a great motivator for you to get out into the countryside with your dog, giving you free entry to more than 500 parks, woods, beaches, gardens and estates across the country – plus free parking at the vast majority.

Monthly membership costs £6 for individuals, £10 for couples, £10.50 for two-parent families and £10 for single-parent families. And you can pay that on a rolling basis if you want to, rather than paying for the full year in one go.

Different National Trust venues have different rules about short-lead, off-lead, etc., but all the information you need for any individual venue will be on the National Trust website.

Of course, there are plenty of non-N.T. beauty spots as well, and you’ll probably know some already. As long as it’s green and full of open space, your dog will love roaming around it.

Have a stash of dog toys – and keep it on rotation

Dog toys tend to be inexpensive but, as many owners know all too well, they can wear out quite quickly – especially the favourites!

As such, it pays to accumulate a variety of toys that your dog knows and loves, perhaps with a backup each. The key thing here is to keep these in regular rotation, storing away the ones not in use, so that your dog doesn’t just become bored by them all.

This will ensure the longevity of the toys and, more importantly, it will keep things lively – battling against monotony but also stimulating your dog mentally by reintroducing them to firm favourites that they haven’t seen in a while.

Other than toys, long-lasting chews also work to keep your canine friend busy and entertained. The best part is that they’re edible, so you don’t have to worry about them swallowing small pieces of chews. Just like when choosing the best dog food for your furry friend, you should also be as careful about picking the right chews and treats for them. Go for low-calorie, high-protein chews made from quality ingredients.

YouTube for dogs…

If your dog is the type who enjoys watching TV (not all are), there are entire YouTube channels dedicated to dog-friendly viewing, which are well worth exploring.

Let’s say you’re working from home, for example, and you need to keep your dog quietly entertained while you get on with your tasks for the day. Pop them in front of the telly or a tablet that’s playing a seven-hour wildlife video specifically for dog interaction, and you might just be on to a winner.

Hire a pro dog walker

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Being a pooch parent can be exhausting, especially if you have a family and/or demanding job. There’s not always an hour or two to spare for taking your dog out, and even where there potentially is, it’s easy to forget.

That’s where professional dog walkers can help out massively: they take care of the outdoor exercise when you don’t have time. They’re well worth the fees, given how invigorated your dog will be as a result – not to mention better-behaved and more restful in the evenings.

Speaking to a reputable dog walking service provider like Rachel’s Dog Club will not,only put your mind at ease, but also ensure that your pooch is as happy and stimulated as possible in a welcoming environment.

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Free time is a precious commodity which is rare in our hectic house.  No matter how hard I try I am really bad at making the effort to make time for myself?

If you do happen to find yourself with some free time, what should you do with it? It may have been so long since you’ve had any you have no idea. But don’t worry – read on for a little inspiration of how you can spend your free time. Or you could just dream about it instead…?

Treat your face

With the kids seemingly under control and you’ve managed to become unstuck from the oven you might even be able to take a little time and put some makeup on. You could slip on some anti-aging eye cream  or play around with some new eye shadows or even sit with a face mask on for ten minutes. Just enjoy being able to hear your own inner thoughts!

Reading

It might be a little obvious. But sometimes we forget how good it feels to pick up a book and get pulled straight back into a story. Whether it’s a fantasy novel, an old childhood favourite or a celebrity tell-tale book. There’s nothing wrong with disappearing for a couple of hours and diving head first into a book. It is one of those things that becomes a great investment in your time because it’s not just watching TV, or half-watching a film. You can purchase high quality glasses, a reading lamp, and a few first-editions to make the experience a little extra special. It’s a lovely part of getting ready for bed, when the kids are asleep and you’re not that tired yet, getting into bed and unwinding with a great book is one of those things that’s good for the soul.

Watching TV

One of the things I find really relaxing is loosing myself in a good documentary or series. I find it really helps me relax and forget what is bothering me. I recently saw Sam Haskell interviewed on his latest Netflix documentary series on Dolly Parton. It is exactly the kind of series I could wile away hours watching.

Go for a walk

Who says you have to stay cooped up indoors? You could really make a break for it and go for a walk around your favourite beauty spot, or even just around the block for some fresh air. Getting in a little cardio before you tackle that box of chocolates this evening will help you not feel as guilty.

Sleep

None of us are getting enough sleep, and the festive season can be both physically and mentally draining. So, if you get the chance try grabbing an extra forty winks and catching up on some much needed rest. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

Rearrange your photos

If you have sleeves of photographs that are looking for homes, or you just haven’t gotten around to putting them into your albums yet, then why not do it now? You can even date them all and place them in chronological order. Looking back at the memories you’ve made over the year will certainly make you smile.

Listen

Why not try listening to a new audiobook? Or even a podcast on a subject your passionate about? Or how about a comedy set from your favourite comedian or just some of your favourite tunes that make you feel happy. You could even try listening to the nice, peaceful silence!

Have a bubble bath

Empty that whole bottle into the tub and have a nice long soak. You deserve it.

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Not all purchases are made for consumptive reasons. Some of them are more valuable than you think because they help you save money in the long run. The real challenge is figuring out the best purchases to make so that they are the best investments for your future.

Fortunately, you can find these types of purchases in different forms, large and small. To help you start saving money right away, we are going to take a look at the purchases that will save you the most money.

A Coffee Machine

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If you love coffee and you spend a lot of money buying coffee from shops on your way to work, investing in a coffee machine is a fantastic idea, especially if you are like me and you end up spending a lot of money on take away coffees while out and about.  We invested in a good coffee machine  prior to Covid and being totally honest my bank balance is thanking me for it! By doing this, you can stop buying coffee and start making your own before you leave the house, saving you a considerable amount over time. I can totally attest to this! In fact I have used the savings wisely to make further purchases as set out below. 

A coffee machine also lets you explore your love for coffee even further. You can experiment with different blends, practice making espressos and lattes, and even get more serious with some latte art and your own coffee recipes.

A Scooter

For mums, making quick runs to the shops or other short trips is an inseparable part of our everyday activities. Unfortunately, making these runs in a car is costly. This is why a scooter makes a great investment.

Scooters are perfect for short trips, including school runs and other trips with your child. BMG Piaggio London has a selection of Vespa scooters ranging from electric ones to bigger scooters with a 300cc engine. Finding a scooter that matches your needs will not be a problem.

An Induction Stove

Induction stoves have gotten very energy-efficient over the years, making them a great investment to make right now. While you will consume a bit more electricity when you switch to an induction stove, you actually save money in the process.

Induction stoves are also getting smarter. If you leave a pan on by accident, you don’t have to worry about burns or the stove consuming electricity. Besides, induction stoves are safer when you have children in the house.

Smart Thermostat

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While we are on a subject of home appliances becoming smarter, now is also the perfect time to turn your house into a smart one with an investment in a smart thermostat. Products like Nest can help regulate the interior climate of your house while boosting energy efficiency.

While you are at it, pick up a smart home hub like Amazon Echo and Google Home. You can start converting your appliances, including the lights around the house, into smart devices that can be controlled remotely. Imagine how much you can save!

Rechargeable Batteries

Lastly, we have rechargeable batteries. If you are still buying batteries and throwing away old ones, you are missing out on a chance to save for sure. Rechargeable batteries have gotten so affordable that there is no reason not to get some.

By making these purchases, you can start saving money. No amount is too small to save; you’ll be surprised by how much you actually set aside once you start using these purchases every day.

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Perception is everything. That’s true for life and true for business. If the public has a favourable view of your business, then you’ll find that it’s much easier to find success. If they don’t, then there’ll be little trust, and in general, they may be less inclined to give you their custom. The bad news is that the image of your business is something you always need to work on; you can’t take it for granted. The good news is that it’s always possible to nudge things in the right direction. We’ll take a look at some tried and tested methods for improving things below. 

Pic Credit: Pexels

Review Your Operations 

If you’re going to move in the right direction, then you need to know where you are. So the first step should be to take a look at how you’re currently working, and scrutinising which aspects of your operations are contributing to a positive image, and which are not. We often get so stuck in a specific way of doing things that we don’t always realise as quickly as we should are detrimental to our company. So take a look — what could be improved, and what should be scrapped entirely? You might just find that you can improve the image of your company just by making a couple of changes. 

Look Professional

The professionalism of a company runs deeper than the surface presentation that they portray. It’s about having all aspects of the company tight. Things like your email address, for example. If you’re using something like ‘[yourbusinessname]@yahoo.com,’ then you won’t look as professional as you would if you were using ‘contact@[yourbusinessname].com.’ Everything can be changed to look more professional. If you’re working from your home, then click here and sign up for a virtual office. That’ll give you all the benefits of having an enviable address, without the high price tag associated with actually renting it (or travelling to work there). 

Tell Your Story

Every company has a story, and it should be kept quiet (providing it’s not an evil story!). People like to know the human factor behind the business, so shout it loud. It might not be all that interesting to you, but it is unique, and people will be interested. As well as helping people to develop a connection to your business, you can also use your story as a way to build your credibility and establish your expertise. 

Solving Problems

You can’t present a positive image when everything is going well. It’s when things go wrong that your image will be tested. So take a look at how you’re currently responding to problems; could things be better? Every company in the world makes mistakes. That’s not the issue. It’s how you handle those mistakes that count.

Delivering Quality 

Finally, there’s the most important factor — delivering quality. Ultimately, there’s no hiding when it comes to the quality of your products or services. Focus on always improving, and you’ll be on the right track. 

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Working from home seems like the dream. You can get up when you want, work in your pyjamas, take as many breaks as you like and do your work in your own time. In theory, it sounds fantastic, but in practice, it is rarely as idyllic as it seems.

Although some thrive in a home-working environment, many people struggle to muster up the necessary motivation required to be sufficiently productive. When you’re not subject to the rules and deadlines of the office and the watchful eye of management, what’s there to keep you working as hard as you should be?

Whether you’re a permanent home worker, or temporarily telecommuting in light of the coronavirus pandemic, you may find it a struggle to be productive when working from home. If this sounds like you, the following tips are designed to help you work as effectively as possible, while still enjoying the freedom and flexibility that home working can offer.

Establish some rules

One of the main reasons it is so hard to work well from home is that the boundary between your home life and your work life is blurred. When you have to commute to an office, you instantly snap into work mode the minute you sit down at your desk. But when you are compiling spreadsheets from underneath your duvet, it’s a little more challenging to get into the right mindset. Make an effort to establish a workday routine. Set a scheduled time that you must wake up and start work each day, and an absolute cut off point to stop working in the afternoon. Although it may seem like an effort to put clothes on, changing out of your pyjamas will put you in the right frame of mind to get the job done.

Create the right environment

If you’re lying in bed with your laptop on your knees, it’s no wonder you can’t be productive. The quality of your work environment is crucial to your productivity, so make sure you set the scene before you start work. Sit at a desk or the kitchen table, and make sure your surface is neat and tidy. An organised workspace creates an organised mind and will enable you to think more clearly as well as find everything you need for work. Remove all distractions like phones or the TV on in the background, and if you live with other people, make sure they respect the fact that you have to work.

Talk to your employer

One of the reasons you might find it hard to work effectively from home is that your employer has not set you up to do so. Regular communication with your manager and other members of your team is likely essential, so make sure you have the tools to do so effectively. Are your communications systems up to the task? Do you need more guidance in completing your work or organising your schedule? Talk to your employer and make sure you have everything you need. If you don’t have an effective communications tool to interact with other members of the team, then you will fall at the first hurdle. You may need to suggest to your boss that they invest in a better system. Many companies, such as Unified Communications Provider Gamma, offer solutions to improve the communications processes within various businesses. This may be just what your company needs.

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We have always loved travelling and had so many plans for 2020 however earlier this year the world has been turned on its head.  No one of us could have foreseen a global pandemic of this magnitude.  I am consoled by the fact we are all facing this together and doing our best to get through it.   I am however living for the day when we get to travel again. I really cannot wait.  That feeling of going through the airport is something kind of magical – the excitement amongst our kids is so evident.  What I thought I would do is set out some of the ways in which we save for our holidays. We travel a lot and the only way we can do that is careful saving, budgeting and deal shopping.

Deals, Deals, Deals

The Queen of the deal…that is me! I do really love a good bargain. I sign up for all the airline newsletters so I can be the first to hear about deals, sales etc. I also make use of Sky Scanner alerts to keep track of flight prices. I make use of sites like Groupon to search for deals on meals and attractions in the country or city im going to.  I have had lots of success with this all over the world.

Neon Funding – financial tips

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One of the things I always do is keep a loose change jar and cash it in just before we head away. I have been pleasantly surprised many times on how much I have had heading away for example a recent trip to Toronto the money jar had the equivalent of almost CAD$300. I really didn’t expect it to be that much, I was thrilled.

I know this sounds simple and but it is a lot easier said than done. Budget your total requirements for the trip including spending money and start putting a small bit away each month or week whichever suits. It can be so easy to get tempted by high interest credit cards but try to avoid them they are so costly in the long run. If you do find yourself in a position with some high interest debt do look at companies like Neon Funding  can help with this.  One thing I vow to myself is to try not to get into debt for a holiday as it can be so hard paying it back when the holiday is long over.

Practical tips

Some practical tips to conclude:

• Consider travel insurance and look at the small print
• Be aware of the cancellation policies on the booking you just never know
• Look at what your mobile phone providers date usage policy is – I have heard of people coming back from holidays to massive bills as they hadn’t checked their providers policy on roaming.
• It heading to far flung remote destinations factor in the cost of any jabs you might need. These can actually be quite expensive so do some research on it.

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