4 Simple and Super Cheap Ways to Keep the Kids Entertained This Summer
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Things to do with the kids

4 Simple and Super Cheap Ways to Keep the Kids Entertained This Summer


“Mum!! Can we go swimming? Mum!! Can we go to the theme park? Farm Park? Cinema? Zoo? Can I have another ice cream? Can we get another bucket and spade for the beach?“

Sound familiar? 

The summer holidays are ideal for spending time with your family. You get to make so many memories and not have to worry about getting up on time for school, making sure the kids haven’t forgotten their lunches or P.E kits…but if you’re on a budget this summer then the idea of spending six weeks trying to find activities that don’t cost the earth can be a little daunting!

managing mobile phone usage of children
Posted inFamily life Staying Sane

Why I think children should use an iPhone….all the safety reasons

It’s often suggested that children are given a brick phone when they start going to school independently. This is so that, should they be targetted by thieves, they don’t lose out on an expensive phone. A thief would probably spit at them than to take the phone – and that is safer than being beaten up or stabbed for the latest smartphone.

 

While I see the logic behind this, I don’t agree. That’s why my son has an iPhone. I probably shouldn’t even be putting it out there for the world to see, but I’ll explain why I would rather he uses a smartphone (and the iPhone is easier because it connects to all my own devices) than a brick.

Weekendvy and the lies told about the weekend
Posted inBusiness building Family life Staying Sane Staying sane at work

Weekendvy and the lies told about the weekend

It’s not often we get a survey sent to Mother Who Work Towers that make me chuckle. In this case, my fit of giggles was in the knowing that some of the results must be true!

The years of working in the media and cringing whenever someone asks what my weekend was like, and the truth is that is was filled with child or baby-related activities I knew would bore most people to hear about, but was a special moment for me and my hubby.

3 reasons every working mum needs a hobby
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Staying Sane

3 reasons why every working mum should have a hobby

Let’s get straight into it – work and family life is a big machine that doesn’t stop moving. If you stand still, it can feel like the washing, school run and other responsibilities could literally knock you over and run you down!

Having a hobby is one sure way to help relieve some of the stress and tension that keeping this machine of life moving can produce.

The case for being a working mum: your child will be just fine
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Staying sane Staying Sane Staying sane at work

The case for being a working mum: your child will be just fine

Convention has it that women cannot have it all, but a report has provided evidence that they can have happy, healthy children and a full-time job after all. So if you’re battling the guilt of going back to work and think it will damage your children in some way, you can rest assured that your child will be just fine.

According to a current study by Dr. Mendolia, a professor at Australia’s University of Wollongong, maternal working hours have no effect on teenagers’ propensity to smoke, have low self-esteem, feel dissatisfied with life or leave school by the age of 16.

New year, new you: Time for a change of attitude?
Posted inFamily life Staying healthy Staying sane

New year, new you: Time for a change of attitude?

No, this isn’t an article about losing weight, going vegan, or anything along those lines – although there is merit in them (if that’s your thing).

This article is about staying sane, and staying happy. Here are five things you can do for yourself to help you keep things ticking along at home and at work (even when you don’t enjoy every part of being a working mum).

Affordable Christmas present ideas for class teachers
Posted inFamily life Things to do with the kids

Affordable Christmas present ideas for class teachers

Love them or loathe them, teachers spend hours with your child and sometimes showing little gratitude can go a long way.

If you’re feeling the Christmas cheer and want to give a gift to your child’s class teacher, here are some ideas for male and female teachers alike.

Five top tips to setting up your child’s bedroom
Posted inFamily life Things to do with the kids

Five top tips to setting up your child’s bedroom

Creating the perfect bedroom for your child can be a bit of a challenge. Not only does the room need to be practical, cosy and relaxing but it also must pass muster with your little ones, who can be pretty tricky customers to please. 

What to consider when buying your first family car
Posted inFamily life

What to consider when buying your first family car

Having a family is a big step, which brings with it a lot of change and a lot of tough choices. One such decision is choosing your first family car, something which many people do not consider until they’ve had the experience of trying to fit a child-seat, a half-folded up pram and a bag of nappies into their beloved hot hatchback. Investing in a family car will set you up for the future, from going on adventures while on holiday, to just making life easier on a day-to-day basis.

Summer’s here! Get your children beach ready!
Posted inFamily life

Summer’s here! Get your children beach ready!

With summer officially upon us, families will now be making plans to enjoy all the fun that the season brings. Whether you’re planning a holiday away or simply preparing to enjoy the warm weather, having beach wear ready for the children is important. This way, your children can enjoy the cool waters at a moment’s notice and you can be confident that they are fully prepared.

Looking for ways to make your 16-19 year old’s studies pay?
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Money - how to keep it and how to make it

Looking for ways to make your 16-19 year old’s studies pay?

By the end of June, when GCSE season has finally been put to bed, parents around the country will start to bemoan the cost of keeping a teenage bloomer in the style (they think) they deserve.

If you can get through the summer holidays, the good news is that if your child stays in full-time education, there is help at hand.

EMAs

Known as the Education Maintenance Allowance, EMAs come in the form of £30 paid every week into your child’s account to help them afford to stay on at school. Children in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland cane apply directly from Student Finance Wales.

If your child doesn’t have one already, they will need a bank account for the payments to be made into – they’ll need these details for the application form.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund

For students in England, the new bursary scheme will help with the cost of equipment for school, travel and lunch. It replaces the EMA for England (only), which was scrapped in 2012.

The bursary amounts to £1,200 and is discretionary, so schools and colleges can decide which students need it most to help them continue their studies.

How to save £700 on your food bill by freezing your eggs (no, this is not IVF)
Posted inFamily life Foodie Fridays

How to save £700 on your food bill by freezing your eggs (no, this is not IVF)

That’s £58.33 a month to spend on other essentials around the house…and it won’t cost you anything to make the saving.

According to the iFreeze, iSave initiative Brits waste hundreds of pounds wasting food every year, when it could be put into the freezer. Instead, we’re storing the strangest things in the freezer instead – do any of these items have a home in your freezer?

Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life

Advice for single parent’s from the experts

We all know about Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but what about Single Parent’s Day? Single Parent’s Day takes place each year on March 21, but like many others you may not have even know that they day existed.

Looking for some fun (free or cheap) activities for the holidays? Go back to your childhood
Posted inFamily life Things to do with the kids

Looking for some fun (free or cheap) activities for the holidays? Go back to your childhood

It’s not uncommon that parents and grandparents bemoan the generational change in activities. These days, many children spend endless on gadgets of some sort and they just don’t have the same experiences of yesteryear.