Exploring Creative Writing with Your Child

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Creative writing is not only a fun activity to practice with your child, but it can also benefit them academically, personally, and professionally. Here are a few creative writing exercises to explore with your child, recommended by an independent school in North Somerset.

End a favourite story

A really simple writing challenge for children is making up a new ending to a favourite story. Explore how simple changes in the storyline can result in a completely different ending. This is a fun activity to do together with your child. Share your different endings to see who has the best imagination!

Choose an interesting topic

When practicing creative writing, it is important to choose a topic that really interests your child. This will help them to enjoy what they are writing about and motivate them to learn more. It is also much easier to write about a topic you have personal experience with.

Make a mind map

Once you have decided on a topic, help your child to ‘mind map’ words that relate to it. A good way to do this is by asking your child to think about how their topic might affect their senses. For example, a story about the jungle might include seeing trees, hearing animals and feeling humid. Creating a mind map can also help your child to imagine characters for their story.

Start your story

One of the hardest parts of writing is getting started. Help your child to get their story started by looking at other books for inspiration. The first line should always try to grab a reader’s attention, so try to include lots of descriptive words and cultivate an air of mystery.

Practice reading

Finally, it is important to remember that reading goes hand in hand with creative writing. Try and encourage your child to read as often as possible, ideally one book a week. This will not only help to improve your child’s vocabulary and grammar skills, but it will also introduce them to a world of knowledge and a variety of new literary genres.

Hatchimals HatchiBabies - Review

Today is Hatchimals Day, the day that the brand new Hatchimal Hatchibabies are being released here in the UK. Hatchimals, as you probably already know, have been very popular over the past couple of years, especially at Christmas time. It's safe to say that they've taken the world by storm and they surprise us every year with a new version. First, there was the original Hatchimal, the following year we were introduced to Twins, and this year, for me is the most exciting! It's all about HatchiBabies!

HatchiBabies come in two species, Ponette and Cheetree, but there are also store exclusive's too; Chipadee, Monkiwi, and Koalabee. Not only are there different species to choose from but there now have genders too. We didn't know if we were going to hatch a boy or a girl and this made everything so much more exciting!

Before hatching

Hatchimals HatchiBabies start in egg form and that's when the fun begins! Simply remove from the box, twist and remove the locks at the bottom of the egg and then the hatching process will begin. If for any reason you want to pause the process, hold the egg upside down for 25-30 seconds. 

Hatching

The fun starts as soon as the hatching begins. You can hear sounds and music coming from inside the egg, it sways from side to side and you see the HatchiBabies eyes glow from beneath the shell. The eyes let you know how the HatchiBaby is feeling (see below) and your child is able to nurture the egg while it hatches.

Eye colour, what it means and what to do.
Red / Upset - rock the egg or rub the bottom.
Orange / Gassy - pat the bottom or tilt the egg.
Yellow / Happy - continue caring for the egg or tilt.
Green / Sick - Rub the bottom of the egg.
Blue / Cold - Rub the bottom of the egg.
White / Sleepy - Tilt sideways or rock the egg to put it to sleep.
Pink / Heartbeat - Hold egg and listen for the heartbeat.
Eyes off / Listening - Tap on the egg.

Noah was very good at monitoring the colour of the HatchiBabies eyes, asking me what each colour means and what to do next. When the eyes started flashing rainbow colours we knew it was ready to hatch. We then rubbed the bottom of the egg to encourage the hatching process and whenever it stopped we just gave it a little tap. That first crack was so satisfying to watch and both kids screamed with excitement!

After hatching

Once it had finished hatching it started to sing "hatchy birthday" to itself, which was so cute! We then pulled off the extra pieces of shell and removed our Hatchibaby from the egg. Inside our egg we found Ponette! With purple fur, rainbow coloured hair, black hands and pink feet, it was just asking to be cooed over.

When opening the egg be careful not to discard of it before discovering the extra bits and pieces that are inside. Inside the egg are four accessories hidden within peel and reveal compartments; a bottle, hairbrush, rattle, and cuddle buddy. The accessory holder can then be removed from the egg and used as a high chair and the egg base can be reused again as a nest.

Last but not least, do not forget about the scroll hidden right in the middle of the base of the egg. The scroll lets you know the gender of the baby and also gives you a clue about the hidden trick that each baby can do. As you can see, our Ponette is a HatchiGirl and she has been called "Mimi!"

Just like in egg form, HatchiBabies eyes change colour to show you how they are feeling.

Eye colour, what it means and what to do.
Red / Upset - pet or put in egg base.
Orange / Gassy - pat the back of my head.
Yellow / Happy - continue caring for the egg or tickle my feet.
Green / Sick - Touch & hold forehead to take temperature and pet to comfort.
Blue / Sad or Scared - Pet or give cuddle buddy.
Purple / Hungry - Feed with the bottle.
Pink / Cuddly - Pet on the head or nuzzle the nose.
White / Sleepy - Put in egg base or give cuddle buddy.

Once she was born, her eyes flashed purple, she was hungry. To feed we simply placed the bottle inside the beak and pressed down on the mouth. When her eyes went orange/ gassy she needed to be winded. It's great how the accessories make the HatchiBaby react in different ways.

More ways to play
With HatchiBabies the fun really doesn't have to end as there are numerous games you can play with them too. Choose from games such as; Learn to talk, peek-a-boo, dancing, bouncy baby and animal colours.
Each HatchiBabies species has its own secret trick. To find out what this is, touch and hold the back of the head, until the eyes turn purple and then tap the back of the head and the forehead sensor twice at the same time. A little tricky at first but it is a secret trick, after all, it's not meant to be easy. Our Ponette plays galloping music! More information on how to play with HatchiBabies is on a handy tips and tricks page. This is great to refer back to while we learn things off by heart.

Our verdict
Having heard and read so many positive things about past Hatchimal products we had very high expectations when it came to HatchiBabies. Were our expectations met? Yes, and then some! I'm amazed at how interactive this toy is, it's unlike anything I've come across before and both kids are besotted. HatchiBabies are suitable for children from 5 years old, retail at £59.99 and available to buy now at Smyths, the Entertainer, Argos, and Amazon. 

- We were sent this product for the purpose of this review, however, all opinions are my own.

Fingerlings Hugs - Review & Giveaway

Fingerlings took the whole world by storm last year, even becoming the #1 toy for Christmas 2017. They were so hard to get hold of, selling out everywhere! Since then, they've released an array of different Fingerlings such as dragons, dinosaurs, sloths, and unicorns! With so many options to go for, I can imagine children wanting to collect them all. The excitement doesn't stop there though, as they've just released a brand new product! Introducing Fingerlings Hugs!

Fingerlings Hugs are the newest addition to the Fingerlings family and we've fallen head over heels for them. At the moment there are three characters to collect; Boris who's blue, Bella who's pink, and Sloth, who's a sloth! They are very different from their small, robotic siblings, as they are huge and super soft! We were sent Boris for the purpose of this review and both children were very excited when they saw him waiting for them on the sofa. Boris' long arms are perfect for cuddles and with hands that clasp together with velcro, he doesn't ever want to let go. He is so affectionate and wants to be taken care of, which most kids will adore. He likes to be swung around, stroked, cuddled and rocked to sleep and if you give him a big kiss he gives you one right back with a super loud smooch sound. The fun doesn't end there because you can also record your own voice and watch him repeat in funny ways! Then if you throw him into the air he turns your voice recording into a crazy remix!

Ava loves to look after Boris and totally mothers him, that's her favorite way to play with him for sure. Noah on the other hand loves recording his voice and laughs so much when he hears Boris say it back to him. Fingerling Hugs retail at £29.99 and are available at Argos, Smyths and online at Amazon.

I think that Fingerling Hugs will be make a great gift for Christmas this year and to start your Christmas shopping off with a bang, I'm giving away a Fingerling Hugs to one lucky winner! To enter simply use the Gleam form below! Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!

Fingerlings Hugs worth £29.99

Terms & Conditions.         
1. There will be 1 winner who win the prize mentioned above. Style may vary.
2. Winners details sent to the PR to arrange the prize. 
3. Competition ends 31/10/18.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only

Finding The Right Nanny To Work For Your Family

Trying to find a nanny that is right for you and your family can be a stressful time. What will they be like with the children? What is their background like? How many days are they available? Everyone has positive and negatives aspects but when hiring a nanny, you have to be sure that they naturally fit into your family and routines, so although it can be stressful, it is something to take time on deciding. At the end of the day, they will be around a lot so, you have to find someone who really is the perfect fit for your family.

Step 1: Where to begin:

Speaking to people who have already found their perfect nanny are a fantastic place to start. They can give you advice on what to look for in a nanny and also give you tips on how they went about deciding. When asking on opinions from people, make sure it is someone you trust to be honest with you. As another option, there are plenty of trusted nanny agencies about that can suggest suitable nannies to you and that fit your criteria. A good thing about agencies is that their nannies will also already be DBS checked so therefore, that takes the stress away from you trying to sort that in time to start. Finally, private advertising is a possibility. This will reduce large fees that may occur by going through agencies etc. By advertising privately, the nannies would apply directly to you and you would have full control of the process from start to finish.

Step 2: Make a short list:

After deciding what route to take when searching for a nanny and finding potential candidates, making a shortlist and writing down pros and cons for all the candidates. Once reviewing all applications etc., setting up a telephone interview is the next step to take. Making it casual is a great way to get a feel of the person you are speaking to and hopefully, that will make them more relaxed in what can be a nerve-wracking situation for some people. This will also be a good test to see if you are suitable for one another.

After the phone interviews have been conducted, getting back in touch with your favourite candidates to set up a face to face interview is the next step. An ideal place to hold the interview is somewhere neutral to you both, such as a coffee shop. You need to be prepared with questions for them, ask them for their qualification certificates, DBS checks, and references. Following up on the references is a great way of finding out a more extensive range of information about them.

Step 3: Get to know them more:

Meeting up with the candidates more than once is a good idea to do. A nanny is going to be with you and/or your children for a vast amount of time so you need to be 100% sure they are right for you. You can obviously get good first impressions which is always a plus, but meeting up with them more than once can give you more a definite feeling towards them. This can be a chance to have a more in-depth perspective on whether they are the most appropriate for your family. Asking questions that reveal what experience they have with children and if they have worked with ages similar to your own children are good places to dig deeper in. Also, finding out ways they would motivate your child to do school work and organise their day is ideal.

Step 4: Figuring out issues that may occur:

When finding the perfect nanny, you have to take into consideration your own morals/views compared to theirs. What are their thoughts on discipline? Do they similar views on healthy eating as you? Not only could moral issues sway your decision but also issues such as holidays, pay and working hours. Job descriptions always come in handy for these type of potential issues as that should clearly outline exactly what you expect off of someone and salaries etc. Hopefully, people would only apply if they fit the description exactly, but some may not, therefore double checking everything and putting it into an employment contract is a good idea as this will not only reduce the risk of issues arising but covers your own back if it did occur.

Step 5: Making the final decisions

This is the biggest step in the whole process. Finally making a decision on who to employ to look after your children. You’ve gone through all the previous steps but there is one more needed to 100% determine your decision - a paid trial day. This is a satisfying way to figure out whether they are right for the job. The main thing to look at is how your child/children react to their presence, whether they feel relaxed and comfortable in their care or not. It is also important to look at how they interact with your child, are they speaking to them nicely or are they too stern? Are they motivating them and paying enough attention to what they are up to? You may feel like you have hawk eyes on them for the day but you want to be able to feel comfortable and at peace of mind leaving your child with someone every morning, therefore, it is essential you feel at ease with it all.

If all goes well on the trial day, then that is amazing and you have yourself a fantastic nanny! You are now officially their employer so be sure to follow all the laws when it comes to paying them and holidays etc. It’s also worth ensuring you have the correct Employer’s Liability insurance in place as if an accident occurs in the home, or on holiday abroad, your nanny could have grounds to sue you for compensation. More information on this is available at www.legalhelpline.co.uk, or speak to a legal expert to be sure you have the right cover in place to protect both yourself and your employee.

- This is a PR collaboration photo credit: Daddy-David a baby's hand - 26/366 via photopin

How to Get Your Family Through A Grandparent’s Passing

Life is a never-ending cycle, and part of that cycle is one day losing your parents. The older they are, the easier it is to accept their passing, though that does not mean you won’t miss them or grieve. For your children, however, losing a beloved grandparent can be heart-breaking. Children thrive on routine, and if their grandparent was close to them, this break in routine could cause a lot of pain and anger. To get through this trying time, you need to work together and support one another.

Teach Your Children About Death Beforehand

One of the worst parts about death is trying to explain to your children that their beloved grandmother or grandfather won’t be coming back. This process, however, will be much easier if you teach your children about death beforehand. That way they can at least understand the principles of what is going on, even if they didn’t expect it to hurt them quite this much.

Getting Through the Paperwork Before the Burial

Unless your parent died in the hospital, chances are there might be an inquest into their death. This will happen if there is any suspicious cause, or if the cause was unknown. For example, if your parent died in a car crash, then an inquest might be made to see if it was the crash or another health issue like a heart attack, that caused the accident. This could be critical, especially if said accident affected anyone else. If your parent died while in care, then this case could be brought to a coroner’s court, especially if there was evidence of foul play or abuse. By knowing what happens at coroners court, you can prepare yourself and your family for the proceedings and help uncover what occurred. This can be a very trying experience, but having professional solicitors by your side can ease the process and uncover the truth.

How to Plan (and Afford) The Funeral

Funerals can be very costly, and unless your parent had money set away or some insurance ready, it would often need to be paid for through your own pocket. You could try and see about sharing the cost with other members of the family – your siblings or your parent’s siblings are all good candidates. If this is not an option, then see if there are financing options or a personal loan you can take out. Funerals are for the family, not the deceased, and you need to do whatever it takes to help you feel that you have done right by your parent and have respectfully laid them to rest.

Bringing Your Family Closer Together

Each person’s grieving process is different. It could take months, weeks, or even years and decades to move on from the pain after a loved one’s passing. You cannot predict how long it will take you to grieve, much less how long it will take your children. That is why you need to bond together as a family. You need to support each other through this trying time so that you can heal, and to never rush someone else’s healing process.

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photo credit: Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com) Peaceful Sunset - Maldives - Travel photography 

Interesting facts you didn’t know about Cornwall

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Cornwall is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK and a favourite among holiday seekers. Although lockdown restrictions have been lifted in the UK, many are still hesitant to travel abroad. A large number of Brits opted for a summer staycation this year, and Cornwall was a popular choice. Cornwall is blessed with hundreds of stunning beaches and coastal towns. It’s the perfect place for a traditional British beach holiday or weekend of relaxation.

After the pandemic, many people are looking to move away from the city lifestyle and into the rural countryside. Good Move found that Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon and Durham are among the best places to live in the UK. Their research was based on population density, crime rates, amount of green space and much more. Cornwall has some of the lowest crimes rates in the country and is a highly sought-after destination.

If you are interested in visiting Cornwall, here are a few facts you might not have known.

Cornwall has the longest coastline in England

It’s no surprise that Cornwall has the longest coastline in all of England’s countries, at a whopping 433 miles. It has more than 300 beaches and plenty of swimming spots. Cornwall is renowned for its breath-taking white beaches and turquoise water. Just be aware, the water is much colder than it looks.

It only has one city

Cornwall is hardly the place to go for a city break. However, it does have one city called Truro, with England’s youngest Cathedral built in 1910.

Cornish pasties contribute millions to the local economy

If you visit Cornwall, you need to try a traditional Cornish pasty. They are simply delicious, and they contribute a staggering £150 million to the local economy.

It’s a popular filming set

The beautiful views are the perfect backdrop for TV shows and movies. Like Poldark and Doc Martin, popular TV shows were filmed in Cornwall, among other famous movies.

It has a lot of history

The UK is brimming with history, and Cornwall is no exception. The coastal county was a Celtic nation back in the day, and its Cornish name was Kernow. Wales, Scotland, Britany, Galicia, and the Isle of Man were also Celtic nations. Cornwall was also involved in the English Civil War, and it remained royalist. The Battle of Lostwithiel in 1644 was only half a mile from Trenython Manor in Cornwall.

There are a few ghosts

There is supposedly a ghost coach with headless horses around Penryn at Christmas time. If you’re visiting Cornwall in the festive season, keep your eyes peeled for him! Cornwall has something to offer for everyone – from tourists to potential property buyers.