5 Rainy Day Activities

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Disclosure - We were sent Chicago Town vouchers to sample their pizza. We have included Chicago Town in this post however the idea, thoughts, opinions and photos in this post are our own.

There is nothing worse than planning a nice day out and you wake up to find it's raining outside. Unfortunately living in the UK this is quite normal so I always make sure I have some rainy day activities planned as a back up plan.

Boy staring out in to the rain

Boy baking a cake


Baking
Little J loves baking so I always make sure I have some simple ingredients in the cupboards which we can turn in to cakes or biscuits. Baking doesn't have to be just about baking you can make it as fun or educational as you wish.

Use the opportunity to encourage some simple maths such as counting out the ingredients or reading the measuring jug.

Be adventurous. Maybe try and bake something you have never tried before especially if you have a fussy eater. This could be your way of introducing new foods.

Sort Out The Toy Box
This may not sound like a fun activity to do on a rainy day but honestly you will be surprised. I always include this activity on a rainy day and it keeps little J busy and entertained. Once I start pulling out all his toys to go through he usually finds things that he has totally forgotten about and will sit and play with them for hours.

boy playing a game
Games
Playing games is fun no matter what the weather. We have so many games to choose from so I usually bring downstairs a handful of games that we haven't played in a while. You can make it fun by adding a score board to see who the ultimate board game winner is or whoever wins the first game gets to choose which game to play next and so on.

Little J also loves to play Top Trumps which is also a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.

iPad or Tablet Time
I usually let little J have his iPad whenever he wants during day and whilst I don't restrict him to a set amount of screen time, he usually comes off after a short time anyway when he is ready to do something else. However on a rainy day he may ask for it a little bit longer as he can't go outside so I will usually let him have his own time on his iPad and then we will do something together on it.

We will play games on it together or he loves apps like Word Cookies where he needs a little bit of help spelling words. He also likes doing maths so we have an app that does basic sums that we play together.

pizza box and harry potter movie

PJ and Movie Day 
I can't speak for anyone else but it is not very often we have a PJ day in our house. There is usually always something we have to get dressed for. It is nice once in a while to let the kids stay in their PJ's and have a PJ and Movie Day. You could even create a cinema night at home.

Let the kids choose the snacks and the movies and enjoy a nice relaxing day on the sofa. The boys love it when we say we will have a movie night and will always choose pizza and popcorn.

Their favourite pizza is Chicago Town Cheesy or Tomato Stuffed Crust pizza and garlic bread. Little J has been a little more adventurous with his pizza toppings recently going for a pepperoni pizza rather than just a plain cheese. Again use this opportunity to let the kids choose what toppings they would like on their pizza or what snacks they would like to share. Children love being involved and you can even let them help prepare the snacks and drinks.

Do you have any favourite rainy day activities?

I’m featured in Twinkl’s Fun Outdoor Activities for Children blog, where you can see other brilliant ideas to keep your children entertained throughout the summer!

Michelle
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What To Pack For A Day Out With The Kids

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Disclosure - This post features gifted products however the idea for this post, opinions and photographs are our own. 

a bag for of essentials for a day out
We are very lucky to go on so many days out with the kids throughout the year. I have become an expert when it comes to packing a bag of essentials that we may need over the course of the day. I thought I would share with you checklist on What To Pack For A Day Out With The Kids.

First we pack a bag that we will carry then we pack a bag that can be left in the car. We usually take a back pack style bag. We have quite a few but our favourite is one we picked up in Walt Disney World. It has lots of different compartments and the perfect size for a day out.

Essentials for the bag we will carry on the day out.

Spare Clothes
Taking a spare set of clothes is essential when travelling with little ones. They tend to get wet, muddy and all other things so having a fresh set of clothes ensures that they can have as much messy fun as they want without it spoiling the rest of your day.

Baby Wipes
Perfect for cleaning hands, faces, shoes, clothes or anything else that might get dirty.

Basic First Aid
We always carry a selection of plasters, calpol for the kids, paracetamol for adults, sudocrem, and piraton.

Sun Protection
We always carry sun cream with us as you never know just how hot it can be sometimes when you head out for the day. The weather can change suddenly and we need to make sure we take care of our skin. We usually wrap it in a sandwich bag to help prevent any leaks.

Drinks and Snacks
If we are taking a packed lunch with us we will usually make sandwiches and take crisps and a biscuit for a treat. Try and avoid chocolate type snacks as they can melt in the bag. We will usually take little J's reusable drinks bottle and then bottles of water for us.

Phone and Portable Charger
Unfortunately my phone battery doesn't last as long as it should anymore so I find that my battery can die quite quickly especially when I am taking photos or videos on it. We use the Zippo Heatbank and whilst it is a great way to recharge my depleted phone battery it also doubles as a hand warmer which is perfect for the chilly days or evenings. I suffer from cold hands so the heatbank has been perfect for keeping them warm and it can last up to 6 hours too.

Spare Change
I always like to carry some spare change with me as you never know when you will need some coins. It could be for a car park or a visit to the ice cream man.

Essentials for the bag we keep in the car.

Swim Clothes and Towel
Days out to the beach or park can usually end up with little J wanting to go in the water or splash park so its important to make sure we swim wear and a towel handy so he can enjoy water play and get dry afterwards.

Spare Shoes / Wellies
Depending on the day out and the wether I will usually take spare shoes and/or wellies with us in the car.

Tablet and Headphones
If the journey is long I will take little J's tablet and headphones in the car to keep him occupied.

What is your 'must pack' essentials for a trip out with the kids?

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If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit 

Visit our Out and About section for more days out ideas

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Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 

Michelle
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Choosing A New Family Vehicle | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Danbury Campervans

a motor van
The time has come to replace my car, and although it's an exciting time as there will be a new shiny car outside of the house early next year, it's also a difficult time as there are so many different choices and types of car these days that it can be a time consuming activity researching to find the perfect car.
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Is This Britain's Most Beautiful Garden? | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Just Landlords
a garden
My Mum and Dad have always been keen gardeners and growing up I think they secretly wished that I would have green fingers too but unfortunately not. I couldn't think of anything worse than sticking my hands in soil and mud and don't even get me started on all those bugs. As I got older my thoughts on gardens and gardening did change and I can understand why people enjoy it so much.
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How To Find Love | AD

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Disclosure - this is a paid post

a couple standing in front of the disney castle
John and I have been together for almost 20 years now and will be celebrating our ten year anniversary next year and whilst I don’t think we will need any dating advice soon, some of our friends relationships didn’t work out and they have had to go and find love again. Here are some ideas on How to Find Love.

More Than Just A Work Colleague
When John and I first started dating the most common way to meet someone would be at work because that is where you spend most of your time. I don't think that this ha changed at all in the last twenty years and I think it’s a good place to start when looking for a new relationship.

I met John at work and although we didn't work in the same location we met once, exchanged numbers and our relationship was just talking on the phone at first, which then led to us going on our first date.

Finding love in work does have is it advantages. You may already know the person, whether they are single, married and if they have any children. You may already be friends with them and have just not been able to take the next step due to already being in a relationship. Dating colleagues also has its disadvantages, if you have an argument or even split up there is no getting away from them as you work together. This can cause problems and can make a person want to leave their current job.

Get Online
When John and I first met we spoke on and offline for months before we actually went on a date. I knew John already so it wasn’t like an online date but nowadays it seems to be a popular choice. It’s quite easy to sign up to free dating sites such as We Love Dates. All you need to do is set up a profile, write about yourself and you’re good to go. As well as others finding you online you can also search the online dating site for a partner that takes your fancy.

Today we live in a world where everything can be done online, banking, ordering food so why not  dating too.

Challenge Yourself
If you have just come out of a relationship and are newly single you may want to find a new hobby that will not only occupy you but also give you the opportunity to meet new people and potential partners.

Sometimes when we are on our own without a partner we find new interests especially if you have just come out of a relationship. You may want to challenge yourself and do things that you would not have done before. Finding a new hobby can be anything from signing up to the gym, joining local groups, volunteering or even going on a solo holiday.

Socialise More
It’s a lot easier to meet new people if you go out socialising. Agree to meeting up with friends for lunch, dinner or a night out on the town and you never know you might just meet the partner of your dreams.

Ask your friends if they know anybody that they could introduce you to. Going on a double date is  a great way to meet someone new but also have someone there with you that you know, so it's not as frightening.

Be Yourself
The best piece of advice is just to be yourself. Do you what you want to do and you never know when love will happen, but it will and sometimes in the most unusual of ways.

Michelle
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Brickburn Paw Patrol Brick Trail | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Brickburn

Paw Patrol lego bricks
We love packing up the car and heading for a day out and this morning we headed to Blackburn to complete the Paw Patrol Brickburn Brick Trail. The idea of the trail is to find all the Paw Patrol characters that are hidden in The Mall, Blackburn and also the surrounding areas. All the figures are made from Lego bricks.

When we arrived at The Mall we headed to the Ask Me Point to pick up a Brick Trail map which included a quiz for the children to complete as they found each character. There are three maps to complete.

brick trail quiz and map sheetThe Brick Trail Quiz is all about the models you will find in and around The Mall. There are 15 questions in total asking you how many people built Skye? or how wide is Paw Patrol HQ?

The Paw Patrol Quiz Map has 10 questions all about the show. Little fans will be sure to know which pup is a lifeguard? or who is the human leader of Paw Patrol?

The Kitten Catastrophe Map and Quiz gives you clues as to where the kittens are hidden. Each location has a code and you need to fill in all 6 codes on the back of the sheet.

brick trail quiz and map sheet
Once you have completed 1, 2 or all 3 quizzes you can hand your sheets back in to be in with the chance of winning £100 vouchers.

It was time for us to begin our trail. First we headed to Debenhams to find our first character, Chase. Each character has information about how many bricks it took to make, how many people and how many hours too as well as other information.

paw patrol lego facts
It was lovely to see lots of other children heading towards Chase with their brick trail map in hand ready to answer the quiz question and get a photo with the popular Paw Patrol character. 

We found all the characters in The Mall. Everest was hiding in Primark, Mayor Goodway was in Virgin Media, Zuma was at the Entertainer and Marshalls Fire Truck was at the Ask Me Point.

 Next we headed downstairs to Blackburn Market to try and find Kitten Catastrophe. For those who are Paw Patrol fans you will know that the kittens look just like the Paw Patrol but they are very mischievous.

paw patrol kittens made out of lego
paw patrol kittens made out of lego
Finding the kittens was our favourite part of the trail. Each kitchen was hidden on a market stall so we had to make our way through the stalls and find all six kittens. They were hidden high to low but we found all six kittens in the end.

We then headed out of The Mall to try and find more Brickburn Brick Trail Paw Patrol characters that were hidden in the surrounding areas.

Blackburn Cathedral
We headed to Blackburn Cathedral. It was a lovely opportunity for us to go inside such a pretty building, something we may never have done without the Paw Patrol Brick Trail. There was a service being held inside the Cathedral so we had to be very quiet although we did let out a little gasp when we saw the Paw Patrol Lookout Tower. It was huge and looked just like the real thing.

If you are looking for something fun to do with the kids then I would definitely recommend heading to The Mall, Blackburn for the Paw Patrol Brick Trail. The trail is available from 23rd August - 1st September 2019. It is lots of fun and I loved watching little J  try to find each character, answer the quiz questions whilst taking in some of the some of Blackburns sights, and best of all it’s free.

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If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit 

Visit our Out and About section for more days out ideas

Like us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram


Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 

Michelle
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MockUps - What Are They and Why Would You Want To Use Them? | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Design Bundles

flatlay of clothes
I have often heard friends talking about using mockups within both their personal and business lives and never really knew what they meant.  Within my blog, I have used backgrounds that I have created and often wished I was gifted at graphic design so that I would be able to have the perfect logo, or the perfect backgrounds for my imagery.

I came across Design Bundles, who offer design packs which contain all kinds of great design goodies such as fonts, hand drawn quotes, images, artwork - that all come with a license allowing you to use the designs as much as you want on whatever you may want to use it on.

When browsing the site, I also found some detail on mockups. The name mockups is actually really accurate for what a mock up actually is. In plain language the mockup template allows you to buy a background, which could contain a model for you to then add your template detail to.  This would be perfect for business who sell unique clothing for example.  The business owner would be able to buy the background, add whatever design or logo they had created to the background using, for example, photoshop and then have the rights to use the final image for promotion before having to spend lots of money on getting the product made, paying a model and photographer, only to find that nobody buys the product!

I have often wondered how small business owners, especially clothing designers can get such brilliant promotional material for their designs when they may not yet have made a great deal of money.  Now I know, and actually its a brilliant way to get some ideas for your own clothes, if you want to have a unique T- Shirt or Sweatshirt, you could use of the sweatshirt mockup designs available from Design Bundles to see exactly how your design would look before committing the funds to something that may not look quite right when it is made.

There are many bundles available on the site, and many of the mockups allow you to not only add your design or logo, but also change the colour of the product and add designs to both front and back.

Each bundle includes the following as standard

Premium License Included With Commercial Use Allowed.

Five Star Technical Support Provided by DesignBundles.net Contact us and our team will help you 24/7.

Unlimited Downloads Your purchases are kept secure by us and can be downloaded an unlimited number of times.

Design Bundles began in July 2016 as a way to provide customers with affordable digital products such as Graphics, Templates, Mock Ups, Patterns, Illustrations and Craft Files. They now have over  1 million users. They boast over 150,000 Marketplace Products and often have free bundles available.  Design Bundles pride themselves on their outstanding reputation for Quality at affordablePrices with Customer Service being a core focus.

Have a browse through the site and not only will you see what is available but you will learn a lot about how much use a bundle could actually be for you.

Michelle
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My Home Improvements Wishlist | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Three Counties. The idea for this post, thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

photograph of a kitchen
A few years ago we finally had a much needed makeover of our house. It was something that we know we needed however we always seemed to spend our money on holidays or other things and the house just got pushed further and further down the 'to do' list. For a long time I fell out of love with our home, I really didn't like it. There was paint chipped off the walls but we never repainted over it. The kitchen cupboards were old and not very nice to look at but we never changed them. I think we lost all respect for the house and it was a place I didn't really want to spend a lot of time in. Making the decision to spend so much money giving our whole house a makeover was hard but it was definitely worth it. I love our home again and it's a place that I feel comfortable and happy in.

photograph of a kitchen
When I'm working from home I sit in the kitchen / dining area and love looking out in to the garden. This is something I would have never done before the makeover. Our kitchen is so much brighter now than it was before. In our old kitchen we only had a small window and a door to the garden. The colour scheme combined with the lack of daylight peering in through the window made the kitchen a dark space, a space I never wanted to spend time in. When we were upgrading our kitchen to a new colour scheme our builder actually spoke to us about the possibility of combining the door and small window with one large window. At the time I thought it seemed like a lot of hard work for very little in return however I was wrong. Having one large window and moving the door to the garden over to the far side of the kitchen has created so much light. It has completely changed the kitchen and the amount of light we get now is amazing. It's such a nice feeling seeing the sun shine in while you are making breakfast.

Once we had finished I thought we were done but I have already started to make a home improvement wish list for the future. I would love to have an extension or conservatory on the back of our home. It would be nice to have another room to choose from downstairs especially now that big J is a teenager. He likes to invite friends round and sometimes his bedroom isn't suitable for the amount of people he has over. I did worry that putting an extension on the back may reduce the amount of light that we have in the kitchen however choosing an aluminium lantern roof would create so much light in to any dark space.

I would also like to convert our loft in to a room. I've seen it done on t.v and it's amazing how much space is up there. Our loft doesn't have boards down so it's basically just beams up there so we would have to get the whole loft boarded first then look in to whether it could be converted or not. I don't think I would like to sleep up there but it would be nice to have a 'chill room' that the boys could go up to with their friends.

They are my main two home improvement plans for the future but it's nice to think that we can keep improving our home rather than moving as I love our home now and would never want to leave.

Michelle
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Snap Your Summer And Win With Swizzels

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Disclosure - We were gifted a range of Swizzels sweets and merchandise for the purpose of this post.

Swizzels sweets and cup
We have had a very busy Summer this year driving up and down the country visiting various theme parks and attractions. Whenever we plan a day out with the kids we always make sure that we take plenty of snacks and treats to keep them happy on the journey.


This Summer Swizzels are running a ‘Snap Your Summer’ Competition as part of their huge ‘Fun in the Sun’ summer campaign through July, August and September. The competition asks entrants to Snap their Summer by taking a picture of a Swizzels product while on a day trip or holiday and sharing on social or through the website entry page. They can win a £5000 holiday with On the Beach, and daily prizes from their new exclusive Swizzels Merchandise range.

I have submitted our entry but if you would like to submit an entry to be in with the chance to win, all you need to do is upload your photo using the form on the Swizzels Website

Good Luck

Michelle
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Hape Anywhere Art Studio | Review

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Disclosure - We were sent the Hape Anywhere Art studio for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

Hape Anywhere Art studio
We have been very lucky this Summer to be able to get away for a few days visiting different parts of the country. I usually pack a variety of toys to keep little J busy when we are travelling or staying over in a hotel but this time I only took with us the Hape Anywhere Art Studio that we had been sent to review.

The Hape Anywhere Art Studio is a portable tabletop easel which has a whiteboard on one side a chalk board on the other.


Hape Anywhere Art Studio
When you are ready to play you prop the easel up turning the adjustable knobs tightly so that the easel holds in place.

That is it. Your easel is ready to play with and all you need to do is to decide whether you want to use the whiteboard or the chalk board side.

Hape Anywhere Art Studio
If using the whiteboard side then you can choose to use whiteboard markers directly in the board (whiteboard markers are not included) or you can use the magnet to hold a piece of paper in place and draw directly on to the paper. The choice is yours.

Hape Anywhere Art Studio
If using the chalk board then you can use one of the two chunky chalks that are included to create your drawing. When you are finished you can use the eraser to rub it out and start again.

The Hape Anywhere Art Studio is perfect to play with at home or even when you are out and about. Little J absolutely loves drawing, painting and any other creative activities he can think of. The Anywhere Art Studio is completely portable and also very easy to set up. It's been ideal for us this Summer while we have been travelling around and little J loves it.

For more information visit Hape. The Anywhere Art Studio is available to buy in most good toy stores or online

Michelle

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Top Tips for Leaving Your Kids Home Alone | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with St Chris 

boy looking out of the window
As a parent there are different stages of your child's life that can cause worry and stress. For me one of those stages was when big J asked me if he could be left at home alone. My heart sank and to be honest I froze. I had never thought of leaving him home alone even just to pop to the local shop because I honestly didn't feel he was old enough. I instantly googled and I found that there isn't actually a set age you just need to be sure that the child you are leaving at home is not at risk.

prep school in Hertfordshire has some pointers on how to help you prepare for leaving your child at home without you.

Before leaving your child at home alone, make sure you know that they are ready and that they feel comfortable. Don’t leave them if they are showing signs of distress about it. You know your child better than anyone and how well they can handle certain situations or deal with problems. Ask them if they have any concerns about being left alone and if they do, address them appropriately.

Discuss potential emergencies with your child, such as power cuts, a fire or a stranger at the door. Make sure that they know what to do in each of these situations and leave them with the phone numbers of several responsible adults that they can call if any of these things happen. It’s also important to let them know where you are going to be and what time you’ll be back.

If they have social media, let them know the importance of cyber safety and that they shouldn’t tell anyone online that they are home alone. Talk to them about what they are going to do when you’re gone to fill the time. You must ensure that they know how to safely operate equipment in the kitchen, such as the kettle and the microwave.

It is recommended that you call your child every now again when you’re gone, just to see how they’re getting on. Alternatively, you could ask a neighbour or someone else you trust to pop in and check on them.

Leaving your child home alone for the first time is enough to make any parent feel nervous or for me physically ill. However I know that the time will come that Big J will be left home alone and with some planning I am hoping that it makes us both feel more at ease about the situation.

Michelle
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What To Do If Your Child Is Performing Poorly At School | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with St Hilda's School

An academic diary and pens
We all want to see our children do well in school however there may be times when their performance slips and their grades being to fall. This can be caused by a simple lack of motivation; however it is important not to ignore poor performance at school, as the issue could be something more serious such as a learning difficulty or bullying.

If you have noticed a decline in your child’s academic performance, it is important to address the issue as soon as possible. Here are some helpful tips from St Hilda’s School on what to do if your child is performing poorly at school.

Firstly it is vital that you to talk to your child and try to understand what could be causing the issue. Ask them how they feel about school and if they are having any difficulties with their work. Are they having any problems with friends or teachers? Let them know that you want to help and that you are always there to listen.

It is also important to speak to your child’s teachers. They may have also noticed that your child is having difficulties and you will be able to work together to help them. If a learning disability is suspected they will be able to provide guidance and support and may even be able to offer an assessment to identify the issue.


Make homework a part of your family’s everyday routine and be there to offer help if your child needs it. It is also a great idea to make a dedicated space for your child to study. This space should be quiet and comfortable and away from any distractions, such as the television or younger family members.


Be sure to praise your child’s efforts and try not to be too hard on them if they do not achieve the grades you expected. Anger and frustration will only cause your child to feel like a disappointment and push them further away. Instead it is important to discuss where your child struggled and how you can help them to improve.

Michelle
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Teaching Your Kids to Respect The School Rules | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Brampton College

blackboard with 'Our School Rules' written on
We are so lucky to be able to say that both boys have never been 'naughty' in school to the point were we have had to be called in. Although the oldest would deny it now they both are really happy at school and enjoy it. They have never not wanted to attend. We have always made sure that the boys know just how important school is and that they should try to be as good as they can be while they are there.

Teaching your children to respect school can help them to succeed academically. Brampton College have a few ideas on how you can help your child to respect school rules.

The first step towards teaching your child to respect school rules is to ensure they understand what respect means and the difference between respectful and disrespectful behaviour. It is important to demonstrate respectful behaviour at home and to teach your child to always be respectful to others.

Teaching your child how to speak to teachers and fellow students will help them to make friends and gain a favourable reputation at their school. Teach your child to always speak to others as they wish to be spoken to and stress that in the classroom it is particularly important to speak politely and to never use unacceptable language.

Behaviour is another important factor in school rules. Again you should teach your children to behave respectfully and to treat others as they wish to be treated. In the classroom they should always listen to their teacher and do as they are asked, without argument.

School rules often include instructions on how to treat school property and how to respect the environment. Children should understand that they must never cause damage to school property and they should always put rubbish into bins and follow the school’s recycling rules. It is essential that they take pride in their school environment and want to play a part in keeping it clean and safe.

Teach your children to value their own learning and success. They should demonstrate this by being on time to school, working to the best of their ability, completing homework and asking for help if they need it.

Lastly, when teaching your children to respect school rules, it is vital that they understand the importance of creating a positive learning environment. They should always listen to and value other people’s ideas and opinions.

I think it is important to teach your child right from the beginning of their school journey just how important school is. Do you have any little ones starting school this September? Do they understand just how important school is?

Michelle
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