How to Raise An Optimistic Child | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid post

Optimism is key for a confident and happy life. It gives us the power to be positive and take on challenges with an assured sense of self, even if there are hurdles in the way. Parents should help their children become more optimistic so that they are better equipped to manage any of the inevitable setbacks throughout their education and personal life. Without an optimistic approach, your child will be more likely to struggle in school, especially when it comes to exams. I have teamed up with an independent school near Wellingborough to offer parents the following advice when it comes to raising an optimistic child.

The best thing you can do when helping your child develop a particular mindset or skill is to lead by example. In other words, if you want your child to have a positive and optimistic approach to life, be optimistic and positive yourself. For instance, if you say things like “I hated school when I was your age”, your child will probably start to develop a similar outlook. Alternatively, if you talk about all of the valuable benefits of school, such as the talents that are explored and the relationships that are formed, your child will feel the same. When things go wrong for your child, like they don’t get the grades they were hoping for, don’t be too hard on them. Instead, remind them that they can learn from their mistakes and that you a proud of them for trying their best.

Essentially, the idea is to teach your child that life is full of ups and downs but we shouldn’t let them hold us back. Everyone makes mistakes and if they can learn that from a young age, they will be able to overcome obstacles with confidence. Encourage your child to talk about what they’re grateful for on a regular basis, even if it’s something that seems minor, like hugging a relative or having food on the table. The aim here is to help your child see life from a positive standpoint so that they can feel excited about the future.

Remember that your child won’t be optimistic all the time; there will be points in their life when they’re feeling anxious or disappointed. It’s up to you, as a parent, to remind them that they have your full support no matter what and that the way they’re feeling is only temporary.

Michelle

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Helping Your Child Prepare For The School Bus | AD

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The first time a child travels alone can be a momentous occasion. It’s a huge undertaking for smaller children but is also a great way for a child to build confidence and become more independent. If your child needs to catch a school bus alone for the first time, then you’re probably feeling quite apprehensive about it.

You might have various concerns – how will your child cope if they need to visit the toilet? What if they feel afraid? What if another child is mean to them? What if they get off at the wrong stop?
These are all valid concerns but the best way to tackle them is to ensure that your child is well-prepared for any eventuality. Here's some advice from a private school in Hertfordshire

First things first. Most buses for schools have a designated supervisor. This is an adult who is in charge – this is the case for school buses on which younger children travel. Make sure that your child knows who this person is and that they are a safe person to go to if they need help.

For older children, there may not be a designated helper and in that case, it’s vital that your child knows what to do if they do need help. Smaller children should be encouraged to visit the bathroom before their journey and also reassured that the bus will always take them to the right place.
They should also be encouraged to speak up if they feel uncomfortable or unhappy at any point in their journey.

Talking about destinations. Your child, especially primary aged, should be helped to understand that the bus will make more than one stop before reaching the school. This information is something an adult takes for granted but a small child doesn’t always have the experience to understand details like this.

When the bus stops, unless you’ve explained to them how buses work, they may feel worried that they should have got off. Tell them that when the bus reaches school, all the children will get off – and that the bus stops before then to let other children get on.

Catching the bus home. Talk to your child’s teacher before your child begins catching the bus. Learn about the protocol for children who catch buses. Will they be taken to the bus stop? Or expected to go to the stop themselves? How does it all work?


Once you know, you can share the information with your child so that they know what to expect. A child who is able to manage public transport well, will generally be a more confident and capable child than one who is driven everywhere. If your child is not used to buses, take some trips with them before their school journeys begin. This is a fun way to help them learn all about travelling on a bus.

Michelle

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Go Ape At Delamere Forest

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Little J has been asking us for weeks if we could book to do Go Ape. Obviously with the situation at the moment we have been putting it off however over the past few weeks we have been out and about more so last week we booked to go on a Tree Top Adventure at Go Ape, Delamere Forest. 

We pre booked our tickets online which is advisable as it was almost full. The timed slot we chose was the only one that day that could accommodate us all. 

We arrived about 15 minutes before our time and were quickly checked in, given our wristbands and shown the way to the Tree Top Adventure Course. 

The Tree Top Adventure Course is suitable for both adults and children and lasts 1 hour. 

Staff lay out harnesses on the floor for your party and ask you to step in to them however they were on hand to help if needed. Once the boys were in their harnesses they were shown the demo area for a safety briefing. 

The demo area is a small platform which gives you an idea on how to walk with your harness attached at all times. The boys were told that there is no more than one adult and one child allowed on an obstacle at any one time and only 3 people on each podium in between the obstacles. 

There are two courses within the tree top adventure. Course 1 and Course 2, you can choose to do either or both depending on how much time you have left. 

Once the safety briefing was done they were free to head up in to the trees. They chose course 1 first. I stayed safe on the ground below watching them as they took on the obstacles. It is actually really high but they looked liked they were having lots of fun. 

You are advised to wear gloves. We brought our own. Its protection for your hands as you are attached to a metal wire which you glide your safety harness belt across as you move. 

The course took them approx 15 minutes and at the end there is a zip wire that brings them back to the ground. This was definitely a highlight. 

You can go around the courses as many times as you want within your 1 hour time slot. Course 1 is a little tricky at times but they loved it. Little J was unsure about course 2 as it has more wobbly obstacles so they stuck with course 1, maybe next time!

I wasn't worried about little J being up so high as I knew he had his brother and dad up there with him to help if he needed it. While they were up there a young boy with his brother started to cry, he wanted to get down however you can't once you are up there you have to keep going. 

A member of staff was soon up next to him and was really good with him encouraging him to keep going and finish the course with the staff member behind him. 

If you are spectating there are plenty of benches underneath the course for you to sit at. With regards to social distancing it was quite hard on the ground as people were walking around, watching and taking photographs of their children or family but as long as you try your best then you should be okay.

After the boys had finished their harnesses were popped over the fence and sprayed with anti bac.

The Tree Top Adventure course cost us £19 each for both adults and children. Time slots run every 15 minutes from 10am-4:15pm

It is worth noting that Go Ape, Delamere Forest has it's own car park and you pay at a machine. It only takes cash, there are no card payments. 

There is a toilet block in the car park however this was closed. The nearest toilets were in the Station cafe about 5 minutes walk away however to use the toilets you do have to be a paying customer. We bought some take out drinks after using the toilets.  

The boys had a great time and I would definitely recommend it.

Go Ape have a range of courses and sites throughout the UK. Have a read about the Go Ape Treetop Challenge at Bedgebury

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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 Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Buy Us A Virtual Coffee

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

Michelle

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Preparing Children For Their Future Career | AD

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The job market is saturated with graduates and other professionals looking to start a new career, making it quite the challenge to compete for a position in a suitable job. With that said, it’s absolutely crucial for secondary schools, in particular, to focus on academic success and acquiring appropriate qualifications. It’s also important for educators and parents to help guide children to make sensible decisions with regards to their subject choices, so that they are reflective of their career aspirations.

Offering widespread and skilled career guidance from as early as year 7 is an obvious priority at King Edward’s Witley, an independent school in Surrey for children aged 11 – 18 years old.  The school provides a variety of resources to young people to help them comprehend the vast array of opportunities that await them once they’ve finished their A Levels or IB studies. In fact, careers advice is a huge feature within their curriculum. This is particularly evident at the Careers Fairs, which feature keynote speakers and alumni, where some of the older students are able to learn a little more about their options going forward and feel motivated by the success of others.

In a recent interview, leader of King Edward’s Witley, Joanna Wright, has stated that integrity and resilience are two of the key elements of successful leadership in 2020. With that said, it’s important for schools to be as honest with their students as possible when it comes to their future, while making it strong priority to open pupils’ eyes to the world of work. Most schools achieve this goal through a range of extra-curricular activities, where various skills can be learnt and the importance of dedication and teamwork are uncovered.

Helping pupils recognise the most appropriate route to achieve their personal goals, whether this includes securing a role in the working environment or at a university of their choice, is of supreme importance for teaching, as is preparing young people with an ethical and well-rounded outlook on life and the skills required to succeed in the next stage of their journey towards adulthood.

Michelle

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The Adventures Of Paddington DVD | Giveaway

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Disclosure - We were gifted a cop of The Adventures of Paddington vol.1 and 2 plus another to giveaway. 

The second volume of the popular Nick Jr. animated TV series The Adventures of Paddington is out now now on DVD. A new version of a most familiar bear returns in The Adventures of Paddington  – Paddington Flies A Kite & Other Episodes!

A heart-warming show about being curious, being good to others, and being part of a loving family. The series features a brand-new theme song “Paddington Bear” written and performed by one of Britain's most successful musicians, Gary Barlow (Take That). Ben Whishaw (Paddington 1 & 2) reprises his role as the voice of everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear and is joined by new cast members including Morwenna Banks, Darren Boyd and more. 

To celebrate the release of The Adventures of Paddington - Paddington Flies A Kite & Other Episodes, we have a copy of both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 of the series to give away to one lucky winner. 

For a chance to win, answer the question below - 

 

Who voices Paddington Bear inThe Adventures of Paddington?

A) Gary Barlow

B) Ben Whishaw 

C) Paddy McGuiness  

Once you have commented with the answer make sure you check out the entry form for bonus chances to win.

Good Luck

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Michelle

Terms

Competition closes on Sunday 23rd August 2020

Entrants must have a valid UK address. 

Bulk, third party or any other entries using automated software will be disqualified. 

All entrants and entries are checked and verified. 

1 lucky winner will be chosen at random by the Gleam application. 

Playdays and Runways will contact the lucky winners within 7 days of the competition closing. 

The winners will be emailed to the email address given at the time of entering. 

The winners must respond within 28 days, if no response a new winner will be chosen. 

This prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative 

The Prize : The Adventures of Paddington DVD

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Tips On How To Keep Your Teeth Looking Clean and Healthy

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Disclosure - This is a paid post and contains gifted products however the idea for this post, opinions and photographs are our own. 

As a family we all know how important it is to look after our teeth. We have always brushed our teeth at least twice a day and teeth brushing is a huge part of our morning and our bedtime routine. As the boys get older we have made sure that they understand that whilst brushing their teeth is important there are other ways to keep their teeth healthy and looking clean. Here are our top tips on how to keep your teeth looking clean and healthy.

Brush Your Teeth At Least Twice A Day

It is really important to brush your teeth before bedtime and at least once more throughout the day. Brushing your teeth before bed helps to prevent plaque build up and tooth decay. 

Floss 

It is recommended that anyone over the age of 12 should floss daily to help remove any plaque build up or food that has been stuck in-between their gums.

Make It Fun

If little ones don't like to brush their teeth you can make it more fun by playing a song while they brush, or buying a character branded toothbrush or toothpaste. We use a 2 minute song that we play while we are brushing.

Eat A Healthy Diet

Whenever you eat or drink you are at a risk of tooth decay however eating a balanced diet which includes fruit and vegetables can help to keep your teeth healthy.

Choose Your Drinks Carefully

Sugary drinks can be harmful to your teeth and can cause tooth decay. If you choose to have a sugary drink then it is best to enjoy these at mealtimes.

Also certain drinks such as tea and coffee can stain your teeth so it is important to visit your hygienist  who can clean your teeth to help prevent staining. You can also choose products to use at home that can help whiten your teeth. We use Colgate Max White which is enamel safe and can be used daily. It is whitening product that boasts removing up to 100% of surface stains.

Change Your Toothbrush

It is recommended that you change your toothbrush at least once every 3-4 months. We have just changed our toothbrushes recently and you can instantly notice the difference.

Visit Your Dentist

Visiting your dentist every 6 months for a checkup is so important. It allows the dentist to check not only your teeth, but your gums too.

Looking after your teeth is not only important for your health, but can make you feel more confident in yourself.

Michelle

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Play Session At Legoland Discovery Centre, Manchester

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We have been Merlin pass holders for years now and I actually can’t remember when we didn’t own annual passes. We visit Alton Towers the most throughout the year however as there are more attractions now in the North we can now choose from the Tower, the Sea Life centre and Madame Tussaud’s in Blackpool and the Legoland Discovery Centre and Sea Life Centre in Manchester.

We have been to the Legoland Discovery Centre many times in the past. It is in the Trafford Centre which is just outside of Manchester City centre. Last week we visited for the first time since lockdown and if I am honest it was our favourite visit to the centre by far.




The Legoland Discovery Centre is working on two play sessions per day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each session runs for approximately two hours and has to be pre-booked




We arrived 10 minutes before our afternoon session began and there was quite a queue as everyone was getting their tickets checked and also their temperature. Once inside we were given the rules of how the two hours play session work. As you enter the main part of the attraction you are encouraged to go on the ride Kingdom Quest. The ride is closed at approximately 1 hour after the session begins allowing everyone to take a turn on the ride.




Kingdom Quest is a small ride inside the centre. The ride takes you around the kingdom and every now and then stops in front of a large screen where are you then pick up your gun and shoot at the screen to score points and try and save the princess. The duration of the ride is probably less than five minutes long but lots of fun.



Next we headed into Miniland which was unusually quiet. Miniland is a smaller version of the Miniland at Legoland Windsor. It is made up of attractions from the North West. The attractions are made out of Lego such as a football stadium, horse racing stand, Blackpool promenade and Alton Towers.




The boys got to play on the football mini game, watch oblivion at Alton Towers and see Blackpool turn from light to darkness.




After a quick toilet break we then decided to pay for the boys to go on the VR attraction. It costs £5 per person unless you are an annual pass holder and it will then cost £2.50 each. The boys seemed to enjoy the VR experience however it was less than two minutes long so at £5 per person it seems quite expensive.




If you have been to Legoland Discovery Centre before you will know that the main area is for Lego building, especially cars. This Area is still available however you are given your own bag of Lego bricks which stay with you throughout the session. So you can still enjoy making and racing cars however as it’s your own bricks there is no cross contamination. Once you finish you hand them back and you receive a pop badge. 




Other attractions available are the Ninjago climbing wall, Merlins Apprentice ride, the 4D cinema and the café.




Whilst at the centre it was so easy to enjoy the attractions and building without it being overcrowded which it has been many times in the past. For us it was definitely more enjoyable as we where building. We had our own space, own lego bricks, and the queues for the rides and the Ninjago wall where short. 




The Ninjago soft play and the toddler play area towards the back of the centre are closed for now and also the Forest Pursuit electric car ride.

Towards the end of our session we headed to the café for a quick drink and snack before heading home.




I would definitely recommend heading to the Legoland discovery Centre in Manchester this summer.Two hours was plenty of time to enjoy all the attractions and have a good building session too. Having the space to play and build without lots of kids running round made it more enjoyable. Masks have to  be worn inside the Trafford Centre however once inside the Legoland discovery you can take your mask off should you wish. You have to put the mask back on as you exit through the gift shop at the end of your session. 

Overall, we enjoyed this more than any time we have been before. The social distancing requirements have made the attraction a more relaxing environment for all. 

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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 Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Buy Us A Virtual Coffee

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

Michelle

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Summer Holiday | Living Arrows 31/52

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Last week we should have been heading to Greece for our Summer holiday. Unfortunately like so many others our holiday was cancelled. It took us weeks to decide on Greece as we usually go to Cyprus for a beach holiday or head to Disney for some magical fun, so this would have been a new adventure for us. However things don't always go as planned and although we were a little sad at first, we have just got on with it, like pretty much this whole year so far. This year we will be enjoying our two week Summer holiday at home and first we headed to the beach on what was supposed to be a very sunny day, although it turned cloudy and tried to rain a few times but I suppose that's the Great British weather for you. 

Luckily for us the beach wasn't busy and although we are not the type of family that will sit on a beach for hours playing in the sand, we did enjoy looking at shells, throwing stones in the sea, we found a few crabs and a washed up jellyfish and of course we wrote our names in the sand. 

A visit to the arcade was next and it was extremely busy so although not mandatory we popped on our masks and headed to the 10p machines. Unfortunately all the 2p machines were being used but luckily we did walk away winners.

Before the weather decided to turn for the worst we found a large grass area and played some football. It was just us so we had lots of space to run around, play penalty shoot outs and have a picnic. 

It may not have been the start to the our two week Summer holiday that we were expecting but it was a lovely day and hopefully the first of many this month.

Michelle

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth

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Ways To Make An Adults Birthday Special

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Disclosure - We received gifts from Moonpig to help us celebrate John's birthday. The idea for this post, thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

This month we celebrated the last of our four birthdays, the rest of our birthdays were in lockdown with little J's being right at the beginning and mine and big J's a few months ago. We had huge plans to celebrate this year with an 18th, 40th and 10 years married but unfortunately there were no huge celebrations as we were in lockdown. As John's birthday is in July we are usually on holiday however this year is the first year we haven't celebrated it abroad so we wanted to make John's birthday as special as possible. Birthdays are not just for kids, there are lots of ways to make an adult birthday special.

Decorate The House
No matter how old you are it's nice to see birthday banners and balloons around the house on your birthday.

Start The Day With Their Favourite Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and on your birthday it's even more important. Give the birthday boy or girl their favourite breakfast to help kick off their birthday celebrations.

Personalised Cards
I am a huge fan of personalised and unique cards. You can create a card for the birthday boy or girl with a unique message or you can even upload photographs to make the card more personalised. As we celebrated 3 of our birthdays during lockdown we had to order cards online and I was so happy with how much choice was available on Moonpig we used them again for Johns birthday.

Choose The Perfect Gifts
Find out what your birthday boy or girl likes or enjoys and find the perfect gift for them. It's not about giving the most expensive or biggest gift it's the most thoughtful gift that is usually the most appreciated. We found so many suitable gifts on Moonpig. They have lots to choose from and can be personalised too.

Hunt The Presents
Treasure hunts are not just for the kids, adults love them too. Hide all the birthday presents and give clues to help the birthday boy or girl hunt down their presents. It's also fun for the kids to join in too and help find the presents.

Party Time
Parties come in all sizes. Some people like huge parties with their family and friends whilst others prefer to spend their birthdays at home with just their immediate family. Plan a party to help celebrate their special day whether its a party for 40 or just for 4 it can still be as special as the other.

Plan A Special Day
If a party isn't on the menu then plan a special day just for them. Think about what they enjoy and how you think they would like to spend their day. Maybe a trip to the spa, a round of golf or afternoon tea.

Give Them The Gift Of Time
Spending time with the birthday boy or girl shows you care. Maybe sit down together and watch that movie that they are desperate to see, cook them their favourite meal and enjoy it together or spend time doing something they really enjoy but you wouldn't usually be interested in such as gaming.

There are so many ways to make a birthday special for adults and these are just a few of our favourites.

If you would like to receive a free card from Moonpig all you need to do is download the app, purchase any gift and enter the code APPFREEWGIFT.

John had a lovely birthday at home and even though we were not in Greece as planned he had a very special day.

Michelle

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Starting Juniors With Treads Shoes

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Disclosure - We were gifted a pair of Treads shoes for the purpose of this post. Any thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

Way back in March we went shopping for little J's Summer uniform. There is something so special about buying white polo shirts, shorts and new school shoes to start off the Summer term. Unfortunately the uniform is still in his wardrobe unworn and his new Treads shoes have not left the box as his school closed shortly after.

Unfortunately by the time he needs a Summer uniform next year it will no longer fit but luckily I did order a size up in his shoes so they fit perfect ready for him to start Juniors in September.

When Treads asked me to choose a pair of shoes for little J I knew I would have to choose a wider fit shoe as he has very broad feet and also a shoe that gives protection at the front so he can play football and sports and they don't look worn after the first day. Luckily every Treads shoe has those key features so I was able to browse the entire collection.

Why Choose Treads?

Reinforced Heals to help prevent splitting through stamping
Permair Leather offers a breathable and water resistant shoe
Reinforced Seams for additional strength
Easy Clean
Scuff Proof to withstand bumps and scrapes
Texon Cellulose Board reinforces the sole
Removable EVA Foot Bed to covert the shoe to a wider fit
Fashionable
Velcro Straps shoes are available
12 Month Guarantee

If you are worried about buying online Treads shoes do offer you the chance to buy a measure gauge or download a paper measure then try their size calculator. If you do purchase the wrong size you can use the free returns to get a refund or exchange.

The style we chose is called Madrid which was one of three pairs that offered velcro straps, which is a must for little J. They are sturdy but not to chunky, we can choose wider fit and we love the scuff proof design at the front which will hopefully keep his shoes looking new for longer.

I will update this page once School starts again letting you know more about the quality after wearing, fit and comfort. 

Michelle

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Biscoff and Banana Weetabix Waffles | Recipe

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This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies. 

I have been following Slimming World now for few weeks and I have been trying out different recipes and also creating my own as I go. One of my favourites so far is Biscoff and Banana Waffles using Weetabix. They are really good and definitely fill me up till lunch time if not longer.

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Geomag Mechanics Gravity Magnetic Track | Review

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Disclosure - We were sent the product below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. This post contains affiliate links. 

Little J is now at the age were he doesn't really enjoy playing with 'toys' anymore. He is more interested in technology and building and he loves to learn. Over the past few weeks we have introduced STEM in to our daily routine and little J has enjoyed creating the Geomag Gravity Magnetic Track.

Geomag Mechanics helps children to explore the world of the magical invisible forces of magnetism and gravity. Gravity represents an innovative evolution in the Geomag Mechanics products available. The “Gravity Motor” in the new range uses the weight of the Geomag spheres to trigger movement in the Mechanics constructions and there is no need for electric or battery motors.

The Magnetic Track comes with 115 pieces and is suitable for those 7+ which is the perfect age range for little J. The idea behind the set is you can construct a track using various different pieces to create a magnetic cannon that fires a ball around the track and then a magnetic catcher catches the ball before it falls off the track. This is easier said than done.

The instructions manual gives you the choice of two models to build and little J chose model 2 first. After following all the steps and with a lot of adult help and supervision the track took 90 minutes to build.

It's not particularly hard to build but there are a lot of steps and also a lot of 'fiddly' bits which sometimes did not fit right on the track or into the adding piece.

It was a relief when it was finally built and it was great to see our ball whizzing around the track using the magnetic cannon.

We have yet to build model 1 but little J is looking forward to it so that's a good sign.

What We Loved
Giving little J some understanding of how magnets work.
The chance to work together to create the track.
Sense of achievement at the end.
Watching the ball whizz around the track.

What Could Improve
Some of the pieces did not fit together properly which can lead to frustration.

The Mechanics Gravity is a truly STEM product, stimulating all levels of scientific exploration and I know it will make home schooling more fun over the Summer. For more information about the Gravity range head over to Geomag.

Michelle

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Easy Read Books Suitable For 7-9 Year Olds

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Disclosure - This post contains gifted items. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. This post contains affiliate links. 

Little J is at the age now were he can sit alone and read a book. Reading a book is not something that we make him do as we want him to enjoy reading as much as we do. At first he read a chapter of a book that was given to us from his school as part of his reading homework and he really enjoyed it so we gathered a selection of books that are easy read books suitable for 7-9 year olds.

We have a large selection of Early Reader Horrid Henry books that we bought so we started with these. They are adapted versions of the books with smaller chapters and illustrations. They were a great starter for learning to read alone.

Horrid Henry hates car journeys - especially when it means going to visit Prissy Polly and Pimply Paul, and missing Rude Ralph's birthday party. Watch out, Mum and Dad, because Henry is prepared to do whatever it takes to get out of this trip.

Dirty Bertie Totally Epic has 3 books in 1 Burp, Monster and Disco. Dirty Bertie is gross, grubby and a trouble magnet but lots of fun and has little J laughing to himself. He is currently 99 pages in and just about to start Monster. He hasn't asked for help at all with the words used in the book yet and seems to be really enjoying it.

Dragon Detective : Schools Out is a book we have been reading together before bedtime. Little J is able to read most of the words however there are a few that he doesn't understand or cannot pronounce so it's nice to have us there to help him with it.

Holly is desperate to be sleuthing with her partner-in-solving-crime, dragon Dirk Dilly, but instead she’s stuck at her exclusive boarding school for children of the rich and famous. She’s determined to escape, until she meets Callum, the son of the Prime Minister, who claims he was kidnapped by dragons a year ago and hasn’t been the same since. And when Dirk’s own investigation into dragon activity brings him to the school, the two cases collide. What if Callum isn't as crazy as he seems?

Next on the 'to read' list is Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. We have just started watching the movies and he is really enjoying them so I know he will like the books. I like the idea of him watching the movies first so that he can imagine the characters and the settings whilst reading.

Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into a new year and a new school where undersize weaklings share the corridors with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving. Desperate to prove his new found maturity, which only going up a grade can bring, Greg is happy to have his not-quite-so-cool sidekick, Rowley, along for the ride. But when Rowley's star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend's popularity to his own advantage. Recorded in his diary with comic pictures and his very own words, this test of Greg and Rowley's friendship unfolds with hilarious results.

Mug The Wumph The Dancing Wizard is a new addition to our collection for 7-9 year olds and little J is very excited to read this one. We have had a flick through and it looks perfect for his reading ability and I cannot wait to hear all about it.

Minty Taylor dreams of a life less ordinary. Then, one day, she discovers a coin that transports her on an epic magical adventure. Little does she realise the owner of the coin is none other than Mug the Wumph the Dancing Wizard. At every twist and turn you will root for Minty as she uses her intuition and bravery to help thwart the evil plans of the dark and grisly Grimacant…This is the first novel for children from Nicola J Rowley, the bestselling author of James and the Amazing Gift and the multi-award-winning James and the Birthday Balloon. 

I think these book will keep little J busy throughout the Summer. I love that he enjoys reading and I am looking forward to watching his book collection grow.

Michelle

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Town, Zoom and Milkshake | Living Arrows 28/52

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This week we had our first trip into town. Up until now we have had no need to visit any shops so have avoided our main town centre however big J was on the lookout for new trainers so we decided to head to town. Little J was very nervous but still wanted to go. Luckily this mirror illusion in Footasylum kept him busy whilst John and Big J tried on trainers. He couldn't work it out and spent ages staring at it. 

Town wasn't as busy as I had thought however not many people were wearing masks, I would probably say less than 10%. It made me feel a little uneasy and I was actually glad when we left.

Little J's class had arranged a zoom call this week and although he was very nervous he decided he wanted to take part. It was actually really lovely to see all the kids faces and how happy they all were despite being at home for so long and missing their friends. It's juniors next year for little J so it's big changes. I wish he was able to meet his new teachers and visit his new classroom like some other schools have done but unfortunately his school haven't given us that option. 

Sunday was a treat day and both boys chose a visit to the local milkshake shop. I told little J to just drink half of his shake as it was huge and it was late afternoon and I didn't want it to spoil his dinner. He ignored me and decided to hide it under the table and drank it thinking I couldn't see. He actually finished it all and was too full for dinner but he really enjoyed his milkshake.

Michelle

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth

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