How to Motivate Your Child To Do Their Homework | AD

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It can be a battle for parents to motivate their children to do their homework; but homework doesn’t always have to cause a war at home! In fact, there are lots of ways you can make homework feel fun and less of a chore. Follow these helpful tips from a Nursery & Pre-Prep School in Romsey to help motivate your child to do their homework.

Make A Routine

As parents, we understand the importance of helping children to develop a routine. That applies to homework, too. Teachers recommend that children should try and do their homework at the same time, in the same place and on a regular basis, so that starting homework becomes a part of their daily routine.

Create A Desk Space

To help motivate your child to learn, you could create a special desk space for homework, reading or art and crafts. Add some storage, new stationary and books to make the idea of homework seem much more organised and fun. You could even stick some educational posters to the wall and decorate the area in your child’s favourite theme.

Learn With Your Child

You could try sharing homework time with your son or daughter. Sit together in the same space as your child while they complete their homework and use the time to enjoy a favourite creative hobby or take an online learning class. This will not only mean that you are close by if they need your help, but it will also make homework time feel special.

Visit A Museum

If your child is studying a particular topic at school, you could help to make their homework more exciting by organising an educational day out to a museum. Museums allow children to engage more in what they are learning about. Furthermore, a fun family day out will create many lasting memories.

Show Your Support

It is important for parents to remember that the more supported a child feels at home, the better they will perform at school. Help your child to value their education by taking an interest in what they are learning about. Ask questions about their school topics and show your support by helping to gather information for their homework. 

Finally, don’t forget to make time for fun family activities when they have completed their homework! Rewarding your children with a much-needed break from their studies will help them to do better academically in the long run.

Michelle

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The Benefits of School Uniform for Children | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration and contains affiliate links.

Most schools require children to wear a uniform. The school uniform usually includes the school emblem or particular colours that represent the school. Some schools insist on a formal uniform, where a blazer and tie must be worn at all times, however most schools adopt a more casual approach; like a T-shirt with the school logo. There are many reasons why a uniform is important at school and you may be surprised to learn that a school uniform offers a number of benefits too. I have collaborated with an independent school in Taunton to explore some of these benefits.

School Uniform Improves Safety

One of the main reasons that schools require children to wear uniform is student safety. A uniform helps teachers to easily identify their students on a school trip or spot an intruder on the school premises. In addition, school uniform reduces the risk of students becoming victims of crime when wearing expensive designer clothing or jewellery.

School Uniform Supports Learning

Many educational experts and studies agree that having a school uniform policy helps to create a better educational environment. This is because it helps students to focus on what they are learning, instead of being distracted by what others are wearing or bringing into school.

School Uniform Reduces Bullying

Allowing children to wear their own clothing to school can lead to bullying. However, when all children are dressed in the same uniform, there is less competition about who has the best outfit or who is wearing the most expensive brand. School uniform helps children to focus on character rather than appearance.

School Uniform is Cost Effective

School uniform helps parents to save money by not having to keep up with the latest fashion trends. Families typically purchase uniform for their children at the beginning of each school year. This is because school uniforms are made to last, using durable materials that can withstand daily wear and tear.

School Uniform is Time Saving

Having a school uniform helps to reduce the time it takes for your children to get ready for school. If they had to choose a different outfit every day, you would have a lot of late mornings! A uniform not only reduces stress for parents, but it also helps to reduce the pile of washing you have at the end of the week.

School Uniform Builds Team Spirit

Finally, when students go on school trips or visit other schools, they are representing the school they belong to with their uniform. This creates a sense of pride. By encouraging children to wear a school uniform it will help to build a strong team spirit.

I actually can't believe we will be buying September uniform soon. I feel like they haven't even been back that long.

Michelle

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The Benefits of School Uniform for Children | AD

No comments

Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration and contains affiliate links.

Most schools require children to wear a uniform. The school uniform usually includes the school emblem or particular colours that represent the school. Some schools insist on a formal uniform, where a blazer and tie must be worn at all times, however most schools adopt a more casual approach; like a T-shirt with the school logo. There are many reasons why a uniform is important at school and you may be surprised to learn that a school uniform offers a number of benefits too. I have collaborated with an independent school in Taunton to explore some of these benefits.

School Uniform Improves Safety

One of the main reasons that schools require children to wear uniform is student safety. A uniform helps teachers to easily identify their students on a school trip or spot an intruder on the school premises. In addition, school uniform reduces the risk of students becoming victims of crime when wearing expensive designer clothing or jewellery.

School Uniform Supports Learning

Many educational experts and studies agree that having a school uniform policy helps to create a better educational environment. This is because it helps students to focus on what they are learning, instead of being distracted by what others are wearing or bringing into school.

School Uniform Reduces Bullying

Allowing children to wear their own clothing to school can lead to bullying. However, when all children are dressed in the same uniform, there is less competition about who has the best outfit or who is wearing the most expensive brand. School uniform helps children to focus on character rather than appearance.

School Uniform is Cost Effective

School uniform helps parents to save money by not having to keep up with the latest fashion trends. Families typically purchase uniform for their children at the beginning of each school year. This is because school uniforms are made to last, using durable materials that can withstand daily wear and tear.

School Uniform is Time Saving

Having a school uniform helps to reduce the time it takes for your children to get ready for school. If they had to choose a different outfit every day, you would have a lot of late mornings! A uniform not only reduces stress for parents, but it also helps to reduce the pile of washing you have at the end of the week.

School Uniform Builds Team Spirit

Finally, when students go on school trips or visit other schools, they are representing the school they belong to with their uniform. This creates a sense of pride. By encouraging children to wear a school uniform it will help to build a strong team spirit.

I actually can't believe we will be buying September uniform soon. I feel like they haven't even been back that long.

Michelle

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How to Be More Efficient at Work | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration

If you want to be more efficient at work you don't need to make huge adjustments to your routine. There are ways to get more done by simply cutting out distractions and making small changes to your work space. Sometimes, even the smallest changes can make the biggest impact. For example, turning off social media notifications on your phone or simply having a tidy up. Here are some tips to help you be more efficient at work.

Prioritise Your Work

Start each morning prioritising your work load. This may sound really simple, but we all know how easy it can be to do the things you enjoy first and put off the more complicated tasks. Try and categorise each task and sort them into high, medium and low levels of urgency. Start with the tasks that need to be done by the end of the day, and once these are completed you can focus on the less important ones. This will help you to feel less stressed about meeting important deadlines and boost your productivity.

Tidy Up Your Work Space

One of the easiest ways to improve your efficiency at work is to tidy up your desk. Clear your workspace and get yourself organised. A clean work space will not only improve your productivity, but it will also help to clear your mind. Give your computer files a clear out too. Delete old files and create new folders to organise your files more effectively. You should also try to get into a routine of putting your work away and cleaning up your desk at the end of the day.

Limit Those Distractions

Smart phones are one of the biggest work distractions. So be sure to switch off your phone, or at least your notifications during work hours. This will prevent you from checking your phone and help you to stay focused on your to-do list. The same applies to your computer. If you have the privilege of accessing social media channels on your work desktop, you should stay logged out of your personal account to avoid those distracting little ‘pings’.

Update Your Office Technology

Updating your office technology can really have an impact on the way you work. For example, investing in a faster computer or getting the help of managed print services can make a huge difference to your business. This is because managed print services allow you to create a bespoke printing strategy that fits around your business. This will not only help to save you money, but it will also improve productivity.

Do you have any tips on how you have been more efficient at work?

Michelle

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Bookkeeping Tips To Help You Save for Holidays | AD

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Accounting and bookkeeping rightly belong in the realms of business, but not exclusively. The skills and applications needed cross into personal finance too. Whether you’re in business or not, money management plays a big role in financial wellbeing, so we’ve put together some solid tips for everyone trying to save money. 

Take Your Cue from Business

Just as business owners might make financial decisions after collaboration with staff or advice from an accountant, personal financial decisions are stronger if all the family is on board and can have a say. Saving for holidays is a great way to introduce children to budgeting, for instance. 

Budgeting means informed planning of your expenses balanced against your income, and preferably putting some kind of time frame on the plan. Having a time frame gives your goal some structure and helps keep you focused, especially if temptations to overspend crop up, which can happen in business just as easily as in family finances.

Informed planning comes from understanding spending patterns and trends. You might think you know exactly how you spend money, but until you break it down and study it a bit you can’t be sure you’re not missing savings opportunities.

Here’s how to dig into your spending habits.

Track Your Expenses

If you do any kind of business operation you should be doing this anyway, but it’s just as important for personal finances. Similar skills and methods apply to small business accounting, just on a deeper, more complex level. If it can work for business, it can surely work for families.

Tracking your household spending is relatively easy with nothing more complex than a notebook or simple spreadsheet. If you take the spreadsheet route, remember to get a receipt for everything so you don’t forget a purchase when you’re at the computer. Once you’ve recorded the information on the receipt, you can get rid of it - unless you want to save it as a proof of purchase.

Create your tracker with just four columns, giving them the headings of ‘Date, ‘Cost’, ‘Item’ and ‘Balance’. Start the balance off by jotting down the amount currently in your bank account. Remember to include direct debits so your personal records tally with what’s going out of your bank.

Start a new page at least every month and keep your records up to date so it only takes a few minutes now and then. It doesn’t have to be a daily task unless you have a lot of daily expenses to track.

Delve Into the Numbers

Once you’ve got a few weeks of records, you can start figuring out where you can make the most savings. The mistake many people make when they’re trying to increase savings is to start by cutting out leisure or pleasure purchases. This isn’t the best way of cutting down on spending as you’ll soon give up if you start feeling deprived.

A better way is to figure out ways of spending less on necessities. You’ll find categories of spending in your ‘Item’ column, and that will tell you where you’re spending most money. You can shop around for better deals, switch to zero interest credit cards, or look for better terms on utilities. 

It might also throw up some surprises. Maybe you didn’t realise how much take-aways were costing each month, or how much you were spending online if all your purchases were small ones. It can be shocking to see how little spends add up over a month.

Seeing the amounts in black and white can be a bit startling, but they also empower you to take control.

This isn’t a complicated system, and just about anybody can put it into action. It’s a far better way of figuring out how to save than randomly trying to cut back.  One of the reasons there’s sometimes more month than money is because the thought of tracking spending can feel overwhelming. 

Maybe like us, you’re saving for something special like a big holiday, or maybe you just want to manage money better so you can have a few luxuries or days out. Keeping a close eye on your spending in a simplified accounting system means you always know what’s going on with your money, and you can choose to some extent how you spend or save it.

Michelle

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Jump Maniax Inflatable Park, Preston

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Jump Maniax is a unique inflatable park and is now open in Preston. With a 20,000 sq.ft arena it is every bouncers dream as all the inflatables are connected to make one huge bouncy playground. 

What To Expect At Jump Maniax, Preston, PR1 4LQ

Jump Maniax is located on Fishwick Park in Preston. The inflatable park covers 20,000 sq.ft and is the largest of its kind in the North West. The arena has different areas to provide bouncing fun for everyone.

Slam Dunk and Darts - Challenge your family or friends to some basketball or darts.

Wipeout Zone - Can you stay in the wipeout zone the longest? Be prepared to dunk and jump over the spinning beams.

Battle Beams - Balance on the inflatable beam with another beam in your hand as you try to knock over your opponent. 

Climbing Wall - Use all your strength to climb across the wall. Don't worry if you fall there is a nice bouncy soft landing. 

Wrecking Ball - Stand on the beam opposite your opponent and try to dodge the wrecking ball as you throw it back and forth.

Wac A Mole - Like the popular fairground game but you can choose an opponent (wearing a helmet) to whack. 

Inflatable Slides - Various slides to choose from all heading in to a ball pool. 

Ninja Climbing Wall - A little tougher than the climbing wall but there are ropes to help you. 

Ninja Obstacle Course - A One way obstacle course with lots of different challenges.

Multi Sports Arena - Perfect for basketball or football.

For Toddlers - The under 5's won't miss out on the fun with their own inflatable area including slide. Upstairs in the arena you will also find their own dedicated soft play area.  

Anything Else?

If you are feeling peckish the cafe serves hot and cold drinks and food all day.

There are lockers available to keep your personal belongings safe whilst bouncing. 

There are a variety of promotions offering discounted entry such as buy one get one free so make sure you check the promotions page before you buy tickets. 

Jump Maniax also offers party package perfect to help you celebrate a special birthday. 

Opening times differ depending on the time of year 

Term Time

Monday – Friday: 10am – 6:00pm

Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 8:00pm

School Holidays

Monday – Friday: 10am – 7:00pm

Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 8:00pm

We will be heading to Jump Maniax soon and will post a full review of our experience. If you would like to visit Jump Maniax, enter our giveaway to be in with a chance of winning one of two family tickets. All you need to do is complete the entry form below and pop back daily for bonus chances to win. 

Good Luck

Win A Family Ticket To Jump Maniax, Preston

Monday – Friday: 10am – 7:00Michelle

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Giant Bubble Set Giveaway

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Disclosure - We were sent the product below for the purpose of this post and another to giveaway. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our unless stated. 

Hopefully the bad weather will soon be behind us and we can start to enjoy some Spring and Summer sun and have lots of fun in the garden. We have lots of toys and games to keep us entertained in the garden including our new Giant Bubble Set from Ridley's.

Who can make the biggest bubble? Just dip your wand in the tray full of bubble mixture, wave the wand around and make some bubbles. It's so easy and simple but lots of fun. 

We have teamed up with Wicked Uncle to offer a Giant Bubble Set to one of our readers. Just complete the entry form below and remember to pop back daily for bonus chances to win. 

Good Luck

Win A Giant Bubble Set 

Michelle

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Disney Magic At Sea Staycation Cruise - What To Expect.

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A trip to Disneyland Paris or Walt Disney World may not be possible for us this year but we are still going to enjoy some Disney magic on the Disney Magic at Sea Staycation Cruise this Summer. Disney have created a cruise that allows you to enjoy all the magic of Disney whilst staying in the UK. 

Having never been on a Disney Cruise before or any cruise to be precise I will make sure that I gather as much information, tips and anything else that will help us make the most of our stay on board.  The Disney Magic At Sea Staycation Cruise has lots to offer and this is what I have learnt so far and I will keep updating as I learn more.

WHERE AND WHEN?

The Disney Magic At Sea Staycation cruise is a brand new experience that is available to UK residents giving them the chance to enjoy Disney fun and magic close to home. The cruise is departing from Liverpool, Southhampton, London Tilbury and Newcastle on selected dates this Summer for 2, 3 or 4 nights. 

THE SHIP

The cruise ship is called the Disney Magic and it debuted on the sea in 1998. It boasts 11 decks with a nostalgic art deco decor. Continued refurbishments have kept the ship up to date and a refreshed feel. 

STATEROOMS

There are 4 categories of staterooms to choose from aboard the Disney Magic, inside, oceanview, verandah and concierge. Which room you choose will depend on your family size and budget.

Inside 

Offers more space than you would find in same-class rooms on most other cruise ships, Disney Magic “Standard” is superior.

The stateroom sleeps 3 or 4 people

It has a sq.ft size of 184

The inside room offers a queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper-berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)

There is no exterior view

Oceanview

Offers the same square footage as a Deluxe Inside Stateroom plus the added bonus of a porthole for ocean views.

The oceanview stateroom sleeps 3 to 4

It has a sq.ft size of 214

The oceanview room offers a queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)

There is one large porthole window or 2 small porthole windows (in Category 9D staterooms)

Verandah

The perfect home away from home, this room type offers generous square footage and a private place to admire the view.

The verandah stateroom sleeps 3 to 4

It has an approx sq.ft of 268 including verandah

The verandah room offers queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)

You will have a private verandah guaranteed.

Concierge

Whilst on board why not enjoy a superior level of comfort.

The concierge stateroom sleeps 5

It has an approx sq.ft of 304 including verandah

the concierge room offers a queen bed, single sleeper sofa, upper berth pull-down bed and wall pull-down bed

You will have a private verandah guaranteed. 

Within each of the categories there are options to upgrade the room including deluxe and family. Each room comes with a category and a deck number. These categories can determine whereabouts you are on the ship. 

ON BOARD

Disney Magic At Sea is filled with entertainment, water fun, live shows and of course characters. You will enjoy a full and fun packed itinerary from the moment you step on board. 

Entertainment
Enjoy a pre-show Celebration at Sea with Mickey & Friends. The all new, high energy musical celebration includes our favourite Disney friends Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald. 

Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic takes us on a journey following the touching story about the power of dreams. A young girl named Anne Marie is struggling to find it in her heart to believe. The live stage show features a dazzling procession of characters and songs from some all-time Disney classics including Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Cinderella and Aladdin.

Characters

You can be sure that there will be many Disney Characters popping up for surprise appearances throughout the ship. 

Head to the Atrium to wave to your favourite Disney Princesses as they enjoy a Princess Promenade from the Atrium balcony as they enter Lumiere’s for dinner. This beautiful dining experience also features live music by an extraordinary pianist, playing classic arrangements from the Disney Songbook.

Be sure to snap a selfie withWoody and Jessie two of my favourite Toy Story characters. Sarge and the Green Army Patrol will also host a fun new game show around the ship in search of the elusive blue crayon.

Frozen and Heroes

Avengers Assemble for an extravaganza including Marvels finest Iron Man, Spider Man and Black Panther.  The Marvel themed entertainment will help you unleash your inner hero. 

Frozen songs, dancing, ice magic and more in a Frozen show featuring Anna, Elsa and Kristoff—along with virtual visits from Sven, Olaf and the trolls.

Aqua Fun

The AquaDunk, AquaLab and Goofy's pool will keep you busy and wet whilst on board. 

To experience the AquaDunk you will need to climb to the ship’s highest point, then plunge 3 stories on the body slide. This is perfect for thrill seekers as the floor will drop from beneath you, dropping you in to the side.

You will have a splashing good time at the AquaLab. The water playground is a family favourite. 

Goofy’s Pool area is perfect for guests of all ages. It is a family pool area which consists of a   main pool and 2 whirlpool spas.

Rest and Relax

Catch a Disney movie from the comfort of a state-of-the-art Buena Vista Theatre.

Enjoy family-friendly entertainment at the D Lounge including karaoke, game shows and much more. 

Kids Club

There are 3 kids clubs on board, Oceaneer, Edge and Vibe. 

Disney’s Oceaneer Club is the ideal place for kids to not just play but to learn too through imaginatively themed games and activities.

Edge is for the tweens onboard and allows them to have their own place to hang out and  participate in a variety of activities. Edge is filled with high-tech entertainment, computers and video games.

Vibe offers an exclusive place for teens to hang out, listen to music, watch TV and play games. 

ADULTS ONLY

Head to Quiet Cove which is exclusively for adults. Quiet Cove offers a main pool and nearby whirlpool spas allowing guests 18 years of age and older to relax, recharge and soak up the sun.

Cove Café is an adults only lounge. It's the perfect space to sit back and relax. Take time out for specialty drinks, coffee and tea throughout the day. (extra charge applies)

If you are looking for an adult only intimate restaurant then head to Palo's. Take in stunning sea views as you browse the Italian menu.

Live music and cocktails under the stars with beautiful sea views are available at Signals or watch live sports at O’Gills Pub.

DINING

Disney Magic At Sea offers three main dining restaurants on board. Lumiere's, Rapunzel's Royal Table and Animators Palate. Disney offers Rotational dining which means you will be allocated a different restaurant each night of your stay on board. 2 night cruises will not be able to eat in all three restaurants. 

Allocation of your dining restaurants will be given to you on arrival.

Lumiere’s offers an enchanting meal in this beautiful restaurant named after the candelabra from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. At Lumiere's you can enjoy live music during dinner.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table is a truly enchanted dining experience filled with food, music and fun. Lots of lively entertainment to enjoy including appearances from the merry ruffians, Flynn Rider and Princess Rapunzel herself.

Animator’s Palate allows you to enjoy the magic of Disney animation with a unique dinner show experience starring Disney characters. You will follow the journey through decades of Disney and Pixar animation.

Snacks and Quick Bites

There are a number of snacks and quick bites options on board too.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 24 hour room service are included in the price of the cruise. 

ANYTHING ELSE?

As this is a Disney Cruise you expect lots of magic on board and as this cruise is new and unique I assume there may be a few surprises too.

Keep an eye on our blog for our Disney Magic At Sea Staycation Cruise - Know Before You Go post coming soon.

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Comments - I love reading your opinions and thoughts - Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought.

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Michelle

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