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When our children are being inquisitive, they are constantly learning. They ask lots of questions about the world around them and like to explore and uncover new information. Although their relentless questions can be exhausting for parents, it’s important to encourage this sense of curiosity to help aid their overall progression. Here are some tips from a prep school in Surrey to help you raise an inquisitive child.

Try New Things

The more you expose your child to new experiences, the more curious they will be. Try and mix up your routine from time to time to spark their imaginations. This doesn’t have to be anything major, just a new recipe or a trip somewhere you haven’t been before.

When people ask you what they can get for your child for their birthday or Christmas, encourage them to give experiences rather than gifts. This will open your child’s world up to a range of new encounters that they will always remember.

Wonder Aloud

Voicing your thoughts out loud for your child to hear will show them that it’s perfectly normal to be inquisitive. Say things like “I wonder where this banana was grown” or “why do you think the leaves on this tree are green?”. Ask open-ended questions so that your child has to think about their answers. As a result, your child will feel more comfortable voicing their own thoughts and questions and will encourage them to think more deeply about things that are seemingly pretty boring.

Encourage Your Child’s Interests

If your child has demonstrated a natural interest in something, try and help them pursue it. For instance, if they seem interested in gardening and nature, buy them some seeds to plant and some gardening tools so that they can turn their interest in a hobby. Take them on walks through the woods and show them how to take cuttings. Your child will be more inquisitive about things that they’re interested in.

You should also try and promote their sense of discovery by allowing them to play and explore in an unstructured way. Supply them plenty of toys and tools that stimulate their learning.

Ask Your Child for their Own Thoughts

If your child comes to you with curious thoughts and questions, ask them what they think before you answer. Encourage them to do their own research using the internet and books, so that they don’t have to rely on you to answer their questions.

Michelle

Tatton Park Farm

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Another planned visit for us this month to Tatton Park but it was the first time that we’ve been able to visit the farm. The farm reopened on the 17th of May and is another reason why we love Tatton Park. The farm which is setback away from the main courtyard and gardens has its own pathway leading to the farm entrance. You can reach the farm by walking, taking the land train or by car if you wish to park in the disabled bays. The land train is chargeable each way and stops at the farm and children's playground, every 20 minutes.

Booking is preferred when visiting as it allows the farm to control the amount of visitors per day however we did see a family allowed entry as numbers were low at the time of our visit. Entrance to the farm is via the shop and once inside you’ll be greeted by donkeys and an introduction video showing what to expect on your visit.

Once on the farm you can explore the area including a visit to the horses, goats and chickens. The horses will be the first to greet you on your visit to the farm including 21-year-old Blossom.

As always the goats provide lots of entertainment. They love to come up close for a stroke and it is fun watching them play on their climbing frame. You will spot some cheeky ones poking their heads through the fences and jumping up too. You will also find some cows and pigs on the farm too.

Once you’ve made your way past the animals you can head towards the playground area. It's a woodland playground that has lots of different climbing obstacles for the children to complete. It's set out like a trail from start to finish and has balance beams and rope climbing areas to complete.

Cost onto the farm for all visitors including National Trust members is a £8 for adults and £6 per child. Concessions and family tickets are also available at a discounted rate.

There are lots of picnic benches around for you to enjoy a picnic and there are snacks available in the gift shop. There are two sets of toilets one by the main entrance and one just before you head to the children’s playground.

Most of the ground is cobbled stones and I did see a few people struggling to push a pram around however when we left I noticed some people had left their prams near the shop.

Estimated time on the farm does depend on how long you spend in each area but I would think no more than an hour and a half.

We recently visited Tatton Park to complete the Percy the Park Keeper Trail in the gardens which finishes on June 13th. We will be heading back to the farm soon when the new Percy the Park Keeper Treasure Trail lands on 20th of June 2021.

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Michelle

Collaboration · finding a new hobby

Finding A New Hobby

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I don’t think any of us were prepared for 2020 and what the year brought. We started the year with an idea of what our year was going to look like, holiday plans, special events and birthdays however none of that went ahead and instead we spent most of the year safe at home. I know for most, 2020 was the year of trying new things, exploring your local area, and trying to keep your mental well-being and health a priority. In between working from home, homeschooling, and our daily exercise walks we found that we needed to keep ourselves busy and decided to each take up a new hobby. Lockdown was the perfect time for us to explore new hobbies and try new things that we may not have tried before.

Chums had an idea and wanted to delve into the most creative past times that Britons have been loving over the last year. They decided to research creative hobbies that Britain is loving the most according to Google search. The results are really interesting and two of our hobbies that we decided to try and still continue to enjoy are within the top 10 searches. The top ten searches were jigsaw puzzles, knitting, sewing, creative writing, painting, sudoku, baking, embroidery, crochet and scrapbooking.

I'm not sure when I decided to buy myself a jigsaw but it was quite early on in lockdown. I ordered one from Amazon and started as soon as it arrived. I had no idea how calm and relaxing completing a jigsaw puzzle could be. It helped me focus on something, took my mind off the outside world and refreshing the news and it was really fun to do. There are so many different jigsaws to choose from depending on your likes and also how many pieces you want to try and complete. I decided to choose a Disney puzzle because that is something I love and makes me happy and I went for a 1000 piece jigsaw which kept me busy. I got myself into a little routine, taking a hour in the afternoon to complete my jigsaw puzzle while the boys were busy. It really helped with my stress levels and actually helped me maintain a healthy well-being. It seems I wasn’t the only one, as the search team jigsaw puzzles on average collected 362,000 monthly searches according to Chums research.

Another hobby that we took up was baking. Finding baking recipes online was really fun however trying to get ingredients during lockdown wasn’t easy but we did our best. Baking was something that we could do as a family and it especially helped with homeschooling little J. It was such a fun activity and he didn’t realise he was learning at the same time. We incorporated maths, physical development, communication and problem-solving. Using google search for baking recipes on average had 64,000 searches on Google and like jigsaw puzzles came in the top 10 most searched.

It's never too late to start up a new hobby. I have found my stress levels have decreased since completing jigsaws. It really has helped be focus on something and reduces boredom too. Baking together has also helped this too. There is no better feeling than sitting down to eat something you have created, it definitely gives you a sense of achievement. If you are looking for inspiration check out Chums for more creative hobby ideas and let them know by using #CreativeBritain on socials.

Michelle

review · Technology · Xplora XGO2 Smartwatch

Xplora XGO2 Smartwatch Review

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The Xplora XGO2 is designed to be your childs first Smartwatch. The XGO2 focusses on safety for your child and control for you. The watch itself is availble in four colours with Black, Blue, Green and Pink available to choose from. The XGO 2 has a premium feel to it, and although a little chunky has been designed for small hands to be able to use with ease.

The user interface is pretty straightforward, with button presses, screen taps and swipes enabling you to navigate the menus within the basic setup. The XGO2 is able to make calls and send messages using a SIM, and the watch will then have its own phone number that can be used. Most sellers ship the XGO2 SIM free so you can choose your network and pricing structure. With a built in microphone and speaker both making and receiving calls is pretty straightforward.

With a focus on safety the XGO2 makes use of GPS, Wifi and GSM triangulation to provide a reasonably accurate idea of where your child is. Using the parental app, you can track your child's movements to be sure where they are, and you can also set up 'Geofences' or 'safe areas' where your child can move within. If they move out of these preset areas you will be notified straight away.

The watch can also be set to 'school mode' which limits the user to watch display only for the during of the school mode time. Using the parental app you can still track your childs movements and Geofencing will still be active. There is also an 'SOS' mode which can be used in the event of emergency to contact you. This will remain active even in school mode

For the children the watch can be used as a step counter which has proved popular here, and these steps can then be converted to Xplora coins which can be used to play games on the Xplora website. Sometimes there are also competitions for highest scores on games to be able to win prizes. The current prize is based around Fast and Furious and Tom and Jerry with prizes available for steps and gameplay scores.

There is a small front facing camera for taking selfies, which can be saved and viewed, however the watch has no internet browser or social media apps, which could be positive or negative depending on your point of view. The camera is sufficient for children to take a quick picture but at only 0.3 Megapixel, you are limited on quality. There is a flashlight built in which can be accessed from the user interface quickly and easily.

Finally, the included charging cable is magnetic, which makes it easy to attach and disconnect, however the battery life on the watch means you will need to charge at the end of every day in order to be sure there is sufficient charge to last the next day in full.

Its important to remember that the focus for this watch is on safety and peace of mind for parents and carers and this watch does deliver in that regard. Whilst there is no internet of built in games the watch doesn't try to hide that fact and looks instead to reward your child for moving around. If this is something you are looking for then the XGO2 is a great choice.

John

Days Out In the North West · Out and About · Things To Do With the Kids In Chester

Exploring Chester With the Kids

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The best days out we have had as a family are the ones we didn't expect to have. With the various restrictions in place we have been very limited to places we can visit however I feel it has opened our eyes to what we have closer to home that we may have missed if the restrictions were not in place. We love being out and about planning days out as a family so we recently visited Chester and realised that there is so much more to do there than we had realised. Although we went with an idea of what we were going to do, we ended up doing so much more. Here is our guide to exploring Chester With The Kids.

Chester City Walls

Elevated above the city you can take in the views of Chester as you walk along the city walls. Standing for almost 2,000 years the defensive walls are the oldest and longest in the UK. You can't miss the walls and they are easily accessible from 4 main gates, Northgate, Eastgate, Watergate and Bridgegate. There are opportunities to join from other points along the way including steps and accessible ramps.

The route is free of charge and is approximately 2 miles long. The duration will depend on your speed and also whether you stop to look at the beautiful views of the city, the river, the cathedral and other places of interest.

The Roman Gardens

The Roman Gardens can be spotted from the City Walls Walk or if heading down towards the river from the city centre. The gardens feature lots of pieces of important buildings and baths. As well as the history to see and read, the gardens themselves are well maintained with beautiful lawns and cherry blossom trees.

There are benches around the gardens which slope down to the river. Perfect for stopping for a picnic lunch, a break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre close by or just to sit and enjoy the views.

There are steps leading down to the river but also an accessible winding path.

Cruise On The River Dee

There is a buzz in the air as you arrive at the banks of the River Dee. The Chester Boat River Cruise offers sailings throughout the day on the Dee so you can enjoy the views from the river. The half hour cruises sail from 11am-5pm each day with ticket available to book at a discounted rate online or at the quayside.

Prices start from Adult £7, Children £2.50. Concession, family, disabled and disabled carer rates are available and children under 5 go free.

Drive A Motor Boat

If you want something a little different , just next to the Chester Boat River Cruise you can hire a motor boat. The motor boat is easy to use and would comfortably fit a group of 4 or 5.

It's a lovely way to travel along the Dee, looking at the views on both sides of the river.

To hire a motor boat it is £25 plus a £20 deposit for 30 minutes. If paying by card they take £45 and return your deposit in cash.

Enjoy An Ice Cream On The River Bank

Alongside the River Dee there are plenty of ice cream kiosks selling various ice cream treats and snacks. Just opposite the Chester Boat you can purchase a Cheshire Farm Ice Cream cone. We recently visited the Ice Cream Farm and loved all the flavours to choose from. The kiosk on the River Dee has lots of flavours to choose from too so you will be sure to find one you like.

Take A Photo Under The Eastgate Clock

The Eastgate Clock stands at the original entrance to the Roman Fortress. It towers over the city centre shopping area and is also part of the City Walls walk. It is a precious landmark within the city of Chester and is rumoured to be the most photographed clock in the UK after Big Ben.

Visit Chester Cathedral

The Chester Cathedral is a church of England cathedral and is located in the heart of Chester. As well as being a beautiful Grade 1 building to admire and explore it opens its doors throughout the year to host special events.

Between May 17th - July 1st you can enjoy a free exhibition of the very popular children's book The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. The exhibition is family friendly and includes a life-size model of the Tiger.

Treasure Map Trails

Chester is full of history and things to see so what better way to explore than with a Treasure Map Trail. Choose a city local to you and your map will be delivered to you first class, then you are ready to go on a treasure trail.

Chester has two maps to choose from or you could do both. They are bright, colourful, easy to read with road names and buildings illustrated on the map and are ideal for children aged between 5-12.

The maps are a great way to encourage your children to look around the city trying to solve the clues and find all the different statues, signs and other treasures.

Each map costs £5.99 each or you can purchase more of the same maps if you have more than 1 child starting at £8.99 for two copies of the same map.

We are part of the Treasure Map Trails affiliate scheme and can offer our readers a 10% discount if you use the code PLAYDAYSRUNWAYS or follow this link

Chester is a great city to explore and cane be reached by train, bus and car with ease. When planning your trip make sure you check out way you can save on your travel costs, it will give you more money to spend while you are there.

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

Comments - I love reading your opinions and thoughts - Have you visited Chester or planning a trip? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought or what you have planned.