Exploring Mindfulness with Your Child

Mindfulness is a relaxation technique, which helps you to focus on the present moment and calm a busy mind. This means slowing down and paying attention to your senses and feelings, in order to achieve a calmer presence and improve your mental health.

For many children mindfulness is particularly helpful for managing stress caused by exams or their social life. Mindfulness teaches them how to slow down and focus on the present moment, instead of their worries. Mindfulness will also increase your child’s emotional resilience and help them to develop important coping skills for the future.

If you want to teach your child mindfulness, here are some top tips from a Prep School in Buckinghamshire…

Practice with your child

Take time each day to practice mindfulness with your child by slowing down and observing your surroundings. This could be anywhere; in the car, at the park or simply at home. Pause and remind your child to tune into their senses. What can they see, hear, smell and feel? - Share your observations with each other. You may be surprised to find that you have both noticed something different.

Pay attention to breathing

Teach your child to pay attention to their breathing. You can do this by lying down and focusing on the sensation of the air going in and out of your body. This is helpful for relaxation, particularly if your child is stressed or anxious. Encourage your child to put their hands on their tummy and feel it moving up and down. After you have practised this for a short time, ask your child if they feel more relaxed? 

Try mindfulness when eating

‘Mindful eating' is a great activity to practice with children. Choose a favourite food and then ask your child to take a bite and really savour the taste using all of their senses. Instruct them to smell the food, describe the flavour and observe the texture. Use this exercise to enjoy a special treat together such as chocolate. You could even include a few surprise flavours to see if they can identify them.

Encourage mindfulness at bedtime

Bedtime is an ideal time to introduce your child to mindfulness, especially if they have difficulty sleeping. Try a mindfulness technique called the ‘body-scan meditation’ to help your child relax. Ask your child to close their eyes and lay comfortably in bed. Then ask them to gradually observe different areas of their body starting at their feet and working their way up to the top of their head. What feelings do they have in each part of their body? For example, they might tingle or feel heavy or warm. They may even be more aware of how the bed feels against their body. This exercise will help your child to relax and fall asleep.

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Review // Myrtle & Maude Breastfeeding Bundle

I was recently sent this lovely breastfeeding bundle from Myrtle & Maude.

Lately, I have been having some issues with thinking that my milk supply is a bit naff, so I was quite excited to try their Milk Flow tea, which helps aid lactation due to the special blend of herbs.

What's in the bundle?

- Two bags of Milk Flow tea (30 tea bags)

- One Muslin square

- 6 bamboo washable breast pads and 1 little breast pad pouch.

RRP £19.99

The milk flow tea is organic, caffeine-free, certified vegan friendly and in biodegradable tea bags!

About their ingredients...

• Fenugreek seeds are a strengthening post-birth tonic stabilising emotions, soothing nerves, helping to replenish energy levels, and promoting the production of breast milk.
• Aniseed, beneficial for promoting lactation and encouraging healthy breastfeeding.
• Fennel seed is a renowned breast milk enhancer and in addition to cumin, an excellent digestive herb.
• Nettles and alfalfa leaves have been used since the times of the druids as a nourishing mineral-rich tonic and to improve the quality and quantity of breast milk.
• Caraway, have the property to stimulate lactation in nursing women.
• Chamomile to relax and soothe the nervous and digestive system, our lactation tea is a power-packed post-birth blend to support and nourish and all in a delicious cup of tea.

Since having Bea I have completely gone off coffee and have replaced my daily cups of coffee for cups of fennel seed teas, as I knew fennel was good for milk production, so anything to help I was up for. I have become quite a fan of the taste.

I was a bit sceptical about a tea that is meant to help increase your milk, but I do feel pretty confident in the fact it has helped me feel more confident about my supply.

***Though I do feel I need to stress that the number one way to increase your milk supply is to feed feed feed or pump pump pump, and if you are having troubles with a low supply speaking to a specialist will definitely help.***

Myrtle & Maude's milk flow tea has become part of my daily routine, I have a cup in the morning and another in the afternoon if I can catch a spare moment.

It tastes lovely and I'm pretty sure it is helping with my milk production, my breasts definitely feel fuller and Bea seems to be more settled after a feed.

I will be buying myself more once I have run out.

I'm a bit rubbish with using breast pads, lucky I don't seem to leak that much.

 I used them religiously when Bea was first born but since then I haven't really needed to, especially with lockdown in place, but now places are opening back up and things are starting to return to normal, it's nice to have these for when we go out just in case I do leak.

They are super soft and the handy bag is great for popping into the changing bag.

This breastfeeding bundle would make a great little gift for a new mum planning on breastfeeding.

The guys over at Myrtle & Maude have given me a special 10% discount for my readers, so if you are planning on buying this or any of their other natural products -  they have a great range covering everything from conception through to labour and breastfeeding, make sure you use it at the checkout.

- hannahshaw10 -

xxx

 

Sunshine, haircuts and new houses

Well helloooooo sunshine!!!

How nice is the weather at the moment?

I know it will probably disappear as quickly as it arrived, but we are definitely making the most of it.

We finally got the twins and Ru hair appointments much to their disappointment, they wanted their hair cut but they also wanted to carry on growing it. After a pep talk from Jon, they were more than happy to go and have it all chopped off for the summer, They probably grow it back when the weather gets colder again.

Ru is always wanting his hair cut so he practically ran all the way to the barbers.

Last week we went to view the new house again and get some measurements so we can get prepared for moving in.

It was nice going back, as everything seemed bigger and more exciting, we took Noah along with us as he was off from school due to feeling under the weather and he has been on the fence about moving but once he saw the house he fell in love with it just like we did.

We also took a virtual tour of the new school we are hoping he gets into and he really liked the look of it.

Over the Bank holiday weekend, we went over to Jon's parents' house and the boys all got to splash around in the pool and Bea had her first hot tub experience.

She loved it, which wasn't a surprise as she is a big bath fan.

I was a bit apprehensive about getting into a swimming costume, but once in the hot tub and seeing Bea smile I completely forgot about my insecurities. 

Also in the last few weeks, we have cracked the laying down to feed position, which means we are getting more sleep coming nighttime! I'm also finding that I'm waking up before Bea and being able to get dressed and get the boys breakfast before she wakes, which is really helpful during the week when getting ready for the school run.

Jon turned 35 last week and me and the boys got him a little cake and popped some bunting up whilst he was at work, he usually doesn't get much fuss on his birthday so he was pleasantly surprised when he came home.

I dug out Ru's Oscha ring sling to get a snap of Bea in it, as I have a photo of Ru in it just like this, which I shared over on my insta 

Other than that we haven't really been up to much.

Just the usual and now it's the half term we will probably have a few park trips and hang out in the garden.

My new favourite Lucy & Yak dungarees.

I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone and try more things, also trying to get my head around my weight gain is a slow process but I think I'm on the right road. 

xxx

 

A peak into Bea's summer wardrobe

Come on Sunshine where are you?!?!

Bea has some lovely bits and I'm desperate to get her in them.

I thought I'd share some of the latest pieces that have recently been bought for Miss Bea.

First of my favourite...

Little Bird by Jools Oliver is back!! On the day of the launch, I couldn't help but snatch these two little outfits up for Bea.

I loved Little Bird when Ru was little and always lusted after the girl bits, so I was over the moon to here of the relaunch with Next.

I cannot wait to see Bea and her chunky thighs in these two outfits.

On Friday's Jon has made a little tradition where he'll pop into Morrisons on his way home to buy something nice for tea and a treat for Bea.

He is on a winning streak.

Everything he has picked out I have loved.

Not bad for a bearded viking.

You can't beat a nice cardi, and these are some of the new ones we have for Bea.

I do keep seeing the knitted ones with names on the back all over Instagram and do keep telling myself I want one, but I'm thinking ill probably wait until I see one I really like and then get it for her when she's 1 - so that she can get a bit more wear out of it, and you can see the back as she'd be walking around then.

The first two are from Morrisons and the second is from Tesco's that I managed to grab in a half-price sale.

Bit's that she's already enjoying are these pair of dungarees rompers from Next.

Something for the future.

As I pretty much spend my time scrolling through Instagram whilst feeding Bea I always come across pretty handmade dresses, one really caught my eye from Betty & Flo so I sent it to Jon who also really liked it.

He decided to buy it buuuuuuuut unfortunately, he didn't pick the right style of dress, or even in the right size - so we ended up with this one, which is just as sweet and will look lovely on her eventually, Jon can't quite remember what the sizing was, but my guess is age 1+

Now if someone could stop the rain and bring out the sunshine I would be more than happy!

 

Top Tips for Helping Your Child with Maths

Maths isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time let’s face it. Some children find it a really stressful part of the school and it’s vital that parents help them as much as possible. 

Maths can be fun and that’s the key to helping your child to cope with it even when it’s not their favourite subject. Here are some top tips for helping your child learn maths effectively without getting upset:

 

Make sure your child understands why maths matters

 

Don’t just tell a child that they should work hard at maths. Children are sensitive and need to know the real reasons behind things. A good approach is to show them real-life examples of maths at work.

 

At the supermarket, show them how to read prices and then help them add up on a calculator as you shop. This is more exciting than working from a book and the practical application will help the lessons sink in.

 

Why not bake with your child and demonstrate how to weigh and measure the ingredients for a favourite cake?

Stay with them as they learn

 

This is especially important for reluctant mathematicians! The company during work time helps children feel they are supported. And you’re there to turn to if they get stuck. Read through homework assignments and help your child to understand what is needed to succeed. 

This prep school in Kent provides extra support for children who struggle with maths and that includes extra homework if needed.

Be positive always

 

All children need to hear positivity. Understanding how things work is one thing but when they don’t understand, it’s really important that you let them know that they will ‘get it in the end. If you suspect your child needs more support than you can provide, get them a tutor and let your child know that this is a positive action to take.

 

Talk to your child’s teacher to find out the best ways to help them effectively and remember that maths can be very challenging, so your child needs to know you’re on their side. Keep an open dialogue with school and always try to keep things fun! 

*collaborated post

Days Out // Banham Zoo

For Ru's 7th birthday we decided to treat him to a surprise visit to Banham Zoo.

He had asked to go to the zoo for his 6th birthday but due to lockdown, we weren't able to. This year his request was to go to the local park, so I like to think we trumped his idea!

We booked our tickets online and got an early slot time to arrive, so we could make the most of the day.

We packed a little picnic and set off straight after breakfast and present opening.

Ru was pretty excited but halfway there he decided he just wanted to go home.

it took just over an hour for us to get there and once we arrived all the boys were excited.

The boys spotted the play park and wanted to go in, so Jon bought a coffee and I decided it would be a good time to feed Bea.

The boys loved the big slides and we barely saw them for at least half an hour. 

Once the park started to fill up and Bea was finished off we went on a tiger hunt!

Unfortunately, the tiger was on holiday in sunny Suffolk due to the zoo updating his enclosure so we'll have to come back again to see him.

The boys loved seeing the giraffes up close and personal.

The seals were a firm favourite, we got to their pool right on feeding time and the boys all agreed it was one of the highlights of the day. They loved seeing the seals jump around trying to catch the fish.

The zoo was set up well with a one-way system and lots of hand sanitisers were everywhere you could possibly need them.

Everyone kept to the social distancing rule and took it in turns to look into the enclosures.

It has been one of the busiest places we have all been to as a family since all the lockdowns but because everyone was sticking to the rules and the way the zoo had put in place their restrictions it was an enjoyable experience. 

Ru had an awesome birthday and enjoyed spending some of his birthday money in the gift shop on the way out.

We'll definitely be going back to Banham Zoo, especially seeing as the new house is only about 20 minutes away.

 

How to raise a science lover

 For many people, science is a wonderful hobby, for others a career and the fact is that it’s a vital part of life that improves our world in many ways. 

Children are innately curious and you may find that because science is so broad, there will be a part of it to please every child.

Children, from a young age like to know all they can about the world around them. They show this in their constant questions about their environment. 

 

“Why is blue a colour?”

“Why does the rain come down?”

“Who made the sky?”

 

These are all genuine questions asked by children and which of course, you can answer via science. The best way to help your child with the answers to these questions is to know them yourself! So, the first thing you should do, if you are not a natural scientist, is to learn all you can yourself.

 

How to help my child learn more

 

Enjoying learning through play is a great way to approach this. Games and experiments can be combined so your child is learning about science whilst they’re playing.

 

For small children, water play is a great first step in science. The simple act of freezing water to turn it into ice is fascinating and children will particularly like the idea of freezing objects into blocks of ice and then watching them melt.

 

You can freeze plastic toys, flowers from the garden, sweets and all sorts of things which can then be admired as ice blocks! Similarly, gardening in your own garden or a container can help children to understand more about biology and botany at once.

 

Freedom to explore

 

Some home experiments are messy but that’s great for children because they mostly love to make a mess! Making slime is one example of messy science and it’s universally popular. There are lots of great tutorials online.

 

Allowing your child to ‘make potions’ is fun too. A selection of clear plastic containers and some ingredients such as plants, flowers, salt, the food colouring will make them feel like miniature scientists as they work out what happens when things are mixed together.

 

This independent school in New York believes all children are natural learners and only need to have that ability unlocked in order to achieve.