Swimming has always been an activity that I have done with my children from an early age. It is something we all love and I’ve always thought it is very important to teach them about water safety from the word go. However, when Jake was younger I wasn’t in the position to be able to afford swimming lessons and as we went to a pool once a week I believed I could help him to swim on my own. Continue reading “Starting Swimming Lessons For My 4 Year Old With Turtle Tots”
Tag: children
11 Things I Swore I’d Never Do As A Parent… But I Did!
Do you know when you are the most perfect parent? Before you have kids, that’s when!! When you imagine how life with a teeny baby will be. You picture yourself looking lovingly down at your baby at 3 am, being able to go for brunch with all of your Mummy friends and not hearing a peep out of your little one, thinking you will have all that time on your hands to bake homemade goodies for them… Continue reading “11 Things I Swore I’d Never Do As A Parent… But I Did!”
Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas From For First Steps- plus 10% discount just for you!
Christmas is just around the corner and if you are anything like me, you will be starting to wonder what to buy for all of the little people in your life. Not only do I have children of my own but I also have nieces and nephews, friends children and cousins to think of for birthdays as well as Christmas. But what do you get that will mean something, that will last and will be appreciated by the parents too? I know I certainly do not need any more plastic toys piling up in my living room and I am very wary of spending money on fad items that will only get played with a couple of times and then tossed to one side (we all know that feeling!) Continue reading “Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas From For First Steps- plus 10% discount just for you!”
The Benefits Of Developing Your Child’s Skills From An Early Age
Every parent wants the absolute best for their child, but sometimes it’s hard to find the balance between looking after them and challenging them. Puzzles, projects and sport for kids can all go a long way in preparing them for the future, but how do you make sure you’re not pushing them too hard? To help you out with this little dilemma, here are some tips on why it might be worth developing your child’s skills through fun, stimulating activities, even from an early age. Continue reading “The Benefits Of Developing Your Child’s Skills From An Early Age”
Essential Adulting Lessons You Need To Teach Your Kids
The truism that the hardest job is being a parent has never been more relevant than now. Raising our kids to become well-adjusted adults in a time of unstable digital economy, the pressures of social media and time of rising anxiety and bad mental health among teens is a worrying prospect. It’s understandable to want to wrap your children in cotton wool and shield them from the world. Continue reading “Essential Adulting Lessons You Need To Teach Your Kids”
When Should I Encourage my Baby to Socialise?
Socialisation is an important part of life that has the power to open doors, allows us to make new friends and generally communicate with one and other, but do you remember when you first began to socialise? The chances are that you don’t because, believe it or not, babies begin to socialise from the very first month in this world.
Of course, newborns aren’t going to come out of the womb and ask “how’s it going, mum and dad?”, they socialise in their own unique way. Babies will experiment by making different faces at you, even attempting to mimic some of your gestures. This is part of what allows parents and baby to bond together.
When Should I Introduce Baby to Other Babies?
There isn’t really a definitive age where you should or shouldn’t as babies are social creatures from the very beginning. However, we would recommend bonding with the baby for a month or two before going on to actively socialise, whether that is by attending groups or nursery.
From two months old, the baby will have just managed this smiling lark, so you just know they are going to put on the charm offensive when they are out and about, and everyone is going to fall in love with them. It will serve you well, as a parent, to get baby used to interact with others their own age at such an early age, hopefully helping their social skills to develop and aiding them later on in life.
Socialising With Other Cultures
If you have the opportunity for baby to socialise with other cultures then 100% go for it. No one is born racist and much of the prejudice is fear of the unknown – by familiarising baby with other cultures at such a young age, they will develop a greater understanding that will serve them well through school and adult life.
Babies, children and adults all learn best through personal experiences. When it comes to learning about other cultures and faith, socialising and learning first-hand will always beat listening to a religious studies teacher giving a lecture on why Muslims give Zakat – of course, if you are interested in learning why you can find out more here.
When Can I Take Baby to Nursery?
Many nurseries accept babies from the age of three months old, although some will also offer care from just after birth. Full-time care is generally available from 18-24 months of age when, at this point, your baby will have a range of autonomy skills – beginning to walk and talk, as well as playing with other children.
While many have the option of becoming a stay at home mum, therefore meaning they do not have to rely on childcare, many cannot – or simply do not want to – give up work from the moment they become a parent. In the United Kingdom, nursery ratios mean that there must be at least one qualified practitioner per three babies in a room in order to give the child the required amount of attention.
Many parents, particularly of young babies, prefer one on one childcare, which is perfectly fine. When the baby, though, becomes a little older and more active, a nursery setting with other children is certainly the better choice to help develop social skills.
Of course, all children are different and no one knows them half as well as the parents. Some take a little longer to develop their social skills, while others could probably lead a conversation (if they could talk, of course).
*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.
Mummy Can We Pleeeeeease Get A Dog? (Considerations Before You Say Yes)
It’s a request that most mum, dads, and caregivers have heard at some point. Yes, it’s when the kids realise that dogs aren’t just pets that other people have, but that they could get one in there very own home too. Of course, it’s a tough question to answer from the parents’ side of things, because it’s not only about giving your child a cute new canine best friend. Luckily, I have outlined some of the primary considerations that you need to think about before you decide. Read on to find out more.
Are the kids old enough?
Many families have a dog when the kids are young and experience no problems at all. However, some younger children can find it hard to understand that the family pup is a living, breathing animal and not just a super smart stuffed toy. Sadly, this can lead them to chase your pooch around, pull at its coat, and generally make the poor dog’s life pretty tough, something you can read more about at sites like https://www.cuteness.com.
Of course, the problem only gets worse if you have a dog that has been rescued from a dangerous situation, or has a bad temper because then they can retaliate when annoyed and bite the child. Something that no dog owner will want to go through. Therefore it is vital that you ask whether your kids are old enough to understand exactly how to treat a dog well before you agree to have one in the house.
Have you got the time, money, information, and energy for a pup?
Next, before you consent to your child’s request to get a puppy, you need to ask yourself whether you are set up to offer them a healthy and happy home. To do this you need to consider whether you have the money to pay for their upkeep, and the time and energy to walk them at least twice a day.
Also, you need to ask yourself whether you know enough about dogs, and the particular breed you will be bringing into the home. Although, if you are struggling here, you can get some detailed information from sites like DogsByNina.com that specialise in canine care. After all, the more info you have, the better your dog’s life will be, and that is something that should be a top priority if you are going to make a pup a successful part of the family.
Are you willing to groom the dog regularly?
Lastly, don’t forget that caring for your hound isn’t just about feeding and walking them, in fact, you have to groom them on a regular basis as well.
In particular, remember to pay attention to the smaller issues that can cause your dog to be uncomfortable such as eye crust that needs gently cleaning away, and excessive hair growth in the ears that need to be trimmed.
Although, if you don’t want to deal with these sorts of tasks yourself you can always employ the help of professional dog groomer to assist you. Something that it is worth considering if this is the only thing standing in the way of you agreeing to get a dog!
*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.