PRETTY YOUNG THING

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay 

Looking ahead to the new year, it looks as though there will be more time spent at home. While there is the hope of the COVID-19 pandemic being over one day soon as vaccines are becoming available, it is still not over and who knows when it will be. With that in mind, you might want to think about how you can create some more space in your home to make it more comfortable for you and your family. 

Extend What You Can

If you have the money to and the room to do it, then this could be the perfect time to see how extensions could work in your home so that you don’t have to move to get a bigger house, you can simply keep the one you have and make it bigger. If a home extension is out of your price range, you can get creative with how to extend rooms, for example, if you have patio doors then perhaps you could put up a temporary gazebo to create the illusion of more space and a place where people can come and sit and visit in the garden at a safe distance.

Maximize Space In The Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home and it’s not just a place for cooking, but a place where people sit and chat, where the kids do their homework, and the place you may now call your office. The kitchen must be functional and so it’s essential to maximize the space you have in there. Kitchen storage solutions are the best way to do this, so think vertical shelving, drawer organizers, and food storage containers. Make the most of space high up for things you don’t use very often and perhaps instead of chairs at the kitchen table you could have a bench with storage in it.  

Use Clever Storage In The Bathroom

Bathrooms are also places where you need to have lots of things. Today so many bathrooms are small however there are lots of clever storage ideas that you can use to make the most of the space you have. Using baskets on the floor to put your shower gels and shampoos in can look nice and tidy, open shelving can be really useful too and you can get yourself a cheap fabric shoe organizer for things like makeup and hair accessories and hang it on the back of the door.  

Get Rid Of Clutter

One of the best ways to make space in your home is to sort through your things and work out what you need and what you can live without. It’s only natural to accumulate things over time, think about every time you go out shopping and buy something new, you don’t come home and throw something away. Eventually, you end up with a load of clutter and find you have no space. Now is the perfect time to have a big clear out and make space for all the new things you got for Christmas. It’s a new year, so time for a new start. 

The way we learn can be categorised into three main styles: visual, kinaesthetic and auditory. Understanding your child’s learning style and adapting your teaching methods to complement this can be the key to academic success as you will be able to help them reach their full potential. The following advice from an independent school in Surrey will help you decipher your child's learning style and provide tips on how to tailor your teaching style to suit them best. It is possible for children to adopt more than one learning style, so remember to keep this in mind. 

Visual 

If your child is a visual learner they will need to see or visualise things to fully grasp a concept or to retain information. These children often excel in visual activities such as art, crafts or jigsaw puzzles. They tend to be more engaged with books that contain a lot of illustrations or diagrams as they find it easier to process information this way. Visual learners will benefit from flash cards and mind maps, especially ones made up of bright colours as this will help them retain information more successfully. 

Kinaesthetic 

Kinaesthetic learners are usually quite easy to spot. They tend to be highly active children who struggle to sit still for too long. They are often very hands-on and excel at physical activities such as sport or performing arts. It is important to remember that these children will often fidget and move around whilst learning something new, but this could actually be helping them to focus, so try not to discourage it. These children respond better to applied teaching methods, you will find that they will engage more if they can physically get involved with an experiment or project. 

Auditory 

Auditory learners respond to sound. They are good at following verbal instructions and commonly pick up and copy words or phrases used by others. Auditory learners are particularly drawn to music and may be heard singing or humming whilst focusing on a task. Young children who show the signs of being auditory learners may respond well to educational songs and rhymes. Older auditory learners should practice reading study notes aloud, or even recording information and listening to it back in order to solidify their knowledge

Most children do not begin to grasp the concept of morals until the age of around 5 or 6. For some it’s a bit later. The idea that there’s a wrong and a right is somewhat fuzzy in pre-schooler’s minds. Toddlers may know that it’s wrong to steal or bite for example, but many lack the impulse control to avoid it.

Working with your children on moral values is a great idea no matter what their age. Discussing the implications of moral values will enable them to make good decisions as they navigate their time through school. Taking time out to listen to smaller children is important, as this primary school in Gerrards Cross says. Knowing they are heard helps children to grow in confidence.

As your child grows, they will be faced with moral decisions and need to develop the skills to make the right choices. Here are some which a pre-schooler might have to work out for themselves.

• Do I have to share?
• Shall I take that toy because I want it even though my brother is playing with it?
• Shall I push into the queue?
• Shall I take a sweet even though Mummy said not to?

Tiny decisions of course but to a small child, they’re quite big.

 

Talk about feelings and about right and wrong

Discussions with your child about their feelings and how they manage them will help them when they come to the hurdles they will inevitably face. A good time to discuss these things is straight after a child has made a bad choice. Don’t get cross – ask them how they feel about what happened and ask them what a better choice might have been. Make sure they understand why one choice is right and the other wrong.

Read stories together

There are many wonderful stories which incorporate morality. Here’s a few suggestions. Children often adore these stories because they recognise that justice has prevailed, and it helps them feel secure in the world:

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

The Midas Touch

The Tortoise and the Hare

Older children

Older children recognise that sometimes there are grey areas when it comes to morality. They may like to discuss these with you and talking through complex ideas like this can help adolescents in many ways. Not only will they learn debating skills, but they’ll also develop more awareness of the complexity of the world.

As our children grow, it’s easy to feel as though we’re losing a certain connection to their education.

When they’re small, we’re usually very involved. They excitedly tell us each detail of their day – from what they’ve eaten for lunch to who played with who and what colour they painted the sky.

These magical days pass by quickly though and once they hit secondary school, there often seems to be a gap between you, your child and their education. Unless your child is particularly open in their sharing style, you may lose touch and have little to no idea as to which subjects they’re enjoying and which they’re struggling with. Here are some top tips to help you stay more involved with your child’s education no matter what their age:

• Look at their timetable – you should be able to see their timetable so that you know which subjects they have on which day. This is useful for helping them get their homework in on time.
• Email their teachers – just at the start of each term. Let them know that you’re available to support them should the need arise. This is also a good opportunity to tell the teachers of any problems your child might be having.
• Join the PTA – a good chance to meet other parents and to discuss any concerns about your children’s school experience as well as raise money.
• Help your child do their homework – this might sound obvious but if your child is particularly capable, they might not call on your for help. Offer assistance and let them know you’re there and would like to help if needed.

When exams are coming up

Make sure your child has everything they need to study effectively. A good workspace including desk and office chair is vital. Quiet time during exam periods is important to – if your child knows you respect their efforts, they’re likely to try much harder. As this independent school in Kent suggests, treating each child as an individual with their own strengths is vital for their success.

Don’t get cross

If your child knows that you’re not emotionally reactive, they will be far more likely to share any issues they might be having at school. From big problems like failed exams to small things like forgotten spelling lists, just knowing you’re there to help is of enormous importance. Stay calm and friendly and your child will always turn to you for help.

Every parent wants their child to be confident. Confidence ensures your child isn’t afraid to join in and so the confident child has lots of opportunities.  As this Sixth Form in London suggests, children who are provided with the right opportunities in life will grow up to be empathetic and confident leaders who are never afraid of a challenge.

Socially, children need other children and confidence helps children to make friends more easily. Friends are a vital part of childhood – we learn from our friends and the bonds we forge can sometimes last into adulthood.

How can I help my shy child?

Some children are simply shyer than others. This isn’t something they can choose – it’s who they are.

Putting your child into situations they might be uncomfortable with will not help them to become more confident. What will help them is choosing challenges for them which play to their strengths.

Success builds confidence

For example, a very shy child being made to join an acting class will also be a very miserable child.

He or she will be horribly aware of their own shortcomings and will feel the sting of failure.

But the same child placed in a club or class which focuses on a subject they excel at, will grow in confidence quite quickly.

Sports and acting are often the areas in which naturally confident children excel. If your child is shy, consider looking at areas where they already excel. Here are some ideas.

Art and craft classes

Music

Choir

Science club

Creative writing classes

Animal interests – helping out at local stables or animal rescue

Environmental action groups

All of these are brilliant for helping quieter children to find their own strengths. Making friends outside school will help your child to begin to see themselves as an individual. Adding strings to their bow will help round them out into accomplished, confident adults who are not afraid of challenges.

Other ideas

Talk to your child. Find out what’s at the heart of them. What are they feeling about themselves. Remember that smaller children often don’t have the language or the experience to recognise their own feelings. A sad or unpleasant feeling is simply scary – they don’t know that it’s based in fear or worry. Let them know that all children and adults feel worry at times. And that those feelings can be dealt with.

 

Well I thought i'd do a little update as 2020 has been a crazy crazy year and its finally coming to an end. Christmas is just around the corner and I think we are all really looking forward to spending some time with our families. 

I know everyone has been effected by Covid in one way or another and I just thought i'd write a little blog post as a little reminder of whats happened this year. 

We started off the year by visiting some National Trusts as we decided to get memberships this year. It was a quiet start to the year and then Covid arrived and things started to change. I started working from home and Clint lost his job. It was such a stressful time and I really worried about what was going to happen. Luckily furlough was introduced and Clint started receiving that from his previous employer. I was also furloughed as a receptionist it was difficult doing my job from home and my company decided to furlough a handful of the support staff. 

We tried to make the most of this time by spending it together and just trying to make the best of the situation. We went for walks, did crafts and found new places to explore. We made the most out of our National Trust cards too and visited some new places. We have managed to get away a couple of times this year, first to Cornwall. We stayed in my Grandads motor home, this was so lovely, this was in August so things were a little relaxed and then we went away and stayed in a caravan in September with my family and again had a really lovely few days away. 

I'm now back working from home, I have a new boss and i'm currently assisting the facilities manager which is good. Amelia has started going to a childminder on these days and she loves it! Shes really coming along and learning to share better and her social skills have improved. We found that lockdown really affected her and she became frustrated and angry and she really needed this bit of separation and space and social interaction. 

Clint has got a new job which he's really enjoying and he's doing really well. It's been good for us to have some space as we were started to get on each others nerves a little bit. It's been a really hard year for us and i'm really looking forward to a nice relaxing Christmas. I've broke up from work now and pretty much ready for the day. We are spending Christmas day at home just the three of us which is going to be so strange but we usually go to both parents and it ends up being alot and a really crazy day and I just don't want to do that this year so we will visit our parents around Christmas instead. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas x 

 When you’re a parent, your whole life changes. It turns on its axis and every aspect of your life is thrown up into the air, falling down in a new place. There’s no getting away from the fact that having children is a big change to adapt to, especially as it changes the entirety of your life. Once you become a parent, everything is about your little ones; the key thing in your life is making sure that your children have everything that they need, are properly looked after, and are safe. 

Parenting isn’t easy; being a parent can be extremely challenging. There are certain areas of parental life that can be a little more tricky than others, such as driving with your little ones, for instance. The fact is that driving with your little ones can be an exceedingly stressful experience, which is why it’s so important that you understand what it takes to make driving with your little ones in tow a little simpler, easier and safer. 

Photo source: Pixabay

Bearing that in mind, below is a guide to some useful driving and car tips for parents, to help make driving with kids a little easier to manage - read on for everything that you need to know! 

Buy the right car 

One of the first steps that you need to take when it comes to buying a car is to think carefully about whether it’s a good fit for you and your family. The truth is that when you buy a car you need to take the time to consider what makes it a good car for family life. You need to consider how large it is, how many seats it has, what storage space it offers, and how economical it is to run and maintain. It’s important to think carefully about all of these key factors, to ensure that you end up with the right car for your family. 

If you’re unsure about what makes and models of vehicles could be best for your family, then it’s worthwhile taking the time to think carefully about what exactly your family needs from their car. Then, once you know what that is, you can opt to research the right cars to fit your family’s needs. You might also want to do some researching into what the best-rated family cars are, to see if one of the listed vehicles might be a good fit for you and your family. 

Be clued up about car seats 

A crucial safety element of driving with little ones is car seat safety. What it’s important to remember is that not all car seats are born equal, so it’s worthwhile taking the time to research which car seat makes and models offer the most protection for your children. It’s also important to understand the ins and outs of car seat safety, such as the fact that a car seat that’s been in any form of an accident should no longer be used as it won’t be as safe as previously. 

Choosing the right car seat can often be a struggle; many parents find picking out a car seat extremely difficult. If you’re unsure of what option to go for, you can always ask the store assistants for help determining which car seat would be a good fit for your little one. Just make sure that you know your child’s weight, as car seats are measured based on weight, and using the incorrect car seat for a child’s weight, makes the seat ineffective and unsafe. 

Take car maintenance seriously 

When it comes to your family car, it’s vital that you take car maintenance seriously. If you want to ensure that your family vehicle is as safe and effective as possible, then it’s important that you take time to make car maintenance a priority, because without effective maintenance it’s far harder to keep your car running safely. Bearing that in mind, it’s a good idea to aim to take your car into your local garage for a check-up and service at least twice a year - every six months is an ideal time period for this. 

You might not think that you need to have your car checked over as frequently, but the truth is that it’s far too easy for a part of your car to start showing signs of wear in just a few months. Take your tyres, for instance, they might look fine at one check, and then six months later they might look extremely worn and in need of replacing. That’s why having regular vehicle checkups is so important, as they allow you to catch any problems before they pose a safety risk to you and your family. 

Get in-car activities right 

One of the worst safety risks when driving with kids in the car is becoming distracted by your little ones. That’s why it’s so important that you make sure that you always have plenty of in-car activities on hand for your little ones to do and play with. If your little ones are distracted by an activity then they’re less likely to distract you, helping to prevent you from losing concentration, and as a result, ending up getting into a car accident. 

Wondering what kinds of activities you can give your little ones to keep them distracted while you’re in the car? Having an -in-car movie system can be a great first step to take to keep your little ones distracted while you’re driving. If you don’t want to fit a while in-car movie system, you could opt to get each child a tablet of their own where they can watch movies on and play games on. You could also opt to pack travel goodie bags for each child, in a bid to help to keep them quiet while you’re driving. 

When it comes to driving with kids in tow, it’s not always an easy task to get right. The truth is that there are lots to think about and consider, especially when it comes to family travel safety. Hopefully, the guide above has given you some ideas and inspiration to make keeping your family safe on the roads a little easier and less stressful. 

 So your child is now 2 years old and they have officially entered the toddler phase. This is when the child has gone from being a baby to now, being able to walk and talk completely on their own. The room has to charge with their newfound character to fit their personality growing up. They have to feel like they’re in a room that will reflect their personality for the next 3 years. So consider what kinds of things they like and implement them into the room. But that’s in terms of design and style, what kinds of changes need to happen, practically speaking?

First the bed

Move that cot or crib out of the way, it's time for his or her first real bed. If you only have a girl, you can choose these types of girls beds. It's probably dawned on you by now if you have a girl and a boy, that boys are usually not as bothered about their rooms. So choosing a girl’s bed that is going to fit her view, her personality, and character is where you should focus. Don’t just go for the pink beds, consider a hideaway house bed or a midsleeper bed. The explorer treehouse bed is very popular with young girls that love to climb, jump, run and splash in puddles. The most boisterous girls love this type of bed because it looks and feels like you’re in a makeshift shack, exploring a hidden jungle.

Pixabay   

A floor for playing

Back when your child was a baby they only used the floor for changing or maybe to get a nap. But now that you have a toddler, you‘ll want to take the floor a lot more friendly to their nature, which is constant play. So, think about buying bigger cushions so the child can rest on them or use them to break their fall if they trip over. The floor should also have a play pad, which is not the same as a normal cushion. This is large, flat, and has padding instead of stuffing or foam. It is something the toddler can use to sit on for a long period of time and not feel the harshness of the floor. A beanbag chair or something similar would be fantastic. 

Sofa seat

A toddler would love to have a reading seat, where they can climb up and just reward their favorite books. A sofa seat is the best choice because it's going to put up with your toddler’s bashfulness. The padding is going to be comfortable and the seat won’t be so easily moved around so your toddler won’t be using it as a ladder to climb up to a window ledge. This style of seat is best in a fabric finish, such as cotton, or synthetics like nylon.

A toddler room is a big change from a baby's room. But you have so many more options than before, so involve your child in the process of the design and get creative together.!

 If you thought that the garage was just a space for tools and a vehicle or two, then you’re sadly mistaken. This space has been among the most neglected in our homes. But once you make proper use of it, you can transform your lifestyle and get a bunch of benefits you never imagined. 

Is the clutter in your garage preventing you from parking your car? Are you sick and tired of paying for a space in your home that doesn’t serve any useful function? 

If so, check out this post where we run through a bunch of brilliant makeover ideas to radically transform your garage. 

Put Your Tools On Magnetic Storage Strips

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Whenever you encounter a properly organised garage, you’ll often see all the tools arranged neatly on the walls. It looks professional, and it’s also extremely convenient for the owner. But how do you do it?

There are several options here. The old-fashioned approach was to nail a bunch of hooks into the wall and then fit tools that way. But today you can get helpful magnetic strips that work with most kinds of tools, so long as they contain magnetic metal. It’s quick, reliable and neat too. 

Upgrade Your Door

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Are you still using a traditional mechanical garage door? If so, you could be missing a trick. According to Pinnacle Garage Doors, there are many different automatic options available today which offer multiple benefits. For instance, did you know that you can get doors that automatically retract and then roll up on the ceiling, saving you space? There are also doors that you can control from your device - great for when you arrive home from work in the car. 

Invest In Overhead Storage

The priority in your garage should be to keep your items off the floor so that you have a large area to keep your vehicle. But achieving this can be a challenge, especially if you have a lot of tools. 

The solution here is to use all the vertical space at your disposal and use a step ladder to access it. That way, you can prevent clutter from reducing the size of the footprint available. 

Upgrade The Flooring

How many people do you know who have concrete floors in their garages? Probably everyone. 

But is concrete really the best material? Probably not.

Yes, it provides plenty of strength, making it great for supporting vehicles. But it’s not attractive, and it doesn’t feel good underfoot. 

So what are your options? 

A lot of people like to put down industrial vinyl in their garages. It feels better when you walk on it, it won’t break when you drop tools on it, and it comes in a range of attractive styles and colours. 

Create A Sports Rack

Finally, it’s a good idea to create a sports rack for all your bats and balls, especially if you have kids. Put up hooks for things like tennis racquets and add baskets for footballs, tennis balls and other objects you and the children need for playing sports. 

 Whether you are a first-time home-buyer, or simply moving to a new property after selling your home it's no secret that moving is incredibly stressful. This is due to a number of reasons, including: 

• Anxiety about leaving behind something comfortable and familiar with the ‘unknown’

• Ensuring you have everything ready to leave your current property on time

• Ensuring you don’t leave anything behind

• Scheduling home renovations 

• Affording any associated costs

However, there are several things you can do to make the process a little easier for you and your family. 

Photo by Alex Mecl on Unsplash

1: Pack early

Nobody likes packing. It's time-consuming, a little dull and it can be difficult to ensure you pack everything correctly, especially items that can be easily damaged. However, the sooner you begin this task - the sooner you will finish. Remember - you don’t want to be left with just a few hours to pack up your home from top to bottom, this will lead to carelessness. As a result, you could leave things behind or damage items as you are in a rush.

You should start by packing up a single room at a time, that way you can unpack in the same order and have everything you need in one place. You should also ensure you pack your essentials last, so you have easy access to them as soon as you move into your new home.

Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash

2: Make use of storage

Storage facilities are a great way to help take some of the stress away from moving. When you hire a storage facility, it means you can start packing earlier and ensure your boxes are stored safely until you need them again. It also means that you don’t need to unpack right away or live amongst a pile of boxes as you adjust to life in your new home.  It gives you more freedom, and takes away some of the urgency associated with moving.  

Photo by HiveBoxx on Unsplash

3: Ask for help

Whenever you encounter a problem, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. This applies to moving house, and there are likely plenty of your friends and family who will be happy to lend a helping hand when it comes to getting ready for a big move (although they may ask you to do the same thing in the future).

If you need to move particularly heavy furniture, you may wish to enlist the services of a moving company, who can ensure your items arrive at your new home in one piece and stop you from getting injured trying to move them yourself. 

Photo by Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash

4: Renovate first

If possible, you should ensure your new home is ready for you before you move in. For example, if it needs urgent restorations, to areas such as the bathroom or kitchen, it’s easier for everyone involved if you aren’t there during the renovation process. This means the builders can focus on their work uninterrupted, and you aren’t living in a house without warm water. You’ll sleep easier knowing your new home is ready to welcome you in!

 

This little lady is 3 today! I haven't blogged in so long and really want to try and write a new post each week as a little update. Today was Amelia's 3rd birthday! I'm sooo tired, it's been a super long day. We are currently in a national lockdown here so there wasn't much we could do but we still had a lovely day. 

We woke up early about 6:30 and started the day by opening presents. Amelia loved opening her presents and was so so fast! I think she found it a little overwhelming. We got her some lovely presents, some dress up outfits, wooden ice cream cart, play doh, a Disney princess till. I decorated the living room with loads of balloons and we went for a mermaid theme. I also made a mermaid cake. 

We had some visitors pop by to drop off presents and played with new toys and opened presents all day. We had pancakes with Nutella for breakfast, an afternoon tea with cakes for lunch and Pizza for dinner. It was such a lovely day. Amelia was so excited about it being her birthday, it was so cute. It was a shame we didn't get to go on a day out or for food like we usually would but i'm sure we can make it up to her. 

A lack of confidence can have a big impact on your lifestyle and the way in which you carry yourself, both professionally and personally. It’s something that you should act on because otherwise, you’ll run the risk of having your lack of confidence really hold you back. And that’s not what you want. Here are some of the changes that can positively impact your confidence.

Set Goals and Meet Them

It’s often the case that a lack of confidence comes from a lack of purpose. If you feel like your life is a little directionless and you don’t really know where you’re going, it’s important to do something about that. In order to make that happen, you should try to set goals and meet them. These could be small day to day goals or much more long-term and wider-reaching goals. It’s up to you.

Take Care of Yourself and Your Appearance

If you want to start carrying yourself with more confidence, it’s important to start taking care of how you look. Your appearance should never be the thing that defines you, but there’s no doubting the fact that style and appearances matter when it comes to how confident you feel. So maybe it’s time to place more focus on fashion and to work on how you dress yourself.

Push Yourself Each Day

Pushing yourself each and every day will help you to feel like you have more of a genuine purpose, and it should also enhance your confidence too. If you’re coasting along in life and never really pushing your limits, it’ll become a whole lot more difficult to feel good about yourself and your place in the world, so start trying to do this each day.

Start Intentionally Styling Your Hair

If it’s been a long time since you took care of your hair and styled it in an intentional kind of way, this is something that you should look to work on and change. When you take the time to style your hair each morning and make it look great, you’ll put yourself in a much better position to feel confidence. For some people, confidence issues can also be addressed with the help of a FUE hair transplant.

Know Yourself and Your Skills

When you know yourself and your own skills, it becomes a lot easier for you to have confidence in what you’re doing. For example, if you take stock of where you’re at in your career and what you’re good at, you can go forward knowing that you’re on the right track and have confidence in your ability to keep moving forward in the right direction.

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When you start to make the kinds of changes discussed here, you’ll be setting yourself up for success. Most importantly, you’ll start to feel better about yourself and confident in your own abilities. And even if you don’t feel confident right away, you can and should fake it until you make it.

 Video games come with many advantages. They can teach our kids motor skills, they can help our kids interact with other children around their age, and it also keeps them out of trouble. However, it’s also important to focus on keeping your kids active by encouraging them to go outside and play sports and other physical activities with their friends and family members. Encouraging your kids to put down their video games can be difficult unless you put harsh arbitrary limitations on their ability to play.

Instead of being heavy-handed, it’s a good idea to take a gentle approach to help encourage your kids to engage in outdoor activities instead of playing games all day. Here are a couple of tips to help you do just that.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/bUgaIaZysH0 (CC0)

Keep track of how much time they spend on video games

First, make sure you start tracking how much time they spend on video games. A lot of kids will argue back when you tell them they play too many video games. They’ll say they don’t really play that much and that you’re exaggerating the time. To counter this, keep track of how long they play so you can quickly squash this argument.

Introduce other hobbies to expand their interests

If you want to get your kids off their video games then you need to replace it with something equally as stimulating and productive. For example, you can try introducing them to art, reading comic books or even sports. If they don’t find it as fun or engaging as video games, then it’s down to you to convince them to try something new.

Consider starting a long-term project in something creative

Kids are very open to trying new things, especially when it comes to creative endeavours. However, it needs to be something that they can work on for a long period of time. Try to encourage your kids to get off video games by starting a long-term creative project. This can include planting flowers or fruits in the garden, or it could mean building something like a shed or bedroom together.

Arrange more outdoor activities on a regular basis

Your kids aren’t going to go outside on their own unless they have a reason to. You might find it beneficial to arrange more outdoor activities such as fundraising fun runs or sports days with their friends and family members. This will help encourage them to get outside more often, and it can also turn into a chance to network with other kids and make new friends.

If they’re adamant about video games, make sure it’s something that helps them get creative

Lastly, if they’re adamant about playing video games then you can make sure it’s at least something creative or stimulating. For instance, Minecraft is a great video game for kids to play for longer periods because it usually involves making things and expressing their creativity. It’s similar to a modern-day LEGO where your kids can build unique things and show off their creations.