Monthly Archives: September 2016

Tips for engaging reluctant readers 6

September 30, 2016 in Books / parenting by Jen Walshaw

Everyone wants their children to grow up with a love of books. I know that I did and I have one bookworm, but I also have one reluctant reader. Maxi is a capable reader, but he has never connected with books for whatever reason and it isn’t for lack of trying on my part! The fact is that reluctant readers are often boys, but the lack of interest in reading books isn’t just a boy thing. So how do you engage reluctant readers? I have teamed up with DisneyLife to bring you some tips for engaging reluctant readers.

Cook with your Grandkids – #CookSomethingGrand 7

September 29, 2016 in activities for children / baking / cooking / Cooking / cooking with children / receipe by Jen Walshaw

As you know I am passionate about cooking with kids and one of the things that make me sad is that my boys can not learn to cook and bake with my mum like I did, especially as this coming Sunday 2nd October is Grandparents Day. But I am delighted to be working on this fab #CookSomethingGrand campaign about cooking with your grandkids.

Easing the Home to School Transition 18

September 28, 2016 in Back to School / parenting by Jen Walshaw

Being at school can take some adapting to for children, especially after a holiday or for younger children who are just starting school. So I am working with Highland Spring to bring you some small ideas and tips for things that you can do to help your children during this time which will make everyone’s the school transition so much happier.

Chicken Tikka Masala – Cooking with Kids 3

September 27, 2016 in activities for children / cooking / Cooking / cooking with children / Fakeaways / Mains / receipe by Jen Walshaw

This Chicken Tikka Masala was cooked by Mini aged ten from scratch and I can tell you it was absolutely delicious. I am delighted to have teamed up with Uncle Ben’s to highlight their fantastic Ben’s Beginners cooking hub on the lead up to International Cook With Your Kids Day on 15th October 2016.

Design a Dream Pet – A simple drawing prompt 7

September 26, 2016 in Age 2-5 / Age 5-7 / childrens craft / crafts / Screen Free / Tween by Jen Walshaw

I find using a drawing prompt a great idea when sometimes children freeze when presented with a blank page. I love challenging the boys to draw their dream pet. it is a great activity that uses their imagination and as it is a dream pet it doesn’t have to be real at all. I recently looked after my best friends five year old and decided to challenge him to draw his dream pet.

Tots Guide to Good Gut Health with Bio-Kult Infantis 8

September 25, 2016 in Being Mum - baby / parenting by Jen Walshaw

We all know that maintaining a strong immune system is so important for your little ones, but did you know that 70% of the immune system is found in the gut? Healthy gut flora could help to protect against nasties such as diarrhoea, and common conditions such as eczema, hay fever, food intolerances and colic.

Teksta Robotic Puppy 5.0 Review

September 23, 2016 in Review / Technology and kids / Uncategorized by Jen Walshaw

My boys don’t often ask for toys, but have been interested in a Teksta Robotic Puppy for the last three years and due to poor reviews, I have managed to talk them out of it. So when we were offered the new Teksta Robotic Puppy 5.00 to review I thought we would see what the fuss is all about and if they are worth the £59.99 that they cost.

Tasty Tuna Non Sandwich Lunchbox ideas 11

September 22, 2016 in Packed Lunches / Party Food / recipes / Snacks by Jen Walshaw

Over the last two years Mini has moved on to have packed lunches for school and as he isn’t really a sandwich person we have been working with Flora looking at non-sandwich lunchbox ideas.

A Mums view of Citroën C4 Picasso 10

September 21, 2016 in parenting / Technology and kids by Jen Walshaw

Let’s talk cars. Believe it or not I only actually learned to drive when pregnant with Mini who is ten. Since then I have had three cars, each and every one of them French! I started off with a Peugeot 307 estate, then moved on to a Renault Grand Scenic and then downsized to a Citroën C3, which is five years old and called the snot rod. So what is it that Mum’s look for in a car?

A Mums view of the Citroën C4 PicassoA Mums view of the Citroën C4 Picasso

Earn Money doing Surveys with Opinion Outpost 6

September 20, 2016 in Finance / parenting by Jen Walshaw

Can you earn money doing surveys? Well, I have been putting it to the test by doing some with Opinion Outpost. As a mum of two boys, I am always looking for ways to earn some extra cash and every penny counts and I have found Opinions Outpost to be a great way to earn money online.

101 Ideas for using Felt Scraps 8

September 19, 2016 in activities for children / Age 2-5 / Age 5-7 / childrens craft / crafts / Screen Free / Sewing / Teen / Tween / Upcycling by Jen Walshaw

If you are anything like me you do not throw anything way and I have a box full of felt scraps. Felt is such a beautiful material and perfect for making things with as it doesn’t fray. After using some of our felt scraps to make our Kandinsky inspired trees I decided to come up with some other ideas for using scraps of felt. teens and adults including simple sewing. Felt is such a flexible craft material.

Football – Getting Girls in the Game 10

September 16, 2016 in activities for children / Outdoor by Jen Walshaw

I am delighted to be working with SSE in raising awareness of and increasing the opportunity for girls to get involved in football from a young age and am over the moon to be able to share with you this amazing video about football (soccer to my American readers) helping overcome life’s greatest challenges as part of SSE’s Dads and Daughters programme.

Yarn Wrapped Pumpkin Lanterns 7

September 15, 2016 in activities for children / Age 2-5 / Age 5-7 / art / Autumn Crafts / Autumn/Fall / childrens craft / crafts / Process Art / Screen Free / Seasonal / Tween by Jen Walshaw

These yarn wrapped pumpkin lanterns are wonderfully hands-on and messy process art. Not all children enjoy getting this hands-on, it is not something that Maxi my eldest enjoys, but Mini loves the whole sensory experience of making these.

Tips for finding moments of quiet in your day 7

September 14, 2016 in parenting / Technology and kids by Jen Walshaw

Anyone that knows me will contest the fact that I am an introvert. As much as I love my family and the noise and joy that brings, I need my solitude too and in a world of noise, be that digital and sensory sound it can be really hard to find moments of quiet in my day.

Are you saving enough for your child’s future? 1

September 12, 2016 in Finance / parenting by Jen Walshaw

As parents, we always want to do what is best for our children, but the question of are you saving enough for your child is one that always leaves me in two minds. I would love to be able to say that we are constantly saving for the boys, but at the moment, that isn’t strictly true.

Are you saving enough for your child’s future?

Back to School 2016 7

September 9, 2016 in Back to School / parenting by Jen Walshaw

Back to school 2016, a bittersweet time for a lot of Mums. My boys have had seven weeks off this summer and at the beginning of it, they were ready to kill each other. In some ways, it has been the summer of bickering, but in others, it has been wonderful.

Kids in the Kitchen with Ben’s Beginner’s 9

September 8, 2016 in activities for children / Cooking / cooking with children by Jen Walshaw

I am a really big advocate of cooking with children and getting kids in the kitchen from an early age. Some of my happiest memories are of helping my mum bake and cook, but more than just happy memories, she left me with the legacy of being pretty handy in the kitchen and this is something I am really keen to pass on to both my boys.