Why is Play Important?

UKMums.tv, along with their resident expert Dr amanda Gummer, are supporting the Make Time 2 Play campaign.  For 3 weeks from the 20^th May they will be creating discussion topics on the importance of play on behalf of the British Toy and Hobby Association’s Make Time 2 Play Campaign http://www.maketime2play.co.uk/.

The importance of play in the lives of children should never be underestimated.  It is an essential aspect to the healthy development of young children and a fundamental part of learning.

The official advice is simple: children learn best through simple playtime which enhances problem solving skills, attention span, social development and creativity.

Incorporating fun themes into children’s learning makes the experience more memorable, more fun and less daunting so they will be more likely to want to do it again as they will be enjoying themselves.

Real-life experiences are the best ways for children to develop new skills and understanding.  They can explore their environment and through trial and error hone their skills and make discoveries in a hands on way.

Children learn essential social skills through playing with their peers. Relationships are the bedrock of society and children who play develop mutually rewarding relationships, learn to compromise, communicate and negotiate, all of which give them much better outlooks as well rounded individuals.

Even the most frivolous activity is beneficial for children as it helps them understand themselves better – learning what makes you happy and what makes you laugh helps children cope with challenges and acts as a buffer against mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Join in with the Make Time 2 Play campaign on May 20th and join in the discussion on how to Make Time 2 Play with your children.

Technology, Connections and The Home.

These days, it’s safe to say technology and the home overlap very easily. It doesn't matter who you are, you probably get some use out of technology. The humble telephone, for instance, still holds many uses. Likewise, TV and the internet is always in use. As a parent, you might use this a little, but children eagerly embrace and adapt such new technology.

As such, what might be of little use to you is something that your children will grow up around, taking it on as part of day to day life. In other words, you may have to provide something that you yourself do not use, or even understand the importance of.

The phone

Take the house phone, for instance. Whilst you may use it for occasional calls, someone else might be a frequent talker. Home phones offer a cheap way to make long distance calls, especially when compared to the costs of dialling out on a mobile phone. Even if it’s not in use, you still need a landline connection for the internet.

As such, you want a provider such as BT phone that offers you what you need. This can include international calls or a cheaper rate for domestic calls. Whatever you need, finding the deal that suits you directly saves you money and hassle.

The internet

As already stated, a phone line is needed if you wish to access the internet. This is where an arguable difference between generations can be seen. Adults and parents might use the internet, but this is nowhere near as much as a child may grow up to use it. Once they reach school age, the internet becomes an important tool for research. Additionally, online gaming and other services ensure that a child always has a ready use for the internet.

Likewise, other devices, such as phones and tablets, use the internet too. In short, even if you don't use it, your children place a great reliance on your broadband connection. As such, this is something you might want to invest in. It’s also something you will need to adapt; as it gets used more, you may need to switch to a better deal that copes with the traffic. With so much relying on it, it helps to have a connection that can both cope with demand and save you money.

In closing, this is just a quick look at two key areas of technology. Throw in the likes of electricity usage, TV and other areas, and you have an example of just how important technology is in the modern home and family life.

Bigjigs Carpenters Bench Review

We are so thrilled to be Play Patrol Agents for Bigjigs Toys.  We love their wonderful range of ethical, traditional, environmentally friendly, wooden toys.  Freddy is so excited about putting the fun to the test by trying out some of Bigjigs Toys best offerings.

His first assignment was to test out the Carpenters Bench, a 15 piece workbench and tool set, suitable for children aged 3 and up.

The toys comes minimally packaged in a cardboard box with the accessories contained in a single plastic bag. The bench itself is constructed from solid, varnished wood with pre-drilled holes for storing the tools and hammering in the nails.  The tools and accessories are very colourful.

Children can learn about shapes and colours as they sort through the pieces.  Number skills can also be practiced as children count the pieces.

Motor skills and dexterity are developed as little fingers pop the nails and screws through the holes and manipulate them with the tools.

The work bench gives opportunities for role play and unleashes a child's imagination as they pretend to be a carpenter or copy a parent's DIY skills.  Perfect for all those little jobs around the house!

Children's vocabulary is expanded as they learn the names of all the different tools and their functions.

Freddy (insistently and enthusiastically wearing his Bigjigs Play Patrol T-shirt and rucksack combo) was immediately drawn to the workbench.  He is a boy who enjoys hitting things so he set straight to work hammering the wooden nails into the bench.  Using the screwdriver he turned the screws and used the spanner to twist the nuts and bolts.

The nails hammered in completely into the holes in the bench.  Freddy was mostly able to pull them out using the claw side of the hammer (which catapulted them into the air much to his amusement) but sometimes they were just too firmly in.  I showed him how to turn the bench over and hammer them out from the underside.

The tools are solid and could cause damage if used on anything other than the bench.  In the wrong hands they could be lethal!  But teaching kids to use them properly and appropriately is a great lesson in itself.


       

The Carpenters Bench is a compact and self-contained toy that takes up little space compared to the full-sized workbenches available on the market.  It may be small in size but it has lots of scope for play with the assortment of holes and accessories to explore.  It's a good size for taking away to the grandparents or on holiday to keep children entertained, and it all fits back into the box after use.  Priced at just £10.99, it is a well priced toy that little ones will really enjoy playing with.

Find out more on the Bigjigs Toys range and purchase them online at the website:

www.bigjigstoys.co.uk

You can follow Bigjigs on Twitter and Facebook.

Sixteen Things I Love About You

On May the 16th 1997, I married Ian.  The boy I had known throughout secondary school, who I had briefly dated and had never lost touch with.  The boy who was my best friend, seeing me through the ups and downs of my life.  The boy with whom I successfully gambled a dear friendship on, as we took our relationship to the next level. The boy who became a man.  My man.  The man I married.

Sixteen years of marriage later, I am sharing my life and my family with Ian.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  We have grown together and are now in such a wonderful place that brings comfort, stability and joy into all of our lives.  For that I am forever thankful.

So, as a tribute to the man that I married, here are "Sixteen Things I Love About You!"

1:  You are without doubt the most patient person I have ever met. Hearing you talk my 79 year old mum through the latest update on her computer is simply incredible.  You, sir, are an actual saint!

2:  You have smoothed away all my sharp edges and made me a better person.

3:  You are an amazing dad.  You are so hands-on with the little ones and an inspiration to the older ones.  You're the dad that the other kids think is cool.

4:  You can still give me butterflies when I look at you.

5:  You aren't afraid of turning your hand to anything. You really are an inspiration to me. You fear nothing!

6:  You support everything I do.  Even if I screw up, you're still there encouraging me. (I know that you don't really like chargrilled vegetable stew, but you make me believe that my burnt dinner offerings are not a total fail!)

7:  You look like the love child of Kevin Bacon and Mark Wahlberg.

8:  I love you playing the guitar. You even wrote a song for me. Our house is filled with music that transcends the generations and has us all singing along.  I love that. You are my rock star.

9:  We share a love of horror films and we indulge that love on our big ass 3D TV.  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D Blu-ray is on pre-order!

10:  You are non-judgmental.  You never hold anything I have ever done against me. (You even humour my cougar crushes on Harry Styles and Zac Efron.)

11:  You are not afraid to cry. (Especially when watching Little House on the Prairie.)

12:  You would rather be with me and the kids than anywhere else in the world.  We don't have to compete for your attention with the pub, football, boys' nights out, the gym or online gaming.  When we do things, we do them together.  The rest of the world doesn't figure in the equation. (But you still let me do all the things I want to do and facilitate me being able to do them!!)

13:  You believe in sharing all the housework, cooking, cleaning, laundry etc. plus you do the 'man's work' like DIY, putting out the bins and mowing the lawn.  I know how lucky I am!!

14:  You know me.  Better than I know myself. I see myself differently now, thanks to you.  Your patience and understanding has helped us weather many a storm.  You have literally saved me from myself time and time again.  You ground me, but you still let me fly.

15:  You are an incredible judge of character and you can instinctively read people and understand them.  It's a gift and I trust your judgment completely. (I do however wish sometimes that your gift was predicting lottery numbers.  We'd make fabulous rich people.)

16:  You make me feel safe.  You make me look forward to the future.  You make me whole.

I love you xxx

Playing for Keeps DVD Review

PLAYING FOR KEEPS Out on DVD and Blu-ray 20th May

Gerard Butler stars in PLAYING FOR KEEPS, a new romantic comedy which comes with a bit of added spice! Out to rent and own on DVD and Blu-ray from 20th May (RRP £15.99/£17.99).

Butler stars as George Dryer, a down-on-his-luck former football star who is desperate to rebuild a relationship with his ex-wife, Stacie, and his young son, Lewis.

In an attempt to put his life back on track and win his family back he starts coaching his son's football team. But football coaching introduces George to the world of football mums!

We were sent a copy to review.  Our first issue was trying to work out what Butler's accent was meant to be  (Scottish??) and then decipher his mumbling dialogue. Secondly, his questionable morals sat a little uneasily in what is meant to be a heart warming rom-com.  I didn't find myself rooting for him at all as he wormed his way back into his ex-wife's affections.  Even when he grows a conscience and starts taking his responsibilities seriously, I struggled to feel that he deserved a second chance with his wife who was about to remarry.  Maybe if the male lead was played by an actor who I find irresistible I'd have felt differently, but I'm just not a fan of Butler in romantic roles.  Sorry!

However, the star studded cast kept us interested.  The women acted well, carrying the storyline, and the kids' football team were very cute. There were some heartwarming moments throughout the film that made us smile. Fans of Butler will undoubtedly enjoy this film which showcases his physique and rugged charm both on and off the pitch.

PLAYING FOR KEEPS INFORMATION:

Released: 20th May 2013
RRP: DVD £15.99 / Blu-ray £17.99
Certificate: 12A
Features: Deleted Scenes / The Playbook: Making Playing for Keeps / Creating An All-Star Team: The Cast of Playing for Keeps

Choosing Happiness

Being Yourself - Brilliantly

A highlight of my day at the Tots 100 Blog Summit was listening to the inspirational, motivational speaker and author of The Art of Being Brilliant  Andy Cope who gave a talk about happiness and positivity in everyday life.  His words spoke directly to the part of me that hides under a dark cloud somewhere deep inside, which sometimes surfaces and threatens to douse my life with irrational, negative thoughts.  Hearing Andy Cope actually felt life changing.

Much of what he said was incredibly simple.  We cannot change what is going on in the world, but we can change how we respond to it.  We can wait for some allusive pot of gold coloured happiness at the end of a neverending rainbow, or we can see the joy in the here and now.  We can train ourselves, with a subtle switch in our perception to choose to be happy.  This may be commonsense, but it certainly is not common practice.

Much of what was said was similar to the way I speak to be children.  If they are down about something that is happening in their lives I remind them that they are in control of how they see their problems.  Approaching those problems with a positive approach is empowering and gives them back the control that feeling down takes away.  Dwelling on negative thoughts will only ever create a spiral of despair.  Wishing away the days until after they have finished their exams or until they break up from school, causes them to miss out of the simple pleasures that surrounds them everyday.  Although these are words I say to my kids with conviction, I have never said them to myself.

Only 2% of the population of the UK according to Andy Cope's research are really happy.  Many of us fall into the category of 'mood hoovers' who dwell in the bottom of the happiness spectrum, sucking the positive energy out of everything and never experiencing true contentment in life.  But this negative outlook is learned behaviour.  Material possessions, career, wealth and success are things we strive for in life to make us happy.  We live fast but we don't live well.  The more we rely on these factors for our happiness, the more disillusioned we can become in our never ending search for the next thing that will complete us.  We need to strip this back and be grateful for what we have.  We need to unlearn this behaviour.  We literally need to stop and smell the roses.

Andy Cope starts each day being thankful that he hasn't got toothache.  A simple trick to start the day happy.  Instead of focusing on the fact that it is silly o'clock, it's raining and you've got loads of work to do, just focus on something positive as your first thought of the day.  For him it's the fact that his teeth don't hurt!  Choosing to find the positive in a situation is the basis of changing your entire outlook on life.  It's so simple, it's genius!  Applying this process to all aspects of your life can definitely change things for the better.

Driving home from Blog Summit there was an accident closing the M6 slip road and causing a tail back.  The weather took a turn for the worse and the heavens opened as we sat there in the traffic jam in the torrential rain.  This incident suddenly became a metaphor for life and a way to begin to change my perceptions for the better.  I didn't stress myself out by being held up at all.  I enjoyed being in the car with my family who had picked me up from the venue, chatting and laughing together about the day we had had.  Then suddenly the sun broke through the rain clouds and  a beautiful rainbow appeared up ahead.  A symbolic rainbow full of the promise of happiness right there at that  very moment.  A sign that we all have the potential to simply be ourselves, but brilliantly!

Making Slushies With the Chillfactor Squeeze Cup

I am really hoping for a good summer this year.  After a harsh winter and a disappointing spring, surely we deserve a good summer?  If we do get sunshine and warm weather, one of the things my children love to drink is an ice cold slush.  

We have been sent a Chillfactor Squeeze Cup Slushy Maker from Character Online to try out.  The cup needs to be frozen in the freezer, then a chilled drink is poured in.  The soft cup is then squeezed and in seconds it turns the drink into delicious slush. Easy!

Any drinks can be transformed into slush: fruit juices, fizzy drinks, even milkshake!  It is fun to do and the resulting icy slushy is really good.  It is much easier than using ice and a blender and is mess free.  However you can only make one drink at a time and the cup needs refreezing between uses.  So if you have more than one child, you may want to get them each their own cup to avoid arguments!  The cups can be kept in the freezer ready for when a slushy drink is required.

The cup comes with a domed lid and a spoon-straw so you can enjoy your slushy anywhere you like.  They stay cold for a long time so don't melt quickly, allowing kids to enjoy their frosty slush.

The cups are £12.99 RRP and are re-usable.  They come in red, yellow, blue and green.  They will definitely be a lot of fun over the warmer months and Kizzy is looking forward to experimenting with fruit juices to make some delicious slushies that will contribute to her five a day.

Here is a video of the cup in action made for UKMums.tv