reflective-parenting

[reflective-parenting]

How to Create Healthy Boundaries for Your Child: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Confident, Respectful Kids

Creating healthy boundaries for your child isn’t about control—it’s about connection, guidance, and helping them feel safe. When children know their limits, they’re free to explore, learn, and thrive. Continue reading How to Create Healthy Boundaries for Your Child: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Confident, Respectful Kids

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How to teach the concept of time to young children: A guide for parents

Understanding the concept of time is a huge developmental milestone for young children—and it doesn’t happen overnight. As adults, we rely on time constantly, but for children, time is an abstract idea that requires support, experience, and practice to fully grasp. Continue reading How to teach the concept of time to young children: A guide for parents

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How to Help Young Children Develop a Good Pencil Grip: Tips for Parents and Educators

Developing a good pencil grip is a crucial part of early childhood development. It forms the foundation for confident handwriting, fine motor skills, and long-term writing success. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to support young children to develop a proper pencil grip, including age-based milestones, fun fine motor activities, and practical advice for parents and educators. Continue…

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How reflection can make you a better parent

Discover how being reflective can transform your parenting, helping you respond with calm, connect more deeply with your child, and feel more confident every day. Ready to find out how a few mindful moments can make a big difference? Keep reading. Continue reading How reflection can make you a better parent

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How to teach children about money: budgeting, saving, and smart money tips

Want your children to be financially literate? Here’s how to teach them to look after their finances. Continue reading How to teach children about money: budgeting, saving, and smart money tips

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Do your children use AI?

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Educational ways to use Lego when homeschooling young children

Read on for some great educational and fun ways to use Lego at home. Continue reading Educational ways to use Lego when homeschooling young children

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As I’ve been reflecting a lot on my spending habits recently, I’ve realised a way of thinking about money which is really simple and makes perfect sense to me. I hope it might help somebody else out there too. Instead of just thinking about the cost of something in monetary value, I also think about the time it would take to earn the amount that thing costs. For example, £30 is easy to spend without too much thought, isn’t it? A take away, a trip to the local shop, or a day out somewhere. £30 can be blown in a matter of minutes. But how long does it take to earn? Let’s say you’re lucky enough earn £15 per hour. When you spend that £30, you’re effectively trading 2 hours of your time for that product or thing. Is it worth it? All of a sudden, some of those little purchases seem much less worth the trade off of hours at work. It works equally as well for big purchases too! Of course, a lot of the time it WILL be worth it. I find I’m more willing to spend my hard earned time (money) on ‘experiences’ than ‘stuff’, as that’s what I find adds value to my life. People will find their own value in what’s important to them, and that’s what makes this work in such a range of ways. Some people will enjoy working more than others. Some people will earn more per hour than others. You have to decide what’s worth your time and effort. Just try it: What was the last transaction you made and how much time did it take you to pay for it? Using the time method, does it feel worth it? Does it make you think differently? #spendinghabits #spendingawareness #timeawareness #financialawareness #spendingtime #thinkaboutmoney #thinkingdifferentlyaboutmoney #moneymentality #savingmoneytips #valuetime #familyfinances (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZElJMJhG7o/?utm_medium=tumblr

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STAR GAZING ⭐️ 🌟 💫 Finally, the sky is clear enough for using the telescope my son got for Christmas. Such great fun and family bonding. Educational too! I can’t believe I literally just saw the craters of the moon 🌙 make me feel quite small! #stargazing #educational #familyastronomynight #astronomy #lowbudgetactivities #lowbudgetfamilyfun #funathome #moon #mooncraters #newbieastronomers (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYcSLuuBMeT/?utm_medium=tumblr

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HOMEMADE PIZZA, delicious 🤤 🍕 Made by my 12 year old, for a fraction of the price of a take away pizza. He used a bag of pizza base mix, some passata, herbs, and mozzarella. A fun cooking activity which gave him a sense of pride and independence, without breaking the bank! Perfect 😍 #moneysavingfood #spendless #homemadefood #homemadepizza #kidscooking #frugalactivities #yummy #cheapfoods #tasty #foodforless #delicious (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYRP5xnBzye/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Happy new year everyone 🎉 Are you making any New Years resolutions this year? Like many people, I’ve made many promises to myself over the years, that I’ve broken a short while later… especially when it comes to cutting out sweet treats 🧁🍫🍬 But this year, I’m determined to invest in myself, and my future. I’m feeling the focus! I’m not cutting anything out or thinking about negative traits I want to change. I’m not concerned about my appearance, nor am I worried about depriving myself of things I enjoy. Instead, I’m thinking about what I can add to my life. I want to enhance what I already have, and bring more value into my world. So this year, one of the ways I’ve decided to do this is by completing my masters… eek! 📚🏫 Although very costly upfront, I’m hoping that this qualification will pay off over the years to come, in increased income and opportunities! Is anyone else out there investing in themselves this year? What ways are you securing the future you want? Wishing positivity to everyone out there who’s trying to accomplish something good for themselves 👊🦾 #mastersdegree #investinyourself #newyearsresolution #goals #speculatetoaccumulate #spendmoneytomakemoney #education #addingvaluetolife #planningforsuccess #planningforthefuture (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYMuEWHBzJU/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Easy ways to teach your child number recognition

Easy ways to teach your child number recognition

Want your child to start learning to recognising numbers? Well, it can be as easy as 1, 2, 3 with these top tips. (more…)

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PANCAKES... With a TWIST 🥞🍫 Today’s super cheap and filling breakfast was pancakes once again. Yummy, they cost pennies to make, and for some reason the excitement never wears off for my boys! I’ve previously written about how I make my pancakes, so I won’t bore you with the details (you can search my previous posts if you want my failsafe recipe!). Today, I used that same recipe. BUT, I decided to try adding just a tiny bit less flour, and a little bit of cocoa powder. The results went down A TREAT! I mean, who doesn’t like a chocolate treat for breakfast every now and again?! 🍫 Chocolate crepes with chocolate spread. Double the chocolate = doubly delicious! 😋 #chocolate #chocolatepancakes #pancakes #crepes #doublechocolate #cheapandeasy #breakfast #brunch #kidsbreakfastideas (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU2jd9iIsuU/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Just some kids casually toasting a baguette over a candle, as you do 🤣 They had great fun though! 🥖 #simplethings #whyisfiresocool #toastingfood #familyfun #fire #candlelight #familymealtime #funfood #funfoodforkids #familymeal #baguette #cheapfood #kidsfun (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUA1zHSrJyb/?utm_medium=tumblr

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HOMEGROWN FOOD 🍅 A few years ago, I had no idea how easy it was to grow your own food at home. I’m still certainly no expert! 🤷‍♀️ But now I understand there’s a certain satisfaction which comes when you eat something that you have nurtured from a tiny seed (or a tiny plant, as some of mine were!). I’ve never tasted a sweeter tomato than one you’ve grown yourself 🍅 It’s really easy to get started, and I’m always suprised how much you can grow in a small space. You will also need some soil, a pot or the ground, and some seeds. But that’s it! People always give away plant pots, or sell cheaply second hand, so I save costs that way. Plus, in my local area there are many people who sell plants outside their homes, which you can buy cheaply whilst also supporting your neighbours. Another frugal tip is to buy reduced stock at the end of the season and store it for the following year. Or, you can even recycle old pots and pans, tyres, boots, or other household items that would otherwise be thrown away. My favourite things to grow are tomatoes, raspberries, herbs, potatoes, and peas, and these are also the ones I’ve had most luck with. They’re also the foods we all love! Do you grow anything? Which things work the best for you? #homegrown #fruitandveg #frugalliving #growyourownfood #moneysaving #tasty (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT9Sb6IroNJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

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PHOTOGRAPHY 📷🤳📸 My family and I have recently discovered the joy of photography. None of us actually has any photography skills 🤣 but that doesn’t stop us enjoying trying! We all have smart phones with decent enough cameras, so that’s all we use to take our pictures. We are lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world with nature and greenery on our doorstep, so I think it was always going to be inevitable that nature was going to become our focus. Plus, there’s just so many cool natural things to look at out there! When we want to take some photographs, we just pick a nice place to walk, make sure all our phones are charged, and we’re away! It’s honestly the easiest hobby ever. Then, when we get home, we look at each other’s pictures, and see who got some interesting ones and celebrate each other’s successes (and fails!). Our photos are far from ‘picture perfect’, but it truly doesn’t matter to us. What matters is that moment you spot something fascinating, and you get carried away with wanting to take a snap of it. I would describe it as a form of mindfulness! The beauty of photography is that you can take pictures of absolutely anything, anywhere. The possibilities are endless, and can suit your individual interests and landscape. You could even make it competitive if you’re that way inclined, ie who can find the most interesting purple thing to photograph, or who can get the clearest butterfly shot. If we ever end up wanting to become more skilled, I know there are LOADS of free tutorials on YouTube we could use to upskill ourselves. But for now, it’s enough just to lose ourself in the moment 🌲🌷🐛🦆🦢🦋 Cheap, easy, and relaxing - my favourite things 💚 #photography #naturephotography #familyhobbies #cheapandeasy #mindfulness #frugalliving (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTznohSsKwP/?utm_medium=tumblr

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The WOODS 🌳🌲🏡 There is something about a visit to the woods that is good for the soul 🥰 I’m not sure it’s the sounds of nature all around, the fresh air, the feeling of freedom, or the sense of adventure, but we always have a great time exploring in the woods. We can even go to same woods every day and it’s still exciting. There’s always a new path to be walked, a new tree to be climbed, or a new creature to be discovered. My children always make me smile in wonder too. I watch them turn from civilised creatures (well, civilised - ish 🤣) to wild boys, exploring each stick they find and jumping each puddle or stream they come across. Nature is a powerful source of joy for us 🌷 What was the last woods you visited? #nature #familytime #forest #woods #puddles #streams #thrifty #moneysavingideas #savingmoneyuk #trees #joy #peaceful #outside #outdoors #adventures #adventureswithchildren #dogwalking #walking #exerciseoutdoors #mentalhealth #wellbeing #wellbeinginnature #happiness #frugalliving #frugallivinguk #livinglife #walkinthewoods #wildlife (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTuOrYaAN7Q/?utm_medium=tumblr