Keeping the Family Entertained at Home with Spin Master Games

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One of the best ways to keep the whole family entertained and having fun together is with games. We have been playing a lot of board games lately, and recently were sent a package of four great games from Spin Master, with something for all ages.

I find that whipping out a game is a brilliant way to lift the mood in the house, banish boredom and reconnect with the kids in a fun way. They’re also ideal to pass the time if we are stuck inside due to bad weather.

This selection of games from Spin Master has something for everyone, with puzzling strategy from Otrio, hilarity from Hedbanz, Jumanji for those of us who have enjoyed the movies (Whether that’s the newer remakes that our kids enjoyed, or the original we remember from our childhood!) and even Baby Shark for the youngest of the family.

Jumanji: The Next Level

The Jumanji game is great for older kids, of around 8 years and up. My boys are 8, 10 and 11 and enjoyed this game. They found it quick to get into and quite easy to understand. In the game, you race to collect your 6 tokens to be the winner, and this is done by using action cards to do things such as battling animals. In some of these things, you need to collaborate with your fellow players, and during the game you can play as different characters from the movie – each with different powers!

There is also a Jumanji Classic Retro board game available from Spin Master Games which is a different version, and has a slightly lower age recommendation.

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Science Mad Chemistry Lab Set Review

By in Education, Toy Reviews No Comments

The Science Mad Chemistry Lab set for ages 10 and up is a great way for kids to learn at home. With over 80 experiments included in this set, there is a lot to work through and completing these experiments will give your child a great foundation in chemistry. The set includes good quality equipment, and a fully comprehensive instruction manual which guides you through each experiment in terms of what to do but also in what exactly you will be learning from each one.

The set includes plenty of chemicals, and the basic equipment required such as a burner, test tubes, test tube holder, pipettes and more. However, there are also a fair amount of ingredients and chemicals which you will need to buy separately. This is because they would be dangerous to include within the packaging (such as methylated spirit for the burner), so this is understandable although at first was a little frustrating as there were certain experiments we weren’t able to jump straight into due to this. You can get around this by planning ahead, and there are still plenty of experiments that you can do just with the chemicals and supplies included within the set.

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BABY Born My First Swim Girl Doll Review

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BABY Born My First Swim Doll is a 30cm doll who is so cute, and makes a brilliant companion for little ones learning to swim. My 3 year old N has had lots of fun playing with this doll in the bath, and she is also great for the paddling pool. You could even take her to the swimming pool once they are open, whether you’re splashing around on holiday or going for first swimming lessons at your local pool.

The BABY born My First Swim Girl doll works by winding her arms back, and then releasing her into the water to watch her swim. This means no batteries are required, as the swimming movement is powered just by the winding – much easier and safer in the water. The doll is well made, has plenty of detail, and seems like it will last really well.

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Bing Colouring Pages, and Fun at Home

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We all need a little help keeping our kids busy during this stay-at-home period, and Bing has plenty to offer to help out families with this. As well as over 100 episodes available on iPlayer, Emmy award-winning and BAFTA nominated family favourite Bing offers pre-school children and families multiple ways to keep busy and entertained during this stay-at-home period. With activity sheets to download and games to play, Bing is helping families who will be spending more time together at home in the coming weeks. My preschooler is a big fan of Bing, so these have come in handy for us and I hope you find them useful too!

Bing Watch, Play, Learn App

This app is great when you want something fun and educational to entertain your little ones. I have been trying it out with my 3 year old, N, and we loved the variety of content – having multiple games, including colouring activities, memory match, dress up games and more, alongside the video content means that there is plenty included to keep it fresh. I also appreciate that there are no adverts, and the app is very easy to use

Sometimes while her older brothers are all doing online schooling on their laptops, my youngest wants to feel like she can join in too so playing a few educational games like these during that time is really nice for her.

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Expert Reveals Top Sleep Tips for Toddlers 

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Guest content from Lucy Wolfe, leading Sleep Consultant, Founder of Sleep Matters, author of The Baby Sleep Solution and expert at The Baby Show

1. Make a plan 

Approach achieving a better sleep as you would any lifestyle change or adjustment. Understand that it will take time. It can help to write out both your end goal and intermediate goals, but more importantly how you intend to get there.

Your end goal may be to sleep in their cot, in their own room and through the night, if age appropriate. But maybe begin with getting them used to their cot in their own room and reducing the current wakes from 6 to 3. Break your goals down to achievable bite-sized portions.

Also commits to writing your plan. Write in the start date, the feeding and sleeping routine that you intend to follow, and the approach that you will use. Jot down an idea of the bedtime routine process, which night you will start and which parent does what.

It’s important to understand that progress will not be linear, and it may get worse before it gets better, but that it’s all learning. If you continue to journal and write a sleep diary then you will be able to clearly identify the improvements you make week on week. It takes 3-4 weeks plus to establish your sleeping patterns. During this time, be kind and compassionate to yourself and each other.

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Expert Reveals Top Sleep Tips for the First Six Months

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Guest content from Lucy Wolfe, leading Sleep Consultant, Founder of Sleep Matters, author of The Baby Sleep Solution and expert at The Baby Show

  1. Don’t worry about “bad habits” 

Try not to worry about what you feel or have been told are “bad habits” – there is no such thing in the early days. Your task is to ensure that your baby feels loved, safe and secure, and that their needs are met lovingly and without delay. Despite some on lookers reporting that you will spoil your baby, the reverse is actually true. These early months are about bonding and laying a foundation for an unconditional loving relationship that will be enduring. The less you resist this dynamic, the faster the need to be held all the time will evolve into your baby feeling more robust and confident to lay down or sleep without as much input.

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10 Time-Saving Tips for Busy Parents

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If the days are flying by and you never feel like you get enough done, then you might want to make a few adjustments to improve how you use your time. Don’t worry that doesn’t mean that you need to give up the activities you love doing. Instead, it means that you have to be smarter about time-management! If you’re not sure where to start, these ten tips will be a great start for you.

1. Prep the Night Beforehand

If tomorrow has a lot of appointments, then why not save yourself a hurried morning by spending a half-hour tonight preparing for what is to come? For example, you can make the coffee ahead of time.

Another idea is to lay out the kids’ clothes the night before (as well as your own outfit for the office or home). And give them a bath in the evening, so this is one less thing to do in the morning.

Also, make lunches for the children the previous evening. Just don’t forget to grab them from the fridge before heading out the door in the morning!

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5 ways to celebrate VE Day during lockdown

By in Gift Guides & Seasonal No Comments

On 8 May 2020, we mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, when Nazi Germany formally surrendered, marking the end of the second world war. Across the UK, plans for large public celebrations have been cancelled because of the Coronavirus, but that isn’t stopping the nation from finding other ways to celebrate.

Here are 5 ways you can celebrate VE Day from home.

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4 Best Places to Move In The UK

By in Home and Lifestyle No Comments

Moving to a new town, city or country calls for adjustment–even to the shortest of distances. You might have moved on your own volition; you might have finally saved enough for your dream home or you a starting a family with your spouse. Sometimes, the changes come with life’s demands; work demands that you find a flat closer to the office or family duties calls on you to visit your elderlies more often. 

Whatever the case may be, many cities within the United Kingdom not only gleam in beauty but also with promise. Here are some things you can keep in mind before making a final decision:

Do your research: Unlike before, more information is public domain today. We can read up on people’s travels and perspectives on certain places they have lived in, some more articulate than others. Take advantage of this and gather as much insight as you can.

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5 Kids Meals in Under 10 Minutes

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Life can be pretty hectic, and some days you just need to be able to get your kids’ dinner on the table as quickly as possible with the minimum of fuss. But coming up with quick, easy and nutritious meals that all the family will enjoy isn’t always easy. Especially if you live with some picky eaters.

To help you, we’ve put together five tasty and healthy kids’ meals that you can get to the table in just 10 minutes.

Naan bread pizza and salad

This is a great recipe for a quick meal and even the fussiest eater can find a topping they’ll love. You can also swap a plain naan for a garlic, or even Peshwari naan to make your pizzas even tastier. This recipe is ideal for vegetarians but you can use whichever toppings you like.

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