Chaos writes:
So… what does one do with cereal boxes, if you can’t bear to stick them in the recycling, how about cooking up some cute little Papier–mâché seedling pots.
We ripped the cardboard cereal boxes and rice cake boxes into small pieces, and gave them a good soaking. Then pulped the pieces with water, in the blender (sssh, don’t tell Daddy).
Draining the pulp in a colander, squeezing the excess water. Flour the work surface, and mix, knead in some flour {SECRET INGREDIENT ALERT!}.
And take small quantities, pushing into the silicone muffin cases to mold the little pots. We air-dried the pots over-night, however, for speed, you could pop them into the oven, if you were baking spuds, or home-made pizza anyway!
We DID try to make a batch of these seedling pots in conventional metal cake trays… FAIL!, they set solid, glued in… so yes, silicone rules!
First Published April 12 2013.
Updated September 2024 to include a link to a recent post from incredibusy about paper clay… here
Click this image below to watch the youtube video of our Google+ hangout – and watch Maggy from Red Ted Art sharing her shadow puppet theatre and her ‘everlasting’ picture frame, Playful Learners made another gorgeous puppet theatre Aly at Plus 2 Point 4 showed us how to use a box as a weaving loom, and my fave, Me and My Shadow and her vintage style secret book…
To read more on our gardening adventures click here to see where we got our delicious compost for our seedlings.
To see how our garden grows, follow our Gardening With Kids posts here.
and how to make an indoor watering can here!
What Are The Best Attractions In London For Families?
While there are many attractions in London catered solely to adults, there are also many attractions aimed at families with kids. While travelling to London does mean having to brave the trains and tubes, it’s well worth it for some of these incredible day out ideas. How many of them have you experienced?
London Zoo
Few zoos are quite as immersive and exciting as London Zoo. Many of the animal enclosures here have been specially designed to mimic the home environments of these animals and there are lots of unusual animals here to see that you might not see at other zoos around the country. Kids will love exploring the Land of Lions, Penguin Beach and Butterfly Paradise. There’s also a petting zoo with goats and sheep, as well as an adventure playground. There is designated parking near the zoo, or you can take the tube to Camden Town and walk from there if you’d prefer not to drive into London.
Natural History Museum
Got kids that love dinosaurs? The Natural History Museum has a whole section dedicated to these prehistoric creatures that includes fossilised skeletons, realistic models and even a robotic T-Rex! There are so many more exhibitions here to explore too that kids will love. This includes a photo opportunity with Andy’s Clock from CBeeBies show Andy’s Adventures, an earthquake simulator and a life-size model of a blue whale (among many other animal models). To reach the Natural History Museum, take the tube to South Kensington station and walk from here. Entry is free into the museum, but it’s worth booking a slot in advance to fast track the queues.
Battersea Power Station
An old power station may not seem like the perfect place to bring kids, but in fact it’s a top attraction among families. Why? Battersea Power Station has since been renovated into a shopping centre and contains several playgrounds outside for different ages. There’s also a Go Ape treetop adventure course outside. Meanwhile, there’s a shop dedicated to Lego inside the shopping centre, and two upcoming shops dedicated to Peppa Pig and Transformers (for those planning a future visit). You can access Battersea Power Station via Battersea Power railway station.
Hampton Court
Hampton Court Palace was once the residence of Henry VIII. Visitors can explore the impressive Great Hall, tour the expansive Tudor Kitchens, see the oldest grape vine and creep through the Haunted Gallery where Catherine Howard’s ghost is said to wander. However, what makes this a truly incredible attraction for families is its Magic Garden playground sporting sandpits, aerial walkways, climbing frames and 25ft dragon that breathes smoke once every hour. There is no tube station near Hampton Court, however there is an overground station and parking.
Madame Tussauds
This wax museum was founded by French wax sculptor Marie Tussaud in 1835. Today, it contains over 150 lifelike waxworks of celebrities. While adults are more likely to recognise these celebrities, kids are still likely to enjoy many of the attractions here. This includes the scary Chamber of Horrors, the thrilling Spirit of London ride, and the 4D Marvel movie held in the museum’s former planetarium. This museum is located on Marylebone Road and is situated in an iconic domed building. You can find lockers at Marylebone station for storing your stuff – this is a 5 minute walk from the museum.
London Transport Museum
Those interested in the history of transport will love the London Transport Museum. Here you’ll find vintage cars, carriages and buses dating back to the Victorian era. This museum is free for under 18s and contains craft areas and singing/dancing workshops aimed at kids. The All Aboard Playzone is meanwhile a transport-themed play area made up of mini vehicles that is perfect for young kids. What is the nearest station to this museum? Most people arrive via Covent Garden,which is a two minute walk away, but Leicester Square and Holborn are also only five minutes away.
Shrek’s Adventure London
This immersive walkthrough experience is centred all around Shrek. It’s a chance for the whole family to step into Far Far Away, while meeting various characters from the Shrek movies along the way. Kids who love Shrek are certain to enjoy this theatrical experience, while parents are likely to be equally charmed by the humorous acting and incredible special effects. Shrek’s Adventure is located in Westminster directly near the London Eye (which could also be worth combining into a trip). Make sure to book tickets in advance. Both Westminster and Waterloo station are a five minute walk away.
This is a collaborative post.
Halloween Pumpkin Paper Pom-Pom FREE printable
We got a little bit seasonal and decided to turn our giant orange paper pom-pom into a PUMPKIN!
So here’s a halloween pumpkin FREE printable for you to download, print off and stick with a Pritt stick onto to the paper pom-pom – how cool is this! If you like this, you’ll like 11yo’s spin on it – with his FREE downloadable Witch’s face here.
Really easy Pumpkin face – halloween pumpkin free printable, have a go by clicking here for our FREE downloadable template just print off, and cut out the shapes, in fact, print two, and use one as a template for your pumpkin this year too!!
click here for FULL HOW TO instructions on making the paper pom-poms
12 simple steps – really easy to follow, our kids have been making them in ALL sorts of colours – we’ve even mixed up different shades of green here…
If you fancy having a go yourself click here.
Free printable Pumpkin face, just attach to giant paper pom-pom or use as a template to carve your pumpkin!
If you have a thing for giant paper pompoms, click here to see our crepe paper version, with raindrops!
This post was first published Sept 29 2014. inspired by a *how to* video by RedTedArt and myself
Ali also blogs over on aGreenerLifeforus.com and is a lover of Instagram too… pop over and say hello!
Why travelling is great for people of all ages
Travelling is something that everyone gets the urge to do at some point in their life. Sadly, this does not mean that everyone gets to travel though as there are often reasons as to why this is not possible. Travelling is great for people of all ages though, and definitely not an experience that you should miss out on if you can help it. You might be sitting there wondering what’s so great about travel though, and we’re going to talk about that right now actually. Have we got your interest? Keep reading if we have!
Learning New Cultures
First, travelling is a fantastic choice because it helps you to understand new cultures. Not just understand them though, you get to experience them first hand which is something that not everyone gets to do. It’s one thing to read about cultures in a book, but it’s an entirely other thing to actually make it happen and experience them in real life.
For example, if you travel to Japan, you will find that their culture is vastly different to those in the UK and US. This is the same everywhere, as everywhere is slightly different to the last place that you visited. It’s definitely worth it for this alone no matter how old you are, it’s never too late or too early to learn.
Exciting Experiences
As well as learning about cultures, you can also get some exciting experiences under your belt. For some people this is going to be about staying in different hotels, because let’s be honest here, who doesn’t love staying somewhere amazing? If you’re traveling to Cleveland for example, make sure to look at Cleveland hotels near Christmas Story House so that you can get the best possible experience of hotel and tourism attractions! Or, if you’re heading to Oktoberfest in Germany make sure you check out some of the best hotels around there too.
Look at the various events happening at different places, and find something that you want to go to. There are so many events around the world, and you simply should try to be involved in as many of them as you can.
A Change Of Scenery
The final benefit of traveling for people of all ages is the fact that it’s a change of scenery. Your day to day life can become a little boring when it’s the same all of the time, so a change of scenery is good. You get all of these new experiences we’ve talked about, but you also just get to be somewhere different from your daily life and that in itself is exciting.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and see some of the reasons why travelling is great for people of all ages. A common mistake that people make is thinking that if they just keep waiting, the perfect time to travel will arise, but it never will. Now is as good a time as any, and that’s something that we want you to understand. Travelling is great for people of all ages, and the time to do it is right now.
This is a collaborative post.
High-tech Mattress Helps Couples Sleep Better Together
Many couples are facing a new challenge in their relationships: getting a good night’s sleep together. From snoring and tossing to general restlessness (and small children!) these disturbances often push partners to seek separate bedrooms, a trend known as ‘sleep divorce.’ However, sleep expert Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, advises against this growing trend, stressing the importance of co-sleeping for emotional connection, conflict resolution, and overall well-being.
For those looking for an alternative to ‘sleep divorces’, some have found that the right mattress can make a significant difference. Many shoppers, for example, have praised the Simba Hybrid® Original mattress for easing night-time disturbances between couples. While buying a new mattress may seem like a big investment, for some, it has proven to be worthwhile in maintaining both sleep and their relationships.
A New Study on Sleep and Relationships
A recent study* by Simba highlights the generational divide in how sleep affects relationships. According to the research, more than 60% of young people in relationships (aged 18-34) believe that improving sleep would strengthen their connection with their partner. In contrast, only about 33% of Baby Boomers (aged 65 and older) felt that better sleep would have the same impact on their relationship.
Paul R, a customer, shared his experience:
“Last year, my girlfriend refused to stay over because she couldn’t get a good night’s sleep. She’s used to the finer things in life, and my cheap bed wasn’t cutting it. After buying a new mattress and some high-end sheets, she agreed to stay over again. Now, everything is great, and according to my Fitbit, I’m getting an extra hour of sleep each night. Thanks, Simba, for helping me save my relationship—I thought it was me she was avoiding, not the bed!”
The Sleep Divorce Debate
‘Sleep divorces’—where couples sleep in separate rooms—have become increasingly popular, especially among celebrities, as a way to cope with snoring, fidgeting, or other disturbances during the night. While this may provide short-term relief, experts like Lisa Artis believe it can come at a cost. Artis suggests that sleeping together offers benefits like emotional bonding and more restful sleep, pointing out that couples who share a bed get around 10% more and less fragmented REM sleep.
Simba’s research shows that 60% of Gen Z (aged 18-24) and nearly 67% of millennials (aged 25-44) believe better sleep can improve their relationship, but only 3 in 10 Baby Boomers (65+) agree. This highlights a significant shift in how different generations view sleep and its impact on their personal lives.
Customer Stories of Improved Sleep
Couples struggling with sleepless nights have found that the right mattress can make all the difference. Shoppers have shared their positive experiences, particularly with the Simba Hybrid® mattress, which some say has eased snoring and restlessness.
Julia G, for instance, reviewed her purchase:
“I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in years because my husband snores dreadfully due to a medical condition. But thanks to Simba, that’s a thing of the past. The snoring hasn’t completely gone, but it’s much improved, and I’m finally getting some proper sleep.”
Another customer, Naomi O, said,
“Somehow, my partner doesn’t snore anymore! I also barely notice him getting in and out of bed, so I’m not being disturbed at all. I just wish we’d invested in a Simba mattress sooner, but better late than never!”
Keith K, who chose a more premium option, the Hybrid® Pro mattress, also shared his experience:
“We’ve got a new baby, so we’re up a lot during the night. The mattress is so comfortable that we’ve loved sneaking in a cheeky afternoon nap—it’s hard to get back up! Plus, the top zips off for easy washing, which is a lifesaver with a baby. Massive thumbs up from both of us.”
Not Just a Trend—A Practical Solution
While some might dismiss the idea of a fancy mattress as an unnecessary expense, it’s worth noting that investing in a better sleep setup can have long-lasting benefits. A well-rested couple is often a happier couple, and for some, this investment is one that pays off.
Emma S, another customer, remarked:
“I don’t feel my partner moving at all, and he doesn’t complain about me fidgeting to get comfy. The mattress springs are great, and the fabric feels really nice. Plus, the free mattress protector is a bonus!”
For some, the addition of a quality duvet has also been a game-changer. Emma T noted:
“The 3-in-1 hybrid duvet is amazing. It’s not cheap, but it regulates temperature perfectly. I’m a warm sleeper, and my wife is always cold, but under this duvet, we’re both sleeping like babies.”
Expert Advice: Sleeping Together is Worth It
As sleep divorces rise in popularity, Lisa Artis urges couples to work on their shared sleep habits rather than opting for separate bedrooms. She encourages couples to “consciously recouple and sleep better together” instead of giving in to the temptation of sleeping apart. Co-sleeping, she believes, offers important emotional and physical benefits that go beyond simply getting rest.
Whether it’s investing in a new mattress, rethinking bedding options, or working on better sleep habits, the key takeaway is that good sleep is essential for maintaining healthy, happy relationships. After all, as one shopper put it, “I’m finally sleeping well—and I didn’t have to move into another bedroom to do it!”
21% off for young people, key and charity workers
This is a post in collaboration with Simba who are B Corp certified. Simba are on a mission to bring great sleep to the globe. But know times are tough and quality sleep products are costly. That’s why Simba offer exclusive discounts to several groups in the community such as key workers, students and others. Just check your eligibility here – you’ll find A Guide to UK Bed Sizes here too.
*Simba commissioned Sago to poll 2,017 respondents for the research.
Nailing the Mommy Look Without Losing Yourself
Being a mom (or indeed, a mum) can be an exciting, chaotic adventure, but that doesn’t mean giving up your personal style. While the “mommy look” may come with stereotypes attached, that doesn’t have to mean living in yoga pants and ditching makeup forever. Accepting your new role while remaining true to yourself is completely achievable. Don’t feel the pressure to go out with a full face on, however, here’s how you could combine practicality with personality so that you look and feel just as fabulous as before.
Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash
Finding the Balance Between Chic and Convenient
Parenthood often forces your schedule around nap times and school pickups, but finding the balance between chic and convenient can be done. Start by investing in good quality staple clothing pieces, a ‘capsule collection’ if you like, that can manage your busy lifestyle. Classic jeans are great, along with stylish tops that allow free movement, and BF access if needed, and layering is your friend here for sudden temperature shifts and adding depth to an outfit. Add statement accessories like a beret, bold sunglasses or colourful scarves for quick wins of style without compromising comfort.
Embrace the Power of Makeup and Simplicity
Time is of the essence in the mornings, so making each moment count with an efficient makeup routine can make all the difference. Try investing in quality BB cream for quick application and an instant hint of glow. Mascara and tinted lip balm often suffice in creating an attractive appearance. Natural yet put-together looks help maintain that ever-elusive sense of self while meeting daily demands.
Hairstyles That Work as Hard as You Do
On those busy mornings when time is of the essence, having a versatile and easy hairstyle can be your ally. Look for styles that transition seamlessly from playdates to board meetings. Ponytails or quick top knots may come to the rescue. More complex styles could include heatless curls – twisting your braids the night before so they will unfold into beautiful waves by morning.
Utilise Tutorials for Your Hairstyle
The internet offers numerous hairstyle tutorials that can help simplify your morning routine. From quick buns and braids to elegant updos and more, online resources have you covered for any type of style you might be in search of. YouTube and Pinterest offer step-by-step guides from professional stylists and everyday enthusiasts alike, giving you access to invaluable tutorials that can teach you techniques that will enable you to transform your look with minimal effort. Investing a small amount of time learning from these videos could equip you with techniques for effortlessly altering your look. Start with a low ponytail tutorial as your starting point, and add twists or braids for unique variations. Not only will this approach save time but it’ll also inspire creativity allowing you to experiment and discover styles that suit both your personality and daily needs.
Accessorise Carefully
Accessories are the perfect way to give your hairstyle an added layer of character and add flair. Just a few clips, pins or headbands can transform even a basic style into an eye-catching one in no time at all. For busy mornings and reduced effort required in using accessories such as hats, or hair scarves which tie quickly in just seconds while adding instant style. Headbands also work great at taming flyaways while adding flair.
Adorn with Jewellery
Jewellery is an age-old way to complete any look and make a statement. From delicate necklaces to bold bracelets, the right piece can elevate any ensemble and add flair and charm. Bracelets for women in particular are versatile accessories that can be styled for both formal and casual events alike. Their minimalist designs or intricate, gemstone-encrusted pieces add sophistication and charm, reflecting your individuality as part of an ensemble. The ideal way to express your style.
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Being a mom may make time for “me-time” seem impossible. Yet prioritising yourself is important not only to maintaining sanity but also expressing yourself uniquely. Find activities that help ground and rejuvenate you such as monthly spa visits or reading a favourite book before bed, anything that helps keep the balance. Being a parent shouldn’t take over who you are as an individual.
Find Joy in Making Your Own Rules
Now is the time to forge your own path towards fabulousness. Fashion doesn’t come with one size fits all rules, rather it should be an exciting journey filled with trial-and-error. Have fun experimenting and switching patterns or looking into diaper bags that could double up as fashion accessories. There isn’t an obligatory style guide attached to parenthood, feel free to make up rules as you go.
Revel in Your Natural Beauty
When it comes to personal style, embracing your natural beauty is an age-old approach that never goes out of style. Letting your natural hair texture flourish and showing off unique features can be very empowering and liberating. Not that this means forgoing makeup or styling completely, just focus on accentuating natural features instead. Using gentle plant-based products for skincare purposes as well as maintaining an effective routine that addresses skin needs will create radiant canvas complexions. Staying natural simply means acknowledging and celebrating what makes you beautiful.
Conclusion
In motherhood (or fatherhood), remember who you are first, an individual first and foremost. Your style reflects this identity through stitches, stains and all. Adopting parenthood doesn’t have to mean forgoing your personal flair. With some creativity injected into daily activities you can navigate “mommy look” gracefully and enthusiastically. Be the stylishly unique lighthouse standing proud on shore among parenting cliches.
This is a collaborative post.
Make a Natural biodedegradeable Dream Catcher
Making a Dream Catcher using natural, found objects and at the same time ticking the boxes of three STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and the Arts) practices:
The Science (making dough with salt, water and flour for the beads)
The Arts (designing and sculpting the salt dough leaves, and assembling your dream catcher)
The Maths (geometry of weaving a pattern with a single length of twine)
This is such a fun project. And one that you could do either indoors or outside in the warmer weather – we really love a craft that all ages can enjoy – and this three sides dream catcher can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to the weaving, so we will link some YouTube tutorials at the foot of this article so that you can get acquainted with the dream catcher weaving geometry at your leisure.
Before you get started, make sure you have everything you need for your beautiful natural dream catcher – go on a nature hunt, look for feathers, acorns, pine cones, and lots of sticks!
You’ll need some cotton string, or strong yarn, and we also made some colourful salt dough beads and ‘leaves’ so that everything is biodegradable – this means you can eventually hang your dream catchers outside in the garden or the woods, for them to let nature decay them – hey, that may even be a bit of a science lesson right there too!
Salt dough leaves and beads recipe
- 1 part salt
- 2 parts plain flour
- half to one part water
- optional – some natural food colouring (if you are feeling ambitious – you could go as far as making your own dough dye with beetroot! hey – experiment, have some fun)
We mixed the dough into three bowls, and added three colours – subtle so that they would blend well with nature – and rolled small balls, pushing a skewer through to make a bead, we dried the beads by ‘stringing’ them onto metal skewers and propping up off the baking tray to harden in the oven on a very low 100 degrees temperature, checking on the beads after about fifteen minutes, and turning them on the skewers so that they didn’t stick.
The leaves we made by rolling the dough out to about 5mm thick, and used a leaf shaped cookie cutter and a knife to score the marks on the ‘leaves’ and push a hole at the top of the leaf to allow it to be attached to the dreamcatcher. Again, we allowed these leaves to harden, baking them at the bottom of the oven, for about half an hour to an hour, using a cooling rack from the kitchen. We made these beads and salt dough leaves in advance of our dream catcher construction to allow them to harden – word of warning – don’t let them get damp, they will go soggy!
The assembly of your dream catcher
Now you have everything you need, start to pull it all together. Make a triangle from three sticks of the same length, tying them tight in each of the three corners.
Make a ‘bobbin’ with one short stick, about 4cm long, wrap the yarn around and around until it’s full of yarn – (you’ll have to experiment, but you’ll need enough yarn to create the geometrical pattern on the dream catcher ‘web’).
Using the yarn on this bobbin, start by tying a knot next to one of the three corners of the triangle frame.
Get weaving that web
As you start to ‘weave’ your web the first row can be quite loose.
Evenly spaced, start to work the yarn around the triangle:
- Pass the end of your yarn around a stick.
- Bring the end under the straight part of the yarn.
- Bring the end up and pass it through the eye of the loop you just made.
- Pull it tighter to complete a half hitch.
- Tie the hitch the same at each intersection of the yarn.
- Continue around the triangle, to ‘row two’ in the same way, see diagram (and the video links below)
- The next hitch is made at the midpoint of the first loop in the first row.
As you tie these hitches you start to pull each stitch in the web a little tighter. Continue around the web tying a hitch and pulling tighter on each row until you are down to a small centre hole in your web. Tie it off in a knot.
Now tie three strands of yarn from the ‘bottom’ of the triangle and attach the beads, feathers, leaves – And tie a hanging loop at the top of the triangle and you are ready to decorate the trees by hanging your wonderful dream catchers in the forest – or, if you REALLY want to catch those dreams in your web, hang your natural dream catcher up in your bedroom for a real conversation starter!
Sleep well, and sweet dreams.
We would love to see what you create – do tag us on Instagram where you will find our new account https://www.instagram.com/kidschaos_blog/ use the hashtag #31DaysofLearning as we are joining in with KiddyCharts creative STEAM project this month.
Ali also writes over on incredibusy.
Cotton yarn: Wool and the Gang.
Shoot location: fforest, during the fforest gather workshops.
Tap here for a YouTube tutorial of the weave
Preparing For A New Baby? Here are some things you need to know
Are you starting to, or have you been preparing for a new baby recently? If so, the first thing that we want to say is congratulations. That’s such exciting news, and we’re super happy for you. Now though, you want to start preparing for a new baby as much as you can to get ready for their arrival. It’s going to be tough sometimes, and you’re probably going to question whether you can do this at least 100 times over the next few months, but we promise that you can. Keep reading down below if you are interested in finding out more about what you need to know when it comes to preparing for a new baby.
Understanding Sleep Safety
First thing that we’re going to mention is that you need to understand sleep safety. Now, there are so many different views and opinions on this, but the facts are the facts. Your baby is going to be at their safest when they are swaddled in a blanket, in their own sleeping space. However, a lot of people do not agree with this, or this becomes too difficult if they have a fussy baby, so they tend to co-sleep instead.
Co-sleeping is a super controversial topic, and not one that we want to get in the middle of. You need to do whatever is best for your baby, but if you are going to co-sleep then you need to read up on how to do it in the safest possible way. Of course, they are going to be safer in their own space, but sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. There are lots of people who co-sleep, but there have also been many problems with it in the past.
Breast VS Bottle Feed?
Another controversial topic that we want to address is breast fed or bottle fed. Every mother has the right to choose which way they decide to feed their child, and you should make that decision according to what you feel is right for you and your baby. Yes, that’s right, we said what is right for you as well. Your baby is not the only consideration that you need to make here, you are important as well and you need to take your feelings into account.
For example, if you don’t like breastfeeding, if it’s too draining, if it’s hurting you too much, or if you generally just do not like it, you do not have to do it. Yes, there will always be those people out there who say that breast is best, but this is mainly the colostrum in the beginning. You don’t have to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. Fed is best. Always.
Typical Gifts You Will Receive
There are some gifts that you are more likely to receive than others, and you need to know this so that you know what to buy and what to expect from others. Of course, you should never expect anything from others without a reason to. If someone has said they’re going to get you a gift or if you know them to be that type of person then sure, but try not to rely on anyone else if they have not voiced their intentions.
Your friends and family may go online and type in newborn boy gifts or girl gifts depending on the gender of your baby. They will then use whatever comes up to help them decide on a gift which most of the time are cute little outfits, blankets and things like this. If there is something specific that you would like though and you have someone who asks you what you want for the baby, it’s okay to ask for things. Of course, as long as they are not outrageously expensive 🙂
You Do Not Need Everything
One of the things that we feel you need to know is that you do not need every baby item and product that you see. We promise you that. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you might need this, that, and the other, but more often than not, you don’t.
You don’t need 500 muslins, five or six will do (although you will be washing them a LOT!). You don’t need 500 blankets, a couple will do. You do need quite a few outfits because they tend to have a leaky nappy or sick up their milk, quite a bit in the beginning, especially if they have reflux issues.
You also do not need mountains of toys for a new baby. Yes, getting a baby swing, a baby mat, or a baby chair is a great idea as it keeps them entertained when you need to do something, but you definitely don’t need all three until they get a little older. Most of the time, you won’t use half of the things you purchase, so try not to go too crazy.
You Will Never Be Fully Prepared
The final piece of advice, and potentially the most important piece of advice that we are going to give you is that you can never be fully prepared. This doesn’t mean that you should not try, and it doesn’t mean that it’s pointless to do so. You can get as prepared as possible, and it will definitely help you in the long run, but you will never be fully prepared as it’s impossible. Your life will change a lot, and you will never be able to fully comprehend that until you experience it for yourself. We don’t say this to scare you, just so you understand the reality of the situation.
We hope that you have found this post helpful, and now have a more firm understanding of some of the things that you need to know about preparing for a new baby. It’s a long journey, but it’s one of the most rewarding things that you will ever experience in your life. You’ve got this, even when it seems impossible, even when it seems like you can’t do it anymore. We promise, you can.
This is a collaborative post.
Foraging recipes – blackberry and rhubarb cake
Delicious Rhubarb Cake Recipe
I make this rhubarb cake quite regularly, it’s delicious, and made even more special when the rhubarb has been harvested from your own garden. Rhubarb is a great fruit to grow, it comes back every year (see TEDx talk below) – for years – with little or no effort it seems!
We picked blackberries locally this year too, so much spring rain has made the blackberries big and juicy – we’ve frozen some of them and used a handful for this recipe too – they are optional, however I like the added colour and tartness they bring.
We made this last week as a birthday cake, eventually finished with a flourish of icing sugar and a birthday candle.
Martyn from LagomChef gave me a top tip, to weigh the eggs – so if the eggs weigh 200g, you use 200g of butter, and the same for flour and sugar… funnily enough, four eggs did indeed weigh exactly bang on 200g!
Ingredients:
- 200g (7oz) softened butter, plus extra for greasing
- 200g (7oz) caster sugar, plus 3 tablespoons for the topping
- 4 medium free-range eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200g (7oz) ground almonds
- 200g (7oz) self-raising flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (if you don’t have any baking powder, use lemon juice and bicarb of soda)*
- 300g (10½oz) young, slender rhubarb, trimmed and cut on an angle into 2cm (¾in) chunks
- optional – a handful of fresh blackberries
Method:
- Prepare the Oven and Tin:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan)/Gas 4. Grease a 23cm (9in) cake tin with butter, and line the base with baking paper. - Make the Batter:
In a food mixer or processor, combine the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla or almond extract, ground almonds, self-raising flour, and baking powder. Mix until the batter is smooth and thick. - Wash and cut the rhubarb into diagonal chunks, toss them in a light coating of flour so that they don’t SINK to the bottom of the cake when baking.
- Assemble the Cake:
Pour the cake batter into the prepared tin. If using blackberries, sprinkle a handful of them across the top of the batter. Arrange the rhubarb pieces on top, pressing them gently into the batter. Sprinkle the reserved 3 tablespoons of sugar over the rhubarb. - Bake:
Bake the cake for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. If the cake starts to brown too quickly, cover it with foil during baking. - Cool and Serve:
Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 20 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack. This cake can be enjoyed warm or cold. When it’s cool, sprinkle with icing sugar. And I serve with crème fraîche.
Recipe Tips:
- For best results, let the butter soften at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before using, or gently soften it in the microwave (but don’t let it melt).
- This cake will stay fresh for up to 3 days, and it can be frozen if wrapped tightly in foil.
*To substitute 1 teaspoon of baking powder: Combine 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar or 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.
If you enjoyed this, you’ll love a lemon and poppy seed cake too: https://incredibusy.com/lemon-and-poppy-seed-cake-recipe/
The Main Ingredients To Your Child’s Development
When you are trying to ensure that your child will have a good start in life, it all comes down to their development, and ensuring that this is as strong as can be. There are actually quite a few elements to this that you will need to consider, and it’s important to make sure that you are going to think about early development. A strong early development is the kind of thing that can really help your child in many ways, so it’s definitely important to focus on this.
However, you might be wondering what the secret is to your child’s development working out as it should. As it happens, there are a number of ingredients to this that you will want to look out for and actively encourage if you are going to ensure this is going to work as well as possible. So let’s take a look at what those ingredients are and how you can help your child to build them.
Love and Acceptance
This is one of the main things that you will always want to make sure you are providing, as, if there is enough of this, it really will make a huge difference to your child’s life in quite a powerful way. It’s incredible actually, how well this can work, and you should definitely make sure that you are thinking about this if you want to try and encourage your child to develop as fully as possible. Love and acceptance are going to mean that pretty much everything else falls into place easily.
Of course, you don’t need to learn how to love your child, but you will find that the acceptance part can take a while. And what is most important is not only that you are feeling love and acceptance, but that you are actively expressing it to them. This is what will make the difference, and what they will notice, and you will find that it will help with their development more than pretty much anything else at all.
So be sure to express this as early as possible and frequently too. You will find that it’s going to make a world of difference to how effectively they develop.
Encouragement
At every stage of development, no matter what the specific skills are that are being developed, you will need to make sure that you try to encourage your children as best as you can. Encouragement is going to mean that you are much more likely to actively and effectively expect their development to go well. Put simply, children are always going to find that their own development is stronger and better when there is plenty of encouragement from the parent.
Strong encouragement from you means that they are going to feel that anything is possible. Of course, it can take a while to get this right and you might find that you need to figure out for yourself what kinds of encouragement work and what kinds don’t seem to work so well. But all in all, having a strong ability to encourage your child in whatever they are doing is one of the best things you can give them. You will notice the effects of this quickly, and it’s really amazing what it can do for your child in general.
Learning Types
It’s also a good idea to try and figure out the learning types of your child, as everyone has their own combination and this is something that you are going to find really useful to consider. For instance, some people tend to learn better through kinetic movement, and some people find it much easier to learn by rote. Those are just two examples, and perhaps something that you are going to want to help your child to discover for themselves, but the point is that you should be looking out for what their learning type is so that you can hopefully encourage them to make full use of this.
It’s also important to make sure your child has the best possible chance of learning well. So from making use of resources like those available from DoodleLearning to ensuring that you are doing all you can to encourage them, you’ll find that this makes a huge difference overall. It’s absolutely something that will help your child to develop.
The earlier you do this, the more of a positive impact it can have on their own overall development, and it’s really quite incredible how well this can work in the long run. So make sure that you are thinking about this if you want to keep your child’s development as strong as possible, as it’s the kind of thing that is going to be hugely important to them now and later on as well.
Play
People often forget this, but one of the most important ingredients to any development is play. Your child needs to have plenty of play in their life, and this is one of the main things that should be encouraged at every step of the journey. Play is so central, and vitally important to your child’s development that they are simply not going to get anywhere without it. Not only is it enjoyable and fun, it’s also one of the main early ways that children learn, and it’s a naturally powerful way to make use of one’s curiosity in trying to find out more about the world.
With that in mind, it’s really important to make sure that you are encouraging play as much as you can, and that your child is going to be able to make full use of it as a way of being. The more that this is the case, the better that it’s going to be for their development, and it really is incredible how much of a difference this can make.
As it happens, just as there are different learning styles, so too there are a range of play types, and you might want to try and figure out which type your child tends to enjoy the most. They might be able to get more out of that way of playing, as well as trying out some others, so a general awareness of both can be really useful all in all.
Building Blocks of Education
As well as those qualities, there are also a few building blocks to their education which you are going to want to encourage too and which can help a great deal. In fact, you would probably consider these to be absolutely essential if you are going to try and ensure your child’s development is as strong as possible. That’s the kind of thing that you should absolutely make sure you are not overlooking if you can help it.
These include basic numeracy skills as well as early literacy skills too. That is the kind of thing that you are going to want to think about, and it’s vital that you are going to try and do all you can to keep this as strong as possible. The building blocks of education are going to be really important for you to think about, so make sure that you are.
Those are the main ingredients to your child’s development you will want to encourage.
This is a collaborative post.