Encourage reading in children

Recent studies have show that reading for pleasure is more important to a child's educational achievement than their family's wealth or social class. The big question is- how to get children to believe this? How to convince them that the benefits of a good book outweigh the educational advantages of that PS3, PS4, xbox, psp or repeat showings of Johnny Test on netflix.

If the parents aren't avid bookworms it's much more difficult to get the offspring involved. Unfortunately many families are under the impression that once the 'bedtime story' age had passed, reading with children should be confined to teachers and the school day.
Schools are fully aware of the problems and are constantly looking for ways to envourage students of all ages to embrace the reading habit and make it a lifelong love affair.  

There are lots of handy hints out there for parents to encourage their children to read, getting older siblings to read to younger ones, letting them see the parents read, asking them about the books they are reading at school and interacting with them and as soon as they are old enough get them a library card being a few suggestions.


Some children are more interested in magazines and comics and don't be put off by this. Reading is reading, no matter what the content is. For older children it can be a good idea to watch a movie based on a book and then read the book together to discuss the pro's and con's and that all important question- which is better- the film or the book?

Whatever way you come up with to help your child learn to love books, there is a ton of help out there. Make the most of it and give your child one of the best gifts around- A love of literature.

Santa Grottos in London

It's that time of year when our Saturday shopping purses need a bit of extra padding for the trip to Santas Grotto with the kids. Most shopping centres and large department stores have their own Grottos and choosing one can be a bit difficult.

Check out this great guide for London's finest Grottos from Time Out.

http://www.timeout.com/london/kids/activities/santas-grottos-in-london

Amongst the choices available there is Harrods- where there is a choice of Pre-school Santa experience and for the bigger children a Classic experience. The Grotto is decorated beautifully and can be found near the Door 10 escalators on the 4th floor.

London Zoo has again got into the festive spirit, adding an extra special touch with Santas reindeer on hand for the children. There's rides and talks and all manner of Seasonal fun. Book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment

Don't forget Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, which although can end up being fairly expensive, is a great choice for the whole family. Santa Land is inside Winter Wonderland and guarantees every child a prize AND a photo and the Elves are on hand to entertain the children in the waiting queue.

So wherever you decide to go, make Christmas memorable with the trip to Santa's Grotto.

The Xmas tv ads revolution.

Yes, you know it's nearly Xmas when the Coca Cola Xmas ad comes on TV.  With the 'war' on advertising getting hotter and hotter each year, it seems to reach a climax with the end of year Xmas ad.

The Christmas Ad Bonanza began in 1978 with Woolworths, who flaunted then TV stars Windsor Davis, Nicholas Parsons, Tony Blackburn and Top of The Pops specials Pans People urging us to buy Brut and stereo music centers. The trend quickly spread and we were soon inundated with famous ads by Irn Bru- who spoofed The Snowman in 2006,

Boots, M&S, Debenhams and my personal favourite Famous Names with the brilliant Terry Thomas.

This year has seen a major step-up from the larger companies and incorporating celebrities seems to be the way forward.

Morrisons have Ant and Dec captivated by a dancing gingerbread man to the sound of 'Be Our Guest' from Disney’s 'Beauty and The Beast


M&S see Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, David Gandy and Helena Bonham-Carter play out scenes from Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin and The Wizard of Oz



Celebrities are wise to the advantages of being seen in a Xmas ad- take the Spice Girls they did 2. 

This year Lily Allen has used her John Lewis ad as a way of launching her back on the music scene. With her new album out next year this is a perfect platform for her to get back in the audience's eye after 3 years out to have a family.

So sit back and revel in the comforting, mood enhancing, mini- epic that is the Christmas TV ad. 

The Best Fireworks display near you

So it's here again, the noisiest night of the year. Fed up of the damp, won't light back garden bonfire, catherine wheel on the fence ( that the neighbour complains about), roman candles, fountains, rubbish sparklers and the big finale the rocket that won't 'rocket' anywhere.
This year why not 'Remember , remember the fifth of November in style and go to an organised firework display.

You can find a list of events in the london area here

So keep safe, wrap up warm and enjoy a great evening. And if you're wondering just why we do this every year, here are a few facts for you to impress the neighbours with:-

The event is so called because of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I.

Still to this day, it is customary for the cellars in the Houses of Parliament to be searched by the Yeoman of the Guard before each State Opening of Parliament.

St. Peter’s School in York is the only place in the UK that does not celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. Guy Fawkes was a pupil there and they refuse to burn his image in respect for him.

Although Guy Fawkes has become the most famous person associated with the Plot he wasn’t the main conspirator. He was in charge of guarding the gunpowder underneath the Houses of Parliament, and had he not been caught, he would have been charged with lighting it.

Scientists have calculated that the 2,500kg of gunpowder Fawkes hid would have caused extensive damage almost 500 metres from the centre of the explosion.
 

Keep ALL pets safe on Bonfire Night

Each and every year we hear about keeping our dogs safe on Bonfire night, but what about the rest of our household pets. They have ears too you know!!

For dogs it seems pretty simple- take them for a really long walk in the daylight- the more tired they are the more chance there is they will sleep through the commotion. As soon as daylight disappears, close all the curtains and blinds to muffle the outside bangs and flashes.

Try and make sure someone is at home with them whilst the fireworks are going off- if this isn't possible ensure they have their blanket or special toy with them for comfort.
Get a special treat for your dog and save it until the night. It's all about distracting them from the outside noises.
Make sure that dogs, and cats can't get outside for the duration of the evening- ie- tape up the dog/cat flap.

Smaller animals should be secured in their cages, ensuring they have a place to hide that is safe, warm and inviting to them. Top up the bedding beforehand to give extra comfort.

If your animals live outside in cages, or birds in an aviary, partially cover the cage with a couple of blankets to provide some soundproofing, but allow a small peephole for them to see outside. Not being able to see will only distress them more.

Have a safe and enjoyable Bonfire night and remember that ALL animals get scared, not just man's best friend.

Best Halloween tips around

Check out this site for great Halloween tips on :-

Preparation and making the night run smoothly,

Costumes made easier,

Sweets and toys,

Decorations,

Pumpkins and Jack o lanterns

Post Halloween  clean up and storage.

It has everything and MORE!!!

Halloween Fun

How NOT to choose a Halloween Outfit!

Basically this means Do NOT, and I repeat NOT let your 11 year old daughter 'help you'. Note the inverted commas around the word 'help'. Having an invite to a Halloween bash the day before the big Spooky Day, and being short on invites to anywhere these days I jumped at the chance to dress up and let my hair down ( or up depending on the outfit).  Having Seized the 'day before All Hallows Day' ( confusing but correct), the time came to tackle the outfit dilemma. I trawled the internet, the Seasonal Aisles in all the major Supermarkets and even rummaged through the back of my wardrobe ( not sure why, but I'm certain at that particular moment in time it seemed like a bangin' idea!).

I found many an outfit that I haven't worn for a good few years in the dark, gloominess of the wardrobe's rear end, and safe to say a good few that wouldn't fit over one of my thighs let alone my now rear end!! Figuring that leg warmers and shell suit weren't exactly Halloween attire I decided to ask the 11 yr old daughter, who has been wrapped up in Halloween fever for the past 2 months, who in turn thought she needed to bring in reinforcements in the shape of' the girls'.

The outcome of this 'intervention' was my 'zombie cheerleader SLASH dead schoolgirl 'look'. As I looked in the mirror I got a chill down my spine, and I'm not talking Halloween chill I'm talking stomach churning Britney Spears, gone horribly wrong in THAT video chill. The over the knee socks did nothing for my fat thighs, which were bulging out through the holes in the fishnet tights like Goo pushed through a cheese grater. The paint spattered mini kilt didn't fall in perfect pleats so much as it stuck out like a cocktail umbrella, the ripped shirt didn't cover my muffin top and the backcombed bunches made me look like Worzel Gummidge. I longed to add a blackened front tooth to top of the outfit perfectly but my daughter said I looked sooooooo gross. Ah yes of course, it's the tooth, or lack of it, that makes me look ridiculous!!!


So it was a thanks, but no thanks girls. Let's face it, you can't beat a good old white sheet with two eye holes, that way my muffin top, fat legs and rather protruding backside can all hang out in peace and comfort- Spooky Bliss!!!

Haloween Parties to DIE for...

Fancy doing something really rad this year for Halloween- look no further that the London Eye- yes the London Eye! Believe it or not, from Saturday the 26th October - Saturday November 2nd the Eye is transformed into the set of a spooky story about Priscilla the High Witch and evil Grimly Grim (whose voice you may recognise as Harry Enfield).
With storytelling, entertaining participation and fancy dress, this is surely a bit of a special Halloween event not to be missed.It's a bit on the pricey side with tickets for a family priced at £73.92, with the spectacular panoramic views of the City and a fright night to boot, it's a small price to pay.

Another very popular attraction is Halloween at London Zoo. With activities all day long, you can be assured of something for everyone. Do you fancy a Halloween version of the popular regular feeding sessions or storytelling and batmask-making? Do you dare to enter into Mr Darkmire’s Curiosity Shop of Horrors, while owls swoop above your head, or come close up and personal with creepy creatures in the Amphitheatre for an Animals in Action show. From Saturday 26th October - Sunday November 3rd, check here for prices and times.

Get in touch and tell us what you're doing for Halloween.

Finding the perfect face for the perfect personalised book

 Mum decided that for Dad's 80th she wants to do a memory book for him. I think she's safeguarding herself for if he gets Alzheimers, then he can carry his book around with him and see who the strangers in his house actually are.
    She found a really great company where you can actually have the faces and names of your whole family in a funny storybook, brilliant stuff. I ordered a Seaside Outing book and set about sourcing all the photos. Had a zillion of the kids to choose from, a shed load of the Old Man, Mum had sent some she'd taken of her and Dad ( telling him that the youngest grandchild was doing a project on inspirational people- he puffed out his chest apparently- now Mum feels guilty.. ), lots of my sister and her family and even a great one of Dad's dog. There was only me left. Have to tell you I'm not the most photogenic person- in fact my face looks positively lopsided, my nose looks enormous and my hair always, always looks a mess. Tried taking a few with self timer- God no-I looked like a crazy. Found one that was a bit blurry and I'm sporting the biggest spot on my cheek ever but as we needed the book before Dad turned 80, I sent it in.
     When the book arrived I opened it with caution. Oh my goodness the spot on my cheek had disappeared and my face wasn't blurry- still lopsided but crystal clear. I sent a silent thanks to whoever at the book company worked their magic.
     Dad loves his book and now shows the book with his whole family in it to all his friends, golf buddies, postman, window cleaner, in fact most people he meets. Let's hope if he does ever lose his marbles he will at least know where he put his book..

Longer school days- YEs or No ?

Education Minister Michael Gove says that our schools are underachieving, compared to Asian schools because our school days are too short and our school holidays are too long. Christine Blower from the National Union of Teachers argues that our children and staff spend longer in the classrooms than most other countries and also have some of the shortest holidays. Is she forgetting about the fact that we have 'half terms' which those countries with the longer summer holidays don't have, and maybe our schools spend so long inside the classrooms because of the lack of sport in our schools curriculum.
  There is a valid argument for both sides and there is a lot to be said for the Association of School and College Leaders statement that the quality of learning is more important than the amount of hours. On the other hand the argument for longer days and less holidays would have a massive impact on helping working parents.
   I remember thinking school was such a long day and could have happily curled up on my desk and gone to sleep after lunch. Thinking back now though I realise that this was when I was 14, and let's face it no-one likes school at that age. Now I have children of my own and work from home and  some days it feels like I get back home and half an hour later it's time to pick up from school. 
    It would be very interesting to see how people feel about this. Why not give us your thoughts.

Best nature scavenger hunt ever.

The Healthiest foods ever.

1. Apricots
2. Avocados
3. Raspberries
4. Cantaloupe
5. Cranberry Juice
6. Tomato
7. Raisins
8. Figs 
9. Lemons & Limes
10. Onions
11. Artichoke
12. Ginger
13. Broccoli
14. Spinach
15. Bok Choy
16. Squash
17. Watercress & Arugula
18. Garlic
19. Quinoa
20. Wheat Germ 
21. Lentils
22. Peanuts
23. Pinto beans
24. Yogurt
25. Skim Milk
26. Shellfish (clams, mussels)
27. Salmon
28. Crab

Things NOT to write in an English exam

Quotes of Inspiration

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen

Always be a first rate version of yourself , instead of a second rate version of someone else

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money

If you judge people you have no time to love them

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm

Love is when the head, the heart and the libido are in unison

Don’t judge each day by the harvest that you reap but by the seeds that you planted

Eighty percent of success is showing up

Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die tomorrow

I used to think the worst thing in life is to end up all alone. It's not, the worst thing is to end up with people who make you feel all alone 

Most Dangerous Driving Songs

Don't know about you, but I love to get behind the wheel, crank up my favourite tunes and drive. It helps me unwind, think, plan and most importantly get away from it all for a few brief moments. I make most of my 'playlists', with that thought in mind. I have sad songs, funky songs, sing out loud songs and most importantly nostalgic songs. There is however a survey to show that some songs are best avoided, as they can actually be 'dangerous'. Top of their list is the Black Eyed Peas with Hey Mama. The list goes and and includes Guns and Roses, Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, Nickleback, and then thrown in rather surprisingly, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles ??? I'm more inclined to think that 7 hours stuck in traffic listening to Justin Beiber is enough to cause MAJOR car trauma... What would be your listening driving heaven and listening driving hell ? See the full list here http://www.confused.com/car-insurance/articles/top-ten-most-dangerous-driving-songs?MediaCode=806&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_source=Newsletter14Jan13&utm_content=Christmas

Get fit, for Good

So the New Year is upon us and the Get Fit regimes are foremost in our minds. Tone up, Shape up, Lose Weight FAST, Lose Weight and keep it off, a diets not just for New Year, a diet is for life ( oh God does it have to be).. The slogans are everywhere, the lithe toned bodies of celeb dieters are filling the pages of magazines.

Here are some great fitness ideas and programmes. We all know that sensible eating and more exercise is the key to long term body beautiful but some of us need a kick start so here you go

Mix and match with what you feel works for you.

Christmas Treats and Fun stuff

Snowmen Tips

Rice Krispie Xmas Tree

The World's Best Gingerbread House

Pretzel Log Cabin

Make Rudolph biscuits from Gingerbread men

Be Inspired

Inspirational Quotes 

All our dreams can come true , if we have the conviction to pursue them.

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless it is faced.

I'd rather be hated for who I am , than loved for who I am not.

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.

Robot Land

South Korea is building a £1.3bn robot land where not only the rides are robot inflenced, but the staff in the park are robots too. Scientists are playing on peoples ultimate fear of robots. Fear of them controlling, fear of their inability to feel and one supposes the fear of them taking over the world.
Just like Alfred Hitchcock exploited into peoples fear to make movies ( how many people never looked at crows and seagulls the same after watching The Birds, not to mention showers!), the South Koreans are plugging into people's fear of Automated humans.
What do you feel about Robots- friend or foe ?

Read this article to find out more

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/fast_track/9636763.stm

This Weeks' top 5 Inspirational Quotes

Everyone needs encouragement at some time. Read these Quotes' and take from them what you will. 

Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to love

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open

Talent wins games , but teamwork and intelligence wins championships

The only sure thing about luck is that it will change

My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me