by Naomi Richards Posted Feb 02, 2012 1:12 PM

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  Well, it has finally become that day.  The day when my book surfaces onto the bookshelves of high street book stores and you no longer have to pre-order on Amazon. ‘The Parents Toolkit’  is now available for you to buy in paperback or for your Kindle …. HURRAY!!!! I wrote the book for you – and hope you find it interesting, enlightening and that it gets you to think about what your children need from you in terms of friendships, communication, co-operation, feelings, sibling rivalry, parents separation, self-esteem, confidence etc. ‘The Parents Toolkit’  shares key life tools that you can use to help your children successfully navigate their childhood problems and grow up into happy,...

by Naomi Richards Posted Jan 30, 2012 10:52 AM

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  Many of us want our children to grow up taking responsibility for their actions and do more for themselves so that they have the skills for later life. We start by getting them to get dressed on their own and brush their teeth when they are little but what about when they are older. An older child (6 years +) is capable of getting their own breakfast and putting the bowl and spoon in the dishwasher afterwards but how much more can we ask them to do. We could get them to: Help with meal preparation Lay and clear the table after meals Tidy their room Help out with cleaning the house Look after any pets the family has Make their own pack lunch What do you encourage your children to do for themselves because you kno...

by Mums Like You Mums Like You Posted Jan 25, 2012 3:48 PM

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  Two of the country’s favourite children’s writers, Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson and acclaimed author, Cressida Cowell, have launched a search for Britain's best storyteller.  Julia and Cressida, who have enchanted millions with books such as The Gruffalo and How to Train Your Dragon have teamed up with World Book Day to find the UK's first ever Storytelling Superstar - someone who bring children's stories to life in the most imaginative and captivating way possible. Full instructions on how to upload a video clip of a nominated master storyteller in action can be found on www.worldbookday.com - entries must be in by Sunday 12th February 2012. The winner will be announ...

by Maria Jose Ovalle Posted Jan 16, 2012 9:21 PM

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  Shoes.  Zápatos . Kicks. Whatever you call them. They are just amazing! I can't get enough of them, but now I have to "love them" in moderation. Before  Little M  came along and rocked my world (and also destroyed my stuff) I had a closet that overflowed with a variety of styles. I had every kind you can imagine. Heels, boots, flats, stylish trainers, running shoes, Uggs, wellies, flip flops open toed, wide heels, thin heels and even some terrible style choices like Birkenstocks and clogs. They were all there and ready to add a finishing touch to any outfit. They ranged from super nice and expensive to the latest from  Primark . I mean, loves has no boundaries. But then...

by Emma Sheppard Posted Jan 15, 2012 5:32 PM

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Having a nightmare with trying to get the toddler to have his haircut, we have one of those breeds of toddlers that just don't stay still longer then 20 seconds. Though he has got much better at this and will stay still when told in a very stern way or when bribed with sweets or chocolate (we all do it at some point!) it wasn't more of a case of him not staying still this morning when we tried to take him, but more of a case of him being terrified. He really does need it doing, you can see in the photo yourself that it is getting rather on the long side. Not a problem but it does get knotty quite easy (he's a big fan of jam!) It's getting in his eyes and I was told AGAIN on the train the other day how cute my ...

by Mums Like You Mums Like You Posted Jan 13, 2012 8:19 PM

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As we begin 2012, invariably we are focused on our New Year’s resolutions.   In fact, according to a recent study, 95% of us will attempt to make (and keep) at least one resolution. Of course, the usual suspects include: eating more healthily, spending more time with family and friends and losing weight.   Not surprisingly given the current economic climate the top resolution for 2012 is to save money.      Saving money can take numerous forms, from reducing spending to paying off debt to spending more wisely.   Ideally, one wants to be doing all three, but where does one start?   At Shopitize, we think the first step is to understand where your money is curre...

by Mums Like You Mums Like You Posted Jan 10, 2012 8:28 PM

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Never mind the Bucket List, here’s the Potty List – a tongue in cheek guide to 36 things toddlers should have crayoned off a must-do list....by the time they are toilet trained. The list was inspired by suggestions from parents nationwide and endorsed by experts, including nutritionist Amanda Ursell, psychologist Dr Richard Woolfson and trends forecaster Sean Pillot de Chenecey. The list comprises 36 activities for your ‘Little One-der’ – one for each month of their toddler years.   The 36 must-do activities that make up ‘The Potty List’ are: 1.        Made a mud pie 2.        Baked a cake 3.     ...

by Jo Middleton Posted Jan 05, 2012 12:09 PM

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We’ve all heard the mantra ‘breast is best’, but just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s easy... When my girls were babies, I was repeatedly told that breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt, and that if it does, you’re doing it wrong. Personally, I think this is rubbish. Breastfeeding for me, for the first six weeks, both times around, was agony. Every time my baby latched on I wanted to scream, push her off and leave her to fix her own lunch while I enjoyed a sandwich in another room. This isn’t the Done Thing though, so I had to persevere. I’m very glad I did, because after an initial period of having my partner physically pushing my shoulders down from around my ears every feed, it b...

by Jacy Brean Posted Jan 03, 2012 2:07 PM

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According to astrologers, a person’s character can be determined by their horoscope, the precise positioning of the planets and signs of the zodiac at the time of birth. Despite many challenges to astrology over the years, belief for many in its abilities - not only to predict the future but also to influence human behaviour - is very deep-rooted.   Yet is such faith backed up by evidence? As part of an A-level course in Psychology, students were given a horoscope that had supposedly been drawn up according to each individual’s date and time of birth. Most students agreed it was extremely accurate, only to find they’d all been given exactly the same character description! So what’s the harm? Well, convi...

by Mums Like You Mums Like You Posted Dec 23, 2011 1:02 PM

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This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in a technology project run by the security software company Trend Micro, to receive a free iPad and to share your online experiences. The project named Digital Joneses is open to families that enjoy spending time online, whether talking to friends, playing games or testing the latest technology gadgets. The Digital Joneses will show how everyday families use the internet, any problems and issues they face, as well as life changing experiences gained as a result. The families will be given a number of simple tasks and challenges throughout the year, designed to illustrate how they are using the internet to aid their everyday lives, how they spend their time online, what...