The benefits to outdoor toys are not only physical. Other advantages of outdoor activities include improved social skills, greater creativity and enhanced problem solving skills. Anita Britt, the executive director of the Child Development Centre (CDC) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has stated that:

“Outdoor play is important because kids really gain a sense of mastery and competency of skills from outdoor play. When they do something like climb up a little dirt hill and manoeuvre their way down, they learn they can do this, which really adds to their sense of confidence.

They also gain important physical skills because they are learning to run and use their bodies in different ways than if they were playing indoors. There’s also a lot of social interaction that goes on when they play outdoors

In activities such as water play or sand play, kids are pouring sand back and forth into containers of different sizes, shapes, and volume. So they see that “this much water or sand fits into this container” which they can learn from. Outdoor play is less structured, so it naturally gives children more opportunity for discovery”

Outdoor Toys that Help Children’s Development

Swings – The act of swinging builds a child’s endurance and stamina whilst teaching a child how to move their body in order to go higher or slow down.

Sandpits – The action of digging and constructing plays an important role in developing their muscles whilst improving their basic concepts of logic and maths.

Trampolines – Trampolines are a great way to enhance the child’s rhythm whilst also improving balancing skills and endurance.

Playhouses – Playhouses allow you to activate your child’s creative side through pretend play. They also promote group play which encourages children to expand on their social skills.

Climbing Frames – Climbing frames advance your child’s muscle growth whilst developing their problem solving skills as they traverse from one side of the climbing frame to the other.

Balls and Skipping Ropes – Improve their posture, cardiovascular health, teamwork skills and hand-eye co-ordination with a variety of fun ball and rope games.

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5 Time Management Tips

Be a Role Model – The best way to help children with their time management is by setting a good example. Parents that are unorganised and constantly rushing to get tasks completed are unlikely to influence their children in a positive manner.

Create a Schedule – A timetable that covers all seven days of the week is vital when trying to instil good time habits in children. The schedule should include time for homework, chores and other activities as well as providing children with free time to use as they wish. The timetable should also indicate times for going to bed and waking up. As children get used to the routine, their time management will being to improve automatically.

Provide the Child with Requisite Tools – Whether it’s an alarm clock, a watch or a calendar it is important that the children have the necessary tools to stick to their schedules. Not only with these tools help the children manage their time, they will also ensure there are no excuses if tasks are not completed!

Begin at a Young Age – Many parents wait until children are in their teens before trying to implement a time schedule. Unfortunately, this makes the task harder as children of 12-13 are already set in their ways. To ensure good time management is an intrinsic part of their life by the time they are teenagers, it is necessary to begin from an early age.

Provide Flexibility – No child wants every hour of their life regulated so it is important to be flexible.  Weekends in particular should be left relatively free with children knowing they can spend the time how they wish. Make sure the kids know that if all homework and chores for the week are complete, free time on the weekend is their reward.

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Disney Princess Toy Box

Ideal for young girls between the ages 2-7, this toy box is just the thing for a would-be princess! The box comes in a striking pink colour and features an array of gorgeous Disney princesses. With a width of 60cm and a height of 60cm, this box is ideal for storing books and toys of various shapes and sizes.  The solid structure combines well with the aesthetically pleasing exterior to form a toy box that provides great charm and durability.

Artwork: 8/10

Durability: 8/10

Functionality/Enjoyment: 7/10Kidsaw Kitchen Toy Box

The Kidsaw Kitchen toy box is perfect for children that love playing mummy! Featuring a wonderful kitchen top setting, they toy box includes oven grilles, a sink and multiple drawers that can be used by children for an enjoyable, make-believe tea party. The top of the kitchen counter can be raised to gain access to the interior of the box. Made from high density MDF, the toy box is constructed from robust materials ensuring it can be used for many years to come.

Artwork: 7/10

Durability: 8/10

Functionality/Enjoyment: 9/10

Sunny Safari Storage Bench

The Sunny Safari Storage Bench is a beautifully carved piece of hand-painted furniture that combines functionality with exquisite artwork. Whilst the primary function of this particular item is to provide storage space for books and toys, it can also be used by children as a bench. Made with an ergonomically designed backrest, the toy box provides comfortable seating for children whilst they play.

Artwork: 8/10

Durability: 8/10

Functionality/Enjoyment: 10/10

Pirate Treasure Chest

With the recent success of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, pirates have once again captured the imagination of young children. You can use this gorgeous treasure chest to provide your children with that pirate-y feel and ensure they have a place where they can stash their loot! Carved beautifully from durable materials, the treasure chest features stunning artwork that really gives the impression of a real pirates treasure chest.

Artwork: 10/10

Durability: 8/10

Functionality/Enjoyment: 9/10

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Reading

Reading is a great way to expand the child’s imagination and get him/her to think critically. Read through the book with the child and have a discussion at the end. Ask the child some questions with regards to the theme of the book as well as the characters. Why did certain characters act the way they did? Why were certain choices made? These types of questions will force the child to think critically. Reflecting on a book – rather than just reading through it – is what really stimulates the mind.

Set an Example

Children often take the adults in their life as role models so set a good example. Do you spend a large chunk of your time sat in front of the television or are you busy with more creative pursuits? Limit the amount of television time within the home and take up creative activities which can be shared by the child. Painting is one great hobby that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Instead of following a structured routine, allow the child to paint what he/she wants and only offer constructive and positive advice.

Communication

Another great way to stimulate the often dormant thought process is to ask questions. Whether you are driving along in the car or on a shopping trip, ask them their opinions on a variety of subjects and allow them to form their own conclusions. Another fun way to encourage creative and critical thinking skills is through the use of enjoyable board games. Unlike a lot of computer games, certain board games often require tough choices to be made. As well as allowing you to engage in a fun family activity, a good board game also offers the opportunity for the child to show initiative and inventiveness. Games like chess are particularly good at improving the critical thinking of the child.

Board Games

Board games are another way to encourage creative and critical thinking under the guise of fun and enjoyment. Many board games require difficult choices to be made and many decisions require considerable thought and deliberation. Games such as chess are also useful for developing the cognitive skills of children and encourage them to consider different possibilities before making a move. Many board games such as Monopoly persuade children to work with money and understand simple transactions.

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As parents, we all want our children to realise their potential and to continue to enhance their academic skills. One way to help children improve educational capabilities and boost levels of brightness and intelligence is by making books an important part of their lives. Reading plays an important role in improving concentration as children are trained to focus on the book and block out all other distractions. Another major benefit of reading is that it expands the child’s vocabulary and helps them pick up new words and phrases. It also exposes them to an array of different ideas and thoughts and promotes creativity and imagination.

Tips to Encourage Children to Read

• Use their interests and hobbies as a reference point. If your child is a fan of football but doesn’t enjoy reading, buy football books and magazines and read them with the child.
• Visit the library on a regular basis. This provides children with a vast array of books to choose from and ensures they can pick books that they enjoy.
• Read to children from an early age. Reading enjoyable stories to children from an early age ensures their minds will automatically connect books with fun and enjoyment.
• Read yourself. Young children love to imitate parents so make sure you are caught reading more times than you are caught slouched in front of the television!
• Leave books and magazines around the home. Make sure children can easily access reading materials so they can pick them up whenever they have the need.
• Make sure birthday and Christmas presents include books! Alongside the main gift(s) buy them books in themes which are of interest to them.
• Turn off the television. This applies to the whole family – encourage family activities such as reading and reduce the importance of the television in the home.

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Health Benefits of Water

To stay healthy and sharp, your children will need plenty of fluids, and that doesn’t mean fizzy/soft drinks! Drinking fizzy drinks not only has a detrimental affect on children’s health but also affects the behaviour of children. Doctors in the United States have confirmed that soft drinks severely disrupt children’s sleep and leaves them tired during the day. I have seen from personal experience how this lethargy negatively affects children during the school day. From lack of effort to low scores, normally bright kids are suffering through the careless attitude of parents.

Water on the other hand is essential for children. Lack of water and healthy fluids will lead to dehydration. This saps the mental and physical capabilities and also affects schooling. Some other benefits of drinking water include:

• Healthy skin
• Removal of toxins and waste products from the body
• Reduction in headaches and migraines
• Greater energy and concentration in school

Tips for Encouraging Water Consumption

There are some simple tips that parents can use to encourage children to drink water and keep themselves well hydrated and healthy.

• Provide Water Everywhere! – When providing the children with meals, make sure there is a glass of water on the tray. When the children return from playing outdoors, have a jug of iced water ready on the table. When making their packed lunched, replace the juice with a bottle of cool water. Make water the prevalent beverage in their lives.
• Purchase Stylish Water Bottles – You can now buy numerous water bottles in a variety of styles and themes. Let the children pick their favourite bottle and make sure you fill it with water every time they go to school or play sports.
• Set a Good Example – If water is going to be their primary beverage, make sure it’s your main drink too! Young children love to imitate parents so it is important that you are the best role model in this regard.
• Be Creative – Add a hint of lemon or some cherries to the jug of water. Alternatively, add some slices of orange or a mint flavouring to make the drink more enticing to young children.
• Don’t Fill the Refrigerator with Unhealthy Drinks – It may seem difficult initially, especially for families which live on fizzy drinks, but the sooner you clear your fridge of soft drinks, the better it will be for everyone. The children will eventually get used to the new status quo and once the option of fizzy drinks has been removed, water will be the natural replacement.

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Children of today likely to be less fit, weaker and fatter than children from previous generations

According to doctors, today’s generation of children and adolescents are the first to have grown up less healthy than their parents. A study published last year found the children from previous generations were not only fitter but also stronger than the children of today. The research, which was published in children’s health journal Acta Paediatric, found that the children of today can do fewer sit ups and struggle more with other physical activities compared to children from previous generations.

Some of the findings showed that:

• Arm strength fell by 26% whilst grip strength fell by 7%
• The number of sit-ups children can perform declined by 27.1%
• The number of children who could hold their own weight when hanging from wall bars also decreased

Research has also shown that the children of today are more likely to have high levels of fat reserves and less muscle than previous generations. There are many reasons as to the great disparity between the health of children from different generations with one of the main ones being the decrease in number of children playing outdoors. Outdoor games such as climbing trees, climbing frames, skipping ropes and ball games play a key role in reducing fat and increasing strength and endurance. Tam Fry of the Children Growth Foundation said: “Climbing trees and ropes used to be standard practice for children, but school authorities and ‘health and safety’ have contrived to knock the sap out of our children.”

Another reason as to why children are less healthy than previous generations is the effect of electronic entertainment devices such as television, DVDs, laptops, games consoles etc. Such devices play a key role in keeping children indoors and research has shown that children that have such equipment in their bedrooms are 1.47 times more likely to be overweight than those who don’t. Children that spend more than two hours a day in front of the television are also more likely to have excessive stomach fat and higher cholesterol levels.

In order to reverse this trend, it is important for parents to encourage children to drag themselves away from the television and spend more time playing outdoors. Numerous studies have shown that outdoor activities provide many health benefits for children including:

• Becoming fitter and leaner
• Becoming more creative
• Developing greater social skills
• Having lower stress levels
• Developing stronger immune systems

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However, as a mother of four, I can safely say, most children are not concerned with fancy brand names! Kids prefer items that are fun and enjoyable, items they can interact with and make use out of.

Parents on the other hand, look for items that are relatively inexpensive and provide durability as well as safety. When decorating and designing a child’s bedroom, the key word to remember is DISCS!

DISCS is an abbreviated version of the five crucial tips:

• Durability
• Imagination
• Safety
• Cost
• Storage

Durability

Unfortunately, as most parents recognize, children have an unfortunate propensity for breaking even the sturdiest of items! With children, accidents are part and parcel of daily life. Their enthusiastic and eager nature will lead to mishaps and furniture items will get damaged. As a result, it is important to ascertain the longevity and robustness of any item before making a purchase. Solid woods such as oak and pine are ideal materials for children’s furniture.

Imagination

No child likes monotony and tediousness! Whether it’s the games they play, the cartoons they watch or the furniture they pick, children are often colourful and expressive. It is essential, therefore, that the child is consulted when picking the colour themes of the bedroom. As the bedroom is a unique space for the children, it should reflect their preferences and creativity.

Safety

Safety is the one thing that keeps parents awake at night. Are our children’s rooms safe? Have all necessary steps been taken to ensure utmost security? When it comes to choosing the furniture, there are steps we can take to make the bedroom that little bit safer. Most shelves and drawers come with sharp edges that have the potential to cause considerable harm to unsuspecting children. In order to remove this very real domestic hazard, you can now purchase furniture with rounded corners. This simple innovation is an important step in the right direction with regards to safer children’s furniture.

Cost

As mentioned above, most children are not interested in brand names and designer furniture. Splashing out on needlessly expensive items is tantamount to throwing money away. It is more important to consider things like quality of material and durability. An item that offers considerable longevity can be used repeatedly and passed down to younger children. This is a great way to reduce costs whilst ensuring minimal wastage.

Storage

Storage is often a problem for children’s bedrooms. Children often end up sharing rooms so it can be difficult to fit enough storage units into the bedroom. In order to minimise wasted space and ensure adequate storage facilities, one does not need to look any further than mid-sleeper beds! These beds come with an assortment of shelves, desks and drawers and are a great way to increase storage space without taking up too much extra room.
The next time you are designing or re-decorating a child’s bedroom, simply apply the DISCS test to ensure you have covered all possibilities!

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