This day I love.......: children

This is a featured post with Wicked Uncle

As Christmas approaches I often wonder if I have got the presents right. My children change their minds so often that what they want one minute they often don't like the next, and so it got me thinking. What makes a toy a top toy and what are the best toys for Christmas. There are great websites out there like Wicked Uncle who organise their toys by age as well as categories to help you find the perfect present. You can check out their gift guide for the best presents here

My son is three years old and when asked what he thinks makes a top toy he replies ‘diggers!’ I am not sure at three he fully understands what I mean, but for him his top toy would be a digger. He loves them, as I think most of his friends do and we have a wide collection of diggers. Everything from ones he can sit on to electric ones, he just adores them. He even has a soft toy one which he cuddles. It doesn’t just stop with diggers, he seems to love all vehicles. I guess you can never have enough toy cars, diggers or emergency vehicles. His imagination is fantastic as he plays with them, pretending to go on adventures and save the day.

At seven years old, my youngest daughter has a love of all things rainbow colours, and of course the shiny or sparkly the better, so what makes a top toy for her? She would like an animal of some description, that is fluffy and pink with white spots. It would have to be very cuddly and small enough to carry. As you play with it it grows older and bigger until it becomes an adult. There would be lots of sequins on it to make it very sparkly and it would also have hair to brush. The animal would also be interactive allowing you to sing and dance with it. She says she would also like to be able to bath it and feed it, so it would need to come with some food. I have a feeling I have seen toys similar to this and can think of a few existing toys that would match some of these ideas.

My eldest daughter is very different to her sister. At nine years old she fully believes in her head that she is a teenager. When asked what she would like for Christmas she answers with a phone, and has even come up with a plan on how to make money so she can pay for credit to use it. She has even been round the local shops to price up a handset so she knows exactly how much to save up for. When I asked her what makes a top toy she replied with it has to have a remote control, and be able to fly or you have to be able to make something with it. Two very different ideas for a toy. Yet it also shows off her personality. She loves to build things, and can often be found hoarding cardboard and other materials to make something with.

Asking my children what makes a top toy and finding out what they think makes a toy great has given me a great insight into their likes. From this I can now figure out and find toys to match their needs rather than asking them for specific toys and give them their top toys!

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During my last visit to the baby show I attended a workshop run by the British Red Cross. The workshop was an overview to first aid for babies and children, and I left wanting to refresh my skills and perhaps pick up some new tips for first aid.

My youngest daughter is one of the most accident prone people you could possibly meet. We say she is best friends with the floor as she spends a large proportion of her time on it. It is simply who she is, I think she inherits my clumsy genes. I have had a few scares with her, and as a result I want to make sure my first aid skills are up to date. As Little Man gets older too, should he also have the clumsy genes I want to make sure I am ready.

The British Red Cross run a number of course, one of which is the First aid for baby and child course. When I enrolled for the course I was not too sure what to expect, and the level it would be pitched at, or if there would be a test or course work to complete. I had chosen to split the course over two evenings, but I also had the option to attend one day instead.

I attended the first evening feeling nervous, but within a few minutes I was at ease. The course was a good mixture of hands on learning, team working and listening to the instructor. We would consolidate ideas in a group and then discuss with the whole class. There was a relaxed feeling which made it comfortable to talk openly and as a result there were no silly questions and everyone could bounce ideas off each other.

The course touched upon most aspects of childhood illnesses and injuries from Meningitis to Asthma, and cuts, sprains and burns. One of the most important sessions for me was we were given a scenario and a bag full of household objects. Using our skills we had to treat the scenario with what we had. This to me was far more useful than teaching bandaging for example, as it was much more real world. Should my child now have a burn whilst we are out, or in the kitchen I would feel confident to deal with it rather than panic that I did not have the right equipment available.

There was of course a very serious element to the course. Practising skills that you hope you will never need, but to have them there is better than not at all.

Even though I had some prior first aid knowledge I left the course with confidence. This course is intended for anyone who comes into contact with children or babies (please note that this course does not meet workplace requirements and there is a separate course available for this). This could be in your profession or as a parent or grandparent. Whilst I hope I never have to use the skills I learnt, I will be forever grateful to the British Red Cross for giving me the confidence and knowledge needed should an emergency occur.

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I think it is every parents worst nightmare to think that your child could get lost when you are out and about. Older children are more capable of finding help but younger children in particular are more vulnerable. All children go through a phase of exploring and wandering off, it is part of the curiosity of childhood but it does not stop that heart sinking moment.

Both my girls know their address and where they live but if we were on holiday they would be unsure what to do. I guess the same applies if we were to visit somewhere for the day. In an attempt to help reunite my girls with me, should they decide to wander or we get separated, they have both been given kooliobandz. Kooliobandz are children identity wrist bands and come in a variety of sizes. They are fully waterproof and skin friendly.

The wrist bands provide complete anonymity and work 24/7 in any country and any language. Each wristband features a web address and a unique code. If a child is found the person who finds them goes to the website and enters the unique code, which then sends a message to your phone. The code on the wrist band is completely random so cannot be guessed and the site holds only your mobile number and one alternative number, meaning there is no identifying information.

Kooliobandz charge no subscription fee, so you only pay for the price of the band (9.95euros for 2 bands). You do need to visit the site to register the band to your child. For every purchase of a Kooliobandz 45p is donated to Make a Wish. They are available to purchase both online at Kooliobandz website and from Boots.

Make a Wish are a charity which grant magical wishes to children and young people with life-threatening conditions. These wishes can be anything from meeting a hero, to a holiday to simply being a princess for a day. Granting these wishes give the child and their family much needed family time away from the daily struggles faced with such serious conditions.

Kooliobandz are such a simple idea to help reunite a child if lost. The girls love to wear their wristbands and I have peace of mind knowing I can be contacted should they get lost, no matter where we are in the world. It is also wonderful to know that each Kooliobandz are helping to support granting wishes for children and young people with life threatening conditions.

Thank you to Make a Wish for sending a Kooliobandz for each girl in exchange for this post, all words are my own opinion.

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As my girls get older their individual personalities begin to show more. I love watching them change and develop, from babies to toddlers to little girls. As they grow their tastes begin to change and from liking everything pink they now like everything blue. I think mainly influenced by the blue dress that Elsa wears.

As they grow and start to form their own opinions they want more personalised spaces in their bedrooms. It is however not very economical or practical to decorate every time they discover a new like, but what can be done simply and easily is add wall stickers to add personalisation.

My eldest daughter is currently having her room decorated, it was done nearly 4 years ago when she was 2 years old and so is very much in need of a refresh. We have just changed the flooring in her room to a wooden floor, which hopefully will help with her eczema, and are now wanting to update the walls. The walls are going to be kept neutral and we intend on having a nature theme, as she loves the outdoors. One of her walls has been painted different to the others in order to create a feature wall, and we intend on using a nature themed sticker to create this feature in her room. Her favourite is this one:

I have to admit to really liking it too, as it not only is in keeping with the theme it will also last her as she grows.

My youngest daughter does not need her bedroom painting but she could do with the theme of her room updating, as it is currently very nursery orientated. Her loves at the minute are butterflies and birds but yet would not want a nursery sticker. The sticker would need to be more tailored towards a child.

What is great about wall stickers is that you can lay them out on the wall in your own design. Even though the design might be similar to this

We could choose not to use the cat sticker and reposition the butterflies on her wall in our own pattern. This would make for a perfect design for my youngest

Wall stickers are a great way to add a touch of personalisation to a room, in an economical way. They can be changed as often as needed which is perfect for children as they grow up and their tastes change.

This is a collaborative post

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As a parent, one of our biggest responsibilities is looking after the health of our children. We try our best to ensure they are eating right and that they look after their bodies and don’t put themselves in too much danger. The trouble is there’s no written rule book that tells you what you should and shouldn't do.

Don’t Bubble wrap

I like my kids to be kids, and whilst it is important for them to be safe you still have to let them experience the world. I know parents who wouldn't want their children climbing trees. I'm not talking massive trees here because we all know children wouldn't be able to get up that high in the first place. Just a few metres off the ground. I’d never stop my kids from doing something like that. It’s an experience of childhood I don’t want them to miss. If they fall they might get a few bumps or scratches, and it will be a lesson learnt. I am worried that some of their playfulness might lead to a trip to A&E but I cannot bubble wrap my kids and stop them from having a childhood like I did.

Do Know Your Options

There are times when children do need to see a medical professional and at that point, it’s important to know what your options are. You need to be aware of the different types of hospitals you could take your child to. If you’re worried about waiting times and the level of attention, you’ll receive you might want to take your child to a private hospital. If you can afford them, private hospitals can offer a higher level of care and are particularly useful if you have a specialist issue.

Other Checks Are Important Too

Finally, don’t forget that you don’t just have to think about your child’s physical health. You need to think about their eyes and oral hygiene as well. That’s why it is vital that you do get them regular check up with the correct professionals. Some kids hate going to the dentist but it is worthwhile getting them used to visiting at an early age to try and reduce this anxiety.

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As any mum with a home and more than one child will tell you, shared bedrooms can be a nightmare. Of course, while they’re young, kids don’t tend to mind sharing a room, but as they get a little older, the idea of sharing with their sibling can become less appealing.

Sometimes when you have more children than bedrooms, there is no other option than to put the kids in together. The main problem for many parents is the fact that when it comes to creating a joint bedroom, it can be tricky to get right. As well as taking into account each child’s personal tastes, there’s also storage and layout to think about.

Decide on the layout and design

When it comes to creating a shared bedroom that your children will love, the layout is one of the most important aspects. The layout that you opt for will depend on what type of space you are trying to create. Ask yourself whether you want to create a cohesive look or a room with two different zones. This will most probably depend on the ages of your children and whether they have similar personalities and tastes.

Creating a cohesive space is simple, it’s just a case of doubling up on furniture, bedding and accessories. Bunk beds can be ideal as they save space. As well as saving space, bunk beds can also add an extra boost of style to the room. For the perfect beds, have a look at designer furniture online. There are some amazing designs out there, so whatever style bedroom you've opted for, there should be beds that are perfect.

For a bedroom that’s split into two zones, the layout becomes a little more tricky to get right. Although you want to create two areas, you also need to ensure that the two styles complement each other. For instance, clashing colours like lime green and orange. Before you start to think about the layout, take the time to get some inspiration. This will give you ideas and help you to work out what will and won’t work in the space.

Give each child their own space

Even young children need their own space, and it’s important that you find ways to give them it. A great tip that interior design experts swear by is using something to divide the room, such as a tall bookshelf or curtains. This gives each child their own space, as well as a sense of privacy.

There are plenty of ways that you can give your child their own space; it’s just a case of being creative. Bookshelves, curtains, and wardrobes are all ideal for adding a little privacy.

Use accessories to add personality

In a joint room, the best way to add personality is with accessories. Aim to keep the walls fairly simple, and then use accessories to add a sense of personality and style. By keeping the walls plain, when it comes to updating the room in the future, it will just be a case of switching the accessories.

While each child’s area of the room can incorporate different colours and styles, just make sure to use pieces that work well together. The last thing that you want to do is design a bedroom that clashes. Be choosy about the colours and prints that you use, and you can create a beautiful joint space.

It isn't always easy to know how to go about designing a shared bedroom for your children. However, by taking note of the tips above, you can create a beautiful space that your kids will love.

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