Ghostwritermummy

The Daytime TV Classics Which Have Helped Every Parent Through Tough Days

June 5, 2019 Leave a Comment

One of the great things about blogging is talking honestly about the times when being a parent to young children is a struggle. Because, as we all know, there are days when it just seems like more work than you could ever realistically handle.

Those days when we’re stuck in the house, chasing after little ones with scarcely a moment to sit down and relax can be tough. So, thank god for British daytime TV because when it comes to light-hearted entertainment, we do it like no nation on earth.

Taking an hour out of your day to sink into the sofa with a cup of tea and a naff – but fun – TV programme is all the tonic most parents need to get back on their feet and regain a little sanity after a frantic day. But what are the daytime TV classics which have given us strength over the years? Join us as we run down some of our favourites:

Deal or No Deal

A true classic of the daytime TV genre, Deal or No Deal ran for over 3000 episodes – each rich with drama, laughter and no shortage of heart-stopping moments.

Each day, all of the twenty-two contestants would be given a box with a random sum in it up to £250,000. Then, one of those contestants would be chosen to come up to the hot seat and select boxes to open, negotiating with the ‘Banker’ every few boxes. They could either take his offer, which could be higher or lower than the value in their box or push through to the end and take home whatever the value of their box was.

Ending after 11 glorious years, Deal or No Deal lives on in many forms, including an online iGaming variant, the Deal or No Deal Game. There are slight variations, but this version provides the opportunity to win a large sum of real money as the show did.

Countdown

Countdown Kids TV can leave you feeling pretty slow, so thank the heavens for Countdown. It was the very first programme to be aired on Channel 4 in November 1982 and it’s been in our life ever since.

Making the longest words out of nine random letters is always a fun challenge, and alongside the numbers round where you must reach a given numerical total with six given numbers, it proves for a vital head scratcher between bouts of Dora the Explorer and In the Night Garden.

Escape to the Country

Although most of us don’t quite have the finances to make our own escape to a palatial abode in the splendour of the British countryside, that’s no reason to stop us enjoying a little Escape to the Country in our downtime.

Each episode follows the story of wealthy city types looking to make a go of life in the countryside. It’s a whistle-stop tour of gorgeous country homes and often features some glorious fretting over just how luxurious a couple want to go.

It’s a daytime TV classic – now, who’s going to lend us the money for our own countryside escape?

What’s your favourite daytime TV show? Let us know in the comments below!

Top Three: Chocolate Father’s Day Gifts

May 23, 2019 Leave a Comment

Next month is Father’s Day and apparently the kids are already excited for it. They love a good celebration! I actually really love Father’s Day as an occasion as there tends to be so much focus on mums when it comes to kids. And rightly so, don’t get me wrong! But as much as we like to bemoan the fact that for many men their day to day lives don’t actually change that much when babies come along, there are some very really big obstacles that have to be overcome. For one, dads need to learn how to juggle a baby and work after only two weeks at home. Not only that but many dads really feel the pressure when it comes to supporting, caring and providing for their families. Society tends to lean towards mums as the caring, emotional parent and dads as the ‘grin and bear it’- much as we like that or not. And that can be tough.

So Father’s Day is a great opportunity to let that dad in your life know that they are loved, appreciated and needed. It’s also a great chance to check in and make sure they’re really ok. Paternal mental health needs just as much conversation as maternal. With that said, right now we’re looking to buy lots of gifts for Ghostwriterdaddy, and because we know him well we’re opting for chocolate! Here are our top three chocolate Father’s Day gifts right now…

The robust chocolate

A real no nonsense chocolate father’s day gift– the chocolate block tower is top of our list. It’s strong, dependable and sturdy. It’s also ruddy delicious, I’m sure- and I hope I get chance to sample it to confirm. The kids chose this one because it reminded them that Daddy likes to build things (I have no clue where they get this idea- he will confirm that to be the case too!) and because there’s enough here to share. The extra large chocolate block tower is £33.50

Novelty chocolate

Quite often Father’s Day gifts are more symbolic than actually useful, and in our house their often edible. Why not combine the two? The kids are insistent that a chocolate tool box is the way to Daddy’s heart (again, not sure where the sudden handy man image is coming from!) and I have to admit they’re rather clever. Novelty chocolates are always great fun, just sometimes they look too good to eat!

Special chocolate

Everyone deserves a gift they don’t have to share, and every Father’s Day I always try to get something that only Ghostwriterdaddy can enjoy. The problem is that his tastes are very childlike thanks to his enormous sweet tooth, and as the kids get older they’re starting to realise they like more and more! That said, I do always try to get chocolate gifts that I know he won’t need to share- and I actually think thats important. We all have that favourite treat that nobody else understands. For me its 100% cocoa chocolate that everybody else absolutely hates. For Daddy, it’s anything strawberries and cream (YUK!) so we figured this Eton mess chocolate block would do just fine.

What’s the special dad in your life getting this year?

Sun Safety: Get the Kids Involved!

May 21, 2019 Leave a Comment

Every year we get the reminders from school, the articles in the news and the advertising campaigns in the media- but do we really place enough importance on sun safety when it comes to the kids? I’m a firm believer in educating, spreading awareness and allowing kids to explore the reasoning behind many aspects of their day to day lives. I think its vital that they’re told why we do what we do, rather than just what to do. Sun safety is no different! Not many kids enjoy slathering the cream on before school, and fewer will remember to re-apply at playtime too. But if we involve them in every step- starting from the why- then we can change that over time. Recently I was contacted by Boots Soltan, who are once more running a campaign to help educate kids on the importance of sun safety. It’s time to get the kids involved- and this is how you do it.

Make it fun

Kids learn best when they’re smiling and having fun, which is why learning through play is one of the best forms of education there is- no matter what the age. If we can make sun safety education fun then they’re going to grasp the importance of it all a lot more quickly. This year, Boots have launched an amazing creative campaign aimed to get kids involved and I cannot applaud it more!

This year’s Sun Ready Challenge encourages primary school children to put pencil to paper and design a poster and slogan of how they stay safe and have fun in the sun, whether that’s putting on sun cream, wearing their best sunglasses or donning their favourite summer hat. The competition is part of Soltan Sun Ready Schools, a curriculum-linked programme providing free teaching resources that help to equip teachers and pupils with all the knowledge they need to stay safe on warmer days. All of the resources can be used in school, as well as back at home so that parents can also practice sun safety behaviours with their children.
Boots Soltan

Know your stuff

If you know your stuff, you’re more likely to feel confident in sharing that knowledge with your kids. Do your research, follow the Sun Ready campaign and really get your teeth into what’s required to keep the whole family safe in the sun. Remember that modelling behaviour is one of the best ways to encourage children to develop good habits, so don’t forget to protect your own skin in the sun too!

According to the British Skin Foundation, a staggering one in ten parents do not apply sunscreen to their children’s skin and this is something that really needs to change. By educating and modelling we can ensure that our children take ownership and develop a sense of responsibility too.

Boots Soltan is the only leading brand that offers 5* UVA protection to prevent permanent skin care damage, and by educating young people aged 5-11 about how to stay safe in the sun, the campaign is ensuring that they adopt healthy sun safe tips at an early age that will last a lifetime. This is even more important as 23% of sun damage occurs before the age of 18.
Boots Soltan

Encourage learning

Get your kids involved, and play an active role in the learning. Allowing the kids to use their creative skills to learn the importance of sun safety is a great way to spread the word, and there’s no reason why you can’t grab some paper and make your own poster too! Although, maybe only enter your child’s drawing, for the sake of fairness!

The Sun Ready Challenge opens for entries on 29^th April. All designs must be submitted by 14^th June. To enter visit: www.soltansunready.com/for-schools/competition

To download the fun, free, curriculum-linked resources go to: www.soltansunready.com/for-schools

The first 100 schools to sign up to the resources will be sent a Boots Soltan Sun Ready registration pack and the first 100 schools to enter the competition will receive a Sun Ready competition pack.

Before you go, a word from Boots Soltan…

Parents! Tell us what you think and you could win £250 Amazon vouchers!
Here at Soltan, we’re interested in hearing about your sun safety routine and what you look for in a sun safety product.
Complete this 3-minute survey about the Boots Soltan Sun Ready programme and be in with a chance to win £250 of Amazon vouchers. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us to improve sun safety among families.
Click here to complete the survey and potentially win £250 of Amazon vouchers!

This is a collaborative post

Dealing with Emergencies Around the House: Tips for Mums

May 21, 2019 Leave a Comment

When you have kids to take care of and an entire house to run, the smallest problem with the home can turn into a big issue. Household emergencies are not uncommon, and they do tend to become more serious when there are children in the house.

It is even more troublesome when the emergencies aren’t the kind you are prepared to handle. A grease fire appearing in the kitchen all of a sudden, or getting locked out of the house may seem like simple issues to fix, but they can be overwhelming when you are not prepared.

Dealing with Emergencies Around the House: Tips for Mums

Being prepared is the key here. There are certain things you can do – and skills to pick up – in order to handle emergencies around the house perfectly every time. These tips and tricks we are about to discuss will help you get started with the preparations.

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