My Happy Journal Review

It's a shame to say this but these days there is a high focus on the mental health of children. They are at a higher risk of developing depression and many young ones don't have the ability to really express just how they are feeling. One of my own children has suffered with sadness in recent months, struggling to remain happy with certain things happening at school really getting her down (I won't go into details). 

So when I saw a request to review a new product - The Happy Journal - I was quite eager to be among those reviewers.

Here's what the company has to say:

'This beautifully designed children’s positive mind-set and activity journal is overflowing with inspiration to ignite any child’s imagination and gratitude skills.

My Happy Journal is designed to celebrate and savour daily memories, encourage communication and laughter while bringing parents closer to their children.

It has heaps of fun facts and activities and 90 diary entries to complete while embracing mindfulness through moments of calm and a positive mind-set.'

Help children celebrate everyday joys.

These journals are wonderfully vibrant and filled to the brim with positivity.

I was kindly sent two, one for each of my youngest two daughters and they have used them each and every day since they arrived.

Time to Juggle

A couple of years ago I wrote a post about the idea that you have to juggle all the things in your life and the struggle to keep that act going. Since then I think I've managed to develop that skill quite well. 

During the past two years I have passed a course to become a teaching assistant, be a midday supervisor every lunch time and continue to volunteer daily at my children's primary school too. But I'll admit it's felt like I haven't had a moment to myself.

Fast forward to now and what can I say ... I'm quite simply tired.

I was lucky enough to gain a full time teaching assistant position in another school, something which I previously spoke about, asking could this be the year for me? However I'll admit that there's been a day or two where I've had a feeling of trying to stay afloat.

Don't get me wrong, I am truly enjoying my job but it's an adjustment going from being a volunteer able to pick and choose my hours to being in full time work, having to be places at certain times and jigging about previous commitments.

I always felt that I was an organised person but now even more so.

My day starts at 5.45am. Strong black coffee is in order as I begin my day. I make prepare the pack lunches, put a load of washing on and on certain days I also make sure I fit in a type of workout too. That may be weights, resistance or HIIT based.

Now this is also where I'm glad that I already meal plan as I can also get dinner started so that's one less job I have to contend with when I get home from work. Hooray for the slow cooker, this is an appliance that gets used a lot!

Something I'm missing is the school run.

The Year for Me?

Hello 2019. You sure came round fast.

Growing up new year never meant an awful lot to me. And recently all it signalled was the end of Christmas festivities and time for the kids to go back to school again.

As an adult I'll admit to setting silly resolutions: lose weight, save money. All of the usual things that people tend to say but I've got wise to it all.

Last year was the first time I didn't set myself any really goals and it felt good.

No expectations, no disappoint if I didn't manage to achieve certain things, it was a freeing feeling.

And in some ways this year is more of the same, I've not bothered with targets but in another way everything is totally different.

I'm thinking this could be the year for me.

Methods to Beat Exam Stress

It's that time of year where kids up and down the country are all facing some sort of tests and exams. Whether that be GCSE's, end of year assessments, phonics tests or something more generalised. There seems to be a lot of pressure put on kids these days to do well because governments set unrealistic targets and children feel the need to meet these goals in order to do well in their future. 

But in a society where anxiety in the younger generation is on the rise, how can we help our children beat that awful exam stress? Here are five tips on how as parents, we can help our children to achieve their goals whilst keeping a positive outlook on things.

Trust in your child

I think we have to remember that each of our children are individuals, they have their own minds and they will already have methods that they feel help them in achieving their own goals. Don't question how they want to revise, simply ask them how you can help them with how they want to do it.