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.

How to be Ready For Christmas at the Start of December

I think I'm in the majority group of people that find Christmas to be quite an expensive affair but most of the time I actually manage to find myself ready for the festivities at the start of December, now I know it probably won't be much use to you now but I thought this would be a good post to refer back to next year to help ease the burden of Christmas. So here are five tips to help you save those pennies.

Don't just buy gifts in December

Now this might seem like an obvious one but there are so many of us that year after year after promising to start early, still find ourselves rush buying in the middle of the countdown to that special day. The trick I've found is to buy things all year round, grab the bargains when you seem them. Boxing Day is a good time to start, this is when you can get all of your wrapping paper, cards etc for the following year. And these days shops have sales on all year round so pick things up as and when you have a bit of money spare, you'll be surprised how quickly you can buy for everyone and at a fraction of the cost.my 

Save those pennies

And I mean this one literally. Save the small change. My mum and I put aside all our 1ps, 2ps, 5ps, 20ps and even 50ps when we can. This year we've managed to save just over £100 in change, this goes towards smaller presents and the drink bill. The only problem I have here is carrying all that money down to the bank, it's one heavy load I can tell you! By saving throughout the year it means that you don't have to wait for that December pay packet to go and buy things.

Surviving Christmas With a Little Help From Room to Grow

With only three more Saturdays until Christmas arrives, I'm sure there are lots of you already panicking about presents that you need to buy, decorations that you'd like to put up and just how you are going to manage to entertain everyone on the day itself. As much as this is my favourite time of the year, I have to admit that surviving Christmas can be hard sometimes, those stress levels definitely run high. So with a little help from Room to Grow I'm going to share with you my 5 top tips on how to not turn into scrooge this December, keeping that festive spirit alive.

1. Plan ahead

Organisation is most definitely key when it comes to Christmas. I  tend to buy presents all year round, grab things when they are in the sale, stockpile smaller gifts incase someone I didn't expect hands me a gift. I keep a note of just what I've bought, who it is for and just where I've hidden it (I've been known to lose presents before).

Scooter Tips and Tricks Guide

When I was a kid I'll admit I loved the idea of having bikes, scooters and roller skates. But in reality when my parents actually got around to buying them for me, I wasn't so enthusiastic about using them.

Half of that was to do with my low levels of confidence, I wasn't brave enough to just get on and do it, falling off over the handle bars of my bicycle really didn't help matters.

It was more embarassing that my younger brother could ride around on his scooter and perform simple tricks with ease whilst I continued to wobble along on my wheels, definitely not my forte.

Since having kids I think I've gained a certain amount of gusto, I'm happier to make a fool of myself, showing my children that it is ok to fall down, it is the getting back up that counts.

Halfords have created this guide below showing some brilliant tips and tricks, showcasing just how simple it can be when you know how, as well as helpful information on how to stay safe when using your scooter.

Go Away Hunger

One of the problems that I have one it comes to eating right/better is that horrid hunger feeling. I'm sure you've all had the same issues one time or another. It's strange really because there are some days when I just don't seem to feel hungry at all yet other days it doesn't seem to matter how much I eat, I just can't get myself to feel full.

One of the main times that I tend to think I'm feeling hungry is when I'm bored. The worst times are of an evening when my husband is working and the kids are in bed, I find myself at a lose end and all I can think about is food, items in the fridge start calling to me, well metaphorically speaking that is.

I've been trying to make a conscious effort to stop giving in to these cravings and I now how a few methods that are starting to help when I feel the hunger pains kicking in.

Water

Drinking a glass of water before I jump for the chocolate. This does actually work sometimes as it turns out in some cases that I was actually thirsty not hungry, I am awful for getting enough fluids in my system as unlike hunger, I don't ever seem to get the feeling of thirst.

Talking About Road Safety

Did you know that this week, 17-23 November, is Road Safety Week? The idea behind this week is to spread the word and raise awareness about road safety, promoting and sharing tips to help stop needless deaths and injuries throughout the year.

These accidents can injure people both in and out of cars, it is up to everybody to take responsibility for themselves and think about the affects of their actions to others around them.

So what advice can I offer? Well nothing that you haven't already heard really, I think a lot about being safe on the roads is down to common sense but it doesn't hurt to have these ideas repeated :