As mothers, we often feel great exhaustion, fatigue, and feelings of helplessness because we have no time at all. Great exhaustion is often associated with feelings of sadness and aggression, which we eventually unleash on our children. That is why it is very important to find time for yourself, to relax, to take a second breath.

Guilt free mum time

What can help you find time for yourself?

1. Organize your time

In case you finally have the coveted time for yourself, it’s important to tell yourself: Now is the time for what I love – and it won’t be cleaning. Write it down in the “Time for Yourself” sheet, where you will exercise, read, or go for a massage or cosmetics, or you will go for coffee with your friends.

2. Choose the right activity

Decide on your free time and think about what would bring you relaxation and rest. Remember what you really enjoyed before the child came and what you would love to enthusiastically do again. Find the right activity after which you will feel satisfied when your self-time is up.

3. Pay for help

Consider delegating some of the responsibilities you have to do each day. Once a week, for example, your husband can make dinner, or you can order dinner instead of cooking. You don’t need to wash the floor every day. You also don’t have to iron every piece of laundry, iron only the essentials. If you don’t like to do the home chores at all, it’s okay to pay a cleaner. In short, discount somewhere, you will see that not so much will actually happen.

4. Babysitting

The grandparents and husband are not nearby to help the mother, who is alone with one or three children and needs to work and do the chores around the house. How to even find time for yourself among all those responsibilities, housework and childcare? This mother needs definitely a little bit of help, but she doesn’t have the budget to pay for the help.

The solution is offered by itself – the babysitter. Yes, a babysitter on a budget! Did you know you don’t need to pay for overpriced nannies? Baby video monitors, in particular, are a great help for parents to keep an eye on children anywhere, at any time. If you have two phone devices you have your solution – baby app monitor.

Best baby monitor

How does Annie Baby Monitor work? 

Don’t worry, the monitoring is easy. Everyone can handle it, even grandparents. Make sure you have at least two devices ready, e.g. smartphone, tablet, laptop, Apple watch, Onvif/HomeKit camera. No need to buy any other special equipment, use the devices you own. 

Go to App Store or Google Play and download the app Annie Baby Monitor on both devices. One device is a parent unit and the other is a child unit. Pair the devices and the monitoring can begin! 

This phone-based monitor has many benefits, mainly check in on your child while you working, doing home chores, having a romantic dinner or you’re spending some quality time just by yourself.

How much does Annie Baby Monitor cost?

Annie offers a weekly, monthly, yearly or lifetime subscription with a FREE TRIAL PERIOD. With a Premium account, you get full access to audio and video monitoring on all networks. You can first try it for three days for free and then decide to buy it.

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Advertisement feature in association with Sinful

Okay, I know, I’ve given it away just a tiny bit in the name of this post, but take a look at my new necklace from Sinful. Pretend you didn’t see the title… can you guess what it is?

vibrator necklace sex toys

What’s that? You think its a mini clitoral vibrator? Oh my God, you’re right! However did you guess?

*cough*

If you hadn’t known though, it wouldn’t have been the first thing that sprang to mind would it? I definitely haven’t come across any vibrator necklaces before. (Pun intended. Sorry not sorry.) This one is the Crave Vesper Necklace from Sinful, which immediately makes me think of James Bond and Vesper martinis and makes it extra sexy.

It has four different vibration programmes – three continuous and one pulsating – and you never have to worry about it running out of batteries because it’s rechargeable via a USB cable that’s included. The whole thing comes in a beautiful box, making it look simply like an innocent piece of jewellery. View Post

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flooring ideas

What’s the first thing you think of when you look at your floor? If it’s ‘urgh!’, then maybe it’s time to think about upgrading it. But before you rush headlong into making a decision, it may be worth taking a bit of time to work out exactly what type of floor you need.

Hard floors are durable and easy to clean but aren’t always great for small kids to play on while soft carpeted floors are just perfect for kids, right up until a drink gets spilt! So, what else can sway your choice, one way or another?

The low down on hardwood flooring

Hardwood flooring is one of the pricier flooring choices you can make. It’s also attractive and hard-wearing, so many of us are willing to take the financial hit.

But how expensive is it, compared to other flooring types? Well, the cost of installing hardwood flooring varies depending on whether you’re having solid or engineered wood floors and what wood type you’re going for. You’ve also got to consider the cost of having it fitted. It can be as cheap as £30 per square metre which is comparable to carpet costs, but it can be three times this if you’re looking at solid oak.

Other than price, you need to consider the likelihood of scratch marks spoiling it; keeping it well maintained when you’ve got a million other tasks to do; and how noisy little feet are on it. On the plus side, it adds value to your home and does make a scruffy room look a lot more sophisticated and grown up.

The pros and cons of carpets

Carpets are the floor covering of choice in many lounges and bedrooms. They’re soft and warm, so they’re generally really good for family homes. But there’s more to it than that.

If sustainability is an issue, then you may be looking at wool, jute or sisal materials. However, these can be much harder to clean, and jute and sisal do stain easily. Pests such as carpet beetles and moths are also partial to chowing down on these textiles. You also need to work out whether the costs involved in these high-end carpets are really worth it as they do tend to cost between £20 and £50 per square metre. Perhaps keeping carpets to areas such as bedrooms can solve this dilemma though.

Why vinyl is a valid option

Is vinyl flooring really a good option? Vinyl flooring used to mean cheap and a little bit tacky. However, vinyl’s come a long way and it’s fast cornering the luxury flooring market. But why is that? Well, better materials, installation methods and design have given it a new image.

What does it really offer us that wood and carpet doesn’t? Well, if you want a modern or stylish design with all the durability of wood and a smaller price tag, then luxury vinyl can give you that. But it’s also worth noting that the top brands are may match the price of a wood floor.

However, it’s the quick and easy installation that tempts many people. Busy home lives don’t usually make space for big and lengthy flooring installations. It can just be too much to handle. So, being able to rip out an old carpet and lay some vinyl planks in a day is a big advantage and because it’s easy to cut and lay, this is a possibility.

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Hello and welcome to another ‘I made this a year ago and I’m just catching up!’ post. I’m very happy to have you here. I made this focaccia flower art bread around the same time as the tear and share chocolate star bread I posted a few days ago, and it has taken me an equally long time to actually get round to telling you about it.

You might say that the moment has passed, many, (many) months ago, and I that should do something new instead, but this focaccia bread art is just so damn pretty and I was so proud of it, I’m going to make you look.

Focaccia flower art bread

YOU SEE??

To be honest, I probably need to apologise for the quality of the pictures in this post. It was lockdown, I was lazy – I don’t know, I just didn’t have the enthusiasm for lights or a proper camera. It’s not as bad as the photography in my Pizza Hut vs Dominos review mind you. We can all be grateful for that.

Anyway the gist is that it’s not that hard to make your own flower art bread, it’s just a little time consuming. Totally worth it though if you are a show off like me. You could casually turn up at a PTA picnic with your homemade loaf and be all ‘Oh this? Oh it’s nothing, just some focaccia art bread, nothing fancy.’

You’d be lying of course, because it’s super fancy. View Post

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Moms have a lot on their plate – raising children, working full or part-time jobs, keeping the house clean and organized. But that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy some fun hobbies too! If you’re a mom new to online casinos, here are a few tips to help you get started. First, find an online casino that’s reputable and has good reviews. You should also make sure you’re familiar with the games offered – there’s no point in signing up for an online casino if all the games are ones you don’t know how to play. Some casinos require high deposits that can prevent people from enjoying the experience. Casino Reviews’ low deposit casino list will help you find an establishment that requires a smaller investment and still offers great perks. These are just a few tips that you can use to increase the quality of your online casino experience. If you want to learn more tips, here are a few.

Find Great Welcome Bonuses

The first tip that can help you to start your online casino experience on a good note would be to find an online casino that offers great welcome bonuses. Welcome bonuses are sort of the site’s way of thanking you for registering with them.

There are many welcome bonuses to choose from, like deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses, free spins, matched bonuses, and more. To get the most bang for your buck, you should read through the different wagering requirements for each bonus to find a site that makes it easier to cash out your winnings.

Make Sure the Casino is Safe

The next thing you are going to want to do is to make sure the online casino is safe to use. If you didn’t think of doing this, you aren’t alone; many people forget to check the safety of the site and assume all sites operate legally.

The best way to find out if the site is safe is to check whether or not it is using a license. The license should be easy to find and is usually located on the home page of the site. You could request the site to provide you with their license, but if they are not showing it openly, something suspicious could be taking place.

Learn About the Different Games

One of the most important things that you could do is learn about the various games that the online casino is offering. When it comes to online casinos, there are many games available; most sites offer an average of around 600 or more.

Not all casino games have the same rules, so if you want to win more than you lose, then you should learn about the different rules for each game. Most online casinos offer games such as blackjack, roulette, slots, craps, baccarat, poker, and more.

Some Online Casinos Offer Mobile Support

One of the biggest benefits that online casinos provided when they launched was the fact that you didn’t need to travel to a casino to enjoy the games and make some money. Technological advancements changed the way the industry operates. This happened again when mobile casinos were launched.

What you should do is find an online casino that, at the very least, offers mobile support. This way you don’t have to always sit in front of your laptop or computer to play a game or two; you could lay on the couch and use your phone.

Not Every Game Offers the Same Odds

Another important thing to understand is just like every game is different, not every online casino game offers the same odds. Odds, or house edge, is the advantage that the casino has over the player. Naturally, the lower the house edge, the easier it might be for you to win, and vice versa.

You could divide online casino games into two categories; luck-based games and skill-based games. Skill-based games, like blackjack or poker, use strategy, and of course skill, which reduces the house edge and allows you to win more often. Luck-based games, like slots, usually have a larger house edge so you won’t win that often.

Consider Why You Are Playing

Finally, you should consider why you are playing, since this will change your approach. If you are playing for fun and to pass time, then you won’t need to invest a lot of time into learning different strategies and optimizing your bankroll management.

If you are playing to make money, then you will need to do a lot of research, find the best games with the lowest house edge, and take advantage of as many bonuses as you can.

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I made this tear and share chocolate star bread in January 2021, in full lockdown banana bread hysteria mode, but as lockdown also left me feeling like I’d much rather be making and eating chocolate bread than actually writing about it, I’m only just getting around to this post now.

Never mind. As Bee always says when she’s editing stuff I’ve written – no one will miss it because they won’t know it was there in the first place.

It’s here now, and that’s the main thing, because it really is worth telling you about. It’s the kind of baking that ticks a lot of boxes – it’s very fun to do, it makes an excellent picture for Instagram AND it tastes good. Normally I’m a ‘two out of three ain’t bad’ kind of girl with cooking, (RIP Meatloaf), so this star bread nails it.

Tear and share chocolate star bread

See? I told you it was good for Instagram – nice and symmetrical and square, like we used to do in the old days. Bung a polaroid photo style border around it, job done.

As you’re here you’re probably wondering how to make it. I tore the recipe out of a copy of one of the Tesco magazines sometime in late 2020, but I did share a picture of it on Instagram at the time, which I’ve managed to find. I’ve zoomed in, squinted a bit, and hopefully have got all the ingredients right.  View Post

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There is no denying that debt is a major cause of trouble in relationships when it comes to money. Many couples struggle with money issues because of the breakdown in trust with one or both partners. Luckily, that doesn’t have to happen to your relationship. Here are a few tips for how long-term relationships handle getting past arguments about money.

Make getting out of debt a priority

Whether you accrued debt during the relationship or before, it’s time to become debt-free for the sake of your partnership. Debt limits your ability to move further in shared goals such as buying a home or starting a family, so take steps to get out of debt as quickly as you can. There are several ways you can create a plan to pay off debt. Compare the popular methods of debt snowball vs avalanche to see which appeals to your inherent motivations.

Getting out from under debt will also require a mindset shift to become more disciplined with spending money. Consider what you want for yourself and your partner and weigh that against the immediate satisfaction of buying something that adds to your credit card balances. Keeping how debt affects your relationship in the back of your mind can help you focus on what’s most important.

Work out a budget together even if your finances are separate

If you and your partner decide to maintain separate finances, it’s still a good idea to sit down regularly and create a household budget. Discuss how you will pay for shared expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, and taxes and how much each of you will contribute. Once you establish a budget, set a recurring time for when you’ll re-evaluate it to account for changes in income or lifestyle. Many experts recommend doing this at least once a year or when something has changed your job situation or health. If there are significant changes, sit down and rework how you will pay the household bills.

Make sure your goals are aligned

Couples who fight about money are typically those who have different ideas of how they want to spend money. When you decide to become serious about the relationship, you’ll need to talk about where you both see the union going. Do you want to get married and have a big wedding? Will you want kids? What about your living situation? Would you be happier renting, or are you ready to settle down and become a homeowner? Knowing that you’re both on the same page early on will save you a lot of grief and frustration later.

Keep the lines of communication open

Money often feels like a taboo topic that carries feelings of shame or guilt. Instead of shying away from the subject, create a habit of regularly discussing finances with your partner. You can bring up small topics like paying for your next date or bigger things like how much you need to save for your next vacation. Don’t assume you’re both thinking the same thing; communicate often to stay aligned and avoid misunderstandings.

Love your partner, flaws and all

Money can be a complex conversation topic, especially for partners who have made mistakes in the past with their finances. When it comes to talking about the hard stuff like debt and budgets, remember that you’re in this relationship for reasons besides how good the other person is with their money. Enter money talks without judgment or blame to prevent turning a simple conversation into a huge fight.

The bottom line

Above all, don’t let resentment about money overrule the good parts of your relationship. By communicating regularly with your partner from a place of shared values and lack of judgment, you’ll ensure finances never come between the two of you.

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Who doesn’t love a good candle? They may be the ultimate self-care cliché, but a good scented candle really does have a positive impact.

Scented candles have become a big part of my work from home life during the pandemic. Where once I’d head out to a cafe in town to work for the morning, (and not just for the brunch, honestly), I’ve instead had to create a workspace for myself at home. It’s been hard. I spent a lot of 2020 not working very much at all, and when I finally forced myself to put down the murder mysteries and come in from the garden, I repainted my spare room a dark green in a bid to create myself a serious but soothing work environment. (I have an Instagram highlight called workspace if you want to have a nose.)

I also bought about 48 scented candles.

I have a whole row of them lined up on the windowsill that faces me as I sit at my desk, and more on the desk itself. Whenever I realise I’ve been at my desk for an hour and done nothing but share Tinder screenshots on Instagram stories, I light some candles. I find the process of lighting them in itself can be a useful ritual, signalling to my brain that it’s time to get on with things, and the gently flickering light and the soft smells that quickly fill up my tiny green office lull me into a more contented state of work flow.

One of my favourite candles at the moment was a gift from Nooraa – one of their dark amber and sandlewood soy candles, made in the UK and with natural soy wax. Nooraa is all about sustainable luxury, so their candles contain no plastics, aren’t tested on animals and are 100% vegan.

Nooraa scented soy candle View Post

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What Is A Combi Boiler?

A combi boiler, also known as a combination boiler, is a central heating boiler that heats both water and your central heating. 

It is a self-contained unit within itself. This is great as they are compact and offer you a way to maximise your space, as there is no need for any additional tanks or cylinders associated with other boiler systems. 

A combi boiler is unique in the sense that it does not heat up and store hot water separately. Instead when hot water is needed the combi boiler fires into action and will heat your hot water on demand. This has increased their popularity over recent years due to their ability to heat on demand and not run out of hot water and their smaller design. 

Pro’s Of A Combi Boiler

In addition to their compact design, they also offer a wide range of other benefits.

  • They are highly efficient. There is a legal requirement within the UK for all combi boilers to be at least 92% efficient. This means that when you are paying for your energy usage only 8% (maximum) of the cost is lost. This means that firstly, you are not being wasteful with your energy consumption and you are reducing your property’s carbon footprint. Also, as you are paying for exactly what you are using you are also reducing your household bills, which when you have a larger property is always beneficial. 
  • They condensate. Again, there is a legal requirement for new combi boilers to be condensed. This means that the heat that previously would have been lost and escaped from flue pipes is now captured and then gets reused to preheat cold water in the future. 
  • Installation benefits. Due to their compact all-in-one design, they have the flexibility to be fitted in a wider variety of locations. Also, as a single unit, they can potentially be fitted over a short time duration and result in lower fitting costs. 
  • They work on demand. As they fire into action and heat hot water when needed it means that you are no longer using additional energy to keep a water tank hot. 
  • It influences your water pressure. A combi boiler works from the mains, so you should find that you benefit from a stronger flow of water when in use. 

How To Choose The Best Combi Boiler For Your 5 Bedroom House

Sizing

When choosing a boiler for your 5 bedroom home, it is important to factor in the boiler sizing. This means power. A boiler’s power is measured based upon its output rating and is measured in kW. Combi boilers break this down further as they generate two output ratings. Once for the central heating which uses the abbreviation (CH) and for your domestic hot water (DHW)

When looking for the best combi boiler in the UK for your 5 bed house, you need to consider what your requirements will be. How many radiators will you require to heat? How many bathrooms do you have?

The higher the rating the more power and capability the boiler will have. If the output rating doesn’t meet the requirements for your house, you will find that the boiler could struggle and not meet the demands for your household, or alternatively that you are paying too much on your bills if your output is too high. 

Know Your Budget

When it comes to boilers there are a lot of different factors that can influence your decisions. Not only is there the sizing requirements to consider but there is also the new boiler cost. If you want to stretch your budget or spread the cost of the boiler you can with boilers on finance. 

When going ahead and making the decision to purchase a new combi boiler, the price can be influenced by many factors. There is the brand, the fitting costs and then the consideration of what this will do to your bills going forward. 

In order to keep your boiler working to be efficient, you will want to continue getting it serviced yearly and make repairs if needed. Therefore it is worth understanding how likely the boiler will last and the cost for repairs (if needed in the future), when making financial decisions. To protect your new investment in a boiler you should think about adding a home warranty that covers major appliances and the home itself. You can see pricing options from 2-10 HBW to find the right fit.

Recommend combi boiler for 5 bedroom homes

You know that a combi boiler is now the best option for you but it can still be a struggle to identify the best combi boiler output in Uk for a 5-bed house. 

Within the current market, there is a handful that stands out. 

Baxi 800 Platinum + 40

This powerful combi boiler should comfortably manage and be able to heat up to 20 radiators and 2 bathrooms. Its output rating of 40kW makes this boiler suited to 5 bedroom properties as it can handle a higher demand for central heating and hot water needs. 

With 5 bedrooms to heat, the added bonus with this boiler is its standard 10 year warranty, providing peace of mind as well as being a powerful combi boiler. 

Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50

The Worcester Bosch Greenstar 8000 Life 50 is currently the most powerful combi boiler within Worcester’s range. It’s output rating for hot water sits as 50kW and allows this boiler to support and provide exceptional hot water heating for 5 bedroom properties that have 2 bathrooms and an ensuite. Its heating output rating sits at 35kW and will be able to perfectly handle 15-20 radiators within one property. 

This boiler automatically comes with a 5 year warranty when fitted by any heating engineer, however, if fitted and installed by a Worcester Bosch accredited installer this gets extended to 12 years. 

Ideal Heating Vogue Max Combi 40

The Ideal Heating Vogue Max Combi 40kW is a great option for properties with 5 bedrooms. Although it is not as compact as other boilers, its output of 40kW makes it a suitable option for 5 bedroom properties and is ideal for properties that have more than one bathroom or a bathroom and ensuite. 

As standard the Ideal Heating Vogue Max offers a 10-year warranty, however if fitted by an Ideal Max accredited installer and heating engineer this warranty increases to 12 years. 

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Have you just bought a house and been thinking about decorating it from scratch? Are you anxious about the enormous task that lies ahead of you? 

Don’t worry! You’re not alone. 

Decorating a new home can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. Let us make it easy for you. Here are some tips to get you started on your home decor project without stressing about it too much. 

Keep reading! 

Plan, Plan and Plan! 

The truth is, decorating your home from scratch can be some work. Even with a well-written plan, you may feel overwhelmed. So, what’s the way out?

Identify your style first. Do you want the decor to be formal or casual? Before you plan further, you must figure out the answer to this question. 

Next, choose a color scheme for each room. Make sure you incorporate a few typical hues or themes in each space to keep the decor looking unified. For inspiration, consider creating some mood boards so you can use some visuals as your starting point. 

Start Easy 

You may have some furniture and decor from your old home that you didn’t want to discard. So, make a list of things you already have. Ask yourself- where can you put these in your new house? The answer to this question will give you a headstart into the decor process and a feeling of accomplishment for getting a little something done. 

Decorate the Bedroom 

Now that you have some momentum, start with the bedroom. This is where you’ll be spending most of your time. If you have budget constraints, consider getting new bedding first. 

If your budget allows for a wall paint redo, consider getting an accent wall done that matches your new beddings, or get a wallpaper that resonates with your personality. 

If you’re fortunate enough to splurge, get that crushed velvet single bed that you’ve always wanted, but make sure you choose one that matches your style and stays with you for years. 

Don’t Buy Everything 

You may think you have all the ideas about using your new house. But the reality might be different. It’s advisable to live in your home for at least one or two months before purchasing any significant decor pieces. 

What if you spend a lot on renovating the bathroom and then realize that you should have done more for your dining area because you have friends hanging out at your place all the time?

So, think thoroughly!

Less is More

Home decor can quickly turn into a project where you start obsessing about anything and everything you see around yourself. So, don’t rush into doing multiple things at once. You’ll only stress yourself more. You can also consider incorporating white in your color scheme. It will instill a sense of calmness and ‘more space’ in your home. 

Also, don’t fall prey to home decor deals that offer multiple similar-looking items. If you buy more than a few pieces with the same styling, your space will look like a generic furniture store. So, keep it minimal in the beginning to build on it with more experience. 

Personalize 

Keep reminding yourself that you are decorating your home for both aesthetic appeal and functionality throughout the process. 

Include decor pieces with personality and character. Some examples can be your treasured collectibles and shelves full of books. At the end of the day, you’d want your house to become a ‘home’, a place you enjoy living every day. 

Final Take 

Now that you know how simple decorating your home from scratch can be; make a plan, prioritize your spaces, and get started. We’re sure your new home will turn into an elegant space in no time with our tips. 

Happy decorating! 

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Includes gifted items from Lily Blanche

On Monday I went into town for a meeting. That sounds terribly exciting, but I use the word town in the traditional sense i.e. I walked into Taunton town centre, not the fancy sense that rich people use to mean going into London to see a show. Shame.

Still, it WAS exciting. I changed out of my muddy dog walking clothes especially, and wore my fur coat, which I only get to wear I’m on my own as otherwise Mako freaks out a bit. I think she might think I’m being attacked by some other sort of animal? I took the obligatory selfie, and here I am, looking quite the part.

Lily Blanche pearl necklace

As you may have spotted, I’m also wearing a rather lovely baroque pearl necklace, which was a recent gift from a lovely jewellery company called Lily Blanche, who have a whole range of beautiful necklaces, lockets and personalised jewellery. I chose the baroque pearl because of the inspiration behind the Lily Blanche brand, which you can read about on their website:

‘The Lily Blanche story beings on the windswept Island of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, where I spent childhood holidays with my grandmother, Lily Blanche Sheridan. It was here, playing on the shore of the loch, opposite my grandmother’s white-washed croft, that I first came across real pearls washed up on the rocks.’

Isn’t that a lovely image? When I’m wearing the necklace I can imagine the thrill as a child of finding a real pearl just lying there, sandy amongst the rocks. It sounds like just the sort of adventure I longed for when I was younger. (And now if I’m honest.) View Post

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I’ve learnt a lot about sensory play in the last couple of years. You’d think, given that Belle is now 19, that my timings might be a little off, but it was only in 2019 that Belle was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, (SPD), and then ASD in 2020, and so I’ve been catching up.

Reflecting back on when my kids were smaller, sensory play was definitely a part of our lives, we just probably didn’t realise that was what we were doing, that it had a name, or that there were actually a lot of benefits in terms of development and mental health. Playing the garden, building mud pies, splashing in the bath – this is all sensory play that we incorporate into our children’s lives instinctively.

Sometimes though it’s valuable to be a bit more aware of the concept of sensory play and why sensory play is important, and to be more proactive about building it into your day with your child.

In this article I’ve picked out just a few sensory play ideas, but there are loads more out there, so why not have a think about what might work for your child and have some fun with it?

Fidget toys

You may have noticed fidget toys becoming a bit of a craze over recent years – spinners, sheets of popping plastic – some schools have even gone as far as to ban them, which seems strangely counterproductive. While fidget toys may prove a distraction in the classroom for some children, for others they are actually a really useful way to help them focus and concentrate on what they’re doing. Many children with SPD or ASD find it very difficult to sit still, and having something to fiddle with can help to channel some of that excess energy and give them the sensory stimulation they need.

When Belle was at primary school she had one particularly mean teacher who was always telling her off for twiddling her hair. It was an unconscious act – I do it too so I know that – and yet this teacher focussed on it so negatively that Belle ended up being even more stressed than she started because she was so busy concentrating on NOT fidgeting!

There are a lot of different fidget toys available, so if you think your child might benefit from them then try out a few and see how you get on – you may find that just this simple distraction can have a big impact on their concentration and mental health, especially in stressful situations like school or in crowded spaces. You may even find that it paves the way for more calming activities, like mindfulness in the classroom – something which has also be shown to have huge benefits for kids’ mental health.

Creating a rich sensory environment at home

It’s easier than you think to build sensory play into a home environment, and there are lots of small tweaks that you can make to your home to help give your child that extra sensory input, indirectly as well as through play itself.

Let’s take your child’s bedroom as an example – what changes can we make here to enhance your child’s sensory experience and help them self-regulate? Lighting in one obvious way – rather than one bright overhead light, think about how to incorporate different lamps and colours and how you might change these according to your child’s mood. Lava lamps and bubble lamps are great for children to watch, and the movement and colours can be very soothing. Colour changing lamps or bulbs are also brilliant, as you can change these depending on mood or the time of day, using colour to stimulate different emotions.

Textures are another easy way to stimulate the senses – fluffy rugs, soft blankets, squishy cushions and soft toys – all of these work well. If your child experiences a lot of anxiety or has trouble sleeping you might also consider a weighted blanket for their bed, as these have been show to have a positive impact on mental health, promoting a feeling of safety and calm.

Finally think about the senses that are sometimes forgotten – think oil diffusers, scented candles, music and audio.

Sensory play for babies

Introducing sensory play from a young age is the best way to tap into its benefits and for babies I’m afraid this means mess and noise! Babies love exploring things with their hands, so let them go wild with textures, bang pots and pans, anything that gets their eyes sparkling!

Babies do love to put things in their mouths too, so building this into play can be useful. For example, how about sitting your baby on a big mat covered with cold, cooked spaghetti? They’ll benefit from the sensory aspect, touching the spaghetti and finding out more about it that way, but then if they want to give it a taste too then that’s okay!

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