Life's Little Bugs Healthy Habits For Kids!

Corrina Care Home visit

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:20:16 GMT

Introducing Growth Mindset to Corinna Care Home with Hum Bug

Recently, I was invited to host a session at Corinna Care Home in Camberley. It was an absolute honor to introduce myself and one of my characters, Hum Bug, to the residents and discuss Growth Mindset. The opportunity was unique and exciting for both me and my Life's Little Bugs characters. Although I was apprehensive about how the residents at Corinna would react, my fears were quickly allayed upon my arrival. The staff and residents welcomed me warmly, and I was set up and ready to begin my talk in one of their stunning lounges in no time. The residents who attended were delightful, and as we conversed and exchanged stories, I gained insight into their fascinating past lives.

As I introduced the characters and journey of Life's Little Bugs business, I shared the Hum Bug story with my audience. They listened with rapt attention and enthusiastically shared their own strategies for cultivating a growth mindset. We even took a break from the discussion for some lighthearted mind gym exercises and meditative coloring. The group laughed and relaxed together, fostering a positive and enjoyable atmosphere.

This encounter has taught me the significance of listening to people from all walks of life, regardless of their age. The experiences and challenges they've faced are a wealth of knowledge that I can incorporate into my own personal growth.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the staff and residents of Corinna Care Home for such a lovely experience.

Barchester - Corrina Lodge Care Home

www.barchester.com

01276 686202

Helping kids into healthy habits!

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 17:29:38 GMT

Life's Little Bugs launch new online workshops!

We are excited to announce Life's Little Bugs, five new online interactive workshops for 2021.

We successfully piloted our online workshops with many Berkshire schools over three months with Get Berkshire Active and Berkshire School Games' support and received this positive feedback.

2020 was a challenging twelve months, and education was one of the many victims during the pandemic lockdown.

Zooming and video became the new way to communicate and teach, and to be honest, both can become quite repetitive after a time.

Now more than ever, our children need to include healthy practices daily for their well-being. Using our Life's Little Bugs characters we've enabled the healthy habits we teach to be fun, and children relate with them to practice with a good understanding and reason. These virtual resources have been written and produced for teachers, nannies, childminders and homeschoolers to use with children aged 5-8yrs and support their COVID recovery plan.

Each workshop has a lesson plan, printable activities and modules can easily be integrated into lessons.

The details of the five workshops are shown below...

To start off your New Year we are offering a generous 20% savings coupon to use if you enrol on a workshop before the 31st January 2021.

Just add at the checkout.

20% off Coupon code: LLBs20

Go to here for more information and to enrol: https://lifes-little-bugs.thinkific.com

Let's look forward to a positve New Year. Wishing you all a happy one! x

https://www.lifeslittlebugs.co.uk

Life's Little Bugs GO WILD!

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:18:37 GMT

Giving kids back the sense of wonder!

Give kids back the sense of wonder!

Life’s Little Bugs GO WILD - New outdoor learning programmes.

‘Life’s Little Bugs Go Wild’ activities & resources allow kids to discover their natural surroundings while also benefiting both mentally & physically.

We’ve blended Life’s Little Bugs healthy living, self-care & positive behaviour ethos and taken it outside with nature and all it has to offer.

Research shows kids learn quicker when active and physically doing something, and the bonus of fresh air and open space helps them to retain information, improve moods and a more restful sleep.

All children benefit being outside with improvement showing in many areas of behaviour and learning differences.

Our Go Wild programme uses nature to engage children’s imagination, creativity and inventiveness with fun games and outdoor learning instead of limiting them with pre-shaped plastic toys and electronic devices in a confined space.

Life’s Little Bugs Go Wild outdoor learning activities help children regain the feeling of freedom and wonderment in natural sunlight and the different seasons. Helping them to embrace the joy of being outdoors in all weather conditions They will learn about the plants and mini-beasts that live amongst us, and the critical roles they play in our ecosystem.

By learning outside children gain respect and understanding of their environment and discover exciting natural resources available to them, while also building their resilience and confidence.

Life’s Little Bugs Go Wild = Exploration! Stimulation! Creation!

If this sounds of interest and you would like to access our free resources to us e please, j oin our free membership to keep up with the lastest Life's Little Bugs Go Wild n e w s:

https://www.lifeslittlebugs.co.uk/membership

I will also be releasing details on the outdoors 'Go Wild' workshops, but please get in touch if you would like any information for your school, club or individually .

enquiries@lifeslittlebugs.co.uk

The Important Topic of Children’s Mental Health

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:01:34 GMT

What's Wrong Arty?

Having studied with the Open University for six years, Linda attained an Honours degree in Psychology. This enabled her to become a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society. She is also a member of the Society of Authors and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Linda has a keen interest in Mental Health issues, particularly where these issues are affecting children of primary school age, and this is why she wrote her book.

Mental health is a topic that is always in the news these days. We are advised to eat healthily, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and these are the basics for looking after your well-being. It is only in more recent times, that mental health has been finally given the attention it deserves. Even the Royal family are getting involved to remove the stigma of mental health issues and are encouraging people to be more open with their feelings.

Sadly, mental health issues are very common in young children too. A recent TV article claimed that children of primary school age were suffering with mental health issues and figures were on the rise. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to this but we can all do our bit to help. Many charities have invested in helplines for young people and it is innovative resources like this that can make all the difference. Young Minds for example, are a charity who promote good mental health for young people, by making sure they get the help they need. They provide a texting facility - TEXT 85258, for help, as well as a free helpline for parents too. Open Monday-Friday 9.30 – 4pm – Tel 0808 8025544. I have also just heard the exciting new that Heads Together, the charity empowered by the Royal Family, has just launched a new Text Helpline called "Shout".

School is an important place and can be used as a haven for the everyday problems in life. School provides structure to the day, and promotes creativity. Some schools have introduced mindfulness to the school day to encourage relaxation. There is an ongoing petition for every school to have Mental Health Education mandatory teaching curriculum in all schools in the UK. Signatures have reached nearly 200,000. The petition can be found at Change.org. There is also an additional petition to ensure that every child will have access to a qualified counsellor in schools, although more signatures are required before the government will debate the issue in Parliament.

Children need to have a place where they can express themselves in complete confidence. The charity Place2Be are a prime example of how this facility is so successful. Place2Be is the leading National Children’s mental health charity. They provide counselling to improve the emotional well-being of pupil’s in both primary and secondary schools. Children are having to deal with many situations in their life that they do not know how to cope with, involving a wide range of social issues, including bereavement, anxiety, parent with a terminal illness, problems at home, bullying and low self-esteem.

Social Media has been said to have a negative impact on a young person’s mental health. It is all about striking the right balance. Using social media can be very addictive and because there are no restrictions on usage, it is understandable how this could be seen as a risk to the user’s well-being. Social Media however, can also provide invaluable human contact that they would not normally have. With the right parental guidance, children can find social media a good means of support.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a therapy designed to help a people change their way of thinking or reacting to certain situations and can be used to help children too. The therapy focuses on the present moment, and likes to challenge negative thinking through the practise of introducing new and positive behaviours as an alternative. Their philosophy is that what we think affects how we act and feel, that what we do affects how we think and feel, and what we feel affects what we think and do. The therapy provides the child with coping strategies and techniques to improve their frame of mind and to have a more positive outlook on life. CBT is thought to be excellent in treating disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Children and young people must be encouraged to speak out when something is worrying them. There are resources on the markets such as storybooks helping children to deal with their emotions. “What’s wrong Arty?” for example, is delightful tale. A therapeutic adventure for young children to encourage them to talk about things that worry them. Ideal for parents, teachers, therapists, educational psychologists, and indeed anyone who work with young children.

It is heartwarming to see that a great effort is being made to support our young people with their emotional well-being. Innovative ideas such as telephone helplines and texting facilities, petitions and books can only be worthwhile in supporting this very important issue and provide hope for the future.

To contact or learn more about Linda and her books:

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1788487672/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vamf_tu00_p1_i0

Author website: www.austinmacauley.com/author/beckett-linda

Facebook and Twitter: @LBeckettBooks

This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands!

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:47:56 GMT

This is the way we wash our hands!

I have been teaching the healthy habit of handwashing as part of the Life's Little Bugs workshops and through my books for a few years now.

In the wake of the Coronavirus we now have all become more aware of the importance of handwashing as a preventative daily habit.

But how do we make sure we don't become so obsessed when teaching our children this practice, to the point of inflicting them with OCD traits?

To help to keep a healthy balance when educating them, I'm offering a few tips to ensure they understand the important times to wash their hands, and how to clean their hands thoroughly without spending hours over the sink.

To begin with it is good to learn how to wash our hands correctly. This way it saves standing for ages at a sink, or worse still, just showing hands the water before running off to pursue more interesting activities and spreading your germs again.

Here are some guidelines:

Secondly, understanding when it's the important times to wash our hands.

This then curbs the urge or anxiety to continuously wash hands when it's not appropriate, and prevent it becoming an obsessive behaviour.

In these unsettling times we are continuously being told what we should and shouldn't do to protect ourselves against germs. One thing is for certain, by keeping our hands clean we are preventing the spread of germs, as well as practicing a healthy self-care routine.

I recently wrote a new ebook as a way to inform children, the basics on protecting against viruses, including Covid-19, without any scaremongering.

Sue Atkins, the TV and radio parenting expert has contributed the Appendix, to help adults speak directly to children about any fears and questions they may have about the Covid-19 crisis.

All proceeds are donated to the NHS. We'd appreciate your support !

Nutriional advice with SNAC

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 15:06:23 GMT

Nutritional advice with SNAC

Providing the best nutrition possible for young children is vital to ensure optimal physical, social and emotional development. The first 2000 days of life is a critical period when food habits and preferences are formed that remain through to adulthood and affect health later in life. Although many children are thriving, there are concerns about the rates of overweight and obesity, dental decay and mental health – good food and nutrition plays an important role in combating all these poor health outcomes.

Supporting Nutrition for Australian Childcare (SNAC) is an online resource that promotes the importance of providing a healthy eating environment for young children. The key elements of a healthy eating environment include the provision of nutritious, fresh and varied food, but also focuses on the role modelling behaviours of adults, and the importance of teaching children basic nutrition concepts that focus on healthy foods. Visit the website at www.snacwa.com.au to discover a raft of recipes, menu planning tools, lesson plans, fact sheets, videos, quizzes and activities to support healthy eating. Or you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/snacwa/

Whilst the site was originally developed to support Australian childcare staff, the resources are now available to everyone – all you have to do is register with an email address and password. This resource was developed in response to childcare staff calling for food and nutrition training and support for healthy eating environments – educators wanted to do the right thing but didn’t necessarily have the skills to do so.

I was fortunate to speak with Ruth Wallace, the driving force behind the SNAC website. Her passion for educating and supporting childcarers in childhood nutrition for early years is infectious, and we are talking about a possible collaboration to help combat the unhealthy eating habits epidemic sweeping our countries. So watch this space and share!

THE POWER OF STORY TELLNG

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 17:43:52 GMT

I'm gonna tell you a story...

My most memorable introduction to storytelling was through a teacher called Mr Rooney. He was a true master, rather like a conductor with an orchestra, building up-tempo and rhythm, emotion and suspense. The Irish ghost stories he told had his class of eight-year old's full attention and on the edge of their seats

His Irish tones effortlessly conjured up images of shrieking banshees and ghostly horse-drawn carriages dressed in funeral finery. I was totally mesmerised as he relayed his native folktales, which no doubt was told to him as a child and many generations before him. His ability to bring the stories to life just through expression and speech was truly magical.

The characters and scenes he described swirled in front of me before disappearing into the ethos as another image quickly replaced it. With no help of any device or VR headset. I was virtually reliving what he said by just using my own imagination!

OK, so in today's' education system Mr Rooney may well have got into trouble for telling some of the darker tales, but he did make a huge positive impact on me and at times scared the living daylights out of me too! But having experienced the powerfulness of storytelling, I do know it to be an effective way to relate and explain situations to kids.

So next time you're struggling to bring up a subject because it's going to be a task to engage the child, or it is a bit delicate. Remember it doesn't have to be all about using similes or metaphors to explain it, how about using pictures or make up a play with puppets and props?

There's a lot to be said with this age-old tradition to illustrate moral or spiritual lessons. We've seen the evidence of it since the beginning of time drawn on cave walls and embroidered into magnificent tapestries.

If you would like some support building a child's healthy habits then visit our Life's Little Bugs store for our healthy habit books!

TEACH CHILDREN THE GOOD HABIT OF MONEY MANAGEMENT

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 11:51:46 GMT

Teach the good habit of money management!

One of the most important life skills you can give to anyone is the knowledge on how to manage their money. Something I wish I had been taught instead of some other subjects I have never needed to use in my life.

To teach children money management at a young age would be so beneficial to them and their future. Why this has never been statutory within schools has always baffled me (there are some theories but I'm not going to go into that!)

Recently I met with Simon Neale the area Director at Metro Bank Reading, and he informed me about Money Zone, a money management workshop they offer and have been delivering into schools since 2012. I was very impressed and wanted to help spread the word about this great and very useful learning aid.

No wonder Metro have won numerous awards they do seem to actually care!

So here is the information on what they offer, and you can decide if your school would benefit or not, I'm guessing you'll agree they would!

If you are interested in booking then get in touch with your local Metro Bank to arrange.

Ten ways to encourage & support a growth mindset

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 09:55:55 GMT

Ways to help children build a growth mindset.

Start by helping a child to build self-esteem and confidence in what they do.

Making them feel inferior has a very negative effect and will discourage motivation.

I'm a big believer in having fun when you learn. They are more likely to remember it and making it fun encourages more participation in tasks.

Actions can speak louder than words with children as they are great imitators, so don't be surprised if they mirror some of your negative behaviours. Be aware of your attitude around them as it would be unfair to tell a child off for mirroring your behaviour. Try and lead by example where you can.

Everyone has learning differences. Not all children excel at academic tasks or learn new information as quickly as others. Give recognition for effort and perseverance, as these two traits will encourage achievement.

Noticing a child's effort is always encouraging.

Discuss the trials and solutions a child experiences when working towards their goal. It will help to broaden their awareness of stages they had to work through to accomplish it.

Try and change a child's perception on failures and mistakes, and teach them to embrace them. It will help them to accept disappointment, de- stress them and encourage perseverance.

Strike up a discussion with a child on how they plan to achieve a goal or challenge. If they come out with generic strategies such as 'I'm going to work harder!' ask them, how they plan to do this?

Avoid overloading a child with tasks. Let them enjoy the experience.

Remember, every child will work at a different pace, so be mindful of what theirs is so you can help to broaden their boundaries in a supportive way without unnecessary pressure.

Avoid covering up any mistakes a child has made and turn it into a talking point. The discussion will help them understand where it went wrong or how they can do it differently until they eventually reach the result they are after.

Using examples of people they admire to explain the steps they may have had to go through to reach their own goals is very powerful.

Children can relate to these examples and begin to understand that very few things are immediate. They need effort, belief, visualisation and perseverance to play an essential role when building a growth mindset.

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If you found this useful and would be interested in booking us for a more in-depth teacher training workshop on 'How to encourage and support a growth mindset', please get in touch through our booking form

Don't forget we also deliver Hum Bug's growth mindset workshop to children.

A free PDF version to keep is available...

Wokingham Book Festival 2019

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 11:26:30 GMT

Come and Join us at Wokingham's Book Festival

There will be a weekend of story telling and talks with many different children's authors including me! It would be great if you could join us. Book your place now with the author or illustrator you would like to meet!

5 Tips To Help Parents Cope With Change

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:52:40 GMT

When our children are facing great change in their lives it’s sometimes uncomfortable and a little bit scary for us, their parents. Seeing them growing up, facing new challenges and life experiences, becoming more independent and more open to outside influences – well, that’s a lot to consider, and the unknown and the uncertain can bring lots of worry our way. But if we are to support our children effectively through these times, then it’s really important that we role model both confidence and positivity. If our children see that, in our language and our actions, then they are much more likely to adopt a confident and positive mindset towards the approaching changes.

Transition to secondary school is one of the biggest transitions your child will go through, before they reach adulthood. Research shows that many mental health disorders in young people, mainly anxiety and depression, begin around this critical stage. Therefore, as parents, it’s vital that we give them the support they need. To do this, we need to be mentally ready for change ourselves.

Here are 5 top tips to help yourself get ready for, and be comfortable with, change:

1. Accept it.

Change is all around us, from the time we are born we undergo change physically, emotionally, developmentally, in relationships, in our environment… If we can recognise and accept that change is part of life, recognise that changes will always happen, that it is part of growth – then we are much more likely to embrace it, cope with it, thrive on it. We will have a much more positive attitude towards it. That won’t take away all the apprehension or worries, but we will be more able to overcome setbacks or problems. It can be difficult to move out of our comfort zones, and to want to hold on to those lovely moments in time when you wish things would stay exactly the same forever. – a newborn baby in your arms, seeing your child’s excitement on their birthday. But without change, babies wouldn’t be born, more birthdays wouldn’t happen. Change is not only inevitable, it is essential.

2. Embrace it.

It’s important to recognise too, that we are all resistant to certain change. Changes that are unexpected and unwelcome are particularly challenging. Resistance is a natural instinct to what is different, but if we accept this and find ways to cope, adapt and move past it we are then much more able to embrace change. We are much more likely to have a more positive and happier outcome. Remember that we can’t always control change, but we can control how we respond to it.

3. Reflect on it.

Take a few moments to step back and reflect on the situation and your response from a distance. A great way of doing this is sitting down and writing about how you’re feeling, and the probable causes. When we write things down and see them on the page it’s often easier to detach ourselves a little and analyse what’s in front of us. Then, once you’ve determined precisely what you’re dealing with, it makes it easier to think about how to put in place coping strategies to help you deal with the circumstances.

For instance, if you’re worried about your child being bullied at the new school, think about how you might prepare them to identify what bullying is and what to do about it should it occur. If you plan for these things, and have a strategy, it makes them much less worrying. (We tackle all aspects of bullying and cyber bullying in our parent’s programme).

4. Adapt to it.

Be patient, give yourself time to adapt to change. Transition isn’t an overnight thing, it’s a process that will happen in stages. Big life changes need a mindset change, as well as practical changes. A great way of preparing yourself is to identify what you want these changes to bring, what are the most important outcomes? Is it that you want your child to be confident and happy in their new school? If so, how can you help them achieve this? Plan for it and it will happen. (We can help you with this!) Along with this, don’t let setbacks drag you down or stop you. Keep focused on the outcomes you want to happen instead, and keep moving towards them.

5. Talk about it.

If you’re struggling and feel a bit anxious it’s always best to talk to someone you trust, you don’t need to face all of this alone and it’s always best to get some kind of support. You could talk to a friend, or talk to someone who has gone through a similar experience. It’s often very reassuring to hear from someone who has stood in your shoes and faced similar experience and emotion. It can also help you problem solve, plan and be better able to move forward in a positive way. (Our Facebook Group helps parents with this too!)

Links are www.primary2secondary.co.uk

Instagram @primary2secondary

Facebook Primary2secondary Page

Facebook Group Primary2Secondary Community (paid site)

For more parenting advice, please look up Sue Atkins & Jo Fitzgerald , as both are very well respected in this area and offer many proven solutions for all of our parenting struggles and dilemmas!

The Versatile Soft Toy for Encouraging Emotional Expression

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 14:38:48 GMT

My Mood Stars

We all know that the ability to express and control our own emotions is an essential social skill.

Recognising emotions in others is equally important. However, for the young child or for children on the autism spectrum trying to communicate feelings can be difficult and frustrating. This is also true for older people suffering from dementia.

My Mood Stars enable all these groups to immerse themselves in imaginative play, either by themselves or with others. This offers a fun opportunity for them to talk about how and what they are feeling. The Stars can be popped on and off their own special board, which is a fun activity in itself. We have also seen older children vent their frustration and turn anger into laughter mid-meltdown as they throw the Stars onto the board and watch them stick. Younger kids love this game too.

When not being used on the board, the Stars can be carried around just like other soft toys to bring comfort and reassurance. They can even be worn (by over 3’s) as a badge which is perfect for non-verbal children.

New The soft, tactile Mood Stars can be used to set the scene for creating endless stories and games. The names of the Stars – Shy, Sad, Angry, Happy, Sleepy, Surprised, Scared and Silly – can be changed to fit in with the user’s vocabulary.

How to Play with My Mood Stars

In addition to the Mood Stars themselves, their mountable board, a badge, and an activity sheet is included. On the activity sheet, you will find inspirational activities that will keep your child engaged for hours.

As a separate, helpful accessory, the My Mood Stars book also encourages children to express their emotions verbally or through notes and drawings on pages provided.

For more information, please visit www.mymoodstars.co.uk.

My Mood Stars and their creator, Wendy White, can be followed on

Twitter – www.twitter.com/mymoodstars

Facebook – www.facebook.com/mymoodstars

Instagram – www.instagram.com/mymoodstars41

I often meet with Wendy as part of a group where we join forces with one other, Mary Mountstephen to brainstorm for our businesses Wendy Woo and Life's Little Bugs . I am always enthused by her passion and drive. Her award-winning mood stars are amazing and I would recommend them to anyone who has a child in their care.

Why we do what we do!

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 16:03:54 GMT

Good Habits Start Young!

Hi,

I'm sure you are more than aware of the current obesity epidemic in both adults and children. Not only is it putting a strain on the NHS, but it affects the quality of life for many.

Following closely behind are the high statistics showing a decline in children's oral care and rise in childhood gum disease. Again this can affect their quality of life and many other areas too, including losing valuable days in education!

These are just two of the health matters making the news and a cause for concern!

We all know the government is very keen for children to be educated and supported in learning healthy habits at school through PSHE and other lessons. But they also need the same support in their homes to make it work.

Our busy lifestyles, finance and perseverance, are all factors which can get in the way of achieving these healthier goals. But with the right set of skills and understanding for both parents and children, this can be done.

Routine is key when getting a child into a good daily practice. It may need a bit of planning In our world of high tech, push of a button , fast pace living, but it is so worth it in the end.

If you are having difficulty getting your child into brushing teeth , hand washing , bed time or any of the other fundamental routines , then think of establishing each of these life-skills as a month long project. This is a good length of time for a child to embrace each new behaviour. Some children may need longer, so don't stress if this is the case. Every one is different!

Try and concentrate on building one new habit at a time, otherwise it can become too overwhelming!

It is important to make sure it is fun and relaxed so they don't associate it with anxiety, stress, tantrums or tears (this includes adults) which will only hinder progress.

Remember to break a habit is more difficult then to build one, so getting them into good daily habits young will benefit them for the rest of their lives. It will also have a positive outcome on everyone around them too!

Life's Little Bugs uses a unique approach which is incredibly effective to encourage and develop important healthy habits and we are always happy to help and advise you where we can.

We set out to provide a set of skills and understanding both adults and children can use at home to implement in a healthier lifestyle together...