Starting school can be daunting, regardless of whether you’re just starting primary school or you’re a seasoned year 9. You might get teachers you’ve not met before or you might be moving schools entirely – it’s scary stuff! But, there are lots of ways you can help your child settle into the new school year.

It can be really beneficial to create realistic routines for kids to follow, particularly as starting school adds more structure to their lives compared to the summer holidays. Ultimately, starting a new school year is fun but a challenge for both the kids and the parents, so check out some useful tips below that will help ease your child into it!

Keep their mind agile with regular reading time

It is well known that reading has countless benefits for children and teenagers, not least limiting their screen time! Whilst some kids are born bookworms, others might be a bit more hesitant, making it all the more important to plan regular reading times into their new school schedule.

One way of motivating reluctant readers to pick up a book is to use personalised books, like the ones available here. By having their name featured in the story, they are far more likely to be interested in the book and reading. Regular reading is a great habit to develop early on, as it is easy and simple to implement, plus you never know, they might become the next John Grisham!

Designate a particular place for them to keep their new school things

One of the most worrisome parts of the new school year as a parent is your child forgetting an art project or asking for food tech ingredients an hour before school starts. Or, even worse, them losing the hideous pink sparkly pencil case they spent all summer talking about. That’s why Apartment Therapy has come up with a great tip: create a good spot for your kids to keep all their rucksacks, workbooks and planners, so they never lose anything again!

This space is probably best near the front door, but whatever works for your household. If you can help your kids develop the habit of coming home and putting all their things in one place, they will struggle to forget things and hopefully they’ll be reminded of anything they needed to do when they got home.

This will also make your life easier when leaving in the mornings, as you can double-check they have got everything they need for the school day!

Create a plan for the afternoon once school finishes

Your children might be used to doing whatever they wanted to during the summer holidays, so they’re probably going to come home from school and instantly run off to play or watch TV. This is why it is important to plan ahead to the afternoons after school, so they continue following a structured day and get things done!

It all depends on the child, of course. Some kids will need time to themselves after school to process and unwind before starting homework, whereas other kids might be more productive with their homework straight after school whilst they’re in the right mindset. Schedule time for relaxing or doing homework and be strict with following it, so they understand the importance of being productive.

Stick to an early bedtime

With the after school schedule in mind, it’s crucial to factor in an early bedtime for your children. It might not always seem like it, but school is mentally and emotionally draining, making sleep more important than ever. If you get them into the habit of getting to bed early, they’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready for another hard day of school.

Everybody needs different levels of sleep and this changes a lot as kids grow up, as Active Kids explains here. When your child gets a bit older, try having a discussion with them about a reasonable bedtime that will ensure they get plenty of sleep. This will help make sure they stick to the bedtime chosen by them, as opposed to a specific bedtime that has just been forced onto them.

All these habits are essential for making life easier for both your child and you when starting a new school year, so give them a go and see how it goes! With all the ups and downs of lockdowns this year, it’s good to create new habits and routines for your child so they can get used to the structured timetable of school and see themselves flourish and succeed in all their classes!

Many factors can lead expose your skin to ageing. Some of these factors, such as natural ageing, cannot be prevented. Fortunately, others are easy to manage. Here are the top ways to reverse premature skin ageing.

Pixabay – CCO Licence

Limit your exposure to sunlight

Whether you are running errands or relaxing at the beach, protecting your skin from the scorching sun is advisable. Always seek shade, wear clothes that protect your skin from direct exposure to sunlight, and apply sunscreen.

Additionally, avoid direct exposure to sunlight by limiting your movement in the sun. If it is a beach day, spend most of your time in the water and avoid sunbathing for extended periods. 

Use skincare products

Do you know reverse premature skin ageing by using anti-aging skincare? There are many skincare products designed to keep your skin youthful and healthy. 

Consider using these products as recommended by the manufacturer or your dermatologist. Accordingly, be cautious of the ingredients used to manufacture some products. Some skincare products are made using chemicals that are harmful to your skin and overall health. Always check the label for the list of ingredients. 

Get hydrated

Water comes with a host of health benefits, ranging from digestion to reduced inflammation. Similarly, your skin requires plenty of water to stay young and smooth. Staying hydrated helps the skin heal and regenerate faster from damage. This is crucial in reversing premature skin ageing and restoring healthy skin.

Drink plenty of water every day to stay hydrated and boost your skin health.

Eat a healthy diet 

Experts suggest that fruits and vegetables prevent premature skin ageing. Accordingly, highly processed food with added sugar and salt may accelerate the development of wrinkles and spots on your skin. Refined carbohydrates are also dangerous to your skin. Replace these unhealthy foods with a healthy, balanced diet today to reverse premature skin ageing and restore your skin’s youthful glow.

Exercise

Physical activities that involve sweating improve blood circulation and immunity. Accordingly, exercise helps you open your sweat pores to remove toxic substances that may accumulate beneath the skin. This, in turn, prevents skin ageing. Reverse premature skin ageing by exercising daily and engaging in activities that make you sweat. However, you should not forget to wash your skin gently after sweating.

Quit smoking 

Smoking has many adverse effects on your health. Research indicates that smokers tend to experience premature skin ageing compared to non-smokers. The chemicals in cigarettes speed up skin ageing by developing wrinkles and a sallow complexion. 

Stop smoking to protect your skin and reverse premature ageing, among other health benefits.

Wash your skin

Scrub your skin gently every day using soap and water to prevent irritation from accumulating dust and dirt. Cleaning your skin also removes substances that may speed up premature ageing, such as chemicals from makeup.

Perspiration also irritates the skin. Therefore, you should ensure you wash your skin daily to remove sweat and other harmful substances that cause skin ageing. 

Final thoughts

Have you noticed symptoms of premature skin ageing, such as wrinkles and spots? Use these tips to reverse them and restore your healthy, youthful skin. Above all, get a good night’s sleep on a clean bed and pillows to protect your skin and improve regeneration and healing. 

Once you step into motherhood, keeping up with the latest trends may be the last thing on your mind. However, to put a spring in your step and boost your confidence, finding your style again and wearing clothes that match your personality can help. Your mind and body go through a lot during pregnancy and afterwards, so if you have lost your sense of personal style, here are some simple tactics you can take on board today. 

Embrace Your New Body 

Although many of us would love nothing more than to have toned body straight after giving birth, your body won’t spring back to its pre-baby self as quickly as you would hope. Understandably, it will take time to get back into shape, so instead of feeling deflated and unhappy with the way you look, try and embrace your new body and remember all the hard work you’ve gone through during pregnancy. When it comes to finding clothes that fit you, establishing your body shape and accepting your figure is key. Don’t try and squeeze into pre-baby clothes initially or purchase garments that are too big.  

Clear Your Wardrobe 

As a busy mum, you will have limited time for yourself, so when it comes to waking up and getting ready for the day, having all your clothes aligned together in your wardrobe can be a big help. If your wardrobe is overflowing with items, it’s time to get rid of maternity wear and anything that doesn’t reflect your personal taste anymore. Once you begin getting rid of clutter and organising your wardrobe space, you will be left with clothes that you feel good in. 

Invest in Heels 

Even though we’re facing unprecedented times due to the coronavirus outbreak, once restrictions lift and we’re able to get out and about, having a pair of killer heels at your disposal will mean you’re ready for any kind of occasion. As a hardworking mum, you need to have something to look forward to, so kitting your wardrobe out with designer items, like these Valentino Shoes, will mean you have the perfect heels to wear. You will find a variety of Valentino Shoes alongside other designers like Gucci and Versace at SSENSE. If you’re looking for accessories to pair with your shoes, this site also sells clothing and bags you can check out. 

Find a New Bag 

Whether you’re running daily errands, heading for lunch with the girls, or off to work, having the perfect bag on your shoulder can make all the difference. Once you enter motherhood, your priorities will naturally change, so you need to find a bag that not only looks the part but is functional and can store all the essentials. 

While most of your time will be taken up with running around after the kids, it’s important that you allocate some time for yourself and what interests you. As you can see, there are lots of things you can do to reignite your passion for fashion and help you choose clothing that represents you in the best light. 

Nothing is more special than receiving a gift that has been personalised and Happiness is a Gift offers an array of charming gifts to suit everyone from kids to adults.  All of these can be personalised to your specifications with a name, date, message etc. which adds that special touch.

I was delighted to be gifted this Two Tiered Slate Cake Stand which is perfect for displaying a variety of things such as cakes, sweets or savoury items.

I was able to choose a two line personalisation to go around the top and bottom of the top tier. I decided to opt for ‘Fiona’s snacks & Treats’ for the top and ‘Eat, be happy, enjoy…’ for the bottom.  I think this encompasses using any type of food on the stand and gives a bit of a feel good factor.

The stand is quick and simple to set up and stores away very compactly which is great.  I think it’s a lovely piece which I will definitely be using multiple times over the festive period and beyond.

Happiness is a Gift has a good choice of personalised items and I’m delighted to offer one of my readers the chance to win any gift of their choice from the website up to £30

Whether you fancy getting the man in you life some personalised socks or cufflinks, your mum a gorgeous personalised bracelet or travel bag or just treat your home to a new clock or chopping board there really is something for everyone.  Not forgetting children where they have everything from drinks bottles and lunchboxes to gardening kits and flipflops!

What would you choose?  Just fill in the Gleam form below and let me know in the comments what item you like over at Happiness is a Gift.

One gift up to the value of £30

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions. We are not paid for reviews. Although we do receive the product to try out and enable us to write the review.