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Creating a Nurturing Home for Emotional Well-Being
Home as a Haven: The Emotional Importance of Creating a Nurturing Home Environment In today’s busy world, it’s easy to let our homes become just another thing on the to-do list, but let’s take a moment to reframe that, shall we? What if your home was more than just a place to sleep and grab a quick bite before rushing out the door? What if it became your haven—a soft landing place where everyone in your family could unwind, feel safe, and connect? With everything life throws our way, having a nurturing home environment is more important than ever. Whether you’re raising teens, navigating life’s ups and downs, or simply…
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Creating a Space for Connection: How to Prioritise Family Time in a Busy World
Let’s face it—life can be busy. Between work, school, extracurriculars, and the constant pull of our digital devices, it’s easy to feel like family time slips right through the cracks. And that’s totally normal! But here’s the good news: with a little intention, it’s possible to make family connection a priority, even in the middle of all the hustle. Why does this matter? Well, strong family bonds are like the glue that holds us together—providing emotional support, boosting our resilience, and simply making life more enjoyable. And when you’ve got teens in the mix (especially those with unique needs), fostering these connections becomes even more important. So, how do we…
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Encouraging older children to read
Encouraging older children to read more can be a wonderful way to expand their knowledge, improve their language skills, and foster a love for learning. Here are some simple ways to encourage them to read more: Remember to be patient and understanding, as not every child will immediately take to reading. The goal is to make reading an appealing and enjoyable activity that they come to appreciate over time.
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10 ways to connect with your child after school:
connecting with your child after school is a great opportunity to catch up on their day and spend quality time together. Here are 10 ways to connect with your child after school: Remember that the goal is to create a comfortable and open atmosphere where your child feels encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences. Be a good listener, show genuine interest, and be patient if they need time to open up. The time you spend connecting with your child after school can strengthen your relationship and create lasting memories. Let me know how you like to connect with your child. Chat soon Ciara xox
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Simple and effective ways to connect with your teenage child
Welcome, Wonderful Parents and Guardians! Ah, the teenage years—the time when the phrase “What’s up?” suddenly becomes a complex code that only Sherlock Holmes could decipher. If you’ve found yourself in the delightful maze of parenting a teenager, fear not! We’re here with a virtual hug and a big dose of understanding. Just like navigating a bustling city with a trusty map, connecting with your teenage child might require a few helpful pointers. So, grab your favourite cup of coffee or tea (or a snack, because we all know parenting requires fuel), and let’s explore some simple and effective ways to bridge the generation gap with love, laughter, and a…
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50 Journaling prompts for Mums of Teens who want to enhance their connection with their children
Hi there, fabulous mums of teens! Grab your cosy blanket, a cup of your favourite brew (coffee, tea, or a little bit of both – no judgement here!), and get ready to dive into the wonderful world of journaling. Yep, you heard that right – we’re about to embark on a journey that’s all about enhancing those special connections with our oh-so-unique, eye-rolling experts we lovingly call our teenagers. Buckle up, because we’re about to discover the magic of journaling together – the kind that’s equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and downright helpful. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to decode those mysterious grunts, survive those epic eye rolls, and maybe…
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10 Back to School Tips for Parents of Autistic Young People
10 Back to School Tips for Parents of Autistic Young People (Post Primary School) August already! Back to school will soon be upon us. In our case both my children are returning to their respective schools the last week in August, So now it is time to start preparing for the transition back to the school term routine. As a parent of a young Autistic person then you know only too well how difficult transitions can be and one of the most stressful can be the return to school after the long lazy days of summer. Transition means change and change equals uncertainty which leads to anxiety. In our case…
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5 Tips for a Fun and Stress-Free Summer!
Summer is well and truly under way here at Our Little House in the Country. The weather is stunning, the paddling pool is out and we spent the morning at the beach! Hi all, apologies for the short hiatus in posts, we have been away on holiday in the South of France for the past few weeks and while away we decided to take a total break from cyberspace! The only thing our iPads were used for were for reading several books and we even turned off our data roaming services so that emails and all other notifications couldn’t interrupt our family holiday. I must admit that I really and…
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An Invitation to Play – Compost Tray, Found Objects from Nature and Toys
If you saw our post on Pre-Writing Skills yesterday you may have seen Doodles using a tray full of compost/Peat Moss to practice his writing in. I knew that he would be dying to get his hands on this tray when we had finished our writing activities so I had gathered lots of bits and pieces so that he could have lots of fun. I laid everything out on the table and encouraged him to create a small world with all of the materials. Oodles was anxious to be involved too so I had a smaller tray ready for her too. You may know by now that Doodles is construction…
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Fun Pre Writing Activities – Early Literacy & Fine Motor Skills Development
Over the past few weeks we have been having quite a bit of fun developing our fine motor skills, in particular we have been working of prewriting activities. Doodles is starting school in September and is very eager to do homework at the moment (let’s hope he maintains that enthusiasm in the years to come!!!). Activity 1 – Writing Trays Using a Variety of Materials: Sand Compost/Peat Moss Flour Rice Paint Linseed What do you need: Trays, baking sheets Flour Rice Sand Compost/peat moss Coloured paper/card Paint Paint brushes Lolly pop sticks Pencils Both Doodles and Oodles love this activity and it is so easy to set up. Simply add…
