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Spooktacular Half Term

Spooktacular Half Term

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Home » Get outdoors

Picture this: A cozy living room, flickering candlelight, and a group of wide-eyed kids gathered for a spooky storytelling night, their imaginations running wild with tales of ghosts and ghouls. 

It’s that time of year again – October half-term is right around the corner. So if you are on the lookout for ideas to keep your kids, siblings or even relatives entertained, this one’s for you.

We’ve put together a list of 7 fun activities that not only promise lots of fun but also underlines children’s mental well-being with a hint of spooky excitement. Read on for ideas on how to make the most out of this October half-term.

1. Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Extravaganza

Kickstart the half-term break with a pumpkin carving contest. Show your children the art of carving with intention and mindfulness. This creative process can help them relax and focus their thoughts. This is especially intriguing for kids when they know that there is a follow-up activity before their work of art is ready for display. 

Once carving is done, it’s time for a decoration extravaganza. Let them unleash their creativity as they transform ordinary pumpkins into unique masterpieces. It’s a fantastic way to boost their self-expression allowing them to feel more included in preparation of a spooktacular halloween.

2. Spooky Storytelling Night

Snuggle up in a cozy living room for a spooky storytelling night. Encouraging imagination and creativity through storytelling can be a great way for kids to unwind. 

Storytime is like magic for kids’ brains! It helps them learn new words, understand things better, and even feel what the characters feel, almost allowing them to  become a part of the story and maybe even relate to fictional characters which in turn teaches them to empathise in real life.

3. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Enjoy the crisp autumn air with a Halloween-themed outdoor scavenger hunt at a nearby park or in your own backyard. Spending time in nature can have a positive impact on everyone’s mental health, especially the little ones. 

Time outdoors can develop children’s physical fitness, support healthy cognitive development, and improve their overall well-being and mood regulation.

4. Halloween Movie Marathon

Sometimes, all kids need is some downtime, and the half-term could be an opportunity for that. Host a Halloween movie marathon with family or friends, and top it off with popcorn and cozy blankets. It’s an excellent chance to relax and enjoy some quality time together. 

While moderation is key to preventing excessive screen time, a well-balanced Halloween movie marathon can be quite memorable for kids, especially when it means making memories with friends and family.  

Kids Pumpkin Decorating

5. Boo-tiful DIY Costumes

Beyond the  fun of creating spooktacular costumes, engaging in DIY encourages creative problem-solving skills as kids plan, design, and construct their costumes, nurturing critical thinking abilities from an early age. 

DIY activities promote the development of fine motor skills, enhancing hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Keep in mind that it’s not just about the end result; it’s also about the creative exploration that your child is experiencing throughout.  Once your DIY costumes are ready, don’t forget to accompany your little ghouls and goblins on a spooktacular trick-or-treating adventure.

6. Spook-tacular Costume Contest

Engaging in discussions, sharing compliments, and experiencing the thrill of competition during a spooktacular costume contest can strengthen kids’ interpersonal skills, fostering a sense of bonding. It’s a great way for kids to proudly showcase their own costume creations. 

As for those of you with relatives and friends all over the world,  you can share this fun activity with them by organising a virtual contest. That way, no one misses out on any fun.

7. Autumn Craft Workshop

Engaging in crafts not only passes the time but also provides a therapeutic escape for children, helping them reduce stress and anxiety. You can go for simple projects, like finger-painting vibrant autumn drawings, turning paper plates into autumn animal masks, or transforming empty toilet paper rolls into cute leaf-stamped owls. Consider going for a slow-paced walk to collect fallen autumn leaves, acorns, and pine cones from the outdoors to make the crafts all the more authentic.

This brings the beauty of autumn into these crafts while creating a deep connection with nature—an enriching experience for children and adults, too.

This October half-term, make the most out of the break by engaging your children in activities that are not only fun but also nurturing for their well-being. Whether it’s getting creative with pumpkins, exploring nature, or enjoying a spooky movie night, there are plenty of exciting ways to keep kids busy. 

Embrace this October half-term with open arms, and let the Halloween magic weave its spell onto your little ones!

While you embark on your autumn adventures, consider how you can make a positive impact in your community, just like Little Lives UK does!

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Kids racing

Summer is here! What am I going to do with the children?

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Home » Get outdoors

With schools across the country closed for about six weeks during the summer, arranging alternative childcare for working parents or entertaining them at home can be a daunting task.

Yes, summer holidays are coming soon. But don’t despair. Summer holidays are a great way to spend time doing things with your family. However, we understand that this holiday period is not great for everyone. We are here to help you get through this. Everyone’s summer holidays are different. You may be looking forward to them. Or maybe you are wondering what will happen and how to deal with it.

With inflation rising, parents have to pay far more than they did last year to keep their children busy. Parents spend an average of £1,400 per child to keep them entertained during the summer holidays. Based on this, we are always on the lookout for cheap ideas or even better free activities to keep children entertained.

I have two active kids and I know they have made a six weeks activity list for me. I’m not a taxi driver, so I’m afraid to spend most of the summer pretending to be a taxi driver. What should I do?  Well, there are Parks and Libraries. Free and healthy, which is an ideal way to educate your children and get them out in the fresh air.

In addition, there are some cheap and free activities you can do with your children this summer.

Summer is here! What am I going to do with the children?

PLAN AHEAD:

Grab a large piece of paper and coloured pencils and brainstorm summer activities with your kids. Combine day trips with free or cheap ones like playdates and craft activities. Stick it on your fridge door and check off completed activities, like your summer food list.  

BONDING TIME:

Happiness has more to do with relationships than money. Whether you’re on vacation or in your backyard, it doesn’t really matter to the kids as long as you are together.

Stock up on cheap and easy things to kill time at home like pavement chalk, water balloons and baking supplies, don’t underestimate the fun of being together.

REINFORCEMENT:

Whatever negative things we’re blaming our children for, we should focus on the positive things they’re doing,” says Andy Cope. Author and “happiness expert” of the book “Being Brilliant”. Children like to be praised because they want to repeat behaviours that make them and us happy.

HAVE A TO DO LIST:

This aids in our ability to focus on what matters most. For instance, which would your child prefer; some comfortable clutter and a parent willing to compromise, or an immaculate home but a worn-out, overworked parent?

TACKLE JOBS TOGETHER:

Children, especially young ones, love being with you more than anything else, and helping with household chores like dusting windows or tidying up overgrown clothes from closets could be fun for them.

GO OUT AND PLAY:

Happiness can be found from being in nature and breathing fresh air. Try to encourage your kids to get away from their tablets and phones every day and spend time in the great outdoors, even if it’s just playing in the garden.

JOIN IN THE PLAY:

As we get older, we often forget how to have fun. You can’t underestimate how much your child will enjoy you joining in and you might be surprised at how much fun they have.

OVERNIGHT CAMPING:

Camp overnight under the stars this summer. Get creative and build a cave in your garden. Invite their friends over for the night.

MAKE YOUR OWN NEWSPAPER:

Making a family newspaper is a great way to organize your thoughts and record events. You can include even the most mundane things.

CREATE YOUR OWN MUSIC AND DANCE:

Get the children to sing their favourite songs and dance.

The interesting thing about summer is that it is long and hot. DIY projects and boredom can actually be fun and the best. Our mission is to ease the stresses felt by children and those caring for them by enabling them to reach their full potential.

Can you think of any more free and inexpensive things to do with the children this summer?

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sun safety

Sun safety for children and babies 

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Home » Get outdoors

As the days get warmer it is important to remember that fun in the sun can have its risks.

Hotter days are approaching so it’s important to refresh our understanding of sun safety.

Children and babies are more vulnerable to the effects of heat but there are lots of ways we can make sure that the summertime is safe and fun for everyone. And remember a baby can’t tell you if they feel hot or uncomfortable so it’s extra important to try and keep them cool during hot weather.

Hot weather and your health

There are lots of ways that the hot weather can impact our health. Our bodies like to have an internal temperature of approximately 37°C it has to work harder to maintain this when it’s hot out. This is why we sweat, to help us cool down, our heart rate also increases as the body works harder to remain cool.

You can keep track of the upcoming temperature online, when it gets really warm the government puts warnings in place telling us the risks connected to the weather. Keep an eye on your local health warnings, online where you check the weather, the alert system is run by UKHSA and offers relevant advice based on conditions in your area.

On hot days people can experience: dizziness from dehydration, nausea, fainting, confusion, muscle cramps, headaches, heavier sweating than usual, tiredness and of course there is a risk of sunburn.  More severe reactions to the hot weather include heat rash (also known as prickly heat) and heat stroke.

Sun safety for children and babies 

Sunburn

Sunburn is one of the most obvious ways that we are at risk on hot days. As the sun’s powerful UV rays can be damaging to skin. Even when it doesn’t feel very hot because of a breeze, you can check the UV index for your area on whatever weather website or app you use. When the index is high it is important to remember sun protection.

The most effective form of protection from sunburn is remaining inside or in the shade. We appreciate that this isn’t always possible however so a high SPF sunscreen is important. Especially for children whose skin tends to be more sensitive and susceptible to burns.

It is important that sun cream is liberally applied to all areas that are visible to the sun, and reapplied regularly, not just once in the morning. Keeping skin covered with loose breathable clothes instead of exposed to the sun is also a good idea. A sun hat is also recommended to keep sun off of the face keeping children cool and protecting their face from burns.

In the unfortunate event that you or a child gets sunburnt, sin may feel hot to touch, feel sore and peel after a few days. In worse cases the skin may even blister. There are things you can do to make the healing process faster and ease discomfort caused by burns.

After a sunburn the best thing to do is get out of the sun to stop any further damage. Cool baths and showers can ease the hot feeling of burns as well as the application of after sun creams with soothing and moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera.

If necessary painkillers and anti inflammatories can be used to reduce the discomfort of sunburns. If you have any concerns a pharmacist can give you advice on how to treat a sunburn.

NHS advice states that if a baby or small child has a severe sunburn you should contact a GP or 111.

Heat rash

Another common reaction to the hot weather is heat rash also known as prickly heat. It happens when sweat glands get blocked and inflamed in hot conditions.

This appears as an itchy rash of small spots and blisters often across the face and neck but It can occur across any area of the body. Heat rash is common in young babies as their sweat glands are not fully developed, this often occurs in the nappy area.

Causes of heat rash can be overdressing, the hot weather fever and intense sweating. Sometimes it’s simply a bad reaction to higher temperatures as children are more sensitive to heat. Its prevention is simple: try and keep cool as much as possible. This means playing inside and in shady areas. Wearing light coloured breathable clothes and drinking lots of water.

In the event that a child does get heat rash there are a few things that you can do, mainly try and keep them cool, with air conditioning and fans if possible. Avoid wearing lots of layers over rashes and remove sweaty clothes and nappies (change regularly so as to not create a hot damp environment where rashes can get worse or gain infections).

A lukewarm bath can soothe the itching of heat rash but avoid soap as this can further irritate inflamed skin. It is important to fully dry children after a bath especially skinfolds behind knees and in armpits. If itching becomes an issue pressing a cool damp cloth to affected areas can have a soothing effect.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are what happens when too much time in the sun makes you feel unwell. Heat exhaustion does not usually need medical attention but if it turns into heat stroke it should be treated as a medical emergency.

Heat exhaustion appears as dizziness,  feeling tired, headaches, nausea,cramps and excess thirst. People with heat exhaustion may look pale and clammy and sweat more than usual. If someone has these symptoms, move them to a cool place, remove unnecessary or excess clothes and give them a drink.  You can also cool their skin with cold compresses under armpits and back of the neck, and spray or sponge cool water on their skin.

If a person still feels unwell after 30 minutes in a cool place they may have heat stroke which is more serious. Call 999 if after 30 cool minutes the person has a fever, feels hot to the touch but isn’t sweating, has a fast heartbeat, is breathing quick shallow breaths, is confused, loses consciousness or has seizures.

This can be prevented by drinking lots of cool drinks especially when active or exercising and wearing light loose clothes. Try to avoid the midday sun and excessive alcohol consumption as well as extreme exercise.

Safe summer fun

Sometimes the best thing to do on a very hot day is to just stay inside!

Open windows on the cooler shady side of the house and keep windows in direct sun closed with light coloured curtains or blinds closed.

Arts and crafts are the perfect activity for a hot day as they are engaging but require minimal physical actions. Why not make the most of the sunlight and create a suncatcher.

A paddling pool in a shady space is also perfect for cooling off little feet.

Indoor activities like cinemas, and arcades are often quiet on sunny days but are a perfect place to escape the summer sun.

Museums tend to be free and indoors making them the perfect place to spend a day away from the summer heat.

Children’s imaginations are amazing, see what games you can come up with together, your living room could become a mini golf course or a spaceship, there’s endless fun to be had indoors. 

Children’s charities like ours are committed to keeping children and families safe all year round, even when it is the brightest out. Remember sun fates and top tips to keep cool.

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Getting children back into nature

Getting children back into nature

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Home » Get outdoors

With the weather getting better and evenings getting longer, it may just be that time of year to start reintroducing children to nature and the outside world. It seems like it has been a long, long, long winter this year but it is now finally (hopefully) coming to an end!

With Earth Day having just been (22nd of April 2023), now is a good time to look to the outside and see what an amazing natural world we have for children in our community to enjoy.

Why is nature so important?

It may seem an obvious question but there is so much that nature offers us that we might not necessarily think about.

Not only do the trees around the world literally provide the oxygen we breathe, it can offer something for most living creatures and especially ourselves.

It is interesting to look at. Admittedly, it isn’t for everyone but there are some amazing natural phenomena can be truly inspiring. For example, the Aroura Borealis (Northern Lights) or the mass migration of birds in and out of the UK. Even witnessing one of these huge events can lead to a lifetime of fascination or inspiration for adults, just think what it could do for children.

Improves your mood. It has been found that spending time in nature and away from screens and electronics whilst being outside for just two hours a week can improve your mental health and mood. During a study, those who reported spending two hours or more outside a week were more likely to say they were in good health and improved mental wellbeing.

Home to animals and insects. Yes, the thought of lifting a leaf and finding a creepy crawly underneath it may put some of you off but; each animal and creature plays a hugely vital role in balancing the world’s ecosystem. That’s everything from the food we grow to eat to the pollination of plants. Nature, being the home of animals and insects, also is a great place to explore and learn things with your children.

Improves physical health. We are not just talking about inspiring places to go walking or jogging which can help to improve both your mental and physical health but we are also talking about how nature can help to reduce the potential in getting heart disease. It has been found that spending time, as mentioned above, can help to reduce stress and therefore help to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Air purification and cleaning. Along with the inspiration and the fascination, nature can give us some tangible benefits as well. Species of sea-grass and trees help to cleanse the air we breathe and reduce carbon levels that are produced by us humans. Without these species, though it is not great in some parts of the UK as it stands, air quality would be a lot worst and we would all be gasping for clean air.

nature and children

Am I getting enough time in nature?

Unless you are literally living in a field, there is no such thing as ‘too much nature’, unless you are unfortunate enough to get caught up in a natural disaster or something equally as terrifying.

Spending enough time in nature is dependent on each person. One person could spend ten minutes in the greenery and feel on top of the world, whereas another person could spend hours in nature and still feel low.

If you want an actual figure though, then it is 120 minutes a week. Two hours a week in nature are what you need according to scientists to feel the benefits of it and to feel in a better mood, less stressed and better about yourself. Increasing numbers of people though are reporting that they are feeling out of touch with nature and wouldn’t be able to teach their children about it, so spending two hours or more with nature may be a good idea before too long to make sure that you and your children can still reap the benefits.

Spending time in nature could be as simple as sitting on a bench in a green area and watching the world go by. Or, you could try and take on nature and doing something extreme life white water rafting or cliff-climbing. Whatever you do outside and for however long you want it to be for will be sure to help.

How do I get my children interested in nature?

It is easy now for children in the modern world to access entertainment at their fingertips so it may be difficult to get them interested straight away into putting down the phone or tablet and getting outside.

Fortunately, a lot of wildlife organisations have made child-friendly apps and programmes that could inspire them to go and see it in person.

Series like Wild Isles on BBC have proved to be a great inspiration for many to go and see the natural wonder of the UK. That, and because David Attenborough is a national treasure and pretty much anything he narrates is brilliant! This series will give you and your family a new look into what the UK has to offer.

If your child is reluctant to leave their phone anywhere but you want them to see nature, there could be a compromise that actually helps you and your children become nature experts in no time. Nature apps. These great apps can help you identify animals, animal prints, birds, plants and so much more. It is a great way to use tech to get back in touch with nature.

Become a nature expert yourself. Children imitate adults, so it is possible that if you show a keen interest in the outside world, then hopefully; so, will your children. The hope is that with setting a good example, children will want to join in and be part of something that you are doing.

A lot of people love just walking in nature but if your children find that boring, why not try playing games outside at the same time? There are thousands of games in existence or make up a new one with your children. You can take different games with you depending on where you are visiting and what you are likely to see.

Why is nature important to children?

Not only will getting outside and into nature help to inspire your children, it also actually has a lot of physical and mental health benefits.

It can teach responsibility. Caring for nature is an important lesson for everyone and especially children. If you can show your children at an early age that everything has a consequence, for example pulling out flowers from the ground will kill it, it may help to install some social and communal responsibility. It can also teach children that looking after nature it vital and is everyone’s responsibility.

It is a good chance to exercise. Most of the time, if you are interacting with nature, you are not sat on a sofa. This is of course great, even just going for a walk can help to get their blood pumping and help to improve their mental and physical health.

It can inspire and provide real stimulation. Yes, a violent video game could definitely provide entertainment and some stimulation, but going outside can activate so many more senses. The new smells, sights and feelings could be just the stimulation that your children need and potentially, already want.

It can help to reduce stress and fatigue. From research from the Attention Restoration Theory, urban environments require directed attention from an individual which causes us to ignore distractions which can lead to an exhausted brain. In natural environments, we don’t require directed attention but use a more effortless type of attention called ‘soft fascination’. This creates feelings of pleasure and not fatigue.

Nature can build confidence. Indoor play can be very structured whereas outdoor play can be a lot freer. As there are so many ways of interacting with nature, it can be left to your children to take control of what they want to do which will help to improve their decision making and therefore, their confidence. 

Indoor play is great and a lot easier, but in some circumstances, it can offer so much less than being outside with nature and experiencing hands on play and events.

What is being done to address the widening connection between children and nature?

For those who are worried about theirs and their children’s connection with nature, there is fortunately plenty of groups and organisations that are providing opportunities to reconnect with nature.

Children’s charities are providing funding, activity days, residentials and experience sessions for children all around the UK to ensure that they can have the opportunities to see nature like so many others their own age.

Schools are also making conscious efforts to provide new experiences for children with a mixture of experience days and workshops that can give children a hand on experience with the natural world instead of just reading about it or looking at it on a screen.

The National Trust has got a list of their best gardens and parks for children in an effort to make it easier for families to explore nature, wherever you are in the UK. The National Trust gardens and parks also give a chance to learn about nature with their experts and information points.

There are lots of reasons why and how you can get you and your children involved with nature and the outdoors and now summer is only just around the corner, there has never been a better time to get involved with it.




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Children and sport

Children and sport: what good does it do?

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Are children’s sports being neglected in the UK? Are schools doing enough to ensure quality a quality sports curriculum is being provided?

It’s clear from statistics that children are hugely engaged in sport in the UK, with 86% of 5–15-year-olds taking part in any sport or physical activity weekly. However due to several factors, such as the cost-of-living crisis, and the pandemic many children are having to withdraw from sports teams due to cost and fees.

But what are the key benefits of children partaking in sport?

  • Improved Social Skills
  • Key Skills of Leadership and Discipline
  • Improved Mental Health-children feel more self-confident and less anxious
  • Better Physical Health– children are less likely to suffer with obesity or cardiovascular issues
  • Sense of community– the feeling of belonging to a team/club can greatly boost a child’s confidence and self-image
children and sport

Mental Health and Exercise

Poor mental health is becoming an epidemic for children in the UK. Almost 1 in 5 children in the UK suffer from mental health issues and with 18-week waiting lists many children’s mental health is being severely neglected. While some children’s charities are able to provide free mental health counselling, unfortunately this can’t be done at the scale needed to tackle the crisis without adequate funding. 

Children’s charities are always fundraising for children and sport, along with their other campaigns. Though many would say that this should be government funded, charities are having to fundraise for children to stay involved in sport and over come the current cost-of-living crisis.

Sport and exercise can be a great way to boost young people’s mental health with improved mood and lower rates of conditions such as depression and anxiety being prevalent in young people who take part in regular physical activity.

Not only does sport help reduce the risk of mental health conditions but it provides stronger connections with friends and the community that they are part of, making young people feel more secure in themselves.  Building strong and trusting connections can be essential to young people’s development, as the ability to make friends and socialise sets them up for adult life.

Some easy exercise to boost mental health for you and your children include:

  • Taking a daily 30-minute walk
  • Joining a local sports team
  • Walk/cycle to school or work
  • Offer to take a neighbour’s dog on a walk

Why is children’s health declining in the UK?

  • Lack of fresh, nutritious food in lower income settings
  • Increase in sedentary activity (watching Tv or being on electronics)
  • Decrease in funding to sports teams and organisations
  • Lessened quality PE in schools
  • The cost-of-living crisis

With food bank usage soaring to 2.17 million in 2022, more negative health impacts are taking over children’s lives. Unfortunately, there is a direct correlation between disadvantaged children using food banks and obesity. This is due to a poorer quality of food, more calorie dense items and less fresh produce.

Schools in disadvantaged areas in the UK, on average do three times less PE than private schools. This is due to a clear lack of funding and increased behavioural and avoidance issues that young people have towards exercise, for various reasons such as low self-esteem and low confidence.

Schools that encourage a wide range of enriching exercise; such as team sports, rather than high intensity activities such as cross country, do much better in encouraging young people to stay active and healthy.

Exercise can help mitigate against the negative effects of a poor diet and can reduce the risk of childhood obesity which is an ever-growing problem in the UK. Regular exercise for children has been proven to greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues and sets up children for future healthy lifestyles, ensuring that children and educated and motivated in healthy living.

Why is it Important to talk to children about healthy living?

  • Educates children, allowing them to make more informed choices
  • Inspires children to partake in sports and regular activity
  • Gets them involved in cooking, children can learn more about balanced diets and healthy recipes
  • Reduces the risk of childhood obesity or cardiovascular disease
  • Improves confidence, children will have a more confident outlook on the decisions they make

How can we further encourage exercise?

The government has recently announced that girls and boys will now receive the opportunity to play the same sports in PE and have access to sports clubs that previously were seen as male dominated.

This clearly is a huge step forwards in the progression of sport for young people however there is clearly still a deficit for the opportunity in deprived areas.

Often sport team sponsorship is the only way a club can afford to run; however, this isn’t easy to secure which leaves children’s charities venturing into sponsorship to keep sport alive for young people.

Children’s charities sponsor hundreds of teams around the UK to ensure children have access to regular physical activities they otherwise wouldn’t be able to partake in. Team kits and equipment also can put a huge burden onto parents of disadvantaged families.

Often the yearly kit cost is over £100, which can leave kids feeling left out from their peers if their family isn’t able to afford, and unencouraged to play sports.

Children often respond best to positive encouragement. This can easily be applied to Sport and exercise. Talking positively to your children about sport and its benefits is an essential way to ensure they do the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity.

 

 

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New Year's resolutions and how to keep to them

New Year’s resolutions and how to keep to them

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Home » Get outdoors

We can finally say good bye to 2022 with some great memories and unfortunately some tough memories too. But with the coming of the new year, we can start looking forward to what you are going to achieve.

Have you thought about it yet? Do you have any new year’s resolutions you will keep to this year? Are you determined to keep an important resolution this year? Are you motivated enough?

Read on to find out about resolutions, some ideas for a new start in 2023 and what you can do to make the most of the new year.

New Year’s resolutions and how to keep to them

What are new year’s resolutions?

Simply put, they are the promises you make yourself at the beginning of a new year so that you either take something up good or quit something bad.

Millions of people a year attempt a New Year’s resolution but according to a study published in the Journal of Clinal Psychology, only 46% of people are successful in keeping them.

What are the top 10 New Year’s resolutions?

This may list may or may not surprise you. The top 10 New Year’s resolutions that people attempt are:

1. Quit smoking

2. Lose weight

3. Travel more

4. Live life to the fullest

5. Spend more time with friends and family

6. Read more

7. Save more money

8. Get organised

9. Learn a new skill or take up a new hobby

10. Exercise more

Are any of your resolutions on the list? Have you tried them before?

These are all great resolutions to make as most of them involve improving physical health and providing a more varied outlook on life which can help to improve mental health. But have you ever wondered why it is so hard to keep to a New Year’s resolution?

Why is it so hard to keep to a New Year’s resolution?

You may try the same resolution each year and find yourself starting strong but after a few weeks or months you start to flag and your current New Year’s resolution ends up on the discard pile like each previous year’s. But why you ask?

Well, according to Psychology Today, there are many reasons that people give up on a New Year’s resolution.

The top reason being the fact that human behaviour is fleeting and depletable. Meaning we cannot keep up high levels of performance indefinitely. So, once we start with a high rate of enthusiasm and success and things are going well, we want to carry on. As soon as we start to waver a little and the performance levels drop, we become disheartened and don’t want to carry on.

Lack of motivation can also play a huge part in not completing our New year’s resolutions. As mentioned above, a lot of people who find themselves finding it difficult to keep up with their new challenge are more likely to give it up.

Unobtainable goals are another reason why people fail to succeed their resolutions. Without the right pre-planning and reasonable thought put into your New Year’s resolution, it is unlikely to get off the ground. If you think about challenges that are ambitious but achievable, then you are more likely to succeed and see through your resolution all year round.

Because life gets in the way. This for a lot of people will be the biggest reason that we don’t complete our New Year’s resolutions. Life happens. Without the right support, guidance and knowledge it is very difficult to achieve goals. So, make sure if you don’t want to let life get in the way of completing your goals you plan accordingly.

Enough of why we can’t do things and on to how we can make things happen and complete our goals.

How do I achieve my New Year’s resolution?

Though it is likely to be hard, we want you to have the best chance in completing your resolution and achieving those goals so we have out together a small list on our top tips on completing a New Year’s resolution.

Plan Ahead. Find the right ways of completing your goal. For example, if you want to lose weight then find a diet plan and workout regime. If you want to quit smoking, get some advice from a stop smoking service. The best thing you can do is make sure you have a plan in place so you know what goals you need to hit and what steps you need to take.

Reward yourself. This doesn’t mean to overdo it if you have hit a personal goal but think of ways to treat yourself every time you hit a milestone. Just ran your fist 10k of the year? Treat yourself to some new sports gear. Just done a whole month without a cigarette? Use that money to go for a nice meal somewhere. We all work better with some positive encouragement and you should make sure that you treat yourself now and then.

Make a list of pros and cons. How will completing your resolutions benefit you? Will they make you healthier? Will they make you happier? Think about what you can achieve from completing your resolutions and keep yourself motivated. Also, think about the cons if you don’t complete your resolution.

Keep trying. Rome wasn’t built in a day. You have to stick to it through the hard and easy times. Your goals won’t happen overnight so you need to stay patient and persistent.

Don’t be hard on yourself. This is probably the most important one. If at first you don’t succeed then keep going. Everyone will make the occasional slip up but it is not worth beating yourself up over.

So, we have looked at how to keep on top of your goals, but what goals will you choose to complete? We have briefly spoken about the most common resolutions that people make, but what about some different ideas?

Different and unique New Year’s resolutions

1. Spend more time outside. Embrace nature this year and spend less time in front of the screens.

2. Volunteer at a charity. Let your inner compassionate side come out and volunteer with a charity this year and give back to your community.

3. Try something new each month. Have you always wanted to try surfing? Or maybe you have always wanted to try knitting. Well this year you can try both and at least another ten things this year.

4. Declutter your home. New year, new you. This can also mean clearing your house from unneeded clothes and homeware. You can recycle these or there are plenty of charities that offer free clothes collections who would be very grateful for your old stuff.

5. Support local restaurants. It has been a tough year for a lot of small businesses in the UK due to the cost-of-living crisis, which unfortunately is still rumbling on into 2023, but when you do decide to treat yourself for doing such a good job on your New Year’s resolutions then eat at a local restaurant instead of a chain and support your local community.

So whatever you do this year, remember our top tips on keeping your New Year’s resolution. Try something new, don’t beat yourself up, don’t give up and most of all; enjoy it! 2023 will be full of great opportunities and fun new activities for everyone.

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Keep active this Christmas with your family

Keep active this Christmas with your family

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Home » Get outdoors

Most of us are guilty of over-indulging, laying about and not doing an awful amount at Christmas, spending days upon days eating endless food. I guess though that is part of the beauty and fun of it though. Now the time is rapidly approaching to break out the Celebrations and the turkey, just think about if you did eat and drink all of your favourite Christmassy treats but stayed a little more active as well.

How much better do you think you would feel? Would you feel more awake? Would you concentrate more? Or, feel better about yourself?

Let’s look into how you can stay active with your family and the benefits of doing so.

Keep active this Christmas with your family

Why should I be active?

The turkey and stuffing hangover is just around the corner if you don’t think about what you will do now. Picture the scene, you will eat a week’s worth of food in on sitting and before you think about you are laid out on the sofa opening a box of After Eights to complete full activation of sloth-mode.

Keeping active, obviously after your food has gone down, is a great way to stay alert, feel more awake and boost your concentration. It has been proven that exercise helps to release endorphins that in-turn make you feel better about yourself and feel more awake.

Not only do the endorphins make you feel more awake in the shorter term, but you will also sleep better after doing exercise or some sort of activity. This means that you, your family or your children will be up all night buzzing from the amount of sugar and other good stuff that is in our food.

You will also feel better the day after eating a tonne of food if you have done something after eating that can help burn off some of the food. You won’t wake up so lethargic or tired.

What activities can I do with my family this Christmas?

We have come up with a list of easy things to do this Christmas and this Christmas break to keep you and your family active. This isn’t an exhaustive list but it can give you some good ideas.

1. Go for a walk. Yes, we know it is cold out and everyone suggests to go for a walk but it really does have a huge number of benefits for you and your family. The benefits of walking can include getting you out into nature and away from a screen, improves your lung health, helps you to lose or maintain your weight (perfect for this time of year) and if you walk with them, helps you to connect with friends or family. All around the UK are beautiful places to go walking that will help you clear your mind and relax.

2. Unleash your inner child. Didn’t expect that I bet! Being active is not all about running, walking or hitting the gym. It is about having fun and doing what works for you and your mind. Get the family together and play games that you all enjoy. You will be around and moving without even noticing it.

3. Go for a jog. Yes, the one you were all dreading. The family jog. Get everyone together and out into the cold to burn off some Christmas pud. Make it as long or as short, as I am sure a lot will opt for, get the heart rate going, release endorphins and break into a sweat. You feel so much better after a light jog with everyone, even around the block a few times will do you the world of good.

4. turn off the screens. You may have all been given a fancy new phone, a new laptop or something else techy as a present but don’t we all spend enough time sat in front of screens? Turn off the screens for a couple of hours and get your brain working again by reading a book, doing some exercise or simply talking with each other. There are so many benefits of taking a break from your screen that include enjoying the moment you are in without interruption from a notification, spending more quality time with your family by connecting and talking with them more effectively and improving your sleep away from the blue light from screens.

5. Spend time together. This is the most important thing you can do this Christmas. Be there for one and another. It has not been the easiest of years for a lot of people and a lot of people will just need their family and friends with them to have a good time.
By spending time with people you love and doing the things you love, you are keeping your mind active, decreasing stress levels, increasing your cognitive ability and can lift your mood.

So whatever you end up doing this Christmas, why not try something new to keep you and your family active and awake. We know it is traditionally the time of year to eat too much and lay in the warm, but you never know, you could find yourself a new tradition in going on a Christmas evening walk or by playing games all evening instead of staring at screens.

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Green places mean good head spaces

Green places mean good head spaces

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Home » Get outdoors

Wherever you live in the UK, we are fortunate enough to be fairly close to green spaces. Whether you live in London or live in Aberdeen, we likely to have an amazing park, woodland, countryside or farmland. In fact, only 8% of the UK is classified as urban.

Even in our cities we are fortunate enough to have access to some incredible green spaces and parks that are great all year round. Green spaces and woodlands, yes even in the cities and towns, are home to some of the UK’s most amazing and diverse wildlife and plants that contribute to the fantastic natural world inside of the UK.

But, green spaces are not just good for nature. They help us out more than we can probably thank them for as well.

What is a green space?

There have been many different definitions offered to what a green space is, depending on what discipline is defining it. The most concise and obvious is offered by the Denmark Office of the World Health Organisation who say that green space is ‘any urban land covered by vegetation of any kind’.

This could include parks, open spaces, wooded areas, maintained environments and playing fields.

green places mean good head spaces

Where are green spaces and areas mostly found?

Apart from the obvious answer of the countryside, the counties with the highest percentage of grassland are Powys, Armagh, Dyfed, Gwynedd and Tyrone. The counties with the highest percentage of deciduous woodland  are Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Hampshire and West Glamorgan. And, the counties with the highest percentage of arable land (good for growing crops on) are Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.

This is comparable with maybe an obvious observation, to the counties of the UK with the highest percentage of urban areas. These are City of London, City of Glasgow, Bristol, Greater London and West Midlands.

According to Strike, the city with the most green spaces in the UK is Edinburgh with 49% of the city being green! Either naturally or built and maintained. That is a huge amount of the city which is covered by green space. Its closest competitor is Glasgow with 30% of the city covered.

Why are they important?

Not only do green spaces, both natural and manmade offer homes to the UK’s diverse wildlife, plant and flowers but it also gives us a space to relax, turn off and spend time away from the stresses of everyday life. This is especially apparent in urban areas where it is renowned for being non-stop most of the time so taking some time away from the tube, the office desk or from the computer somewhere green will do you no end of good.

The open spaces and parks in cities also offer a great place to take your children to play sport, go for walks, explore the wildlife in the areas and find new things within nature that they may have never seen before.

There have been recent studies that being exposed to green spaces and to nature is extremely good for your mental health and if you are exercising in it, better for your physical health than exercising in a gym.

According to the Unconventional Route, there are plenty of reasons why you should be exercising outdoors instead of at a gym. For example, it gets boring doing the same old push-ups, pull-ups, and runs. A bored body won’t get fit. Exercising outside can help break you out of your routine and help you get creative with your workouts meaning you will see an improvement on the goals you have set.

Exercising outdoors and in green spaces can inspire you to try new exercises, see new sights whilst exercising, get some fresh air and potentially meet new people who may have the same goals as you, all whilst taking in a better view of trees and birds instead of a wall or a simulation of the outdoors on a screen on a treadmill.

Access to the outdoors and green spaces have also been linked with other aspects of improved physical health. Those living in urban areas but are near to green spaces are said to have better physical health because the accessibility to the green areas means that they are likely to get more exercise and because the leaves, plants and vegetation are helping to absorb pollution and carbon monoxide released by vehicles in cities and nearby. This means there will be cleaner air to breath, cleaner air to spend time in and you will feel better overall away with reduced smog around you.

Green spaces are also good for our mental health. There has been recent growing evidence that access to green spaces helps to lower stress levels, improves sleep, increases happiness and has positive effects on psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety.

But how do green spaces help to improve people’s moods?

According to Active Learning, even a walk in a green space or in nature can help to release endorphins that help us feel better and happier. Being outside in nature also exposes us to sunlight, when there is any in the UK in winter, which helps to boost our serotonin levels and helps us to fend off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can be caused by the colder, darker winter months.

So nature is helping to boost our mood as well by just being there and letting our bodies respond in its natural way.

Nature is also often given as one of the greatest inspirations. Some of the greatest works of art, literature and music have been inspired by nature. You never know, if you spend more time in it, you may come up with the next masterpiece!

Unfortunately as we have all seen in the news lately, the natural world is in turmoil and large swathes of it are being destroyed regularly. Without the work that nature and green spaces do to help us with our lives we would be either bored, unhappy, unhealthy or uninspired. With the destruction of so much of the natural world, both in and out of urban areas, it is clear that something needs to be done to help protect it.

What can we do to help nature and green spaces?

If we want to keep hold of the green spaces that so many of us love and enjoy spending time in, we need to start doing more to protect it.

Imperial College London suggest a few ways to help protect the natural world that we can all do. For example, if we were all to respect our local ecosystems with simple things like picking up litter or not dropping it all, then we could make green spaces inviting and useful to everyone.

Another way we can all help to ensure that our green spaces is by reduce the amount you throw away, reuse what is safe and hygienic to do so and recycle where you can and whatever you can. There are plenty of charities that provide free clothes collections, if you want to recycle your clothes, so you don’t even have to leave your home whilst you recycle.

Shopping sustainably not only gives you the opportunity to reduce textile waste which then in turn creates more waste and harmful products, but by shopping in charity shops you can find something new for your wardrobe at an affordable price.

These are just a couple of ideas of what you can do to help your local green space and the wider natural world by changing one or two aspects of your life. Other ideas include volunteering for a local litter picking group, cutting back on meat, fish and dairy consumption and using locally sourced products.

Our green spaces and the natural world are so vital to our survival in every sense of the word and it is up to us to ensure that ourselves and the future generations can continue using them and reaping the benefits from it.

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Winter time activities for you and your family

Winter time activities for you and your family

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Home » Get outdoors

The clocks have gone back and we know it is hard to get out of the house when now the weather is turning on us. Shorter days that are often plighted with rain, wind and greyness. Despite this, it is still vital to keep active, both mentally and physically, through the often gloomier months.

According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, staying active can help you sleep better, feel better about yourself and reduce anxiety. Staying mentally active is also extremely important to help fend off the ‘winter blues’ and keep in a good frame of mind.

So what can you do to keep both mentally and physically active this winter

Why do I feel low in the winter?

There is a disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can be linked to people’s low moods during the winter months, it is often coined as ‘winter depression’. The symptoms of SAD can include a low mood, irritability, loss of enjoyment or interest in everyday activities, difficulty concentrating and sleeping for longer and waking up lethargic.

SAD is not fully understood and it is not entirely clear what causes it but the link to winter months may be due to the reduced exposure to sunlight. When we don’t see the sun as much we have an increased production of melatonin, a hormone that makes people feel sleepy. People with SAD have higher than usual levels.

We also have a lower production of serotonin. This is a hormone that affects mood, sleep and appetite. When we have a reduced exposure to sunlight it is possible for serotonin levels to drop. This could explain the feeling of depression in the winter months.

Thirdly, our bodies use sunlight to time functions such as when we wake up. Lower sunlight levels and light hours could disrupt our body clocks and disturb our sleep patterns. We all know how we get without enough or proper sleep!

SAD can also affect people of all ages, including children. It is important for everyone of every age to care about their mental health and seek support if you feel you need it.

Winter activities for you and your family

How is SAD treated?

There are some simple sounding ways and some a little more difficult ways to get yourself out of the slump this winter which include lifestyle choices, therapy and counselling sessions.

If you are able to adjust your lifestyle around the winter then it has been suggested that getting some exercise in and getting as much natural light in as possible will help to improve the symptoms of SAD.

Another way suggested by the NHS to undergo light therapy where a specialised box is used to simulate sunlight which can in turn attempt to raise serotonin levels.

A third way suggested is by taking part in mental health therapy sessions to help you identify the route of your low mood and to help you talk through what is causing you concerns. This is also a good way to help find a solution from a mental health professional.

Why is it important to address when you are not feeling quite right?

Thankfully the days of just bottling up our emotions seem to be a thing of the past and people are talking about things when they need to. It is one of the most important things to do for your mental health and a great way to get things off of your mind.

Things that you may think people will find trivial are in fact very important to talk about. Including why you may be feeling a little down this winter.

It is important to talk about things because it is thought that the more you keep the things that upset you or are causing you anxiety bottled up, the more you will think about them, or usually overthink about them. This could potentially make things worse for you and really start to affect your mental health.

Alternatively though, if you don’t want to talk about things or you are not ready to, then you may feel better by trying out some of our ideas to keep you and your family active this winter and help to stave off the long winter blues.

Top 5 activities you can do in the winter with your family

We know the weather in the UK is not particularly good at this time of year so it may put you off from going outside for long periods of time but here are some ways you can do activities inside and outside to keep your family happy and active this winter.

Workout online

I know we are all a little sick of this throwback to the year and long event, that won’t be named, that kept us sll inside, but when the weather is bad and you feel restless watching TV. Why don’t you try out a free online workout. Do this on your own or with your family, you will feel better as soon as you have completed it!

Get the endorphins flowing and get yourself feeling good by completing some great workouts.

Play some games

We know now that picking up a controller and escaping into the world of gaming is easy and fun. But time away from the screens is also beneficial. Most of us spend all day typing away on a computer, then to drive home to sit in front of another screen for hours on end.

Why not try playing board games with your family or try making your own game together. It is a great way to spend an evening that keeps your mind active.

Get stuck into a new book

Give yourself an hour an evening to unwind but at the same time as keeping your mind active and imagination intrigued by reading your favourite book or reading a new book.

Reading not only gets you away from the screens but helps to increase brain connectivity, improves your concentration and helps you to escape to a new world.

Brave the weather

Sometimes a walk in the cold does us all some good and wakes us up a bit. Wrap up in your biggest jumper, brave the weather and take a stroll to your favourite spots to get some fresh air and see some nature.

Or, if you are out and about in the bad weather, maybe go for a run or a jog. That will certainly keep you warm. Do remember though to keep safe when out in bad weather, make sure to tell somewhere we you are going, keep a phone on you and wear high-vis clothing so drivers can see you.

Volunteer your time

If you are a little bored this winter and want to give something back then why don’t you try your hand at volunteering?

It is a great way to stay active and give back to those who may be having a tougher time than yourself at the moment. Times are difficult at the moment but if you could give even one hour a week to something that you feel passionate about supporting, then your effort will be rewarded with the fact that you have helped someone.

Volunteering can be done individually or you can get your whole family involved and make a new routine this winter to keep you all active and occupied.

So whatever you want to do this winter to keep active, then remember that it can be a perfect time to get your family together and try something new or just carry on with something you all enjoy.

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Haunted halloween fun with the family Little Lives UK

Haunted Halloween Fun with the Family

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Home » Get outdoors

It is that time of year again when the ghosts and ghouls come out to play on All Hallows’ Eve and you and your family may be getting in the spooky spirit with the well-trodden path of dressing up and going Trick or Treating.

But what happens if the weather is bad? What will you do if the kids are bored of doing the same thing each year? We have come up with some easy but fun ideas to keep your little monsters entertained this Halloween.

Stream some scream

Get the family together, break open the popcorn and sit down to watch your family scary movies. Take in a classic like Ghostbusters or try something a bit newer like the Coco. It is the perfect time to draw the curtains, get comfy and watch a film together as a family.

Get some scary snacks in, sit in the warm and enjoy a fright-fest together.

Haunted halloween fun with the family Little Lives UK

Carve a creepy pumpkin

Have a little competition with your family on who can cave the scariest pumpkin. Carve a classic Jack-o’-lantern or go for something different like your family animals, family name, or your favourite creepy character. You can also use the inside of the pumpkin for a nice arming autumn soup.

Fun Fact. Jack-o’-lanterns were originally carved into turnips to ward off evil spirits by people in Ireland Scotland but when the Great Famine of Ireland (1845-1849) hit Ireland and a lot of Irish people moved to America for a better life, they started to carve these fearsome faces into the native pumpkin.

Did you know? Halloween has its roots in ancient Celtic rituals where they would celebrate Samhain (pronounced sow-in) meaning ‘end of the summer’ to prepare for the upcoming winter and celebrate the end of the harvest. Villagers would disguise themselves in costumes made of animal furs and skins to ward off phantom visitors and food was left out to placate spirits. Later on, in the Middle Ages, people starting dressing as ghosts and demons and performing acts for food and drink. This is thought to be akin to modern day Trick or Treating.

Bake some creepy cakes

Dust off the apron, get out the flour and roll out the pins. It is time to cut some scary shapes, bake some spooky sponges, and create some creepy cakes. Follow your favourite recipes or create something new. Make the oddest and tastiest treats you can, keep them for yourself or give them to trick or treaters who come to your door.

Show off your fearsome fashion

You may not being going out but you can still scare each other with your very own fashion show. Make some costumes out of anything you can find in the house and put together some marvellous monstrous creations for each other. Often the scariest costumes are the truly homemade ones!

Visit a haunted house

If you want to scare yourself silly and try something new. Try a haunted house or ghost tour in your local area. There are plenty of haunted spots in the UK that are waiting for you to discover to meet the local ghosts.

Ghostly games galore

Get together, switch off the screens and play games. Some games to try are the classic apple bobbing, a mummy sack race (rap each other in a toilet paper and hop to win), an eyeball hunt around your garden (get some fake eyes and stick them up around the house or garden, the first to find the most wins) and pin the spider on the web.

They are all fun, easy and cost effective games that everyone can enjoy.

So whatever you do this Halloween with your family, you can make it cost effective, fun, safe and enjoyable for all without having to brave the cold Autumnal nights and go trick or treating again.

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