The Magic of Santa more important than bulging sack of presents as recession hits families

Many parents who are still feeling the financial pinch of a very difficult year will be hoping that the magic of Santa Claus will make up for the lack of extra presents this Christmas.

Research by authors of “My Perfect Christmas” found that many households will be cutting back on the trimmings and stocking-fillers, but still want their children to believe in the magic and tradition of the man.

“It looks like our fantasy Father will be receiving a reality check this Christmas,” says writer and illustrator Ryan Goble.

“One in three of our customers said that while they would ordinarily buy extra gifts from Santa for their kids they would not be doing so this Christmas.”

In a bid to return to less expensive but meaningful gifts, the My Perfect Christmas book uses state-of-the-art photo technology to make children the star of the story.

The story highlights the excitement of Santa’s visit and traditions such as putting out a carrot for his reindeer.

“Parents love the book as much as the kids do,” says Goble.

“Children like to see themselves on the page and hear their name in the story. It’s a great way to introduce them to books, and that’s why My Perfect Christmas is such a hit with parents.”

My Perfect Christmas is available at a special introduction price of £19.99 until October 31st from MyPerfectStory.com.

Will you be making financial cutbacks this Christmas?

UK parents worry about but don’t monitor kids’ online activities, survey finds

Take a look through our articles about the Internet and you’ll already find plenty of examples of parents worried about what their children are up to online.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that another survey has raised similar concerns.

The computer security firm Trend Micro interviewed over 1,000 British parents and teenagers and found out:

• that over half of parents claim not to have a clue what their children are doing online.
• only 3% of parents are actively monitoring their child’s Internet activities.
• 55% of parents said they wished their kids would spend more time learning than on social networks.
• Nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they were worried that under-18s would lose essential face-to-face and English language skills as a result.

“The best way for a parent to overcome their fears about technology and what their children are up to online is to take the time to have a look at the technology their children are using,” said Will Gardner, CEO, Childnet. “Better still, get them to guide you through it. A conversation on how to keep safe and look after others online is a must.”

“Social interaction online is evolving at a constant and rapid rate and the digital generation know all the tricks of the trade,” said Rik Ferguson, security expert at Trend Micro. “With the summer holidays fast approaching, parents should put simple but effective measures in place to ensure their kids do not fall victim to unnecessary dangers. Parents need to become more tech savvy first before they can start educating their kids on what’s right and wrong.”

Trend Micro’s ten online safety tips are:

1. Keep all computers in common areas.
2. Agree to time limits for using the Internet and all social devices.
3. Keep software security up-to-date.
4. Talk with your kids about entering personal information online.
5. Run a manual scan with your software security and check browser history.
6. Set profiles on social networking sites to private.
7. Encourage children to be respectful of others.
8. Teach children to have multiple passwords that are NOT associated with names, nicknames or commonly found information over the net.
9. Most importantly, keep informed about the latest outbreaks and dangers on the Internet.
10. Buy Trend Micro internet security 2009. The latest software has enhanced parental controls. This means that parents can better tailor controls depending on the particular family member. New functionalities include the ability to control the date and time each child can go on the Internet and also the option to specify categories of information (such as home addresses, telephone numbers, passwords, etc.) they do not wish to be sent from a computer.

Most British families eating at home, survey finds

Feeding a growing family can be expensive enough without dining out on a regular basis, so it’s perhaps little surprise that a new survey has found that nearly three-quarters of British families are choosing to eat home-cooked meals rather than in restaurants.

Almost three-quarters (73%) of those families asked said that they would opt for home-cooked food over takeaways.

Respondents were also less likely to spend time in the pub, with 40% of family respondents saying that they would spend more time drinking at home, while 11% were more likely to venture out to the pub in the next 12 months than they had done previously.

Families with children were shown to be more cost-conscious across these activities than single people and couples. 57% of couples and 54% of singles agreed that they would be more likely to eat at home rather than dining out.

Roughly the same percentages – 57% of couples and 55% of singles – said they would opt for home-cooked food over a takeaway. Only 31% of couples and 22% of singles said they were more likely to drink alcohol at home rather than going out, while 13% of couples and 24% of single people said they were now more likely to head out to the pub.

Other statistics included:

• 75% of families intend to spend less of their household expenditure on going out to the pub or restaurants, compared to 58% of both couples and single people
• 73% of families said they would spend less on going out to the cinema or theatre, compared to 56% of couples and 57% of singles
• 69% of families intend to cut back on sporting events, compared to 56% of couples and 51% of singles
• 63% of families will cut back on their holidays and travel, compared to 45% of couples and 46% of singles
• 56% of families intend to spend less on in-home entertainment, compared to 47% of couples and 43% of singles

So that’s the figures, but what do you think? Have you altered your food spending patterns in the current economic climate?

Should you talk to your children about the economy?

One of the big responsibilities of any parent is how much to talk to their children about serious, complicated and potentially worrying issues.

On one hand, most parents want to allow children to maintain some degree of innocence, and to be shielded from the worst the world has to offer.

On the other hand, innocence is so quickly lost these days, and children need to be aware of certain issues so that they can be kept safe.

The current economic climate is causing many families to reassess what they spend their money on and how they live their lives. For many, it may mean a change in lifestyle because the mortgage costs more or the cost of living has increased.

Children aren’t stupid, and they’ll know something’s going on. How much should you tell them about the credit crunch and all that jazz?

Honesty, simplicity, and relevance is the best policy.

It may be that a child asks you what “the credit crunch” is. It may be that you don’t fully understand the intricacies of the global problem yourself (I certainly don’t) but by simplifying the situation and making it relevant to your family, it’s more likely to mean something to your child.

It’s probably best not to force the issue. If your child is showing no interest in the subject at all, it’s not worth making a big issue out of it – that could backfire and cause the child to become anxious about the situation.

It will depend on the age of the child as to if, when and how you tell them. Very young children are ultimately looking to you for their security, and no doubt you’re doing your very best to see that their needs are met. Why confuse them?

On the other hand, older children and teenagers may be much more inquisitive, possibly asking more demanding questions.

You might also find yourself being asked why you can’t afford those new trainers, mobile phone or games console. This is a good time to explain that, as a family, you have to look after your money and spend it more wisely.

Don’t make them feel guilty for wanting new things. Instead, suggest that, at least for the next few months, you’ll all have to find other less expensive ways of having fun and entertaining yourselves.

Your kids might get upset or stroppy, but often they do appreciate being included in things that affect the family. You could even begin introducing them to budgeting – though you’ll probably want to make sure you’re doing this yourself, first – as this will stand them in good stead for adulthood.

Every family is different, and you know your children the best, but these are some guidelines that you might want to adapt so that your family continues to feel secure and informed even in these more difficult times.

• What do you think?
• Have you talked to your kids about money and the current economic situation?
• How did they react?
• What advice would you give to other parents?

Bad economy: divorce down, domestic violence up

Last year, when the scale of the economic crisis was still dawning upon us, the UK’s Office of National Statistics found that the slowing property market could be reducing the divorce rate.

That doesn’t mean that relationships have suddenly got significantly better. In fact, financial turmoil places a real strain on relationships, and new statistics from US-based LegalMatch paint a much more worrying picture.

While this year’s divorce rate increase of 12% was much less than in previous years (28%), cases of domestic violence had increased over previous years.

Added to this, in November 2008, the National Domestic Abuse Hotline, headquartered in Austin, Texas, reported a 21 percent increase in calls compared to last year.

While I’m a strong believer in marriage, the numbers suggest a sad story: that many in relationships where one partner has violent tendencies are even less able to leave now that the financial situation is so dire, and yet that same predicament is obviously leading some people to higher levels of aggression.

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can provide a greater sense of security.

What’s really important is to talk to your partner straight away when it comes to dealing with financial problems.

First Choice offers more free child places than ever before

First Choice has made a pretty big thing of its free child places and child-friendly holiday activities, and now it has announced that it is to offer more free places than ever before.

Last year, over 70,000 kids went free on First Choice holidays. Seven thousand of those learnt to swim, 4,000 learnt to play better football, and 1,500 kids danced, sang and acted.

These free child places are available across a wide range of great family properties, most of which offer free kids clubs and other fantastic activities to keep children occupied on holiday without breaking the budget.

More information is available at FirstChoice.co.uk

Seven tips to beat the rising food shopping bill

A recent survey carried out by Organised Mum found that three-quarters of mums are spending at least £20 per week more on food, with 25% saying it’s at least £40 per week more.

When asked what measures families are taking to cut down weekly food bills, 59 per cent said they are taking greater care when planning meals and are generally trying to buy less, a further 22 per cent said they were buying the same products but have switched to cheaper own-brand versions and 19 per cent have even ditched their favourite supermarket for a cheaper alternative.

Sarah Sadler at Organised Mum commented, “More now than ever, families need to ensure they are getting value for money from what they spend on food each week, but focusing on what you buy is just as important as not overspending in the first place. Our survey has already revealed that people
are making changes to the way they shop and that they are prepared to look
at different ways of making cut backs if needed. A little bit of good old fashioned organisation and planning can also do wonders for your bank balance”.”

Here are Sarah’s seven tips for saving money on food:

1. Buy your free range eggs from local farms rather than the supermarket at around 75p for a dozen rather than £1.50 for half a dozen. Eggs are also very versatile and can make a great evening meal for the family.
2. Buy your meat from the supermarket “reduced” cabinets and freeze it for use at a later date.
3. Buy a bread making machine where you can make a loaf of bread for around 52p compared with a premium brand at around £1.20 per loaf. You get to wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread and it won’t have anywhere near as many preservatives in it, which can only be a good thing.
4. Change your lunch habits. Make your sandwiches at home in the morning before you leave for work, or do one single shop at the supermarket on a Monday morning and buy everything you need for your lunch that week. You will still save pounds over buying pre-packed sandwiches every day.
5. Look out for special offers at your supermarket, stock up on good deals – but don’t be tempted to overspend on something that you didn’t need. Stick to your list and only indulge in special offers if you need or will need the item anyway.
6. Take the time to sit down and make a weekly meal plan making sure that you include recipes that will use any food stuffs that are nearing their use-by-date. When making the list ensure that you have considered the week’s activities. For example, one of your children may be out at a sleepover and won’t require dinner that night. You can then use the meal plan to make a shopping list that makes sure you only buy the food you will need for that week’s meals.
7. Finally, the golden rules of shopping: don’t shop when you are hungry. Inevitably, if you food shop whilst hungry you are more likely to be tempted by the mouth watering delicacies on show.

These are by no means exhaustive ideas. What are your money-saving tips? How is your family being affected by the “credit crunch”? Share in the comments below.

Learning During Playtime

In this article, Candi Blake looks at how playtime can so easily be used to measure a child’s learning and development, without stopping the fun!

We have all heard it more than once; children are like sponges. They absorb every word and every action, even when you think they’re not looking. A child’s brain develops more in the first few years of life than at any other time. From the minute they are born, babies are aware of their surroundings and interested in exploring the world around them. Scientists have proven that from the first days of life, a baby’s brain is in constant motion and they are always actively learning. They are busy observing and gathering knowledge about their surroundings.

As a way to measure the progress of a child’s development, paediatricians refer to a guide to help check a child’s progress. Developmental milestones are tasks that most children can do at a certain age range. Although, every child develops at a different speed and even children that are developing normally may reach a particular milestone at a different time. These milestones include: imagination, education, language, dexterity, locomotion, social, and emotional. For example, some basic milestones that a 3 month old is accomplishing can include:

Emotional ~ learns trust and enjoys being cuddled
Social ~ enjoys playing and attention and smiles and recognizes parents
Locomotion ~ maintains head upright during tummy time
Dexterity ~ plays with fingers and extends arms toward objects
Language ~ turns head in the direction of someone speaking and babbles whether alone or with others
Education ~ recognizes parents voice and maintains interest in something for about a minute
Imagination ~ smiles at self in mirror

One great way to further the development of these milestones is with the use of developmental toys. Developmental toys make playtime not only fun but help your child learn and develop important skills at the same time. These toys are made for babies and children of all ages and play an important role in a child’s learning process. It can be something as simple as a brightly colored stuffed toy for a baby or a logical thinking game for a child. Of course loving and nurturing a child is always the number one priority of any good parent. There is a world of opportunity out there and developing necessary skills is the building blocks of a bright future.

For more information about developmental toys and great places to buy them, visit my blog at http://babybraintoys.blogspot.com/

This article is provided by Amazines.com – The ULTIMATE Article Database

“Grandad-olescents” on the rise: 50-65 have new views on retirement

Harrison Ford and Madonna are just two role models for the 50-65 age group, helping to change the way they view their retirement plans.

A new study by pensions company AEGON suggests that retirement is almost a second adolescence for some, with people now looking towards a world trip or a new career when their current working lifestyle ends.

Over 2,000 people between the ages of 50 and 65 were surveyed to gauge their attitudes towards retirement and to see what sort of financial provision they have in place.

The survey reveals that 56% expect to carry on working in some capacity after they reach retirement age (which will no doubt please the Government) and, for most, not because they have to.

More than one in ten said ‘love of the job’ made them want to stay in the work force, while 14% argued that they were simply ‘too young’ to retire. Interestingly, 12% said they would like to try out a completely different career in their retirement.

Those who don’t want to continue working are looking to far-flung destinations, with over a fifth of people taking a holiday trip of a lifetime, including long-haul touring, travelling around Europe, or action and adventure holidays.

Celebrities like Sir David Attenborough, Dame Judi Dench, and Madonna are setting the standard for those at retirement age.

Financially speaking, 42% of those surveyed thought that they’d be better off than their parents, and 32% better off than their children.

However, over half admitted that they could have been better prepared for retirement had they thought about planning for it sooner.

Rachel Vahey, Head of Pensions Development at AEGON, commented, “Retirement isn’t the abrupt cliff edge it once was and, for many of today’s baby boomers, retirement age marks a new and exciting chapter of their lives. But if you want to make adventurous life choices and have a more flexible approach to retirement, it requires careful planning. Younger generations should take note and make sure that they have enough income to enjoy their second adolescence.”

Young children’s academic development heavily influenced by family affluence

A new study by UK children’s charity the Sutton Trust suggests that economic factors play a huge role in the academic and learning development of young children.

They claim that research on children born in the years 2000 and 2001 shows that, even between the ages of 3 and 5, less bright children from more affluent families are catching up academically with very bright children from poorer families.

By age seven, many have caught up or even overtaken them.

The Trust claims that this wide social divide hasn’t changed in thirty years.

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Parents should seek compensation over child benefit data loss, online portal claims

After the recent fiasco regarding the loss of two CDs containing the personal details of twenty-five million people either claiming or receiving child benefits, a leading UK parents’ portal has recommended that concerned parents seek compensation from the British Government, for breach of the 1998 Data Protection Act.

“The Data Protection Act clearly states that a data controller must protect private individuals’ data from falling into the wrong hands,” said Steve Masters, editor of UK Parents Lounge.

More important is the advice already officially given to all parents:

1. Check the bank account into which child benefit is paid. Any transaction which seems unusual should be reported. There’s little a fraudster could do to the actual bank account with just its account number and sort code.

2. Check mail, as fraudsters could attempt to set up new credit agreements (for example, for a mobile phone or credit card) in your name.

3. Be vigilant with letters or phone calls claiming to come from your bank.

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75% of British mums find organising child’s party stressful

According to recent research from the children’s party organisers Les Enfants, three-quarters of UK mums find organising a child’s party stressful, while 26% feel pressured to arrange bigger and better parties each year.

Of the respondents, full-time working mothers find party organising most stressful and feel the most pressure to throw better parties each year, in comparison to stay-at-home mums or mums who work part time. Full-time working mums are also more likely to spend more on parties and theyÂ’’re least in favour of party bags.

The survey revealed that the average cost of a child’Â’s party is in the region of £200. Given that 64% of respondents said they hold birthday parties every year and 70% had more than one child, the costs start to add up. Most parents (44.9%) spend between £100 and £200 per party while 35.8% spend less than £100. However, 11% spend up to £300, just under 5% spend up to £500 and almost 3% are willing to fork out up to £1000 per party.

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