The Best Family Friendly Festive Events Happening in the UK for 2021

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Can you believe we are almost in November already!? This year has been such a strange one with some parts feeling like they lasted forever and other parts (like now) feeling like they are zooming by. I am keeping everything crossed for a more "normal" Christmas for everyone this year, one where we can see loved ones and enjoy some festive events and activities too. And it seems I am not alone as many businesses and places across the UK are pushing ahead with their festive events, all with plenty of measures in place to keep us all safe. So below I am sharing some of our must visit events for 2021 to help us all get into the festive spirit this year. 

The events and attractions below are based across the UK and are all easily accessible either by car or public transport. If you are planning on visiting lots of attractions this festive season but don't drive regularly it might be worth looking into temporary insurance cover so you can keep costs down but also get to explore all the festive winter magic the UK has to offer! 

Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Winter Look

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As the colder weather sweeps in, those long warm summer days already feel like a distant memory! If like me you’ve recently brought your winter wardrobe out of storage, only to be horrified by the sheer amount of black, dark grey and navy on offer, you certainly aren’t alone. In general we tend to be braver with fashion in the warmer months when the sun is shining, our mood is good and we’re perhaps feeling a little more confident about our bodies. However as winter comes around, we cover up, we hide away, and we stick to plain, dark colours that we think are easier to layer.

There are many advantages to this, but let’s face it, it can be boring. The good news is, you don’t have to go out and replace your whole wardrobe to update your winter look. There are actually some simple ways you can upgrade your look and how you feel ready for winter and we are sharing some of them below. 

InstaGlam Glo-Up Girls Doll **REVIEW**

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Two of Evelyn's favourite things at the moment have got to be her dolls and surprise toys, like many other kids I am sure. So when we heard about the all new InstaGlam Glo-Up Dolls from Character toys that combine both of those things I knew instantly they would be a big hit. Containing a doll that also comes with 25+ surprises the unboxing is just as much fun as the playing, and there are four dolls to collect! 

The InstaGlam Glo-Up dolls are eye catching even from the shop shelves, with their shimmering and glam packaging they give a feel for what to expect from these fun fashionable dolls. With four dolls to collect I like that you are able to see which doll you are choosing within the box to avoid any duplicates. You can also take a peek at the 25 surprises too as the side of the box opens up via a small Velcro flap to reveal the surprises down the side of the box. 

Postnatal Depression and Me - My Journey

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Having a baby is probably one of the biggest changes and toughest challenges many of us will face. Take away the sleepless nights, financial responsibility and the fact you will probably never get anywhere on time again, its a huge toll on anyone's mental state too. Overnight you go from being responsible for only you, to suddenly becoming a parent, in charge of a whole new person and all of the emotions that go with your new role. 

Overnight you become the provider for a tiny new baby who is dependent on you for everything from eating to comfort. So with all that in mind, its not really surprising that more than one in ten women suffering with varying degrees of postnatal depression and anxiety. 

Supporting Your Child Through Their Exams

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Exams are a big part of any school child's time in education and getting through them can be a stressful and emotional time for everyone. A big part of a child’s development is navigating through their GCSEs and any future exams, A Levels, NVQs, BTEC courses and apprenticeships, depending on what your child wants to do in the future. All the stress, anxiety and often pressure, can take its toll on children if they feel overwhelmed with revision, managing studies and juggling how often they need to revise for exams across the summer. 

To help your child with their studies, here are some tips from this boarding school in Somerset to help your child get through their exams. 

Helping Your Child to Manage Their Emotions

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Being able to show emotion and feeling open and comfortable enough to show emotion is a big deal and its one we should all be doing, emotions are nothing to be ashamed of. However managing our emotions is one of the ways we’re able to handle stressful situations, overcome obstacles and learn to be resilient. Even as adults there are times when we have to learn to be in control and manage our emotions in certain situations such as perhaps work. But children won’t fully know how to do this for themselves just yet but that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk to children about emotions, encourage them to show and share their emotions and how to manage them too. 

From one of the best independent schools in Surrey, we take a look at the ways you can help your child to handle their emotions in school and in daily life.

Raising a Resilient Child

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Whilst we cannot shield our children from all of the hard, stressful stuff that happens in life, we can help them become more resilient and more able to deal with these types of situations. Resilience is key for helping children to develop and something to work upon as they grow older. Building resilience gives children the chance to be themselves, think independently and work on their own initiative. 

As parents, we should be giving them the tools to learn about resilience, which is why I’ve teamed up with a boarding school in Kent to show you tips on how to raise a resilient child.

Helping Your Child With Their Critical Thinking Skills

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Critical thinking is an important life skill that children will often begin to pick up from an early age. When we’re toddlers we learn to think critically through the toys we play, the things we hold and when we’re eating to name just a few ways. When we grow older and learn to think for ourselves, critical thinking encompasses a lot of decisions in school, being able to solve problems and choosing the right decision at the right time and choices we make as adults. 

In this guide from a boys prep school in London, we look at the ways we can help our children with their critical thinking skills, and how they define a person as they grow older.