Category Archives: Parent Advice

A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming an Emergency Foster Carer

When children have to enter the foster care system, they are often traumatised, scared, and confused. The first foster parents that care for a child in this situation are referred to as short term emergency foster carers, and it’s important that they’re well equipped to deal with the children that could come into their care temporarily. Foster parents are carefully screened by foster agencies, so if you want to become an emergency short term foster parent read this guide for help:

Image taken from Flickr

Call your department of social services and request information on emergency fostering. You’ll be able to find the information online on DirectGov.co.uk too, so read up on it.

The foster carer’s role is to provide high quality care for a child. You may be required to work with therapists, teachers, and doctors to help children deal with any emotional trauma or disabilities too.

A wide range of people are needed to care for foster children as children have very different needs. You’ll need to be willing to understand a child’s heritage, ethnic origin, culture, and language. You can become a carer from any type of background. You don’t need to be married either; you can be single, divorced, or living with a partner. Gay men and lesbians can become foster carers too. Providing you have a good support network and in good health, you should be fine to become an emergency foster carer no matter your age, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Preparation and Training

People who want to become any kind of foster carer need to go through preparation and an assessment. Usually, this is what you can expect:

Having to attend groups where you’ll learn about the needs of children coming into foster care.
Visits from a social worker.
A social worker will then prepare a report which will be presented to an independent fostering panel, which recommends whether you can become a foster carer.
You should expect an annual review and training to ensure you’re still fit to be a foster carer.

Payment

All foster carers are given an allowance which should cover the cost of caring for the child in their home.
If working for an agency, this amount will be set by them.
Fostering is now being seen as a more ‘professional’ role, and a lot of local authorities are running schemes, which pay carers a fee. This is sometimes linked to the child’s needs, but also a reflection of the skills, experience, and expertise of the foster carer.
Foster carers also get tax relief on up to £10,000 of their earnings, plus allowances.

However, if you’re considering doing this for the money then you’d be best off finding another job. You should foster children because you want to help, certainly not for the money.

If you like the sound of becoming a foster carer, then you need to take the first step and contact your local fostering agency. You can also join forums like the Fostering Information Exchange Network to share knowledge with other foster carers. Good luck!

How to Spot Depression in Your Child

If you were going to describe the standard teenager, you might say ‘moody’. Teenagers seem to feel things way more intensely than us adults, and experience exhilarating emotional highs with crashing lows. However, being depressed is a different matter altogether. It isn’t just about being moody – it’s a mood disorder, and a serious mental health condition. People often think that teens can’t get mood disorders like depression and bipolar, but the sad truth is that they can. If you’d like to be able to spot depression in your child, read on:

Image taken from flickr

The fact of the matter is, the average age of depression is 14 year old. By the end of their teen years, around 20% of teens will have depression. Over 70% of teens with depression will be able to overcome it with therapy and medication, so it’s important that it’s addressed.

The following are some of the symptoms to look out for when looking for depression. If these symptoms last a couple of weeks or more, it could be depression:

Writing about death, giving away their belongings, and comments similar to ‘you’re better off without me’.
Complaints of physical pain.
Poor performance at school or college.
Critical comments about themselves and behaviour problems.
Loss of energy, social withdrawal, boredom, and withdrawal from their usual activities.
Slowness, physical agitation, pacing back and forth or repetitive behaviour.
Excessive late night activity, too much/too little sleep, trouble getting up in the morning.
Weight gain or weight loss.
Withdrawal from friends and family.
Irritable, sad, empty moods and the belief that life is meaningless.

Now, try not to worry too much if your child is displaying the above behaviour. Much of the behaviour above can be considered normal for a teen. If you suspect your teen may have depression or bipolar, then you need to take them to see a health or mental health professional to be sure.

This condition commonly runs in families, and may be triggered by a stressful life event. This isn’t something to be ashamed of, it should simply be treated as soon as possible. Take a look at this site for more useful information on depression in teens.

Some of the effects of teen depression include:

Problems at school.
Running away from home.
Drug and alcohol abuse.
Low self esteem.
Internet addiction.
Reckless behaviour.
Violence.

Warning Signs to Look Out for:

Talking or making jokes about suicide.
Saying things like, ‘there’s no way out’ and, ‘I’d be better off dead’.
Writing stories or songs about death, dying, or suicide.
Saying goodbye to friends and family for the last time.
Looking for weapons/pills.

If you suspect your teen may be depressed, you need to speak up right away. Even if you’re unsure, whatever the issue is, it needs to be addressed. Make sure you share your concerns with your teen in a loving, non-judgmental way, and let them know why things are worrying you. Encourage them to share what they’re going through. Always trust your instincts, even if your teen claims that nothing is wrong…denial is a strong emotion.

Thanks for reading!

Does Your Son Or Daughter Want To Drive A Car? Read This Now!

Every parent will inevitably have to deal with their offspring’s request to learn to drive and their wishes to pass their driving tests. It is not a subject that some parents like to deal with, especially those that are overly protective of their children!

But as they approach 17, they will doubtless be thinking about the freedom having their own car will bring them, as well as the number of opportunities that will be open to them. For example, employers are far more likely to take on youngsters at their companies if they have full, clean driving licences.

Image Credit

If your son or daughter has decided that they want to start learning to drive, here are a few hints and tips to help make your journey (excuse the pun) a more bearable one!

Get your child to apply for a driving licence

The first thing that anyone needs to do being taught how to drive on public roads is to apply for a provisional licence. As long as your child is at least 15 ¾ years old, they will be able to apply.

However, the only caveat is that they can’t get behind the wheel of a car until their 17th birthday, so it’s probably easier just to wait until then before applying for a provisional licence.

Find an approved driving instructor

Assuming that your son or daughter is at least 17 years of age, it is now time to find them an approved driving instructor.

Just like how those learning to drive need to pass tests, approved driving instructors have to pass a rigorous set of tests in order for them to be qualified for teaching others how to drive.

Alternatively, you could teach them how to drive yourself, as long as you are over 21, hold a full driving licence for the vehicle they want to learn in, and both you and your offspring are insured to drive your car.

I would recommend getting a qualified approved driving instructor to teach your child how to drive, as they won’t pick up any of your bad habits nor are you likely to “fall out” with each other.

Take the theory test

Once your offspring has had some experience on the road and has done a lot of studying (for example, reading the Highway Code), it is time to put them forward for their theory test!

Their driving instructor will be the best judge of determining when your son or daughter is ready to take their theory test, but if the instructor tells you that they are now ready to be put forward, don’t hesitate to book theory test today!

Take the practical test

Assuming that your child has passed their theory test with flying colours and their instructor feels that they have enough experience on the road to tackle the practical test, it will then be time to put them forward in it!

If your son or daughter is comfortable driving their instructor’s car, they will normally be able to take their practical test in it rather than in someone else’s car.

From Hampers to Champers: Unique and Thoughtful New Baby Gifts

Often, we get stuck in a present-giving rut. When our friends and loved ones are welcomed into the delight (and horror) of parenthood, we want to commemorate their new journey with a token of our love. The thing is, the gifts that are available for new babies can be a little, well, dull. If you want a thoughtful gift for the new parents that is a little different from the usual plethora of photo frames and stuffed toys, then look no further:

Hampers

Baby gift hampers are always a welcome help for new parents, particularly those that are brand new parents for the first time. Think about all the things that new parents need, and are likely to run out off. You can tailor the hamper to suit the sex of the baby, or the interests of the new parents for a truly unique twist on a new baby gift. So many parents have experienced the stress of running out of wet wipes at three in the morning or using the last of the nappy rash cream on a Bank Holiday when the shops are shut for two days. Think about all the things that you run out of regularly as a parent and buy accordingly. Not only is it thoughtful, but the parents will love you as they can avoid maximum stress with their new baby ‘survival kit’.

Champagne

While the baby cannot indulge in the bubbles, the new parents can. So many people get wrapped in buying the new baby gifts that we often overlook the parents in all of this. After all, new mummy has done all the hard work for the last nine months and she is not even reaping the rewards! Reward both mum and dad for their hard work and allow them to celebrate their new bundle of joy with a good, quality bottle of champers. Who wouldn’t like to receive a gift of bubbles, regardless of the occasion? Just ensure that the whole bottle is consumed in one sitting, or there may be fights over who is doing the night feed with a hangover!

Vintage Baby Gifts

If you are struggling what to buy the baby, then take a look at the plethora of vintage websites, and handmade websites that are plastered all over the internet. With a vast array of vintage gifts to give to the new baby you will be spoilt for choice. Take a look at silver dummies, old style lace shawls and personalised wooden toys. There truly is something for everyone, regardless of their love of all things twee.

Personalised Gifts

Personalised gifts are the perfect way to show the new family that you care. Personalised gifts are an excellent way of showing how much thought you have put into their gifts. You will win serious brownie points with the parents with a gift like this. Think personalised children’s story books, personalised door signs as well as comforters, dummies, wooden keepsakes, dressing gowns and so much more. It truly is the gift with a definite personal touch.

4 Common Operations A Parent Might Need After The Age Of 50

Flickr photograph

Nobody like to dwell on the fact that we’re all getting older, but sometimes it’s good to take a look at some of the most common health issues faced to prepare ourselves for what’s in store. Luckily, most people manage to drift through life without anything substantial occurring, but there are still a lot of minor problems we might encounter in the future. With this in mind, today I’m going to give you some basic information about 4 of the most common operations a parent might need to endure after the age of 50. Like it or not, our bodies do start to deteriorate around this time, and you’ll be far more relaxed if you know what’s coming.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to scare you, and you may be lucky enough to never have to go under the knife to keep your health. I just want to put the information out there in the hope of educating people who are interested. So, give me your full concentration, and we’ll get started…

Knee Replacement

Although doctors and fitness experts tell you that exercising regularly is a good idea (and they’re right), this does take a heavy toll on your joints, which is why so many people end up having to undergo a knee replacement at some point during their 50s and 60s. Don’t stress too much though. While this might have been a major operation in the past, advancements in procedures and prosthetics have made it far less complex, and so far fewer complications occur.

Hip Replacement

This operation is slightly more complex, and so you’ll have to take it easy for a long time if your doctor recommends you need a new hip. My grandmother actually underwent this procedure a few years ago, and although she recovered perfectly, she was unable to walk or get out of bed for around ten weeks. Considering this, you’ll definitely want to make lots of preparations before going under the knife, as your family will need to rally round to ensure you’re okay.

Cataracts Removal

When you reach a certain age, your eyes will also begin to cause you problems. Most people just wake up one morning with blurry vision, and this then starts to become worse over the course of a few weeks. If you notice this happening to you, it’s vital that you consult a doctor at the earliest possible opportunity, as there is a chance the issue can be dealt with without the need for an operation if you catch it early enough.

Varicose Veins Removal

You’ve probably noticed that some mature people have veins that stick out a little more than most of us. This is a condition known as varicose veins, and it affects around 1 in 6 people at some point in their lives. It’s never a good idea to travel on an aeroplane if you suffer from this, and the operation to have them removed could knock you off your feet for a few days, but other than that it’s nothing to worry about.

So, having read about some of the most common operations parents over the age of 50 might have to endure, you should be better prepared for any eventuality.

See you soon!

The Top Secret Delights for a Busy Mum Taking a Break

Every Mum in the world knows that the time they have to themselves is incredibly precious. This is why it is always a great idea to have some ideas to hand for any chances you get to do something pleasant. The following are some of my top secret delights.

Play Some Bingo

I remember that when my Mum used to play bingo it was a huge social event for her. She would get her hair done, look out her best clothes and have a huge smile on her face. I was always interested in seeing what her bingo hall was like but when I finally went once I left a bit disappointed. Thankfully, the option to play some bingo on the internet now lets me enjoy the same sort of fun my Mum had without leaving home. I probably even spend less money than she did, as I always play free bingo at gamevillage.com. I haven’t yet enjoyed a big win but for the very little money I have spent it is working out to be an incredibly cheap hobby. I recently started playing on my mobile phone as well, so I can grab a few minutes wherever I am able to get some action.

Watch a DVD

When I lived alone I used to watch films all the time. Once the family came along I had to stop this hobby for a while. Now, I always have one or two DVDs tucked away waiting for the chance to watch them. Just last night I settled down with The Book Thief after everyone else was tucked up in bed. It meant a later night than usual but it was worth it to see a magical movie and have some quality time on my own. If you haven’t had time to watch a DVD in the last few months then you should make the time to do so. It is a perfect way to transport yourself to a different world and forward about the stresses and strains of family life for a while.

Looking at Photos

If there is one thing which might be even better than the other two I’ve already mentioned it is looking at old photos of our family. At the moment, we have a mixture of old printed photos and digital ones. I’ve been scanning the old ones and then putting them all onto a cloud storage site. It really is amazing to look back at these old pictures and see how much the kids have changed in a relatively short period of time. Some of the pictures can instantly transport me back in time just by looking at them. There are some from our first ever family holiday at the seaside and I can almost taste the salt in my mouth and feel the sun on my back when I look at them. Sifting through these priceless images also gives me a wonderful incentive to keep on taking more family snaps in the future.

How Parents Can Treat Their Kids for Doing Well at School

All parents want their children to do well at school, so when your child actually knuckles down and gets some great work done it can be a joyous occasion for all! A lot of parents choose to treat their children for doing well at school, but what exactly can you do for them? Here are some great ideas that are sure to get them motivated to continue to do well:

Image Credit: Flickr

Take them to The Zoo

Kids of all ages love the zoo, but young children get especially excited when it’s time to see the monkeys, giraffes, lions, and other cool animals. You shouldn’t underestimate the power of your local zoo if you want your child to revise hard, do their homework, or get a good result in a test/exam.

Buy Tickets to a Theme Park

Tickets to a local theme park will have your child lying awake with excitement for weeks, so it’s probably best you don’t tell them you’re planning on doing this too far in advance, or they probably won’t do that well at school! Taking them for a fun filled day out on all of their favourite rides and rollercoasters should encourage them to keep up the good work too!

Invite Their Friends Round

If you don’t have the kind of money to take them to the zoo or a theme park, perhaps you could invite a few of their friends round and put on a few snacks. You could leave them to play to their own devices, or you could turn it into a full on party for all the kids, with food, games, and a bounce house! You can find jumpers for sale online to make this get together extra fun for the kids.

Buy Them A Small Toy

Perhaps your child has had their eye on a small toy for a while. You could always treat them to something little to say you’re proud of them for doing so well! However, I don’t advise buying them something too large as they might begin to expect this from you every time they get a good mark or score.

Cook Them Their Favourite Meal

If you’re on a real budget, you can still treat your child to their favourite meal one dinner time. Forget the chicken, potatoes, and veg (unless this is their favourite meal), and offer to cook them anything they like; spaghetti bolognese, burger and chips, or even pizza! Make their wish your command.

Take Them to Their Favourite Restaurant

On the other hand, you could treat your child to dinner at their favourite restaurant. This shouldn’t cost too much money, as kids usually like places like Mcdonalds and KFC as far as restaurants go. Either way, they’ll love being treated and should continue to try hard in their studies!

Although it’s nice to treat your child when they do well at something, I do give a few words of caution. Treating them too often for what should be considered as ‘normal behaviour’ can make them grow to expect certain things for nothing. Only treat your child on extra special occasions and it should have the desired effect!

What to do when your child damages or loses a tooth

As they grow up your little ones will be seeking out more and more adventurous activities. They’ll also start eating foods that haven’t received your seal of approval. Both bring with them an increased risk of damaging or losing teeth. Knowing what to do when this happens could mean the difference between rescuing your child’s tooth or losing it and it could spare a whole lot of unnecessary pain. Below is some advice from the Cuffley Village Dental Practice.

It’s probably the furthest thing on your mind when you’re outdoors having a good time with your family, but as the summer approaches so too does an increased risk of broken and damaged teeth. Spending more time outdoors, participating in adventure activities and crunching down on hard candies and tough foods could all end up in a chipped, broken or knocked-out tooth.

Dental emergencies don’t keep office hours and finding an emergency dentist can take time, even when you are at home. Taking the right actions and doing so swiftly can help you save the tooth or in the least, minimise unnecessary pain.

1. If it’s a milk tooth, it’s probably fine.

Since milk teeth are destined to fall out eventually, if your child has a milk tooth knocked out, it’s not necessary to have the tooth reinserted. So no need to panic. A lost tooth chart is a handy way of tracking tooth loss and will help you work out which teeth are permanent. But do check for facial fractures and bruising. And remember to dispatch the tooth fairy!

2. Preserve a knocked-out permanent tooth. Then get to the dentist. Fast.

If a permanent tooth gets knocked out at the root there is a good chance a dentist can reinsert it-provided you act quickly: Pick up the tooth by the crown. Do not touch the roots. Gently rinse the tooth and if possible, try to place it back in the socket. Get your child to gently bite down on it. If you can’t put the tooth back in their mouth, keep it in a glass of milk. Get hold of a dentist immediately and bring the tooth along. Ice any bruising.

3. A small chip in a permanent tooth is not an emergency.

If your child has lost a small part of their permanent tooth and it doesn’t hurt, you should be able to make a normal dentists appointment and seek dental treatment once you’re at home. A dentist will usually either smooth the tooth down or add some filling. In the meantime, you could use an emery board to file down any jagged edges that might hurt the tongue, lip or mouth.

4. A fractured permanent tooth requires immediate attention.

A fractured tooth can be extremely painful. When a tooth is cracked, the inside of the tooth is usually damaged and a dentist may be unable to save it. A dentist will need to assess whether the tooth pulp is damaged which would require a root canal treatment. Alternatively, a crown or bridge may be necessary.

While you find an emergency dentist and make your way to their practice, you can protect the sore tooth with gum or some moulded candle wax. Place any broken off fragments in milk.

5. Stay calm.

Whether you’re a child, teen or adult, damaging a tooth can be traumatic. It’s important not to panic and give your child the reassurance that everything is under control: You will get them to an emergency dentist as soon as possible and regardless of the damage, they still have the prospect of a perfect healthy smile ahead of them.

Tips For Your Child Custody Battle

Nobody gets married with the intention of splitting from their partner a few years later and getting involved with a messy child custody battle, but unfortunately, this happens quite a lot in the modern world, and so you need to be as prepared as possible for any eventuality. I recently went through something like this, and although it was stressful and upsetting, with the right advice from my lawyer, I managed to pull through. With that in mind, today I’m going to relay some handy tips that could make the process a little more bearable for all involved. Of course, your partner may act incredibly unreasonably in this situation, but that doesn’t mean you have to bring yourself down to their level.

Image link here

At the end of the day, you want to get through this is the quickest time possible to avoid it having adverse effects on your children. I can tell you from personal experience that family breakups can have a massively negative impact on your child’s mental health, and it’s not always obvious until they’re a little older. Indeed, my own parents split when I was four years old, and it took me until the age of around 22 to completely recover from it. That might sound extreme, but it’s the god’s honest truth.

So, take a read through some of my tips, and hopefully you’ll limit the chances of this happening to your kids…

Tip #1: Always Remain Calm

Situations will almost certainly become heated quickly during a child custody battle, but you need to remain calm and rational at all times. This is the best way to show the authorities that you are the best parent for the job.

Tip #2: Never Lie In Court

You might be tempted to tell a couple of small lies in court, but this should be avoided like the plague. Any lawyer with the same level of experience as Attorney Mark Goldstein will tell you that getting busted for one lie means your entire case falls apart.

Tip #3: Think About The Child

Child custody battles happen because two parents each believes they’re better for the child concerned. Even so, don’t try to get residency for your kids if you know in the back of your mind that your ex partner would do a better job.

Tip #4: Be Patient

Divorces can take a long time to come through, and child custody cases aren’t that different. Your son or daughter will have to speak with social services representatives to help determine their happiness levels, and you’ll have to jump through a lot of hoops. This is just something you have to accept.

Tip #5: Don’t Be Vindictive

In situations where a couple co-owned a property, it’s usually the partner who keeps it that gets custody of the child. However, as I’m sure all the rational people reading this article understand, that is not a good enough reason to fight for a child you’re unable to look after properly.

Well, hopefully know you’ll be a little better prepared should anything go wrong in the future. None of us like to imagine things like this happening, but they do, and so we shouldn’t avoid the issue.

Follow my advice, and everything should go smoothly.

Busy Mums: Cleaning Tips For The Home

Working long hours, cooking, cleaning, running children to and from school and after school activities, occasionally catching up on some sleep, a mum’s life is all go go go! When it comes to cleaning, take a few of these tips from other busy mums and make cleaning your house daunting!

Be efficient: Mum’s are really good at multi-tasking, use this to your advantage! Incorporate moving around the house with tidying, never leave a room without taking something with you to put away. Keep cleaning equipment throughout the house, so whenever you have a spare second (an advert during your favourite TV programme) you can grab the nearest duster and attack your dining room cabinets! Your dishwasher doesn’t just have to be for dishes, efficiency is everything! Load your dishwasher up with ice dispenser grates, stove knobs and grates and kitchen sponges – this cuts down on the time you spend cleaning. Combine your tasks, take your sponges into the shower with you and wipe it down when you’ve finished!

Use your helpers: The majority of your cleaning will be cleaning after your children, and they do say that 3 pairs of hands are better than one! Combine fun and playtime into your cleaning, and get your children interested in helping you. Children-sized vacuum cleaners are a great way to get them enjoying cleaning – with any luck they’ll be asking to vacuum everyday! Set a time limit, say 15 minutes, and have a mad cleaning sweep all around the house including tiled areas. Pull together all the items that need to be put away and start the timer, 15 minutes a day means your house should stay clutter free (the majority of the time!)

Tricky places: There are a few tricky places of the house that need a bit of extra time and care to clean, but with a few tips this can easily be sped along. Boiling water in your microwave for 5 to 10 minutes mean it will easily be wiped clean. Putting slices of orange, lemon and lime in the water it will keep your microwave smelling clean and fresh! Use a one-inch painter’s brush to get in all the nooks and crannies of you cabinets, the bristles will loosen up dust so the surfaces can be easily wiped away.

Talk to other mothers about further tricks of the trade, all mums have plenty of their plate and will be happy to share their secrets to make cleaning more effective and more efficient!

Revolution Mother