Big Daddy issue 1 March 2018

The Monthly Dad Guide March 2018 issue

Become h c n lau ue i s s£1

SuperDad With Jamie Day Pro Dad Blogger Fatherh ood Guru #InstaD ad

23 WAYS TO KEEP BABY SAFE AT HOME

+ Go through our baby proofing checklist

21 EASY MEALS FOR PREGN ANCY

+ We’ve done your weekly shopping list!

6 ESSEN TIAL PODCA STS

+ For stressed fathers

Arts & Crafts For Kids Dad Humour Nutritiou s recipes Expert Advice

Save Money Bedtime story

contents contents

jamie day

baby proof your home

12 Get dad savvy with our cover star Jamie Day, professional dad blogger, journalist and #InstaDad

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Is your home safe for your baby or toddler? Consult our checklist to see if your baby will be secure

pregnancy food musts

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Kick off fatherhood right by feeding your pregnant partner the most nutritious and healthy foods

essential dad podcasts

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We’ve compiled six of the most essential podcasts for fathers to listen to while they’re on the school run

budgeting your moolah

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Having a child is financially draining, that’s for sure. Consult our money saving tips for new fathers

manly dad fashion

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Sweater vests and sandals with socks you are not, sexy beast you are. ‘Av a gander at our affordable outfits

lunch box vs catered

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Is your packed lunch healthier than school dinners? Find out with health expert Dr Charlotte Evans

spagbol for kids

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Try our knock out spaghetti bolognese recipe to please those tantrum throwing fussy eaters

bedtime story

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Clutching a copy of Big Daddy just before bedtime? Read your baby or toddler The Princess & The Dragon

Dear Dads Don’t Panic! Big Daddy’s got your back

household paint for kids Feeling artsy but can’t leave the house? Can’t afford to pay for crafts?

We’ve got you covered!

The Monthly Dad Guide

Most of us go through life without ever being taught how to be a parent. There is no GCSE in fatherhood. Yet, one day, you found yourself an expectant dad or holding a young child in your arms without a clue about how to raise a kid.

Fear not! Big Daddy is here to help.

At Big Daddy, we love dads and we want to help you. Remember, you’re not alone.

Big Daddy is an online and print magazine with dadvice on finance, cooking, how to keep your kids busy, health and the best tech to help you be dad ready.

We speak to real fathers because who else knows how to raise kids? We also find the funniest dad stories and jokes, at the end of the day being a dad is fun! We offer tips and advice on how to be the best father you can be for your children.

So grab a pint, pull up a stool and listen close, because Big Daddy is here for you.

Yours sincerely, The Big Daddy Team Contributing Editors Tom Gadd, Kelsey Rees, Lara Harrison, Charlie Hart, Emmet McGonagle, Chris Wallace, Haider Mahabubul, Madison King, Hallah Danbouh, Guy Hirst

bigdaddymag2018@gmail.com www.jomec.co.uk/bigdaddymag Facebook: Big Daddy Mag Twitter: @big_daddymag Instagram: @big_daddymag

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NEWS Your monthly update on all things Dad

Screen time: how much is too much?

MPs announced an inquiry into the impact of social media and screen-use on young people in the UK. There are more young people today using social media than ever before. The Education Policy Institute’s 2017 report showed 95% of 15-year-olds in the UK use social media before or after school, and half of nine to 16-year-olds used smartphones daily.

It’s not only teens that screen usage is effecting. A report from Common Sense Media showed that children eight years and younger spend about 15 minutes a day staring at a mobile screen in 2013 and now they spend 48 minutes a day.

The report also found that 42% of children eight and younger now have their own tablet devices. This is a steep increase from 7% four years ago and less than 1% in 2011.

The Commons Science and Technology Committee are looking to hear from young people themselves, as well as teachers and youth workers.

Chairman of the Committee Norman Lamb said: “Smartphones are increasingly being used by children and young people. We want to determine the scale of the issues separating out the understandable concerns from the hard evidence.”

There’s no escaping it - many studies showcase negative results from prolonged time on screens, particularly if that time is spent scrolling through social media.

A 2017 study by The Royal Society of Public Health asked 1,500 young people aged 11 to 25 to track their moods while using the five

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most popular social media sites.

Seven in 10 said Instagram made them feel worse about body image and half of 14 to 24-year-olds reported Instagram worsened feelings of anxiety. Two-thirds said Facebook made cyberbullying worse.

New dad Jacob Luke, a 28-year-old from Margate, said he would like his child to have the childhood he had.

“I was always playing outside,” said Jacob.

“I climbed trees, I watched birds, I rode my bike, all the typical outdoor things. I know that video games are fun and a great way to pass time on a rainy day, but I want my kid raised away from a screen.”

Consultant psychiatrist Louise Theodosiou said she has seen a rise in cases where social media is a contributing factor in teenage depression and anxiety.

She told the BBC that in a two-week period, two children requested extra appointments with her due to online bullying.

“Some children deliberately lose or break their phones just to end distressing messages,” said Dr Theodosiou.

Controversially, Facebook has recently launched the ‘Facebook Messenger Kids’ platform. This is a messaging app aimed at under-13s, designed for children to connect with close friends and family.

An open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was penned by a group of psychiatrists and teachers urging him to withdraw the app. Although the platform allows parents to have complete control over who their child is speaking to, concerned

groups feel that Facebook as a platform is no place for kids.

The letter stated that: “Younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts. They are not old enough to navigate the complexities of online relationships, which often lead to misunderstandings and conflicts even among more mature users.”

Facebook’s response to the letter addressed the concerns: “Since we launched in December we’ve heard from parents around the country that Messenger Kids has helped them stay in touch with their children.

“For example, we’ve heard stories of parents working night shifts being able to read bedtime stories to their children, and mums who travel for work getting daily updates from their kids while they’re away.”

Indeed, some studies suggest that using social media can bring benefits, or have no effect on wellbeing at all.

A review of current research by Unicef suggested that among those teenagers who were the lightest users, increasing the time spent using technology was linked to improved well being - possibly because it was important for keeping up friendships.

Father of six, Matthew Kraig, from Sevenoaks said in his experience, a successful relationship with social media and screen time is all about balance.

Matthew said:, “It’s like the effect of sugar.

We all know it’s bad in excess, but what’s one gram going to do? I think finding a good balance between online and offline is key.”

#INSTADAD Only half of pre-school children are being read to daily, a survey from Nielsen Book Research has shown The research reveals that toddlers being read to every day has dropped by a fifth over the last five years.

It warns that the decline poses a significant threat to a child’s development.

19% of parents of three to four-year-olds have said that they aren’t reading to their children because they are “struggling to find the energy at the end of the day.” While 16% of parents say that their child prefers to do other things instead of reading.

Egmont Publishing which co-funded the research has said that although they understand the pressures parents are under, it’s important to note the enormous pleasure that reading can bring them and their children at this crucial point of their child’s development. There are plenty of options available to read including picture books, comics and graphic novels.

If you aren’t sure where to start with finding a book your child will love, make sure you check out Big Daddy’s original bedtime story on page 22.

Advisors recommend not to speed up the process of labour unless there are real health risks to the mother or baby The new recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to establish global standards of care for healthy women and reduce unneccessary medical intervention. The guideline recognises that every labour is different and childbirth is unique and the duration of the active first stage of labour varies from woman to woman.

During the time of delivery, women are often given the drug Oxytocin to speed up labour due to pain.

WHO director of the department of reproductive health and research, Ian Askew said: “Many women want a natural birth and prefer to rely on their bodies to give birth to their baby without the aid of medical intervention. Even when a medical intervention is wanted or needed, the inclusion of women in making decisions about the care they receive is important to ensure that they meet their goal of a positive childbirth experience.”

Make sure to listen to the advice of the experts around you during labour.

All round legend Dwayne ‘The Rock’

Johnson (@TheRock) took part in some

baby-focussed CPR training ahead of the birth of his new child. What a superdad!

Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul

(@GlassofWhiskey) has recently become a first-time father and seems to be settling into this whole new role just fine.

Changes to universal credit could stop your children having free school meals Previously any family claiming universal credit would be entitled to free school meals (FSM). However, under new proposals families that earn over the threshold of £7,400 will lose free school meals.

Research by The Children’s Society reveals that one million children who are in poverty in England will miss out on free school meals under the new proposals.

Spokesperson for the charity, Faith Dawes tells Big Daddy, “The Children’s Society believes the new proposals will create a ‘cliffedge’ where many families would be better off taking a pay cut.”

Figures from the society’s research show that when a family with one child passes the £7,400 threshold they would need to earn £1,124 a year more to make up for loss of money spent on school meals. This makes finacially providing for kids that bit harder for many daddies.

For more information on how universal credit may affect free school meals and what you can do about it, make sure you check out the Big Daddy website for our advice.

Tom Fletcher (@TomFletcher) shared this cute throwback snap taken shortly after the birth of his second son, Buddy.

How cute is that?

You can see more of our favourite #InstaDad photos at @Big_DaddyMag

advertorial

Education with Learnium

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earnium is a learning app that works as a social media platform. It’s the perfect app for the dads who are studying at university, or for their child who is in school.

The app comes from an ed-tech Welsh company that has clients throughout the country. The company’s main focus is collaborative learning; it provides a social media platform for students and lecturers to connect, communicate and collaborate.

Learnium’s user interface is similar to that of Facebook’s. A student can post a question on the app, and a lecturer will be available to assist them. Students and lecturers can drag and drop files for quick and easy sharing among the online users.

Even though the app is primarily used by university students, pupils of any age can it.

Learnium allows students to reach out to one another for peer teaching. It is an open forum for students to help each other. Everything is on the Internet; all a student needs to do is log in and they will be able to access the materials that they need for an assignment.

Learnium’s digital marketing manager Anthony Ash says: “University teachers who are interested in peer-assisted learning, where they get students to help each other out, often use Learnium as it is an ideal platform for students to share resources and ask questions.”

Learnium is a free service, allowing students to create posts, chat with lecturers, upload resources, and use Microsoft Office Online.

While a dad’s child is taking a nap, he can easily post a question on the app. Within a few minutes, a teacher can answer the question and give them feedback. All before their child wakes up from their afternoon nap.

Also, while the dad is picking up their child from ballet lessons or rugby practice, their child can ask their question on the ride home.

While their kid is checking in on social media, they can also check in with their professor.

By paying £30 a month, students can also pin posts, make announcements, use analytics, and use advanced administrative controls.

This simple app does not require any training in order to use.

Dr Richard Perks, a senior lecturer from Cardiff University says, “Using Learnium enabled me as a lecturer of 400 students to globally respond to multiple requests for help on the same subject. Most importantly, however, students are able to offer peer to peer assistance, freeing up much of my time. Having previously used other social media platforms, the familiar feel and style of Learnium means that students are easily able to adapt to the platform quickly.”

Learnium used the idea of social media (which students use every day) and added its own twist to create a new platform that helps in building knowledge and helping students with their school work.

Social media being used as a teaching tool for kids is a smart way of student-learning.

For more information about the app and to purchase their services, go to their website https://www.learnium.com/edu/

DADVICE

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SAVING FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE While fatherhood has its perks, it has a real financial cost too. With a baby on the way, it’s time to rethink your spending habits and make some good financial choices. ongratulations! Your significant other is expecting. Great times ahead, right?

But besides the joy of being a father, the notion of parenthood can be daunting as well. Having to stretch out your wages to cover sleep suits, nipple shields for breastfeeding, a baby cot, maternity clothes, nappies and a million other things is indeed quite a challenge.

Big Daddy understands your financial struggles and is here to help you save a little bit more money to prepare for the arrival of your baby. The good people over at HSBC, Heritage Bank, and Money Advice Service have piled up the best advice on how to save money and some of the best banking options for you and your family.

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Start planning

The first thing to do is to start budgeting.

Create a budget plan that you will honestly follow and is realistic. Coordinator at HSBC Premier Centre, Sansha McCartney said: “Knowing what is coming in and going out each month is essential in helping you realise what you can and cannot afford in your everyday lifestyle.”

Keeping track of your earnings and expenses is perhaps simpler and easier than you imagine it to be. Apps like Yolt and Wally allows you to manage your money easily and effectively. You can set a budget, make categories of expenses, and view simple bar and pie charts to understand your spending habits. The apps are all easy to use (once you get the hang of them) and you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank when you look back and see how much money you’ve saved.

Trim the fat

After creating a budget plan, identify things that you and your family can do without.

Divide your expenses into essential and nonessential items. For clothing and groceries (essentials), the biggest bargains can be found in Primark, H&M or even at your local supermarket where there are plenty of great options available.

It may seem simple but trading in your favourite branded foods for supermarkets own brands can save you a pretty penny each shopping trip.

Unfortunately, those few pints on a Friday night might also count as a relatively nonessential item, but little changes like cutting down the number of drinks you have in a week is going to make all the difference.

to start? Go to your local bank and book a face-to-face review. Sansha McCartney said: “Someone at the bank will be able to outline the products and services it offers so that you can make a better decision on how to make the most of your money.”

One of the hardest things to do is reducing debts. You must pay off your debts. Having a huge debt over your shoulders while a baby is on the way is rather daunting. Start by paying the minimum amount each month.

If you have any credit card debt, try to see if you can switch lenders to get the best rate. Do a little research and check out some credit cards with 0% interest.

The biggest thing to remember is to claim all of your entitlements. Some people do not even know that there are benefits that help towards the cost of raising a family. You could be entitled to benefits like tax credits and child benefits. Go to gov.uk website to see what you qualify for.

Being a dad is a total game changer, and finances are a huge part of the equation, but a little planning and a few good decisions can smoothen the road to a huge extent.

Once you’ve started patching up the hole in your pocket, you’ll feel that it’s all worth it.

The biggest thing to remember is to claim all of your entitlements.

You could be entitled to benefits like tax credits

Save with interest

Setting up a savings account is a good idea because it will build up money for the future of your baby. An account which doesn’t have a cash machine card can be helpful if you want to curb your spending.

Do your research until you find the best type of savings account and don’t just jump into the first good deal that you find. Banks are always quick to advertise their deals, so be savvy and do your research to find the best value for your money.

Go to a bank which has a track record of providing stable rates. Not sure where

Check out the Big Daddy website for more information on starting up a savings account to get your little one off to the best start.

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The Big Daddy Baby Proofing Checklist

Got a little one on the way? It’s time to put your DIY skills to the test and get your home ready for a new arrival with our ultimate baby proofing checklist

our home is a safe haven. After a hard day, you long for the warm comfort where you can finally relax. However, you’d be surprised at just how many of your everyday items can prove to be hazards when a baby is on the loose and your comfortable paradise may not be safe enough for the little one you have on the way.

Baby proofing your house may not be the first thing you think about when you hear the pregnancy announcement. You may be excited by the news and enjoying all the different stages of pregnancy - that is until you have to run around the house trying to make it less of a baby death trap in the days before the due date. Babies begin to start crawling at around eight months old, so it’s important to get your house ready for your little explorer. If you aren’t sure where to start with it all, not to worry, Big Daddy is here to help. We’ve outlined some tips to get your space baby ready and make child proofing simple with this handy safety checklist.

Happy DIY-ing!

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Doors and drawers

Sharp edges and corners are a no-no when you have curious little ones roaming around.

Doorstops to protect your baby’s little fingers Safety gates, door locks, and knob covers to stop your baby getting into places you don’t want them to Locks or latches on cupboards and drawers that are in reach and contain unsafe items Rubbish bins with childproof lids Secure the fridge and freezer door with child proof latch Install safety gates at both the top and bottom of the stairs

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Furniture and decorations

There are loads of decorative pieces in your home that while nice to look at, can prove dangerous when kids are around.

Avoid tablecloths or placemats that your baby could potentially pull on or down Attach corner and edge guards to furniture to prevent unfortunate bumps and scrapes Secure potentially unstable furniture that may fall such as bookcases or chests of drawers to the walls Check that your window blind cords are out of reach. Safety regulations for blinds changed in February 2014. Blinds sold in the UK should be cordless, or have tensioned cords or concealed cords. Hanging cords should be secured Consider replacing potentially dangerous wooden coffee tables with a softer alternative. Babies and toddlers are unsteady on their feet and will fall into things - a lot

The high chair

High chairs are essential but it’s important to set them up correctly and safely to avoid any incidents when your baby uses it.

Use a sturdy, stable, wide-based high chair with a safety strap Clamp a hook-on chair securely onto a table so that it cannot tip over if your baby is being restless Keep the high chair away from areas where your baby can reach out to potentially dangerous items or use the surface to push against and cause the chair to rock or fall

The kitchen

Kitchens are obviously one of the most important areas of the house to work on in order to keep hazards out of harms way.

Keep knives, pots and pans locked in cupboards or out of reach Keep small choking hazards such as grapes in high places Consider replacing hazardous chemicals with safer products such as nonchlorine bleach (but keep out of reach)

The bathroom

Bathrooms are filled with lots of products that could be dangerous.

Install a toilet seat lock Move cleaning agents, medicines, vitamins, toiletries, and other potentially toxic items out of reach

Electrics and cables

Keeping electrics out of the way can be difficult but there are some quick fixes.

Hide exposed electrical cords behind furniture Keep hair dryers, toasters, and other potentially dangerous appliances unplugged and out of reach Install socket protectors to stop curious fingers Place tall, unstable lamps behind furniture to keep them from falling If after you’ve gone through the whole checklist and you still feel unsure, then try crawling around your house yourself to see if you can find any more hazards.

dadlife

Simple yet classic This striped shirt is something easy to throw on. If you want to look a little more cleaned up at work, or to just head down the shops, this stripe shirt makes any man look good.

Primark £5

ADD SOME ZING TO YOUR LOOK THIS SPRING

Smart Casual Dress smart with this classic blazer. For a job interview, a formal event or to take your significant other out on a date night, this blazer will add a touch of class to any of your outfits.

Primark £35

You don’t have to break the bank to look trendy - Big Daddy is here to help you out.

Here’s our guide to cheap and sleek outfits for your wardrobe this spring Jog On

All good in the hood

Five years ago, joggers would have been something just to wear around the house.

Now it is one of the most needed items in any man’s closet. Pair them with a blazer and a nice pair of dress shoes and be the dad that every mum talks about.

This hooded fatigue jacket is perfect for the cool spring season. You can wear this while you play outdoors with your child, or when you meet up with your mates for a few pints down the pub. Either way, this jacket is the perfect addition to your wardrobe.

Primark £14

Gap £77

Springtime blues You can never go wrong with a classic. A nice blue jean denim jacket can finish any look, and make any dad look sexy. In the winters, slip on an overcoat over the jacket. In the spring, style it with a t-shirt and dark jeans for a clean and crisp look.

ASOS £35

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Tracksuit Tekkers For the sporty dad, get this cool Under Armour challenger suit. This sleek all-black outfit is good for your daily workout and for picking up the kids after school.

JD Sports £70

Havana nights

Layer up

This high neckline and open shirt is a sleeker version of last years popular street style. Pair it with a black leather jacket and be the cool dad on the street.

Before the weather warms up, every man should have something nice and warm to wear. This overcoat is perfect to snuggle in, and to look extra sleek.

H&M £17.99

The Idle Man £70

Classic jeans Get the ‘cool dad’ look with these slimfit moto jeans. This timeless look will go perfectly with any shirt and shoe combo.

Forever 21 £26

Simple soles You can never go wrong with black. These black lace-up shoes have chunky black rubber soles to support to any dad as they chase their kid around the house.

Topman £41

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5 questions for...

INSTADAD BURR MARTIN

Think you recognise Burr Martin but can’t place why? The Washington-based dad went viral for his Instagram photos copying the poses and outfits of his daughter, Cassie - down to the very last tattoo!

Despite taking the mickey out of his daughter in his photos, he and Cassie are closer than ever

Burr Martin has built a following by copying his daughter Cassie’s selfies the number of followers on Instagram is Iis fthe yardstick for success, then the winner definitely Chris Burr Martin. The Instadad

(@therealburrmartin) has more followers than his daughter, standing at almost 153,000. How did he do it? By recreating his daughter’s selfies with a scarily impressive amount of detail and posting them on social media. From tank tops to tattoos, Burr Martin does it all.

All fathers are protective of their daughters, but after seeing the amount of attention his daughter receives, he tackled it in the quirkiest and funniest way ever.

All the work certainly put Chris Burr Martin in the limelight. Burr has become an Instagram star in his own right. Now that’s what we call a real life superdad.

What was your daughter’s reaction when she found out about the photos?

She laughed as she knew what I was doing.

She had posted a selfie and I thought a couple of the comments from the boys on her post were a little crude. I thought I’d let them know that her dad was out there and I saw them posting those things. It shows

Cassie how strange the selfies would really look if someone like me was posting them.

We’ve always teased each other.

Did the relationship with your daughter change after your photos went viral?

We grew a little closer when we were flown to LA for a talk show segment and other interviews. I kept asking her to tone down her selfies as some were getting a little racy; I told her she didn’t need that kind of attention. She started to understand but I still got the eyeroll every time I mentioned it. I also realise that she can post whatever she wants to but once a parent, always a parent.

How long does it take for you to recreate your daughter’s selfies?

I’m actually getting pretty good at it. The famous white tank top one took the longest because I was so busy laughing at how stupid it all was for me to go to this length of effort to tease her.

I would come out of the bathroom and show my wife a tattoo I drew, we’d laugh about it and then I’d try to go finish the tattoo in the mirror again. That whole process took almost

an hour. For Father’s Day, Cassie recreated one of my selfies. I was in a cosplay X-Wing pilot costume from Star Wars. She remarked that it wasn’t so easy; matching smiles, smirks and hand gestures. She had finally understood how hard it was to make fun of her selfies.

Which one of the selfies you took is your favourite and why?

The one I like the most is the photo where her hand is under her chin, looking straight into the camera and showing her shark tattoo.

It’s a simple one but I still love it. I also like it when people notice small things like that instead of copying her shark perfectly, I drew Jabberjaw, a cartoon from my own childhood.

How does your daughter feel about you having more followers on Instagram?

She still talks about it sometimes, but I just tell her, ‘Hey, I’m the guy that has to put in all the work for it.’

Make sure you check out Burr’s Instagram account for more hilarious photos.

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A DAY IN THE LIFE DAD It’s safe to say blogs have taken over the internet.

Berkshire-based blogger Jamie Day is posting his way up the blogging ranks by writing about his experience of fathering and life with his kids Edie and Arlo

INTERVIEW nown online as @adayinthelifedad, Jamie Day documents the good, the bad and the ugly of fatherhood, covering everything from the morning rush, to changing nappies, to the infamous dad bod. With experience as an editor of blog zine The FMLY MAN, and freelance writer for magazines such as GQ and Little London, it’s no surprise to hear that Jamie won the award for ‘Best Baby Blog’ at the Mums and Dads Blog Awards in 2016.

Originally from Essex, Jamie met his wife Georgia while working in London, and the pair eventually settled down in Berkshire.

He began working as a freelance writer before finding his niche in the world of dad blogging after the birth of his children.

Jamie recalled finding a gap in the market for dad-focused writing from looking at online parenting forums on his phone.

“I knew that there were hundreds (now thousands) of mum bloggers out there, but when I checked there weren’t that many dads writing about parenting,” says Jamie.

“Those that were blogging did it in a dated and stereotypical male way; ‘oh look at me changing a nappy whilst wearing a gas mask and holding a spanner’ – that kind of thing.

“I just wanted to show that dads can have a much better time with their kids if they adopt a more modern approach to parenting.”

Alongside the rise of dad blogs is the growing number of dads trying to break into mainstream media with cute photos and the occasional funny tweet. “Through the cyber beast that is Instagram, there’s a steady rise of #InstaDads showing off everything they’re up to with their kids, which is great to see, and I’ve loved being a central part to a lot of it.

“A lot of dads aren’t into the whole Instagram thing and struggle to understand the apparent insistence on displaying our kids covered in yoghurt or going through potty training, but there’s plenty that love it and have since created their own little online communities where they use the Instagram for support and friendship, online and offline and that can’t be a bad thing.”

Of course, not even Jamie was able to settle into being a dad without a few scrapes and bruises along the way. Looking back on his experiences as a new dad Jamie remembers being exhausted beyond all reason, and strongly suggests stocking up on coffee along the way. “I remember when my daughter was born, I was slumped over my desk, unable to even lift my head,” he begins.

“I was so tired, physically and mentally that the thought of injecting coffee into my eyeballs seemed a realistic solution.”

Jamie also recommends getting visitors to bring food and other bits and pieces instead of another stuffed toy for your baby (turns out there is such thing as too many stuffed toys). In terms of house guests, Jamie reckons it’s best to keep it to a minimum. “You’ll both be looking like crap, the house will be like a bomb’s hit it and the guests will probably outstay their welcome when all you want to do is crash out on the sofa and watch a new Netflix series.”

Though Jamie is well-versed in opening up to his fan base, he admits that he still finds it particularly hard to write about his own dad. “He is and was a great father in so many ways; growing up we had a great house, went on amazing holidays, we went to fantastic schools, but there was never any real physical or emotional contact,” he remembers.

“He just showed his love in a monetary way I guess, which I appreciate, but I’ve always felt deprived of something.”

In spite of his own turbulent relationship with his dad, Jamie believes that his experiences with his dad have shaped his

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Jamie acts as a reassuring voice for new and first-time dads through his blog, A Day in the Life Dad own approach to fatherhood, as well as how he interacts with is kids on the daily basis. “I’m incredibly hands-on, I’m stupidly affectionate and I’m interested in everything my children do even when I receive bulletins on the latest My Little Pony episode,” he says.

“My father was very stereotypical of a lot of his generation; dolls are for girls, football is for boys, but I’m doing my utmost to ensure my children are open-minded and don’t ever make such dated and misplaced judgements about anything.”

Speaking to lifestyle blog Finding Dutchland, Jamie outlined his attitude towards gender norms for his children, remarking that as long as they’re happy, so is he.

He says: “My son likes to play with diggers as much as he likes to play with garishly pink dolls, and my daughter likes sword fights as much as she likes swinging from a tree. I don’t waste my time on narrow-minded people who can’t appreciate that.”

Jamie carries this open-mindedness with him throughout his blog posts in the hopes of encouraging his audience to allow their kids to grow and develop without any needless judgement or criticism. Writing for parenting blog My 1st Years, Jamie says: “As my children grow, and they begin to learn about the differences in religion, race, gender, relationships and society, I want to teach them to cling onto all that lovely goodness they were born with.”

In terms of parenting, Jamie maintains that dads have a unique and important role in influencing their children, and should try their best to be forward thinking and avoid dated stereotypes from their own childhood.

“Okay, we can’t breastfeed, but we should be throwing ourselves into everything else,” he says: “That might be changing nappies, going to toddler groups with a bunch of strangers or building rockets from cereal boxes on a rainy day (top tip: don’t ever use glitter – on anything), but spending time with the kids and watching them grow is hugely rewarding and fun!”

Although the first stages of parenting are a massive shock to the system, Jamie brings a reassuring, practical and sometimes hilariously honest voice to the world of fatherhood. Jamie says if he had any advice for new fathers out there, it’s important to remember: “Things eventually fall into place, whether that’s after a few weeks or months, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and before long you’ll be winging your way through fatherhood.”

Jamie Day has become a helping hand for struggling dads searching the web for a quick fix for his crying kid at two in the morning. A Day in the Life has turned into an archive detailing his experience, advice and humerous anecdotes, and will no doubt continue to grow alongside his kids as he allows his readers a glimpse into a day in the life of a modern day dad.

I was so tired, physically and mentally that the thought of injecting coffee into my eyeballs seemed a realistic solution

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PACKED LUNCHES

VS SCHOOL DINNERS

Children are fussy, awkward and often complete divas, which makes lunch at school a real chore for parents. Don’t worry, Big Daddy’s got you covered, we take a look at the pros and cons of school dinners and packed lunches t’s a tough choice for parents deciding whether to send your child off to school with a lunch box full of their favourite foods or pay for school meals to take the pressure off. Most dieticians and studies point towards school dinners being the ideal choice nutritionally but what if your child is a fussy eater?

Dr Charlotte Evans, associate professor at Leeds University is an expert on children and behavioural nutrition. Dr Charlotte sings the praises of school meals as a healthier option to packed lunches saying: “It is definitely better to have a school meal as it is lower in sugars, salt, and saturated fat whilst higher in vegetables and water.”

We know that not every dad can afford school dinners, so Dr Charlotte also has some tips for keeping packed lunches as healthy as possible. “The number one aim of packed lunches is to get rid of sugary drinks

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and encourage children to have water from school,” she says.

Many parents choose to grab a lunch box and fill it with their kid’s favourite foods before sending them off to school with the knowledge that their child will eat the contents. However, it was revealed by a University of Leeds study that only 1.6% of packed lunches met nutritional standards set for school dinners.

School dinners have come a long way since the days of turkey twizzlers and Jamie Oliver. Schools must now provide high quality meat, poultry or oily fish, fruit and vegetables, bread, cereal and potatoes.

Schools also can’t serve sugary drinks, crisps or sweets in school meals and vending machines. Requirements include serving no more than two portions of deep-fried, breaded or battered food each week. Are school dinners the perfect solution?

Useful school meal stats: •According to gov.uk, 14.8% of primary school pupils in the UK are eligible to claim free school meals •This the lowest percentage of eligible students since 2001 •As the government rolls out universal credit, parents with an income over £7,400 will not receive free school meals for their children •The Children’s Society has criticised universal credit saying this will leave one million children without free school meals •It would cost £500 million a year to provide all families on universal credit with free school meals

Packed Lunches Pros: •When you pack your own kid’s lunch box you know what its contents are, there is no need to be concerned by what the school has on the menu •If your child is a fussy eater you can go out of your way to pack their lunchbox with things they will actually eat •Lunch boxes are arguably cheaper than school dinners, as you can shop around for the cheapest options

Cons: •The University of Leeds study found that only 17% of children’s lunch boxes contained vegetables or salad. Furthermore, 52% has far too many sweet snacks •At the end of the day making your child a lunchbox is a pain in the arse as it will eat into your free time in the evenings •You may pack a lunch for your child thinking that they will eat it, but don’t be fooled, kids will swap food or just chuck it away

School Dinners Pros: •In England and Scotland school dinners are free for reception, year one and year two.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, families are means tested •If you are from a low income background you can apply for free school dinners from your local authority •Food served at school must follow food standards for healthy balanced meals

Cons: •The average cost for school dinners is £8-11 a week so unless your child can receive them for free it’s going to get pricey •Chances are you won’t know what’s on the menu for every school day. It is possible you may have the horror of serving the same thing for dinner that they had for school dinners. Cue disappointment •If your child is a very fussy eater, they are probably going to turn their noses up at what the school has to offer For more information on school dinners, head to: gov.uk/school-meals-healthyeating-standards

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Serves:

CHEF DAD

2 adults and 1-2 children Time: 20-30 minutes

£7.08

*Plenty of Ingredients left over for other meals!

Child Friendly Bolognese

Reduce mess and sneak vegetables into a hearty meal for your kids For Ages 5-10 1 Start by prepping all your vegetables. First chop the onions into small slices. Then peel the carrots, following this grate both the carrots and the courgettes.

2 Add a little olive oil into a saucepan and begin by frying the onions on a low heat for around 4 minutes until golden. After this add the mince and cook on a high heat until it has browned. Drain fat away.

3 Add the chopped tomatoes, puree, stock cube and herbs to the saucepan and give it a good stir. Finally put the grated courgette, carrots and peas into the sauce and stir once again.

4 Leave the bolognese on a low heat to simmer away, occasionally stirring it. Fill the other saucepan with water and put it on a high heat until it starts to boil. Once the water is bubbling away carefully place the penne in.

5 The penne should take 10-13 minutes to cook. In the meantime, continue to stir your bolognese and prepare some plates and cutlery for serving.

6 Once the penne is cooked, place the colander in the kitchen sink and pour the penne into the colander. Shake the colander to get rid of all the water before adding some olive oil and shaking once again to stop the pasta sticking.

7 Serve the penne on the plate and add the bolognese sauce on top of the pasta. You are now ready to tuck in!

Ingredients Pasta: •250g penne pasta - easier and less messy for children to eat. 30p •A drizzle of vegetable oil - for frying and to stop your penne sticking together. £1.09 Vegetables: •4 carrots - grated so your kids won’t notice them. 26p •Quarter of a pack of frozen peas - children usually don’t mind peas and they’re small enough to be unnoticed in your sauce. 69p •3 courgettes - again, grated to conceal their presence. £1.09 •2 red onions - Red onions taste better than white onions. 65p Sauce: •Tin of chopped tomatoes - making your own sauce is healthier. 29p •2 tablespoons of tomato puree - To sweeten your sauce, premade sauces contain lots of sugar. 27p •Beef stock cube - For flavour. 36p •Oregano or mixed herbs - For flavour. 49p Meat: •500g beef bince - Don’t worry about its fat content, you can always drain it away. £1.49 You will need: two saucepans, wooden spoon, chese grater, colander, a sharp knife, peeler *prices based on Aldi

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Daddy-to-be cooking for 3 Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Sat

Sun

Breakfast

Porridge with sultanas Porridge and sultanas are rich in iron, which helps the body create red blood cells for the growing baby.

Porridge oats also provide us with sustained energy

Whole grain bagel with peanut butter Whole grain foods and peanut butter contain vitamin B6, which help with the syptoms of nausea as well as being a hearty breakfast

Bran flakes with sliced banana Bran flakes are high in folic acid, an essential vitamin great for the baby’s developing nervous system

Scrambled eggs on whole grain toast It’s a quick and easy breakfast with great health benefits.

The vitamin B6 in bread helps to ease queasiness and eggs are a source of folate

Greek yogurt, fruit and flaked almonds Greek yogurt and almonds are full of calcium for bone and teeth development.

Dried fruit is another good source of iron

Bacon and egg frittata The perfect weekend treat that tastes amazing.

Bacon and egg have plenty of protein and adding in vegetables like spinach and peppers brings vital nutrients

Green smoothie Pick up some spinach, an apple, coconut water and kiwi to create a simple smoothie with tons of vitamins. Just blend with some ice and serve

Lunch

Watercress and celeriac soup Watercress is a great source of iron.

The spread has vitamin D, another vitamin that helps the development of bones and teeth.

Beans on wholegrain toast It’s a simple but a classic. As well as being extremely cost-effective, beans on toast is a hearty lunchtime meal. Add some cheese or BBQ sauce

Mexican salad Made with romaine lettuce, black beans, sweet potato, tomatoes and sweetcorn, this salad contains plenty of calcium and iron to energise

Mackerel and rocket salad Omega 3 fatty acids make another appearance with the mackerel.

Vitamin K in rocket helps the blood to clot, which is important for birth

Roast chicken with carrots and broccoli The carrots and broccoli in this lunch are full of betacarotene, a pregnancy safe form of vitamin A that supports the immune system

Crackers with cheese Feeling nauseous? This classic finger food is a great wat to soothe your partner’s stomach. Be sure to stay away mouldripened soft cheeses

Vegetable soup There’s no better way to cure a sick stomach than with a nice bowl of warm soup.

Just blend up vegetables at home and add stock and hot water

Dinner

Eating a varied and healthy diet is always important - especially in pregnancy, You can help your baby mama prepare for motherhood with this weekly meal plan containing all the essential vitamins and nutrients for a healthy mum and baby

Salmon with broccoli and sweetcorn The fatty acid in salmon is beneficial to mother and baby (but limit it to twice a week).

Sweetcorn and broccoli are sources of essential vitamins

Spinach and ricotta cannelloni Pasta tubes contain Vitamin K to help with giving birth, whilst the spinach adds vitamin A and the ricotta adds calcium.

Serve with a rich and hearty tomato ragu

Chicken fajitas with avocado The chicken in the fajitas is rich in iron, helping the creation of red blood cells.

Avocado is another folate favourite - you could even make some guacamole

Spaghetti, greens and meatballs Prepare spaghetti along with tinned tomatoes, garlic and basil for a quick and easy sauce.

Add meatballs, spinach and kale to the sauce

Pan-fried tuna steak with vegetables The meal is another vitamin packed dinner with omega 3, betacarotene and vitamin K. Limit tuna steaks to once a week due to high mercury levels

Shepherd’s pie Not only is this British classic a great comfort food, it’s also packed full of protein, vitamin D and other nutrients to satisfy mum and baby

Tofu, broccoli and pea stir fry Tofu is a great veggie alternative to keep your partner filled with protein.

Just dice it, fry it with some broccoli and top with lowsodium soy sauce

Remember...

When preparing food for a pregnant woman, it’s important to take extra care. Take your time to research ingredients and ensure that these are safe for both mum and baby to consume. To help with your future food shopping, here are some recommendations on foods to avoid or how they should be prepared:

• Avoid raw or undercooked meat, including meat joints and steaks cooked rare • Limit the amount of tuna you eat to no more than two tuna steaks a week or four medium-sized cans of tuna a week

• All shellfish can be eaten as long as it’s been thoroughly cooked • Cheeses with a white rind such as brie and camembert and soft goats’ cheese shouldn’t be eaten raw. These can be eaten if thoroughly cooked. This also applies to soft blue-veined cheeses such • Smoked fish including trout and salmon are considered safe to eat as danish blue, gorgonzola and roquefort.

•Make sure eggs have the British Lion code for lowest salmonella risk • Avoid all types of pâté, even vegetarian options

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• Stick to pasteurised or UHT milk

PLAYTIME

HOMEMADE PAINTS Inspiring your child’s artistic side can be expensive, but we know dads want to support their budding artists. Here are some paints you can DIY at home Kids love to paint but let’s face it, buying every colour of the rainbow alongside paper, brushes and palettes can be expensive. That’s not to mention the additional cost should your little angels artistically splatter red paint across your cream sofa. To protect your furniture and your sanity, we’ve compiled the best homemade paint recipes using everyday household items so your kids can paint until their heart’s are content.

The best bit is that no paper is required. They’re also perfect for kids aged 4 and over.

Take to the streets

Painting can be fun and foamy

Face painting fun for all

Make your own paint brushes

Pavement paint is perfect for a fun and easy outdoor activity.

Kids love to draw with chalk on the pavement, so this paint can be used outside either on your own driveway, a pavement or a patio and is easy to wash off.

Shaving cream paint only uses two ingredients to create massive amounts of fun as well as being super cheap to make. This paint can be used on tiled walls or used to paint on the windows in your house as it’s easy to clean.

Transform your kid into a fearsome tiger or stripy zebra with some homemade face paint.

This paint can be perfect for birthday parties, a play date, or just some fun time with dad. It’s time to test out your skills.

To keep the mess at bay, you can also make your own paint brushes and tools using different items around the house to create different patterns and textures.

Ingredients: If you don’t have them in your house already, you’ll need corn flour and food colouring, and then all you need is water - red, blue and yellow are perfect to mix, match and create new colours.

Ingredients: All you need is some shaving foam that you’re bound to have lying around in the bathroom as well as some trusty food colouring - any colours will work so get creative and make bathtime extra fun.

Ingredients: For this face paint all you need is one teaspoon of water and one teaspoon of body lotion or moisturising cream, along with two teaspoons of corn flour as well as our old friend food colouring.

Method: Mix ¼ cup of cornflour with ¼ cup of water together in a bowl then add a few drops of food colouring. Mix until the colour is correct.

Method: Squirt a handful of shaving foam into bowls, add a few drops of the food colouring to each bowl, then let the little ones do the mixing.

Method: Mix the lotion with the water, the teaspoons of corn flour and a few drops of food colouring into the separate bowls to create different colours.

Brush heads: The brush head will require some real DIY, but there are several items you may have around the house that could work. You could cut up old sponge, use some old bubble wrap, cut up some wool, string or even gather some leaves or feathers from outside and attach them to the handle.

To clean: All you need is a garden hose or a bucket of water to wash away hours of fun ahead of painting the next masterpiece.

To clean: A sinkful of warm soapy water and a sponge is all it takes to clean off any foamy paint.

Glass cleaner may be handy.

To clean: Babywipes will clean your little tiger’s face ahead of bedtime. A little bit of coconut oil can help take off stubborn marks.

To clean: Clean with washing up liquid and leave to dry, ready for your child’s next painting adventure.

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Brush handles: For the handle of the brush you can use any cutlery you have in the kitchen like a spoon or a fork.

The Best Daddy Podcasts Podcasts are back and better than ever before - especially for dads Podcasts are having a resurgence in popularity with more people than ever downloading and listening. There’s a podcast ready and waiting online for all kinds of interests, hobbies, careers but there’s also a whole section out there for dads. The beauty of podcasts is that you can listen to them on the go or even when you’re up on the night feed. Be sure to check out these daddy podcasts for pro-parenting advice

The Dadcast

Beardy Dads

Dad’s Guide to Twins

Hosted by Nick Nieblas and Shawn Warner, episodes typically last around an hour long. The Dadcast is a weekly podcast that discusses various issues which affect fatherhood while offering practical yet humourous advice. Topics such as the top five ways to embarrass your kids and top five reasons why your teen is a douchebag.

The self-proclaimed ‘super dads’ Nick and Shawn, with guests, offer their fatherly insights through personal stories, helpful hints and frequent top five lists. The Dadcast is available to listen to for free on Player FM.

UK based dads Roo Reynolds and Nick O’Leary host Beardy Dads, a weekly podcast discussing a range of issues that affect fathers on a daily basis. There’s 31 episodes available to download where you can tune into these daddies discussing everyday problems.

Problems such as the truth about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, lack of sleep and helping with homework. Their website also links to a heap of other sources so dads looking to find out more info can read up in their own time.

Beardy Dads is available to listen to for free on their website, beardydads.co.uk.

With a book and a podcast, Joe Rawlinson is the man behind both. Dad to two boys and twin girls, Joe hosts a podcast with each episode lasting around 10 minutes. Each episode discusses parenting issues involving twins with episodes titled how to get twins on the same schedule, should you breastfeed or bottle feed twins and what to do when both twins are crying at the same time. The Dad’s Guide to Twins book is also available to buy on Amazon and the podcast is available to listen to for free on Joe’s website dadsguidetotwins.com.

The Life of Dad Show

The Modern Dads Podcast

The Dad Edge Podcast

Each episode is hosted by the Ellen Show comedian Tommy Riles and writer Art Eddy.

The pair host interviews with superstar dads such as former NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, rapper turned actor Ice Cube and most recently The Heat star, actor Michael Rapaport, to discuss their stories about their lives and fatherhood. Issues discussed include impending fatherhood and the career principles they’ve learned that they would share with their kids. The Life of Dad Show is available to check out for free on their website lifeofdad.com.

With episodes that last about 30 minutes, hosted by the City Dads Group based in New York City, the most attractive feature of this podcast is the chance to listen to the real life stories of what other dads are going through.

This gives the listeners an opportunity to learn from real dads whose experiences can help others as well. Discussing issues such navigating work, relationships and play, The Modern Dads Podcast is available to listen to for free on their website, citydadsgroup.com where you can also checkout their blog and their current charity campaigns.

The Dad Edge Podcast, formerly known as The Good Dad Project, sets out to help their listeners become the best, strongest and happiest version of themselves. The podcast ecourages dads to guide their kids to be the best version of themselves. Larry Hegner, the host of The Dad Edge Podcast makes the common challenges of fatherhood easier to overcome by breaking them down.

Larry understands that tackling the world of fatherhood is daunting for anyone. The Dad Edge Podcast is available to listen to for free on gooddadproject.com.

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STORYTIME

The Princess and the Dragon

Image: Yangtian Li http://www.yangtianli.

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nce upon a time there was a Princess who did not want to be a Princess. She hated having her hair brushed. She hated wearing dresses.

She hated chewing with her mouth closed. She especially hated having to be polite to everyone! The Princess just wanted to run outside and play pranks on people all day! One day, the kingdom heard rumours that a ferocious dragon had moved into a nearby cave. When the Princess found out, she wasn’t scared, she was filled with glee! She thought to herself, “I will befriend this dragon and she will help me make mischief on the whole kingdom!”

The Princess spent the whole day planning. She waited until nightfall, then, when the castle was asleep, she ran outside, down the path and all the way

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up the hill to the dragon's cave.

As she creeped through the cave, the Princess started hearing some noises! It sounded like… a piano?

She burst through into a clearing and what did she see? The dragon was playing a song!

“This dragon isn’t ferocious at all!” thought the surprised Princess. “She’s playing Mozart!”

The dragon looked up at her guest with big, yellow eyes. “Oh hello there,” she said softly. “Welcome to my home.”

The Princess was dumbfounded. What a pleasant speaking dragon. Why, she herself was much scarier. She could be a better dragon, and the dragon would make a better Princess!

A wide smile spread across the Princess’s face as a new plan formed in

her head. She whispered her idea to the dragon, who grinned widely too.

The next day, the King and Queen were shocked to see their daughter in a blue dress at the breakfast table! The Princess spoke nicely to everyone, she chewed with her mouth closed, she even allowed her hair to be brushed.

Except it wasn’t really the Princess… it was the dragon! The real Princess was running about the town, playing pranks on whomever she could find.

No one really minded the pranks the Princess played, and the dragon was so well behaved, she was invited to live in the castle.

From that day forward, the Princess and the Dragon lived together as friends, and everyone was much, much happier because of it.