15

How to Motivate Your Child to do Anything

There is a long summer ahead…. and for many families, this is just an extension of a long spring at home with no school attendance and precious little by way of entertainment.

Many children are fractious, bored, lonely, discontented and anxious. It’s no wonder many are struggling to concentrate, focus and motivate themselves to do very much at all.

In order to get your child up and moving this summer and avoid a case of terminal boredom, your child needs a few projects and goals that will give them a sense of achievement and productivity.

These could be anything from practising times tables, having a day of screen free time every week, reading a book, doing some daily exercise or tidying their room.

You may even challenge them to complete some of the projects in this magazine! For little ones, some

more specific goals for positive behaviour might be appropriate. Decide what you think might work for your child and, if they are older, discuss and agree this with them.

Consider an appropriate motivator for your child. This doesn’t have to be (and, in fact, shouldn’t always be) money and it’s best to avoid sugary treats as rewards too. But it may be that you offer to pay for something your child really needs if they achieve their goal. It’s fun to give an older child a few different projects and goals with points they can earn for each, with the aim of reaching a total number of points and a bigger reward.

Remember to give praise generously for the effort your child goes to, even if they don’t quite achieve all their goals.

You can find lots of reward ideas from simple/low cost to more involved on the next page.

Rewards to Motivate Your Child

Simple/Low Cost

Pick a movie – anything goes if it’s age appropriate! Cook their favourite dinner. A later bed time. Read an extra bed time story. 30 minutes of extra screen time (not appropriate if you are trying to get them off a screen!) One to one time with mum or dad doing exactly what they want. Stickers.

Costs Money

Give your child your loose change – every day for a week! Earn art materials for creative fun. Earn a small item which promotes physical activity. Football, hula hoop or frisbee… Increase their pocket money. Paint a feature wall in their room in their favourite colour. Let your child choose the next family outing. Buy them their favourite magazine, or an app they want.

More Involved

A picnic in the park. Choosing a family activity. An outdoor playdate with friends (activity ideas page 25). Time with your phone to take some photos. Then get them printed. Camp in the garden. A family sports activity Visit the beach.

Go for a bike family bike ride.

ENTER HERE

T&Cs apply

Talking to our Children about Racism Helping your Child Cope with Nightmares

Last month saw an unprecedented outpouring of movements throughout the world advocating an end to racial inequality. Children certainly have questions about the stories they hear, see and read, so how do we talk to them positively and openly about race? Download A Parent’s Guide to Black Lives Matter.

Many children have more underlying worries than usual right now. These are often kept at bay by the routines, occupations and pleasures of the day, only to surface at night in the form of scary nightmares. Our friends at Fegans share their top tips for coping with your child’s nightmares.

ENTER HERE T&Cs apply

Supporting Children to Understand Emotions

By Katie Flanagan

Labelling Solutions for Clothes, Shoes, Bags and School items

It can be really challenging for children to understand and share their feelings with others. Often books can be a really helpful tool in finding a way for children to open up and identify emotions and talk about them more either on a personal level or in a more general way. READ MORE

New Book Now Available Online

What ElseAm I Feeling?

Defining More Emotions

From the International award winning author of What am I feeling? Katie Flanagan What Else am I Feeling? is available online at Amazon.co.uk and Waterstones.com Labelling of your kids’ belongings is important, Easy2Name makes it simple. You name it and they solve your labelling problems with stick on name labels, shoe label covers and a whole range of other labelling solutions. Their labels are proven to work in the toughest situations. Order today and save 15%. Use code: FAMILY15.

Stick on Labels

Noah Smith

Emily Stone

Easy2name ©

Laura Thomson

E2N ©

Laura Thomson

Hollie Bright

Laura Thomson

© E2N E2N ©

E2N ©

Laura Thomson

© E2N

© E2N

Laura Thomson Laura Thomson

© E2N

Laura Thomson

© E2N Easy2name ©

Easy2name ©

Exclusive Offer get 15% off your order! Use code: FAMILY15 www.easy2name.com

Family Tour of the UK No holiday? Take your family on a virtual tour of the UK’s most famous places.

Stonehenge Interactive 360º tour + live view from inside the monument.

Roman Baths Virtual ‘walkthrough’ of Bath’s Roman baths.

Edinburgh Castle Stunning aerial view of the building and city.

Tower of London Interactive 360º tour of the building and grounds.

Giant’s Causeway 360º tour of this spectacular landmark.

Hadrian’s Wall A 360º view of the world’s largest Roman artefact.

Buckingham Palace Tour THE most famous Royal Palace.

The Shard View London from the tallest building in Europe.

Dover Castle 360º tour of the castle on top of the white cliffs.

S U P E R C A L L I F A M I L I E S N G A L L

The power of family

saving + investing with our super app

TOP UP AS MUCH AND AS OFTEN AS YOU PLEASE

ROUND UP YOUR RECENT PURCHASES

SEND GIFTS AND MESSAGES WITH LOVE EARN MONEY BACK ON YOUR ONLINE SHOPPING

Beat the crowd staycation ideas Please check the latest Government guidance before you book.

Canal Boat Holiday Explore the UK’s rivers/ canals. From £725 a week (family of 4).

Eco-Friendly Tree House Luxury woodland break in Devon. From £1,390 a week.

Retro Airstream Caravan Go retro in Suffolk. From £66 a night (min 2-nights).

Rustic Woodland Shack Get off the grid in Yorkshire. From £125 a night.

Hobbit Inspired Pod Pod living in Suffolk. From £710 a week (family of 4).

Idyllic Shepherd’s Hut Northumberland’s beaches. From £180 for 2 nights (family of 4).

Gorgeous Highland Cottage Wild Scotland! From £1,990 a week (inc daily catering).

New Forest Cottage Forest and beach. From £949 a week (July). Sleeps 4.

Stunning St Ives Hideaway Secret tunnel to beach! From £164 a night (min 3-nights).

Staycation Survival Guide

Check for the latest government travel advice. The rules are different in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, so make sure you check the details for the country you are visiting.

Consider insurance. New policies no longer cover coronavirus-caused cancellations. If you have pre-booked insurance or an annual policy, the FCO has currently advised against all non-essential travel, which invalidates your insurance. It seems likely that the FCO position will change with regard to those countries with which the UK establishes air bridges but check your insurance T&Cs before you book/travel.

Check the cancellation policy for any holiday you book. Will your deposit be refunded if another lockdown happens or if travel restrictions are not lifted?

Lower your expectations. There will be fewer places open and some form of social distancing is likely to still be in place.

Embrace nature and spending time with your family and think of all the money you are saving towards next year’s holiday!

Budget Staycation Ideas

Lodge in the grounds of the Thomas Lord Inn, Hampshire. Private facilities/meals to your room. Farmstay UK 700 farms offering camping, B&B and SC. Birdholme Glamping in Notts. Stilted safari lodges in acres of space! Forest Holidays Log cabins/ tree houses in 10 forest locations across UK. Camp Too - retro VW campers + modern motorhomes. Various UK pick-up points. Tent Share. Rent a tent so you don’t have to buy camping gear! Canopy & Stars - reconnect with nature! Glamping to shepherd huts.