children playing on tablet

Keeping children safe online with VPNs

by with No Comment ParentingUncategorized

I spend quite a bit of time each day online, I think most of do these days don’t we?

My children are still quite young and so at the moment they don’t do much online beyond watching videos on YouTube and occasionally looking something up with either me or Steve helping them.

I’m very aware though that, as they get older, they will inevitably spend more time online and it does make me think about what I need to teach them to make sure they stay safe.

Here are some things for us parents to be thinking about when it comes to our children and the internet:

Your Children Are Going to Be Exposed To The Web

The first thing that you have to understand is that it is impossible to completely shield your children from the internet. The internet is connected to pretty much every industry and institution today. Your children are going to see commercials for smartphone apps when they watch television. They are going to be exposed to the internet when they play with their friends. And they are definitely going to be taught about the internet when they go to school. Your children are going to be eager to surf the web and to communicate with their friends online, but it is important to set boundaries.

It is easy enough for an adult to fall victim to an identity theft scheme online, and children don’t have the experience or savvy to immediately know if they are being taken advantage of.

That is why it is vital that you understand all of the risks, from cyberbullying to identity thieves, and make sure that your child knows how to stay safe.

keeping children safe online with vpns

Teaching Your Kids What To Look Out For Online

Most children don’t know what an online threat is without an adult’s guidance. That is why you need to let your children know early on exactly what online threats they need to stay away from. You’ll need to let them know that sharing private information online is forbidden. That means no giving away birthdays, addresses, or social security numbers.

Your child should understand that talking to strangers online is dangerous and to be avoided at all costs. Whenever your child feels uncomfortable, they should talk to an adult that they trust, such as a teacher at school or a family friend or relative.

 

How VPNs Can Be A Great Security Tool

Parents are often worried about their child’s security online. A great security tool for children browsing the web are VPNs, or virtual private networks. VPNs like Hotspot Shield work by creating a secure tunnel between a device connecting to the web and a server located elsewhere around the world. The connection is encrypted and the server gives the device a new IP address. VPNs allow children to browse the web in public areas without the fear of a hacker being able to access their connection and steal personal data. There are many different types of VPNs for parents to choose from. More parents are using VPNs to keep their child safe online and to keep their online experience completely anonymous.

Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post

living arrows 2018

Living Arrows 2018 – 1/52

by with 15 Comments PersonalPhotographyUncategorized

Last year, and the year before, I took part in the Living Arrows project run by the lovely Donna at What The Redhead Said.

The project was inspired by a poem by Kahlil Gibran that features the line:

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth

The idea is to take a photo of your children every week, building up a wonderful collection of photographs capturing their childhood.  I’ve really enjoyed taking part in the last two years, and am so excited to carry on with it again this year.

Our first photos of the year were taken the day after Boxing day, when we were all in need of a bit of fresh sea air after the festivities.  The photos make it look like it was a gorgeous day, and it was nice and sunny while we were out but my word it was cold down at the beach!

living arrows

I love these photos though, and I’m pleased I’ve stuck with my tradition from previous years of taking quite simple, straight-on photos of Rhys and Nerys for the first week of the project.  I know I’ll love comparing these pictures to the ones I’ll take in the last week of December.

Looking back over the photos from last year really made me smile so much, I really do love joining in with this project and capturing my children every week.

Now I’m just looking forward to seeing what adventures 2018 brings them, both big and small!

 

Living Arrows
me and mine december twitter

Me and Mine 2017

by with No Comment PersonalUncategorized

We did it.

We made a whole year of the me and mine project, taking a family photo every month.

And I am beyond happy that we stuck it out and made the effort each time.

Our last set of family photos were taken on a little walk through Singleton Park, enjoying a break in the rain and a break in the usual school/work routine thanks to the Christmas holidays.

They were also made easier and more fun to take because I remembered to pop my remote trigger in the camera bag before we left the house.  So much better than taking multiple photos with the timer function!

me and mine family photo Singleton Park Swansea

Along with Living Arrows, this is a photo project I’m determined to carry on with in 2018.

It might seem a bit of a hassle at the time, but I’m so grateful that we took the time each month to take a photo together.  Because now I have this little collection of family pictures to look back on!

Some things really are worth taking a bit of time for.

I can’t see me ever regretting taking the camera along with us on a trip out and taking a few minutes for a quick family photo like these!

One of my plans for 2018 is to get our photos sorted out, and actually print a load out and start putting them in good old-fashioned albums.  And I love the thought of having at least one photo of the four of us together each month in those albums.

Taking family photos is so often one of those things that we think we’ll get round to in the mythical land of ‘later’.  It’s too easy to put off getting in front of the camera, and the weeks and months go so quickly, I really appreciate having this push every month to just get on with it and take these photos.

I’m really looking forward to doing this all over again in 2018!

living arrows 2017

Living Arrows 2017 – A year in photos

by with One Comment PersonalUncategorized

For the second year in a row I’ve taken part in the Living Arrows project, taking and sharing a photo of my children every week.

I absolutely love joining in with it, taking time to snap at least one photo of Rhys and Nerys each week. 

As much as I love photography I think there would likely be weeks when I didn’t pick up my big camera and photograph them without the Living Arrows project.  So I really appreciate having this little prompt each week to capture them on camera.

They really do change so much over the course of a year, it’s amazing to look back at all the photos and see how much their features have changed and how much older they suddenly look.

Take a look and see how different Nerys in particular looks from the first photo to the last!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love looking back at these photos and seeing quite how many of them were taken while we were out and about at the beach or the park.

We really are so lucky to live where we do, to be able to make the most of little windows of sunshine and breaks in rainy weather and pop out to the beach for a blast of fresh air.

2017 was quite a big year for both the children.

Rhys moved into year 2 at school and has settled brilliantly.  He had a bit of a tricky time towards the end of year 1 so I’m thrilled that he’s doing so well now, and has a teacher who is lovely and really seems to understand him and how to get the best from him.

He has come on in leaps and bounds with his reading and loves going to bed with a pile of books to read before he goes to sleep.  He prefers reading non-fiction and learning about history and the world around him.  But he’s also discovered the joy of fiction as well, thanks to my mum sending him a copy of Flat Stanley which he read in one go and absolutely loved.

I love looking back at his photos from this year and seeing the 2 of him looking so proud with his trophies, one for completing a 1k race back in September, and the other for getting the most dojo points at school one week for working hard and trying his best.  It was just lovely to see him so happy after working so hard to achieve something.

Nerys started in the nursery class at school in September and also settled really quickly.

I think going to the Rising 3s class as soon as she turned 3 was definitely the right thing for her.  She was so ready to start at school and loves getting her school uniform on and spending time with her new friends.

She’s learning her letters and numbers and is so proud to show me what she’s been doing when I pick her up from school.

I’m really quite excited to see what 2018 brings for all of our family.  To see what new things the children will learn at school, to see what interests and passions start to surface.

And I’m looking forward to a whole new year of taking photos every week for the Living Arrows project! 

living arrows

Living Arrows 2017 – 52/52

by with No Comment PersonalPhotographyUncategorized

So here we are, the last week of the Living Arrows project for 2017!

I’m so, so happy that I stuck with it again this year, I really love having this little record of our year.

Seeing as this last post for the year falls on Christmas day, we’ve gone for a bit of a festive theme for our photos.  When we pulled all our decorations out from the cupboard under the stairs we found this Santa hat in the mix.

And the children have been fighting over it ever since, both of them wanting to be the one to wear it.

living arrows

 

living arrows

I think I’ll have to splash out on a second one for next year to stop the arguments!

I’ll be posting all our photos from the year at some point next week, which I’m really looking forward to because I love seeing how much the children have grown and changed over the year.

For now though, I’ll keep things short and sweet and wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

 

Living Arrows
Kids' days out with a difference

Kids’ days out with a difference

by with No Comment ParentingUncategorized

One of the many aspects of parenting is the need to find new, exciting activities to do with your children. There are a few old favourites that most families try at one time or another; the trips to theme parks, days spent at the beach, and visiting old castles and stepping back into another time.

As wonderful as these day trips are — and there is no denying they can be absolutely wonderful — sometimes, you and your family might find yourself wanting to try something different. If you’re experiencing this, then read through these suggestions of unique, brilliant day trips that the whole family will love.

Kids' days out with a difference

A Falconry Experience

Falconry is a lost art, now practiced for pleasure rather than purpose, but it is still a joy to behold. The birds are truly incredible; graceful, strong, and heavier than you might expect– which you and your kids will experience for yourselves if you fly hawks and allow them to land on your outstretched arms. Falconry experiences provide an entirely new insight into these glorious, majestic creatures, and you’ll have a day out that your kids will never forget.

kids days out falconry

An Escape Room Experience

If you’ve never heard of escape room experiences, then you have been missing out. The concept is deceptively simple: you are locked into a room, and you are given 60 minutes to find your way out. To do this, you have to navigate a host of clues, solve puzzles, and much more besides. It’s a fantastic experience that your kids will love, offering a touch of mystery to the usual day out fare. As escape room experiences are still relatively new, you might need to travel to London or other major cities, but it will be 100% worth it.   If you’re in Wales though there are already places in Swansea and Cardiff that offer the escape room experience.

 

Tree Top and Rope Outdoor Adventures

The best known company for these outdoor adventures is Go Ape, who have 61 centres dotted throughout the country– and you’ll definitely want to find your nearest and give it a try. The idea is simple: an outdoor maze of rope lines, bridges, small abseil ledges, and more are constructed (usually) in a forest. Your kids will adore the Tarzan-esque feeling of navigating their way through the course, and it’s fantastic exercise too!

Our closest Go Ape experience is at Margam Park, but there’s also a great high rope course at Bluestone if you’re ever on holiday there.

tall trees in woods

A Husky Experience

You may associate huskies with trips to the North Pole, but you’ll also find a delightful team of huskies at the North Yorkshire National Park. You and your kids can learn more about these beautiful dogs, and even go for a ride on a scooter pulled along by a team of dogs. It’s the North Pole experience without the risk of frostbite; what could be better?

 

Alpaca Walking

Yes, you read that correctly: alpaca walking. Alpacas are fantastic, fun creatures and they love to be walked; and you and your kids can be the ones holding the lead. There are a few alpaca walking experiences available in the UK, with the most well-known being in Dorset and Birmingham. If you want an outdoor activity with the addition of incredible animals, then this might be the perfect option for you.

 

Hopefully this list has provided a few unique ideas for your next day trip with the kids!

 

Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.

siblings project december 2017

The siblings project – December 2017

by with No Comment PersonalUncategorized

I’m all out of sorts at the moment, and feel like I’ve completely lost track of time.

All year I’ve been pretty organised with my posts for the siblings project.  I’ve had it scheduled in my calendar and made sure I had taken photos of Rhys and Nerys together each month ready to put the post together for the 15th of the month.

This month though, the 15th came and went and I had completely forgotten about it.  

Luckily a quick check through our photos from the last month revealed some pictures of Rhys and Nerys together that are actually pretty perfect for the siblings project.  Taken on one of our standard beach trips a few weeks ago, these pictures are pretty representative of their relationship.

One minute playing together, happily cooperating.

siblings project december 2017 4

siblings project december 2017 5

 

The next, happily playing apart, lost in their own games.

siblings december 2017

 

And then, back together again.

Playing, laughing, having fun.

Last week they both did their Christmas concerts at school.  

What was really lovely was that they actually both got to see each other perform, as the school gets other classes to come and watch the dress rehearsals for each concert.

They were so excited, coming out of school and telling me that they’d seen each other that day. 

It was also really handy for me that Rhys saw Nerys’ dress rehearsal, because it meant that I could ask him what side of the stage she was on.  So when I went to watch it I managed to get a seat on the right side of the hall, with a perfect view of her singing away to all her songs.

One of the other mums and I were laughing, saying that we’d peaked as parents because we managed to get seats in the front row.  I’m normally stood at the back of the hall so it really did feel like a triumph for me.

Apparently at some schools they do like a silent auction for the front row seats, I wonder how much people end up paying for them!

Now that both concerts are done and dusted, we’re on the final countdown to the Christmas holidays and the children are both getting really quite excited.

It really is such a magical time of year when you’re little isn’t it! 

And as a parent it’s pretty amazing too, getting to experience that magic all over again through your children.