Stepping Into Study

When people ask that age old question "If you could go back in time and change something what would it be?", my answer is always the same. I would have gone all the way with my education. I wasn't a bad student and actually remember getting some pretty decent grades but I was young, naive and thought I knew better so ended up leaving school not having sat my exams. Something I have always wanted to do is get some form of formal qualifications under my belt since leaving school without any. Now don't get me wrong as much as I love my job (at times), working in retail is not something I saw myself doing long term and it is far from being a passion of mine. 

I have a huge interest in delving into the world of photography. It has always been an ambition of mine to study photography and one which has quite often been scoffed at by people around me. Maybe that's one of the reasons I have put off doing anything about it for so long, but if these past few years have taught me anything its that you should do what makes you happy right now. Don't put things off and don't be too scared to just go for it! With this in mind I have been scouring the local college website recently and found some interesting courses I would be keen to enroll on. I am eager to start of with some access courses to ease me in to the world of studying and get some basic qualifications behind me before moving onto a more specific course type.

Reading through the courses really excites me. I have always wanted to make a career out of something I enjoy doing just for the love of it. I love pictures (Taking them more than posing for them) although my large roll of selfies on Facebook would say different. I love the thought of capturing magical moments for someone and giving them wonderful memories that they can treasure forever. Now as much as I love snapping away on my smartphone, I think a decent camera is definitely on the cards if I do enroll on one of these courses and I am thinking that If i do take some access courses beforehand then what better way to reward myself if when I pass than a new camera? As I will be just starting out I haven't got a huge list of requirements when looking for a camera, just something tough, compact and purse friendly. I have seen a few decent cameras that fit the bill and the Panasonic Lumix Waterproof Camera really stood out for me. Its a really durable camera which given that I have dropped my phone a million times is a must for me. Its cute, compact and really affordable too and with the added benefit of being waterproof , even swimming selfies are not out of the question :)

I am hoping to call into the college at some point in the next few weeks to start the study ball rolling so will of course keep you all posted on the outcome.

I would be keen to hear from other late students who have studied or are currently in adult education. Have you taken a course later in life? 


**This post has been written by myself in collaboration with Panasonic.

Keeping Your Children Safe Online

As a parent of a pre teen girl, there is nothing more worrying than her safety. As much as I worry about her staying safe outside in the big wide world, there are even more reasons to be cautious when she is indoors and online. You hear horror stories everyday about terrible things that happen online from cyber-bullying to grooming, and with using the internet becoming more and more of a necessity for our children, especially with school work how can we ensure we are doing the very best in keeping our children safe online? There are ever increasing opportunities for children to get online now. Through laptops, smart phones, tablets and games consoles. By following these simple steps you can ensure that your children stay safe when online and still enjoy all the wonderful benefits of the “World Wide Web”.

• Brush Up Your Own Knowledge of the Web - The more you understand about the internet, the easier it will be to inform your children. Make sure you are aware of the different sites your children will be visiting. Get used to browsing different sites including social networking sites. Remember if it’s easy for you to find online it will be easy for them too!

• Keep The Internet “In Sight” – Whether they are using laptops, tablets or even their smart phones, make sure your children are always using the internet where everyone can see. Never allow them to be locked away in their bedroom or out of sight from anyone.

• Explain The Dangers That Can Be Found Online – If you feel your children are mature enough to be using the web then they should be mature enough to understand the different dangers inherent to being online and when using social media. Explain the different situations that they could find themselves in and always make sure they know exactly what to do and who to inform if any such situations occur.

• Use Filtering Software – There are many marvellous software programmes available to purchase and or download which block out adult/harmful/explicit material. Most programmes can be tailored to block our different sites and content according to the parents’ specifications that are set.

• Always Be Open And Honest – Always be open with your children. If they have questions about the internet and or its dangers, be honest and explain things truthfully. The more open you are with them the more likely they are to be open with you if anything should happen online. Having an honest and open understanding of what they get up to online will ensure they feel comfortable to come to you should they encounter any trouble online.

There are many resources online for children and parents so if you are in need of any advice then do look around online and stay safe.

The Gallery - Back To School

Never mind the six week holiday going fast, for me the past ten years have flew by! Where have those years gone? I can hardly believe that Aalliyah will be starting her final year of primary school tomorrow and then this time next year I will be sending her off to secondary school! When did my tiny, fragile baby become a strong, independent, young lady?

Strong willed, intelligent, independent, beautiful and ambitious are just a few of many words to describe my amazing daughter and I hope she continues to blossom and really succeeds in her final year of primary school. But most of all I hope she makes a lot of wonderful memories this year too as they will stay with her forever!

The Gallery theme this week is "Back To School" Head over to Sticky Fingers Blog and check out the other entries.

Shelby's Snack Shack Review - Learning Resources

Myself and Aalliyah are big fans of all that Learning Resources has to offer, so when we were given the opportunity to review another fantastic product we jumped at the chance. "Shelby's Snack Shack" is another fantastic board game, simple to master but gives hours of enjoyment as well as being a great educational aid.

The intended age recommendation for this game is 4 years and over. Being that Aalliyah was too old to benefit (although would still have a blast playing it) I decided to take Shelby's Snack Shack to somewhere that it could get a good and thorough road test....The classroom!!

With the agreement of the headteacher, I was able to give Shelby's Snack Shack to the reception class pupils who all had such a fun time playing it. The educational benefits of the game are incredible and it proved to be a vital learning aid. Some of the pupils have difficulty grasping a pen, so the structure of this game and the way the tweezers (Shelby) has to be held really helps to fine tune their gross motor skills.

The class teacher had nothing but good comments about Shelby's Snack Shack. The rules were very easy for her to explain to the children. The game was simple to follow and was great for helping with lower ability counting skills while still being in a fun group setting. The game got the children working together and will continue to be a firm favorite for the class.