How to introduce your children to more adventurous holidays

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Family trips can easily settle into a familiar pattern. Returning to places your children already love makes life simpler, but as they get older, they may be ready for something different. Adding a little adventure lets them test their confidence and discover new interests without pushing them too far beyond what feels comfortable.

Start with small adventures

You don't need to swap a relaxing break for a demanding expedition overnight. Instead, add one unfamiliar experience to a holiday your children already understand and enjoy.

On a beach break, for example, you might book a beginner-friendly kayaking session rather than spending every day by the pool. If you're staying in the countryside, you could tackle a short walking route with a picnic stop along the way. Choose an activity that suits your children's ages and abilities, and leave enough time for breaks.

Early experiences should ultimately feel achievable. If children finish an activity feeling pleased rather than exhausted or overwhelmed, they're more likely to approach the next opportunity with curiosity instead of nerves.

Choose activities you can learn together

Children can feel less self-conscious about trying something unfamiliar when they see you learning too. You don't have to arrive with years of experience, and making the occasional mistake can show them that getting things wrong is simply part of developing a new skill.

For example, family ski holidays can give adults and children the chance to start lessons at an appropriate level, then share what they've learnt afterwards. Even if you're progressing at different speeds, you still have common experiences to talk about over dinner. This can turn learning itself into part of the holiday rather than something children feel they have to master.

Let your children have a say

Giving children some control over the itinerary can make a new destination feel more like their trip too. Rather than presenting them with endless possibilities, offer two realistic options that you're happy to book.

At a ski resort, you could ask whether they'd prefer another morning on the slopes or an afternoon ice skating. For a summer break, the choice might be between kayaking and a gentle cycle ride. Having a genuine say can shift an activity from something you've arranged for them to something they've actively chosen.

Leave room to slow down

Don't mistake adventure for constant activity. Learning unfamiliar physical skills takes energy, particularly for younger children, and an overloaded itinerary can quickly turn enthusiasm into tiredness.

If you spend the morning skiing or exploring a walking trail, keep the afternoon flexible. You might head back to your accommodation, visit a café or simply spend some time reading and playing. 

A quieter few hours give everyone time to recover, while leaving your children with enough energy to look forward to whatever comes next.

Can you use a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser with other brands of hot chocolate?

Recently I received a wonderful gift - a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. If you are unfamiliar, the Velvetiser is a small kitchen appliance for making delicious hot chocolate. The Velvetiser is basically a Hotel Chocolat branded electric milk frother, and Hotel Chocolat sell a wide range of flavoured hot chocolate sachets and larger pouches which you can use to make both hot and cold chocolate flavoured drinks. 

I absolutely love my new Velvetiser. I drink a lot of hot chocolate, and it saves all the effort of either heating up milk in a saucepan on the hob or trying to get the timings right for the microwave. It's amazing - a perfect mug of hot chocolate ready to drink in just a few minutes. The Velvetiser is also really easy to clean afterwards and it doesn't take much space to store. 

But when I received it, one of my first thoughts was, do I really need to use the Hotel Chocolat branded sachets?! They are expensive to buy, I have other favourite brands, and I often receive hot chocolate as a gift. 

So I thought I'd try out a few different hot chocolate variations, and share my results!

Other branded chocolate flakes

There are plenty of other brands of chocolate flakes available, and many of them are cheaper and come in larger packets. Each Hotel Chocolat sachet is around 30g, so you need about six level teaspoons of flaked chocolate. But you don't even need to use that much, even half that will still make a nice chocolaty drink. 

I did sometimes find that there was a little extra residue left behind when I used the off-brand flakes. I don't know why this would be, but it wasn't a problem it just needed a bit of extra cleaning.

Grated chocolate

I had a bar of chocolate which was specifically designed for hot chocolate, but I would have thought any chocolate bar would work. I used a normal cheese grater to grate it. One tip - for some reason I thought it would be easier to grate if the chocolate was cold from the fridge but that wasn't the case, room temperature chocolate was much easier. This worked just as well as the purchased chocolate flakes!

Chocolate spoon or ball

To make hot chocolate using a solid piece of chocolate like a chunky chocolate spoon or a chocolate ball then I found that it was best to use the Velvetiser to heat the milk first and add the chocolate afterwards. This worked well, the milk wasn't as hot as it would be if you used a saucepan so the chocolate did take a little longer to melt, but it worked in the end.

Other brand powdered hot chocolate

This also worked perfectly, and I tried a variety of different brands. Again I did find that there was a little bit of residue left behind, but this wasn't a problem. I also used Ovaltine powder which worked really well and mixed well with plain hot chocolate for a Maltesers type drink. I used some brands which are designed to just be used with hot water and making them up with the milk definitely improved the taste

Just milk

You can of course just use the Velvetiser to heat and froth the milk.

What else?

I've not finished experimenting yet! 

I'm thinking about grating different types and flavours of chocolate bar, like dark chocolate or orange. I'd also like to add in some extras like crushed Maltesers or Smarties. Using some flavoured syrups would also be fun to try. 

I've also discovered that Hotel Chocolat have a variety of different recipes on their website, including this amazing Velvetised Lava Cake which I definitely want to try!

Photo credit Jana Ohajdova via Unsplash

How to plan your family's first holiday abroad

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Taking your young children abroad for the first time can feel like a big step. You may be excited about introducing them to somewhere new while quietly wondering how they will cope with the flight, unfamiliar food or a different bedtime routine. 

You don't need every detail mapped out for the trip to go smoothly. In fact, keeping your first family holiday relatively simple can make it easier for everyone to settle in. When you make decisions around your children's ages, routines and energy levels, you can spend less of your break solving practical problems and more of it enjoying being away together.

Choose a Destination That Suits Young Children

A destination you enjoyed before having children might not work quite as well when you're travelling with a toddler or preschooler. Flight length, transfer times and proximity to everyday essentials now matter much more.

For a first trip, consider somewhere that doesn't require an exhausting journey at either end. Staying within walking distance of a beach, restaurants or a supermarket can also make everyday life easier. If your child needs an afternoon nap, for example, you can return to your accommodation without turning it into a complicated journey.

Look at the practical details before becoming too attached to a particular resort. A beautiful hotel an hour and a half from the airport may be less appealing once you factor in a late flight followed by a long transfer with a tired three-year-old.

Keep Your Booking Arrangements Straightforward

Family trips involve more details than holidays you may have taken as a couple, particularly when you need to think about baggage, transfers and child-friendly accommodation.

Some parents choose holiday packages because they can arrange key parts of their trip together, leaving fewer separate bookings to keep track of before they travel. This can prove especially useful when you're preparing for your first trip abroad with children and already have passports, packing and airport logistics on your mind.

Whatever booking method you choose, keep your confirmations somewhere you can access easily from your phone. You should also check baggage allowances and transfer arrangements in advance, as knowing exactly what happens when you land can remove some uncertainty from your arrival.

Photo credit Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Make the Journey Work Around Your Children

Think about how your child normally copes with busy days before choosing flights purely around price. A departure that requires the family to leave home in the early hours could disrupt sleep before you've even reached the airport.

Pack a small travel bag around situations you're realistically likely to encounter. A change of clothes can help after a spilled drink, while familiar snacks and a favourite toy can provide some comfort in an unfamiliar setting. Keep essential medicines in the appropriate hand luggage rather than somewhere difficult to reach.

You don't need to entertain your children every second of the journey either. Walking around the airport, watching the planes and having something to eat can all break the day into manageable chunks.

Give Your Family Time to Settle In

It can be tempting to fill your first few days with activities because you're somewhere new, but young children may need time to adjust to different surroundings, temperatures and routines.

Keep your arrival day simple and give everyone a chance to explore the accommodation. You might find that a swim, an early dinner and some quiet time work better than heading straight out on an excursion.

Once you've settled in, choose activities according to everyone's energy levels rather than trying to squeeze everything into one trip. If you've spent the morning sightseeing, an afternoon playing by the pool may give both you and your children the downtime you need. Your first family holiday abroad doesn't have to run perfectly to become a trip you'll enjoy remembering.

How to plan a repaint while your family is still living at home

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The breakfast table is covered in homework, someone can't find their PE kit, and paint is peeling behind the kitchen door. A repaint has to fit around school runs, meals and bedtime, so the useful question is where everyone will be while each room is out of action.

Start with the rooms you can spare

A child's bedroom has to be ready for sleep, while the sitting room may be easy to give up for a day if there is somewhere else to play. Think about where the furniture can go as well. A room isn't really available if its contents are blocking the hallway.

Say you have a spare bedroom full of storage boxes and a busy kitchen that needs repainting. Doing the spare room first gives you somewhere to move the boxes before the kitchen work begins, and you can set up a temporary breakfast spot there while the kitchen is out of use. Keep access to the sink and cupboards if you will still need them.

Avoid starting several rooms at once unless the family has somewhere comfortable to spend the day. Keeping one familiar room untouched makes the disruption easier to live with. Check the family diary before you agree dates, too. A week of late school activities leaves very little energy for shifting furniture or putting a bedroom back together before bed.

Clear the space before the first coat

Move out whatever you can. Put toys and books into labelled boxes so the clear-up doesn't turn into a hunt for school things. If larger furniture has to stay, push it to the middle of the room and agree with the painter who will move it and who will cover it. Clear the window ledges as well.

Ask whether filling holes, sanding rough patches, protecting floors and painting skirting boards are part of the job. If you are painting the room yourself, plan that work before you open a tin.

Imagine a family who leaves the craft cupboard where it is because it is too heavy to move. Everything they need for an afternoon activity is now stuck behind dust sheets. It is better to take out the everyday things first and put them somewhere the children can reach without going into the work area.

Plan for drying and everyday traffic

Open the windows while you paint and follow the instructions on the tin for ventilation, drying and recoating. Leave enough time for the paint to dry before the furniture goes back, rather than promising the family a bedroom by a particular evening.

Keep children and pets out of the room while it is being painted and until it is dry. Think about the routes through the house, too. If the bathroom is beyond the room being painted, change the order of work or arrange access before anyone starts. Move the cat's food and water bowls before you shut the door.

Photo credit Andrew Itaga via Unsplash

Compare quotes against the real disruption

When you ask painters for quotes, show them the rooms and tell them the family will be staying at home. Get a fixed price in writing before work starts and check what it covers. One quote may include surface preparation while another leaves it to you. Ask which rooms will be unusable, whether the same crew will come back for each stage, and what clean-up happens before the furniture returns.

BrushUp Painting is an Australian firm in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, so it isn't an option for UK households, but its approach is a useful example of what to ask a local painter about. It quotes on site with one fixed price in writing, includes full prep, and uses the same crew from the first coat to the last. It also says furniture is moved back and the site swept afterwards. Those details matter when you are living around the work.

Say you have two quotes for the same bedrooms. The cheaper one leaves out preparation and doesn't say who moves the beds back. Ask for both points in writing before you compare the totals.

Bring each room back into use deliberately

Before the furniture goes back, check the painted surfaces and make sure the agreed clean-up has been done. Follow the tin's instructions before you hang anything on the walls. Keep the boxes for the next room together in one place, and move on only when the family has a usable space again.

A repaint around a family comes down to order: which room goes first, where things wait, and who puts them back. Settle those points before the first coat and the painting itself is much easier to schedule.

How to ditch fast fashion and curate a wardrobe you love

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It's so easy to accumulate clothes that you’ll hardly ever wear. A tempting sale, a trending jacket on your social media feed, or just one more blouse from an online clothing platform can result in your wardrobe overflowing while you somehow still have nothing to wear. It can be hard to resist ‘fast fashion’, but the good news is that more and more shoppers are becoming interested in buying less and choosing more carefully. Read on for some practical tips on building a wardrobe you'll actually enjoy wearing while reducing unnecessary spending and waste.

Beyond the bargain price: The real impact of fast fashion

Fast fashion is all about producing affordable clothing quickly to meet changing trends.

Yes, those low prices are attractive, but constantly buying cheap items contributes to textile waste, resource consumption and stuffed wardrobes. And don’t forget the personal cost. That £15 dress bought for a single girls' night out isn't much of a bargain if it spends the next two years at the back of your closet. Before shopping, look through your wardrobe. You might discover three nearly identical jumpers or jeans you've completely forgotten about.

How to curate a wardrobe that works for you 

You don't need to throw everything away before starting your curation journey. Just look at which clothes you instinctively reach for on a regular basis. A favourite pair of jeans, comfortable boots and a couple of well-fitting shirts can easily form the foundation of a capsule wardrobe. Create a few outfits using what you already own before buying anything new. If you have kids, using this approach for their clothing can save money and simplify busy mornings – plus, it will help them understand that clothes don't need replacing just because something different becomes fashionable.

Photo credit Perry Merrity II via Unsplash

The joy of second-hand shopping

If you want unique clothing that reflects your personality, look beyond the high street. For example, second-hand shopping (local charity shops, vintage boutiques, online marketplaces) provides almost endless opportunities to find interesting pieces without contributing to demand for new production. With a bit of effort and a discerning eye, you can find everything from wool coats to leather handbags. And pawnbrokers in London are an excellent option for distinctive pre-owned jewellery and accessories at reasonable prices. Just be sure to examine condition, check measurements and compare prices before buying - that stunning vintage bracelet is only a worthwhile purchase if you'll actually wear it.

Choose fashion items that fit your life

Instagram will show you endless reels of dresses in glamourous locales, but a wardrobe should suit your lifestyle, not follow an algorithm. If you spend most weekends outdoors, you’ll need practical knitwear or sturdy jackets rather than delicate party clothes. Then, look after your favourites by following washing instructions, repairing loose buttons and storing garments properly. And make mindful consumption part of family life by getting kids involved in sorting through outgrown clothes and passing them on to relatives or friends.

A sustainable wardrobe with clothes you love

Moving away from fast fashion doesn't mean giving up shopping or personal style. Just be more deliberate when buying clothes, rediscover old favourites and pick pieces you'll want to keep. Start with one small change (such as buying second-hand) and over time, you’ll have a wardrobe that's useful, individual and environmentally conscious.

When the morning routine becomes a mountain: A mother's guide to navigating school anxiety

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Every parent knows the morning juggle. Getting everyone out of bed, fed, dressed, and out the front door with the correct bags is an achievement in itself. We accept the chaos as part of family life. But for a growing number of families, the morning routine goes far beyond missing PE kits and lost shoes. When a child is experiencing genuine school anxiety, the start of the day can become deeply distressing.

When a child is struggling to attend school, the focus naturally falls on the child. We desperately try to find out what is causing their anxiety and how we can get them through the school gates. But school refusal does not affect children in isolation. It can reshape the working lives, finances and mental health of entire families. And very often, it is mums who carry the heaviest emotional load.

The Hidden Emotional Toll on Mothers

If you have ever found yourself in tears in the hallway after a disastrous school drop-off, please know that you are not alone. New research commissioned by Minerva Virtual Academy highlights just how much of a toll this takes on parents behind closed doors.

The survey revealed the immense pressure placed on families:

• 28% of parents affected by school refusal said weekday mornings had become the most distressing part of family life.
• More than one in five had cried after an unsuccessful attempt to get their child into school.
• Almost a quarter said the experience had made them feel as though they were failing as a parent.

The statistics from the wider campaign are equally heartbreaking, showing that 21% of mothers reported their mental health had deteriorated severely due to the crisis. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make sure our children are thriving, and when the traditional school environment is actively causing them harm, it feels as though we are out of options.

The Waiting Game and Financial Strain

School refusal is sometimes viewed as a child simply deciding that they do not want to attend, but the reality is usually far more complicated. The parents surveyed reported anxiety, autism, ADHD, bullying and unmet additional needs as factors contributing to their child's difficulties.

Finding support is rarely a quick fix. In the research, 15% of parents said they were currently waiting for their child to receive a formal diagnosis for autism, ADHD or additional needs. A further 14% said their child had waited more than two years for a diagnosis or assessment.

During that incredibly stressful time, parents are still expected to manage each morning, support their child and keep the rest of family life moving. Because a distressed child cannot simply be left at the school gates, parents are forced to absorb the impact. 

Across all the families surveyed, 42% estimated that their household had lost up to £10,000 as a result of their child's attendance problems.

Photo credit Courtney Kirkland via Unsplash

Finding a Gentler Path

Mums often feel enormous pressure to keep their child in mainstream education, even when the current environment is causing serious distress. Admitting that a school setting is not working can feel like admitting defeat, but it is not. Listening to a child, asking what they need and exploring alternatives are responsible parenting decisions.

The main problem is that almost 90% of families said they had not been given clear guidance about alternative education options. When alternatives are discussed, traditional home education is often the default assumption. While homeschooling is a wonderful choice for some, it usually requires parents to take on significant responsibility for their child's learning. If you are already trying to balance your own mental health and household finances, becoming a full-time teacher might just add to the overwhelm.

If you want your child to continue receiving structured teaching, pastoral support and regular contact with education professionals, an online school may provide another option. At Minerva Virtual Academy, a structured online secondary school combines learning from home with live lessons, independent study and individual mentoring.

For some pupils, fewer sensory pressures or the ability to learn at their own pace can help them rebuild their confidence and relationship with education. Most importantly, choosing a flexible alternative takes the immense pressure off you, allowing you to return to being their mum rather than their daily enforcer.

About the author

Hugh Viney is the founder of Minerva Virtual Academy, a Department for Education-accredited online school for pupils aged 11 to 18. The school combines online lessons and self-paced study with weekly one-to-one mentoring and wellbeing support.

The art of mixing high street and vintage for a unique look

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Vintage fashion can be a wonderful source of novelty, and a great way to inject personality into your wardrobe. But finding vintage pieces that work well together can be tricky. In many cases, a hybrid approach, which brings together older items and modern ones, can represent the best way forward. But why is this, and how can we do it successfully?

Why Mix High Street and Vintage?

The high street comes with a number of distinct advantages. The clothes you find here come in many sizes, and they’re often highly versatile. On the other hand, second-hand items and vintage finds tend to be more affordable, and they’re inherently more sustainable. By bringing together items from either category, you can achieve a look that balances these advantages. At the same time, you might find that you have more scope to customise things to your liking.

Photo credit Becca McHaffie via Unsplash

Sourcing Your Pieces

Doing this properly often means knowing where to look. Many high-street outlets will have bargains for sale, prominently displayed; vintage outlets might contain bargains that aren’t so easily spotted. To give yourself the best chance of unearthing treasure, you’ll want to dig around in as many different places as possible. This means considering not just local shops, but online ones, too. You might find different versions of the same item in many different places. Maxi dresses, for example, are available everywhere.

Styling for a Unique Look

When you’re bringing together items from many different eras, the scope for contrast and interesting juxtaposition is considerable. You might pair items with different patterns, colours, or textures. A little bit of layering can be highly effective. Some knowledge of basic colour theory is always worthwhile, but you might find that you can achieve great results by parting with convention and theory. If an outfit looks like it works, then it’s fair to say that it does.

Expressing Your Personality Through Fashion

When you do it right, fashion isn’t just a means of looking fantastic. It’s also a means of expressing yourself. Every occasion might be a new opportunity to find inspiration. When you have a little bit of experience, and you’ve found a style that matches your personality and body, you’ll often find that you’re a little more comfortable when you’re out and about.

Make Your Wardrobe Your Own

Building up a collection isn’t a one-off endeavour, but a project that will be with you for the rest of your life. As your tastes and budget evolve, you can find new additions in a variety of places, from vintage sources to the high street. Just make sure that you occasionally sell the things that you aren’t using.