Your Child's First Solo Outing? These Free Location Tracking Tools Give Parents Peace of Mind

Letting your child or teen go out alone, including with friends without parental supervision, for the first time can be an anxious experience for any parent. You wave them goodbye, watch as they round the corner and disappear, and then you spend the next 40 minutes trying not to check your phone constantly to see if they have called or texted you back.  Every parent will go through this stage. I'm currently raising a teenager, so I know first-hand how tricky is can be to safely navigate this time. But there is a point in every parenting journey where you have to start giving them some independence, even if it's just using public transport from A to B or meeting up with friends.  This is why location sharing has become standard in families with school-age kids. A 2026 AllAboutCookies survey found 86% of parents track their children's whereabouts, and 71% do it regularly. The tools built into most phones today make it easy and free, though not every option suits every family.......

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The Top Tips For Parents Whose Kids Are In The Modelling Industry

It can be very flattering when someone approaches you and suggests that your child has the potential to become a model, and while this is a great compliment, you need to remember that the top priority when it comes to your young child is their safety. As parents, we never stop worrying about our children, and especially so if they are involved in the modelling industry. Nobody is saying that you shouldn’t be encouraging modeling for tweens , it can be a positive experience and one that can help create some financial security for future years, but you should be taking a cautious approach to such things. You want your child to be able to enjoy everything that you never had, but this is something that you know very little about. It can be fraught with a number of pitfalls, and this is why it’s important to be knowledgeable when it comes to such things. If your child has been offered the opportunity to work within the modelling industry, the following are some of the top tips that will all......

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Top safety tips for children’s furniture choices

When it comes to choosing furniture for your little ones, we know safety is always at the forefront of your mind. From the excitement of picking out their first bed to the challenges of child-proofing every corner, you want your home to be a safe and welcoming space for your entire family. Choose age-appropriate furniture When you choose your children’s bedroom, consider what feels right for their age, from small children to teens, their needs and safety concerns differ greatly. While a single bed or small double bed can be great for older children and teenagers, bunk beds are also a great option for kids sharing a space above the age of six or for making room to add a desk under your children’s bed while shaving space. Just make sure your children’s bunk bed has sturdy guardrails on both sides and check that the ladder is securely fixed to prevent slips and trips. Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines to understand any age restrictions and weight limits. Secure heavy furniture to......

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How to prepare your car as new parents

Getting out and about is a blessing for new parents. Being stuck inside for long periods can be hard and affect your mental health and leave you feeling cut off from the outside world. With a car, you’re never too far from friends and family or pretty outdoor spots and while I would love to eventually be car free, having a car keeps me connected to my family in West Wales. Driving around is also a great way to soothe babies and inspire some nap time! However, before you jump into your vehicle, you’ll need to prepare your car for safe baby transportation. Follow this guide to find out how. Install the correct car seat Prioritise finding and fitting a car seat. This should be the correct size for your baby and vehicle and provide the support necessary for their age. Adjustable options are a cost-effective option as they can grow with your children, ensuring their safety and comfort for longer. Whichever style you opt for, ensure it meets government guidelines for child car seats and is ......

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6 ways to prepare your car for a family road trip

I love a good road trip! Having grown up in South Africa where the nearest city was a 7hr drive away you get used to long distance trips and besides driving in South African I have also done the length of the UK from the West Coast of Scotland to Cornwall as well as across France and Italy and I've learnt a few things along the way. I've had the experience of breaking down more than once with the kids in tow and navigating country roads, getting lost, taking the car on ferries and the Eurostar and even with all the ups and downs we have always enjoyed the journey because it's all apart of the adventure that is travel. It's really important to have your car in tip-top shape before heading out on a road trip not only to reduce stress but also save you money. If your car breaks down while on a road trip it can end up costing you a whole lot more especially if you need to get it towed. 1. Make sure your MOT is up to date Not only is having a valid MOT essential......

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5 tips on staying safe online when travelling

We always stay on top of online safety, especially with our kids when we are home and it does help that they have extremely limited to access to the internet and as a family we are also aware of keeping our own details safe and changing passwords regularly. Some may even make use of additional security solutions, such as a vpn for streaming , in order to further protect their devices. Many however, forget to be as vigilant when travelling either solo, as a couple or as a family it's really important to be aware of the risks and take precautions when going online while on the road.     1. Be on top of your updates Before you leave you want to make sure your laptop is running the latest version operating system and security software and I would also recommend using the highest security settings while travelling. You can also consider setting your apps passwords with an access key, which can add an extra layer of security. Also make sure all your devices have passwords to......

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My personal experience of Carbon Monoxide poisoning

This month I am working with CO Be Alarmed on their campaign to raise awareness of the risks of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning as it's something I've had personal experience and was a scary experience both myself and my family. Each year around 30 people die and 4000 people are hospitalised from CO poisoning which is very preventable by simply fitting an alarm into your home. It's really important to remember that CO poisoning doesn't discriminate and can affect anyone of any age, including children. Being a parent the safety of my kids is paramount and while on average parents spend £222 per year on safety equipment a third don't invest in a lifesaving carbon monoxide alarm, which is really shocking statistics if you ask me. Going back to my own experience I want to share it with you so that you can see how easily this kind of thing can happen to you. While studying in Edinburgh in my early twenties, I lived in a great little top floor apartment within walking d......

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How to pack safely for a cross-country road trip

We are heading on a mini road trip later this month to Luxembourg, taking in a few sights a long the way and also hopefully fitting in some camping. When it comes to travelling longer distances in a car, camper or RV you need to take certain things into account, especially if you have children, having a clear plan of what you do and do not need is key. You don't want to overload your vehicle which can be dangerous but equally you need to know you have all your essentials including provisions if you are delayed or break down. I have started to put a list together of what we are going to need and thought I would share a few tips about how to get ready for a road trip, safely and efficiently. Just light backpacking or inter-railing, you can apply a lot of the same rules to when you hit the road in your vehicle. This article - packing tips for travelers is a great place to start and can apply to most trips. Even though you will have a little more space you may still want t......

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How to Always be Beach Ready this summer

For families, the summer is a great time of the year. The fact that the weather is better gives you the chance to get out and about more, and spend more time together. One of the nicest things to do as a family is to visit the beach. We take the kids all the time. They love it and so do we, which is why we are always beach ready. As soon as there is a hint of sun we grab our swimming costumes and swim shorts , pile in the car, and head to the beach. We tend to go on weekdays, when there are fewer people, but at a push we will brave the crowds and go on the weekend. Especially if it has been a while since we had a sunny day. We are always beach ready, so that we can take every opportunity to get out there, and enjoy ourselves. To make sure that we are we keep a beach bag packed, and have a checklist on hand to use so that we do not leave anything vital at home. Sun protection Top of the list is sun protection for us and the kids. That means sun hats, sungla......

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