*Advertorial Feature With Savlon advanced healing gel*
It seems we have reached the age that my kids want to spend every day in front of a screen and, I will be the first to admit, that since September we have let the screen time rule of an hour at a time slide in order for peace to reign over the house but we knew that we needed to get back in control of this asap.
With half term being 2 weeks for Nottinghamshire kids there has been no better time to get the kids back outside come rain or shine but it can be hard to break the screen obsession cycle, and I know I am not alone in fearing getting the kids outdoors!
According to a new survey by Savlon advanced healing gel, modern parents are more cautious than ever before about their children playing outdoors. 94% of modern mums and dads expressedworry about letting their children enjoy traditional outdoor past times such as splashing in puddles and picking berries, and 2/3 of parents said they believe that indoor play is safer for their child than outdoor play.
However, child behaviourist, Lorraine Thomas from the Parent Coaching Academy reminds parents that indoors doesn’t necessarily mean in safe hands: “Though there are some risks attached to playing outside, there are also risks associated with being inside. For example, children who spend lots of time inside maybe also spending lots of time online, talking to people that their parents don’t know or wouldn’t want them to talk to.”
This half term we decided to brave the mud and get out and visit a local pumpkin patch here in Nottinghamshire. Last year we had several tumbles, with the pumpkin vines being all over the place and Jacobs eagerness to win and race everywhere, but with a need for a couple of perfectly picked pumpkins we put on our wellies and waterproofs and packed the Savlon Advanced Healing Gel in our bag and a handful of plasters and headed for the fields!
Nottinghamshire Pick Your Own is a new patch this year that is just what I wanted for the boys – A field with limited commercialisation just fresh air and pumpkins.
First off the bat Jacob decided he needed the biggest wheelbarrow there was. He was sure he wanted to fill it to the top with the most perfect pumpkins.
Joshua was more selective in his idea of what a perfect pumpkin was so he decided to take it more slowly.
After only a few minutes Jacob stumbled and I thought the tears were going to flow. Thank goodness he righted himself and carried on. There is nothing worse is there, than that split second before your kids fall over and you know you just can’t reach them in time !
Jacob was the first with 2 pumpkins in his barrow. Joshua was painfully indecisive with a particular colour in mind. He was looking for the roundest dark orange pumpkin he could find. Jacob was having no issue finding the pumpkins he wanted he just struggled to pick them up and he didn’t like the spikey stalks on the top!
With pumpkins finally selected and mud in abundance the boys decided to start wheelbarrow racing. With my heart in my mouth I thought Ollie would stop them soon enough, but it seems my dearest husband decided to join in with them, and with vines and water pipes, I feared that all 3 of them would end up in a heap!
Thankfully all 3 made it to the end and the boys dutifully queued up with their offerings while I ended up paying! .. not sure how I managed to get stumped with that bill!
For me I notice the difference in their behaviour and concentration when I can get them outside, even if it’s just for 30 minutes each day. If we miss getting them outside during the day they are really quite irritable and grumpy so for me we really need to get them outdoors more!
With no bumps or scrapes to be seen on this adventure we are heading off for some other family outings soon and can’t wait to finally get to spend some time together, inside or out!
*Savlon Healing Gel can be purchased for approximately £4.29 from HERE*
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