The Birthday Fairy

by on May 17, 2013

The Birthday Fairy's magic wand...Once upon a time there was a (somewhat exhausted and slightly overweight) fairy who, for the purposes of this story, we shall call Faye.

Faye was among many, many other things, the family Birthday Fairy.

When the time arrived, year in, year out, thanks to the Birthday Fairy each of the children in the house would ‘magically’ receive carefully wrapped, thoughtful gifts, delicious homemade birthday cakes and treats, and a party at which they would be showered with gifts and love.

The Birthday Fairy mainly worked her magic alone, with the odd grunt of approval from her husband, who seem to be mostly oblivious to the work she did.

With her daughter’s birthday party rapidly approaching Faye was in preparation overdrive. She’d made and sent the party invitations, arranged and liaised with the venue, carefully chosen the party bags and gifts for each of the twenty guests, and bought all The Birthday Girl’s gifts, ready to surprise her with on the Big Day. The only thing she had yet to make was a princess cake for the party, as requested by the Birthday Girl herself. It would be fine though; Faye had a little time to spare, or at least she thought she did…

As tends to happen in these situations, the time Faye thought she had was eaten up by time spent ‘dealing’ with other things (such as randomly going partially deaf,  but that’s a whole other story), and the cake she would normally lovingly make had to be bought from the bakery of a well know supermarket chain.

Faye, the Birthday Fairy, refused to feel any guilt. The shop-bought cake fit the ‘princess’ brief well enough, and she doubted (or at least hoped) the party guests wouldn’t notice the difference. After all, how many 3 and 4 year olds really even care who made the cake, as long are there is cake!

Faye was beginning to wonder if her husband, who should have know better, truly believed in the Birthday Fairy’s magical powers. The night before the party she sarcastically asked him, for what felt like the eleventy billionth time, if he thought that fairies arranged birthdays. Knowing that things would never change, and fairy wings and a tutu didn’t suit him anyway, she carried on with her Birthday Fairy role, regardless of sometimes wanting to pass on the powers, or at least share them for just a little while.

Faye threw on her magnanimous face, put her ‘wobble’ behind her (or some might say in front, if we’re judging by weight distribution), and busied herself with the final party preparations.

After all, any good fairy worth their salt never stops trying, does she…

*swishes magic wand*

 

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As a parent, you are probably very keen to find ways that will help your child learn, develop and grow. Well, one great way to encourage learning is with a good bedroom design. It might seem a little strange, but it has been found that a great design can help your child interact and learn.

Put the computer in the family room

Considering the world we live in today, limiting the use of technology may seem a little strange. However, it has been suggested that too much technology can limit a child’s imagination. Over the past decade, it has become the norm for children to have televisions and computers in their bedroom, but parents have been reassessing this attitude, with adults keen to limit the use of technology to open family spaces.

Create a play area

Children need to know that although they can use technology, such as computers and video games, there are other methods of play too. By designing their bedroom to include a play area, you will ensure they are more inclined to explore the different playthings they have to access to. Make the experience truly beneficial by putting down your own gadgets and joining in. Interaction like this is a key part of a child’s development so should never be overlooked.

Kids’ minds are incredible, so allow them to explore and learn as they go. By avoiding toys and technology that encourage a particular behaviour or stereotyping, children will be able to be themselves and that is a truly wonderful gift.

Think outside the box

You might think that your child’s bedroom is just somewhere to play and sleep at the end of the day, but it’s so much more. This is where your child will spend a huge chunk of their younger years, so ensure it is designed to encourage learning.

There are things you could add to the room to make it extra-special. What about a climbing wall, wipeable surfaces, or a reading corner? These unique features will mean your child interacts with their bedroom and explores what it can offer safely.

Add a splash of colour

Although you might have heard that babies are only able to see black and white or light and dark, using these colours to paint a child’s bedroom is not a good idea. Between the age of six weeks and two months, children start to distinguish colours and respond well to bright hues.

Research typically shows that boys and girls have different colour preferences, but if you want to avoid coercing your kids into liking a particular colour, allow them to choose for themselves. This is something they’ll generally only be able to do at an older age so starting with softer palettes is a good way to go.

If you want to create a children’s bedroom that encourages learning, then visit Betta Living online today and see how their bedroom styles could help.

 

Guest content published on behalf of Betta Living.

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My babies are growing up, and all too fast!

Last week we had confirmation of the 3 year old’s reception place, for September this year. My youngest baby will be school age. She’ll spend all day, everyday at the same school as her elder brother. Both my children will be in full time education.

It seems, in so many ways, as if it were just yesterday we began this journey into parenthood. From the moment we knew we were going to be someone’s parents, our brains were abuzz. All the excitement. All the hoping and dreaming about the future we would build with the children we were yet to meet. We were mapping a course in our minds, trying to navigate this brave new world, into which we were about to be launched.

I’d spend hours day-dreaming about what our perfect nursery should look like. What wall paper would we choose? Did we need a border? Was a blue colour scheme a good idea, or a neutral pallette  a better plan?

Did we need a Moses basket? Should we buy a crib, or perhaps a more traditional cot? Would a more contemporary cotbed suit us better? There seemed to be so many decisions to make about even the smallest of details. But of course, no detail is small when it comes to your baby! I’d pour for hours over nursery catalogues and websites filling my head with all kinds of ideas.

We decided the best route for us was a neutral colour scheme, with a good quality cotbed that would grow with us. And, that cotbed did indeed grow with us. First my son’s, then my daughter’s, and now lovingly handed down to my niece (of course with new mattresses for each child).

It’s only a cotbed, yet to me it represents so much more. Something a simple as a place to sleep has become an intrinsic part of our lives, and an important symbol of bonds between a family.

I wonder where it will end up next…

 

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