Easy ways to encourage your child to limit their screen time

It’s no secret that technology is a huge part of everyday life, but it’s clear that it can sometimes be a distraction, especially for your kids.  A recent survey revealed that 65% of parents said that their children spent at least 1-3 hours a day on gadgets, mobile phones, laptops or watching TV. Here at Tutor Doctor, we know that banning technology isn’t the answer, however we believe that screen time should be considered a privilege. That’s why we’ve come up with some easy ways you can encourage your child to limit their screen time and get them to stick to it.

Remind your children to limit screen usage
Banning technology isn’t very realistic, but it’s important to make sure your kids are aware that you are paying attention to how much time they are on a screen.  Gently remind them that they shouldn’t be spending all of their spare time on their phone or watching TV and encourage other activities instead.

Encourage exercise and other activities
Try and encourage your kids to spend more time taking part in sports and exercise, as it will distract them from technology and get them outside in the fresh air. Activities such as swimming, horse riding, basketball, tennis and ballet not only get your children active but they’re also loads of fun. You might even be surprised at how much they enjoy doing something different for a change!
If the weather isn’t so great there are loads of other hobbies that your kids can get involved in that don’t involve the TV or their mobile phone. Scrapbooking, reading, baking and playing board games are bound to keep them occupied- they may just need some friendly encouragement to see what they can achieve without technology. Remember, the key to limiting your child’s screen time is balance, moderation, flexibility and compromise.

Create screen rules together
A really simple way to get your children to actively limit their screen time is to create some rules together. By doing it this way your kids will feel involved and not as if they are being told what to do.
Start by sitting down together and write up some clear rules, along with a few ideas for rewards if they do well. Here are a few suggestions of rules to implement together.

• No texting during meals, either at home or in a restaurant
• No TV during meals
• No TV until after all homework and chores are done
• The TV gets turned off at a set time every night
• No TVs or laptops in their bedrooms

Watch your own screen habits
Your children may not always listen to you but you are still their role model. It’s important that you are living by the same rules that you set them. So if you tell your kids that they need to cut back on TV time then you need to make sure you’re doing the same. If they can see that you are trying the likelihood is that they will too!

3 fun science experiments you can do at home with your children

It’s British Science Week from the 11^th– 20^th of March, so we thought we would celebrate by doing a special science themed post! Here at Tutor Doctor we’ve found 3 fun and super easy science experiments you can do with the kids at home. Whether you want to spend a lazy Sunday trying out all 3 or a spare afternoon trying out just one- we guarantee you will have a bundle of fun!

Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
Learn About: Chemistry
This experiment is all about chemical reactions. The combination of baking soda and vinegar creates a fizzy overflow, which makes carbon dioxide turn into gas. Just watch your child’s face as the volcano erupts!
You’ll Need

• 1/4 cup vinegar (up to a cup if you have a large bottle)
• 2 tablespoons baking soda

Instructions

1. Place the vinegar in the bottle using a small funnel.
2. Add in the baking soda into the vinegar as fast as you can
3. Stand back and watch the volcano erupt

(Make sure you do this experiment with some tea towels around or somewhere that you can clean up easily- it can get quite messy!)

Invisible Liquorice
Learn About: Light and Perspective
Watch your children be amazed whilst they try and figure out if the liquorice melts or simply disappears. This experiment is all about how oil redirects light, causing half the liquorice to vanish!
You’ll Need

• Liquorice or candy straws
• One tall drinking glass
• Cooking oil

Instructions

1. Pour the oil into the glass
2. Put the liquorice stick into the glass
3. Lean it against the side of the glass
4. Now look at the side of the glass and slowly turn it. Does the liquorice get wider and narrower, or completely disappear? 

What’s happening? Oil bends light- in fact, it can bend the light so much that, if you hold the glass the right way, the liquorice leaning against the side of the glass is completely hidden from your eyes. Cool or what?

Dye your own flowers
Learn About: Capillary Action
This experiment is all about how plants drink water. Using food coloring you can watch the liquid seep through the plants veins and towards the flower and petals. Watch it change colour right in front of your eyes!
You’ll Need:

• Three white flowers. If you don’t have flowers, celery works great as well
• Four glasses of water
• Food Colouring: blue, yellow, green, red
• Sharp knife (Adult Use Only!)

Instructions:

1. Firstly, get your kids to mix food colouring into each glass, the stronger the colours the better.
2. Add two flowers to two colours and leave to one side.
3. (Parents only!) Take your last flower and carefully cut the stem down the middle ensuring it is still in tact
4. Now take the two remaining coloured glasses and part the stem, placing each half of the stem into different coloured glasses. Your flower will now be drinking from two different coloured liquids
5. Finally place the water glasses away from the sunlight and watch what happens. Wait a few days and keep observing the petals for super cool results!

Fun Science Fact About Plants!
Xylem and Phloem are the name of the two plant tissues that carry water. Together, these tissues form the main capillary action that help plants drink water and nutrients so they can survive.
For more information or to get involved in British Science Week head over to the website here: https://www.britishscienceweek.org.

Six things students can do to improve their mental health

School, college and university can be a tough time for many students, meaning that their mental health can be put under extreme pressure. Here at Tutor Doctor we know that mental health is something that should be talked about openly and is definitely nothing to be ashamed of. A survey by the National Union of Students recently found that 78% of  students had experienced mental health issues in the last year, with 54% saying they didn’t seek support. With this in mind, we’ve come up with six things students can do straight away in order to boost their mental health.

1.Structure
A really easy way to boost mental health is to have structure in your everyday life. Make sure you know how much work you have to do and when you’re going to do it, what time you have school or lectures and when your assignments are due in. Other easy ways to implement structure is to plan your evenings so you have free-time and work-time, and remember don’t go on social media sites whilst your working.

2.Exercise
Exercise is a super easy way to improve mental health. Get your heart rate up so you sweat every day. Whether it’s going to the gym, skipping in your bedroom or having a run outside, it will instantly give you a lift and make you feel better.

3. Reading
Reading is a brilliant release for stress and anxiety. Taking yourself into imagined world not only preoccupies your mind but also gives you a real break. Even if it is for half an hour a day it will be worth it.

4. Sleep
Making sure you have a regular sleep pattern is vital for good mental health. Make sure you have a set wake-up time and bedtime and stick to it. This will ensure that you get enough sleep and give time for your mind and body to rejuvenate. A great tip to help you fall asleep is to turn off your smart phone, tablet, TV or laptop before you go to bed. This gives your mind time to relax as bright lights can make it difficult for your brain to switch off.

5.Talk to your friends
This may sound obvious but talking to trustworthy friends about your problems can really help. Sharing your worries will instantly make you feel better and though a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. They might even be going through the same issues as you or be feeling the same way, meaning you can both help each other through it. As they say a problem shared is a problem halved.

6.Talk to Tutors
Remember that teachers and tutors are always there to talk to and offer advice. They will also be able to give you more information about the support that is available at your school, college or university.
For more information about the services that may be available to you, browse the NHS Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) page.

How to teach your child to have a positive attitude

It’s a given that we want our children to have a positive attitude, but teaching them how to adopt this way of thinking might not be so easy. Here at Tutor Doctor we know that if children develop a positive attitude early on, positive thinking will become a habit that will help them thrive and succeed in all aspects of their life. Here’s some easy ways you can reinforce positivity at home!

Positive Statements
Teaching your child to change their monologue will instantly help create a positive mindset and attitude. Instead of saying statements such as “I’m rubbish at English, I’m going to fail my test” encourage them to try a more positive approach. “I find English really difficult, but I’m going to keep trying my best and ask for help if I need it.” Soon this way of speaking and thinking will become second nature and negativity will become a thing of the past!

Being Positive is a choice
Remind your children that being positive or negative about something is always a choice. It’s important to try and encourage them to always focus on the best possible outcome rather than the worse. Ultimately, choosing to have a positive attitude will be more beneficial and help them get through any difficult or testing situations.

Positive Environments
It’s important to try and create a positive and happy environment at home. Even if this is by watching funny movies, telling fun stories and jokes, being silly as a family or dancing in the kitchen; encouraging your children to be happy is vital in helping them adopt a positive attitude. Simply smiling and laughing can instantly shift brain activity and make everyone in the family feel good. Positivity for everyone!

Love and Praise
Providing your children with lots of love and praise is a really easy way to help encourage positivity. Kind words, hugs, kisses, high fives and special treat days out every now and again is sure to help everyone feel upbeat and optimistic.

Hobbies
Encouraging your children to develop and pursue hobbies that they are good at is a great way to increase their confidence levels. Whether it’s tennis, dancing, art and crafts, reading or acting- taking part in activities that they are passionate about and enjoy will reinforce positivity.

Good Communication
Communicating is the key to positivity. Make sure you give your child the opportunity to discuss their concerns over with you. By talking through anything they may be feeling negative about or any problems they may be facing is an effective way for them to put their worries out there in the open. It also gives you a chance to help them look at the situation in a more positive light.