THE ULTIMATELY COOLEST WAY TO RAISE YOUR KIDS IN THE NEW ERA

GEEK PARENTING
Issue #51 March 2017

+
SUPER
RETRO
HEALTHY
HEADPHONES
PROTECTING
LITTLE
EARDRUMS
BOY

CODING
IT’S GROWING
ROUTINES IMPORTANCE
FOR KIDS
WHY THEY’RE
GOOD FOR
PARENTING

TEACHING
KIDS

IS FINANCE
PREPARING FOR
THE FUTURE

WIFI
DANGEROUS?
CONTENTS IS WIRELESS
TECHNOLOGY
HARMFUL?
FEATURES
HEALTHY HEADPHONES
PROTECTING LITTLE EARDRUMS

4 GEEKY ACTIVITIES
TO HELP YOUR KIDS THRIVE

NO MONEY TREES
TEACHING KIDS FINANCE

SPHERO
ROLLING ON THE FUN

CODING FOR KIDS

THE VALUE OF LEARNING THIS SKILL

DAILY ROUTINES
HOW THEY MAKE PARENTING EASIER
 ISSUE
REGULARS
51
| Parent View | My Geek Girls | Gamer Dad

PARENT PERCEPTION
DO SOME REALLY FIND IT
EASIER THAN OTHERS?

| Diet & Health

VIDEO GAME MAGIC SUPER RETRO BOY
HOW FANTASIES CAN AND THE WORLD OF REMAKES
BENEFIT KIDS

SUGAR FREE MARCH

TIME TO CUT DOWN
| Books & Entertainment

Kid’s App | Spotlight

GEEK PARENTING
ENDLESS ALPHABET
SPELLING WITH RECOMMENDS
CUTE MONSTERS
EDITOR’S CONTRIBUTORS
NOTE Written by parents, for parents. If you
As parents we can have a tendency to want would like to contribute to the magazine,
to wrap our littles ones in cotton wool and write to us at info. eekparentin .tv.
protect them from anything, no matter how
minuscule, that could potentially harm them. So
imagine finding out the possibility that Wi-Fi, the
invisible radio frequencies that surround us, may
potentially be harmful…

Scary thought, we know. There are some of you

who may be already aware of this, and others
who may be taken aback like we were. Scientists
have been looking into whether this is the case Amanda Wright
for the past couple of years and there is enough
Mum of two boisterous little girls, Amanda is a
to take notice of and for them to keep looking freelance copywriter and proof reader with over 10
into. years’ experience in the world of marketing and
communications. Amanda writes for a number of
publications and small businesses, whilst working
Wireless technology will become more and more around the school run, gymnastics, dance class,
entwined in our lives, but we stress that despite netball, cricket and well just daily life!
what some studies have shown, like all research
they need many, many more studies and many,
many more years before anything remotely
conclusive can be drawn. There’s no need to throw
all your wireless devices away, or paint your walls
in lead, but nevertheless it’s something to have at
the back of your mind.

In more optimistic light, we also look at something David Layzelle

that may get overlooked: teaching kids finance.
Getting your little ones to understand how buying
and selling works as early as possible can help
them in the future. There are number of apps
which you can utilise or you can always just do it
the old fashioned way with a game of ‘shops.’
David is the owner of 73 Ltd, the premiere
freelance writing company, specialising in
Academic work, Business writing, game reviews,
and purely creative assignments. He is a single
parent, juggling two kids, running a successful
writing business, and playing the latest Xbox
game throughout the day.

As always we love to continue hearing feedback

from our readers. Get in touch at:
info@geekparentin .tv.

Zunammie Keren

Zunammie is a freelance writer who specializes

Dzulkiflee Taib and Sophia Salem
Geek Parenting Editorial Team
in technology and education related topics. She
holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the
University of Technology, Jamaica. On most
ZHHNHQGV\RXFDQ¿QGKHUVRDNLQJXSWKHUD\V
on a sandy beach in tropical Jamaica where she
currently resides with her husband and 3 adorable
sons.
THE GEEKY MONTHLY
Bringing you cool news and media from around the globe

SMART DOORBELL BYTE SIZED NEWS

Ring allows you to see who’s at your door MEET MILO

through your phone, so you always know who’s
knocking no matter where you are. Waiting
for a delivery? Even if you’re at work, it allows
you to see when it arrives and even tell the
deliveryman where to leave it! With motion
sensors you will be notified whenever someone
turns up, giving you a little peace of mind that
your house is secure.
A couple of issues back we looked at how
Disney characters can help communicate
with autistic children. It looks like more
strides are being made with Milo the
Robot, which is being used to teach the
meaning of different emotions through
facial expressions, something which some
are unable to do themselves. Milo has
a been built with almost a full range of
facial muscles, allowing it to demonstrate
a wide range of expressions.

GOOGLE GIRL
Chloe Bridgewater may just be the
youngest applicant to Google at the
tender age of 7. The tech enthusiast
wrote a letter to the search engine giant
but neither she nor her parents expected
to actually receive a reply from CEO
Sundar Pichai. As well as wanting to work
for Google she also mentions wanting
to work in a chocolate factory and
swimming in the Olympics! We applaud
her early ambition!

Email: info@geekparenting.tv
Twitter: @GeekParentMag
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
geekparentingmagazine/

DID YOU KNOW?

A blue whale can hold as much water in its mouth as it weighs!

Blue whales are already known as the largest animals in the world (as they are technically marine
mammals) but amazingly this ability effectively doubles their weight! As they dive to feed, they can
quickly consume vast amounts before the water in their mouths allows them to ‘balloon’ back up. In
fact, a fully open mouth is big enough for another blue whale to swim into!
heAlthy
HEADPHONES
 efore you tell your kids to
B plug some headphones
into their MP3 player,
tablet or computer, consider just
how they might compare to other
noise generating things. Normal
conversation comes in at around
60 to 65 Decibels (dB), while heavy
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Remember from your physics
classes that the decibel is used to
measure sound level and is a
logarithmic way of describing a
ratio. Human ears can reconcile
very small sounds, such as your
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15dB), to the high-pitched scream
of a jet engine (140dB upwards); In
terms of dB, the jet engine is around
1,000,000,000,000 times louder
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Going up the scale, an electric
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nightclub can be 115 dB, an
emergency services vehicle siren
around 120dB, and the heavy metal
band Motorhead somewhere near
135dB in their heyday. By
comparison, an MP3 player on loud
– your children’s favourite setting –
measures at around 112dB and that
can have serious health implications
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long term hearing. Fortunately,
since getting a child to turn it down
– possibly because they can’t hear
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manufacturers have risen to the
challenge and developing safe but
usable headphones is now a major
selling feature.
Ideally we would prefer that kids
didn’t have to use headphones, but
the adult threshold for the Angry
Birds music or Elsa singing “Let It
Go” is somewhere around 36
seconds, so in many cases,
headphones it is. Luckily, there are
m
many on the market that perform
well and help protect your child’s
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hearing too.
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But what are the sa afe limits for
kids? TheWorldHealth Organisation
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( WHO) recommend an n upper limit Hardware
of just 85dB, based on occupational
o restricted to 85dB,
sstudies, but the American these are robust
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and the Centers for Dissease Control
a sounding w th the
and Prevention recom
a mmend a limit added bonu us of a
of just 70dB. Realistically, that is
o tougher than
vvery low and unlikely tto drown out average cab ble –
ambient noise, so your
a y child is always the wweak
always going to turn it up,
a u therefore, point with children
sspecially-made headphones – tugging on them
rremembering never to t give your – and decen nt
child earbuds - are the
c e best option. speakers.
Among the best headp
A phones aimed
at children are:
a

JVC Tinyphones

he styling – and sheer size - on the

inyphones makes them designed
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 Maxell Kid Headphones
Looking a lot more like grown-up
versions, but surprisingly cheap, the
Maxell’s are a little louder than any of
the other sound-limited child-friendly
headphones by a full 5dB. For
context, 85dB equates to the level of
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90dB is roughly equal to a jazz
concert. However, if your child is
conscious of professional rather than
childish looks, prefers lightweight
headphones, and doesn’t want to
spend too much, the Maxell’s are a
good buy.
Kidz Gear Headphones
Possibly the most controversial
inclusion as they require a separate-
and extra cost – volume limiter to the
jack-plug which brings the maximum
volume down to 85dB. However,
without the limiter, they can push out
as much as an eardrum-rupturing
108dB. If you get these, make sure
you have the sound limiter too.
4 geeky
activities
to help your kids thrive
 ll e arents w nt h ir hill en n to thriive, d ge eeky pa aren
ntss are no
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robotics
Everyone knows that robots are
awesome. They have been a
favorite of children ever since
robot toys started exploding in
popularity in the 1950’s. With
the advance in technology there
are more and more opportunities
for children to stop playing with
toy robots and start building and
programming real ones.
Robotics not only provides a fun
activity for your kids and their
friends to get involved with, but
also opens up opportunities for
jobs and scholarships in the
future. As a result your kids will
gain hands on knowledge in a
potential future career while
having the time of their lives.
DEBATE
Some parents my shudder at
the idea of teaching their child to
argue, but those parents are
missing out on one of the most
helpful activities your children
can join. Debate teaches public
speaking, research, critical
thinking, problem-solving,
evidence analysis, and many
other skills valuable no matter
what your child ultimately
decides to do. Programs have
started for students as young as
elementary school, and parents
are always impressed by how
the activity helped their child
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an added bonus, your child may
gain world-wide notoriety for
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Star Trek question.
visual arts
As a geek parent there’s a good
chance that you love comics.
Even if they aren’t particularly
your style, you still probably
have a deep respect for the
medium. Don’t limit your children
to merely reading comics,
encourage them to take art
classes and begin drawing their
own. In addition to being a
wonderful creative outlet, visual
arts classes also teach your
child valuable skills related to
design, composition, and
analysis. No parent would be
upset to pick up a comic book
created by their child, whether
it’s from DC, Marvel, or an indie
ÄYT
CODING
One of the most common
complaints that parents today
have is that their children are
playing too many video games.
Many, however, don’t see that
the best solution to this problem
involves even more video games.
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technology becomes an
increasingly important part of
our lives, coding knowledge has
become not merely helpful but
essential in many careers that
previously were not connect to
programming at all. Coding
classes will help your kids learn
valuable skills while satisfying
their urge to be on the computer,
which is a win-win for any geeky
parent.
As you can see, there are a
number of excellent geeky
activities for your kids that will
not only keep them entertained
and help them grow, but provide
valuable life skills further down
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skills useful across a wide variety
of professions, and exposing
your children to the wonders of
the world is one of the best ways
to help them decide what they
want to do with their lives. Don’t
raise geeky kids, raise Super
Geeks.
SPHERO

ROLLS ON
I t may not be too far
in the future before
almost every
household with kids have a
programmable robot of some
form. The thing is that some
robots are better than others,
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Sphero isn’t huge at 74mm in
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168grams, but is pile of fun. An
opaque ball that is fully
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program Sphero.
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the little robot, but also has an
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a breeze for a while, it can get a bit repetitive,
so many will quickly turn to the second
option and create games that can be
navigated by using the ball. To do this, you
hold the ball in the right way, which gives
you the ability to control characters that
you have inserted into by moving the ball
around in your hand. This comes in handy
for space-based games and anything
where you need to move up and down, left
and right, and have the ability to spin round.
The SDK gives you the ability to create
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and be able to manipulate them, thereby
learning some excellent programming
skills, while having tons of fun. Sphero
seems to do most things well, from pairing
with your device via Bluetooth to being a
competent game controller in most
situations though getting hand to eye
coordination needs a bit of practice and
may never become mastered by younger
kids who are, ironically, its core
demographic. Furthermore, Sphero has a
fairly limiting battery life; laying for around
an hour – or even less depending on what
you are trying to do with the little robot – is
about enough for a recharge. And Sphero
is fairly expensive for what it is, but it
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and the programing possibilities and when
put in such black and white terms, ability
beats cost.
Sphero might not be the best at everything
it attempts but it’s a good all-rounder and
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in your child to grow and tackle more
advanced projects.
IS WIFI
DANGEROUS?
W
e use Wi-Fi
connections for an
increasing number
of out tech today. From to
mobile phones and home
broadband to quadcopters,
robotic devices, and smart home
automation, we run it all without
wires. The undeniable fact about
Wi-Fi is that it is convenient;
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communications, it is without
peer, being able to work of
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connects an increasing number
of devices around our houses
and businesses, and is becoming
more important in how we run
them too.
Our homes are becoming ever
smarter, but that means that
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low-powered microwave
radiation. While it is low powered
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that we risk the increased ill-
health creeping up on us.
RADIO GAGA?
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has been established that brain
tumours in children have risen
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are now showing higher
instances than leukaemia and is
now the highest incidence of
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hasn’t been established that this
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reports linking RF radiation from
mobile phones to potential brain
disorders began circulating.
Much of it was dismissed as
scaremongering, but as our
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devices, the likelihood is that we
will spend our entire lives bathed
in the glow of RF radiation. No
other generation has to endure
such high levels of radio-
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Research has indicated links
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pollution and several maladies
of the modern world, including
insomnia and a lack of sperm
generation, but there is
increasing evidence that RFI
may also contribute to cell
abnormalities, interfere with
brain development, promote
cardiac instability, and may kick-
start the formation of cancerous
cells. Any of these is important
enough to warrant further
investigation, though there is
little evidence to suggest that
Wi-Fi is any more dangerous
than normal exposure to the
sun, and much more work needs
to be carried out to establish
any link.

PROMOTING POOR SLEEP?

It’s been suggested that sleeping
near a mobile phone, in a home
can create chronic sleep
problems as the constant
bombardment of Wi-Fi pollution
interferes with falling asleep and
the subsequent sleep patterns
that change through the night.
Unfortunately, for many, sleep
deprivation is just the start for
larger problems, such as the
development of depression and
hypertension. Radiation from
cell phone has been shown to
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glands stimulate the production
of adrenalin and cortisol in the
body, and excess adrenaline in
the bloodstream is a major
cause of insomnia, so placing
your phone, kindle, and Wi-Fi-
enabled tablet next to your bed
might not be the best plan.
Further problems can occur if
you plug your phone – or tablet
for that matter - in to charge
overnight with a hardwire
connection near your bed.
There are suggestions that the
addition of a cable running from
the device to the power socket
might act as an aerial and
generate even more RF than the
device alone. Once again, this
is the subject of further research
but remains an issue where it
may be better safe than sorry,
and rather than the traditional
plug and cord method, it could
be time to invest in a
wireless charging point.
The latest charging base from
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meeting the permissible
exposure rates set by both
U.S. and global standards. The
Cota combines RF waveforms
which are then converted into
usable power which can be
supplied directly to a device
battery via contact with the base
unit. This feature protects
humans from any exposure as
the transmitter never delivers
power unless it has received a
beacon signal from a receiver.
Wireless charging points are
now becoming much cheaper
and capable, and are usually
designed to be a useful stand
for your phone while it is
charging. So, it’s not only safer,
but a whole lot more convenient
to use a wireless point rather
than having wires strung around.

WATCHING THE WAVES: HOW TO

BEAT RFI

With an increasing number of

studies suggesting that
exp ure to RF noise is having a profound
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[OHUHZH\JLWHUJV]LYLKPU[PUMVPS
It is fair to say that as more Wi-Fi enabled
products become available, the bulk of
RF in the atmosphere is going to rise
steeply. Wi-Fi is seen as a convenient
and fast way to connect and we are
becoming creatures of convenience
rather than caution and that could,,
ultimately, be our undoing. So perhaps
it might be worth considering t
problem of RFI and whether adding
your dose with even more Wi-Fi ena l
products is actually a good idea.
 MONEY
DOESN’T
GROW ON
TREES
WILL TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE FINANCIAL
BASICS, HELP PREVENT ANOTHER `BANKING
CRISIS` IN THE FUTURE?
H
ow often have we
used this saying?
How often have we
heard this saying now as well as
when we were kids? It’s a
phrase that every parent at
some point has said to their
children, especially when
standing in a shop and they
“need” the next batch of
`Shopkins` or the latest Disney
`Tsum Tsum` and you’ve just
popped in for milk!
It leads on to a fundamental
point that at what age should we
start and teach our children
HIV\[ ÄUHUJL HUK Z[HY[ [V
engage with them about the
value of money.
Of course the subject of
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something which has, over the
past few years, seen an increase
in popularity and awareness,
even though it might seems a
strange subject to be looking at
with children. But, highlighted
by the banking crisis was how
we need to educate our children
from a young age, teaching
them the basics about saving,
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and not borrowing more than
`V\ JHU HɈVYK [V WH` IHJR 0[»Z
also these basics which many
have shouted need to be brought
back to the forefront of the
ÄUHUJL ZLJ[VY HUK [OVZL
working in the industry!
STARTING YOUNG
,K\JH[PUN V\Y RPKZ VU ÄUHUJL
might seem a daunting task and
HSZV SL[»Z MHJL P[ UV[ [OH[ L_JP[PUN
However, it all starts when our
kids are young and to be honest
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[OYV\NO WSH` -VY L_HTWSL HZ H
parent you might play “shops”
with your children. Where you
HYL [OL ZOVW RLLWLY HUK [OL`»YL
the visitor or vice versa. Play
money is given out and they
have that amount to spend. All
of a sudden kids can start and
see how much things can be.
7SH`PUN [OH[ [OL` KVU»[ OH]L
enough money, or they choose
ZVTL[OPUN LSZL [V I\` HZ P[»Z
cheaper. This role play
encourages them to think but to
also see how money is
L_JOHUNLK MVY P[LTZ
Most children also receive
pocket money or some sort of
reward for being good or
ÄUPZOPUN [OLPY JOVYLZ L[J ;OPZ
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parents we go out to work, but save, they have
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be rewarded for it starts to better to open a savings
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TVUL` children at some
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saved for retirement.
OH]L ZV\UKZ HU PU[LYLZ[PUN
This trend is similar in the UK
IHJR [V IHZPJ SLZZVU MVY OLSWPUN
with the number of
[V ZVS]L [OL ÄUHUJPHS JYPZPZ [VV
low-income households holding
a bank account declining year
on year.
So to help buck this trend and
SAVE SOME! encourage savings and for
children to get excited about
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wanting to save,
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banks and building societies
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around for children’s savings
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accounts. Children’s accounts
[OLPY YVVTZ HUK ^OLU [HSRPUN
are also tax free on the interest
HIV\[ ZH]PUNZ TVZ[ WHYLU[Z ^PSS
earned too. Plus, most banks
SVVR [V VWLU H ZH]PUNZ HJJV\U[
will provide children with their
MVY [OLPY JOPSKYLU H[ ZVTL WVPU[
own passbook or card from the
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age of 7 to encourage them to
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understand and take charge of
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their money (of course still with
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FUN FINANCE APPS
To help tap into today’s
generation, there are a number
of apps available for kids which
MVJ\Z VU [LHJOPUN [OLT ÄUHUJL
but again through play and
online games!
For example Piggybot which is
a kid-tested allowance app,
helping kids to spend, share and
save smartly. It also allows
parents to be part of it so they
can keep track of how much you
owe them for completing their
chores and it can be allocated
to their spend-it, share-it and
save-it accounts. Kids can even
set goals and take pictures of
things they want! A great app to
get kids starting to think serious
about managing their money.
Then there’s FamZoo which is
a little bit more complicated but
the concept is good. FamZoo is
a collection of prepaid cards
which are set-up for the entire
family. The cards are all linked
via the app, so you can help
manage your family’s spending,
allowances, chores and savings
etc. Convenient that it’s all in
one place and the family can tap
in to use this feature and again
allows older kids the opportunity
to take on more responsibility
when it comes to money!
The Allowance and Chores
bot is a great app for Mums
everywhere. It allows you to set
JOVYLZ ^P[O KPɈLYLU[ YL^HYKZ VU
[OL HWW :V `V\Y RPKZ JHU

THE FUN FINANCE APPS: Yes There ARE SOME!

choose what they would like to
work for. Of course this is great
because it gets the chores
HYV\UK [OL OV\ZL KVUL I\[ HSZV
P[ [LHJOLZ JOPSKYLU [OH[ KPɈLYLU[ Piggybot
QVIZ HYL ]HS\LK H[ KPɈLYLU[ Free, iOS
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^VYR PU VYKLY [V YLJLP]L ^OH[
[OL` ^HU[
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[OHU Q\Z[ ZH`PUN P[ ;LHJOPUN FAMZOO
kids the basics lets them grow
Free, iOS
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\UKLYZ[HUKPUN VM ÄUHUJL HUK
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ourselves of some of the basics
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ALLOWANCE & CHORES

PAID, iOS/android
CODING FOR KIDS
How we’re starting
to see the value and
growing importance
now placed on
teaching kids coding

C
oding is a growing trend and
something which is now
actively being taught in
schools. The focus is on showing kids
how technology today works and how
they can be part of it – a big part of it.
Parents are also now actively
encouraging kids to understand more
about programming and computer
skills, which they believe to be
essential for the future.
Coding is now part of everyday
language and if we don’t work in the
industry, what we’re beginning to
understand ourselves as well as teach
our children is how coding and
programming is what is driving the
software in every device, phone and
household appliance. It’s what’s
developing new ways of working, new
systems and processes as well as new
ways of thinking.
Demand is continuing to grow in the
number of classes and online courses
being delivered to teach children
coding, as more and more people see
the value in teaching their children the
logic and clear thinking principles
behind it. Children don’t necessarily
have to go into a programming or
coding job to be able to take the lessons
and principles learnt away and apply
them to real life situations.
To help meet this increase in demand
it’s not just schools that are introducing
coding to kids but large organisations
are now running coding clubs in their
local areas. These coding clubs are
organised with the aim to encourage
people within the same occupation to
come together to share best practice
HZ ^LSS HZ UL^ HUK KPɈLYLU[ ^H`Z VM
approaching coding.
There’s also a number of skilled
coders now volunteering in schools to
help run coding clubs and provide
further information to kids in school.
Of course coding has always been
there, but now it’s being thrust into the
limelight as a concept that everyone
should know at least a little something
about.
Barclays code playground
in on the action
Not to miss out on an opportunity to
promote themselves or the sector,
banks are also getting more involved.
For example Barclays Bank now run a
Code Playground. The code playground
SL[ZRPKZJSPJRVU[OLKPɈLYLU[HUPTHSZ
shapes or people on the screen and it
will bring up the code used to make the
picture what it is. Kids can then change
the code to alter the picture. So for
L_HTWSL[OLNPYHɈL»ZULJRJHUILTHKL
longer or shorter by simply altering the
code on the screen.
The focus is on teaching kids in a way
in which they understand and to our
next generations’ things like coding will
be something which they will simply
take for granted as part of the norm and
something in which everyone
understands.
If the online playground is not enough
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with what they are calling their
“Digital Eagles”. Aimed at 7 to 17 year
VSKZ[OLZLZLZZPVUZVɈLYJOHSSLUNLZ[V
coding that introduce kids to the basics
as they build their skills and knowledge.
What’s interesting when it comes to
[OL SPRLZ VM )HYJSH`Z VɈLYPUN JVKPUN
schools and clubs is that it also allows
IHURZ HUK ÄUHUJPHS PUZ[P[\[PVUZ [V
PU[YVK\JL [OL ÄUHUJL ZLJ[VY HUK Z[HY[
to allow kids to build their own picture
of how a bank operates and how
important technology is within this
sector.
Coding is currently and will continue
to be a big part of the banking sector.
Tying the two together in this instance
just seems to make sense! It shows
kids that you don’t have to rule out a
JHYLLY PU ÄUHUJL Q\Z[ ILJH\ZL `V\»YL
interested in coding. It’s more about
understanding enough about coding
that you can apply your skills and talent
to any industry.
0[HSZVZOV^Z[OLÄUHUJLZLJ[VY[VUV[
be as sluggish and behind the times as
“...three-quarters of
the food in the
grocery store
contains added sugar,
so people consume it
without realising it.
what it is sometimes maybe portrayed!
It’s thrusting coding into the limelight
and yes the Barclays app is showing
how coding can be fun, but it also
teaches kids how it can be used in
ÄUHUJL
How big data is used, analysed and
ultimately helps determine certain
outcomes within this sector. We talk
about building digital skills of the future
HUK [OPZ PZ L_HJ[S` ^O` TVYL ÄUHUJPHS
institutions should jump on board to
start building and upskilling our future
NLULYH[PVUZ\UKLYZ[HUKPUNVMÄUHUJL
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on our children’s understanding as the
grow up.
 HOW
ROUTINES
MAKE
PARENTING
EASIER
M
any parents and soon-to-be
parents go back and forth on
the idea of routines. Some
swear by them while to others they sound
like fascism for children. However there
HYL H U\TILY VM ILULÄ[Z [V THRPUN H
routine for your children. While unplanned
events will still happen, routines, especially
[OVZL ^P[O I\PS[ PU ÅL_ [PTL OH]L H U\TILY
VMILULÄ[Z MVY`V\HUK`V\YJOPSKYLU
Bicker Less, Enjoy More
One of the most common complaints from
parents is that their child resists instructions
or doing as their told. Whether it’s washing
their hands or eating their veggies, no
parent wants to negotiate with their child
to keep the day going. Establishing routines
can make this process easier as your child
understands that certain things get done
at certain times. As a result, making sure
things like teeth getting brushed become
part of what your child expects of their day,
TLHUPUN SV^LY [LUZPVU SLZZ ÄNO[Z HUK
more fun time together.
Training for the Future
Regardless of what how their day is
organized, most adults follow some kind
of routine. Introducing your child to routine
will help them once they are in school, and
be vital once they go to college and are in
control of their own time. Furthermore,
having a routine is almost essential to
maintaining any job. By helping your child
get in the habit of being in routines, you
spare yourself a number of headaches and
a great deal of stress down the road when
your child is leaving the nest or applying to
[OLPY ÄYZ[ QVIZ HZ `V\ ^PSS IL JVTMVY[HISL
in the knowledge that they know how to
manage their time appropriately.
Fears of Routine Are
Misguided
Some parents think that the idea of a
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Routines Lead to
Independence
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 Books

GEEK PARENTING
RECOMMENDS

Entertainment
| Books

BOOKS FOR
MARCH
BY SAM TYDEMAN

A
s a parent, we all know that our children are going to grow older and become more independent.
This means that their reading tastes will change and grow. This month we are not only looking at
great reads for younger children, but also those for kids that are a little older too. Stories that may
not be quite as light-hearted as others to choose from, but that they still will really enjoy reading.

Mr Birdsnest And The

House Next Door (5+)
Our youngest daughter is hitting a bit of
a transition period in her life. She is 5
HUK PU [OL ÄYZ[ `LHY H[ ZJOVVS ;OPZ TLHUZ
that she is learning to read and her tastes
in books are changing. We have always
been huge fans of Julia Donaldson, but it
seems that some of the pre-school
aimed books are a bit too young for her.
Thankfully we found this awesome book
at our local library. With a more grown
up chapter based story, this pleases her
more grown up reading tastes, but it is
packed with colourful pictures and
shorter pages, which means that it still
grabs her attention.
Featuring a fun character Mr Birdsnest
and his rather run down new home, it is
funny, bright and ideal for kids aged 5
and over.
 There’s A Pig Up My Nose (Preschool)
It is no secret that kids love a good silly book, and it doesn’t
get sillier than the idea of having a pig up your nose. This
story is packed full of fantastic pictures and features the
story of Natalie, who heads to school one day with a pig
stuck up her nose. The rest of her classmates want to try
and help her to get the porky rascal out!

The Goldfish Boy (9)

The story of a child who is living a life with OCD, The
.VSKÄZO )V` V[OLY^PZL RUV^U HZ  `LHY VSK 4H[[OL^ PZ
trapped in his bedroom most of the time, starting out at
the world going by. Then, one day he witnesses his next-
door neighbour’s toddler Teddy, just before he goes
missing.
4H[[OL^ ÄUKZ OPTZLSM H KL[LJ[P]L \UYH]LSSPUN Q\Z[ ^OH[
OHZ OHWWLULK [V ;LKK` HUK ÄUKPUN ZVTL OVWL HUK
friendship along the way.

Hold Back The Stars

(Teenage And Young Adult)
As your child gets older, the chances are that they will be
TVYL [OHU JHWHISL VM ÄUKPUN [OLPY V^U IVVRZ [V YLHK
But sometimes, you might want to give them some ideas.
This story is a great read for older teenagers, a love story
that really isn’t like any others that you may read. Carys
HUK 4H_ HYL ÅVH[PUN HYV\UK PU ZWHJL ^P[O VUS` UPUL[`
minutes of air left. What will happen as the drift through
the endless stars?

So, whether you want to show your

About the author
JOPSKYLU[OH[L]LY`VULJHUÄUKMYPLUKZOPW
Sam Tydeman is a 30 something
that it is time to move on with their reading
mother of two girls and an avid
or simply that you can remove a farmyard book reader. She has read to both
girls every single night since they
animal from your nose. These are the
were babies and this has meant
books for you. Whichever one you choose that they are absolute book
worms. Her favourite book as a
for you and your child to share, or for child had to be Pongwiffy, A witch
them to read alone, happy reading! of dirty habits!
| Entertainment

ENTERTAINMENT
FOR

MARCH
BY SUNDAY SIMMONS

or this month’s article we’ve gone

F for awesome anime and mutant

mayhem, with cartoon choices that
parents may remember but it’s unlikely the
kids will ever have seen! Sailor Soldiers saving
the earth from evil, talking divnosaur skeletons,
and sharks on the streets - what more could
you ask for? Get the kids round the television
and treat them to some classic anime and
teeth-gnashing action!

About the author

Sunday Simmons is a
freelance writer, indie
author and mother of
three. She specializes in
entertainment writing and
music journalism, and has
a passion for geeky things
- from comics, to movies
to anime!
Dinozaurs (2000)

In prehistoric times, a race of alien Dragozaurs invaded earth to

steal its lifeforce. Not good. In retaliation, Mother Earth gave extra
life force to specially selected Dino Knights, and they forced the
alien race home.
Fast forward to the new millennia, and the Dragozaurs have
returned to earth. When two children stumble across the Dino
Knights in a museum and accidentally bring them to life, they must
once again come to the rescue, but they’re skeletal now! And that’s
where the fun begins…
Dinozaurs is a clever combination of CGI with traditional cell
anime, and I really can’t recommend this cartoon enough, it’s THAT
good. Action, adventure, talking dino-skeletons, good versus evil,
and some stunning battle scenes, it’s sure to appeal to all ages.
Available to watch on DVD, just do it!
Sailor Moon (1995)

Originally a Japanese manga comic, Sailor Moon is a long running

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:VSKPLYZ»  N\HYKPHUZ VM [OL LHY[O ÄNO[PUN MVY SV]L HUK Q\Z[PJL
defending mere mortals from the evils of The Dark Kingdom!
 6\Y Ä]L MLTHSL OLYVPULZ HYL OLSWLK VU [OLPY X\LZ[ I` [OL
mysteriously suave Tuxedo Mask, and two talking cats, Luna and
Artemis. Otherwise unassuming teenage school girls, Sailor Moon
and her pals not only have to deal with every day high school life,
(bullies, crushes and the like), but they’re also pretty busy using
their special powers to defend the Earth!
I love this cartoon, everything from the storyline to the fantastic,
H[`WPJHS1HWHULZLHUPTLJOHYHJ[LYKLZPNU[V[OLÅH^SLZZHUPTH[PVU
and soundtrack. Sailor Moon is suitable for all ages, and has a
strong friendship message that plays through the all the seasons.
0KLHSMVYHIP[VMHUPTLIPUNL^H[JOPUNVUS`TPU\[LZWLYLWPZVKL
catch it now on Amazon disc.
Street Sharks (1994)

Do your kids love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Then why not
introduce them to their mid-nineties competition for the weirdest
mutant creatures on the block – Street Sharks! Yes, sharks.
Walking about. On the streets.
 >OLUMV\Y[LLUHNLIV`ZHYLT\[H[LKPU[VMV\YKPɈLYLU[[`WLZVM
YVSSLYISHKPUNZOHYRZ`LZYVSSLYISHKPUN[OL`QVPUMVYJLZ[VÄNO[[OL
evil Dr Paradigm and defend the earth from evil! Each with their
own special abilities, Streex, Jab, Ripster and Bends to on the bad
guys with the help of Moby Lick and a few other special friends.
wOne of my son’s favourite cartoons, this is action packed
adventure, brawling mutants, and good versus evil to the max. A
Z\YLÄYLOP[^P[ORPKZ^OVSV]L[OVZLUPUQH[\Y[SLK\KLZHUK^P[OH
healthy dose of humour thrown in for good measure, Street Sharks
PZº1(>:64,»HUK`V\JHUJH[JOP[UV^VU+=+
| Parent View

BY AMANDA WRIGHT
 PARENT
PERCEPTION
IS IT REALLY EASIER
FOR OTHER PARENTS?
W
ith two children
under the age of
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extremely fortunate and blessed,
but I also feel extremely stressed,
overwhelmed and constantly
chasing my tail. Yet when I look
across the playground or at
mother and toddler groups I see
other parents, calm, collected,
unfazed as within their Mary
Poppins bag they have
everything under control. What
I would love to know is, is this
just a misguided perception that
I’ve created in my mind or what
is the secret to having their life
sorted!
I think it’s hard for parents as
we might say we don’t, but we
do judge each other. We wonder
if we should be playing that
game with our children, singing
that song or teaching them to
sign as they learn to talk. We
always wonder, could we be
doing more, should we be doing
more.
You see, no matter what we
do, the guilt eats us up. My
house is never tidy and it drives
me insane! I know everyone
says “it won’t ever be tidy again,
well not until the kids get older”,
 “How do they make
sure their kid is
dressed in red for the
valentine’s party or
they rock up with a
perfectly baked
batch of cakes?”
but then I sometimes look at other
parents and wonder where they hide
all of the mess. Do they have a secret
closet like Monica from friends, that
when they know when they have
people coming over everything gets
stashed in one place and hidden
away?
SHOCKING MEMORY?
How do other parents deal with
remembering everything that gets
thrown at us from school! From sports
days, to valentine’s discos, jeans for
Gene’s day and of course the regular,
IYPUN ZVTL[OPUN MVY [OL YHɊL  4`
diary is full and then I still forget. My
cakes will be shop bought as I don’t
have time to bake, if I do my children
or the dogs have destroyed any
THZ[LYWPLJLPU[VZLJVUKZHUK0
also have to face the fact that…I can’t
bake. But how do other Mums do it?
How do they make sure their kid is
dressed in red for the valentine’s party
or they rock up with a perfectly baked
batch of cakes?
Even when our kids are younger, if
someone asked me now what my
JOPSKYLU»ZÄYZ[^VYK^HZVY^OLUKPK
they learn how to say that? There
PEANUT APP
Avaliable on iOS
and android
would probably be a blank expression
on my face and then probably a lie, so
that I didn’t look bad in front of the
other Mums. But now, there’s apps!
Apps such as Moment Garden or
Peekaboo Moments which are
designed to help you to record
L]LY`[OPUN MYVT ÄYZ[ TVTLU[Z [V
MH]V\YLKWPJ[\YLZ(SSÄSLKH^H`HUK
savoured for when you need to know
the exact dates and times, of when
[OL`ÄYZ[ZHPK¸4\TT`¹VY^OLU[OL`
[VVR[OLPYÄYZ[Z[LWZ4\TZULLK[V
struggle no more remembering these
crucial dates, we just need a helping
hand to jog our memories!
AN APP TO HELP?
I know deep down that I’m not the
only one out there who scrapes their
hair back, dressed ready for “messy
play”, scrambling in my kids back
pack (only to realise I’ve forgotten the
IHSSL[ZOVLZHZ^OLU0HJ[\HSS`ÄUK
the time to speak to other Mum’s I
ÄUK ^L HYL HSS YLHSS` PU [OL ZHTL
position.
 0[»ZOHYKHUKP[»ZOHYK[VÄUKV[OLY
Mums who are facing the similar daily
battles as well as attending the same
groups and classes and sing the
same songs as you a thousand times
a day!
Mum herself, Founder Michelle
Kennedy, has developed and launched
a new app called Peanut with Co-
founder and parent, Greg Orlowski.
Peanut in its simplest form, connects
Mums with others like them, who are
nearby and also interested in hanging
out!
It might sound a little bit too much,
hunting similar Mum friends out – but
the truth is becoming a new parent
JHU IL KH\U[PUN HUK ÄUKPUN HUK
making friends with similar interests
as well as being able to talk to people
who feel the same and are in similar
situations can be hard. Any help in
this area is a bonus as it also takes
away the awkwardness of trying to
make friends in the local soft play or
toddler music group in between
nursery rhymes!
It does sound very similar to Tinder
with its, swipe up to give another Mum
a wave or swipe down to skip their
WYVÄSL I\[ P[Z MVJ\Z PZ HIV\[ OLSWPUN
\ZLYZ ÄUK V[OLYZ ^P[O ZOHYLK PU[LYLZ[Z
Personally, I think this could be a
hard concept for Mum’s to take up
because of the potential perception
and eyebrow raising it could cause.
However as a whole it’s a good idea.
“Teamwork
>L ULLK [V IL [HSRPUN [V V[OLYZ [V ÄUK
makes the dream
out that no, it’s not just you. Making
us smile to hear other people’s stories
work.”
of their child crying all day as they
went to school in their uniform, when
it was dress down day. Or the child
who refuses to take part in the second
rendition of “wind the bobbin up”, but
ÄUKZ [OL SH[LZ[ 1\Z[PU )PLILY ZVUN
clearly more appropriate – well it just
makes you feel normal!
6M JV\YZL L]LY` WHYLU[ PZ KPɈLYLU[
and that’s a good thing. It helps us to
grow and learn from each other.
That’s the whole point, no matter how
perfect we think we are, there is
always something new to learn when
it comes to children. Even if it’s how
to keep your kids occupied for 5
minutes whilst you manage to put a
load of washing in, or keeping in touch
with other Mums to help you remember
the school bake sale is on Monday!
Perception is what we make of it
and is more about what we want to
see rather than what the reality is. We
sometimes as parents need to stop
being so hard on ourselves and realise
that we’re all in the same boat really
and sometimes it’s ok to admit the
truth!
| Gamer Dad

HIT OR MISS?
THE SUPER RETRO
BOY AND THE
WORLD OF VIDEO
GAME REMAKES

Image courtesy of © retro-bit source

R
etro-bit, a video game
manufacturer that has mastered
[OL HY[ VM YLTHRPUN JSHZZPJ
consoles, recently announced the release
date for the Super Retro Boy, the company’s
remake of the Nintendo Game Boy. I have
never been much of a Nintendo guy myself,
which is probably why the Super Retro Boy
caught my attention - and in all the good
ways.
In many ways, the Super Retro Boy nails
the design of the original Game Boy. It has
a somewhat chunky and rugged frame that
is characteristic of the old Nintendo Game
Boy without coming out as a design copy
of the latter.
The Super Retro Boy will be able to play
cartridges that were originally designed for
the Game Boy Advance, the Game Boy
Color, and the original Game Boy. Retro-bit
will even ship the handheld gaming device
with one 10-in-1 cartridge when they start
shipping out in August.
-VY NHTLYZ YLTHRLZ VɈLY H M\U ^H` [V
relive old memories. As a parent looking to
pass down years of gaming memories to
the kids, you can use remakes to show
them what classic gaming was all about,
even though many developers will usually
take advantage of better technology to
improve remade game consoles.
Away from the hardware, remakes also
quite common in the area of game titles.
Over the years, there have been a number
of popular game titles that have been
remade – with varying levels of success.
;OL  YLTHRL VM 4VY[HS 2VTIH[ MVY [OL
Xbox and PS3 is one of the most notable
examples.
This remade version of MK gave
developers the opportunity to concentrate
fully on the good-old MK-style combat that
we were used to, at least before the intricate
storylines of DC Comics and addition
JOHYHJ[LYZ JVTWSPJH[LK[OPUNZPU[OL
release).
Final Fantasy VII is perhaps one of the
most anticipated remakes of all time. Ever
 -PUHS-HU[HZ`=00achieved unprecedented success for
an RPG across both Eastern and Western audiences. It
[LSSZ[OL[HSLVMHU\UKLYNYV\UKYLZPZ[HUJLNYV\WÄNO[PUN
against a massive conglomerate who is sucking the
world’s resources dry.
FINAL FANTASY VII © 1997,1998, 2015 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

since Square-Enix announced they would enable gamers and enthusiasts of past
be remaking the 1997 release of Final [P[SLZ[VYLSP]L[OLÄYZ[[PTL[OL`JVTWSL[LK
-HU[HZ` IHJR PU  MHUZ OH]L ILLU campaign or enjoy their favorite titles on a
drooling over the teasers that have been KPɈLYLU[JVUZVSL
released over the years.  (ZMVY[OL:\WLY9L[YV)V`P[^PSSKLÄUP[LS`
 -YVT [OL VɉJPHS NHTL [YHPSLY H[ , HUK be fun to relive the old days of the Game
the screenshots that have been released, Boy on a better screen and improved
FF7 features many of the real-time elements hardware overall.
of FF XV. However, with no release date in
sight, FF enthusiasts will still have to wait
longer to immerse themselves in the world
of the FF7 remake.
When developers get it right, video game
remakes can easily outsell the original
[P[SLZ <USPRL ÄSTZ T\ZPJ HUK IVVRZ [OH[
can be easily archived then remade and re-
released on new formats, video game
remakes often require developers to About the author
emulate, port or rebuild titles from scratch.
Steve is a dedicated writer, dad, and
This can be quite the challenge for game husband who spends much of his
publishers, which is why remakes take a lot time writing whilst trying to keep his
son off the keyboard. He has written
of time before they can be released. dozens of articles on PC and console
 0U HSS YLTHRLZ ILULÄ[ MYVT PTWYV]LK gaming. When he is not writing Steve
loves enjoying the outdoors with
hardware and allow developers to explore family and appreciating the small
previously undiscovered elements of things in nature..

gameplay and alternative storylines. They

| My Geek Girls
VIDEO
GAME
MAGIC
BY MICHELLE BELLE
I
M [OLYL PZ VUL [OPUN [OL NLLR` NPYSZ
HUK 0 SV]L HIV\[ NHTPUN¯ P[»Z
HS^H`Z [OL THNPJ 0 OH]L [V THRL H
full disclosure here and say that in our
family, we believe in magic. Magic is
everywhere, depending on hovw you look
at the world and in computer games, we
get to play with magic in magical lands
and embrace our creativity.
MAGIC IS CREATIVITY...
If you are in any doubt as to whether
magic really is real, then all I would ask
you to consider is this… is being creative
real?
In every creative act, be it painting,
dancing, writing a story, making up a
game or playing a computer game, there
is always an element of magic. I sometimes
wonder if this is why children are so drawn
to computer games, where they can defy
About the author
Michelle Belle is mum to
two geeky gamers and
loves having children in to
gaming - its a great excuse
to play! Her early years
were spent playing on the
Commodore 64 and Sinclair
Spectrum, and her teenage
years on the Sega and
Nintendo. Now it’s all XBox
and online gaming - the fun
just never ends!
physics, have fun and re-spawn if they
KPL 0 OH]L [V HKTP[ [V ÄUKPUN P[ ZSPNO[S`
\UULY]PUN ^OLU [OL NLLRZ ÄYZ[ Z[HY[LK
playing Minecraft and heard them saying
things such as… “I’m going to die now
and start again…” strange indeed,
however in fantasy world, immortality is a
given, and thats all part of the magic.
MAGIC SCHOOL...
The magic in computer games is often
linked to history, nature and the elements
and by playing certain computer games,
`V\HYLLɈLJ[P]LS`[LHJOPUNJOPSKYLUHIV\[
magic. However whilst they might teach
`V\ PU ºWYVWLY ZJOVVS» OV^ H JY`Z[HS PZ
formed, in magic school (aka - computer
games) you can learn about the powers
derived from a chaos emerald, or how to
use enchantments and spells and play
^P[O JY`Z[HSZ HUK SLHYU [OLPY KPɈLYLU[
properties. I loved it when the girls were
SLHYUPUN HSS [OL KPɈLYLU[ [`WLZ VM JY`Z[HSZ
such as lapis lazuli and obsidian. I think
they were amazed when we actually went
and found the crystals that these things
existed in real life, and that started a love
ofcrystalsandrocks,theyareeverywhere!
0 HSZV ÄUK [OH[ PU H SV[ VM THNPJ NHTLZ
they always have string links with the
elements. Earth, Air, Fire and Water can
be used to cast spells, and also for healing
HUK HK]LU[\YLZ 0 ÄUK [OLZL [V IL [OL
most exciting part in magic games, and
this is one of our favourite parts of Lego
Dimensions.
This is a slightly alternative education
by most standards, however its never
going to be called a dull one and besides,
this is actually all based on historical
records from older civilisations, so who
are we to argue fact vs magic? The chaos
emeralds of Sonic the Hedgehog can be
traced back to ancient Babylonia and
before that, which is the start of a fantastic
history lesson in itself. It’s a lot of fun
when you start to check the origin stories
in games, they are usually quite
enlightening.
The youngest girly geek….
I love playing magic games especially
LEGO dimensions (lol) I love lego because
it has loads of characters that we collect
and its full of magic, my favourite level is
the Dr Who level. Me and my family love
playing it, we’re technically addicted to
it!!! I think that magic is real because we
did some magic on holiday. So this shows
that we all love and believe in magic!
0[OPUR[OH[ZHWVZP[P]LVU[OLTHNPJMYVTHSSVM\Z
OUR FAVOURITE GAMES WITH
MAGICAL ELEMENTS
These are just a few of the games we like
to play that contain magic, and I’m sure
we will be progressing over the next few
`LHYZ [V KPɈLYLU[ NHTL WSH[MVYTZ ZV ^L
can all expand our magical powers and
work to achieve great things with the
elements of the earth!
࠮ 3LNV +PTLUZPVUZ
࠮ 9VISV_  ,SLTLU[HSZ
࠮ /HYY` 7V[[LY3LNV
࠮ 4PULJYHM[
࠮ :VUPJ[OL/LKNLOVN
I think in a world that steals away magic
from children without a second thought,
that at least we have the fantasy world of
computer games to teach us these
amazing magical skills.
I asked the girly geeks their thoughts on
the matter and this is what they had to
say…
The oldest geeky girl…
I love playing Roblox and all the magic
inside it ,we’ve been playing an elemental
game and thats been lots and lots of fun.
We also experienced lots of growing
levels and deaths along the way but we
can always re-spawn which is a good
thing for all the times I’ve died…We love
playing Roblox and all the magic inside
so thats all I’ve got to say about the
amazing and stupendous Roblox! Once I
started believing in magic I never stopped
I think that everyone should believe in
magic because without it me and you
wouldn’t even exist.
| Diet & Health

BY SARA JACKSON

SUGAR
FREE
 HT WYL[[` Z\YL [OL TLZZHNL OHZ
I Z\UR PU ^P[O TVZ[ WLVWSL I` UV^
whether we want to listen to it or
not is a whole other question. Eating
excess sugar is bad news for us and for
our children - it’s directly linked to some
of the most prevalent diseases we face in
TVKLYU SPML  MYVT VILZP[` [`WL  KPHIL[LZ
fatty liver disease to some cancers.
There’s stacks of research out there
WYV]PUN [OL PUÅHTTH[VY` HJ[PVU VM Z\NHY
on our body systems. Aside from the links
[V KPZLHZL [OPZ THZZP]L PUÅHTTH[PVU JHU
HɈLJ[ V\Y IVKPLZ PU THU` V[OLY ^H`Z MYVT
ageing you rapidly, and contributing to
everything from painful joints, rotting
teeth to dry, wrinkly skin.
Professor Robert Lustig, paediatric
endocrinologist at the University of
California has been championing the
sugar debate and highlighting the fact
that sugar is responsible for causing “two
diseases that we never saw in children
ILMVYL  ¹ ILPUN MH[[` SP]LY KPZLHZL HUK
[`WL  KPHIL[LZ (Z 3\Z[PN ZH`Z ¸IV[O VM
these diseases used to be the diseases
of alcohol. But kids don’t drink alcohol.
It’s not alcohol’s calories that make it
dangerous, it’s the molecule itself. It’s the
same for sugar”.
0U [OL <2 PU  TVYL [OHU  PU 
children in Reception, and 1 in 3 children
in Year 6 were measured as obese or
overweight, according to the HSCIC.
Non-alcohol fatty liver disease is
considered to be the most common liver
WYVISLT PU [OL ^LZ[LYU ^VYSK ^P[O 
in day out that is driving these diseases.
It’s not just the sugar we know we’re
eating, but as Lustig points out, three-
quarters of the food in the grocery store
contains added sugar, so people consume
it without realising it. A little is OK. A lot is
not. And most people aren’t aware of the
guidelines. In the UK, adults are advised
not to eat more than 30g of free sugars a
day, which is roughly seven sugar cubes.
Children should have less than this -
according to the NHS, the rules are no
TVYL [OHU  N H KH` MVY JOPSKYLU HNLK 
to 6 years old (5 sugar cubes), and no
TVYL [OHU N  Z\NHY J\ILZ MVY JOPSKYLU
aged 7 to 10 years old. To put this into
perspective, Public Health England says
“...three-quarters of
the food in the
grocery store
contains added sugar,
so people consume it
without realising it.
that the average child is eating the
equivalent of three cubes of sugar every
morning for breakfast with food such as
cereals, fruit juices and jams that are
VM[LU IPSSLK HZ ºOLHS[O`» ;VTVYYV^
morning, have a good look at how much
 VM [OL WVW\SH[PVU HɈLJ[LK [OL ]HZ[ sugar is in your family’s favourite cereal
THQVYP[` \UKPHNUVZLK ;OPZ PZ ZJHY` Z[\Ɉ and be prepared as you may be quite
and it’s the excess sugar we’re eating day shocked.
Juices, white bread and
white pasta are some
of the things to cut
down on. Sweeteners
should not be used as
an alternative.
I urge you to set a good example to the
rest of your family and start to encourage
awareness about the sugar you are
knowingly and unknowingly eating every
day. Get savvy and read the labels on the
back of your food and try to go for
^OVSLMVVKZ[OH[`V\ÄUKPUUH[\YLUV[PUH
factory.
I work with many clients to help them get
VɈ Z\NHY HUK IYLHR [OLPY HKKPJ[PVU :JHYPS`
it’s been shown that sugar is addictive in
the same way that cocaine and nicotine are
due to the way sugar interacts with the
reward centres of our brain. Sugar addiction
also involves the most common stages of
addiction - cravings, tolerance (so you’re
never able to get enough), and withdrawal.
So What’s The Best Way To
Kick The Habit?
0[»Z NVPUN [V O\Y[ I\[ [OL TVZ[ LɈLJ[P]L
way is to go cold turkey and take out sugar
HZ ^LSS HZ YLK\JPUN YLÄULK JHYIZ PU `V\Y
diet like white bread and white pastas. Like
sugar, they provide zero nutrition, and are
forms of processed sugars and starches
that don’t exist in nature. Don’t fall into the
[YHW VM HY[PÄJPHS Z^LL[LULYZ ILJH\ZL UV[
only do they feed the sugar cravings, but
there is mounting evidence against
chemicals like aspartame which many
consider a neurotoxin due to its strong
association with brain tumours and
ZLPa\YLZ:JHY`Z[\Ɉ
 I’m not pretending it’s a walk in the park, but there’s a few things you can do to make it
a little easier to stick at it.

Make sure you have plenty of support around you,

LZWLJPHSS`MVY[OLÄYZ[^LLRVYZV^OPJOPZKLÄUP[LS`[OL
hardest and have plenty of distractions at hand for when
those cravings kick in.

(M[LY `V\ NL[ [OYV\NO [OL ÄYZ[ ^LLR [OV\NO `V\»0S

notice that your palette changes and you can actually
taste food and naturally sweet food like fruit suddenly
seems sooo much sweeter. If those cravings kick in,
grab an apple of some blueberries and after a few
weeks, you most probably wouldn’t want that packet of
Haribos that you used to happily munch on because
they will be so sickly sweet to your newly attuned
tastebuds and will make you feel pretty gross and might
even give you a headache.

If you know that a stressful day usually has you

reaching for the emergency chocolate stash, then try to
ÄUK V[OLY ^H`Z [V KLHS ^P[O [OVZL LTV[PVUZ :PTWSL
breathing exercises for even just a minute, but repeated
[OYV\NOV\[[OLKH`JHUILZVLɈLJ[P]LVY[HRPUNHX\PJR
^HSRHYV\UK[OLISVJRJHU[HRL[OLLKNLVɈ

If you’re eating balanced meals with plenty of lean

protein, healthy fats like avocados, nuts and seeds,
whole foods and eating rainbow coloured veggies with
HSP[[SLMY\P[`V\^PSSMLLSM\SSHUKZH[PZÄLKSLH]PUNSP[[SL
room for those pesky sugar cravings to set in.

Stick with it. I have seen the most

About the author
incredible results with clients who are
Sara Jackson hails from Sydney,
HISL [V NL[ VɈ [OL IHK Z[\Ɉ  ISVVK Australia but now lives and runs
sugar levels balance, stubborn weight a busy clinic in London. She is a
registered nutritional therapist and
MHSSZVɈLULYN`SL]LSZZVHYZRPUPZZ\LZ naturopath, consultant, home cook
and a busy mum of two. She’s here to
disappear and vitality returns. And help you and your family become a
you’re setting the most important whole lot happier and healthier. Sara
can be contacted on :
example for your kids - they will follow
Website: www.s health.co.uk
your actions more than your words.
You won’t look back... Email: sara@s health.co.uk
Kids App | Spotlight

Endless Alphabet
Originator Inc., iOS/Android/Windows, 4+, Premium

Spelling With Cute Monsters

R
LTLTILY [OVZL ^VVKLU SL[[LY ISVJRZ
that would often go missing? Well this is
HUHWW[OH[MVJ\ZLZVUL_WHUKPUN`V\Y
little one’s vocabulary without the fear of any of the
letters disappearing. There are about 100 words in
total to choose from, each appearing from within
the jaws of a cute, blue monster.

Each word needs to be spelt out by dragging each

letter to the correct place. However, as you do so each
letter comes to life with their own unique animation
HUKZV\UKLɈLJ[ZTHRPUNZWLSSPUNZVTLOV^H]LY`
entertaining and humorous activity!

>OH[»ZJSL]LYPZ[OH[[OLKLÄUP[PVUVMLHJO^VYKPZ
then reinforced with special monster animations.
-VYL_HTWSLPM`V\ZWLSS[OL^VYKºJVU[YHW[PVU»HU
animation will play of an actual contraption made of
pulleys, strings, fans and funny monsters. A visual
KLÄUP[PVUPM`V\SPRL

It presents very much a paper and card, school

collage project feel which is lovely to look at, and
with the bonus of some delightful animations this
is a highly polished app. The only caveat is that the
app requires you to be online and will take up a
large chunk of your storage!

VERDICT
A little on the pricey side but it is one of the
most beautiful and delightful learning apps in
the store. There are some words which may
be a little advanced for the very young, but it
is a fantastic and engaging way to learn new
vocabulary.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

 FOLLOW US
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