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Mamas Find Your Voice

April 20, 2022

Awesome Parenting Tools You Never Knew You Needed (And Probably Don’t Need, But They’re Great Anyway)

Child playing with wooden blocks

There are many parenting tools out there … but how do you know you’re picking the right ones?

The trouble is – overwhelm! It hits us all.

We’re overwhelmed with the choice available.

With all the options, it’s easy to make mistakes, ending up with a wasted tool that costs you time, money and your sanity. 

So how do you shop parenting tools with confidence?

The trick is to shop based on what problem you’re looking to solve.

Are your kids bored at home? Check out the Albert learning tool if so.

Are they wanting to be more creative and learn a new skill? Try the Happy Craft Box subscription. 

It’s not about what’s in fashion right now. It’s what you need to solve something in your parenting journey.

So without further delay, I’ve compiled a list of my absolute favourite parenting tools that I can’t live without, so you don’t have to go through trial and error as I did.

Let’s do this!

This post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you purchase. I only ever recommend products I love and believe in myself, to help my readers. Please see my affiliate disclaimer for more information.

Albert Learning Tool

Our little B (3 year old) loves counting, taking after his daddy. The Albert learning app claims it’s suitable for all ages, from 3-9 years and 10-16 years.

I’m strict about screen time personally, but I’d much rather allow a learning environment that stimulates the child rather than zoning them out in front of Paw Patrol.

I feel the Albert app is a good option if you’re looking for an educational tool for children, covering topics such as Maths, English, Biology, Physics and more to help children learn and develop from home.

Right now, you can try Albert for free until the Summer so why not give it a go? You’ve nothing to lose. Check it out here.

The Happy Craft Box

If you’ve never experienced a craft box in the post before, you’re in for a treat.

I openly declare that I love it more than my kids – but then again – that happens a lot with me and kids stuff.

Every month, you get a box that focuses on a specific mindset skill.

Building up on these skills helps your child develop their creative side, express themselves freely, and learn valuable mind tools to overcome life’s challenges with strength and resilience.

Covering topics such as mindfulness, art therapy, yoga and positive psychology, there’s something different in each box that gets posted straight through your letterbox.

You can learn more about the Happy Craft Box here. 

The Happy Craft Box for Kids

Safety First Magnetic Door Locks

I tend to be the one who goes for the cheapest possible item every time and it drives my husband mad.

That is, until we had kids.

Now, everything cheap breaks within 2 hours within our house. But not these bad boys! Oh ho no.

These door safety locks are amazing for preventing trapped little fingers and keeping your plates in one piece.

I’ve tried many other designs of safety locks, from the sticky backed ones (rubbish) to the latch ones (which didn’t work) and finally I’m set on magnetic ones for ease of use and reliability. 

Natural, Hand-bag sized Surface & Toy Sanitiser

Had it not been for Covid, maybe I’d be a bit more relaxed about germs.

But I’m kinda recovering from the effects of over sanitising my hands and wiping tables in restaurants with baby wipes (aren’t we all?).

Then I came across this stuff while browsing for something I could squeeze into the nappy bag.

Something designed to use on children’s items, toys, surfaces etc.

I’m also fully anti chemicals or nastiness in our house.

It’s just not healthy for any of us to breathe in toxic fumes, bleach and so forth.

So this little dude of a bottle ticks all the boxes, being free of parabens and petrochemicals, and small in size too. Perfect for travelling! Bye bye stomach bugs. 

surface and toy sanitiser

Working Hands Hand Cream

It’s the ONLY hand cream that works.

Sorry to all the other brands, but I’ve tried you all, and this is the one.

Finally, an answer to cracked fingers from endless washing up. 

The end. 

The best hand cream in the world.

Kindercraft Trike

I brought this trike for our eldest baby when he’d just turned 2.

It was so good for zipping around our Warwickshire village on!

There’s very low risk of injury as the parents keep the control, plus the little ones can’t escape (mamas, you know what I’m talking about)

We took it shopping a few times too. Got a few odd glances, but otherwise OK.

What’s great about it is the option for the child to pedal (a great start for cycling!) Plus, it teaches kids how to steer, great for their hand-eye coordination.

I found it perfect at the time and now we’ve got a 3 year old on a balance bike who just can’t stay still!

He’s a pro (in my eyes) and I credit this trike to starting him off well while allowing me to keep some kinda control over him. 

Speaking of balance bikes…

Kinder craft trike
“See ya! I’m off.”

Kindercraft Balance Bike

Genunely one of the BEST parent tools on the planet.

Easily an hour can be spent spinning wheels in the garden, or a trip to the play park can be that much more exciting with a balance bike. 

Now, I have (somehow) managed several trips to the park with my 3 year old on said balance bike, my 1-year-old in the pram and my 4-year-old cockapoo attached via a lead to the pram.

And… I run with the pram to keep up with the 3-year-old on the balance bike.

Call me insane (I know) but it is doable! Just choose the least busy-ist roads and ideally stay on the pavement at all times for safety. 

There are moments, don’t get me wrong, where neighbours hear my shrieks of, “Slow down!” and “STOP!!!”, but it truly is an adventure like no other.

Balance bikes are fantastic for kids’ confidence and self-esteem, as well as starting them off well with cycling.

Clothing To Keep You Strong

Sometimes, we ALL need a mood lift, and the tool could be a motivational t-shirt. Or a new coffee mug maybe?

Turns out that motherhood made me a feminist a lil bit lol, though I still love men equally so. Maybe I’m a hippie? Who knows. 

I don’t tend to follow labels.

But I do know that I love most of these t-shirts from the Spark Company. Take your pick!

Stroll to the mirror. Don your “I’m a badass” vibe and get back to being a sh*t hot mum. 

Woman Up T-shirt

A Buz Changing Robe

Dare I say it. They sound too simple? But they’re ultra awesome.

Bathtime. Toddlers. Towels. It just doesn’t work, does it?

Instead, why not pop one of these over their little heads and ta dah! Instant cohesion when it comes to being warm and getting dry in a flash. 

Both my boys love these outdoor robes from Buz. Note they say outdoor, but they’re fantastic for indoor use too. (Handy for the beach and the bathroom.)  

For Parents: Stop drips all over the carpet.

For Parents: Quick dry. And super warm.

For Parents: Don’t fall off.

For Kids: They’re cool. 

Enough said. 

Buz robe

A Good Book aka Anything by Julia Donaldson

I am addicted to reading anything by Julia D to my boys. She deserves the credit and the fuss she gets. The kids love them equally as much. 

Did you know that reading to your child can improve their cognitive function, offer them greater and wider imagination, increased focus and concentration, better problem-solving skills and much more? 

Let me know whether you love any of these parenting tools? Pop a comment below on this post. And please share this post if you love it!

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Hello, My name is Sophie…

...I'm all about living well and enjoying the present moment. I live life slow, finding meaning in the small things, and chill in my veggie patch as often as I can while running after my two toddlers. I despise social media, love extra hot mochas and crave deep and meaningful conversations. I share lots on this blog for inspiration - wellbeing & health tips (I'm a wellbeing coach with a healthcare background) mindfulness, country life, holistic health, frugal living and family travel to name a few. Welcome! x

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How often do you forgive YOURSELF mama? For that How often do you forgive YOURSELF mama? 
For that thing you're giving yourself a hard time over?
- Raising your voice
- Giving them a sweetie to keep the peace
- Not giving them a cuddle cos' you just need SPACE
We are human too, don't forget. 
Forgive yourself, and get on with better things.
😍 These are the days I crave Of doing 'nothin 😍
These are the days I crave
Of doing 'nothing's'
Which become 'everything's'
I am not that abnormal I know
Seeking out beauty in the mundane
Maybe I do stare at you a little too long?
My darlings
Captivated by your zest and youth
For today, my darlings, there was
No to-do list
No errands to run
Nowhere to go or be
Just home, here, with you
These are those days, my darlings
I shall look back on so fondly
As a greying, withering old woman
Shed a tear or two, I shall
For these are the best days of my life
With you two, my loves, my children
These are the days of my youth too
An active mind, a healthy body
So make the best of them - and you
I shall
I dislike talking about politics on social media. I dislike talking about politics on social media. 
But I've been shocked to the core with the news over the past few months, and of course in the USA this weekend, over women's abortion rights. 
(Whether you agree or disagree with abortion is another topic altogether).
What's shocking and heartbreaking is the backward step YET AGAIN for women's rights. 
We keep seeing, again and again, a pushback to old times. 
Times women before us fought hard against, which we'd long moved on from (or so I thought).
Think too about the rape victims in Bucha and other areas of Ukraine and the world. 
Why is the world going backwards? That's what I want to know.
#supportwomensrights #womensrightsarehumanrights 
Women,
Of all the many things we need to deal with as wom Of all the many things we need to deal with as women – hair removal is up there.
I’ve got a love-hate relationship with the act of removing my body hair, I admit.
I wish I didn’t give a toss about what people thought of me. 
That I could go round, willy nilly, splashing my leg and arm hair with zero cares. 
What a dream!
But that’s not me.
Not that I’m obsessed with being hair-free – but it’s not what I want to be.
I love silky soft skin. There! I said it!
So I'm delighted to share in my latest blog post my thoughts on the zero-waste shave kit I got from @_weareffs 
Check it out - link in my bio. 
Sophie x
What better way to end the day than filling your c What better way to end the day than filling your cup with some inner love?
Hugs. You can do this. 
Sophie x
The varying experiences of women as mothers were t The varying experiences of women as mothers were the catalyst for creating Mamas Find Your Voice. 
How can it be that something so innate, so biological, can have such different outcomes?
It baffled me. And I'm not talking about genetics. 
I'm purely talking about women's experiences as a mother to their children. 
Some women thrive. 
In my case, motherhood has been the most radical, positive, transformative stage of my life so far - giving me fuel and passion I never knew existed before. 
For others, it's not like that. 
Why, though? Why do we each have such different experiences?
I do not have support - other than my husband. No family nearby to babysit or anything like that. 
I do not have many friends, but the ones I do have, I treasure hugely. 
I do not earn much money - my coaching business earned me a total of $4k in its first year. 
I do not have the answers either. 
I only have my experience and opinions, which I readily share, in case it helps. 
Food for thought I guess. 
What makes our experiences all so different? 
I'd love to know your opinion?
Sophie x
Photo credit @barbara_asboth_photography
***READ THE CAPTION*** I read this morning in a m ***READ THE CAPTION***
I read this morning in a magazine that "modern life - stress and anxiety are becoming the norm."
Let's make a distinction with that. 
YES, rates of stress and anxiety are through the roof 
BUT
That does not make it NORMAL. 
Please, let's NOT normalise that.
And if you're anywhere near the stage of burnout (I've had it - past tense), then please get support. 
You could also check out the 'wellbeing' section of my blog for helpful tips in the meantime. 
Don't bury your head in the sand and struggle with burnout. 
It won't go away on its own (and I say speaking from experience)
Sophie x x
I’ve been blogging for well over four years now I’ve been blogging for well over four years now (woot-woot!) And y’know what?
I ALWAYS felt uncomfortable talking about self-love.
*Cringe admitting this!*
Yet self-love is a topic that is super duper important to all of our individual well-being.
Ironic, huh?
Now, this could just be me, but I *thought* (notice – past tense) that self-love was actually another word for narcissism.
Seriously!
Glad to say I no longer think like this!
Read the full post titled 'Is it time to go heavy on the self love?' (don't just scroll!)
CLICK my BIO link to go straight there
Sophie x x x

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