family
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Why do kids talk using texting abbreviations? IDK
For my children, the use of acronyms now seems to be preferred to actual words in most forms of communication. But what are they saying, and is there any hope for parents?
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Secondary school life: The day the kid puked in class
My wife and I know very little about our son's secondary school life. His account of each day's academic achievement is usually comprised of a vague grunt. However, events in a maths lesson today changed all that.
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Why choosing a family summer holiday needs compromise
We've just booked a family week in the sunshine and, after finally doing so, I now need a break. The whole process of choosing a summer holiday has been exhausting and has felt more like a tedious, time-consuming chore than an exciting opportunity to discover our next family adventure. So, I thought I'd pass on a few thoughts to save you a similar-sized headache.
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Gaming Vs Reading – How do you encourage children to read?
As the planet unites behind World Book Day, with children skipping around dressed as Where's Wally and joyously deciding how to spend their free book tokens, my son is on the PlayStation. So, how do you encourage children today to read?
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Why censoring Roald Dahl is a dangerous step
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No show Northern Lights
Every year, there are at least a handful of occasions when the news tells us that we are in for a celestial treat; usually it's a comet, an eclipse, aligned planets, meteor showers or, as was the case tonight, the Northern Lights. On every single occasion, without exception, I've seen absolutely nothing.
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Why Pancake Day is uniquely British
This evening, families, couples, singletons and people who only ever get their frying pans out once a year, will gather in their kitchens to throw scalding hot pancakes in the air. For today is Pancake Day, a British celebration like no other.
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Wake up to the dangers of a faulty carbon monoxide monitor
At 5am this morning, our faulty carbon monoxide monitor went off. Emitting an intensely high pitch, pulsing alarm, the monitor next to our boiler woke us all and sent us immediately into a state of puzzlement. Not, you'll note, a state of panic and frenzied activity, but of stupified bewilderment.
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Why censoring Roald Dahl is a dangerous step
Augustus Gloop is fat. The Witches are terrifying old hags and the Oompa Loompas are small men. Born of the imagination of Roald Dahl, they are - together with Dahl's countless other masterfully crafted heroes and villains - the legendary characters that have fascinated, entertained and terrified generations of children, myself included.
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Gaming Vs Reading – How do you encourage children to read?
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Half term headaches
February half term is never easy, the weather’s usually rubbish and there’s nothing much to do. However, when you also have a 12-year-old who wants to do nothing other than game, and a 10-year-old whose idea of helping around the house is to get dressed, you have a surefire recipe for familial disaster.
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The curse of car insurance renewal day
There are few things in life as depressingly pointless and irritating as car insurance renewal day, with the possible exception of Piers Morgan. Why are we forced to waste endless time going through the same ridiculous cat and mouse price-chasing game with insurance companies?
