Creating Your Simple Family Safety Plan and Why You Need One

Reduce the risk of harm to your children with a family safety plan

We spend a lot of time organising the physical things in our homes: the toys, the washing, the cupboards. But the most important thing we can organise is our family's response to an emergency. Having a clear, easy-to-remember family safety plan isn't about scaring our children; it’s about giving them confidence, certainty and calm if a scary situation arises.

This post guides you through creating a simple, three-part plan that everyone in your family, from toddler to teen, can understand and practise.

Why and When to Teach Your Child About Medicine Safety

Medicine safety needs more than just locking them away

General advice is to put medicines on high shelves or behind child locks when our children are little. This physical barrier is absolutely essential, but as children grow it’s not enough. They become more curious, more resourceful and, eventually, they need to start understanding why those pills and liquids are kept separate. As they get older there is a shift to independence and they need to understand how to take responsibility for their own health, teaching them about medicine safety is an integral part of keeping them safe.

This post offers a guide on when and how to start these important conversations, transforming your child from an accidental explorer into an active, responsible participant in their own safety.

How to Organise the Family Medicine Cupboard (and What to Bin)

An organised medicine cabinet will make things easier in emergencies

When a sudden fever hits in the middle of the night or a weekend brings a teary scraped knee, finding exactly what you need, fast, is all that matters. But let's be honest, the family medicine cabinet is often a mess: a chaotic jumble of outdated remedies and half used prescriptions. Taking just an hour to properly organise this crucial spot isn't just about being tidy; it's about safety, efficiency and giving yourself peace of mind when you're already feeling the pressure.

This guide will walk you through a simple, stress free system for sorting, storing and keeping on top of your essential supplies.

How to Create a Cosy Home for Autumn

The kids are back at school, the shops are already brimming with all things Halloween and Christmas, and summer seems a wonderful but distant memory. This first part of Autumn can feel quite tough for some, missing the warm days and long summer break from school but not quite ready to fill your home with pumpkins and plastic skeletons! Here are our top tips for creating a cosy autumn home to see you through the season.

Our Experience of the Thames Water Smarter Homes Visit

The Thames Water Smarter Homes Visit Offer

I wasn’t looking forward to the Thames Water Smarter Homes Visit. When they called to offer us one I felt forced into accepting. I should point out that the caller was perfectly polite and friendly so the pressure was more how I felt, rather than due to his behaviour. He said we are using far more water than the average family of 4, but I pointed out that we were a family of 5 and he didn’t have the data for average use for larger households. I accepted the visit because they said part of what they would do is check for leaks and having been made to feel we were using a large amount of water I felt we should check if there was a problem.

What Colour Cushions Go With Your Sofa?

Collaborative post by another author.

An easy way to dramatically improve your living space is to update your sofa cushions. The perfect sofa cushions are going to add depth, texture and personality to your living room. However, to create a stylish look that brings your living room together your coloured cushions must work with the colour of your sofa.

Decorating for Easter: 5 fun, spring ideas

One of our favourite things about a change of season or a special celebration like Easter, Halloween or Christmas is decorating the house to match the occasion.

Decorating is a simple activity that the whole family can get involved in, can instantly refresh your home and get you in the mood for the festivities. We store all our seasonal decorations in plastic storage boxes in the garage, so each year it’s like finding little treasures that we can bring out again and again.

If you’re looking to get your home ready for Easter here are 5 simple but effective decorating ideas to inspire you:

Ideas for Easter themed decorations

Digital Decluttering Guide: How to Organise Your Family's Virtual Life

As a mum of three, I know first hand how quickly our digital lives can become just as messy as our physical spaces! From thousands of photos clogging up our phones to countless downloaded school letters and receipts, digital clutter is a real challenge for modern families. Today, I'm sharing my tried and tested tips for sorting out your virtual mess and creating systems that actually work.