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Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

Monday, 15 October 2018

Keeping it Clean with the #ACEforSchoolChallenge

School is back in full swing. This means muddy P.E. kits and paint splattered polo shirts have become regulars in my steadily growing laundry pile. Given the price that we paid in September, to have our children togged out in their smart school uniforms, maintaining the cleanliness and the quality of their clothing is pretty important. I don't want to have to re-buy uniform every term, it costs enough buying it as a one off for the new school year. Having that embroidered school logo quadruples the price of the garments, so I will do what I can to keep them as pristine as possible for as long as possible!

One way of keeping the kids' clothes lasting for longer is to use suitable laundry products that will help keep colours bright and fresh and will tackle germs, grease and stubborn stains.  ACE for Colours and ACE Stain Remover Spray keep clothes robust and clean, helping them to last longer, while being gentle enough to use everyday. So those grass stained knees, lunchtime dribbles and arty rainbow splashes can be tackled with ease.

I've been testing the ACE products for the #ACEforSchoolChallenge and have been grateful for a helping hand with the weekly washing. 


ACE


Freddy is in Year 5 of primary school and over the years we have had a considerable amount of stains to contend with. Whether it's something dropped down his front in the dinner hall (such as some tomato pasta, which is one of his favourite things to spill - why do they never spill nice, white mashed potato?!) or smudgy, charcoal fingerprints caused by messing around with his mates during art lessons (I swear there was more charcoal on Freddy than there was on his picture of the Egyptian God Anubis) there is always a laundry challenge for me to deal with.

It's not just my youngest son that has pushed my weekly washing endeavours into epic battles. My daughter once came home from school looking like a real life, walking, talking Jackson Pollock painting. When asked how she had got into such a state, she stated matter-of-factly that a boy in her class had decided to paint on her instead of on his paper. This is the kind of thing that we have to contend with as parents on a weekly basis.  I just thank my lucky stars that I live in a time of washing machines, detergents and products such as ACE. How my own mum coped living in the pre- automatic washing machine era, washing stuff by hand in the sink, I will never know! I sometimes feel a bit guilty that things are made so easy for us nowadays, but I soon get over my feelings of guilt and enjoy the ease and convenience of modern living, as I relax with a coffee while listening to the hum of the washing machine doing the job for me.

One thing that really matters to me is trying to reduce my impact on the environment where possible. Laundry is a necessity that I have to do, but I make sure I do full loads, use a faster washing time and a lower temperature setting. With products like ACE, the laundry process is really optimised helping get rid of stains and germs with ease. So I can reduce the energy and water I use, without compromising on the results. With school age kids this is invaluable. The ACE Stain Remover Spray can be used to target stubborn stains making sure the paint, tomato sauce or grass stains are tackled directly and efficiently within the wash. The ACE for Colours is gentle on clothes and helps prevent colours from bleeding or running, as well as helping shift dingy trapped dirt, grease and odours from fabrics. Whites look brighter and colours look more vibrant, even at low temperatures. My children can rock up at the school gates looking clean and smart every morning - but I can't promise they'll look so smart when they come home at 3 o'clock!

Here's a little photo collage of my littlest two in their school uniforms over the years - please note that there is not a stain in sight!


School Uniform



“This post is an entry for the BritMums #ACEforSchool Challenge, sponsored by ACE. Get help for all kinds of stains with the ACE Stain Helper. http://www.acecleanuk.co.uk/ or to buy head to your local Tesco’s, Morrison’s, Waitrose or Sainsbury’s.” 

Friday, 10 August 2012

Enjoy a Summer Playcation!

Get Outdoors With The Kids This Summer

Recent findings have discovered that 68% of family time is sedentary with TVs and technology entertaining the family whilst sat down on the sofa!  Ironically, this summer's Olympics is creating even more sedentary behavior as many of us tune in to watch the sporting endeavours of Team GB, whilst sat on our behinds!

However, 30% of parents surveyed expressed a desire to be more active as a family although 32% worry about the expense of participating in sporting activities.  Help is at hand as Argos, the UK's number one toy retailer has teamed up with TV presenter and exercise enthusiast Laura Hamilton to create a Summer Playcation Guide full of games and tips.




There are some great ideas to inspire and equip parents to play outdoors with the kids this summer.  The ideas are all inexpensive, focusing on families getting up and getting out into the fresh air together to enjoy their Playcation!

When I was a child Hide and Seek, den building and playing in the fields opposite my home were favourite pastimes.  Nowadays, my own older  children prefer video games and social media!  But it's not too late to instill a love of playing outdoors together in their repertoire of things to do!  

Argos has a wide range of outdoor toys to suit all ages and budgets. They also stock Chad Valley which is a leading toy brand.  We have received a croquet set and two space hoppers to help us get sporty and active and enjoy our Playcation!

The Playcation Guide is available to download here.  It features three original games alongside a host of activity and toy suggestions. 

My favourite is the Rainbow Treasure Hunt where players have to hunt for items in the garden of every colour of the rainbow.  Perfect for even the youngest players!  Our Space Hoppers can be used in a game of Stop and Go where players have to bounce on the track without being spotted by the traffic light who is ready to turn round and spot them unless they stay completely still!

Five Top Tips for your Playcation

  • It doesn't have to take long.  Just 30 minutes is long enough for a quick game of swingball before dinner.
  • Reward sporting activity to motivate your family.  Simple printed certificates are great fun to receive.
  • Activities don't have to be expensive.  Argos sells over 800 toys from just £3.99.  Hide and Seek is free!
  • Get a big group get together.  Team games like rounders and football can be fun.  Change the rules to let little ones join in so no one feels left out.
  • Don't be put off by lack of space.  Fun can be had in the smallest space.  If you want a bigger area, head off to the local park.

Freddy loves his garden and has enjoyed testing out the Croquet Set he received to try out.  Not only did he enjoy knocking the balls through the hoops, he also had fun throwing the balls and using the colourful mallet as an imaginary magic wand.  With a bit of imagination everyone can have fun outdoors!

playcation, argos





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