All posts tagged: Wow

‘Wow Method’: What To Tell Kids When They Say They’re Bored

‘Wow Method’: What To Tell Kids When They Say They’re Bored

Published by Sam Flores

If there’s one statement parents have probably heard a lot these past two weeks, it’s “I’m bored” – usually with the added request of “will you play with me?” tagged onto the end. But often we’re working, or trying to catch up on an admin list that’s as long as our arm (and the rest), or doing chores, so it’s not always possible to down tools and get stuck in. While turning the TV on or handing over an iPad can feel like a simple fix (hey, we’ve all been there), experts are increasingly nudging parents to try and reduce kids’ screen time where possible. So, if your children say they’re bored, how’s best to respond? Get them thinking about what they want to learn Yes, there’s the age-old classic of: “Great, grab the vacuum!” But children’s author Ty Allan Jackson suggests you could say something along the lines of: “Wow. That’s awesome. What a great opportunity for you to be creative.” And then he suggests you ask them a simple question: “What is something …

‘Wow, people were so angry at Labour!’ Green MP Hannah Spencer on politics, plumbing, smears and snobbery | Hannah Spencer

‘Wow, people were so angry at Labour!’ Green MP Hannah Spencer on politics, plumbing, smears and snobbery | Hannah Spencer

Published by Sam Flores

Hannah Spencer presents nothing like a politician – open, frank, friendly, wearing hot-pink joggers. I don’t want to say I’ve never encountered these qualities in an MP, but I’ve never encountered them in the same person. Her house tells the story of her recent byelection victory. The path and the hall are filled with mostly empty cardboard boxes that once contained leaflets. When Spencer, 34, won Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester for the Greens last month, there was a 26% swing from Labour. She won more than 40% of the vote, up 28 percentage points on the party’s performance in the 2024 general election. It was billed as a shock to the political establishment, a seismic blow to Labour (who were knocked into third place) and a reality check for Reform, who had peacocked their certain victory beforehand yet finished a distant second. But it wasn’t that much of a surprise to the Greens. “I think we knew from the outset that we could win it,” says Spencer. “There were different points throughout the campaign – wow, …

I Tried Parenting Like It Was The 1980s — And Wow, Gen-X Was Built Different

I Tried Parenting Like It Was The 1980s — And Wow, Gen-X Was Built Different

Published by Jenni Sidey

“OK, so first we’re going to make Sprite, and then we’re going to compare it to regular Sprite and see which one is better. Then we’re going to bake cookies and maybe something else, too.”  My 12-year-old and his friend Emma have independently planned a camp-free week together, which seemed like a good idea at the time. Where we live, camp options range from one trillion dollars per week to one gazillion dollars per week. I was digging into the prospect of saving the equivalent of eight million mortgage payments in one week. I excel at math. I tried parenting like it was the 1980s — and wow, Gen-X was built different. The first day of don’t-come-home-until-the-streetlights-turn-on 1980s summer week involved cooking. Indoors. At our house. Where three days a week my husband and I work from home.  Emma is one of my son’s best friends. Sometimes, I wonder if she actually lives with us. One time, I came downstairs on a random school day and discovered her eating lunch at our kitchen table, alone. …