Back to School Giveaway

For my friends here in Australia, the kiddies are heading back to school in the next couple of weeks. For some it will be the first day. For others, a move up into the next level, up into high school, their final year, or even a move to a new school.

So for back to school, rather than another giveaway for the kids, we thought we'd reward the hard working Mums and Dads this year. 

Have you got your copy of Learning that's Fun by our Senior Learning Funologist, Louise? 

If not, you're in for a treat. This simple guide offers easy tips and ideas for families on a tight budget to make learning fun. Living in a busy lifestyle, many of the ideas can be incorporated into everyday life, such as grocery shopping, driving in the car or around the home. So there's no need to add extra hours to your day or spend loads of money on tutors or expensive materials. 

If your kids are struggling at school with the basics, if you have toddlers craving more stimulation or you are looking for ways to ensure your family gets a well rounded education this book is for you. 

Easy to read, space to write your own notes or ideas and printable templates to help you get started, Learning that's Fun is just the quick read you need to get you pumped for the school year! 

To get you started we've got two Learning that's Fun packs to giveaway. 

Each pack contains:

• Learning that's Fun by Louise Jones
• Hand Made Library Bag
• Blossom Learning that's Fun pen
• Blossom Learning that's Fun fridge magnet
• Blossom Learning that's Fun bookmark 

Hand made library bags

To enter all you need to do is leave a comment below and tell us what Back to School 2014 means for your family. 

FINE PRINT:

• Entries Open Wednesday 15/1/2014 9:00am AEDST
• Entries Close Sunday 19/1/2014 11:59pm AEDST
• Entrants must Like the Facebook page or be Subscribed to the Newsletter
• One entry per person
• Winners selected by random ballot & notified by email / facebook message

Does Education Kill Creativity?

I have always loved to make things, design things, creative beautiful things. I love using my own hands to create something to admire and I love to admire beautiful things other people have created. 

So how on Earth did I end up with a job in IT? 

It started a little something like this:

1987, Prep, Mrs N's Classroom, Drawing Time

Little Louise drew a horse. Four legs, a tail, a head, a body and ears. Pretty good right? 

Little Mary looks at the horse, turns to Little Louise and says "That's not a horse!"

Little Louise says "Yes it is". Scrumps up her paper and throws it out. 

Later at play time, Little Louise spies Little Mary sitting in the classroom door way. She walks up behind Little Mary, musters up all her strength and mite and kicks Little Mary as hard in the back as she possibly can. Little Mary screams, Little Louise cries and Mrs N comes running to see what the fuss is. She makes the girls hug, make up and be friends. And they go on to be good friends for a long time in school. 

Violence is certainly not the answer here! But that moment has stuck with me my entire life. From that moment on I never showed my work to anyone unless I was 100% certain that I would not be criticised or chastised for it. My creativity was cut right there and then. And even into my teens and adulthood I struggled to do anything unless it was perfect, and I doubted myself countless times and never followed my heart just because I might not be good enough at it. 

Do you know how hard it is to practice playing the drums when you're too scared that someone might hear you and you might make a mistake? That's no way to make music and feel rhythm run through you. 

Your Homework

I want you to watch this video. It's only 20 minutes and might make the difference you've been looking for with your kids, or even with yourself! 

I want you to think about the way education systems focus so much on the literacy and numeracy and give second fiddle to anything creative. As a student I loved all of my classes, I loved maths and english and I loved art, metal work, drama, music, woodwork, textiles. Actually I didn't really like Science and Sports. But it shows that at my core, in my heart, I wanted to create beautiful things and solve problems. I wrote poems. I made crafts. I designed posters. I planned my dream home. Drew my princess wedding dress. My heart wanted me to be creative. But something in my education process and the expectations I put on myself from those experiences drove me into Information Science of all the things in the whole world! The one of two things I really didn't like at school. 

Fast Forward a few years and I'm here doing what I love, creating, writing, helping others and letting that core expand again. But for such a long time it was restricted, and my heart was crying for something else. 

It may be Singing. Dancing. Painting. Building. Sculpting. Seeing. Designing. Inventing. Writing. Sketching. 

Whatever it is, encourage creativity. Foster it. Give space for it. Go looking for it. Fight for it! 

And remember, it may not be a horse in your eyes, but theirs it is. Go with it. 

Happy Learning! 

Get your copy of my book Learning that's Fun here. 

A simple guide for families to make learning fun. 

New Year's Resolutions to add a little learning to your life

Happy New Year 

PHEW! I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted after a few weeks of crazy times with family and friends. I need a holiday from my holidays. But boy, wasn't it fun. Hopefully you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families, and enjoyed some celebrations to ring in the new year. Pretty much my entire December was filled with family events. We got to catch up with all of our 22 nieces and nephews, exchanged gifts, ate loads of food and played games and enjoyed each other's company!

Our Family Traditional Boxing Day Piniata

So now that we've changed the calendar on the fridge and made it to 2014, many people take the opportunity to reflect on the previous year's achievements and look forward to the prospects of the new year. At Blossom we like to do the same.

2013 was a huge year for us. The website had a makeover, I launched my book "Learning that's Fun", I attended the Pro-Blogger Event in Queensland, the Facebook Page and Website audience grew exponentially to the point where we needed to expand our team of contributors online, and we ran the most amazing 12 Days of Christmas Event! So needless to say, I'm pretty excited about the prospects of 2014.

Resolutions for Learning

But what about you? How about your family? What will you do this year? Big or small? What changes can you make in 2014 to add a little learning to your everyday life? How can you help your kids basque in the wonder of exploring the world?

We've put together a list of 15 resolutions you can do. Do one or do them all.

1. Read everyday (you, the kids, out loud, just do it)
2. Start a weekly games night (not electronic games)
3. Join the local library
4. Create a kids homework area
5. Cook / Bake together
6. Plant a veggie garden
7. Purchase only educational gifts this year
8. Read Learning that's Fun
9. Make a swear jar - kids copy, don't blame them for your language
10. Eat dinner at the table together
11. Join a club - scouts, dance, knitting, whatever takes your fancy
12. Keep a 2014 Family Journal
13. Make healthy eating a family affair
14. Be kind to the environment and upcycle whatever you can! Get creative.
15. Watch more family comedies - laughter is the best medicine

Which will you do? Leave a comment on the blog.

For more ideas like these and more get your copy of Learning that's Fun in eBook or Paperback.

Happy Learning for 2014

Merry Christmas

To all our fabulous followers on the Learning that's Fun Blog & Facebook Page,

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful Happy New Year! 

May your holidays be filled with joy, laughter and fun family adventures. 

Love from the Jones Girls, your Learning that's Fun Team

Aunty Lou (22 nieces & nephews), Megan (Mum of 2) and Donna (Mum of 4)

12 Days of Christmas: Wrapping it Up

Dear Blossoms,

Thank you so very much to everyone who has been involved in the 2013 Learning that's Fun 12 Days of Christmas. It's been an absolutely HUGE online event and I hope you've all enjoyed it as much as I have.

Congratulations to all the winners of the daily giveaways, we had some truly wonderful gifts to share with you all and to those who missed out on a giveaway prize, do check out our shopping list so you can visit the websites of our sponsors and experience the wonderful games and toys for yourself.

Also a massive thanks to the sponsors. Without them the 12 Days of Christmas would just not be possible. They have provided some fantastic products to be reviewed and won by our lucky readers all out of their back pocket. For some of them, small businesses or one person creations, this is a very generous undertaking at expense to them.

So if you could show your appreciation and LIKE their Facebook Pages, and visit their Websites to see what wonderful fun and educational products they can offer you and your family.

Last of all, I hope that we have been able to inspire you to think about the learning benefits of your Christmas Gifts when shopping this year. We have shown you that educational presents are certainly NOT boring, they can be the most unique and memorable gifts of all.

Learning that's Fun will be taking a little break over the Christmas & New Year period, but we will continue to jump online every now and then and share some interesting and helpful things with you. But we will be back in the new year, just in time for Back to School. Maybe another special event heading your way? Stay tuned.

In the meantime if you would like to purchase a copy of Learning that's Fun to get you inspired for the new school year click here. Available from $2.99 on Kindle and paperback copies from $12.

And if there is anything you'd like us to cover next year that you are having problems with, let us know and we can add it to our list. Maths, concentration, learning difficulties etc.

All best to you and your family for this special time of year.

Louise XXX

Senior Learning Funologist
Blossom: Learning that's Fun

Sorry I couldn't find a better photo! LOL

Links to the 12 Days Sponsors:

Kimochis
Brain Box Games
Toy Universe
Skillbuilders
Just About Kids - Craft for Little Ones
Sweet Dreams Enterprise
Margie Balazic

12 Days of Christmas: Shopping Tips

Christmas Shopping List

Now with only 12 sleeps to go, we've put the whole 12 Days of Christmas in a single post for you. From the comfort of your own chair you can finish off your Christmas Shopping with a few mouse clicks.

Day 1: Kimochis $49.95 Buy Now

Day 2: Microscope Kit $30.80 Buy Now

Day 3: Learning Shoe $25.95 Buy Now

Day 4: Brain Box Games Buy Now

Day 5: Wikkistix $27.50 Buy Now

Day 6: Volcano Science Kit $23.65 Buy Now

Day 7: Emmi Game $42.90 Buy Now

Day 8: Craft for Little Ones Buy Now

Day 9: Stocking Fillers from Buy Now

Day 10: Concetta the Pig from Buy Now

Day 11: Stocking Fillers from Buy Now

Day 12: Princess & the Pea from Buy Now

3 Top Tips for Christmas Shopping

1. Buy local - support small and local businesses, it keeps people in jobs and helps your community boom

2. Buy Handmade - you will get something truly unique and personal. Nobody else will have anything like it.

3. Buy Educational - Reading, writing, motor skills, problem solving, creativity, what can they learn?

Most of important of all, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the special time with your family and friends, an be safe :)

Happy Learning!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 12: Happily Ever After

The Princess and the Pea

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Learning that's Fun gave to me, a handmade Princess & the Pea play set from local artist Margie Balazic! 

Margie is a local illustrator and textile artist. Her handmade creations are absolutely second to none. Working with paper, fabrics, printing and a sewing machine these are top quality works that kids AND adults will love! 

From finger puppets to dolls, to cushions and soft toys, with everything in between. Margie's colourful creations will inspire any child to play and pretend, and will brighten the dullest room. If you are planning to decorate a children's play space or want to encourage more play, less TV, visit Margie's page.

Margie brings all your favourite characters to life, the 3 Little Bears, The Princess & the Pea and many more. And she creates her own characters from personal inspiration and ideas from her children.

The colour, the simplistic design and the quality of materials and labour is what sets Margie's work apart. You will often find her at local markets and pop-up shops around Ballarat and Victoria, like the Ballarat Pop-up Collective. 

Be sure to like Margie's Facebook Page so you can purchase her truly unique play pieces and find out where she is next attending a market near you. 

Follow Margie on Facebook

Day 12 Giveaway

Today's giveaway is the very gorgeous Princess and Pea play set and a bonus copy of Learning that's Fun.

For your chance to win tell us what your favourite fairy tale was as a child. 

Leave your comment here on the blog or on the Facebook page.

The Small Print:

1. Giveaway runs from 12/12/2013 9:00am AEDST to 13/12/13 9:00am

2. Winners will be judged by the blog owner. All decisions are final.

3. Prizes will be sent regular mail via Australia Post or delivered in person (depending on location).

4. Winners will be notified by email or Facebook. 

5. Winners MUST be either a subscriber to the Learning that's Fun email list, or a fan on the Facebook page.