Video Blogging

Hi everyone, Ruby here. The way we communicate has changed vastly over the past few years. Instead of text communication you could try video or voice recording, you can even include text, images and effects. Please ask a parent for help and always seek parental permission before uploading.

Getting started

The first step to becoming a vlogger or videoing yourself successfully is that you'll need to understand your audience and discover your target of how you are going to interact with them. For example: craft challenges, sporting achievements, food reviews.

Benefits

Creating your own vlog will boost your confidence, give you something to look back on and even try new things. Due to vlogging, you can share your passions, educate others and create ideas.

Apps/websites

The best app to achieve the perfect video is InShot. It has many features that you will discover, including video cutters, music, filters and different designs. Another good app to try is FilmoraGo, which has a huge variety of options to choose from, when forming your video. Wix is the best vlogging website as it has many templates and is easy to use.

Tips and tricks

Add a theme or design

Be yourself

Try talking to the camera as if you were talking to your friends or family.

Experiment different ideas

Trim your video so it is not too long but not too short

Feel good music

Adding them to posts

As social media has grown in the past couple of years it has increased more users so more people will be able to watch and interact with your videos. If you film your video, you can then upload it as a post or go live once you feel most confident.

"Express yourself, no one else can do it"

Ruby Xx

When I grow up

Hi everyone, it's me Ruby.  Lockdown has given me lots of time to think about the future so I made a fact file about myself. The good thing about your own fact file is that you can always edit it, see how you've grown and changed throughout your life. For example, you can record your opinions, thoughts and feelings a bit like a diary.

When I grow up, I would like to be a footballer. If not, perhaps a runner, teacher, singer, dancer, accountant, chef or PE teacher, the possibilities are endless. What would you like to be or do?

Leading up to your career, you can set yourself goals and create opportunities for yourself to shine. 

Due to experiences, you can change your mind about what you think your job could or would be. By creating a fact file or diary you can write information down. It would be great to look back on your file, see how you've grown, remember what you're good at to help inspire you to decide on what to do. I'm enjoying secondary school as you have the choice to study many more subjects.

If you are unsure of what you want to be when you're older, you will discover your role. "Open the door for yourself, it is waiting for you; when you are ready."

"Don't worry if you make mistakes. Learning from them is what counts."

Ruby Xx

Easter Holiday Activities

Hi everyone, Ruby here. During our Easter break, we can be imaginative and brainstorm many activities to do before we go back to school. Here are some fun ideas:

Make Brownies:

If you have any leftover chocolate eggs you can create these luxurious chocolate treats by melting your chocolate. This recipe is one love to follow: https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/recipes/worlds-best-brownies/
 
Exercise:

After eating lots of chocolate for Easter we can become active once more by going for a run or walk in your local park to burn off all the chocolate. Recently opened is the new Stubbers outdoor play park in Upminster, which you can visit or have a nice brisk walk-through Thames Chase. Tennis courts have reopened and next week gyms. Check out your gym's timetable classes, such as Cardio or Pilates for all ages.

Challenges​:

Another idea for using left over chocolate is games. With mini creme eggs and a spoon, you can compete against your family in an egg and spoon race and see who wins. It's not too late! Or you could challenge others in an Easter egg hunt with spare solid eggs to play outdoors or indoors. You can even add riddles or quiz questions to make it harder.

There are plenty ideas to keep us busy and let our creativity run wild. Enjoy your Easter holidays.

"Use your imagination to create"

Ruby Xx

Great Gadgets

​Hi everyone, it's me Ruby. This week we will see further lockdown restrictions easing and grass root sports are returning. I can't wait! I'm back at football training Thursday and Saturday and I'm looking forward to a friendly football match this weekend.

Sport England reports that since last year, 2.3% of young people in the summer had dropped the amount of activity they do daily. With over 2.3 million children failing to complete 30 minutes of exercise a day. This highlights that it is really important that sporting clubs are able to resume. If you don't belong to a club there are lots of opportunities, you can do to keep yourself active. You can find lots of ideas at http://haveringactive.co.uk. Some fitness activities can be as simple as skipping or walking.

Here are some fitness gadgets I like: 

Messi Training Ball:

Inspired by the footballer, this is a gadget where there is a football on the end of a string. I find this extremely useful when trying to maintain my control and practice kicky-ups. This is available from Smyths.

Swingball:

You can find out what Swingball you prefer; the tennis or football or like me you can choose both. I find these helpful as they improve my co-ordination and touch. The football Swingball is available at Argos and the tennis (classic) Swingball is available at Amazon.

Fitness watches:

I recommend these as they are really good at logging your exercise, heart rate, sleep patterns, use as a watch and have many other great benefits. On your phone, you can view your exercise and progress if you have your fitness watches App. You can get Garmin watches, Fitbits and many others. Fitness watches are important in tracking your exercise as they can set you goals to improve on and measures your distance when walking, running or cycling.

"Keep active! Stay healthy, keep strong with your head held high"

Ruby Xx