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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why Gen Z parents don't like reading to their kids
Gen Z: Time for baby Enzo's bedtime story. Boomer: Beatrix Potter or Enid Blyton? I thought Beatrix Potter was a wizard? You're getting confused with Harry. We're going for Buffalo Fluffalo, a Waterstones bestseller about emotional regulation and personal boundaries. The only boundary a buffalo needs is a sturdy fence with a warning sign. I don't support the imprisonment of wild animals. I don't support Freudian analysis of a buffalo's ability to regulate his emotions. The real appeal of Buffalo Fluffalo is it's less than 500 words long. That's not a book. That's a Tweet. According to The Sunday Times, the average kids' book is 70 per cent shorter than it was in the 1930s. Literary snacks, you know? Five-hundred words isn't a snack, it's malnourishment. No 20something parent has time to read 194 pages about four kids and a dog climbing mountains without parental supervision. You mean The Famous Five? I wholeheartedly agree with a recent comment about them in the paper – that their 'fun and adventure' created a 'generation of avid readers'. And a generation who thought it was fine for British children to go and colonise an island. Not a vibe. Really? I must have missed Five Go And Plant The Union Jack. Haven't you heard that sensitivity readers have edited out Enid Blyton's use of 'queer' and 'gay'? Next thing Mr Plod from Noddy will be accused of police brutality. I prefer stories with clearer moral messages. Like recent bestseller My Friend Earth by US author Patricia MacLachlan, who's sold over seven million kids' books. Is it a rallying cry against the carbon footprint of Paddington Bear's journey from Peru? It's a celebration of eco-diversity that helps little ones become 'environmental warriors'. You'll be so proud when Enzo ends up supergluing himself to the M25. Nah, I'm not worried. We've never made it to the end of a book. He nods off that fast? I get bored and we do iPad time instead. It's not meant to entertain you! Do you think I enjoyed reading about the Very Hungry Caterpillar's binge-eating disorder nightly for three years? Well, according to The Guardian, only 41 per cent of Gen Z parents actually read to their kids and fewer than half say they have 'fun' doing it. I imagine a book called My Friend Earth would be right up most Guardian readers' streets. 'They request the same book over and over,' one Gen Z parent was quoted. Another confessed: 'It's so boring.' What's wrong with your generation? You have to make it fun! I did silly voices to spruce up Janet and John's adventures. If I read Enzo that rubbish, he'd stop me on page two to ask if Janet had Instagram. You're missing the point. Reading to your kid is about bonding. So is putting on matching pyjamas and watching Bluey. Is that a new Teletubby? It's a TV show about Australian puppy Bluey and her sister Bingo that's been streamed over 450 million times on iPlayer. Jesus wept. At least stick the subtitles on to help with literacy. That might help the parents more. BBC presenter Tina Daheley says her three-year-old daughter now has an Australian accent and calls money 'dollar bucks'. The Famous Five didn't require an understanding of currency conversion. Meanwhile, Californian TikToker Janine Lagrimas has posted a clip of her toddler drawling 'Naurrrr' instead of 'No' that has got 7.6 million views. And this unintelligible Australian accent isn't enough to get you back to books? Not until they come with a 'Previously on' and 'Skip recap' option. You're ridiculous. Do you know what you'll say when Enzo still can't spell at 13?
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The 5 forgotten items hiding in your attic that could be worth £11,000 including unwanted family junk sitting in a box
WHETHER it's a mega pile of books, your kids' toys or random bits and bobs, your attic is likely full of items that you don't use anymore. If you've spent decades chucking stuff in cardboard boxes rather than throwing it away or donating it, you might've been building a gold mine valuable items without knowing it. 3 You could be sitting on a gold mine without even knowing it Credit: Getty 3 Some of the old items in your attic could be worth more than a whopping £11,000 Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 As well as vintage jewellery, it's worth checking if you have any antique clocks hiding in the old junk box Credit: Getty From rare coins to old furniture, a new study has revealed five often-forgotten items in your storage that could actually make you a small fortune. So, if you're looking to monetise your next clearout, here are some of the goodies to look out for. Rare coins – £11,670 Before you exchange that jar of spare change, make sure you go through it - this is because you very well may find special coins that collectors would be willing to pay a pretty penny for. Rare 50ps are particularly valuable. According to research from home insurer Homeprotect, they go for an average price of £11,670 on eBay. In fact, one Benjamin Bunny 50p was recently listed for £20,000 – £19,999.50 more than its legal tender was worth. Earlier this year, a particularly rare version of a Beatrix Potter 50p coin went up for an eye-watering £25,086.72. A coin's condition – and whether it has any errors – can increase its value, so when the original owner realised that there was a a bit of metal poking out of Peter Rabbit's foot, they realised they could be onto something, Metro reported. Vintage jewellery – £7,277 Whether it's a ring or a necklace, many choose to hold onto inherited or vintage jewellery for its sentimental value. However, if it's something that's just gathering dust, it could be time to let go - especially as true vintage pieces tend to fetch a whopping £7,277 on average. One particularly pricey piece – a Platinum Blue Sapphire No Heat Sri Lanka 18K Diamond Ring – recently sold for an astronomical £18,000. Spot a Rare £1 Coin Worth Up to £500: The Key Details Every Collector Should Know Rings from Tiffany and Co. also tend to pick up a decent sum at auction, with one previously raking the owner in just over £4,000. Antique furniture – £6,485 Sure, it's unlikely you have forgotten about some larger pieces of furniture – but you may not know what you have, and there's pretty good money in antique pieces if you're willing to do some research. Mid-century designers are highly sought after amongst collectors, with one set of four chairs from Borge Mogenson cashing out £8,000, while a Robert Mouseman wardrobe raked in close to £6,000. Works from earlier eras are also just as valuable, with 18th-century furniture being a firm favourite. At the start of 2025, one Boulle-style dining set fetched £8,000, and a fabulous mahogany bookcase took home almost £5,000. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. Clocks – £2,671 Before smartphones took over, most homes had an actual clock to tell the time with – and millions of us still remember the sound of its ticking. As a general rule, the older the clock, the bigger the profit – but on average, antique timepieces make a sum of around £2,671. A unique look or prestigious maker helps too: one Art Nouveau Italian Baroque grandfather clock recently went for nearly £4,000, while a red lacquer longcase clock from Thomas Bell London took home more than its contemporaries at £3,450. Vinyl records – £4,000 Are you a huge fan of music and are hoarding old vinyl up in the attic? You could be sitting on a rare piece of history without even being aware of it. It's no secret that original pressings from big bands such as The Beatles are worth huge sums of cash, with one gold label vinyl copy of Please Please Me fetching more than £4,000. That's not all though. The Velvet Underground & Nico's iconic collaboration – featuring a yellow banana on the cover designed by the late artist and film director Andy Warhol – sold for £6,747, and a rare promo copy of Bob Dylan's 1966 double album Blonde on Blonde went for just over £3,000. Released by record companies before the rest of the world has access to them, promo copies are seen as particularly valuable – and they typically go for 50% more than a standard pressing.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
The 5 forgotten items hiding in your attic that could be worth £11,000 including unwanted family junk sitting in a box
WHETHER it's a mega pile of books, your kids' toys or random bits and bobs, your attic is likely full of items that you don't use anymore. If you've spent decades chucking stuff in cardboard boxes rather than throwing it away or donating it, you might've been building a gold mine valuable items without knowing it. 3 3 3 From rare coins to old furniture, a new study has revealed five often-forgotten items in your storage that could actually make you a small fortune. So, if you're looking to monetise your next clearout, here are some of the goodies to look out for. Rare coins – £11,670 Before you exchange that jar of spare change, make sure you go through it - this is because you very well may find special coins that collectors would be willing to pay a pretty penny for. Rare 50ps are particularly valuable. According to research from home insurer Homeprotect, they go for an average price of £11,670 on eBay. In fact, one Benjamin Bunny 50p was recently listed for £20,000 – £19,999.50 more than its legal tender was worth. Earlier this year, a particularly rare version of a Beatrix Potter 50p coin went up for an eye-watering £25,086.72. A coin's condition – and whether it has any errors – can increase its value, so when the original owner realised that there was a a bit of metal poking out of Peter Rabbit's foot, they realised they could be onto something, Metro reported. Vintage jewellery – £7,277 Whether it's a ring or a necklace, many choose to hold onto inherited or vintage jewellery for its sentimental value. However, if it's something that's just gathering dust, it could be time to let go - especially as true vintage pieces tend to fetch a whopping £7,277 on average. One particularly pricey piece – a Platinum Blue Sapphire No Heat Sri Lanka 18K Diamond Ring – recently sold for an astronomical £18,000. Spot a Rare £1 Coin Worth Up to £500: The Key Details Every Collector Should Know Rings from Tiffany and Co. also tend to pick up a decent sum at auction, with one previously raking the owner in just over £4,000. Antique furniture – £6,485 Sure, it's unlikely you have forgotten about some larger pieces of furniture – but you may not know what you have, and there's pretty good money in antique pieces if you're willing to do some research. Mid-century designers are highly sought after amongst collectors, with one set of four chairs from Borge Mogenson cashing out £8,000, while a Robert Mouseman wardrobe raked in close to £6,000. Works from earlier eras are also just as valuable, with 18th-century furniture being a firm favourite. At the start of 2025, one Boulle-style dining set fetched £8,000, and a fabulous mahogany bookcase took home almost £5,000. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns: It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. Clocks – £2,671 Before smartphones took over, most homes had an actual clock to tell the time with – and millions of us still remember the sound of its ticking. As a general rule, the older the clock, the bigger the profit – but on average, antique timepieces make a sum of around £2,671. A unique look or prestigious maker helps too: one Art Nouveau Italian Baroque grandfather clock recently went for nearly £4,000, while a red lacquer longcase clock from Thomas Bell London took home more than its contemporaries at £3,450. Vinyl records – £4,000 Are you a huge fan of music and are hoarding old vinyl up in the attic? You could be sitting on a rare piece of history without even being aware of it. It's no secret that original pressings from big bands such as The Beatles are worth huge sums of cash, with one gold label vinyl copy of Please Please Me fetching more than £4,000. That's not all though. The Velvet Underground & Nico's iconic collaboration – featuring a yellow banana on the cover designed by the late artist and film director Andy Warhol – sold for £6,747, and a rare promo copy of Bob Dylan 's 1966 double album Blonde on Blonde went for just over £3,000. Released by record companies before the rest of the world has access to them, promo copies are seen as particularly valuable – and they typically go for 50% more than a standard pressing.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
The 5 forgotten items hiding in your attic that could be worth £11,000 including unwanted family junk sitting in a box
WHETHER it's a mega pile of books, your kids' toys or random bits and bobs, your attic is likely full of items that you don't use anymore. If you've spent decades chucking stuff in cardboard boxes rather than throwing it away or donating it, you might've been building a gold mine valuable items without knowing it. 3 You could be sitting on a gold mine without even knowing it Credit: Getty 3 Some of the old items in your attic could be worth more than a whopping £11,000 Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 As well as vintage jewellery, it's worth checking if you have any antique clocks hiding in the old junk box Credit: Getty From rare coins to old furniture, a new study has revealed five often-forgotten items in your storage that could actually make you a small fortune. So, if you're looking to monetise Rare coins – £11,670 Before you exchange that jar of spare change, make sure you go through it - this is because you very well may find special coins that collectors would be willing to pay a pretty penny for. Rare 50ps are particularly valuable. According to research from home insurer Homeprotect, they go for an average price of £11,670 on eBay. read more on money In fact, one Benjamin Bunny 50p was recently listed for £20,000 – £19,999.50 more than its legal tender was worth. Earlier this year, a particularly rare version of a Beatrix Potter 50p coin went up for an eye-watering £25,086.72. A coin's condition – and whether it has any errors – can increase its value, so when the original owner realised that there was a a bit of metal poking out of Peter Rabbit's foot, they realised they could be onto something, Vintage jewellery – £7,277 Whether it's a ring or a necklace, many choose to hold onto inherited or vintage jewellery for its sentimental value. Most read in Fabulous However, if it's something that's just gathering dust, it could be time to let go - especially as true vintage pieces tend to fetch a whopping £7,277 on average. One particularly pricey piece – a Platinum Blue Sapphire No Heat Sri Lanka 18K Diamond Ring – recently sold for an astronomical £18,000. Spot a Rare £1 Coin Worth Up to £500: The Key Details Every Collector Should Know Rings from Tiffany and Co. also tend to pick up a decent sum at auction, with one previously raking the owner in just over £4,000. Antique furniture – £6,485 Sure, it's unlikely you have forgotten about some larger pieces of what you have, and there's pretty good money in antique pieces if you're willing to do some research. Mid-century designers are highly sought after amongst collectors, with one set of four chairs from Borge Mogenson cashing out £8,000, while a Robert Mouseman wardrobe raked in close to £6,000. Works from earlier eras are also just as valuable, with 18th-century furniture being a firm favourite. At the start of 2025, one Boulle-style dining set fetched £8,000, and a fabulous mahogany bookcase took home almost £5,000. How to spot valuable items COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, It's easy to check if items in your attic are valuable. As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently. Simply search for your item, filter by 'sold listings' and toggle by the highest value. This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it. The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records - just to mention a few examples. For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth. Plus, you can refer to Change Checker's latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts. For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses. Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff. As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item. You're never guaranteed to make a mint, however. Clocks – £2,671 Before As a general rule, the older the clock, the bigger the profit – but on average, antique timepieces make a sum of around £2,671. A unique look or prestigious maker helps too: one Art Nouveau Italian Baroque grandfather clock recently went for nearly £4,000, while a red lacquer longcase clock from Thomas Bell London took home more than its contemporaries at £3,450. Vinyl records – £4,000 Are you a huge fan of music and are hoarding old vinyl up in the attic? You could be sitting on a rare piece of history without even being aware of it. It's no secret that original pressings from big bands such as That's not all though. The Velvet Underground & Nico's iconic collaboration – featuring a yellow banana on the cover designed by the late artist and film director Released by record companies before the rest of the world has access to them, promo copies are seen as particularly valuable – and they typically go for 50% more than a standard pressing.
Metro
15-06-2025
- General
- Metro
5 forgotten items in your attic that could be worth over £11,000
Whether it's a pile of books, old toys or random heirlooms, your attic is likely full of items that you don't use any more – but you could be sitting on a secret gold mine. If you've spent decades chucking stuff in storage rather than throwing it away or donating it, you might've been building a treasure trove of valuable items without knowing it. From coins to furniture, a new study has revealed the often-forgotten items in your attic that are actually worth a small fortune. So, if you're looking to monetise your next clearout, here's what to look out for. Before you exchange that old jar of change, make sure you go through it for any special coins that collectors would pay a pretty penny for. Rare 50ps are particularly valuable: according to research from home insurer Homeprotect, they sell for an average price of £11,670 on eBay. In fact, one Benjamin Bunny 50p was recently listed for £20,000 – £19,999.50 more than its legal tender was worth. Earlier this year, a particularly rare version of a Beatrix Potter 50p coin went up for £25,086.72. A coin's condition – and whether it has any mistakes – can increase its value, so when the original owner realised that there was a lump of metal poking out of Peter Rabbit's foot, they knew they could be onto something. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Many might choose to hold onto inherited or vintage jewellery for its sentimental value, but if something's gathering dust, it could be time to let go. Your late relative may have been happy to see you benefit from the cash, as vintage jewellery pieces tend to fetch £7,277 on average. One particularly pricey piece – a Platinum Blue Sapphire No Heat Sri Lanka 18K Diamond Ring – recently sold for almost £18,000. Rings from Tiffany and Co. also tend to pick up a decent sum at auction, with one previously going under the hammer for just over £4,000. Granted, you're unlikely to have forgotten about some sizeable pieces of furniture – but you may not know what you have, and there's good money in antique pieces if you're willing to do some research. Mid-century designers are highly sought after, with one set of four chairs from Borge Mogenson cashing out £8,000, while a Robert Mouseman wardrobe fetched close to £6,000. That would look lovely in your savings account, right? Works from earlier eras also carry value, with 18th-century furniture a particular favourite among collectors. At the start of 2025, one Boulle-style dining set racked up £8,000, and a gorgeous mahogany bookcase took home almost £5,000. Before the days of the smartphone, most homes had an actual clock to tell the time with – and many of us are nostalgic for the sound of its ticking. As a general rule, the older the clock, the tidier the profit – but on average, antique timepieces fetch a generous sum of £2,671. A unique look or prestigious maker helps too: one Art Nouveau Italian Baroque grandfather clock recently went for nearly £4,000, while a red lacquer longcase clock from Thomas Bell London fetched more than its contemporaries at £3,450. Hoarding old vinyl up in your loft? You could be sitting on a rare piece of history without even knowing it. More Trending It's no secret that original pressings from the likes of The Beatles are worth big money, with one gold label vinyl copy of Please Please Me fetching just over £4,000. That's not all though. The Velvet Underground & Nico's iconic collaboration – featuring a yellow banana on the cover designed by none other than Andy Warhol – sold for £6,747, and a rare promo copy of Bob Dylan's 1966 double album Blonde on Blonde went for just over £3,000. Released by record companies before the rest of the world has access to them, promo copies are considered especially valuable – and they typically sell for 50% more than a standard pressing. View More » So, keep your eyes on Discogs for these rare collector's editions if you want to make an investment. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Credit card customers can save up to £1,679 with a simple debt 'spring clean' MORE: I've got 'number dyslexia' – but I'm a financial expert MORE: Average UK house price fell by £1,150 month-on-month in May Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
