4 Ways To Keep Your Children Entertained This Summer!

July 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

It’s the time of year which every child across the land looks forward to – the long summer holidays! Only Christmas rivals the delight of the school gates shutting for the next six weeks. Although summer is a fantastic way for families to spend quality time together, it is also a time which fills many a parents hearts with trepidation. Thoughts of “how will I cope?” springs to mind. There is also the inconvenience of work, most people in employment don’t have the luxury of taking six weeks off work, unless you are a teacher!

 

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The summer holiday gives everyone the chance to rest and recuperate. It is well documented that the pressure children are under at school is immense, they are tested at every opportunity and the early mornings and after school activities can take their toll, resulting in grumpiness and tiredness. Lazy mornings during the summer gives children the opportunity to get their full allocation of sleep, how much sleep kids should get depends on their age, activity levels and the child as an individual. There are guidelines according to age, but there are considerable variants. Children need varying amounts of sleep according to life stages. If they are entering a growth spurt, more sleep is necessary which is one of the reasons why teenagers appear to want to sleep 24/7!

 

Unlike older people, to relax children do need activity. It is good to be bored on occasions as long as there is lots of opportunity and stimulation around them. Being bored actually stimulates the creative nature in children.

 

Most people book a holiday during the summer holidays, which will break up the weeks, but you still have a few weeks to fill. The remainder of this article will look at ways of entertaining your children through the summer break.

 

Free activities in your local area

Often local towns and villages put on free festivals and activities during the summer holidays. Try to look for a programme of events and book your days around them. Perhaps your town has a free puppet show at 2pm in the market square, you could pack up a lunch to eat in your local park, followed by the show, an icecream on the way home and that’s one day ticked off the calendar!

 

Visit your local library and see what events they have over summer. Often libraries have storytelling sessions followed by a craft session, visits by local authors and summer read schemes.

 

Some country parks and stately homes are run by the council allowing free access in the summer. Privately owned visitor attractions also have a couple of days allowing free access.

 

Arts and crafts

Before the summer break starts, try to collect a stash of items that can be used for arts and crafts. Cardboard boxes, scraps of wool, silver foil, paper, pens and paints can all inspire creations. Don’t forget plenty of glue and sticky tape!

 

Some art and crafts ideas could include creating homes for dolls, making pom pom creatures, painting and drawing. Your child will probably make their own plans as they have a tendency to have oodles of imagination.

 

Games and jigsaws

Remember all those games and jigsaws your child got for Christmas, only to be played with once? Summer is the ideal time to dust them down and get playing with them. Long lazy days mean that jigsaws are likely to be completed in time before bed and the extra long game of Monopoly can be accommodated!

 

Games and jigsaws are perfect for rainy days.

 

Go to the beach

 

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If you live fairly close to the beach – fantastic! If not get the train and make it part of the fun. Lakes are also lovely to visit in the summer. A trip to the beach can be as expensive or cheap as you like. Head to a more deserted spot, well away from the amusements to do some beach combing and sculptures. Pack all your loose change and divide it between your children for a fun hour or two in the amusements – making it clear that once the money is spent it’s gone!

 

A packed lunch will make the trip more affordable and pack a big picnic rug to prevent sand in the sandwiches!

 

Try to create fabulous memories for your children’s summer holidays. If you try to get out of the house once a day, even for just a short walk the summer will be less likely to be filled with squabbles and grumpiness. Children are naturally inquisitive and they love to learn and experience new things.

 

Have fun and have a wonderful summer!

 

Filed Under: Children, Family, Kids, Summer, Vacation

Injured? Here’s How to Make The Most Out of Your Free Time

May 16, 2018 Leave a Comment

When we get injured or suffer a road accident, it is easy to focus on the negatives and get depressed. What if you focused on the opportunity that this time off gives you to sort out your finances, learn new skills, improve your relationships, or do what you always wanted to. Below you’ll find a few tips on what to do with your free time and better yourself while recovering from an injury.

Image via Austin Chan

 

Reconnect with Friends and Family Members

Image via Jon Ly

 

A sudden break from your daily rush lifestyle might come as a shock. If you failed to give your parents a call or sit down with your kids after school due to work, now this is the time to improve your relationships. If you have been wondering about how your old classmates and friends are doing, it might be time to look them up on Facebook and reconnect with them. List everyone you want to get in touch with, and make the most out of your time.

Take on a Course

Whether you always wanted to learn meditation or have been dreaming of a career change for a long time, but had no time to study, this is your chance. There are plenty of accredited online courses that will help you secure a promotion or pay rise, even lead to a career change after you have fully recovered. Do your research and dig deep to find out what you really want to learn.

Start a Blog

In case you have always wanted to connect with like minded people, but had no time, you can start your own blog. This will give you a new routine and a purpose in life, so you become more positive about your abilities and talk to people who might be facing similar issues as you. If you are facing disability forever or just for a few months, you can use your blog to write about your emotions and release stress and frustration.

Explore Your Legal Options

You can also use the time on your hands to explore your legal options and get the compensation you deserve from the person or business that caused your injury. Whether it was a road accident caused by a careless driver or a work injury due to the negligence of your employer, you can start building your legal case while recovering. You can also get in touch with an attorney to help you with your personal injury so you don’t have to do everything alone.

Plan Your Life

When you can take a step back from your regular busy life, take the opportunity to plan your life. Whether you would like to sort out your finances and get a better mortgage rate or deal with your home improvements, make a decision whether to move or not, you will now have the time and focus to get these pressing issues out of the way.

Suffering an injury is never great. You can, however, focus on the positives and make the most out of the free time to better your life.

Filed Under: Children, Family, Health, Lifestyle, Wellness

Is It Time To Give Your Teen The Independence They Need?

April 19, 2018 2 Comments

 

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Being a parent is tough. Sometimes, you won’t have a clue what you’re doing, and you’ll often doubt yourself. Sometimes, you’ll really feel like you’ve got this thing down, and you’ll enjoy the journey. But one thing’s for sure, when your children suddenly start to get older, you’ll find that you get a little scared. Because children are one thing, but teenagers are something totally different altogether. And to make sure that you can enjoy being a parent to a teenager, you really do have to adapt your parenting. As hard as it may be, you have to realize that your children are growing up and they need a little more independence.

 

While you may not want to change too much about your style of parenting or loosen the reigns too much, you do have to approach things differently. It’s not healthy to wrap your children in cotton wool all of the time. You do have to be able to let them breathe and learn for themselves. When this isn’t something that you’re necessarily used to, you may think that you just can’t do it. However, as with anything in life, you can. You just have to put your mind to it, pick up a few ideas and techniques, and be persistent. So let’s take a look at what will help you to be a parent to teenagers.

 

Support From Afar

 

Of course, you’re always going to want to make sure that your kids are doing as well as possible in school, but this really does have to be about them and what they can do. It’s always okay to help out and try and support your children with their schooling, but you’re definitely not going to want to do it for them. Make sure that you support from afar. Guide them, check work, and give feedback, but make sure they do what they can themselves.

 

Help Them Move Forward

 

When your child hits their teens, they definitely start to adapt to what their lives will be like as an adult. So you’ll find that they need to move on with their skills and life experiences. This includes driving. So make sure they take their learners permit test and get practicing. When they do get their driver’s license, you’re then going to want to ensure that they can be a responsible road user and take care of their car.

 

Give Them Space

 

Next, you’re going to want to make sure that you can give your children a bit of space and privacy. This isn’t always something that they want when they’re small, but as soon as they hit their teens they will definitely want some time to adjust to the way their lives are changing. So make sure that you respect this and give them a little more independence.

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Trust Them More

 

It may seem scary at first, but you also have to be okay with them doing things on their own. Whether you ease yourself in or dive in at the deep end, letting them head out without adult supervision is something that will need to happen at some point or another. To test the waters and make sure they’re responsible enough to stay safe.

 

Let Them Make Decisions

 

So far, you’ve made all of their decisions for them in life. Well, most of the time. But now that they’re a teen, it’s time that they had a lot more say. Starting off with their clothing or taste in music can help. But this is all part of the process of letting them grow.

 

Guide Don’t Drive

 

From here, you’re then going to want to make sure that you take a bit of a backseat on what you want for them. Of course, it’s always okay to steer them in the right direction, particularly with their college decision, but don’t necessarily choose for them. It is important that they can figure out for themselves what their future will look like.

 

Set Boundaries

 

Finally, you’re also going to want to make sure that you’re really cautious with how you give them their independence. You don’t want to be relaxed and discover that they’re kind of running away with things. At the same time, you do want to ensure that they can still rely on you for support. This is often where boundaries can come in. Make sure that you still enforce your rules. Things like a curfew or getting a job can be a good way to balance things out and to ensure that they’re responsible, trustworthy, and on the right track.

Filed Under: Children, Family

Fun Ways To Teach Your Kids

April 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

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Children develop from a. Dry early age, and their first 10 years of life and crucial for their development and educational later on in life. Teachers, of course, provide most of the teaching a child needs in their weekday, however, they aren’t the only ones who should be teaching valuable lessons to your child.

 

As a parent, you should try every day to teach your child different subjects and get them interested in science, nature, and maths. There are plenty of early learning centers which you can send them to, but you can also do your bit by teaching them in a fun way at home and out and about. Here are some of the ways you can teach your child today.

 

Go Outside

Children love nothing more than to be outside and active. Take this as the percent advantage to teach your child about nature and science. For example, you can buy a Collins bird book online for your child and when you are out and about in the countryside they will be able to identify different species. If you have a pond in your back garden or there is one near your home you can go and investigate the species of frog, newt and insects in there too. Children learn best by getting their hands dirty so this method is a brilliant way to get them interested in nature.

 

Play a Game

When you are teaching your child it doesn’t have to be a chore. When you are at home you can make learning into a fun game between you and your child. For example, you can teach them maths with marbles or balls. You can even teach them square roots by using a Connect 4 Board. When your child puts together a square which has 4 counters down and 4 across: as them to count the number of counters in total. 16 is 4 squared, so this will teach your child in a simple way what a squared value really means.

 

Get Crafty

Children love to be creative and this is a fact you can exploit to teach your child about maths and even about art. You can cut out shapes to teach your child about the different shapes for maths, you can write things down on colorful paper to make them feel as if they are playing while learning: and you can even make a playhouse out of cardboard with them and this will actually help them learn how to measure. You can use great resources online such as with pandaparents to give you inspiration and make your children learn lots of amazing things.

 

Visit a Museum

If you want to have a fun day trip as well as teach your child about science and history then going to a local museum is the perfect option. Museum,s are filled with amazing artifices, interactive displays, and information which will get your child completely immersed in the subject and make them interested in different things. Once the trip is over you could by them a book about what they have seen to encourage them to do their own further reading afterward. A lot of children are fascinated by history and science so this could be a great way to teach.

 

To The Stars

 

One of the most magical things you can teach your children about is space and everything in it. Taking the time to teach your child about planets and the solar system will be a great way to open their eyes and make them want to learn even more. For example, you can show them some NASA learning resources which will help your children understand more about the planet. And as a fun evening trip, you can take your child into the country and let them watch the stars in the sky. You can even bring a sky map so you can show them the constellations too. It will be a great way to teach because children find stars magical.

 

Play Science

 

Interactive learning is the most fun way to learn for your children, and also a fun way for you to teach them. There are tons of different experiments you can perform for your child to get them into science, and one of the things you could do is make your own putty. Children love playing with putty so if you show them how to make it, it can be really fun for them. You can teach them about chemical reactions with baking powder and vinegar, and you can teach them about

Filed Under: Children, Family Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Signs You Should Work with Children

January 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

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Working with children is not for everyone. In most cases, it requires a lot more than love for kids. It can be an incredibly trying and difficult career at times, but one that is also exceptionally rewarding. If you are thinking about a career working with children, be it as a teacher or a child-minder, read on to discover some key signs that this is right for you.

  • You are dedicated – To work with children, you need to be dedicated to your career. This is not the sort of thing you can go into half-heartedly. Children need undivided love and attention. This begins from the moment you start your training until the day you retire. After all, the training itself can be lengthy, although you can do a Master Degree in School Counselling online, as well as other childcare related areas, so you can do a general degree at university and then move into your specialism online, which makes things a lot easier.
  • You embrace your silly side – If you are the type of person that knows when to be serious, but can also embrace their silly side when appropriate, this a good sign that working with children is the right career move for you. Do you like to dress up with your little ones? Do you dance around the kitchen while making dinner? Working with children requires someone who is not too proud to act daft in the name of fun.
  • You are exceptionally patient – One thing that you will need in abundance is patient. If you can keep your cool in situations where other people tend to lose it, this is a clear sign that you have the makeup that is needed for working with children. Patience does not come naturally for everyone, but if you are working in child development, it is an essential quality to have.
  • You are very perceptive – You will also need to be perceptive if you want to work in some form of child development. If you like to find solutions after diagnosing a situation thoroughly, you could have found the perfect career for you. Do your friends and family members often come to you when they have a problem? Do you like to read people and figure out what makes them tick?
  • You relish opportunities – The fifth and final sign that you are the right person to work with children is if you are someone that relishes opportunities. Do you think about the various teachable moments that could arise for your kids, if you have them? Do you take the time to say thank you whenever you can? Do you go out of your way to make another person’s day?

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding as to whether a career in childcare is the right move for you. There is no denying that this is a career that is very rewarding, and you will take great pride in seeing the children you work with learn and develop. Equally, you need to be able to handle the challenges that come with working with children too.

Filed Under: Children

12 Creative and Cheap Ideas to Decorate Your Nursery

January 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

When you find out that you are expecting a baby, one of the first thoughts that will enter your mind is how to make your home suitable for the new arrival. If you need to convert a room into a nursery or build an extension, you will start planning in your head immediately. Then you start adding up the costs, and get scared. You want the first few years of your little one to be perfect and special, but don’t want to spend a fortune on a designer nursery. Below you will find ten low-cost and easy ideas to take care of your nursery decoration.

  1. Sew Your Own Curtains and Covers

You can use your DIY skills to upgrade an old blanket or create a theme. If you would like to get a jungle themed nursery set, you are looking at a cost of hundreds of dollars. However, if you already have a sewing machine, you can get the job done for much less. Make sure that you get enough of the same fabric to have matching curtains, wall covers, crib skirts, and blankets. If you are up for the task, you can even get some foam filling and make your own playing mat with the same material.

  1. Upcycle Furniture

Instead of getting a custom changing cabinet and all the matching furniture spending thousands of dollars, you can upcycle your current chest of drawers and paint it the colors that suit your nursery decor. Give an old rocking chair a new purpose by adding a new colorful upholstery, so you can use it for breastfeeding in the nursery. Use your existing cabinets to store baby items and paint floating shelves to have easy access to baby items, such as the diaper cream, baby oil, and powder.

  1. Make Your Own Patchwork Bedding

If you feel creative, you can create the perfect look in your nursery by creating a patchwork bedding. You can ask your friends and family members to give you any colorful materials they have left, or even cut offs of curtains and other upholstery. You will enjoy completing this work while resting at home, and can create something completely unique for your baby.

  1. Use Smart Storage

Instead of investing into a lot of cabinets that you will have to change in a few years when your child grows, get multi-purpose and variable items that can be changed over and upcycled. Get a large shelving unit that will hold all your storage baskets where you keep your diapers and baby care items. Hide away your bin, and use shelves to display stuffed animals that are not yet safe to use by your baby.

  1. Print Your Own Wall Art

Image by Wikimedia Commons

 

You can design your wall art and get it printed at the local digital photo shop, instead of paying hundreds of dollars for designer items, You can get cartoon characters, animals, letters, shapes, or anything printed on matching canvas, and use them to create an educational and inspiring environment in the nursery. Alternatively, you can make collage photos and word art displayed on your wall in your favorite colors.

  1. Paint the Walls Yourself or Use Decals

Image by Flickr

 

Whether it is a jungle or an ocean scene you would like to create, you don’t have to spend a fortune on decoration. If you are any good at painting and drawing, you can use your skills to make a play corner and paint the scene around the bed. If you cannot draw a straight line or a circle, not to mention animals, you can still use colorful decals to decorate the walls. Simply choose one main color for the walls, and add your baby’s name, the alphabet, animals, or shapes to keep inspiring your little one.

  1. DIY Baby Mobile

Your baby will appreciate a unique baby mobile, and it doesn’t take a long time to make. Look for templates and ideas online. You can use paper, plastic, recycled materials, or even felt and plush. Find your unused ribbons or find some cheap small teddy bears to go on the mobile. You can also use beads and add solar panel lights to keep your baby entertained and stimulate their senses more. If you would like to add music, you can upgrade your existing wind chime to become a colorful and inspirational crib mobile.

  1. Button Art

If you are on a low budget, you can go out to a local thrift store or a craft store and get some unique picture frames and buttons. If you don’t have enough buttons, you will find plenty of them in stores, and buy them in bulk online. Button art is not only relaxing, but also looks great. All you need is a few colorful buttons, glue, a few used picture frames that you can paint and upcycle, and some cardboard. You can create different shapes and compositions, even your baby’s name letters in separate frames. This inexpensive project will make you feel proud every time you show off your nursery to friends and family members.

  1. Get Your Hands on Embroidery

When you are ordered to rest, you will find it hard to sit down for hours. Get a pattern from the internet or the local craft shop, and create your own embroidered blankets, pillowcases, and sheets. You can make everything unique, showing how much you care about your baby. You might even create an embroidered picture on the wall with your baby’s name or initials.

  1. Knit Your Wall Covers

You can make your own wall covers to keep your baby comfortable and warm in their cot. All you need is a little creativity and a pattern. Knitting is coming back, as it is cheap and allows you to express yourself instead of buying ready made items. You might even crochet a patchwork style wall cover that consists of different patterned boxes, sewn together.

  1. Make Your Teddies

You might transform any room into a stunning nursery by getting a few floating shelves and putting unique teddies in each box. You can knit your own animals using templates or buying sets, and display them on the wall in each floating shelf. This way, you will create a unique nursery look that will impress visitors, as well as your baby. Add the names of the teddies to each shelf, and teach your growing baby to find out which one belongs to which box.

  1. Make a Rag Rug

When you simply don’t find anything in the stores that is colorful enough for your baby’s room, you can make your own rag rug. There are several online tutorials that show you how to use scrap materials, old clothes, and other items to make your own rag rug. The rug can be used as a play mat or simply as a decoration. You can use anything; old scarves, pair less socks, and even the curtains you just removed from the room that will serve as your nursery.

 

When planning your nursery, creativity pays off. You can use your old furniture and upcycle them to make a unique looking nursery, or even create your own baby mobile. If you have the imagination, you can create your own color scheme and theme to make the nursery more inspiring for your new baby. You can save hundreds of dollars on furniture, upholstery, bedding, and wall covering, so why not give it a go? After all, your baby is unique, and you don’t want their nursery to look exactly the same as others’. Put your creative hat on and start designing.

 

Filed Under: Children, Family

Twinning Is Winning! Planning A Nursery For Twins

January 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

Congratulations, the stick has turned blue and shock – it’s TWINS! Let’s not panic. Twins are a big surprise when you plan for one baby and you got another one for free. Nearly every set of parents are thrilled when they find out that they have a set of twins on the way; after all, it’s twice the love and you could possibly choose to complete your family in one go. There’s a good chance though, that you are feeling utterly overwhelmed. You only planned for one baby. Your finances only planned for one baby. Your maternity leave and plans only factored in the one baby. The idea of trying to juggle the needs of your instant family, plus other children you may have and the housework – it’s okay, stop hyperventilating. You can feel overwhelmed and underprepared, but you would feel the exact same way with just one baby. One baby is demanding and takes your time away from you. One baby still takes your money and you still have to financially plan for one child. Getting creative to sort out twins is the only way forward.

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Getting in contact with other parents of multiples via social media, parenting forums and blogging platforms is a great way to get live feedback from people in your exact situation. It can help the overwhelming feeling that you are alone and handling this. We can promise you, you aren’t. There are plenty of parents around with twins and even triplets, handling it like a boss. They can tell you reviews on the best prams, what to expect when it comes to feeding and sleep schedules, and you could even arrange to meet up with them and form a whole new social circle. One thing that they will all tell you about, is the nursery that you need to start planning far enough in advance so that your wallet can handle all the new purchases you’re about to make. It’s nice to plan a nursery for a baby, but it’s twice as nice to plan a nursery for twins on the way. If you get that lucky, you’ll soon learn that planning a baby nursery for twins isn’t twice the work – just twice the fun!

Making room for a baby is a completely different ball game when you are expecting twins. The idea of putting two newborns into one room can be daunting, especially if your house has a nursery perfect for one baby but not big enough for two at the same time. Of course, the guidelines for safe sleep – which you can read in more detail on this website – state that a baby should be in the same room as its parents for the first six months. This is because babies regulate their breathing with their parents breathing, and being in the same room is also far easier during the night feeds. Don’t worry though, you can create an absolutely beautiful and functional space for two babies without much more effort than what you would have put in for one baby. So, let’s all take a nice deep breath and look at how you can start planning the perfect twin nursery.

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Beginning early is the absolute key when it comes to putting together a nursery for twins. A normal singleton pregnancy takes anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks for a fully developed baby. Twins are a success if they reach 36 weeks, and that means you have less time to get things together. It’s likely you only found out at your first ultrasound that you have twins on board, and if that ultrasound was at the standard 12-week mark, then you really only have 25 weeks to get your nursery ready. This is the reason that an early start is a good idea. If you find out the gender of the twins, you can then decide whether you want to plan a neutral nursery, like the ideas you can find here, or make it more personalised. If you choose to personalise a nursery, then you can use merchandise from Makaboo.com/ and make it a monogrammed haven for your babies. Don’t be drawn in by convention; a boy’s nursery doesn’t have to be powder blue, and a girl’s nursery doesn’t have to look like it has been hosed down with Pepto Bismol. You can choose any colour you want for your nursery and you can hang any accessories that you want. Finishing the new nursery will be the last thing on your mind when the babies arrive, so you need to start early so you have time to budget and shop. The last thing you want to do when you are heavily pregnant with two babies is decorate a nursery. You could choose to hire in a design and painting company to paint and decorate your nursery for you, but half the fun of setting up a nursery comes from doing it yourself.

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One of the most tempting things about having twins on the way, is the chance of doubling up on everything you need. This is probably the last thing that you should do, because you only have one pair of hands. Are you really going to use two sets of wardrobes and clothes chests when you are changing the babies? How about two baby baths and two changing tables? It’s not only an expensive concept, it’s one that just doesn’t play out. Instead, have one set of everything – except the crib. Use drawer separators like these ones to separate clothes, and use one changing table. You can’t physically change both babies at once, so there’s really no need for two changing tables. We mentioned that the crib is the one thing you should buy two of, and the reason there is an obvious one. You have two babies, and you can’t put them both down in the same crib unsupervised! It’s fine for newborns to share a crib, as they cannot roll into each other and disturb each other. Choosing small, simple cribs is the best option, especially with sharing your room at the beginning. You can still put both cribs together, but you don’t have to worry about babies disturbing each other.

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When it comes to decorating your nursery, keep it simple. Neutral colours with bolder accessories is the best idea than trying to theme your nursery. You can get easily tired of a nursery theme, but a neutral colour is far better because if you get a little bored or want to change the theme, it’s just the accessories that you have to change out. Keep it simple with your colours, and avoid busy patterns. The nursery is a space for sleep, and so keeping it light, calm and pretty is exactly what your babies will need. Don’t go nuts on the accessories, even though every cell of your body will be screaming at you to buy the bunting for the wall. You don’t need it and you don’t want the nursery to be too busy. Check out some of these lovely ideas for a simple nursery and make a point of comparing prices of wallpaper and paint online. You can have a lot of fun with the décor for a nursery. Mixed gender twins is even more fun, as you can choose a neutral colour throughout the room and for furniture, but have different accents for each gender. Check out these ideas for mixed gender bedrooms.

More babies equal a lot more stuff. Toys, clothes, blankets and even diapers and changing accessories will be a bigger amount. You need some sound storage in the nursery and this IKEA Kallax unit is a cheap and cheerful way to keep things organised. You can choose different colour boxes to go into the unit, meaning you can coordinate with the nursery accessories that you’ve bought. You could even choose to install hooks into the closet for things like coats and towels, and you can buy canvas storage bags to hang from them for easy-grab wipes, diapers and cream. You’ll also need to think about lullaby machines – buying two instead of just one is going to be a good idea as small babies cannot see very far away from themselves at first.

When you raise multiples, you can feel completely outnumbered, as if you’re in the middle of a circus. Don’t panic though, because you are a parent and you are built to adjust. Things will seem harder when you think about them, but once those babies arrive and are in your arms things will just fall into place. Having a good support system around you will make life an awful lot easier for you, so spend your pregnancy rallying the support of family and friends. Make sure that they know that you would appreciate a freezer stocked with easy meals that you can cook, and make sure that they are on your speed dial. A good support system can make a huge difference. Twinning is winning so enjoy your new babies and your new nursery adventure!

Filed Under: Baby, Children, DIY Interior, Family, Kids, Uncategorized

Luvs Diapers #MoreToLuv

December 1, 2017 Leave a Comment

This review was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management, I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.”

When my second child was born, I felt a lot surer about my decisions on what I was doing. Being an experienced mom helped me make smarter money saving ideas I seemed paralyzed to on the first child. On the first child, I felt if I didn’t spend the top dollar I was not only not being a good mother but I was also sure I wouldn’t get the same quality. Boy. was I sure wrong. This time around I chose Luv Diapers!!

I considered myself a better, frugal, smarter mother the second time around. I did more research and figured out how wrong I was the first time around. I saved a ton of money the second time around but using Luvs diapers. The price is even lower now and works amazing. After comparing the amount of coverage, the length they lasted I realized I was spending unneeded money on the first child!!

#MoreToLuv(s) = more money in the bank for parents

I am so in Luv with these diapers. The quality and quantity are amazing. I especially like saving money! The second time around I would rather spend the money having fun and making memories.  Luvs, with NightLock Plus, locks away wetness faster than Huggies Snug & Dry. You know more – so why spend more?!

Luvs is a great value – with quality leak protection at a great price – check out your favorite retailer for new lower prices. What’s not to Luv about that?

 

Filed Under: Baby, Children, Family

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had My First Baby…

November 16, 2017 Leave a Comment

If you are preparing to welcome your first baby into the world, first of all, congratulations! This is undoubtedly an exciting time in any expectant parent’s life. You have a fun, incredible and surprising journey ahead of you. No matter how much preparation and reading you have done, nothing quite readies you for life as a parent. There are always hurdles along the way. Read on to discover some of the things that most people wish they knew before they had their first baby.

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  1. Get ready for the clichés – If you thought you heard all of the clichés in the world when you were pregnant, you have heard nothing yet. You will lose count of how many times people tell you that it goes by ridiculously fast and that you should enjoy every moment. Speaking about enjoying every moment, you probably won’t if the next point is anything to go by…
  2. Changing nappies isn’t the only yucky part – We’ve all heard expectant new parents joke about who is going to change their baby’s nappy. However, this merely scratches the surface of the yucky stuff that comes with having a baby. Expect to be a human toilet or napkin most of the time! Oh, and that’s without even mentioning when your baby decides to throw food everywhere or smear it across their face and the walls! Oh, and what about when they throw up on you? Lovely! And then there’s the belongings too! There’s actually a good read on how to clean and disinfect your diaper bag, which is something you will need to do often. The good news is you probably won’t even care about all this sort of stuff. It becomes the norm!
  3. The faster you can meet other moms, the better – You will really start to enjoy your new role as parent once you meet other moms that are in the same position as you. This is not to say that you should ditch your current friends. However, it can get really lonely being at home just with your baby, so it helps to meet people in the same situation.
  4. You’re never going to get it right – Well, in the eyes of someone anyway! No matter what you choose for your baby, be it going back to work or staying at home, breastfeeding or using a bottle, there is always going to be someone that is saying you are doing it wrong. Don’t be shocked when your close relatives become your biggest critics. But the best bit of advice is to simply ignore them! There’s no right or wrong way; it’s all about doing things YOUR way.
  5. Your relationship with your partner will change – Having a baby is a big deal! Becoming parents is the biggest change you will both go through in your life, and so it would be crazy if your relationship weren’t to change as a result. It’s important to be aware of this and to really work on your relationship. Try not to neglect one and other and ensure lines of communication are always kept open.
  6. Trust yourself – This is probably the most important part of them all. You need to trust your own intuition. There is nothing wrong with asking for help sometimes, but it’s your baby and this is your journey, trust in yourself! Every new mother wings it a bit; it’s part of the process. You’re not meant to know what to do all of the time.
  7. Your emotions are going to be all over the place – A lot of people assume that they are going to give birth and have a constant smile on their face because they are going to be filled with so much love. The reality can be very different, and there is nothing wrong with this. A lot of people experience the baby blues, i.e. they feel sad once they have given birth. This happens because your hormone levels drop. Of course, if this feeling persists, you should see your doctor. And again, there is nothing wrong with that either!
  8. Be kind to yourself – Being kind to yourself means being kind to your baby too. You’re not helping anyone by running yourself into the ground. Make sure you take a little bit of time to yourself, whether this means going to the spa, reading a book, or simply going for a walk.
  9. Don’t compare your child – Don’t fall into the trap of comparing your child to others. If your friend’s baby started walking at eight months, and your child is now ten months old and hasn’t taken his or her first steps yet, so be it! It happens!
Filed Under: Baby, Children

Mommy Scene Holiday Giveaway Gift Giveaway!

October 31, 2017 Leave a Comment

Mommy Scene Holiday Giveaway Gift Giveaway!

We are excited to share Mommy Scene’s Holiday Giveaway packed full of gifts for babies, kids, and moms! Get inspired for gift giving this year with interactive gift ideas for creative kids, practical gift ideas for baby’s first Christmas, and luxurious gifts for yourself or the new mom in your life. One lucky winner will receive this entire gift collection!

2017 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway gift collection for babies, kids and moms - Mommy Scene

Gifts for Babies

Crane Drop Humidifier – Grey
Pacific Baby Hot-Tot 9oz Insulated Toddler Bottle
aLoo Bottle Valve
Revelae Kids Cozy Baby Sleepers
Bonjour Baby Baskets $50 Gift Card!
lulujo Baby’s First Year blanket & cards set
Button Diapers One-Size Diaper Cover and three pack of Daytime Diaper Inserts of winner’s choice
Toofeze baby teether

Featured in Mommy Scene’s Gift Ideas for Babies.

Gifts for Kids

Piggy Paint natural nail polish for kids
Sleep Zzz Pillow for kids ages 3 and up
Wild Things Animal Blankets
Interactive Map of the World by Lil’ollo
Soft’n Slo Squishies Sweet Shop squeezable collectibles
The Shrunks Indoor Tuckaire Toddler Travel Bed
Morph by Orb Toys
Window Jammers low-tech collectible characters
Ocean Exploration Discovery Box by Revelae Kids
Wizard Roll board game of magical spells!

Featured in Mommy Scene’s Gift Ideas for Kids.

Gifts for Her

Back Buddy Support Pillow
PeachSkinSheets
Aurorae Aqua Microfiber Beach and Swim Towel
Aurorae Hawaiian Island Afternoon Coconut Pineapple Aromatherapy Spritz
Mama Strut Postpartum Care System
Fresh Wave Kitchen Kit
Rachel’s Remedy Breastfeeding Relief Packs
Covered Goods Original 4-in-1 Cover
Kindred Bravely Davy Nursing & Maternity Pajamas (Pant Set)
Moody Sisters Mommy Deserves It Gift Set (Eye Cream & Nourishing Serum)

Featured in Mommy Scene’s Gift Ideas for Her.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Babies, Kids, and Moms ★ Giveaway!

Enter to win this fabulous gift collection of prizes for babies, kids, and moms!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is coordinated by Mommy Scene and is open to US entries ages 18 and older. No purchase required to enter. One (1) winner will be randomly chosen and contacted through e-mail, and their name displayed on the giveaway widget after the giveaway ends on December 15th, 2017. Mommy Scene and the participating blogs are not responsible for fulfilling brand-sponsored prizes. Prizes will be shipped directly from each brand.

Filed Under: Baby, Children, Giveaway

Child Friendly Home 2 – Parents Fight Back

October 18, 2017 1 Comment

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OK, so the premise of making a home safe might not sound like the next Hollywood blockbuster. But then again, neither does the idea of a kid adapting his property to keep out two useless burglars… 27 years later, Home Alone is weeks away from appearing on the festive TV schedule once more.

 

We’ve already discussed the basics of creating a child-friendly home in a previous post. This covered ideas like home security and handling natural disasters. However, the family home can pose a number of other threats. Thankfully, we have the simple tricks below, winning the war against those problems has never been simpler.

 

Preventing Germs Entering The Home

 

With the winter months fast approaching, there’s every chance that germs will enter your home. Having hooks in the hallway for kids to place their coats and scarves when getting home, followed by a quick wash of the hands, will work wonders. Likewise, utilizing the front porch for storing shoes can be very useful too.

 

It’s not all about the humans in your home, though. Advecta 2 flea prevention treatments can keep your furry pets in far greater health. In turn, this can go a long way to stopping the kids from suffering too. Apart from anything else, your pets deserve to be comfortable. Meanwhile, good air circulation is another key factor.

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Preventing The Silent Killer

 

Mother nature can be a cruel mistress This is why jobs aimed to upgrade safety before, during, and after natural disasters is key. However, problems can also start from inside the property too. Most leaks are more dangerous to the building rather than your health. Still, this damage can generate unsafe environment, so you must not overlook those issues.

 

Nonetheless, some elements are more dangerous than others. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be lethal, which is why installing detectors is arguably even more vital than having fire alarms. The chances of suffering this type of issue due to a bad boiler is quite slim, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.   

 

Preventing Unwanted Departures

 

We all know the importance of keeping intruders out. However, it’s equally imperative that you learn to keep children in. Locking the doors goes without saying, but this is only just the start. You must also ensure that all windows prohibit curious youngsters from escaping. Otherwise, they could be in for very nasty falls to the floor.

 

Garden gates and fencing should also be considered. It’s impossible to keep your eyes on their every move, which is why you must always go the extra mile in these areas. Aside from the physical benefits, this will give you far greater peace of mind. As a parent, that sense of organization may be the greatest tool in this ongoing battle for safety.

 

The Last Word

 

Ultimately, you’re probably doing a fine job just as you are. Nonetheless, taking those additional steps for a safer home will have a hugely positive impact on your happiness as well as your child’s. If that doesn’t give you the incentive to take note, what will?

Filed Under: Children, Family

A Curious Case Of Teen Anxiety

October 18, 2017 Leave a Comment

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Parents with teenage boys or girls understand the fragility of their self-esteem. One word, no matter how benign, is enough to send them into a hissy fit. Moms and dads tend to put it down to hormones and continue without a second glance. However, sometimes the reason is more profound than puberty. When a teen suffers from an extreme case of anxiety, it can ruin their life. Just walking down the street is enough to get the wheels turning in their head.

 

As their parent, it is your job to support them through this challenging period. Below are four things you should try to help.

 

Encourage Them With Words

 

Everyone knows how useful words are. One nice comment from a stranger or a friend can make your day. Kids are no different. The thing is their peers are emotionally immature and won’t help. So, it is down to you to make sure they feel loved and valued. Saying “I love you” is a start, as is “be safe” or “enjoy your day!” But, the comments which make them feel special are the ones which are specific. Telling them they are talented or gifted is an excellent way to encourage them as it has nothing to do with love. Kids know when their parents use mom and dad logic because they aren’t stupid.

 

Push Sports Clubs

 

Now, the prospect of asking them to perform in front of a crowd of people will seem stupid. But, stage fright aside, being a member of a sports club has lots of rewards. To begin with, they will begin to develop self-confidence if they have success. Then, they won’t care about wearing 2-piece doublets and wrestling in front of dozens of people. The physical benefits are clear, but the personal advantages less so. Well, confidence is contagious. Once they feel it in one aspect of their life, it will spread like a disease. Instead of the anxious boy or girl you know, they will bloom into a confident young adult.

 

Reward Good Behaviour

 

No, it is not a bribe if you don’t establish a treat is up for grabs beforehand. When kids know there is a treat, they will do whatever to get the reward. Although they did it, their behaviour won’t be a real test of their self-esteem. Rather than tell them about a treat, wait until they build up the courage to act. Getting on the school bus on the first day of term is scary. So, letting them choose dinner when they get home is an excellent compromise.

 

Let Them Let Go

 

Anxiety is a build up of emotion which gets worse and worse until it explodes. The key is to release the tension and deal with it healthily. Kids don’t know how to do this because the culture tells them to be narcissistic maniacs. Admitting they are uncool is a hanging offence in a child’s eyes. But, behind closed doors, what they say never leaves the house. Once they know they can talk without repercussions, they will start to let go.

 

Everyone experiences anxiety, but kids don’t deal with it appropriately. As a parent, it is your responsibility to help.

Filed Under: Children, Family

The Gospel of Luke by Lionsgate #TheGospelOfLuke, #ad #rwm

October 5, 2017 Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Lionsgate. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

The Gospel of Luke, more than any other, fits the category of ancient biography. Luke, as “narrator” of events, sees Jesus as the “Savior” of all people, always on the side of the needy and the deprived. Narrated in the NIV by British actor Richard E. Grant and in the KJV by Sir Derek Jacobi, this epic production — featuring specially constructed sets and the authentic countryside of Morocco — has been critically acclaimed by leading religious scholars as a unique and highly authentic telling of the Jesus story.

The Gospel of Luke will be at Walmart 10/17/2017. Perfect for a Christmas present. This is the 3rd movie in the series and is the ancient biography of Luke. He is the narrator and sees Jesus as the Savior of all people.

This movie is great to watch as a family or for youth groups. If you haven’t seen The Gospel of John and The Gospel of Mark I would suggest getting them. They are all amazing.

This film was shot on location in Morocco with consultation from expert theologians and biblical scholars. It runs 205 minutes and is so informative.

Check your local Walmart 10/17/17, you won’t be disappointed!

Find great information and opportunities here: http://media.thereviewwire.com/

 

Follow them here:

#TheGospelOfLuke

 

Filed Under: Children, Family

Fun Christmas Gifts To Keep Your Kids Active

October 4, 2017 1 Comment

Whether you want to think about it or not, Christmas IS just around the corner. The commercials have already started, and you’ll soon start to get an idea of what it is your kid wants from Santa. So many of today’s kid’s toys are focused on games and screens that it seems like a long time since a bike was the top of every kid’s Christmas list. This Christmas, why not think about getting your kid a gift that is not only fun but helps them stay active too? Take a look at the following suggestions for ideas on Christmas gifts that will get your kids moving.

A trampoline

A trampoline is a great gift for kids; it’s something they can use to have fun while also helping them to stay active. Trampolines come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so you can get small versions to use in the home, or larger domed varieties that are great if you’ve got the garden space. If you’re concerned about safety, then taking a look at a trampoline buying guide could help you make the best decision that will help you to feel at ease.

A scooter

Image: Wikimedia Commons

 

Scooters are a fun gift to give to kids, that will encourage them to head outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. There are several different types of scooter on the market that suit different budgets, and you can pick up some great accessories like helmets to go with them. It’s worth taking a look at an electric scooters for kids comparison guide to see which scooters are available. Scooters are great for helping your kid get to school or for when they go out with their friends and are easy to store in your home.

A Nerf gun

Did you know that Nerf guns have been around since the 1960s? Nerf guns have been a popular gift for decades, and they’re ideal for encouraging kids to get out of the house and play – even if it’s just in the backyard. A Nerf gun is a fun and harmless way for kids to blow off some steam, and you’ll probably want to join in and have a go too!

Active video games

You can’t expect kids to go outside all the time, especially when it’s dark or the weather’s bad. Finding fun and active games they can play at home can be tough, but there are some fantastic video games out there that will help them get moving, without them even realizing. Games like Just Dance and Kinect Sports Rivals for Xbox offer games that all the family can join in, ideal for parties or family game nights.

Thinking ahead to buying Christmas gifts is one way you can start preparing for Christmas now. Toys and games that are active will be a much better investment than buying things that they’ll lose interest in or offer no value – helping you keep your kids moving. Who knows, you might even discover something fun for you too!

Filed Under: Children, Christmas

How To Manage Your Children When Relocating

October 3, 2017 Leave a Comment

adorable, baby, beautiful

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If you’re a parent, you will already know the gentle and aware touch it takes to help raise your little ones well. It’s likely that you’ve already experienced many high and low points in your parenting career, don’t worry, every parent does. What matters is that you try everyday to provide your children with the life you would love to give them, and for that you are a wonderful parent no matter how you define it. There are many stresses of life which you must educate and somewhat shield your child from in their young age.

 

Moving is one of these things. It can mean much more to a child than an adult to relocate a property, even if you are the one who’s paid and organized everything in advance. It’s important to understand that a child will not know anything different than the home life they have experienced. Moving a long distance can prove to be a greatly unsettling experience for them because they likely aren’t used to something so new. As an adult, it can take some time to acclimate to a new city or town, so just imagine what parallels can be drawn for a child still in their single digits of age.

 

For this reason, following these wonderful tidbits of advice can help the whole thing run smoothly, in a way that helps you and most importantly your child feel secure in the whole process.

 

Get Them Excited

 

It’s important to be open with them from day one about the move, and where you’re going, even if they’re a little too young to fully understand. Try to give them simple explanations, such as ‘We’re moving for Daddy’s new work,’ or ‘we’re moving to a bigger house for the new baby!’ Give them the simplest terms to understand, and they’ll be able to digest this at their own place. Also, show them photographs of the property, so they feel familiar with it (placing these photographs on the kitchen fridge is a good option too.) Be sure to avoid presenting this information too fast, however, as it can become quite overwhelming for them. Before long, they will be just as excited as you are.

 

Give Them Comfort

 

Try and keep the moving stresses as far away from them as possible. Try not to raise your voice when discussing something that is going wrong with your planning, or stressing in their presence too much. Try not to overfill the interior of the car, so your drive to the new area is clean and no different to any car journey they know. Using interstate removalists to house all of your belongings on the journey can majorly help with this.

 

A signature blanket, new cuddly toy, or something else they can easily identify will help them feel safe and secure in the changes taking place all around them. Setting up in-car entertainment, such as a portable and car-ready DVD player, or listening to music they appreciate can help them feel settled. Try to wear them out in the morning before your drive, to encourage them sleeping for the whole distance. Take regular breaks, and make sure they are well hydrated and looked after. Before you know it, you’ll be there. Make sure the first thing you set up is their sleeping area so they can nap as soon as you’re in the property, and you can get to the hard work of setting up all of your belongings.

 

With these tips, you’re sure to be even more satisfied in your new home, knowing that your child is comfortable with the whole process.

Filed Under: Children, Home

FAO Parents: You Don’t Have To Do It Alone!

September 25, 2017 1 Comment

Whether you’re a single parent or two, providing your son or daughter with the best start in life is no easy feat. However, you can make things a lot easier simply by accepting the available support.   

 

We all need a helping hand from time to time, and this can come from various sources in a number of situations. Here are just five where outsiders can have a hugely positive impact on your child’s development.

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Encouraging a skill: Whether your child is a talented soccer player or musician doesn’t matter. Seeking support from a qualified coach or tutor can accelerate their progress to help unlock their full potential. This might not always lead to a career in the chosen field, but it will almost lead to increased confidence and happiness. This in itself should be considered to be a reward that vindicates the decision to gain that help. Besides, every parent wants their kid to achieve the best they can.

 

Maintaining their health: Keeping your child in great health is top of the agenda at all times. It can be very difficult when children face problems, which is why they deserve the best help available. Experts like Daniel C. Allison, MD, FACS, who specialize in pediatric treatments are the best option. Opting for a generic medical team can often see your child miss out on the human elements that their unique treatments require. Aside from things like surgery, it can influence their rehab processes too.

 

Using the computer: There is no escaping the impact of technology in modern society. Computer literacy is a skill that all kids need for future school assignments and work situations. As a loving parent, you don’t only think about their development. It’s equally important to ensure that your son or daughter stays safe online. Using the right software packages will ensure that this happens. While this type of support may not come from a person, its impact should not be ignored. After all, computers are the present and future.

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Providing financial stability: Whether you like it or not, money is important. Parents can seek relief from various sources, including the Child Care Resource Center. While some people may feel too proud to accept it, this is the reason you’ve paid your taxes. Kids understand their family’s financial status from a very early age, which is just reason why you should care. Perhaps more importantly, every piece of support you gain can allow your son or daughter to live an enriched and enjoyable childhood. Frankly, that’s all any parent could ever want for their child.

 

Completing daily activities: Modern life is hectic. As such, arguably the best support that parents can gain is from each other. Whether it’s organizing a carpool or offering to help out at birthday parties isn’t important. Anything that makes life a little easier for parents will bring huge benefits for the children. Besides, sharing closer relationships can make discussing potential problems far simpler too. Given that these people could play an important part in our lives for several years to come, ignoring those incentives would be very naïve.   

Filed Under: Baby, Children, Family

TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snack Nabisco Sweepstakes

September 11, 2017 Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by Nabisco as part of an Integrated Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Since Hurricane Harvey, life is slowly getting back to normal. For the first time in two weeks, I got to shop at my favorite store, Wal-Mart. My first mission was to find some type of snack that was different since we had eaten the same foods for two weeks. I was so excited to find these new TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snacks!! These snacks are made with quality ingredients such as milk, eggs, and chocolate. The best part is they contain no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors, and no artificial colors

My children have always loved the Teddy Grahams so I knew they would love to try these. I purchased both the vanilla filled and chocolate filled to see which one they liked best. Of course, both were winners in my house! I can see another trip to Wal-Mart in our future for more TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snacks!!

After all the devastation around us, it is nice to have something the children can enjoy and take their minds off of the “bad storm”.  They are requesting them in their lunch boxes for snack time since their day cares aren’t able to cook right now. They even offered to take extras to give to those children who lost everything. These are a fun snack to not only eat but to share!

 

I am excited to offer the Nabisco Snacktime Sweepstakes! The prizes are 12 prizes ($50 Walmart gift card each) and two grand prizes ($200 Walmart gift card each) and are going to run from September 11- 29th, 2017. So hurry and enter today!!

“I-C will randomly select 14 winners from all program entries and will facilitate fulfillment of the winning prizes.”

Nabisco Snacktime Sweepstakes

 

Filed Under: Children, Food, Healthy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Teaching Your Kids How To Take Care Of Their Health Is Too Important To Ignore!

September 5, 2017 Leave a Comment

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One of the biggest concerns for a lot of parents is how they can best make sure that their kids are properly protected from illness. After all, no one wants to see their child sick and suffering in any way. Of course, trying to get them to care about their health can be extremely difficult when they’re not quite old enough to fully understand the consequences of what they’re doing. Trying to explain to a child why they shouldn’t eat dirt can often feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall! However, there are a few ways that you can help your child to learn some good health habits and teach them to care about their health a little more.

 

Lead by example

 

The very best thing that you can do if you want your children to become more concerned about their health is to lead by example. Do things like washing your hands together so that you can teach them how to do it as thoroughly as possible. Similarly, going to the doctor and dentist can be scary for kids, so going with them and showing them that it’s okay can be a real comfort for them. Places like Owens Dental can help you and your entire family take care of their teeth without any stress. Seeing you go to the doctor and dentist and understanding how things work can make everything a lot less scary for many children and encourage them to feel more independent when it comes to taking care of their health.

 

Put it in terms they can understand

 

Sadly, trying to explain things like viruses and bacteria to children can often be an exercise in frustration because they simply aren’t developed enough to understand what it all means. However, that doesn’t mean that you should give up on trying to educate them and resort to things like “because it’s dirty!” or, even worse “because I said so!” Sure, kids might not understand viruses, but that’s why we call them tummy bugs. By helping them to visualize things like hygiene and germs, you can help to give them a much better idea of what they can do to avoid getting sick. There are hundreds of books and videos out there which act as fantastic resources when it comes to explaining health to kids at any level at all. Sure, they might not fully understand, but if you can start to make those connections in their mind early on, it will be a lot easier further down the road.

 

The best thing that you can do is to be less concerned with hovering over your child and making sure that they’re always protected from germs and simply to teach them to avoid getting sick where they can. Sure, you’re never going to be able to protect your child from getting sick 100% of the time, but if you take more of a “give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime” approach to things then your children will be able to be much more independent in the future.

Filed Under: Children, Family

Healthy Kids That Happily Eat Everything Is A Myth, Right? Or Is It…

August 30, 2017 Leave a Comment

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We all know that having kids is a joy, and although times can get tough, you wouldn’t have it any other way. But there are certain challenges of parenthood that we’d all like to avoid. Even when you’re happy for their developmental milestones to vary, and for each child to reach their potential as and when they’re ready, there are things that you wish you could iron out as soon as possible. Fussy eating habits are definitely one of them. For their own health and enjoyment, it’s important to ensure that your kids are happy to eat pretty much everything, or at least be willing to try. So how do you make that happen?

 

Get Them Interested

 

When your children are disinterested in something, it can often feel impossible to get them to do anything. And this can be the case with food. So, you’re going to want to start off by trying to get them more interested in both food and eating. There are different ways that you may want to approach this task, but generally, you may find that shopping for food together is a great idea. Likewise, you may want to come up with ways to make mealtimes fun to start with, so that they look forwards to them more.

 

Try To Understand

 

However, you may find that it is difficult for you to move past the idea of them being a picky eater unless you’re able to understand it. Every child can have their own individual reasons behind their complicated relationship with food, but there is often an emotional reason behind it. So, you’re going to work with them, try to get behind their fears and ensure that you can break down those barriers together, bit by bit.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-tomato-fork-salad-8291/

 

Work With Substitutes To Start With

 

As you start off on your journey of trying to get your kids to eat more, you may have to make some exceptions and exclusions to get you all on the right track. If there are things that they will not eat, you may need to work them up to them or work with simple alternatives to start with. Whether you go for coated fish rather than plain fillets or watermelon water instead of standard spring water, now’s the time to make those substitutes. Before you know it, they will be moving on and feeling comfortable with new things.

 

Encourage Them To Cook

 

Sometimes, you can actually work to break down food barriers by involving your kids more in the cooking process. When they’re involved, they can often be proud of what they’ve made and more interested in eating it. Understanding food and how it’s made, along with the different ingredients, can also help to remove any fears that they may have.

 

Be Positive About All Food

And finally, you’re going to need to be positive about food all of the time. Sometimes, kids can pick up on fears based on your attitude to food, or the attitudes of others – like the childhood obsession with disliking broccoli. But if you want them to try new food, you have to be positive. Providing a safe environment for them to sample new things is often crucial because it’s often all about how you approach their eating habits over anything else.

Filed Under: Children, Health, Health Reviews, Healthy

Essential Questions To Ask Yourself Before Expanding Your Family

August 25, 2017 Leave a Comment

Few people know for sure the number of children that they want to have. They might have an idea, but not many of us are absolutely settled on the exact number.

 

When you get through the trials and tribulations of being a first time parent, you will have learned a few essential lessons. It might have been tough, but it will have been absolutely worth it. The lesson you might find yourself learning most of all is that… you want to have more children.

 

Whether you just have one or are already on your fourth, that nagging sense that you’d like to have another child is rarely easily quietened. While the impulse to add to your brood can be overwhelming, there has to be a moment where you allow a little investment in contemplation of what you might be undertaking.

 

Of course, that’s not to say it is an inherently a bad thing to consider having more children. However, it might be wise to ensure you’ve got all the right answers, to the following questions, prior to going ahead…

 

Question One: Do You Have Room?

 

While young children can usually share a bedroom quite effectively, the same is not true when they reach a certain age. Eventually, your kids are going to want privacy, especially those that are different genders. That might mean you need to think about choosing a home loan and moving somewhere larger, so that everyone can have the space that they need.

 

Bear in mind that you might need to do this sooner rather than later; it might not just be a thought for the teenage future. If you have young children and they would have to share their room with a baby at your present address, then you have to consider the ramifications of nighttime disturbances of a newborn. Realistically, a new baby is going to need their own space, or risk damaging their siblings’ quality of sleep.

 

Question Two: Are You (And Your Partner) The Only Ones Making The Decision?

 

Society has a way of pushing certain ideas onto us. When a couple gets married, the first question they will be inundated with is when they plan to have children. You might think that having children would actually get you a break from this invasive line of questioning… but it will still happen! Now the question is, “when are you planning on having a little brother/sister for [your child]?”.

 

Don’t be pressured into having more children by other people. You might hear a lot of people enthusing about the prospect of siblings for your existing child/ren, but this is one decision that only you and your partner need to be involved in.

 

Question Three: Are You Ready For The Expense?

 

It can feel incredibly unpleasant to talk about babies and expanding your family in such coarse terms, but nevertheless, it’s a conversation you need to have. Babies are expensive; children more so; teenagers still more again – and then you might have to think of the cost of an additional college education.

 

Do you have a financial plan for the future that’s going to allow you to afford all of that for an additional child?

 

In Conclusion…

 

If you can confidently answer all of the above questions, then you are well prepared to consider having another child. If you don’t have your answers figured out yet, that’s okay. Give it a little time and figure out solutions where needed; you’ll get there in the end. What’s more, you’ll be all the more prepared to welcome the joy of a new life when you can answer these questions – so you and your children can enjoy the benefits of your careful contemplation. Good luck!  

PixaBay.com

Filed Under: Baby, Children, Family

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