How to Start Your Pet’s New Life Off Right

by Sofia Lockett // August 3, 2020 // No Comments

Bringing a new family pet into your home is an exciting time for both adults and children. However, to make sure that your life together is peaceful and fulfilling in the long-term, it is important that you are able to start your pet’s life off right. To make sure that your furry friend’s first days within your new family home are great, here are the top steps that you should take to help them to settle in.

· Find a Good Vet

When you first bring your pet home, there are a number of medical needs that should be met, including vaccinations, as well as neuters and spays. If you have bought a pet from a breeder, it is important that you take your animal for a health check-up within 24 hours of when you bring them home. This will make sure that they have no underlying health conditions which could hamper your life together in the future. If you are looking for vets in Midlothian VA, Easy Vet Clinic can provide a friendly and knowledgeable service that will have your pet on their feet in no time at all.

· Take Time Off Work

Even if you intend to work full-time throughout your pet’s lifetime, you may consider taking time off work to help your new pet to settle in during the first few days of their life with you. This will give you and your pet the time that you need to get to know each other and to develop a secure bond, while also minimizing the risk of your new pet experiencing stress or discomfort in their unfamiliar surroundings.

· Train Your Animal

Your pet is more likely to be able to become an obedient and well-trained animal if you choose to train them within the first days of their life with you, especially if they are an older dog or cat. Not only should you set boundaries that your pet needs to stick to, such as not begging for food or jumping on counters, but you should also consider taking them to a training class for their age group.

· Be Gentle and Patient

You need to remember that the first days of their life with you can be incredibly daunting. This is especially the case if you have adopted an animal from a rescue center, which may mean that they have had traumatic experiences in the past. Then, you need to make sure that you are gentle and patient with them. For instance, you should wait until they come to you for attention or gradually coax them out into the open, and ensure that they have a safe place away from humans that they can go if they feel scared.

· Create a Routine

Now is also the best time to create a routine for your pet that you can stick to throughout their lives. Pets like routine as this will enable them to know when they are going to be fed, walked, and played with. You can do this by carrying out certain care activities, such as feeding them, at the same time each day.

3 Emergencies All Parents Should Be Prepared For

by Sarah Lorse // July 27, 2020 // No Comments

Once you become a parent,you’re not only responsible for yourself. You are now responsible for keeping a whole other human being safe and well. Whilst you may have read all the books about child proofing your home and child safety, life tends to throw some unexpected problems at us every so often. Here’s some basic knowledge to help deal with some potential disasters if they ever happen.

Build your first-aid kit

Your child could pick up so many different injuries, so it’s important to be fully prepared for any occasion. Band-Aids are an important start to any first aid kit. Make you have different sizes to deal with little cuts and big grazes. When it comes to ointments, make sure you have everything to deal with burns, bites and rashes. Make sure you have medicines to deal with poorly stomachs and heads. You can never have too much in your first-aid kit.

Know your utilities

When it comes to your home, if your utilities suddenly stop working then it could cause major chaos. With no electricity, your house could be plunged into darkness. Often when the electric goes, it could just be a fuse that’s blown. Although that might sound daunting, with most modern fuse boxes,it just means a switch needs flicking back on. Make sure you’refamiliar with your fuse box so you can spot if something goes wrong in an emergency. If it’s a power outage on your whole street, it could take longer for engineers to deal with the problem. Make sure you are prepared with flashlights and a portable phone charger in case you are without power for a long time.

When it comes to water, it can become more difficult. If your faucet or any other plumbing starts leaking, the first thing you should do is find your shut off valve and turn off the water supply to your home. If a large amount of water has entered your home, whether that’s from a pipe or a leak in the roof or even extreme floods, it could cause serious problems to your home.

That’s why it’s important to bring in expert help. For example, Florida water damage restoration company ERS can offer quick support, extracting the water, checking your home for mold and even helping you with your insurance claim. Don’t attempt to deal with any large amounts of water yourself as it could be a health hazard.

Car trouble

One of the scariest problems you can face as a parent is if your car suddenly breaks down, especially if you’re on a busy highway. Your car might seem the safest place to be, but it’s important that you get out of the vehicle and stand as far away from the traffic as possible. If a car doesn’t spot you’ve broken down and smashes into the back of your stationary vehicle, you and your family could be seriously injured. If it is safe to do so, put your hazard lights on before leaving the vehicle to reduce the risk of a collision and then ring for help.

3 Tips For Easing Your Child’s Anxiety About Moving Into A New House

by Sarah Lorse // July 24, 2020 // No Comments

While moving can be stressful for anyone, when your kids are young, you might be surprised at just how stressful they can find this experience. Although kids can be very flexible, when changes to their home and routine take place, it’s not uncommon for them to feel a lot of anxiety. But with the right planning and understanding, you can make this process much easier.

To show you how this can be done, here are three tips for easing your child’s anxiety about moving into a new house.

Focus On What Will Stay The Same

As you speak with your child about your plans to move to a new home, it might be the things that are going to change that will sit primarily in their mind. To combat this, Caroline Schaefer, a contributor to Parents.com, shares that you should try to readjust their focus onto what in their life will be staying the same.

While you and your family will be living in a different area and a different home, remind your child that your family will still be all together in your new home. Additionally, share with your child that you’ll be taking all of their toys, clothes, and other items from your current house to your new house. So although big things are going to be changing, try to use this time to reassure your child that a large number of things will still be the same.

Say Your Goodbyes

Even if you’re just moving to a new home in the same town, there’s a good chance that your child will be making new friends and spending less time with their old friends. To help your child get some closure with this, Barbara Hey, a contributor to Parenting.com, recommends that you find a way to let your child say their goodbyes with the people and places they won’t be seeing as much anymore.

In some situations, you might want to throw a little party for your child where their close friends can come visit them in your home for the last time before you move. Also, if your child is having a hard time leaving certain things in or around your home, you may want to help your child say goodbye by keeping something as a keepsake to take with them.

Keep To Your Routines

One thing that can help your child feel a greater sense of control during this upheaval is to keep to their routines as much as possible.

According to Diane Schmidt, a contributor to The Spruce, you should try to get back into your old routines as soon as you move into your new house. If you’re able to stick to these routines as much as possible, the familiarity of them will help to ease your child’s anxieties. If your child is nervous about your upcoming move, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you manage their anxiety with them.

Making the Most of Visitation During Quarantine

by Sofia Lockett // July 21, 2020 // Comments off

COVID-19 has touched every single aspect of our daily lives. From the way we eat to how we spend our time, there is nothing that has come out of quarantine unscathed. Unsurprisingly, this means the way we co-parent our children in split custody situations has also changed.

Splitting custody of children is hard enough, and this is made even harder by the restrictions COVID-19 has put on what we can do with our kids this summer. For parents that have more limited custody, there is already a lot of pressure to keep children entertained for the entirety of their shorter stay.

Finding things to keep our kids occupied is made twenty times more difficult when there are restrictions on where we can go and what we can do with them. Fortunately, fine summer weather offers plenty of bonding opportunities in the great outdoors, where COVID-19 is less likely to spread. Fun!

Here are a few ways you can make the most out of the time with your children during your visitation in the age of a global pandemic.

Engage Your Children in Household DIYs

There is nothing more satisfying than being able to share in a job well done with your children! Household DIYs are a great way to engage children while teaching them valuable skills. Plus—things will start finally getting done around the house. Score!

While in the grip of COVID-19, you shouldn’t feel nervous about undertaking ambitious or longer projects. It is very likely you will have plenty of time to complete your projects before social distancing guidelines are lifted (if ever!).

However, be careful not to rope your children into something too monotonous or boring, or they may come to resent the project or even worse: you!

The best projects to undertake are ones that your kids will get use out of after the fact. For instance, it is no fun to redo the molding in mommy’s bedroom. However, kids of all ages would be happy to paint a wall, build a treehouse, weed the garden, etc.

Invest your kids in the process by engaging them at every stage along the way. If you are revamping your backyard, your children can help design the new layout. If they are helping you refinish your deck, let them choose the wood. This kind of engagement will keep them satisfied and give them a sense of accomplishment.

Another awesome benefit of creative and handy DIY crafts is that they boost children’s self-esteem. Score!

Be Generous with Your Co-Parent, Your Children, and Yourself

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to how you choose to spend your time with your children. This is even truer in the era of COVID-19! We all have a moral imperative to make the most out of time with our loved ones, and this can put a lot of pressure on relationships to maintain a perfect façade.

However, pretending everything is fine when you, in fact, do not feel fine is doing a disservice to your co-parent, your children, and yourself. It is natural to have a lot of anxiety surrounding the uncertainty of what will become our “new normal.”

Don’t push yourself to be at a “ten” every minute of every day you spend with your kids. This will only exhaust you and them. Similarly, don’t expect too much of your co-parent. Mistakes will be made, and you need to trust in one another that you both have only the best intentions for your children. So be kind!

If you are in the midst of an unpleasant custody case or arrangement surrounding father’s rights or some other disagreement, do not let your anger or resentment cloud your judgment. More than ever, your children need a united front from their parents in the face of so many scary new possibilities.

Go Digital

If the worst were to happen and you were forced to isolate yourself from your children for quarantining purposes, you can still maintain a healthy relationship with them! In this digital age, there is really no excuse for not keeping tabs on your kids from afar. Set up a consistent time for video chats or phone calls every day or every few days to keep an open line of communication. Or, if your children are into video games, find a game you can both enjoy at a distance. Fortunately for us parents, there are a ton of great video game options that are accessible for kids that won’t drive you mad with boredom. There are so many possibilities for digital fun that you might even be overwhelmed by the choices!

How to Create a Kid-Friendly Backyard

by diane Vasil // July 2, 2020 // Comments off

Whether you are just starting your own family and you need to transform your backyard into a safe space, or you have recently movedand your new yard is not exactly conducive to play, you have come to the right place.

Creative outdoor play is crucial in the development of little fingers, toes, and, in fact, all the muscles in your child’s body, and making sure you have a fun and engaging backyard is a surefire way to get your kids moving.

Now, you may just think that purchasing a swing set and maybe a slide for good measure is sufficient, but there are so many more exciting ways that you can make this space more interactive for your child.

From creating water play stations to choosing the right plants to clearing trees for additional space, keep reading to discover how you can create a kid-friendly backyard without blowing your budget.

Create more space

Of course, you cannot magically make your backyard bigger, but you can make it feel more spacious. If your outdoor space is full of trees, bushes, and overgrown plants, now is the time to start clearing.

You do not need to get rid of all the trees, as a few can be used for climbing and creating fun hiding spaces (think weeping willows), but too many will simply overcrowd the space. Head to Farming Hobby to find the best electric chainsaws on the market and get sawing.

Don’t forget to keep any leftover wood, as you can use this either to heat your home or to create a fun balancing obstacle course for your kids.

Add sensory elements

Both water and sand can provide hours of endless entertainment for your kids, allowing them to explore their senses and get messy. You could make your own sandbox or purchase one if you are not a massive DIY fan. Then all you need are a few scoops or shovels, some buckets, and a few construction vehicles, and you are good to go.

For the water element, you could create a water fountain, buy a water table, or even just set up a toy car wash. It really doesn’t matter what type of water feature you choose, as kids love all water play.

Make a chalk wall

If it isn’t already, chalk should be your new best friend when it comes to entertaining your kids outside. The beauty of chalk is that it will simply wash away in the rain, so your kids can happily draw on anything and everything they want in your garden while you rest safe in the knowledge that it will all be gone with a quick blast of the hose.

If you are feeling particularly crafty, you could even create your own DIY chalk wall on a piece of wood or perhaps on the side of your garage.

Choose some kid-friendly plants

Kids are never too young to start developing a love of gardening, and helping them to learn about where fruits and vegetables come from can be really useful in getting them to eat more healthily.

Try planting a variety of fruit-and vegetable-bearing plants such as strawberries, tomatoes, peas, and runner beans.

Although you want your backyard to be as kid-friendly as possible, don’t forget that you, as parents, need an enjoyable outdoor space as well. Make sure that you leave room for a relaxing chill-out area where you can put your feet up and enjoy a nice glass of wine.

The Role of Carbohydrates in Child Development

by Sarah Lorse // June 30, 2020 // Comments off

Carbohydrates are macronutrients (sugars, starches, and fibers) that are common in vegetables, fruits, grains, and milk products. They are one of the three main ways the body gets energy and are needed for cognitive well-being and physical growth.

Recently, carbohydrates have received a bad press and have been heavily maligned – particularly in the world of dieting and health. However, the truth is they are an essential food group and should be considered an integral part of a healthy diet. Indeed, the human body is incapable of manufacturing macronutrients on its own – they can only be obtained through the things we eat. Your child’s growth and development are dependent, in large part,ona sufficient intake of carbohydrates.

The benefits carbohydrates bring

Carbohydrates are fuel – fuel that primarily powers the nervous and muscular systems.In the same way, a car needs fuel to run, so too our bodies need fuel to function. The clue is in the name. Carbohydrates consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen – each of which is an excellent source of energy.

However, carbohydrates don’t just power physical functions. They are also essential for maintaining mood, memory, and basic cognitive and behavioral functions. Carbs are an essential building block of life and are necessary for growth and development.

Indeed, research indicates a reliance on carbs for energy is common across all species, not just humans. There are carbohydrate supplements for plants, carbohydrates for dogs – even gerbils need carbohydrates.

Are all carbohydrates good?

Carbohydrates come in good and bad form. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to differentiate between the two. As a general rule, good carbs can be found in natural sources that have low levels of refined sugar and are low in calories. Natural products like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and beans have a plentiful supply of good carbs. Unfortunately, these all happen to be exactly the kind of things kids tend to shy away from eating.

By contrast, bad carbs are high in calories and refined sugars. They’re found in foodstuffs like pastries, soda drinks and processed foods – i.e. exactly the kind of snacks children love in abundance. Bad carbs are broken down by the body far quicker than good carbs, leading to a sudden rush of energy and, often, weight gain.

Do carbohydrates make you fat?

There is no absolute answer to the relationship between carbs and putting on weight. Questions of diet are rarely black and white; however, one thing is very clear – if you eat enough of any food, you’ll likely put on weight regardless of whether that’s through fat or carbohydrates.

As one might expect, weight gain usually results from consuming more energy (food), than your body uses (through exercise). Keeping a good balance between the two is the key to maintaining ideal body weight. As a rule, carbs contain fewer calories than fat(gram for gram) but that doesn’t eliminate the need for exercise.

Problems associated with carbohydrate deficiency

Not eating enough carbohydrates is the equivalent of starving the body of fuel. A deficiency in carbohydrates results in a lack of energy and can manifest itself in many ways – the most common symptoms being dizziness and mental/physical weakness. If the body is sufficiently starved of the glucose it would normally produce from carbohydrates, it will try to find fuel from other sources – normally from proteins. This can be particularly detrimental for children aged 6-16, pregnant women and athletes in training.

Carbohydrates play an essential role in your child’s healthy growth and development. While there’s no denying there are good and bad aspects to carbs, they are still critical to body functions. As with many things in life, moderation is the key.

Basic Guidelines for Creating a Good-Citizen Puppy

by admin // June 25, 2020 // Comments off

When you bring home a puppy or young dog you will be excited about developing a relationship with your new pet. Unfortunately, people who do not prepare adequately to train their new companions will experience frustration rather than reward in the years ahead.

Training a dog to behave appropriately can be hard work, but it is an important step toward a positive family relationship. Dogs become stressed if they are unsure where they fit into their new pack. If you approach the task with enthusiasm and you follow through with routines, you and your companion will develop trust. Try these basic-training suggestions during your dog’s first months.

Security and Happiness

In a sense, training puppies is similar to raising children. Initially focus on developmental stages rather than throwing everything at them at once. Before beginning obedience training, create a foundation that you can build upon based on maturity and previous training exercises; you must create structure. Extending this analogy, think about a good educator’s approach to a new class. The teacher strives to create an environment of trust during the first days using shared rules and guidelines, even before delving too deeply into academics. The teacher subtly socializes the students and provides a feeling of safety.

Puppies also need structure and socialization early on. Set up routines to last the remainder of their lives. These routines include feeding schedules, voiding locations, walking and exercising timings, and sleeping timetables. Be aware some of these will be adjusted over time; for example, dogs can extend the time between potty breaks as they mature. These routines are necessary since you will be toilet training and feeding your puppy from day one. Don’t forget to schedule routine play experiences too, arranging gatherings with other dogs. This activity is critical for positive social development.

At Home in a Crate

Understandably, some people believe dog crates to be confining and cruel. After all, why would dogs desire to be penned in? In reality, crates provide a sense of security akin to that of proper dens. In addition to their stress-reducing qualities, crates serve two practical purposes: They keep your puppy out of trouble while you are unable to provide supervision, and they reduce voiding accidents since dogs resist going to the bathroom where they sleep.

It may take two weeks or more for the puppy to become acclimated to the crate, but soon the dog will step in upon command and eventually choose it as a preferred resting location. Make certain to select the correctly-sized crate for your growing dog, and purchase a bed and comfort toys to place within.

Proper Situational Responses

A well-grounded dog is one that is ready for obedience training stages. The result of good obedience training is that your dog responds to your signals rather than willfully choosing to ignore them. This step is critical to ensuring your dog responds safely and appropriately to strange dogs and people, as well as to your commands; you must eliminate biting responses, in particular. Ideal training involves a combination of redirection actions and positive reinforcement.

Barking reduction best exemplifies this. Create signal words you will use to command quiet. When the dog sounds off inappropriately, use a tool such as a BarxBuddy remote, a device that produces an ultrasonic signal the dog hears, which will cause the barking to stop – note that your dog should be at least six months old before you send this intentionally-annoying sound his way. When the dog stops barking at your command on other occasions, provide treats and verbal praises. Use this sort of dual-pronged approach wherever it makes sense.

So much goes into properly training puppies and young dogs to fit into a new home. You may consider hiring a good trainer if you need the support. In any case, employing consistent follow-through will result in a good doggy for life.

5 Things Every School Will Need

by Harry James // June 23, 2020 // Comments off

The school a child attends will determine their education, as well as their passions, interests and friendship groups.

While many schools will have all the tools kids need to flourish both academically and socially, others might need investment or donations to provide their students with a fantastic education.

If you are researching schools for your children, or you want to find out how you could help a local institution, keep reading to discover the five things every school will need.

A Classroom Library

A classroom library is a staple feature in a school. It should provide every student with the option to select an age-appropriate children’s book to read, which can support their studies and help them to develop a passion for a subject.

Schools can also encourage learning by featuring:

Comfortable chairs
Good lighting
Carpet
A variety of fiction and non-fiction books

If your local school doesn’t have classroom libraries, reach out to the community for donations to ensure they have plenty of books to support a child’s education.

A Playground

A school playground will encourage children to get their bodies moving and burn off energy. Physical activity during recess could ultimately help kids feel both happier and healthier.

Plus, fun outside the classroom with other students could improve a child’s social skills and increase their focus when they return to a lesson. If your local school doesn’t have a fun place for kids to play, find out more about a high-quality playground installation.

Reach out to a local school to fund the much-needed play area or you could raise money to ensure children enjoy essential exercise each day.

Up-to-Date Facilities

Every school should provide its students with clean, functional, and up-to-date facilities, which will allow them to study in a safe and supportive environment.

For example, every classroom should feature high-quality chairs and desks, and a school should provide hygienic, monitored bathrooms to ensure student safety.

It should be a consideration for parents looking for the best school for their kids.

Class Rules

Class rules will not only provide order in a classroom, but they will teach children respect.

Classroom rules can often include:

Raising a hand before speaking
Following directions
Always listening to a teacher
Being polite and courteous to others

If a school doesn’t feature class rules, chaos could ensue, which could interrupt a lesson and impact a student’s education.

If you’re undecided on a school for your son or daughter, arrange a meeting with a teacher to discuss the institution, facilities, and the class rules, which could help you to make an informed decision.

Volunteers

Volunteers are vital in most schools. For example, you could volunteer to supervise a school social event, organize books in a library, or provide support on field trips.

If you want to get involved with your local school, reach out to the institution to find out how you can help. Donating a few hours of your time per week to a school could make a big difference to their students’ education.

A Guide to Becoming a Mom Boss

by Sarah Lorse // June 19, 2020 // Comments off

It might feel like a challenging feat to raise children while enjoying a high-flying career, but it is possible. You also don’t need to step outside the home to earn an income and experience professional success.

If you would like to embark on a flourishing career while caring for your kids each day, read the below guide to becoming a mom boss.

Identify the Right Avenue for You

To become your own boss and work from home, you’ll need to identify the right professional avenue for you. For example, if you have extensive knowledge and experience in a specific industry, you could become a consultant or start your own business.

If you have experience in retail, web development, or marketing, you could launch an e-commerce website from the comfort of your home. Play to your strengths to become a successful mom boss and generate a substantial income each year.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Once you have identified the best professional path for you, set yourself up for success by creating a home office. For example, you will need a desk, a reliable computer, and various software tools to support your productivity. You also can create a home office for a fraction of the price by browsing the likes of Newegg black friday deals and coupons.

Build an Attractive Website

Every home-based business will need a website. It will serve as the virtual front door to your new brand, which is why it must be visually appealing and easy to use.

There are many website builders to help launch your new business, such as:

WordPress
Squarespace
Wix
Shopify
Weebly

It is also vital your site is SEO-optimized, features high-quality content, and offers clear and compelling calls-to-action.

Separate Your Finances

Don’t make the mistake of mixing your business and personal finances, which could lead to confusion. Before your new venture is up and running, set-up a business bank account to monitor your monthly revenue and outgoings.

It can provide financial transparency and prevent a costly mistake that could cause your business to grind to a halt. Plus, it will make bookkeeping and tax bills a breeze.

Make Time for Yourself

Caring for a family and running a business could affect your mental health. To lower your stress levels and enjoy a greater quality of life, you must make time for yourself each day. For example, you must stick to strict working hours and enjoy some relaxation.

For example, you could enjoy a long, hot soak in the bath when your children are in bed. You also could book a babysitter to catch-up with friends, visit a loved one, or enjoy a date night with your other half. You shouldn’t feel guilty for practicing self-care, as it will create a happier home for your kids. A little time to yourself will provide distance from various household chores and your growing to-do list. You will feel healthier and happier when tackling an important project, caring for your children, or completing various task within the home.

How To Bond With Your Children More

by Sofia Lockett // June 19, 2020 // Comments off

As a parent, it’s incredibly important to bond with your children. It helps them to grow up feeling loved and safe, it shows them what healthy relationships are like, and it even helps them to do better at school. Yet it can be hard to truly bond, even when you desperately want to. There is so much we need to get done (or think we need to get done) in our busy lives that we can find we are all doing separate activities, and that bonding never actually takes place. Or it might be easy when the children are little, but it becomes much harder when they are growing up. If that sounds like your life, here are some great ways to bond more with your children.

Take A Vacation Together

One amazing way to truly bond well with your children is to take a vacation together. No one is going to be distracted by work or school, and you will all be able to fully concentrate on what is happening right now, right in front of you—you will all be able to enjoy the vacation to its fullest.

When you are away from home together you can experience new activities, try new food, and just be together much more than normal. Take this opportunity to find out more about your children; ask them questions about themselves because, even if you think you know them very well, there will always be aspects of their personalities or their dreams for the future that might surprise you.

You don’t have to spend a lot to go away on vacation if you don’t want to. As well as being able to use Delta Vacations coupons to save money, you could simply go on a local camping trip or go away for one week instead of two. You might even have a ‘staycation’ at home, with no work or school to think about.

Read Together

One of the major issues parents face when trying to bond with their children is the prevalence of screens in their lives; they are everywhere, and children are starting to use them from an earlier age. Although useful for both entertainment and education, children must have a break from these screens, and reading together is a great way to ensure this happens.

Schedule time each day, perhaps just after lunch or at bedtime like the traditional bedtime story, and read together. For younger children, this could be you reading aloud to them, and for older children it could just be quiet time together enjoying your own books (or the same book, which you can then discuss between you the next day, offering more chance for bonding). Children will start looking forward to this quiet time, and for many it is their favorite time of the day.

Have A Date Day Or Night

Sometimes, all that a child actually wants is some alone time together with their mom or dad. This can be hard when there are other siblings or when work takes up a lot of time, yet it can increase your bond dramatically.

Schedule in a ‘date day’ or ‘date night’ once a month. You can plan it ahead of time, make sure you have the tickets you need, or the food or the time, or whatever else it is you are going to need to make the date a success. Then enjoy that time with your child and make it special so their memories are all good ones.

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