Let’s face it. Kids nowadays have access to much more things than when our parents were kids themselves back in the days. Not only does technology play a huge part in children’s lifestyles, but the baby industry in this millennium have significantly boomed due to more marketing channels. Parents are more bombarded with options and because the demand has never wavered, the industry for babies and their needs have become more widespread and commercialised.
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How To Show Your Kids You Care About Them
Your kids are your pride and joy,and there’s likely nothing you wouldn’t do to protect them and keep them safe. As a parent, you get busy with work and home life and might forget to consistently show your children how much you care about them along the way.
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Creating a Comfortable Family Home: A Guide
A family home is a difficult one to style. It has to accommodate children and adults, which can seem impossible at times. Parents may not want to invest in expensive furniture out of fear of the kids ruining it, and children want everything tobe covered in their favorite cartoon character.However, there is a way to get the best of both worlds, and ensure your home is comfortable for everyone living there.
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3 Safety Tips For Taking Your Kid On A Motorcycle Ride With You
If you’re a parent who also happens to love riding motorcycles, you might feel a little conflicted about having your children ride with you. While you may want to share your love of these machines with your little ones, you also instinctively put their health and safety above all else. Luckily, these two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive. You can take your kids for rides on your motorcycle safely as long as you’ve taken the necessary precautions in order to do so. To show you how this can be done, here are three safety tips for taking your kid on a motorcycle ride with you.
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Four Ways To Bond With Your Kids
As well as your concern about bringing your child up to be a happy and healthy individual, with all the right qualities to succeed on their own as they progress into adulthood, there’s an equal desire to be as close as possible with your kids. Bonding, especially in the early and middle stages of their childhood, is all about spending ‘quality time’with your offspring. It means spending the money to create quality memories and sacrificing enough of your own time off to spend with them and explore their many talents and passions. This article looks at four specific ways to bond with your children.
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School’s Out(side): What Camping Teaches Your Kids
As today’s children spend less time outside than any other generation, they’re missing out on some of the awesome experiences that nature has to offer. It shows in their health, too: the CDC report rising childhood obesity levels, and mental health charities are seeing increasing numbers of young people with anxiety and depression. So how can you encourage your child to embrace the great outdoors and pick up valuable life lessons along the way? The answer may lie under canvas. A simple camping trip can be an affordable way to enrich and support your kids’ academic development whilst also offering an opportunity for the whole family to reconnect. It may even help you reset the balance in your own life too.
Celebrating practical skills
With advances in technology and an increased focus on academic results, some of life’s basic practical skills are disappearing from homes and campuses; did you know that 60% of people can’t change a tire? Camping, in contrast, celebrates the practical side of life. Away from spelling and math tests, encourage your kids to shine by being resourceful and hands-on. See who can invent the most useful family camping hack, encourage them to check their own bikes, praise a creative solution to an unexpected problem. A non academic child may flourish in an environment where practical skills are highly prized. It could even inspire and set them on a more practical career path which they might never have considered inside the walls of a classroom.
Encouraging teamwork
In a world in which 49% of children play videogames or watch TV in the hour before bedtime, it’s fair to say that teamwork skills are probably practised more often than not through multiplayer online games than the traditional methods parents may be used to. Whilst there can be a value in these new learning experiences, camping allows for crucial face to face communication and problem solving. Family members of any age can pool their ideas and skills, and learn to appreciate each other’s talents. In this way, camping can really help to build confidence; even the smallest pair of hands can be valued by making a contribution to the team.
Awakening the senses
Studies have found that being outside can make kids smarter, happier and more attentive. Pack walking boots or wellies and let them crunch through leaves, make mud pies or listen out for birds. Inspire their creative side by taking sketch pencils, a cheap camera or a bag to collect objects for a collage. If your child or teenager plays an instrument, let them take center stage by the campfire. Camping offers a unique opportunity to connect with each other, away from peer groups, phone chargers and wifi. Seize the moment to tell those old family stories and make some new memories together.
Practising patience
Today’s children live in a 24/7 culture, where they need never be bored. Tablets and mobile phones can provide instant answers and entertainment at the push of a button. The result? Patience is no longer practised. Where children used to have to wait until their favorite TV programme was on, or to go to library to research the answer to their question, there’s now TV on-demand and Google. While technology seems to make life easier, a study from the National University of Singapore has found that impatience affects our health, even accelerating ageing in women. Stepping into nature on a camping trip teaches children (and parents!) the value of waiting. The search for the best dry wood for the fire, sitting quietly to watch for beautiful birds, or playing card games in the tent until the rain stops; nature won’t be rushed, and that’s a great thing.
Keep Your Family Healthy: Eating Dos And Don’ts For Nutrition
Figuring out what foods make up the perfect diet for your body is a road of discovery. Everyone’s body is different, but there are quite a few dietary choices that work for nearly everyone.
You want to look and feel your best, and you want to do it the “right” way. Take a few moments to enhance your education on the subject, and check out a brief summary of a few eating dos and don’ts for nutrition and health.
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4 Protective Pieces of Gear for Your Active Family
One of the things that you always want to do is keep your family active. This may mean playing sports. It might mean getting out and doing things actively outside. It could mean participating in group activities of some sort. The point is to keep moving. However, movement also entails the possibility for injury or accident. And that’s where protective pieces of gear come into play.
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Helping Your Teenager Buy Their First Vehicle
Some parents look forward to when their teenagers learn to drive. Others are petrified. But regardless of where your personal opinions are, one of the things that you can do to create a less stressful environment in your home is if you choose to help your teenager by their first vehicle. This doesn’t necessarily mean you are buying it for them. But it does mean that you should present them with information about cars that they may not know.
A first vehicle can come in several different forms. Maybe you want your teenager to get an entry-level car. In certain places, maybe a motorcycle is the best idea. You do want to make sure that your kids understand the entire cost of the vehicle purchase, not just the initial investment. Also, the purchase of the first car is an excellent chance to talk with them about the importance of credit and debt.
Entry Level Cars
For most kids, the first car they own is going to be an entry-level one. In other words, it’s not going to be brand-new. It’s not going to be expensive. The focus will be on the cars that are safe, have a good gas mileage, and it isn’t going to be a huge issue if they get dinged or scratched. A lot of times teenagers will want more than this, but you have to figure out how to tell them why these are such vital characteristics for beginning drivers.
Motorcycles
Depending on where you live, owning a car may not be a good option. It could be that buying a motorcycle is smarter. Perhaps bikes are easier to park in crowded areas. Or even if it’s just you suggesting to your kid that they buy a moped to get around more easily, that could be an option that is cost-effective and convenient for everyone.
Understanding Full Costs
The amount of money that you spend on a car isn’t just the initial cost of the vehicle itself. There are all sorts of additional expenses to purchasing a car. There is insurance. There is gas. There are license plate fees. All of these costs add up over time, and it’s crucial that you talk to your child about budgeting money over the long-term, rather than just assuming it will be one price at one time.
Recognizing the Importance of Credit and Debt
When your son or daughter is getting the first vehicle, it’s a good time to bring up the ideas of credit and debt. If your child does choose to buy a car that costs more money than they have, then they’ll have to take out a loan. It’s not wrong to have car payments, but it is essential to understand them, and as an adult, you should be able to pass this knowledge on.
How A Pet Improves Your Family Life
A pet is often the latest addition to your family. They live in your home with you and provide you with companionship for all of their lives. In fact, an animal improves the quality of your overall life, and particularly that of your family. Depending on the type of pet, of course, your own physical activity may benefit if daily activity is necessary for your furry friend’s health. This will be the case if you have a dog, while a fish or bird will not need it. Regardless, you will learn to be more responsible and loyal, your socialisation skills will increase and your mood will be affected as a result. Last but not least, it is important to realise that a pet improves your overall health and it will always be an adventure with them by your side.
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