Every parent wants their child to grow into a well-rounded, healthy adult, but it doesn’t happen by chance. Many parents struggled throughout early adulthood to get a good handle on personal nutrition, wellness, and exercise. Many of us are still learning today. Luckily, all of your life lessons can turn into instruction for your children. These are three healthy habits you’ll want to instill from an early age so your little ones can go on to practice them as they grow up healthy and strong.
Fitness
Children from ages to seventeen need at least sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. This may feel like pulling teeth when so many children prefer to spend their time glued to a screen, but extracurricular activities like sports, dance, and swimming can make it more fun and accessible. Regular exercise lowers the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and childhood obesity, which comes with a variety of associated risks and health problems. Get active with your child; have dance parties, take the dog for a walk every day or go on family bike rides. There are plenty of ways to get fit without being bored.
Regularly Get Checked
Routine check-ups demystify healthcare and make children more comfortable seeking treatment as adults. Many illnesses and health problems adults experience are preventable, but they put off getting proper care because they avoid the doctor’s or dentist’s office like the plague. Dental hygiene is also important. Many common maladies like cavities and gum disease can be avoided with routine cleanings and exams. Despite gum boils being easily treatable, people will often just ignore them and allow them to become even bigger problems. Lead by example; take an active role in your own health. Talk about going to the doctor, encourage healthy habits and help your children learn how to listen to their bodies and identify symptoms.
Eat Balanced Meals
Nutrition is one of the biggest struggles for kids and adults alike. With a busy schedule, it’s easy to pick up something from the local diner or call for delivery, but nothing can match the health benefits of a home-cooked meal. Healthy cooking is a lot easier than it seems, and cooking healthy meals with your child will help them to develop better eating habits. By following the basics of the food pyramid, you’ll be able to eat more filling, better-tasting meals while prioritizing your entire family’s well-being.
The best way to teach your kids healthy habits is to be a good role model. By taking care of your own health, children will become more mindful of their own wellness.
A major life skill you need to teach your kids is how to navigate the streets safely as a pedestrian. Accidents can happen quickly, but a child armed with the right information has a better chance of staying safe.
Set the Example
Words don’t go as far as actions. If you truly want your child to learn how to be safe while walking near a street, you have to set the example. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, you should put away your phone to show your child that distractions aren’t a good idea when you’re a pedestrian. Practice safety at every crosswalk and follow the rules you want your kids to follow. Exercise caution and teach your kids not to take unnecessary chances. Waiting an extra minute is better than taking a risk and getting hit by a car. They need to see you model patience and safe behavior so they will learn to do the same.
Teach Them the Rules
There are the official and the unofficial rules of being a pedestrian, and you need to teach your kids all of them. Make sure they know what is expected of them by law when they are a pedestrian. Make sure they also know that even a pedestrian signal telling them they can cross the street doesn’t always mean they can go safely. They need to know how to look for turning cars that could hit them even if they have the right to cross. Crosswalk safety is essential, but it’s not the only thing you need to teach your kids. According to WB&T, many accidents involving pedestrians happen outside of a crosswalk. Kids need to know which side of the sidewalk to walk on so they can see traffic and move with the flow of other pedestrians. They also need to understand the danger of darting off a sidewalk and in between cars. Drivers can’t see them until they are on the road and this can lead to major accidents.
Be Visible
Teach your child to wear a bright colored jacket or another article of clothing that will draw a driver’s attention to him. Make sure they only walk during daylight hours when they can be easily seen. According to Imperial Motion, you should teach your children that if walking at night is truly necessary, they need to wear reflective clothing or carry a flashlight. Staying visible to busy and possibly distracted drivers is important for any pedestrian. Even if your child is on the sidewalk and not crossing the street, he needs to be easy to see to anyone driving on the road.
Walking offers kids independence and physical exercise, so make sure they know how to navigate streets safely. By following these tips, you can help them to be safer when they go out on their own. Here’s another article you might like: 4 Hidden Health Hazards Threatening Your Home and Family
When it comes to cleaning an older or wooden piano, it can be a little intimidating and challenging for most people. This is largely due to the fact that placing the wrong chemical or rubbing too harshly on a component can not only change the sound of the piano but may even ruin it entirely. Sure, we can live with a little dust but what a piano can’t live with is pests within it. Pests not only cause a hazard to the piano itself but to the well-being of the people residing within the home as well. The following list details what you need to know in order to protect your piano from these critters.
Close Points of Access
Depending on the time period in which the piano was built, it will have different access points. For example, a pre-WWII piano will contain a top lid that can easily be lifted to inspect the pipes within. Having this lid removed or opened regularly can invite small critters, such as spiders, to camp out within the pipes. The spiders will eventually create webs and even lay their eggs and—trust us—nobody wants that. Another area that most older pianos tend to have is on the bottom panels that are placed to access the bottom area of the piano. This one is a common access point for pests as people tend to accidentally push the panel open during use.
Regular Cleaning
Like most things in the home, pianos can attract dust, moisture, and—yes—pests. This is why regular cleanings are a must. While dusting and wiping off any dirty pipes, always make sure to avoid cleaning with strong chemicals. Adding chemicals to the interior of your piano can deter the quality of sound and damage the piano beyond repair. You should clean any spills immediately, as many kinds of ants are attracted to even the faintest hint of sugar.
Keep an Eye on the Legs
Wood floors attracting pests, such as termites, are a more specific circumstance, but it is one that is constantly glanced over. Too often the interior of the piano is what gets the most attention, but owners forget that the piano does not produce the pests itself—homes with wooden floors are a direct line to termites finding their way into your piano. Consequently, you should keep an eye on the legs of your piano. You can prevent termites from reaching the piano by adding a layer between the floor and the piano. If they are already present, using borates as a cleaning solution may be necessary.
Understandably, people want to keep their pianos in the most pristine condition possible. Pianos are not only musical instruments but a gateway to the past—a past that many families hold very dear to their hearts. Adhere to the list above to begin improving how you protect your piano and keep the pests away.
There are few better ways for a family to bond than by taking a family hiking trip. Without technology, the stresses of school, work, and other distractions, the members of your family will have no choice but to give their undivided attention to each other. There are a few essential items you must be sure to take on your family hike to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Snacks and Water
Snacks are important to take on a hiking trip. This is especially true when children will be participating in the hike. The amount of food you take will depend on how far you will hike and how remote the area is you choose for your hike. Several snack choices make excellent selections for hikes. Trail mix is a hiking favorite. Dried fruit, cheese slices, sandwiches, and sliced vegetables are also great choices. Each family member who embarks on the hike should also leave with a full water bottle. If your hiking trail does not provide safe water along the way, you should pack two water bottles per person.
Insect Repellent
Insect repellent is an absolute necessity for your family hiking trip. There are a couple of reasons for this fact. First, there may be a member of your family with an insect phobia. The bee is one insect that is known to strike fear in many people. Other people may lose their heads if they see a wood tick on their pants. Another concern is illnesses that are carried by insects. The mosquito is an insect that is worthy of concern. Mosquitoes can carry viruses in many parts of the world.
Clothing
Each member of your family should keep in mind the weather when choosing clothing to wear on a hike. However, weather reports aren’t always accurate, so you and your family should pack clothes that allow you to adjust to changing weather conditions. An extra sweater or sweatshirt should be packed for each person in case the temperature drops. It may also be a good idea to pack ponchos you can wear if it rains.
Taking a family hiking trip is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and bond with family members. But your hiking trip can go downhill quickly if you don’t pack the proper supplies. Stock up on the three things highlighted above before you leave for your family hiking trip.
So it’s time for your little one to head off to daycare? The transition from home to a full-time care facility can be a challenge for both you and your young one. If you choose the right place, however, that transition can proceed much more smoothly. How do you know what to look for to ensure that your child has the best daycare experience possible? Continue reading for three things you need to consider when searching for quality childcare.
Consider Your Child’s Age
Your child’s age should be one of the greatest determining factors when choosing an appropriate daycare facility. Daycare programs are structured according to children’s developmental stages, and educational activities within each group are also structured to target specific ages. When scoping out facilities, it is important to look for one that offers age-appropriate learning activities for each stage of your child’s early cognitive development. Ideally, children will be segmented into groups according to age or developmental stage and educated accordingly. Your child’s social interaction with other children in his or her age group is a critical component in fostering relationship building and teamwork skills.
Consider Cost
Daycare costs have risen considerably, and that climb only continues. Annual childcare costs for an infant at a licensed daycare can run in excess of $10,000 USD (£7783.00) per year—and often well above that. As your child begins to learn, explore and require dedicated education, your childcare costs will climb even more. Depending on your location, annual costs may surge as high as £15,500 (about $20,000 USD) per child. When considering daycare facilities, the cost can often be an indication of the facility’s strengths. At the base level, which is generally the most affordable cost tier, education and developmental activities may be included, but highly affordable programs are typically focused on supervision alone. As you move up in cost tiers, additional services beyond simple supervision are included in the price. In-depth educational time, foreign language teaching, team-building activities and even advanced physical education like gymnastics and yoga may be offered at the more expensive centers. Additionally, many higher-cost daycare centers offer after-hours programs designed to accommodate children whose parents work until later in the evening.
Consider Employee Education
If you’re looking for a childcare facility that offers a well-rounded education and knowledgeable care, you’ll want to verify the center’s employee education requirements. Many facilities only require the completion of state-mandated education hours, yet others require employees to possess, at a minimum, an associate degree in early childhood education. Some places even require a bachelor’s degree in an education-related field for employment consideration. If you want your child to receive a quality education delivered by trained professionals who are well-versed in early cognitive development, take employee education seriously. Selecting a daycare facility is very similar to selecting a quality school for your child, and employee training and education matters.
Selecting a quality daycare center for your child can be a confusing task. Before you settle on a facility, make sure you do your research. Meet with the facility director, learn about educational options and determine if the center’s offerings justify the asking price. You might even consider sitting in with your child for a class or two to get a feel for how the facility operates. If you do your due diligence, you should have no problem finding a center that provides quality care and education, and one that fits your budget, too.
As the parent of a toddler, you have many worries and responsibilities. One enjoyable job for most parents, though, is picking out fun toys for your little one to play with. When selecting playthings for children of this age, the process requires paying attention to overall safety considerations in order to ensure the youngster’s health and well-being. You also want to stimulate learning. Continue reading for some practical and helpful tips on how to choose the best toys for your toddler.
Choose Toys That Encourage Creativity
Parents should take the time to encourage and nurture their toddler’s creativity in the home environment. This aptitude usually comes naturally to a child, but as they grow, other things impede their natural curiosity and drive to create. Lack of handy access to creative toys and supplies can hinder the development of a child’s imagination.
While there are lots of unique toys on the market that can enhance a child’s creative spirit, sometimes the simple, tried and true toys and supplies are all that is needed. Building blocks, geometric shapes and puzzles are always a good choice, and so are other traditional playthings that encourage imaginative behavior. Consider giving your toddler safe crayons and markers for drawing. Craft materials and art supplies are a great creative outlet that kids of this age love, though some of these activities may require proper supervision. The best tip for nurturing creativity in a toddler is to give them open-ended playthings. Kids will supply the imagination. Often, a cardboard box can entertain a child far longer than the high-priced toy that came inside.
Tailor Toys to Age Groups
Parents need to ensure the safety of anything in their toddler’s environment, and that includes the toys. A toy’s safety is very important to consider with toddlers, as poorly designed toys can lead to accidents. Always research any toy before giving it to your vulnerable child. Kids at this age may still put objects into their mouth or ears, and children may not understand how to properly play with toys in a safe manner. Be particularly careful of small, detachable parts.
Parents can read about a particular toy to determine if it is recommended for children at the toddler stage. Remember, though, that one child’s current developmental age might be significantly different from that of another.
Pick Toys That Stimulate Learning
Many parents want to stimulate their toddler’s learning and developmental skills by providing them with the right toys. For best results, it helps to choose a toy that your child seems interested in. There are many fantastic toys that are educational and yet still fun for toddlers to play with. There are some great parenting sites that review popular toys, and parents can take advantage of toy clubs that send an age-appropriate developmental toy to the home each month.
Watching your child grow and learn is a source of joy and wonder, especially at the toddler stage, and you’ll probably do everything possible to stimulate that young mind. Of course, a child’s continuing exploration of the world begins with playthings. That’s why it’s important to choose toys that challenge and engage a youngster. Here’s another article you might enjoy: Enjoy the Ride: Bicycle Safety Tips to Teach Your Kids
Creating an online social media presence is one aspect of any successful marketing plan to promote an upcoming new release. Social media is a free tool that can be used for marketing. It is an easy to use tool for authors to directly interact with their fans and to build an online reputation. Social media is used to promote a cult following and to increase a fan base. Here are some ways you can use social media to maximize your next book release.
Twitter
Not only do you want to promote your book on Twitter by providing links to places that you can purchase online, but you primarily want to use this as a platform to interact with your audience. Numerous recommendations from twitter marketing experts recommend finding and following influencers in your target market and regularly responding and reacting to their posts. This helps you get noticed by shared followers to then grow your own following. Once you’ve acquired a following, you can occasionally promote your book by doing things such as teasing excerpts or promoting content.
Facebook
Facebook is another platform that enables you to directly interact with your fans and target audience. Ensure your personal online branding such as your website or blog contains links to your social media profiles, including Facebook. Using your Facebook URL on your blog is a great idea because it means they won’t get distracted or confused while trying to find your page. It also ensures that fans arrive at the correct Facebook landing page, and don’t get confused by user-created fan pages or parody accounts. Facebook offers a visual and interactive platform to share relevant and engaging content such as videos, celebrity or guest readings, excerpts or merchandise.
Advertise In-Person Events
While you can create a big presence online, nothing beats in-person live events. If you have book signings or a promotional tour scheduled around your upcoming launch, you’ll want to promote those events on your social media profiles to help drive your audience to your event. Some tactics for successful event marketing on social media include creating event pages, posting social media graphics showing upcoming tour stops, or by streaming live videos from the event. Find and post in groups that intersect with your target audiences like horror novel fans, or young adult fiction groups.
Use Facebook Live
The current Facebook algorithm is set to prioritize live video above most other mediums, ensuring the live video will have the best organic reach out of all the various content types. Leverage this to your advantage by hosting regularly scheduled Facebook Live discussions, readings, or even just having interactive fun. For example, you can consider hosting a bi-weekly hour-long discussion on various aspects of your upcoming book such as exploring motivations behind popular or controversial characters. This also gives you the advantage of allowing your fans to directly interact by posting questions, giving you the opportunity to build and enhance fan loyalty for future releases.
Host a Giveaway or Contest
Another way to successfully promote an upcoming book is to hosta a giveaway or other contest. You can ask your audience to do things like submitting essays, post photos of themselves dressed up as a character from your book, or videos of dramatic readings. Prizes you can offer include items such as signed limited editions of your book, merchandise, or other personal or unique items. Contests have the potential to go viral, especially when the prize is highly desired. You can also help drive sales of your book by offering a discount to all entries.
Create Your Own Hashtags
Create relevant hashtags surrounding upcoming book releases, relevant plot lines or referencing popular or likable characters for your fans and audience to use. Hashtags are easy to track, allowing you to monitor and engage in discussions surrounding your book. You can use a variety of tools to monitor posts using your hashtags giving you a consolidated topline summary of all discussions involving your new release. Encourage followers to use hashtags by posing questions and initiating other engaging discussions.
Overall, social media platforms are a great tool to incorporate into your marketing mix for your next best-seller. Use it as a platform to engage one on one with your fans. Participate in ongoing discussions and online groups that have a crossover with your target audience to help raise awareness of your materials. Consider occasionally offering giveaways or hosting a contest for autographed editions, merchandise or other unique prizes. Ensure your digital presence such as author pages on online retailers, personal websites, and personal blogs all contain links to the appropriate profiles and that you’re using your Facebook URL accordingly. Lastly, proactively engage in ongoing discussions through Facebook Live, or by responding to comments and questions from fans in order to help build fan loyalty and increase affinity amongst your readers. Click here for a free copy of “A Simpler Guide to Online Security for Everyone!”
Road trips can be a lot of fun, especially when you take them with the family. However, when you have small children, going on a long road trip may be a bit much for them to sit through. Here is a list of tips and tricks that can help make your next road trip with the tykes a pleasurable one.
Snacks and Entertainment
The main reason that taking a road trip with little ones can be a trying experience is that kids often get bored very fast. To keep children occupied in the car, you’ll need plenty of snacks, kid-friendly activities, games, and electronics. While they may get tired of the games after a while, if you have plenty of snacks for them to munch on, that can keep them distracted for a long while. You might also consider playing road trip games together like “I Spy” or trying to find all the letters of the alphabet outside while driving. Games like these can keep kids occupied for hours and are fun to play as a family.
Take Breaks
Of course, if you have lots of snacks, then you would need to take lots of bathroom breaks as well. However, don’t just stop merely to let the kids use the restroom and then to hop back on the road. Allow them time to run around a bit and to stretch out their legs while letting off some steam at the same time. This also helps to wind them down so that they aren’t so restless during the remainder of the trip.
Drive Through the Night
If your road trip is more for purpose than for a joy ride, then taking the trip at night is a good idea when you have small children. By driving at night, the children will more than likely be asleep for the majority of the trip. By the time they do wake up, you shouldn’t have much longer to drive and the games, snacks, and other items you brought along can keep them content until you arrive at your destination.
Have an Emergency Kit
When driving, there is a possibility of breaking down or getting into an accident. This is hard enough to deal with generally, but having children with you can make an incident that much more difficult. Make sure you pack an emergency kit with things like blankets, frozen juices, extra water, and food as well as whatever emergency numbers you may need. This way the little ones are taken care of while you wait for help to arrive.
Remember, the best way to keep kids from becoming aggravated, from pestering, or from being teary-eyed in any situation is to distract them. Having lots of distractions, whether that be food, games, or songs, can help make for a smooth trip and a happy parent.
So much of our childhood memories revolve around riding our bikes. Depending on where you grew up, you may have ridden your bike to the store, in the woods or around your neighborhood. If you have a child of your own now, you may be concerned with how you can make sure your child is safe while riding their bike. You want them to enjoy this time, but you also want to make sure that your child isn’t going to get hit by a motorist or injured while riding their bike. Let’s look at some bicycle safety tips that you can teach your kids.
Set Boundaries
Your child needs to understand where they can safely ride their bike. Teach your younger children that they should ride on the sidewalk where they are away from traffic. Older kids can learn to ride in the street, but they need to learn how to be aware of their surroundings. You should also let your child know where they are and are not allowed to ride. For example, you could set the nearest corner as a boundary. They could then progress to going around the block once they have earned your trust for closer distances.
Be Seen
It’s important for kids to always be seen, so they should use flashing lights or wear something that is bright or reflects light. It’s a good idea to have your child head home before it gets dark. This will make them more visible to drivers. Teach them not to ride their bike right into a street from behind a vehicle. It’s important that a car or other bike will see them coming from a good distance away. It gives everybody time to react.
Always Have Adult Supervision
Regardless of how old your child is, they should be riding their bike with an adult until you feel you can trust them. They should have the ability to put their own helmet on, keep their balance and watch what is going on around them. Even if you’re letting your child ride a short distance down the street, make sure you are outside to keep an eye on things. This will give you peace of mind, but this is also a good way to make sure that your child is practicing good bike safety.
Being Aware of Surroundings
Some children will ride along on their bike, not noticing what is going on around them. It’s important that they know where to be riding their bike, but they should also be able to look over their shoulder and listen for a car coming. There will be hazards everywhere that they should take notice of. Have them learn to keep an eye out for toys on the sidewalk, vehicles overlapping the sidewalk and large rocks that could cause them to lose control if they go over them. Being aware of your surroundings is a great skill to learn in all walks of life.
It’s important that your child understands the safety aspect of riding a bike. You wouldn’t put your child behind the wheel of a car and expect them to know what to do. Take the time to teach your child what they need to know. This will ensure they come home safe and sound after a fun day of being outside.
Travelling with kids can be memorable, but if things are overly structured or there’s too much forced togetherness, family vacations can turn grim. To make sure that your family vacation is positive and leaves everyone wanting more, you’ll need to make sure you can travel in comfort, enjoy outings together and get a little alone time.
Rent a Roomy Car
If you’re planning to spend at least part of your vacation in the car, make sure that everyone has enough space. For those traveling with older kids, consider renting a vehicle such as an SUV or van with three rows of seats to give everyone plenty of room. Younger children will likely need to be closer so you can monitor them more closely. If you’ve never rented a car before, it may be a good idea to rent one similar to what you usually drive in this instance.
Plan a Space Where Older Kids Can Run
You’re going on an adventure, and your older children may want to be able to break free and stretch their legs a bit. You can make this more possible by setting an eye-catching feature that they must stay in sight of. If you’re taking the family to the beach, invest in a giant umbrella and make sure your older kids stay within visual range. If they’re not strong swimmers, invest in good quality flotation vests. If your kids are old enough to have their own cell phones, check in with them as they roam. You can keep tabs on them while allowing them to expand their own horizons.
Leave Time for Doing Nothing
If budgets are tight but you still want to get away as a family, make room for unstructured time. You can even have an exciting bicycle staycation in your city and arrange lunchtime picnics. Plan to spend a few hours letting your children run free at a local park. Bring large balloons or tie a brightly colored piece of fabric to a tree branch and let your kids go as far as they can while still keeping in visual range. Then, schedule nothing and see what their imaginations can do.
It can be tempting to pack as much vacation fun into your trip as possible, but this can leave everyone feeling exhausted and overloaded. Leave time for naps, for reading alone or just for daydreaming. Focus on comfort, not speed or efficiency.
The family that plays together, stays together… or so I have
been telling myself as I have spent untold hours playing Roblox lately. Yes, I
know, not really a suitable occupation for a 40 something but when your little
one is obsessed by it and you want to make it as safe as it can be, you do what
you can. I have to be honest here, the games become strangely addictive after a
while and when your husband joins in and all of your immediate family is
playing it can be quite fun.
This is therefore a review of the Roblox game, Lifting
Simulator.
What does my son think?
He loves the game. In fact, he was the one who found it. He
was even playing it before Denis Daily added it to his Roblox YouTube channel.
We joined maybe a day later. He’s not a fan of the constant clicking and I am
worried about RSI a little but it does teach him that success isn’t
instantaneous. Of course, he is now asking us to click for him!
What do I think?
I am enjoying it. I like the way the game has several
layers. You want to upgrade constantly to be the biggest and the most powerful using
weight, genetics, and body alter but there is also the enforcement and criminal
element of the game, which can be the most addictive.
When you start out you begin as a skeleton and you are
weight lifting a pencil. You click your mouse to move the pencil until you have
30 coins. At this point, you have to sell your coins as you have run out of
room in your wallet. You can spend or collect the money depending on your goal.
You can spend your money on three things. The first are
weights and on the first run through, (I will explain this later), you have to
buy each weight in the list before the next shows up. If you are fed up with emptying
your wallet every couple of minutes, you can better your DNA (if only this was
possible in real life). This has the effect of increasing your wallet so you
don’t have to sell so often.
The third element of game play that you will spend your lifting simulator earnings on is called body alter. You can give yourself power and speed by buying this when you have enough money. The trick here is to buy enough weights to get the alter but no more in the first round. As soon as you buy the first power (freezing) then you will revert to the smallest body type and have to work your way up again. You will also lose all your money so there is use getting more than you need. For example, one on the weights cost around 100,000 but the first body alter costs 150,000. If you can reach 100,000, you may as well hang on and get the body alter and get the expensive weight later when it will be easier to get it. Otherwise, you will end up saving for the 100,000, spending it on the weight and then having to save a further 150,000. It is quicker to just save the one lot.
The next run through whether with the freezing, fire or any
of the other powers, you can skip weights to get through it a lot quicker.
While you could not see the entire list before, after you have bought them once,
you can see them again but you will have to buy them after each and every
upgrade.
Ranks
As you go through the game and do plenty of weight lifting,
you will gain a rank. This is fluid and will change as you play. This is a game
with no judgement you can be good or bad and there are an equal number of ranks
to go through until you reach the pinnacle of your chosen side. On the good
corner there is Nice Guy, Bodyguard, Protector, Guardian and Superhero. If you
are neither one way of the other you may end up as Neutral or you could go to
the dark side and become a Bully, Jerk, Thug, Criminal or Godfather.
You get to be these ranks by killing other players who have a better or worse rank than you … and sometimes randomly. I have been minding my own business lifting the odd motorbike when someone kills ME and then demotes me from Nice Guy to Bully. Ooh, I was annoyed. I had to go around killing other bullies and jerks to get my status back until eventually I became a Protector. Sometimes you get to keep your status but other times not. I have left a Protector but come back as a Bodyguard. Another time I left as a Nice Guy but returned as a Bully.
When we started, we were constantly killed as soon as we
spawned so when we had enough clout to get ‘em back we tried to be protectors.
There are a few player who pride themselves on being the sheriff and kill all
the bullies and worse around. However if you get stuck with a bully rank but
you didn’t deserve it they don’t know this and they will still try to kill you.
Also, some good guys will be good for an hour and take the other side so you
can’t trust the other players! Still, you can still make alliances and it’s a
sweet thing when there’s a bunch of you keeping the peace.
You get to keep your normal character during this game and unfortunately,
my little one is obsessed by a YouTuber and will model himself on him. He’s too
young to understand that people can be offended by that and I think (hope) that
the guy is nice enough to understand that. We have already seen him in a
previous gaming video so he’s come across him before when he was still
Kindergarten age and he was sweet about it in the video.
This game is good for the whole family. There is nothing
ominous about it. Our son’s chat has been disabled so he can’t talk to any
dodgy people if they are on it so it’s just good clean fun. He’s learning to
save and the concept of sticking up for people who can’t protect themselves
because in this case they can only weight lift a pencil and he can carry a
piano.
Definitely recommended for children with supervision. The supervision is for the horror stories you hear on the internet about the internet.
When you have a baby, you become much more aware of how clean your home is. The nursery where your baby is sleeping should be clean. This will help keep your baby happy and healthy. Frequently dusting and wiping down areas where you change your baby’s diaper is beneficial. Unfortunately, many chemical cleaning products can be dangerous to your baby’s health and yours as well. Let’s talk more about how to keep your nursery clean without using toxic chemicals for the job.
What Are Chemicals and Which Ones Are Toxic?
Chemical cleaners, if properly marked, come with diamond-shaped hazard pictograms that show what kind of hazards they pose. You’ll want to keep an eye out for ingredients such as ammonia, bleach, hydrochloric acid, isopropanol and sodium bisulfate. All of these chemicals can irritate the skin, irritate the eyes, make your baby cough and there are dangerous long term effects to worry about as well. If you see an ingredient on a product that is very hard to pronounce, chances are it’s not a good one to use. Do a bit of research on harmful chemicals before you purchase items for the nursery.
Stick With Natural Options
There are a lot of cleaning products on the market right now that use only natural ingredients to get the job done. Things like citrus oils can be just as effective when it comes to disinfecting and killing germs. Not to mention, the smell is pleasant and safe. Look for organic and natural cleaning products that advertise they are safe and chemical-free. You can even come up with your own cleaning products that you make yourself. A mixture of 50/50 vinegar and water can be quite effective for cleaning up messes. Not to mention, it’s incredibly affordable to make. You can even add your own essential oils for fragrance.
Stick to Unscented
Scents tend to be very irritating for a small child. You’ll want to keep your cleaning products as unscented as possible. Even a natural smell of orange peel or pine can be overwhelming. Just because a product doesn’t smell, doesn’t mean that it isn’t going to do a good job at cleaning things up in your child’s nursery.
You can find a number of natural cleaning products at your local grocery store or health food store. There are also a number of products available online. Just be sure to check the ingredients before making a purchase.
The challenges faced by families in the modern era can be enormous, especially the process of planning. Balancing work life, managing interpersonal relationships of all family members and overcoming health issues related to fertility can all place burdens on parents-to-be and their children. Fortunately, with the right amount of planning and a bit of mental toughness, these challenges can be overcome. Here are a few of the most common issues facing families and some tips on how to deal with them.
Children Who Don’t Want Another Sibling
There can be several reasons why a young child may not want a little brother or sister. One of the most common of these might be the expectation of loss, which includes loss of attention, loss of access to resources, etc. Jealousy is, in fact, one of the most prevalent human emotions and is not limited to children. Research has shed some light on the psychological factors that cause jealousy in children who may be wary of another sibling joining the family. Ways to prevent this include a focus on increasing the connection between parent and child prior to and after introducing a new family member, encouraging laughter, which releases feel-good hormones in your child, and taking the time to assure your older child that he or she is needed and appreciated.
Infertility
Women in the western world face fertility issues frequently. This can be due to age, health conditions, diet, stress and other factors. Many health professionals specialize in helping couples struggling to conceive. Strategies such as tracking ovulation and lifestyle modifications, as well as taking medication, can help. Sometimes, though, naturally conceiving a child is simply not possible. In these instances, couples may consider procedures such as egg donation. This refers to the process of taking an egg from a donor and implanting it into the mother’s ovaries. Although egg donation is an involved and often expensive process, it is a viable alternative to natural conception. According to Baby Steps, egg donation can be a six-month process or more, so couples should take time constraints into consideration if they are interested in this option.
Balancing Work Life
Women who have established careers often face difficult choices. Choosing between a career and a new family can be a tough decision. Increasingly, families rely on dual incomes to make ends meet, and personal accounts of work-life balance struggles are well-documented. Many people report that managing time throughout the day is a major contributor to stress and burnout, which can be even more difficult to manage with a new baby. Communication between members of the family is essential to maintaining harmony and a sense of common purpose. Proper financial planning is a major tool for preventing conflict and reducing stress in a new family. Discussing priorities in terms of family life versus career can go a long way in protecting the long-term mental health of all family members. Creating and sticking to a family schedule can also help organize time and prevent conflict.
Many resources are available online to help cope with the challenges faced by parents and their children, and counseling with a trained professional is sometimes necessary. However, these obstacles can be overcome with dedication and perseverance when everyone is on the same page. Parenting is no easy task. If you need more advice, check out some of our other articles!
The nature versus nurture argument has been around almost as long as parenting. Does how you parent affect your child’s brain, or is your child already wired to react to life a certain way? It turns out that parenting style does affect a child’s brain in many ways, giving parents more influence than you may imagine.
Resilience
Resilience is something parents want their kids to have, so they can survive in a world where they won’t always win. However, raising resilient kids means letting them try and fail, something that makes many parents nervous. Young people need to know that it’s OK to fail or lose and that everything that doesn’t go as planned won’t break them. This is how true resilience is built. Parents who encourage their kids to try and help them learn from failures help their children learn resilience and teach them to reframe failure as an opportunity to learn and try again. If you try to keep your kids from failing or taking any type of risks, there is no opportunity for them to learn how to be resilient, which will impact them throughout their lives.
Physical Safety
Kids need to be physically active, but what you may not know is that more than their bodies benefit when they exercise. Playing games, walking or other physical activity improves mental and brain health and overall attitude in kids. It’s also good for kids to play physically and create their own games using their imaginations to develop confidence and independence. It is important to give kids a certain amount of freedom when it comes to physical play, but it’s also important to make sure they are safe. Helmets and gear should be worn when appropriate, and kids shouldn’t engage in activities that put them at a high risk for brain injuries. Serious concussions may result in traumatic brain injuries, which can have severe long-term effects.
Be Authoritative
Parents should guide their children, teach them lessons and help them grow. This is considered an authoritative form of parenting, and it has many advantages. Kids who are raised by parents who are consistent and loving and seek to guide as opposed to punish have higher confidence and aren’t as likely to suffer from depression. Their brains benefit from being raised in a safe environment where discipline is valued over punishment.
Authoritarian parents, by contrast, simply want to coerce their kids to obey even if that means punishment. Kids raised by authoritarian parents are more likely to suffer from depression and not think as much of themselves. What you do as a parent affects your child’s development, and that is a good thing since you can have a positive influence over your child’s future.
Your ability to age in place while enjoying full use of your home may be a challenge if you have stairs. In fact, in many homes, the only place to shower is on the second floor. If you’re in a cast, a wheelchair, or simply no longer comfortable on the stairs, you may need to move quickly to be able to reach your bathroom and bed. Consider making changes to your home now so you won’t be in a rush or have to make hard decisions.
Convert Front Steps Into a Wheelchair Ramp
Removing the front steps on your home and building a wheelchair ramp can make your home accessible no matter the injuries or health concerns you may face. When designing your wheelchair ramp be sure to work with a licensed contractor to stay within code and to make sure your ramp will stand the test of time. In addition, consider how the person most in need of the ramp leaves or enters the house. Does the move from the house to the garage to get into their vehicle in climate control, or are they picked up on the driveway? You may need to invest in a driveway update, so the wheelchair user has a friendly surface when they leave the ramp.
Install a Stair Lift or Elevator
When you or a loved one are no longer safe climbing stairs, it may be time to install a stair lift. These tools hug close to the wall and may require you to take out the handrail. The person in need of transport simply belts themselves in, rides up the stair lift and is able to swivel and stand on the second floor. Stairs are a common cause of trip and fall injuries, especially for senior adults. Because such a stumble can be catastrophic to their ability to stay in their homes, investing in a stair lift can be a great investment. Elevators are also an option, but the renovation to install an elevator is quite invasive and expensive; stair lifts are the more affordable option.
Doorways and Bathrooms
If you’re ready to install a stair lift, it’s probably time to think about widening doorways and renovating bathrooms. While both of these repairs can be costly, messy and invasive, creating beautiful and accessible bathrooms is a repair that can greatly benefit your disabled friends and family. If you’re thinking about a renovation, consider adding a no-lip shower so a shower chair can be rolled in later.
You may be thinking about downsizing into a house where everything is on one level. However, if you love your home and your neighborhood, it is possible to make changes to your existing home that will make aging in place a better option.
Parenting is no easy task, so let us help you with some things we have learned!
The importance of a good’s night sleep cannot be overstated. Sufficient levels of quality sleep are just as important as eating right and exercise when it comes to your overall health and quality of life. Here are three functions that prove the importance of a solid night of rest each night.
The Health Benefits
The many health benefits of solid sleep are too vast to list in their entirety. Most adults need a full eight hours of sleep to function at optimal levels. While many people think that they can mask inadequate sleep with copious amounts of caffeine, this is never a good long-term solution. Taking care to receive the recommended eight hours of sleep each night can boost your immune system, improve athletic performance, reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, promote healthier blood sugar levels and decrease the amount of inflammation in your body.
Makes You Safer
A well-rested person is a more alert and aware person. Getting enough sleep improves cognitive function, reflexes, productivity and performance. This awareness keeps you safer in a variety of life situations such as driving. While drowsy driving is more common in teens, the dangers of it apply to everyone. It is important to remember that coffee isn’t a fix. The better approach is to be committed to getting enough sleep each night so that you can feel confident taking to the road knowing that you are alert and aware.
Helps to Ward Off Depression
Getting adequate sleep each night can go a long way in helping to ward off depression or other mental health issues. Anxiety and depression are strongly linked to poor sleeping habits. Many people who have been diagnosed with depression report that they have problems sleeping. Once you get in a depressive cycle, it becomes even more difficult to get to sleep. Keeping a regular bedtime routine can help you to fall asleep easier and keep a host of mental health issues at bay.
Almost everyone wishes that they had more hours in the day. However, your sleep time is not what you want to sacrifice to get more accomplished. Getting a full night’s rest will ensure that you have the health, energy, and mental awareness to be more productive and happier in life. A good night’s sleep is simply the best investment of your time.
Want to learn more? Check out more great content from the Ceri Clark blog:
It’s important to raise your child to be friendly, compassionate, and caring. Some children just tend to be less socially comfortable than others. As a parent, that’s when we step in to help. As role models and parents, there are steps we can take to teach our children how to be friends with everyone. This will help them succeed throughout their lives in many aspects of their lives; creating a social circle that will be a great support system.
Teach Them Not to Be Afraid
There’s really no reason to be afraid of new people. While not everyone is nice and has your best interests in mind, there is nothing wrong with introducing yourself to new people. Teach your child how to shake someone’s hand, say hello and introduce themselves. They can learn how to ask details about a person, learn about their culture, etc. Stranger danger is something we often teach, and this is a process that can often scare a child from every new person they meet. Talk about the differences between strangers and being friends with new people.
Teach Them How to Talk Properly
You’ll want to make sure you teach your child how to talk properly with other children. For example, when talking to someone with a disability, there are some things not to say that your child should know about. There are many different demographics of people that you should teach your child about. You don’t want your child to judge other people unfairly. Teach your child that there are many different people in the world. Just because someone is a different race, makes a certain amount of money or works a certain job, that doesn’t mean you can’t be nice to them. Teach your child tolerance within their social circle.
Conversation Topics
One of the hardest things to learn is how to start a conversation and how to keep one going. Teach your child how to talk about themselves, but teach your child how they can ask someone details about their own life. Once they find something that is a common favorite, they can proceed with the conversation that way.
A good way that your child can learn to be friends with everyone is by seeing how you act around people. Essentially, you need to practice what you preach. Show your child that you can be friendly, tolerant and caring. Introduce yourself to people, treat them properly and be friends with neighbours, co-workers, etc.
Taking a trip with friends or family can be an exceptional event, and planning an upcoming trip should be as stress-free as possible. You can make it happen when you plan accordingly and ahead of time. The following are some key factors to take into consideration the next time you are preparing for a great vacation.
Make Sure Your Car is in Good Shape
Check out your vehicle before you start your trip in order to clear up a potential source of stress. Whether it’s a road trip across this incredible country or a four-hour drive to the airport, your car’s condition must be taken into serious consideration. If it’s been a while since your last maintenance check, you may be vulnerable to an engine seizing, or a tire blowing out, or a radiator overheating, or any number of common maintenance issues that can be dangerous and turn your vacation into a headache.
Plan for Security Lines
Security lines are one of the stressful but necessary things in our lives. We can’t avoid having to stop at a security line, but we can make sure to make it as stress-free as possible. Those catching a plane must go through a series of security checkpoints where you will be asked to open bags and remove clothing. The best way to make this process as hassle-free as possible is to be prepared. Be ready to open up your bags, have your jackets off and folded and have electronics placed on top of your luggage as they are often the most searched. You can even run into security lines at theme parks, concerts, historical sites and other major vacation destinations. Checking the most popular times before planning your visit can help you avoid excessive delays.
Use Short-Term Vacation Rentals
Booking a hotel for five or six people for multiple nights can be a very expensive hit on your budget. Consider looking into booking a short-term vacation rentals instead to save money and enjoy a more flexible and comfortable experience. Renting a home for a week or two that can hold your entire family can cost less while offering perks like a kitchen and greater privacy.
Trips with family and friends should be as hassle-free as possible. Be proactive in your approach to the planning phase of the trip for the best results. These recommendations can help you to relax and enjoy an incredible experience.
Caffeine is something that many people use on a daily basis to keep themselves alert and awake. Many children have begun to consume caffeine by way of sodas and caffeine-packed sports drinks. While you might not think that your child is affected by the amount of caffeine they are consuming, there are some negative effects that you might want to think about before you continuously provide caffeine to youngsters. Let’s take a look at why moms should limit their kids’ caffeine intake.
It Can Cause Anxiety and Mood Swings
Caffeine can cause your body to have a large upswing in energy. When that caffeine wears off, the result is a large drop-off of energy. When a young child’s body experiences such drastic highs and lows, it can lead to them feeling very panicky or anxious. This isn’t an emotion that a child should have to experience at such a young age. It can set them up for anxious feelings for the rest of their life.
It’s Addictive
Caffeine is completely legal, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a substance you can become addicted to. You don’t want a child to begin life with such an addiction. Some industries have a very serious stimulant abuse problem that originates from caffeine. Using it in the morning to wake up and get going is enough to trigger that desire each and every morning. It’s not a healthy or good feeling to be so dependent on anything each day.
Children Are More Sensitive to Caffeine
It might take two to three cups of coffee each morning for an adult to finally feel as though they are awake and ready to go. Children are much more sensitive to the effects of caffeine. They can start to feel jittery or anxious with just a few sips of coffee or soda that has caffeine in it. It’s ok to have a little cup of soda with caffeine in it at a party once in a while if that’s all that is available. However, this shouldn’t become a daily beverage choice for a child.
If your child shows negative effects from consuming caffeine, it is probably a good idea to completely remove caffeine from their diet. You’ll want to pay close attention to what they are drinking. There are plenty of caffeine-free options that they can enjoy just as much.
For more information about changes you can make to your family’s diet, take a look at this other article on how to transition to a vegan diet!
It is incredibly important to eat healthily and take care of yourself when you are pregnant. After all, you have another human being inside of you that are counting on you for those nine months of pregnancy. People assume that being vegan will affect pregnancy in a negative way. As long as you pay close attention to your diet and the vitamins that you are supplementing with, you can very easily manage pregnancy and can still be vegan. Let’s take a closer look at pregnancy and nutrition and how it affects being a vegan who is expecting a child.
Make Sure You Hit All Your Nutrient Needs
You can still be vegan, there are a number of vitamins and nutrients that you need in order to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. For instance, folic acid is something that is incredibly important during the first trimester. It prevents conditions like spina bifida. You also want to make sure that you’re getting enough iron. Anemia can negatively affect your baby. It can also cause you to feel more run down and nauseas than you already are. Also, improper nutrition has been cited as a cause of premature birth.
Shifting Your Diet
If you’re craving foods that are outside of your typical vegan diet and you feel comfortable, feel free to indulge once in a while. If you are planning on sticking to your vegan diet strictly, you’ll want to make sure you’re working certain food groups into your diet. You’ll need plenty of protein from beans, soy, etc. Your prenatal vitamin probably has a good dose of iron and B vitamins, but you can also get these things from natural sources like green, leafy vegetables. Calcium won’t come from milk and dairy products for you but get your fill from citrus fruits.
Don’t Let People Make You Feel Guilty
People who don’t understand your vegan lifestyle may criticize you while you’re pregnant. Even if you haven’t asked for their opinion, they may express to you that they are worried you’re not giving the baby what he or she needs. You can simply let them know you are paying close attention to your diet and making sure you’re eating all the major nutrients that are needed during pregnancy.
If you have questions about how you can manage a vegan lifestyle while you are pregnant, you can speak to your OBGYN or a nutritionist. A professional will be able to help you design a meal plan that works for you during these nine months.
