Parenting Archives - Page 22 of 27

15+ Ways to Make Happy Family Memories

In the age of technology and distractions, it can feel like a challenge to bring the whole family together. Yet, at the same time, one of the most important jobs parents have is to make happy family memories. This might sound super simple, but it’s actually one of the most powerful things there is.

Positive family memories are one of the greatest gifts we can give both children and ourselves. These are memories we can all return to when things aren’t going too well in life, and it’s important to preserve your family photos. They’re a reminder that happy days exist, and they’re always just around the corner. There’s even research showing that kids who have positive memories from childhood are generally more happy and healthy.

When you regularly make those happy, positive memories, you have a lasting impact. These are more than just a fun day, they’re the bonds that bring families together for years to come. Are you ready to make these happy memories for yourself? Here are 15 ideas to get you started.

1. Be Grateful Together

Life moves too quickly to notice all of the good things that happen, so sometimes we have to consciously slow things down. Being grateful together is a great way to boost positivity and show your children just how lucky they are. This is a skill they can take with them throughout life, even when things don’t seem to be going as planned.

How can you be grateful for together? One way is to simply think of 3 things you’re grateful for before bedtime. Bring your kids into this process. When tucking them in, ask them to tell you 3 things they’re grateful for every night. Soon, it will come easily.

2. Birthday Memories

Birthdays are about so much more than cake and singing. Making a fun occasion out of birthdays is one of the simplest ways to create happy family memories. Do you have birthday traditions? How does everyone come together to celebrate? You don’t need a huge budget or a big party to make the occasion special.

3. Game Night

With the rise of technology, families are gathering to play games less and less. If you want to bring everyone together without any screens, game night is the way to do it. Pull out Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, or even just a deck of cards and get to work.

4. Dinner Date

Who said dinner dates are only for couples? You can have a family dinner date by vowing to eat dinner together at least once a week. Everyone has busy schedules, but making dinner as a group and really taking the time to enjoy it is a special thing to do as a family.

5. Send Cards

If your kids are school age, why not send them to class with a special reminder? Sending notes in their backpacks or lunch boxes is a great way to remind them that you’re thinking about them when they’re away from home. This is also a way to send some encouragement their way before a big test or a hard day.

6. Volunteering

Did you know that children who volunteer as kids are more likely to continue this spirit of giving back as an adult? Instilling good values into children isn’t always easy, but volunteering makes it more fun.

How can your kids help? Can they donate toys to needy children? Join you for a community clean up? All of these things make a difference, and all of them are an effective way to teach kids about the importance of helping others.

7. Travel

Traveling is one of the best ways to bring your family together. You don’t have to travel far to make family memories. Just get out of your daily routine, go on an adventure, and try new things together. Whether you explore your own town or a new country, do it as a family.

Image via Pexels

8. Celebrate Success

Even small victories can warrant big celebrations. For kids, the small stuff is even more important. Find ways to highlight these accomplishments, whether it’s using a special plate at the dinner table or doing something fun.

9. Read Together

Reading is one of the best things you can do together as a family. Even if your kids aren’t old enough to read, taking the time to sit down together and read to them will make all the difference. Instilling positive reading skills is a path to success, so don’t overlook even this small habit.

10. Plant a Garden

A family garden gets everyone’s hands a little dirty in the best way possible. Digging a patch to plant either flowers or vegetables is not only a learning experience, but it’s a fun chance to bond together while watching something grow. Plus, you might even have some yummy veggies to add to your dinner nights.

Image via Pexels

11. Family Photoshoot

In the age of social media, it’s becoming more normal to capture those everyday moments with your kids. However, taking the time to hire a professional photographer to capture your family is still important. Capturing these candid moments and styled moments will create a wonderful memory you all can look back on for years to come.

12. Play Sports

Who said sports were just for kids? No matter what your kids like to do, get out there and join them. Kids who lead an active lifestyle early on are more likely to continue being active and healthy later in life.

What sports are good for kids? Think beyond the tried-and-true kid leagues. You can try indoor sports like bowling or climbing walls or even outdoor fun like hiking or mini golf.

13. Family Art

Does your family need some time for creativity? Why not bring all hands on deck with a family art project. Paint a mural on the wall, do a little DIY project, build a scrapbook together, or even just finger paint. No matter your kids’ ages, this is something everyone can have fun doing. You’ll also have a beautiful keepsake left over.

14. Create a Family Holiday

You don’t have to wait until the holiday season to celebrate. Create your own holiday as a family to celebrate every year. It can be as simple as “Trip Day” where you visit a new nearby town. Or mix things up with an appreciation day to show your love for a special family member. These small things show kids there’s so much to celebrate in life.

15. Go on a Walk

Last but not least, go on a walk as a family. Walks are not only the best way to stay active as a family, but they’re a chance to talk. Schedule your walks into your weekly routine, everyone taking the time to simply put the screens down and enjoy nature.

16. Book A Studio Family Portrait Session

When you book a photo session in a studio you have many options to create a memory that you will enjoy forever, because a family photograph captures the spirit of your family. It is a keepsake that will remind you of the thought that you put into creating that moment. Finding the right setting, the appropriate outfits and the best photographer, as advised by Val from valwestoverphotography.com. There are so many portrait ideas to choose from and to showcase that your family is one of a kind. It can be an outdoor session celebrating a season, a place or an occasion. Or it can be a choreographed indoor shoot designed for you. Either way, the ones who make it unique and memorable are the people in the photo, your family.

17. Do a Retro Photo Shooting

Black and white photography is one of the most popular genres for portraiture, so we recommend doing a fun retro photoshoot with your family. People tend to gravitate to these images because they are striking and honestly capture a subject’s personality. Afterward, you may even have multiple canvas prints done and hung up on one particular wall of your home to create an impressive gallery wall. Know more guides about cameras and photography.

18. Do Low Key Photo Shoots

You can also go for a low key photoshoot. Low key photography is nothing but capturing images with a dark or black background. It makes the subjects pop out from the image. It is perfect for family and individual portraits. You can print these beautiful low key images and get it framed. Hang it on your wall.

19. Become Family Historians

If you have an old family photo album, you can go through the photos together as a family – wouldn’t it be intriguing to meet our own ancestors! As Wendy explains in her post about old photo phrustration, you can play a the following game: “Which period of time would you like to travel back to?Personally, I’d be happy to go back to any period of time and observe everyday life as it really was. Each holds its own fascination.”

20. Do Holidays Right

Amanda from Learning Through Experiences shares: “I have always enjoyed my children during the holidays. Their excitement and joy just brought a whole new perspective to the meaning of each holiday. When my kiddos were small they loved doing some special family Christmas traditions that I would love to share with you today. I think our favorite Christmas family traditions were seeing Christmas lights together. We all pack into our van and off we go on an adventure. To make the evening even better, I would do a little planning ahead of time. I had some printable “train tickets” ready for them. At each stop, I would ask for their tickets so I could stamp them. They would giggle each time they handed them to me. It was so much fun.”

21. Holiday traditions vary from family to family

As the team at Adoption-Beyond.org explains, one of the best things about family traditions is that it is never too late to start a new one! If your family is just getting started out, then it’s time to figure out what tradition fits your personalities and interests perfectly.

Are you an outdoorsy bunch? Picking and chopping down your own Christmas tree at a farm might be the perfect choice. Are you crafty? Make a family ornament or decoration each year that celebrates the big moments you shared together. The tricky part is picking something that everyone can do together.

As mentioned on TheSimplicityHabit, even though as a kid we had a feeling like we should take pictures of every natural landscape we saw, as adults, those pictures don’t feel special to us. We want to keep the pictures of people on vacation, not just landscapes. Pictures taken with large groups can have a similar feel. It’s hard to tell who anyone is and they can lack interest.

22. Ways to edit your wedding photographies

Regardless of the genre of photography you work in, it’s important to develop an efficient and reliable workflow, from organizing your folders to culling, editing, and sharing your files. Post-production can quickly wreak havoc on your productivity if you do not have a system in place. Wedding photographers, for example, often capture 2,000+ photos over the course of a day. Drawn upon our experience, Camera Bits put together a list of five wedding photography editing tips to help you maximize your efficiency and cut down the time it takes to edit a wedding.

23. Make Your Home Look Amazing

Most of us spend a lot of time at home. Yet, we often underestimate just how much the environment we’re in has an effect on us. A home should be a haven where you can relax and enjoy your personalized space. After all, you’ve invested time and money into such a major purchase, so don’t let the design fall by the wayside when there are so many resources available to make it look amazing! Here are a few tips to take your home from simple to luxurious

24. Make Family Frames

As mentioned on Frame Destination, making decorative frames is a great project for kids as well. If you are going to hang some pictures in a child’s room, they will love to have a say in the process by decorating their own picture frames. Grandparents and other family members also love receiving framed photos with embellishments from the kids as gifts.

25. Preserving Family Photos

Preserving your family photos can be a wonderful bonding activity that’s both productive and fun for your kids. It’s the perfect activity for a rainy day and will let you share family stories with your kids, all while reminiscing yourself. It’s a win-win!

Conclusion

Are you in need of more family memories? These are the little things that make life special no matter how young or old you are. We could all use more time together creating positive experiences that last a lifetime.

These ideas above are perfect for all families. They’re inexpensive (or free) and put the focus back on each other. What are you waiting for?

10 Best Weight Gaining Food for Kids

Children tend to gain weight very fast as they keep on growing, generally, children are healthy but in some cases, they tend to be lean and thin. There might be some genetic issues in them because of which they don’t gain weight and are healthy. It is often believed and also researched that the weight and appearance is not always the appropriate measure of overall body health of a child instead, it is just to keep a check on the average BMI of a body which should be appropriate according to the body of a child. It is also said that if the BMI of the child is not up to the mark and if it keeps them in the underweight category than the parents should start planning to give the child healthy and weight gaining food so that they can grow properly, stay healthy and gain proper weight while they keep on growing.

How to check the BMI

The BMI calculator is being used by the doctors or the parents can also themselves use it to calculate the BMI of their child. You can find it online nowadays and all you need to do is to feed in the details that the calculator needs to give you the BMI of the child. It generally needs the height and the weight of a person so that it can give you back the proper BMI.

Children are generally given healthy food that contains all the necessary nutrients a child needs for proper growth. However, weight gaining food is given only to those who are underweight and has a low BMI so that they can achieve the stage of required BMI.

To help some of the parents track what should be given to the child that will not harm their growing body and will also help in increasing the BMI of their body. Below we have compiled a quick list of some of the health gaining food which is ideal for the children. The list is as follows:

Eggs– One of the best source of proteins, eggs can be one of the best and wholesome food that can help in increasing the weight of your child. Muscle tissue and body growth increase the bodyweight of the kids. Boiled eggs are a very good option for them and should be served in small quantity every time so that the dose is not overdone.
Tofu– One of the best sources of amino acids it is also loaded with proteins. Made with the help of soya milk it is the best that can be served to the children in a number of ways and a number of dishes can be prepared with the help of it that will be loved by the children. A source of the number of nutrients, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, etc. It can be very good for the kids. Loaded with a number of nutrients it does not contain calories.
Honey– Often used as a substitute for sugar in almost every diet, the composition of honey is 18% water and the remaining 72% is carbohydrates present in it. Since carbohydrates are believed to increase the weight of a human body, honey can be a great source that can help in weight gain of a human body.
Milk– Since it is a food item which is generally served to kids, but you should continue giving your child milk every day since is the best source of protein and calcium. One full glass of milk can help the child have a healthy overall weight in the body. Milk also helps in building strong bones in the body and since your child is growing he will automatically develop stronger bones. Milk is also a food for 8-month baby.
Dry fruits– Available in a wide variety of dry fruits and nuts are a rich source of protein, iron, vitamin, and magnesium. You can serve them in a number of different ways so that the child doesn’t get bored of having them on a regular basis. Top them in ice-creams, mix them in smoothies. They can munch them as a snack option such as almonds, cashews, raisins, walnuts, etc.
Oatmeal– A rich source of carbohydrates oatmeal is usually the best breakfast option which is probably the best option with which can child will start his day. It is gluten-free and also rich in fiber. The carbohydrates present in them helps in keeping the stomach of your child full for long since it burns slowly.
Beans and Pulses– Another rich source of proteins, they also contain calories and is the best option of food that can be included in lunch and dinner as well. They also contain fibers that are soluble in nature so that it regulates the sugar level and helps in treating mood swings.
Olive Oil– Either top it on the salad or make wholesome meals for your child as it is the safest option for the overall health of your child.
Banana– It is the best fruit that helps in easy digestion and is packed with nutrients. It is rich in fiber and also helps in improving the eyesight and brainpower in children.
Corn– One of the food items packed with the goodness of many nutrients and can also be enjoyed by your child. It also contains carbohydrates that help in healthy weight gain in children.

There are a number of food items available in the market for your children that are a rich source of so many nutrients and can help in healthy weight gain of your child. Some of the fruits and other food items can also be used as food for 6-month baby so that they can get required nutrients from an early age.

5 Cheap and Cheerful Summer Activities

Ah, summer. Once the weather improves I’m quite sure we’re in for a scorcher! And there’s nothing better than long days in the sunshine, spending lots of time with the kids, enjoying days out and of course plenty of ice cream! You might even be planning to jet off on holiday if you’re lucky.

But if you’re living on a budget, or you’re watching the pennies due to your summer holiday coming up, then day trips to theme parks, zoos, the local water park and even just spoiling the kids with new summer clothes can often make us sweat. It’s times like this that many of us wish we had an investment we could cash in to fund all the summer fun we want to have! For more information on investments and investment pieces such as coins, gold and silver bars, click the link.

But did you know that there’s still plenty of activities you can do that are budget friendly and also ideal for keeping the kids entertained? It’s true! Read on for 5 of my favourite cheap and cheerful summer activities.

Visit the library

Did you know that during the summer months, the library is a hubbub of activity and fun? Many libraries have summer reading challenges that are aimed at school children of all ages and abilities. They can take part and win prizes, stickers and boost their reading abilities over the summer break, but they can also enjoy free summer shows, pop up cinemas, creative afternoons, author talks and so much more! Head down there and put some exciting dates in your diary.

Go for a nature walk

There’s nothing more budget friendly, then a walk in the great outdoors! The kids can burn off some energy, enjoy the great outdoors and see what wildlife they can spot along the way. Print off some activity sheets from the internet of common wildlife that they’re likely to spot and get them to tick it off as they go. Take a picnic with you and you’ll be out for hours!

Go camping

No, I don’t mean an expensive pitch at a caravan park. Why not put up the tent in your own back yard? The kids will LOVE playing in the tent and it’s great for their imagination. Not only that, but it’ll provide some respite from the sun during the day. When night falls, you can spot bats, owls and even do a spot of star gazing together over a perfectly with brewed pour-over coffee. Bliss.

Vlog

Do you have a budding Influencer in the making? Let the kids create their own vlog of their day, and then you can sit together and edit it. Add some fun graphics, music and then you can all sit together and watch it as a family! Don’t forget the popcorn!

Unleash the artist within

Your mini Picasso will love this activity! I often pray for the carpet when the children want to get the paints out. So, why not make the most of the good weather and let them unleash their creativity outdoors! Place paper or canvas outside and let them loose with paint!

10 Mental & Physical Self-Care Tips for Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the woman’s body is sensitive to any influences: hygiene disorders, infections, malnutrition. In order not to create unnecessary complications, to preserve her health and, most importantly, the health of the unborn child, a woman should know how to care for herself during pregnancy.

1. The most responsible period

The first three months of pregnancy is the most responsible and dangerous. At this time, the organs of the child are formed. Any negative factor, whether smoking or infection, can affect this subtle process. In the future, it threatens to malfunction of any system of the future organism or even disability. After learning about her important position, a woman should become extremely careful in everything. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with useful tips for pregnant women and stick to them.

2. Be attentive to health

On the other hand, her body is also undergoing significant restructuring. This is reflected in the worsening state of health of the future mother: there may be a pain in the lower abdomen, tingling in the chest, malfunctions of the stomach and intestines, nausea, dizziness. A woman becomes emotionally unstable.

3. To correct behavior

The early gestation period is dangerous to have a miscarriage. Its causes may not depend on the woman, for example, if she has a genetic disease. But more likely to avoid interruption will help the correct behavior of the most pregnant.

She should give up bad habits if they exist. By the way, experts advise to abandon them even earlier — about three months before the alleged conception, and this advice applies to both spouses. Do not lift weights, but to avoid falls, walk, not forgetting for a second about your precious fetus.

4. Hygiene

In the first crucial period of the formation of the fetus, many medicines are prohibited, especially antibacterial and antibiotics. Avoid any infection, avoid contact with sick people. The inflammatory process during this period, especially with a high temperature, can cause miscarriage. These precautions apply to the treatment of colds, it is desirable to use folk remedies.

5. Visit a doctor

Any changes in the state and sensations should not be ignored. They should be discussed with the doctor to avoid any complications in the further course of pregnancy. If you increase pain in the lower abdomen, even minor bleeding, low back pain, immediately contact the help of physicians, because it is a prerequisite for miscarriage.

6. Watch your skin

Carefully monitor the cleanliness of the skin, keep its healthy microflora, which is transmitted to the child. A warm daily shower or rubbing the whole body is very useful. Pay special attention to breast care, because they need to be prepared to feed the baby. After taking a shower, rub the chest with a hand towel. If the nipples are retracted, do a special message.

7. Proper clothing

With a growing tummy, clothing should be free, in any case, you can not tighten the waist. From the fifth month, wear a bandage that supports the stomach. This will also help avoid stretch marks.

8. Proper nutrition

Nutrition during pregnancy is often original because of changing preferences. But keep a balance: a quarter of the diet should be fish or lean meat, a quarter — dairy products and eggs, the best — vegetables, and fruits. Limit the use of sweets, smoked meats, spices. This also applies to strong tea and coffee. But from fast food, soda, chocolate, and pistachios is better to refuse at all, so as not to cause allergies in the child.

9. Get proper counseling

Be sure to observe during pregnancy with your doctor or any good specialist such as Dr. Rahul Sen. To register is better in the first days, as this condition was revealed. Complications are possible in the 1st trimester, so contact and expert advice is important. After the 12th week, genetic counseling may be needed if a woman is 35 years old. In the middle of the term, ultrasounds are usually done to determine if the fetus has defects. From the 28th week, you need to control the position of the child, which can be corrected.

10. Physical activity

Exercise should be moderate, fairly short walks or swimming. But do them only on the recommendation of a doctor and preferably under observation.

Bonus tip: try a weighted blanket to help relieve stress and anxiety.

Why Parents Send their Kids to Private Schools

Education is an important part of a child’s growth and development, as such choosing the school that they go to – could be one of the most important decisions you have to make. May parents are opting to put their children in private schools with the options ranging from boarding schools to preschools to give them a step up the academic ladder. Here we discuss in more depth why an increasing number of parents are going down this route.

More Academic Opportunities

The reality is, there are much more academic opportunities in private schools than you would normally get in public schools. This isn’t just in the classroom curriculum but with extra-curricular activities that are often available too. This kind of thing enriches their lives and education. You will also find that tend to go on to score top marks when it comes to entrance or enrollment exams.

Smaller Classes

A huge benefit to private schools is that the classes are much smaller. This means that your child will get much more one on one interaction with their teachers to help them with their development. There are also far fewer distractions which will allow them to focus more on their activities. This is particularly beneficial if you have a child that learns much better in small groups.

Greater Parental Involvement

In a preschool– you will find that parents are much more involved than they would be if their child went to a public school. This means that you can feel in more control over what’s going on with your child’s development – and will also give you a sense of security that they are progressing as they should be. They also tend to have much more of a community feel to them as they are smaller in size, so parents will get to know one another and can chat things through.

If you take a look at WinWood, a private preschool in Washington DC, you’ll see that they have something called MyToddlerLink which allows you to check on your child via video stream when you’re at home/work and can’t visit them. They also have an app that allows you to see status updates. This is an advantage that you can’t get with regular schools.

Having a Common Goal and Philosophy for Learning

As there are so many options when it comes to educating your children, it’s not surprising that parents are now opting to go down the route of choosing a private preschool that fits in with their own core values and beliefs when it comes to learning. This adds to the community spirit feel that a private school has too. Everyone has the same common goals and beliefs when it comes to education.

They go Above and Beyond

Private schools tend to go above and beyond with everything they do. They always have additional resources for children, they have more extra-curricular activities for them to explore – and are all about developing children for tomorrow’s world. This kind of vision is what a lot of parents find attractive about private schools and will put their kids in good stead for the future.

If you ever wondered why some parents to go down the route of private schools over public schools, hopefully, this has answered some of your questions for you.

3 Fun Woodworking Projects with Kids

Creating fun woodworking projects with kids is a great way for parents and little ones to bond while you are teaching them how to create wood based crafts for around the house. These easy projects below are great for kids to get involved with since they all use limited power tools and have easy assembly.

Bird House

Making a birdhouse is a right of passage for little ones and adults who are learning how to create crafts from wood working. The most basic design for a birdhouse is to create a standard box with an A frame roof. You can easily use an untreated 1×8 wood board to measure the birdhouse walls, roof and floor and then cut it with a chainsaw for cutting firewood.

Once cut, you will want to assemble the birdhouse with nails or wood screws. Adding some wood glue is always a good step to ensure that your woodworking projects have a stronger adhesive bond.

You will also need to have a power drill with a 1 inch to 1 ½ inch sawing bit to create the entry and exit hole. Once the hole is made you can pre-cut or drill a much smaller hole and stick in a slim wooden dowel as a perch for birds entering and exiting. If you cut the hole the right size compared to the dowel, then it should give you a tight fit, but again adding in a dab of wood glue will give it a better hold once weight is added.

With the basic design in mind, you can add onto the birdhouse by painting it a bright color, adding slats to the walls or shingles on the roof to create more layers in the overall finished house.

Tool Caddy

For girls and boys alike, creating this basic caddy is a great woodworking project that you can make together to help them store and carry important items. This basic box design is fairly easy to make and requires cut pieces of lumber plus a circular dowel that will become the handle.

To create a simple tool caddy, you will want to purchase and cut down a few 1x6s. You can then trim them down to your desired length for the width and height for the caddy. The sides of the caddy should be trimmed to a slimming angle going up to the predrilled holes for the dowel.

To attach the sides and the bottom you will want to use a brad nailer and some wood glue to give it an extra strength hold. The top handle dowel can be slid into the cutouts, which if cut to the dowels size will already be a snug fit. Adding in a few dabs of wood glue will ensure that the dowel handle doesn’t spin or slip with frequent use.

Soccer Goal

For the soccer star in your home, this is a great DIY project to make together before starting some basic soccer drills. You will need a few 2x4s to create a sturdy goal that can take a hit from the soccer ball being kicked into it as well as some soccer goal netting.

The basic shape of the goal is a rectangle in the front with two triangles on the side. The triangles need to have a right angle from the frame going up and the base on the ground. From the back bottom corner of the triangle you will want to add in a final long board that reaches from end to end of the triangles, this will create your steady goal stance. Finally use nails or screws to attach the netting, not allowing it to be too loose.

The age of your child will give you the best recommendation for goal size. Starting at age 9, your kids will need a goal that is 6 ½ feet high. The width of the goal will change as they age. For standard soccer practice at home, you can build a smaller framed goal.

Conclusion

These fun DIY woodworking projects for kids are a great start for families that want to learn how to woodwork. After you have tackled these projects, you will have the basic idea and skills to move onto more crafts that you can do with your kids help.

The Art of Choosing Rugs for Your Kid’s Room

While having wall-to-wall carpeting installed on hardwood floors might seem like a soft and warm option, it might not be so for a kid’s room. Considering the amount of ‘action’ the carpet in the kid’s room sees, it won’t be long before you have layers of dirt in dust trapped in its weave. An area rug, on the other hand, is a much better choice, as it’s easy to maintain, warm, and visually appealing. Children also love soft rugs as they provide a perfect spot for playing, reading, doing homework, or watching TV. Now, before you choose a rug for the kid’s room, make sure you’ve considered these.

Placement and purpose

While it’s obvious why having a rug on the hardwood or laminate floor is important, you also need to pay attention to other purposes of area rugs. Perhaps you want to use two smaller rugs to distinguish space between siblings in a shared bedroom, to create a focal point in a room with scattered furniture, or to create an activity area for your kid. Once you answer these, you’ll know where to place an area rug. In a room with a lot of furniture, the rug can anchor the place, and for an added visual harmony, make sure the capital pieces of furniture overlap the rug edges by a few inches.

Material and texture

The best kid’s room rugs are durable, safe, and easy to maintain. Rugs with good quality pads are best for polished hardwood floors, as they keep the rug in place and protect the floor from damage. Flat-woven cotton dhurries are thinner than most other rug options, but also very affordable and easy to maintain. Soft wool rugs are also a popular choice since they are naturally stain- and water-repellent. Wool rugs are, on the other hand, notorious for shedding, but the amount they shed decreases over time.

Pro tip: if you’re looking for a rug that works in every situation, try a synthetic one. They are durable, easy to clean and can take a lot of abuse. If you want to stay on the natural page, consider a jute rug. They are known for their durability and chemical-free manufacture, even though they are a little coarse on bare feet.

Shape and size

When you have settled on the material for your rug and where it should go, measure the area and think about the size and shape that will be the most effective. Large rugs are perfect if you want to cover the most of the space, however for an elegant accent piece, a smaller circular one is better. If your local vendors don’t have what you need, you may also look for rugs online as websites often manage their vast stocks by offering filtered searches, so you can find the size, shape, and even pattern you need more easily.

Rug and bed ratio

Since kids usually don’t have queen and king-sized beds, you won’t be needing a gigantic rug, but a rule of a thumb is to have at least 18 to 24 inches on both sides. On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford a 5×8 or larger, consider getting runners on both sides. This way you can achieve the look of an oversized floor covering and make cleaning easier – vacuum the runners and mop the hardwood or laminate in between. Smaller rugs and runners often come in more colour and parent options, so you can even switch them out between the seasons – or drycleaner’s.

Colours and weaves

If your kid’s room already has a lot of patterns, a solid colour rug can balance the basic element and provide visual relief for your child. On the other hand, if the room is dominated by neutral shades or solid colours, a patterned area rug can increase the dynamics of the space. When it comes to weaves, flat weave provides a nice warm spot for play but is still flat enough for puzzles and building blocks. Loop-woven and shag rugs are not recommended as tiny things can sink inside and you or your kid may accidentally step on it later.

Among the many ideas that can transform the room of your little ones, an amazing area rug is a great place to start. A well-thought area rug can change the entire character of your kid’s bedroom and become their favourite piece of furniture.

How to Prioritize Exercise as a New Mom

Becoming a mother is an incredible experience. With all the rewards that come with it, so do numerous changes. When you become a parent, you get a completely new set of priorities and it may seem like the old habits and routines are far gone. With the new baby, sticking to your old way of life can indeed be challenging. There are days when you feel so exhausted that even brushing your teeth may seem like a struggle, not to mention finding time and strength for a workout. By now, you’re probably aware of all the benefits that exercising regularly has on your overall health as well as on your mood. Here are some useful ideas to help you incorporate exercise into your new daily routine and get you back in shape.

1. Make a plan.

If you’re one of those people who like to master-plan everything from grocery shopping to moving house, then you know how much easier things can get. If you’re on the other hand, more of a theory-of-chaos student now may be the time for a change of habits. Good planning is definitely half the battle, especially at this point when you feel like your whole life has changed. Making a schedule will give you an insight into the times when you can squeeze in your workout routine. Sometimes, you won’t be able to stick to it completely, but don’t let that get you down. The important thing is to try to be consistent as much as you can.

2. Exercise at home.

When you have a baby, you may find leaving home a bit more complicated than you thought. No matter the reasons, if you’re not able to spend time at your local gym like you’re used to, don’t worry. There are many other ways to do some much-needed exercise and one of them includes working out at home. Search the web and find some gym equipment online store where you can buy hand weights, jump rope and other similar equipment you can use at home. Pieces of furniture like a chair or a sofa may come handy too. Use the time to work out when your baby is napping or you have a family member around. Yoga is also a great choice to get your body perfectly toned and stretched at home and here you can get some inspiration and check the yoga pose library.

3. Take baby steps.

With the new schedule, you’ll probably find it challenging to set aside a full hour for a workout. That’s understandable given the circumstances. Instead of a long exercise, you can do shorter 10 to 15 minutes workouts while your baby is asleep or occupied. Aim for quality over quantity and make every minute count. Set realistic goals, and don’t be harsh on yourself if sometimes you can’t perform the way you would want to. Taking baby steps will make it a habit to prioritize exercise and with time, you’ll be able to make your workouts longer.

4. Exercise with your baby.

Even if you don’t have a babysitter, there are still a number of ways you can exercise with your baby. You can put a baby in a stroller and go for a walk. You’ll get your exercise and you’ll both get some fresh air and enjoy the sunshine. Inviting your friends to join you is a great way to socialize. When your baby gets older, you can switch to jogging. There is a variety of jogging strollers available designed especially for this activity. Another great activity you can indulge with your bundle of joy is hiking. Put your baby in a sling or a front carrier and let them enjoy nature together with you.

5. Find someone to watch the baby.

Whether it’s a partner, a babysitter or a family member, ask someone to watch the baby so you can exercise. Having this time just for yourself will mean a lot. You’ll be able to dedicate yourself to your workout routine without interruptions and worries. Depending on the amount of time you can get, you can go to the gym or exercise at home. You can even go for a run around the neighborhood. Talk to your partner and see if it’s possible for them to watch the baby before they go to work. A morning workout will boost your energy levels and keep them high throughout the day.

Conclusion

Learning how to prioritize exercise is a skill that can be mastered like any other. Although it may seem difficult at first, with the new baby and hectic schedule, it’s still doable. By exercising regularly, you’ll not only feel great but will also get more energy to tackle all the other obligations that motherhood brings.

Regaining Your Pre-Pregnancy Shape

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Being pregnant is certainly one of the most amazing and most challenging parts of a woman’s life. Of course, if you live in Australia, the challenges of pregnancy are easily overcome because you have access to all the care that you need. Everybody talks about how important it is to take care of yourself during and after pregnancy, but how little time you’ll have to do so is usually underestimated. Your baby will have to be a priority for a long time but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your mental and physical health.

Being a new mother is hard for many reasons, one of the main ones being that your body needs to heal. As well as that, you’ll notice some changes and gain a new shape that you didn’t use to have. This can be fairly discouraging for most women as they are used to looking a certain way. So as not to take a toll on your confidence and self-worth, you need to make an effort to regain your pre-pregnancy shape. Every woman likes feeling beautiful, and getting your old body back can do wonders for your happiness. Remember, a happy mother makes for a happy baby.

1. The first days

It’s important to start exercising after the first few days of giving birth just so your body can get used to being active again. That being said, you can’t overdo it. You’re still very sore and sensitive from giving birth, which is evident even when you start feeling a little better after a couple of days. Ideally, you should let your body rest for one week and then slowly start exercising.

One of the best exercises you can do after giving birth is isometric exercises. They’re the type of exercise that focuses on building muscle through resistance. If you want to bond with your baby while exercising, a very simple thing you can do is lie on the floor on your back. Place the baby on your tummy then tighten your abdominal muscles and push the baby upwards as you breathe. You’ll be inhaling while you push the baby up and exhaling as you set them back down.

Walking is another thing you can do start moving. You’ll have a lot of obligations and responsibilities, which means you’ll be on your feet a lot. This is good news because walking is one of the most convenient things you can do to help your body regain shape. First of all, cardio is bound to build endurance and stamina, making you more capable of handling taking care of the baby and the house. You can also carry your baby and walk around the house with it. This way you’ll be strengthening your arms, tightening different muscles along your body, and bonding with your baby at the same time.

If you want to kick it up a notch with walking, you can always walk in place when you’re doing chores like washing the dishes, for example. Don’t be afraid to take solo walks outside the house, either. Building up your strength will get you ready to tackle the neighborhood and some surrounding hills, too. As your baby grows, you can even bring them along with you. You’ll be surprised how much muscle pushing a stroller around builds.

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2. Establishing a routine

Now that you’ve started exercising in your first days of being a new mother, it’s time to start establishing a routine. The key to getting back in shape is to continually exercise. Building your routine is going to be hard in the beginning, because your schedule is mostly concerned with your little one right now. The gentle exercise you’re doing in your first days after giving birth will be an excellent path to a lasting routine.

Not only is it easier for your body as it gets used to exercising regularly, but it’s also much easier for your schedule. It’s better and simpler to fit in simple exercises into your day than to try to fit in full workouts right away. Build up to your final goal, don’t start at the ending.

More often than not, new Aussie mums have trouble starting their new exercise routine because they don’t feel it working. Saggy skin around the abdomen and breasts can be a huge disadvantage that hinders your success. Instead of becoming more confident as you exercise, you’re actually getting demotivated by the day as your skin is still saggy, no matter how good you may feel. This is why plastic surgeons in Canberra state that this is a procedure undertaken after pregnancy that focuses on the breasts and abdomen. It’s common for new mothers to opt for it because it sagging breasts and tummy are rectified with this procedure.

Thus, this can be the perfect boost you need to establish your routine. That’s especially true since you’ll be doing mostly light exercises in the beginning, and your body will have time to heal from the procedure while getting used to being active again.

The best practice for establishing a routine is to exercise at the same time every day or every other day. There must be a time in the day when you can just put the baby down and do your exercises. Even if it’s just half an hour, it will be enough to get you used to exercise at a certain time. If nothing else, you can always use the time when your baby is napping wisely. Other than that, you can wake up somewhat earlier or go to bed a little later. Whatever free minute you have in the day, use it to establish your exercising routine.

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3. After six months and more

Once you’ve established your exercising routine and your body has mostly healed from giving birth, you can step it up a notch. Going slow and steady wins the race, and this is the time where you really get to prove that. When it comes to exercising six and more months after giving birth, you have a lot more options to choose from.

First of all, you can start with the pelvic tilt. This is a great way to strengthen your abdominal muscles. Of course, make sure that your abdominal muscles didn’t separate during birth before you attempt this exercise. If the doctor hasn’t informed you in the hospital, you can always check with them now. With your knees bent and feet flat, lay on the floor. Then slowly tighten your abdominal muscles as the pelvis rolls towards your upper body. Instead of using your bottom muscles to move, try using your tummy muscles.

Another simple yet effective exercise you can do at home is the swan stretch. This is an especially good choice if you have a sore back and want to strengthen your back muscles. You should lie on the floor with your palms on the floor beside your shoulders. Then simply lower your elbows to your hips and let the upper part of your body move off the mat until your ribs are lifted. Make sure that there is no tension in the lower back.

If you want to try something different, there’s always Yoga and Pilates. These two types of exercises are good for the mind and the body and work on strengthening your core. As well as that, you’ll learn just how strong your body is and improve your mental health. The best part about Yoga and Pilates is that they can be done at home and at fitness centers. This way, you can choose what’s more comfortable for you. Lots of YouTube videos will show you exactly what to do and how to move while you’ll still get to keep an eye on your little one. On the other hand, if you’re itching to get out of the house a little, you can always enroll in a class and meet some new friends.

Finally, one of the most fun things you can do to regain shape is to dance. Whenever you can, have a little dance party at your house. Play all your favorite tunes and don’t be afraid to really move your body. This activity can be fun for the baby, too. They’ll love watching their mum be happy and goof around, but they’ll also love to participate if you choose to dance together.

Conclusion

Even though the road to regaining your pre-pregnancy shape is long and tiresome, it’s worth it. Being in shape doesn’t just mean being beautiful and confident, it also means being healthy. Your body will be much stronger and heal more easily, allowing you to nail every new challenge as a mother. The basis for a strong relationship with your child and good mental health is being physically fit and able to handle your new life. You’re not just getting in shape for yourself, you’re also doing it for your child. We’re confident that with some dedication and time, you’ll be in your pre-pregnancy body once more.

What to Do When Your Child is Struggling in School

Let’s face it: school can be difficult for kids. Between extra-curricular activities, social pressures, and struggles with the material itself, it’s normal for children to have a hard time maintaining a consistently high level of academic performance.

Unfortunately, when their grades start flagging it can also have a snowball effect on their self-confidence, leading children to doubt their own abilities and wonder if they have what it takes to excel in academics.

If your child is struggling in school, simply telling them to do better is probably not going to be enough. Instead, you need to come alongside them and brainstorm positive strategies that will help them succeed. Here are three tried and true ways of boosting academic performance that can also have a major positive impact on your child’s overall self-esteem.

1. Structured Study Time

Children thrive on structure, and nowhere is this truer than when it comes to learning. Carving out a regular time in the day for the study is an important first step toward normalizing study as part of the day.

Not only will this make it easier for your child to focus on their schoolwork, but it will also make their learning more effective. Scientists who study learning have noted that students who study for shorter periods but spread their studying out over time retain more information. This is because the brain learns through repetition, and going over new material every couple of days increases the likelihood that it will be locked into the long-term memory.

2. Tutoring Help

Sometimes, your child just needs more help in understanding and applying the concepts they are learning in class. In today’s education environment, teachers are often overworked, and growing class sizes mean that individual students get less one-on-one time with their teacher. Many studies have shown that as class sizes go up, student performance goes down, so getting your child the extra support they need is essential.

The best way to do this is through after-school tutoring. Tutors can play a pivotal role in helping struggling students overcoming their personal learning challenges. Because they provide children with a safer, more personal learning environment, they can also tailor instruction to the student’s actual needs (you can learn more at Prepacademytutors.com about how to find a local tutor who can work around your child’s schedule and offer in-home instruction).

3. Practice Positive Reinforcement

Just because a child is struggling in school doesn’t mean they will necessarily apply themselves to improve their grades, and it can be tempting to try to manage bad behavior through punishment.

Unfortunately, you can’t force a child to learn, and punishment often simply serves to create a negative association with schoolwork. Positive reinforcement is a much better approach. If your child improves their grade by even a few points, reward them with praise and something they enjoy. Instill a sense that improved outcomes lead to more freedom and responsibility.

When your child comes home with another C on their report card, it can be hard not to feel discouraged. But it is important to remember that overcoming challenges is essential to learning.

By teaching them to structure their time, look for extra help when they need it, and by emphasizing positive reinforcement, you can use these difficulties as an opportunity to equip your child with the tools and strategies they need to deal with adversity will set them up for the roadblocks they will face throughout their lives.