Category: Parenting

Children are naturally curious; they want to know about stuff. However, when you’re trying to teach them in detail, they soon often lose their attention. Traditional education, in particular, is not doing any good to spark their desire for studying. Everything revolves around testing and grades, and that’s scary for the child.

How can you inspire your child to discover the true joy of studying? We’ll present 10 easy ways that help you do that.

 

1. Give Them Compliments

Whenever they tell you something they learned, a sincere and simple compliment like “Awesome!” or “Great job!” will be enough to keep them going.

You don’t want to praise your kid too much since that can make them overly focused on the results. Just give a simple compliment and don’t keep talking about how smart your kid is.

 

2. Show Them That Knowledge Is Relevant

Your kid might not be inspired to learn math because they are not aware of its applications. Saying “you’ll need this when you grow up” is not enough. Show them how math and all other things they learn surround them every single day.

When they are aware of the relevance of the things they learn, the information will stay with them longer. They will be more interested to know about the world around them.

 

3. Sign Them Up for Extracurriculars

It’s no wonder why extracurricular activities are so popular in education. Although these activities are not a necessary part of the curriculum, they are still an integral aspect of the overall education.

The extracurriculars should never seem like punishment. Just figure out what they would like to do most and sign them up for a fun activity related to music, sports, art, drama, social service, or anything else that gets their attention. With these activities, your child will develop multidimensional intelligence.

 

4. Help Them Edit Their Writing

When teachers ask students to write essays, the challenge is real. At this point, you should definitely provide some help. Of course, you want to inspire them to write their own essays. However, you should ask them to read it aloud and help make improvements where necessary.

You’ll get them even more inspired if you connect them with a professional editor, tutor or proofreading services, such as Grammarly or Essay On Time. Typically, proofreading companies employ professional editors and teachers having a friendly approach to children. Thus, when kids see their mistakes corrected, they improve their writing style.

 

5. Set Long-Term Goals

“If we learn this biology lesson and we continue learning, we’ll know how our bodies work in less than a year.”

With this approach, you’re giving your child a very specific goal and a sense of accomplishment without the study stress. That’s a great way to motivate!

 

6. Take Learning Outside

The school is exciting, but it’s also an overwhelming environment. When you take the learning outside the classroom, you make the process more fun. Take your kid out in nature. Show how the things they learn at school are everywhere around. Teach them how to bake, and throw in a little math along the way. Get them a comic book, so they will be inspired to read more.

 

7. Find Out What Gets Their Interest

Your child is certainly asking questions, right?

“Mom, why is the sea blue?”

“Mom, who made the first TV?”

“Mom, why do we sneeze?”

The Internet is an immense knowledge base, so you can both learn something new. Don’t let the learning process revolve solely around the curriculum. Enable them to learn whatever they want.

 

8. Get the Distractions Away

If the tablet or smartphone is anywhere near when your kid is trying to study, the devices will distract their attention. If you’re talking with someone on the phone, you’ll be distracting them. If the TV is on, it will distract them.

You have to eliminate the distractions when your kid is learning. Make sure the studying environment is clean and enables them to focus.

 

9. Read Something Fun Every Day

Your little one loves a cartoon character? Why don’t you find a book that features that character? Stock up on the interesting fiction and read a little every single day. If your child already knows how to read, you can have family reading time every day. You’ll read your own books, so you’ll inspire them to focus on their reading.

 

10. Reward the Good Results

If your child gets a good grade, get them a chocolate. Bribes may be tricky, which is why you should make the rewards simple. 15-minute tablet time after they learn the history lesson will work.

Your kid will love studying when they get the purpose. As a parent, you have a responsibility to inspire them. Hopefully, the 10 tips we listed above will help you do that.

 

About the author:

Steven Wesley is an ESL Online teacher and education blogger. He is interested in psychology, journalism as well as educational, technological, and political issues. Besides, Steven believes in the mighty power of the pen to change the modern world. Meet him on Twitter  and Facebook!

Having the right kind of bedding is quintessential to having a good night’s sleep, and this is most likely relevant for young children. They need it more than older people do. However, it is often a challenge for some parents to select the right one for their child.

There are tons of factors to consider when purchasing a mattress for your little one. Like the build-up, size, colors, comfort, safety, and many more. Since the bones of a child are still expanding and growing, their bed should be able to give enough support to prevent any spine problems in the course of time.

Buying a mattress for your kids is a very crucial decision since it can greatly affect them. For a little help, read the list below to be able to choose the right mattress for your little ones. Based on the comfort level you need to choose whether you need a plush mattress in a box or a firm one.

Choosing the Proper Type of Support

Mattresses such as memory foams and innerspring coils are two of the most well-known kind of foams. They feature a system of connected coils that let all the pressure points to subside. However, they give the maximum support to keep the spine from hunching.

Indeed, innerspring coils cost more than the other standard type of beddings, but they are very excellent at getting rid of the motion transfer. This type of mattress is especially perfect for kids. Since their weight is not enough to create constant strain or pressure to the coils, which can eventually impair and shorten its life.

On the other hand, memory foam beddings outline the form of the body. They are certainly hypoallergenic and can stand the test of time. Thus, making them also a great choice for kids. But whatever type of mattress you choose, make sure that it is suitable for your child.

Pick the Right Size

Most of the time, kids aged two and three can already make a transition from a baby crib mattress to a large bed. And if you are thinking about durability and long life, then it is best to go for a twin-sized bed or a full-sized one.

These beddings are perfect when you are studying to save lots of space. Plus they will work well if you have more kids sharing a bedroom. Furthermore, it will certainly last until your child becomes an adult.

Check the Comfortability

It is crucial to go for high-quality bedding to prevent having bad sleeping habits, soreness, aches and pains, and many more. Know that all type of beddings come in either firm, extra firm, ultra plush, and plush.

The most excellent mattress for your children is the one that provides support while giving comfort. If let your kids endure the pain from sleeping in a bad quality mattress, they might feel exhausted, experience soreness, become moody, and might not even do well in school.

Jonathan Prichard, MattressInsider.com CEO recommends looking into custom-made bedding as that allows you to control exactly what and how you get for your child.

Though high-quality beddings are a bit expensive, they are certainly worthy in the long run. Do not force your kids to sleep in a very distressing mattress because they might develop lousy sleeping habits which, for the most part, they will carry for life.

Assess the Foundation

A simple and plain platform certainly works well in every child’s bedroom. As such, it allows you to refrain utilizing box spring, and as a return you save money. But if you are thinking about buying a traditional bed frame, you will also need to buy a durable box spring.

Most first-rate beddings come with its corresponding box springs. Thus you can buy them as a set. Remember, when selecting a box spring, choose a mattress that is with the same size as your mattress and fits adequately in your bed frame.

Takeaway

To be able to pick the perfect mattress for your kiddos, you need to think like you are purchasing a mattress for yourself. Choosing the perfect mattress is quintessential because it can help your kids have proper posture and bone strength. It may be challenging, but they are a must. Read the above tips to be able to buy the perfect mattress for your children.

Baby showers are a wonderful time to show your love and support for a new mom by gifting her with some essentials for her upcoming bundle of joy.

But there are only so many precious outfits and cute blankets a baby actually needs!

Read also: How To Select The Right Mattress for Your Child

If you’re searching for a unique gift that the new mom will still find super useful check out these ideas:

Photography gift certificate

Whether it’s for her favorite local photographer or a larger portrait studio, the mama-to-be will surely be grateful for this gift.

It will take some of the pressure off of her to document baby’s first few months knowing that she’s guaranteed gorgeous photos. Pair the gift certificate with a sweet picture frame for that first shot of her little one.

Car organizer

Car organizer can be used in the car or with a stroller and is super handy for keeping all of the essentials within reach. It even has a spot to hold your tablet and insulated pockets for snacks! Save her sanity by helping keep her car clean and organized with this clever addition.

Closet dividers

She’ll love using dividers during her nesting phase to sort all of the sweet outfits she received at her shower.

Pair them with a few cute fabric baskets for the perfect gift that she’ll actually use.

A nursing bra

Moms sometimes hesitate to spend a lot of money on their nursing bras and end up wearing cheap bras that don’t make them feel great. Spoil her with a good quality nursing bra that comes in chic colors and she’ll feel much better putting it on–even if she hasn’t had a shower in days.

Mom and Baby Hygiene kit

It might sound gross, but new parents know that the NoseFrida SnotSucker works like a charm! There are kits that include the infamous SnotSucker along with post-delivery grooming products for the new mama that she is sure to appreciate during those first few days.

Bonus: Unisex diaper bag

With dad playing a bigger role than ever these days, throw in a gift for him as well! There are diaper bags that come in neutral colors and converts to a backpack so it’s super easy for either parent to take everything for baby on the go!

All parents will do everything in their power to protect and give the best future for their kids. Though there is no recipe for successfully rearing your children and you can never foresee the future, it is very crucial to be always ready for whatever life throws at you.

Ensuring a great future for your kids will require you to sacrifice some important things and make significant changes to your life instantly. As parents, whatever you do today will certainly affect your kid’s future. As such, you will need to have a solid and concrete plan.

We all want our kids to become a successful person in the future. We want them to become passionate, courageous, and authentic. With that said, as parents, it is in our hands to help our kids become leaders someday. For a little help, listed below are four ways to ensure your children will have a great future.

Retirement Savings Plan

The earlier you begin saving for retirement, the simpler it will be to attain your financial goal, and the easier it will be to collect the necessary amount of money each period. Thus, if you start saving for your kid’s retirement plan, it will surely make their life much more comfortable.

You can secure your child’s future by helping them prepare for their future retirement plan and by allowing them to understand why they need to start saving money early. You can also take some burden or problem off of them when you eventually stop working.

Seek some financial advice from companies like Ashe Morgan to help you save for the future of your kids in a way that is healthy and interesting. You can easily save for the retirement plan of your children utilizing different investment schemes like Child Plan.

Enlist for a Life Insurance

Signing up for life insurance is one of the things that most parents are very reluctant to take. They often think that if they get life insurance, they are somehow prepared to die. It may sound funny, but it is one of the many reasons why they are afraid to take this kind of opportunity.

In reality, signing up for life insurance is very important to your kids for plenty of reasons. For instance, if you accidentally die, your children will never have to worry paying for the funeral. Thus, getting life insurance does not create the future. Hence it helps you take care of your family members in the future.

There are lots of ways to purchase life insurance for your kids. For example, you can buy a term life insurance policy covering you, your spouse, and your kids. Or you can go for a permanent life insurance policy including your child’s life.

Let them experience Risk and Failure

You will never be a successful person if you did not experience taking risks or failing. Agree? Our failures have become the means or the drive to later success. We fall, we make mistakes, and then we learn.

As such, kids should not be an exception to this. As parents, you should not protect your kids exaggeratedly. To the extent that you do not allow them to make mistakes and receive the consequences. 

Not allowing your kids to make mistakes or fail means they do not understand risk. If so, they cannot take the right risks or know the concept of failing that comes with comprising everything and coming up short.

Thus, and if possible, do not try to protect your kids from failing just to boost their self-confidence. They do not need protection. They need your utmost support and assistance when they fail. With your support and care, your kids will surely make it through the bad times. That’s character building for their future self. 

Know the Future Cost of Education

In this digital age, you can now easily tabulate or calculate the future cost of various degrees. These educational websites can compute the cost of any degree, making the future of your child more secured.

Once known, this will help you get a real and sensible target amount, and prepare for the education of your children when they grow up. For some countries, education costs so much. Though education is one of the means to have an affluent life, its increasing price is beyond the capability for some.

Thanks to these helpful websites because now you can plan and prepare for the future education of your children. Thus, it is much easier for you to choose what kind of investment plan to get.

Takeaway

All parents want only the best for their child. And all children deserve to have a great future. It may be not that easy and simple, but you will certainly get there. Make sure to provide all their needs not what makes your job (as parents) easier. With all this said, you can read and follow the above steps to help you guarantee a successful future for your kids. 

   

The bathroom is usually the smallest room in the home, but also the most challenging for children. While many parents decide to remodel and adopt using child-sized fixtures, experts advise homeowners to think twice before going Wayne Szalinski. Unless resale is not a concern, it’s better to build a bathroom for adults and make it child-accessible and decorate it with playful themes and bright palettes. Here are some tips to make your bathroom kid-friendly.

Safety first

With the little feet dashing to a bubbly bath, jumping and hopping even in the bathroom, small ceramic tiles with lots of grout lines provide better traction than big ones. To prevent accidents, look for bathroom tiles that have a coefficient of friction greater than 60. The value is usually listed among the product technical information on the tile packaging. Although these anti-slip tiles may be harder to clean, they are a valuable protection measure that is also helpful for seniors.

Furthermore, humidity is also an important aspect and should be well maintained in the bathroom to ensure there is no mold growth which is dangerous to the little one. So maybe adding a dehumidifier in the bathroom would be a good choice in keeping your kids safe.

Can’t reach this

Look through your child’s eyes while creating your bathroom design. As they grow they’ll be gaining independence and will want to reach everything themselves. A sturdy step stool will surely see a lot of use for brushing the teeth, washing the hands and even getting in and out of a deep soaking tub. You can even make a DIY step platform out of a wooden pallet that rolls on small casters, so when the ‘grooming’ is done, the child can roll it back under the vanity. Consider a lower shelf, mirror and coat hooks for the kid’s towels, toothpastes, brushes and shampoo, and save the high shelves and cabinets for shaving supplies and flu remedies.

Two’s a crowd

The all-too-familiar childhood memory of kids elbowing for the faucet can easily be avoided if you use a big 48-inch wall mounted trough sink. Such a fixture has enough elbow room for two, even three kids to brush their teeth at the same time, which is indispensable in morning hours when everybody is getting ready for school or work. They usually come in cast-iron models, so you can easily paint the bottom with an accent colour to match the room décor.

Use and store away

Teach kids responsibility for their belongings with personalization. Storage buckets, toiletry bags, towels and products that feature their name will give them a sense of ownership, and encourage them to keep those items neat and clean. You can match towels in different colours each with your kid’s initials to keep the bathroom style rounded up. Rather than storing them in a linen closet, consider using open shelves, woven baskets or even a simple wooden chair to store kids’ towels. This way they’ll always be accessible and also become a part of the room décor.

Water-inspired themes

Choose an ocean-inspired theme for any room of the house and your kids will love it. Boats, sailors, divers, mermaids, pirates, dolphins – plenty of fascinating things going on between the waves. Still, beyond the seven seas there are plenty of other favourite themes – cars and trucks, zoo animals, bright blossoms, fiction characters. You don’t have to think hard about a theme that your kid will love for many years to come. As their taste changes, you can easily update towels, curtains and other linens.

Playful colours

The bathroom is a space where bright colours and bold contrasts mix well, so you have a free hand to experiment with your child’s favourite primary colour. Since quality bathroom supplies are usually white, they create a fresh backdrop for colourful towels, shower curtains, floor mats and accessories.

Rather than small-sizing everything, try to make the bathroom a kid-friendly environment by catering to their tastes and interests. Years and years of remodeling is expensive, so focus on décor and education, and other ways of making adult bathroom amenities accessible and safe for children to use such as using modern sinks for bathrooms.

Claire is a personal and professional development expert who believes that a positive attitude is one of the keys to success. You can find her online writing and giving tips about lifestyle and development as a regular contributor at highstylife.com. Feel free to reach her on Facebook and Twitter!