4 Ways to Find the Best Kids Shoes for Your Kids

Are you overwhelmed by the variety of shoes available for your children when you go shoe shopping? It’s tempting to choose the cutest pair, but the greatest shoe for your small boy or girl is determined by fit and function rather than appearance. Making the effort to obtain a proper fit can help them grow healthy feet for the rest of their lives. Foot discomfort, calluses, corns, ingrown toenails, and blisters can all be caused by improperly fitting shoes for your child.

Fortunately, there are methods for measuring your child’s feet so that you can locate shoes that fit without having to go on a marathon shopping spree. Use the suggestions below to help you choose your child’s next pair of shoes.

1. Measure your child’s feet

Measure your child's feet

Instead of trying to measure your child’s feet at home, take them to a shoe store. A store worker will have the best tools for measuring the length and width of your child’s feet so you can buy the best kids shoes without any difficulty.

Additional tip: Have your child stand and place a little amount of weight on each foot to lengthen it for a more accurate measurement.

2. Don’t go overboard with your purchase

Don't go overboard with your purchase

One of the most prevalent problems is when parents buy their children shoes that are too big for them. This is particularly concerning for infants and toddlers who are still learning to walk and are frequently unsteady.

Parents frequently purchase larger shoes in the hopes that their children will grow into them and that they will last longer. However, shoes that are half or full size too big put your youngster at risk of tripping and falling, which can result in damage.

3. Always check the toes

 Always check the toes

Overcrowding or increased pressure on the toes can be avoided with adequate width and depth at the front of the shoe, or toe box. Make sure your child’s shoes allow him or her to freely flex the front of his or her foot and wriggle his or her toes — without any slippage or squashed toes.

From the longest toe to the front of the shoe, allow 1 to 2 cm (or approximately a thumb’s breadth). More than 3 cm is too large, whereas less than 1 cm is excessively tiny.

4. Support takes priority over style

 Support takes priority over style

Children are generally active and love sports and other physical activities, therefore closed-toe athletic shoes with arch support are the ideal choice.

Rubber soles are especially beneficial for children since they provide improved traction and minimize the danger of falling. Hard soles provide more support, whereas soft soles provide minimal support and control of foot movements, according to her.

Buying shoes made of breathable materials like leather, canvas, or mesh is also recommended by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. The feet of children sweat more than the feet of adults. These materials can aid in the movement of air.

Why Does It Matter to Find Best Kids Shoes?

Newborns have soft, supple, fat-filled feet from the moment they are born. Children’s feet shed fat and their bones stretch and get into position as they develop and become more physically active. Shoes should be carefully packed to avoid foot abnormalities and allow for healthy foot growth. After all, your child’s feet will be walking hundreds of miles throughout their lives, so they deserve to be treated! As a result, it’s critical to invest some time and money in finding the proper shoe for your child’s feet.

When and how often should you buy shoes?

how often should you buy shoes

Children’s shoes, as strange as they may seem, must be updated every few months to allow for foot development. Children may develop a whole shoe size in a month, and before you know it, toes are peeking out of socks, and you’re on your way to the shoe store. Don’t put off getting new Crocs until your child’s toes develop curved nails! To stay on top of the correct shoe size in your children’s closets, schedule a monthly shoe check.

Conclusion

Finding shoes that your kid enjoys wearing and feels at ease in may be difficult, especially if they are too little to articulate. Follow the above shoe guidelines to select brands you can trust and get comfy shoes.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE READING HABITS IN YOUR CHILD

Children these days have access to digital technology and gadgets that their parents did not. One generation sees the world differently than the next; of course, there’s truth to that. But the technology kids use these days are doing more harm than benefit them. That is why, as a parent, you should intervene in your kid’s life and kill their dependency on gadgets at the root.

 

Digital Detox: Brilliant minds of this generation spend hours coming up with interesting mobile games and social media strategies that make kids hooked to them. Screen-Addiction is very much similar to the addictive nature of drugs; the brain rewards a user once he logs into his digital world and spends more and more time in them while ignoring reality. 

 

  • This addiction won’t go away without effort. Like any other addiction, kids, too, would experience withdrawal symptoms after not using mobile phones. It is essential to replace their screen addiction with something else that will enrich their minds instead of harming them. Books are a great alternative that keeps people engaged in an alternate world of imagination and encourages children to be more conscious about one’s place in the world. 
  • Watching videos on the internet or surfing the web is passive work as one consumes the content passively without exercising their mind. On the other hand, reading storybooks is an active process that requires proper concentration and attention. That is why it is helpful for children to develop a reading habit to detoxify the internet addiction. 

 

The New Habit: while digital detox is necessary, one must acknowledge that children need personal time to focus on things they like. Reading storybooks for fun is considered a great hobby that helps shape one’s mind. Here are ways one can instill the habit of reading in small children. 

 

  • Re-read The Same Books: When you read a child their favorite books once again, it helps them visualize the plot better and fall in love with the character. Reading also helps the young reader gain speed and accuracy. 
  • A Shift in Personal Habit: Kids follow their parents a great deal. When a parent is glued to their mobiles (for work and entertainment), a child too wants to experience the same. As a parent, be sure to read more to set an example for the young ones. 
  • Books as Reward: Kids need to learn that books are not equated with punishment. When they do something good, reward them with an exciting storybook that they may enjoy reading. 
  • Pick Books at Right Level: Books are written for different age groups, and a parent must learn to recommend the right books for their kids. A child will not enjoy books that are mainly written for a grown-up audience. For example, during summer vacation, you may develop summer reading ideas and include a list of excellent books for your kids
  • Let Your Kid Choose: Take your kid to a bookstore where he will explore the joy of purchasing books. Let him select whichever books he likes. A child may choose lots of comics and graphic novels, which is fine. The more they read, the more they develop their own sense of likes and dislikes when reading books. 
  • Family Story Time: Reading a bedtime story every night is a great way to make your children fall in love with books, and at the same time, it will have a calming effect which will result in better sleep. Try to make it a family tradition that they will enjoy and cherish as a memory once they grow up. 

 

4 Ways to Improve Responsibility in your Kids

Children are too young to handle complex tasks independently, although they are happy to help you out at home or do the shopping. At the same time, your child is becoming more independent, and he probably likes to make decisions on his own. You can support this by assigning tasks that you know you can complete. As a result, they will know they can help take care of themselves and the world around them and prepare them for greater responsibilities later in childhood.

As a mom or a dad, you would be concerned for your child. While you do want them to take more and improve responsibility, you also do not want them to hurt themselves just cause you pushed them to do something.

Well, you got to try. Check if the following ways may be helpful for you and your child.

 

Reward system

Yes, we cannot impress enough on positive parenting. You need to be the safe haven for your child as opposed to someone whom the child dreads. Establishing a reward system help encourage the child to take up responsibility and ensure that it is duly taken care of. You do not even have to promise them pocket money or anything. Maybe just an ice cream after lunch or a small present or letting them watch their favorite show for 30 more minutes can do. Still, once they actually see this happening, they would be eager to take up more responsibilities and fulfill those provided that now they are guided by incentives.

Teaching them to work first and then play

Even when your child has a short attention span, you can start teaching him how to get rid of homework before he relaxes or enjoys himself.

Be friendly and admit that you like entertainment too. Show him that you are not bullying; you just expect him to behave responsibly, just like you. An excellent way to explain this idea to your child is to use the “when n then” rule. For example, you might say, “When we clean the table, then we can play dice.” It is more important to use the “when” word rather than “if.” This is because “if” means you just have to clear the table “if” you want to play dice. But “when” states that the table must be cleared at some point, it doesn’t matter what, and playing games is just a bonus.

These are small changes that you can make in addressing your child, and you will see a huge difference in their sense of responsibility. You can even take the help of online parenting blogs like Dadistry to help you along.

 

Make the chores enjoyable for them

We enjoy our tasks best when they are fun and friendly. Your baby would love spending time with you; though emptying the dryer may not be considered a job, it’s fun to pull warm, fluffy clothes and put them in the basket! If you clean the toys, have a friendly competition with your little one to see who can cater to more toys amongst both of you. You can even cook with them or make some refreshing drinks and ask them to help; teach them how a few things in the kitchen area to be handled with care and always clean after using the kitchen. This will also explain to them (indirectly) to be responsible for the cleanliness of their surroundings and prepare them to take up more responsibility.

 

Hold them accountable

We would tell you the golden rule to bringing about something. It is to start small. You cannot expect the child to learn to be responsible overnight, but over time, yes, that is what you should expect. If they leave the lights switched on in a room, tell them to go back and switch them off. You do not have to scold them. Tell them how electricity conservation is important. Do not let them leave the food half-eaten. Tell them about how many kids survive on less than three meals a day. Tell them how scarce food is. Instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in them without the use of threats or punishments.

This should not end here. Once you see them actually following what you taught them, reward and acknowledge them. You can even celebrate a few of those.

 

A Mini Guide

You need to start with making smaller changes in your child’s daily routine. If you haven’t done the following, you may want to do them now.

  1.     Start by asking them to wake up with an alarm on a weekend
  2.     Teach them to tie their shoelaces
  3.     Establishing family rules for, e.g., asking before one even kisses their own siblings (these go without rewards, however)
  4.     Praise them when they start making efforts
  5.     Get them their first wristwatch to help them track time
  6.     Give them a weekly plan with tasks to accomplish
  7.     Be a role model for them

You have got this!

 

Be realistic

We cannot impress on this enough. Rome was not built in a day, and it involved adults. We are dealing with children here, and you need to exercise immense patience. Your kid won’t always put shoes behind the front door or put toys back in the box. If that’s not right, he tries not to be impatient. Just remind him, “Remember, put the trucks away when you’re done.” If he is tired, for example, after a day in kindergarten, give him a little more help. He probably spent the whole day following the rules, and now he wants to get some rest when he’s home. Finally, whenever your child tries to act responsibly, give him a lot of praise and attention even if he fails. This shows your child that their efforts are important and appreciated.

 

Bottom Line

Let your child know that he has to follow certain rules, but positively explain them without threats or any kind of ultimatum. Show your child how responsible he is by taking care of your things and your space. He sets the car keys on the hook where they belong, instead of on the table, and picks up the clothes off the bedroom floor. He explains why you are also doing this to let your child know why it is important to be responsible.

 

 

Author Bio

Evie Harrison is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs

When and How to Plan Your Gender Reveal Party for Family and Friends

Knowing about the gender of your baby-to-be can be an extremely delightful and humbling experience. Hence, celebrating the moment with a party makes sense.  Gender reveal party helps parents reveal the gender of the child before its birth to their friends and family.

In some situations, even the parents aren’t aware of the child’s gender until the party. Not so long ago, knowing the gender of a child was incredibly simple, with a doctor simply giving you an envelope with the answer within.

Today, this momentous occasion in any parent’s life can be turned into a joyous celebration that creates a significant amount of happiness and delight for the parents.

When to Plan a Party?

Your gynecologist or ultrasound technician can discern the sex of your child roughly around 18 weeks into your pregnancy. There are options to find out the gender, even earlier, with non-invasive prenatal testing.

So ideally, your gender reveal party can be held roughly after two and a half months to four and a half months of your pregnancy. In reality, though, many parents would opt for waiting a little longer just in case any potential complications happen with their pregnancy.

So the most common time to throw a gender reveal party is anywhere between 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. This would be a good time to start planning for your party.

How to Plan a Gender Reveal Party

The parties, in general, have three specific audiences that they target based on who is aware of the gender of the child.

In the first situation, the parents would be aware of the gender and reveal the same to their friends and family members. In this situation, you can choose the best planning option with your spouse and orchestrate an event for a gathering of your close loved ones.

The second option is if one of the parents knows while the other is left in the dark. You might want to throw a more intimate and private event with only your closest friends and family in these situations. In this case, it would be left up to the spouse aware of the gender to plan the party accordingly.

The third option is when both parents are not aware of the gender of the child. This can be done by discussing with your obstetrician or gynecologist before you go in for the ultrasound. They will simply jot down the gender of your child in an envelope and give it to you.

After this, you can give the envelope to a close friend, who will then be in charge of planning the party, or a gender reveal party planner who will make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that your day of celebration goes off without any hassles.

Final Thoughts

Ideally, the best option would be if both the parents do not know the gender and the party planning are left to a reliable professional. This way, not only will the surprise be simultaneous for both you and your spouse, but you will also have a party that will be perfectly planned, down to the last detail. 

 

3 Ways That Personalized Books Make Kids Fall In Love With Reading

Learning to read is one of the most important things your child will ever do. Story time is the backbone of any successful day in a child’s early development, and as parents, it is our duty to engage our kids with reading as much as we can.

However, in today’s fast-paced, technologically-advanced society, enticing a child to sit down and read a book is probably a more difficult task than it’s ever been before. Amidst all the phones and tablets and laptops and video games, how can we make reading exciting for them?

For me, personalized books have been a Godsend. These are story or learning books personalized with your child’s name, and often a photo, making them immediately stand out from all the other books on the shelf. Many personalized books, like the ones available here, feature the child’s name not just in the text, but also in the pictures and illustrations. In this post, I look at three reasons why personalized books are a great way to make your child fall in love with reading!

 

1. Making Your Child Centre of Attention

 

We all know that most young children love nothing more than being the centre of attention all the time. Personalized books do a great job of accomplishing that, by putting them front and centre.

We’ve all been in the situation when our children ask to hear a story, and we know what they want is to hear some version of the classic “Once upon a time, there was a very special girl named Sarah” (or whatever their name may be of course!) Kids love imagining themselves as princesses, or brave knights – often a real test of our imagination! But with a personalized storybook, all the hard work is done for you, as they tell classic fairytale stories with your child as the star of the show.

Personalized books can also be extremely effective for the less confident child. Placing them in the story as the hero can instill them with pride and self-assurance as they read or listen to a story in which they accomplish incredible feats and save the day! In their personalized stories, they can do anything, and this knowledge can transfer over to their own lives.

Finally, a personalized book can be a really simple way to remind a struggling child just how loved they are. Maybe they’re having a hard time at school, or perhaps a younger sibling has just been born, stealing the limelight that was previously exclusive to them! In any case, their unique personalized book, focused completely on them, will surely let them know that whatever changes may happen, they’re still very special, and always will be.

 

2. Engaging Reluctant Readers

 

 

Numerous studies have shown how a child’s early reading ability can have a direct correlation to their overall academic performance through high school, as well as their lifelong earning potential. With this in mind, many experts recommend beginning reading to your baby as soon as he or she is born!

Despite the obvious benefits of reading, some children, try as we might, are simply not interested in it. Of course, we can’t just give up – rather, it’s our job to make reading exciting for them in some way.

Personalized books are better positioned to entice reluctant readers, particularly those who are most stimulated visually. Many personalized books feature the child’s name not just in the text, but also in the pictures and illustrations. Sometimes they are even hidden, creating a fun game for the child to try and find them!

Personalization creates a different element to reading books, making them seem more fresh and interesting than the books at school or the library.

 

3. A Fresh Take on Old Favorites

 

 

All kids love Disney, right? Personalized Disney books have taken off massively over the past few years. Some simply can’t get enough of Moana, Olaf, Dory and Buzz Lightyear, and digest as much of these characters and stories as their brains allow, in a variety of forms. Other children, especially in this era of the internet and streaming services, prefer to stick to just watching on TV. To them, a storybook can’t compete with a motion picture. Unless…

Personalized books offer a fresh take on your child’s favorite stories – instead of just retelling the tale on paper, they place your child right into the heart of the story, offering them the unique opportunity to visit Wonderland, the Hundred Acre Wood, Monstropolis or Pride Rock in a way they never have before.

Personalized books are not just limited to Disney though! With many companies offering a diverse range, you can be sure that whatever their preference, their favorite characters are waiting for them to join in and come along for the ride.

Redefining the Motherhood Experience: 6 Apps That Can Help You Organize

As a new mother, chances are you’re trying to juggle between taking care of your baby, doing chores or completing business obligations, or even trying to squeeze in some time for yourself. While these are all natural aspects of motherhood, becoming a parent can be an incredibly challenging and stressful time we could all use some help with, and technology might be the ideal answer. If you are looking for ways to organize and make motherhood a bit easier to handle, here are some beneficial apps that might help:

 

Daily baby activity apps

Sleepy BabyIf you’re in search of an application that will allow you to monitor your child’s everyday activities, there are a number of tracker apps like Baby Bundle and Total Baby that do the job well. These apps will give you the opportunity to log pooping and sleeping schedules, monitor feeding times, and keep track of bath routines. Offering some extra features you could record, such as doctor’s appointments, vaccination charts, and even helpful parenting guides, these tracking apps can be incredibly useful when monitoring the day-to-day activity of both newborns and older children.

 

Nursing and feeding trackers

While keeping up with your baby’s feeding schedule might be a difficult task for many new moms, there are plenty of apps that could help make this an easier and more pleasant experience. In case you are breastfeeding, an app like Baby Tracker Nursing will allow you to monitor your child’s breastfeeding schedule, record nursing times, or even share these details with a doctor, while an app like Milk Maid could be particularly helpful if you are pumping, allowing you to track your stored milk as well. If you haven’t decided to breastfeed, on the other hand, an application like IBaby Feed Timer will allow you to track the number of bottle feeds, the duration of feeding sessions, and even anticipate the time of the next feed.

 

Child development apps

If you’re looking for an all-around organizer that will allow you to keep track of all your motherhood needs in one place, a baby development app such as Mumli would be the ideal solution. This application will give you the opportunity to create your own profile where you could post updates and ask questions, and even follow and connect with other moms to share information, advice, and personal experience about all things baby-related. However, possibly the most useful aspect of Mumli is the fact that it allows you to create and share collections, providing you with a space where you could organize the mess of screenshots, articles, and messages you’ve collected in one easily accessible place.

 

Baby-friendly maps

In case you plan on traveling with your child, you might need some additional help when it comes to finding baby-friendly locations in new and unfamiliar destinations. Applications such as Mom Maps can be of great help, providing you with maps pinned with parks, shops, restaurants, cafes, museums, and other places you could safely visit with your baby, all approved by other mothers. But if you need more detailed apps for your own area, an app like Instant Playdates might be a better option. This application gives you the opportunity to connect with moms who have children of the same age as yours, allowing you to schedule playdates, arrange meetups, or even call them over to your home for bonding time.

 

Health-based applications

What first-time moms need is often a way they could keep track of their baby’s health, and fortunately, there are a number of apps that could help with this as well. For instance, an application like Growth will let you monitor your kid’s growth according to CDC and WHO guidelines, while apps such as Child Medical History can help you keep up with everything from doctor’s appointments to your baby’s blood type, allergies, test results, and other medical information. If you’re looking for medical apps that could provide useful, doctor-approved health information, WebMD Baby can be a good choice for finding helpful articles regarding health news, caring tips, symptoms to keep in mind, and much more.

 

Baby monitor apps

Baby

Sometimes your organizational needs might simply be monitoring your baby and ensuring they are safe and sound while you take care of necessary chores and other obligations. Thankfully, there are some apps that could help with this aspect as well. In case you don’t have a larger budget, or you simply haven’t had enough time to invest in a baby monitor, applications like Cloud Baby Monitor will allow you to turn any two smart devices you already own, such as a phone and a tablet, into a streaming device that gives you the opportunity to monitor your baby with ease.

 

Staying organized as a new mother is never an easy task, but the beneficial apps mentioned above might allow you to turn this beautiful yet stressful period into an easier and more enjoyable time.

Tips for the Stay-At-Home Dad

Old traditions are being replaced with new ones, as society evolves alongside technology and in many relationships, it is the woman who goes out and earns the money, while hubby takes the backstage role. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about; if she makes more money than you do, then this is the smart way to move forward; besides, many family men make some money with an online business.

If you are taking the home role in the relationship, here are a few tips to make the transition work.

Be Systematic – Most men are visibly shocked when they start managing a family home, wondering how their partner manages to do everything without effort! Plan the daily clean like you would a military campaign and stick to timetables. The house doesn’t clean itself and whether or not parenting is on the menu, you need to allocate enough time to keep things clean. Hardwood floors need to be swept and mopped daily, while the vacuum deals with carpets and rugs (every other day is recommended) and putting the trash out on the right day is another chore not to overlook.

Make Good Use of the Internet – Time is very important when you have a large house to manage and your weekly groceries can be bought online and delivered to your door, as can anything else that you need. For liquid refreshment, check out one of the local breweries in Sydney Australia, where you can buy fine craft beers online, then you’ll always have a few beers in the cooler when friends pop round. Any domestic services you need can be sourced with a Google search, should you experience a blocked drain or burst water pipe.

Create a Weekly Chart – This will be your guide to the many daily tasks and when you list everything within a timeline, you become very efficient. Monday might be the upstairs cleaning day, with Wednesday afternoon set aside for your online work (has to be done at some time); all tasks should be listed, along with any supplies you might need.

Pamper your Partner – Of course, you know how it feels to come home after a long day at the office, so do go out of your way to pour her a glass of wine and prepare an armchair where she can relax while waiting for that delicious dinner that’s in the oven. She will appreciate you running a hot bath and bringing her a drink when she arrives and this keeps the relationship on an even keel. Click here for tips to develop sustainability in your life.

Parenting – If you are looking after young children, this is a whole new ball game that will stretch your parenting skills to the max! It is paramount that you don’t run out of essentials like tissue and wipes, so keep your eye on supplies and when the kids are asleep is the time for the housework!

A few years as a stay at home dad will certainly broaden your horizons and give you another perspective of your relationship; here is some Australian government information on working from home, which might prove to be invaluable.

Gift Ideas for Your Child

Children are different these days. Their lives are informed by technology. They spend most of their time on a tablet, phone, or computer. It can be difficult to know what to buy your children for their birthday, Christmas, or another special occasion. Still there are many options you should think about. Whether your child loves video games, adventure, or sports, there are plenty of gift ideas for their day or moment. Read below to find some great gifts for your kids when they deserve something special.

 

Outdoor & Sports Equipment

Over the last year all of us have spent a lot of time inside. If your kids are like most of us, they want to get out and enjoy being outside around other children. One great idea for a gift is to buy them outdoor or sports equipment. Whatever your child is into, there is a great gift for them to use outside.

A new baseball bat, a basketball hoop, a tent for camping, a bike, skateboard, snowboard, and more are all great ideas to buy a child for their birthday or another occasion. Ask them a few questions. Pay attention to what sparks their interest and you just might find the perfect outdoor and sports gear to buy them. You won’t just be making them happy, you will be encouraging them to get out and exercise.

 

Gaming Products

If your kid loves video games, you might not want to continue buying them more games that they will play inside. You don’t want to discourage their passion but want them to spend time doing other things as well. One way to cultivate their interest while avoiding buying yet another game or console is to buy a gaming subscription box. These individually curated boxes offer products that are about a particular game or subject but aren’t games themselves. The products include t-shirts, socks, figurines, books, statues, blankets, bags, and more. Whether your child is into Zelda, Kingdom of Hearts, or another game, there is a box with all kinds of merchandise they will surely love.

 

A Weekend Trip

Some children want to go out and do something for their gift. This can be in a variety of different contexts. Do they like camping? Do they want to go skiing or hiking? What about theme parks? With Disneyland and others opening back up, a lot of kids want to go on rides and lose themselves in the fun. Depending on what your child is interested in, you can purchase tickets or set aside some time for the trip that they’ve been craving. Not only will it be fun for them, it’s a great way to satisfy the whole family. With technology becoming an omnipresent part of our society, getting out and doing something interactive and physical can be a great gift.

 

A Specific Activity

Theme parks and the outdoors aren’t the only activities you can give to your child as a gift, there are plenty of other options. What about taking them to the zoo or an aquarium? A science museum ever disappoints. What about a natural history museum? You can surprise them with a specific craft idea. Think about what your child likes and find an outing or activity that best suits their personality. You can even book a snorkeling outing or rent off-road vehicles. It doesn’t have to be very time-consuming to satisfy your child.

 

Educational Gifts

In addition to the outdoors, activities, and video games, there are plenty of ways to sneak in education into a gift. A monthly book subscription is a great gift for the voracious reader and curious mind. Table top games can boost their critical thinking and provide knowledge about a range of different subjects. A pair of binoculars may bolster their interest in nature. There are all kinds of fun gifts that are also useful, educational, and interactive. Your child may love any number of outside-the-box gift ideas.

Every child is different and wants different things, but there are all kinds of gifts that they will like while being good for them. Do some thinking. Ask them about their current interests. Observe their habits. If you take into account who they are becoming and what will make them happy, you will find an array of amazing gift options to choose from.

Helping Your Child Leave the Nest

Summer is approaching quickly and students are graduating from high school and college. If your child is graduating, their life will be changing quickly. Even if your child isn’t leaving university or high school, when they need to leave the home they require help at first. Whatever the situation, facilitating the process of your child leaving the nest will help them stay independent. With so many people going back home after they’ve left, it’s important to support them so they get on their feet. Here are a few situations that you can help them with so that you can become an empty nester.

 

Leaving For College

It’s always scary to graduate high school and begin your college career. If your child is graduating this year, you already know where they are going to college. There are still preparations to be done. Have you decided whether they will stay on the campus or off-campus? They will likely need financial assistance to get started at their new home. Will your student start working? If so, you should encourage your child to start looking for a job where they are going to school right away. You should also go shopping for supplies and clothing. College is a big time and they will need to get a lot of things in order. Don’t wait to help them get started.

 

Graduating College

Perhaps it is even scarier to graduate college. You are going out into the unknown. When your child is graduating from college, there are some things you should help them with. First, you should talk to them about their next steps. Will they do an internship before they get a job? Either way, they will have to get their resume together. Help them build a resume for the job they want. For additional support with the resume writing process, it might even be a good idea to contact a California resume service like ARC Resumes or a similar professional resume writing service in your local area for some tips and advice. Will your child be coming from after college or will they be living somewhere else? You will likely have to help them move. The most important thing is to quell their fears. Leaving college is a scary time and they will not know what to do next.

 

Getting a Job

It isn’t easy for any new college graduate to get a job. There are a variety of things you should do to help them get hired. The first occupation your child may not be exactly what they want it to be. Even if they can’t find a position in the field they want to go to college for, it’s important for them to start working after they graduate. It’s vital for them to go out into the real world and start working. If they don’t get a job, they will be delaying the process of adjusting to the real world and life. They’ll need to get the right experience to get employed at the job of your dreams.

 

Renting an Apartment

Whether they are getting a job right out of college and need to find a home, renting an apartment for the first time can be very difficult. If they don’t have any credit, you might need to cosign for them. They also might need a down payment. A great option to help them transition smoothly is to have them live at home for a while to save money when they begin working. They will likely be moving in with roommates. It’s important to meet them and vet the situation. You have much more real world experience than your child, they might not want you to be a part of it but you should help them secure their first apartment when they are moving out.

Whether your child is graduating high school, going to college, graduating college, getting a job, or renting their first place, your child will need assistance. It won’t be easy for them to get started in real life. The next few years will be difficult, but if you encourage them not to give up they will be able to create a happy, prosperous life. If you do all that you can to set your child up with their own situation, the chances that they will come back will decrease and they will stay independent. You won’t regret supporting their journey into their new life.

Five Ways to Boost Your Child’s Gut Health

One of the most important things you can do for your kids is setting them up for life by providing a proper digestive system foundation. The microbiome is the collection of bacteria that lives on and around the human body. There are at least as many bacteria in the gut as there are cells in the body. Those bacteria are essential because they set the body’s immune system, especially when babies are first exposed to the bacteria. Some of the ways to maintain gut health in your children include:

1. Having a normal, healthy vaginal birth

The children born more naturally tend more gut bacteria than the ones born via C-section. However, the way babies are born and its influence on their later health is uncertain: One of the reasons may be that they are exposed to bacteria that colonize their gut at birth. Babies born vaginally pick up helpful gut bacteria from their mothers during the birth process. Conversely, babies born through cesarean pick up organisms from the environment: Meaning that they are much more likely to carry bacteria that are potentially harmful and resistant to antibiotics.

Before birth, the fetus is enclosed by amniotic membranes that physically separate it from the uterus cavity and preserve a sterile environment. The first exposure to bacteria starts with rupture of membranes that, in most cases, happens a few hours or even less before birth. It releases the amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus and facilitates access to bacteria that ascend from the vaginal mucosa into the uterus cavity.

2. Breastfeed your baby

Following delivery, the close contact between mother and child facilitates the bacteria colonizing maternal skin. When the neonate starts suckling at the mother’s breasts, their interaction with bacteria intensifies. Regular breastfeeding maintains the transfer and ingestion of resident bacteria. Bacteria found in breast milk such as Streptococci and Staphylococci represent known constituents of the skin microbiota. Breast-feeding undoubtedly exerts a significant influence on the establishment of the enteric microbiota, but this may not primarily be due to its role as a source for new bacterial species but rather its vital prebiotic and nutritional influence.

3. Diet is key

Diet may be considered as the primary factor influencing gut microbiota composition and functionality. Fermented foods are rich in live bacteria that function as natural probiotics—a food-based way to replenish your microbiome’s healthy bacteria. A depleted microbiome leads to weight gain, whereas fermented foods help keep our microbiome balanced and healthy. When your kids stop eating them, their microbiome takes a hit—and weight gain results. Natural probiotics, which replenish your microbiome with more beneficial bacteria, include:

• Fermented vegetables, such as kimchee and sauerkraut

• Fermented dairy products, such as kefir and yogurt made from sheep’s or goat’s milk and avoid the commercial products that are heavily sweetened and have added sugars and fruits
Natural prebiotics, which nourishes the healthy bacteria already in your microbiome:

• Cinnamon, which balances blood sugar and, therefore, insulin, helping to prevent insulin resistance and thereby causing your body to burn fat rather than store it,

• Turmeric, a natural anti-inflammatory that helps heal the gut, support the microbiome, and promote good brain function.
Other food sources include asparagus, carrots, jicama, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, leeks, onions, radishes, tomatoes.

4. Create a healthy lifestyle

If your child’s health is optimal, then they will not have gut problems. Ensure your kids are staying hydrated by drinking enough fluids throughout the day. To make them drink water more, you could try giving them fruit-infused water, which has an enhanced taste. Moreover, your children need to stay active because it stimulates the digestive system and helps in the waste excretion process. Therefore, please encourage them to go outside to play with other children or take them on runs with you. Do not keep over-sanitizing your kids; it does more harm than good. Exposure to germs can help boost their immune system.

5. Do not forget to include probiotics and prebiotics

Probiotic bacteria are viable microorganisms that exert a health-promoting effect on the host organism. The administration of probiotic bacteria, the nutritional supplementation with substances that foster beneficial bacteria known as prebiotics has become a therapeutic strategy. An excellent probiotic contains:

• Many diverse species

• At least these three types of Lactobacillus: acidophilus, rameneses, planataris

• Different types of Bifidobacteria

• As a bonus, Acidophilus reuterii

• Between 50 billion and 200 billion bacteria—the more, the better.

It is advisable to always purchase probiotic and prebiotic supplements with the help of a board-certified pediatric gut health professional to help your child grow into a healthy adult.