Category: Parenting

The best way to teach kids about sustainability is to instill them with a deep reverence for nature. If your kids are already nature babies and love the great outdoors, that is fabulous! There are ways you can incorporate earth-saving lessons when they are playing in the woods or picking wildflowers.  Helping your kids stay mindful of the environment throughout every step of their lives will ensure they maintain a healthy respect for the earth. Here are a few fun and eco-friendly activities to do with kids this summer that ingrains valuable teachings about caring for the environment.

Nature Walks: Pack a picnic lunch and take the kiddies for a walk in nature. While you and the littles are packing delicious treats for the trail, share information with your kids about sustainable ways to pack a picnic. Show them how to reduce waste by substituting plastics for reusable glass containers, and replacing one-use water bottles with reusable ones. Pack a nature guide book in the picnic basket too.  Then play a game of “eye spy” while on your nature walk and use the nature guide to look up the different kinds of birds, trees, and flowers your kids are spying on. The idea here is to fully involve children with every step of being aware, being kind, and honoring nature.

Road Trips: Now more than ever there are a growing number of eco-friendly destinations that are practicing mindful sustainability and also great summer spots for the whole family. Wherever you decide to go, you can teach your kids how to travel sustainably every step of the trip. For example, educate them about shopping and eating at local farmers’ markets and farm-to-table restaurants and how this reduces the energy required to ship and refrigerate foods which leads to a lower carbon footprint. Consider renting or buying an electric car with an EV charger for your family road trip and explain how these vehicles reduce emissions that damage the environment. There are endless ways to demonstrate how your kids (and you) can stay mindful about sustainability in every aspect of summer fun.

Gardening: Hands down, perhaps one of the most beautiful ways to illustrate the cycle of life in nature to kids is growing a garden with them. This activity has loads of benefits and rewards for you and your family.  Most obviously, you can practice sustainability by growing your own produce instead of buying it from the grocery store. You can take this activity with the kids a step forward and teach them how to honor nature by practicing green gardening techniques. For example, explain how pesticides are harmful to the earth and show them how to use alternatives for reducing pesky bugs and invasive weeds. Explain how planting native plants are more sustainable than exotic (non-local) options. You can also involve them in water-saving practices like irrigation or using rain barrels to promote sustainability. You can even encourage the kids to help plant a butterfly garden and explain the powerful role butterflies play in the ecology of our planet.

Repurposing for Nature: Another great activity to involve the kids in is building habitats for nature’s creatures from reclaimed materials. Make an event out of this by taking the kiddies along to rummage yards and pick through viable materials that can be repurposed for this activity. Once your home with your junkyard treasures, brainstorm what kind of homes you can build. The options are endless, from birdhouses to bat boxes.  You can even introduce your kids to the globe-saving art of beekeeping by building a beehive from reclaimed materials. This activity can open your kid’s eyes about how the important function bees play in pollinating plants so they can produce fruits, flowers, and veggies. Additionally, the act of upcycling and repurposing materials is an effective lesson on sustainability.

Whatever you plan to do with the kids this summer, there is always an occasion to share valuable observations with your kids about sustainability and caring for mother nature. The more our children learn that our earth’s resources are finite and should be nurtured, the better our odds are for preserving the planet. Involving kids with eco-friendly summer activities is a fun way to instill valuable lessons of conservation. Doing so will make this world a better place for their kids, your grandkids, and generations to come.

 

Despite their best efforts, most parents can’t do it all by themselves. They need some help now and then.

 

If this describes your situation, the help you seek may be as close as inside your pocket. By using the following five apps, parents can alleviate some of the headaches and hassles of raising a family without compromising on the quality or merit of their parenting:

 

Google Calendar App

 

Streamline and simplify your complex schedule with the Google Calendar app. Day, week, and monthly views allow you to get a handle on upcoming events quickly. Add events to your calendar easily with Google Calendar’s many synchronization features. You can even track tasks to be sure essential action items don’t fall off the radar. Synchronize your schedule with various mobile-friendly calendar apps or add events to your calendar directly from Gmail, Chat, or Meetup. Of particular help to families is the ability to share calendars. With this app, there’s no need to wonder when everyone is free for the family camping trip or if a parent will be available to give Timmy a ride to soccer practice.

 

Whisk: Recipe Saver, Meal Planner & Grocery List

 

Winner of Google Play’s Best of 2020 ‘Everyday Essentials’ Award, this app boasts a 4.8-star review and over 500,000 downloads for a good reason. This app simplifies your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping, taking the stress out of these essential tasks. Browse the app’s recipe library or import recipes directly from any website to add to your Whisk cookbook – complete with your own recipe sections like ‘vegetarian,’ ‘keto,’ or ‘quick meals.’ Once they’re there, edit those recipes to add that extra touch of seasoning or ingredient swap that you always use. The app automatically adds nutrition information and a ‘Whisk Health Score’ to imported recipes as well so families can feel confident in making healthy meal choices. All done with planning the week’s dishes? With the click of a button, this app adds the ingredients to a shopping list shared with others. Even better, take advantage of Whisk’s partnerships with popular grocery delivery services like Instacart and Amazon Fresh to have the ingredients delivered directly to your door.

 

Nextdoor

 

In today’s era of hectic schedules, it can be challenging to take the time for the little things, like getting to know your neighbors. The Nextdoor app helps busy families stay connected to their community with various useful and fun features. Discover local businesses, learn about upcoming neighborhood events, buy, sell, and swap items locally, or discover which neighbors share your interests with the Groups feature. Be sure to read the Nextdoor racism-prevention community guidelines to recognize and report any racial profiling posts you see. Doing so helps keep the app a safe and supportive place for families everywhere.

 

Life360

 

Keeping busy families in touch throughout their day, this app uses GPS to show family members’ current location on the group map, complete with an address. Give addresses context with customizable location labels that are as serious of fun as you make them. This app is beneficial for parents of busy adolescents and teens. Parents always know precisely where to go to help if a child becomes unexpectedly stranded or lost. The app also lets you know when a family member’s phone battery is low, so they can be reminded to recharge. Automatic crash detection and the ability to send a silent SOS to alert family to danger or let the app’s 24/7 dispatch team call for help are also included. This app helps families quickly respond and coordinate when something unexpected arises and gives them peace of mind when it doesn’t.

 

Weldon – Parenting Support

 

Are you struggling with ways to keep your kids entertained and engaged or wondering about how to support them through learning a new skill? This app helps you learn about developmental stages, receive expert advice on common family challenges, set goals and track progress, and even chat with other parents who have struggled with the same issues. Weldon’s chat feature doesn’t stop there, though. They also have staff members and child development experts participating in the chats to offer their professional perspectives. Plus, the app has over 500 activities you can engage in with your children in categories ranging from active outdoor activities to quiet mindfulness and everything in between.

 

Parents need all the help they can get these days. Don’t make parenting harder on yourself than necessary. Take advantage of useful apps for parents, starting today.

Babysitting is not an easy job. It involves patience, self-control, and among other things to ensure that you are right on track. If it’s your first time babysitting and is feeling nervous about how to do it correctly, then we are glad that you stumbled upon this article today.

There’s no denying that babysitting can be a bit hard sometimes. Fret not because today, we are going to help you be an expert on the job. That said, here are top tips to make your babysitting experience a breeze.

 

Patience and Self Control Is Key

Watching out for kids and taking care of them is easier said than done. Of course, we were also kids during the early years of our life. Then we came to realize how stubborn we were when the tables finally turned as we grew up.

This is why the importance of your patience and self-control should never be overlooked. Keep in mind that babysitting is not like watching out for pets who will just sleep all day. Kids love to play, mess around, and sometimes, just goof around with you.

So keep your patience at its peak to retain your comfort level whatever way the situation will turn out. Avoid emotionally breaking down in front of a kid as doing so is a disaster waiting to happen. Keep your cool, stay calm, and go with the flow no matter how unpredictable it can be.

 

Building a Connection Is a Must

Having a connection with the kid you are babysitting with is the most important part of this job. Doing so helps you understand its needs and behavior towards adults. This allows you to be confident about how to handle him/her when things go beyond their limits.

It’s better if you avoid getting too harsh when stuff starts to derail from its tracks. Since you already have a connection with the child, try to have a little chit-chat to establish your connection even more. 

If they sense that you are a person that they can trust, then everything will be flowing smoothly further on. Better yet, treat them as if they are your brother or sister. This might be a little hard for only sons/daughters but think of it as a challenge instead. 

 

Keep Your Cool at All Times

Babysitting is somewhat pretty easy. It’s not like becoming a call center agent where you have to deal with stress the entire day. When things turn for the worse, take your time to relax and cool down.

It’s also better to babysit when you are in the mood. If you try to babysit after fighting with your friend or when things are not okay at home, then this is surely a recipe for disaster. So always try to compose yourself before getting into the job. 

Having patience comes a long way when babysitting. You don’t want to make the kid cry, right? Or the next thing you’ll find is their parents coming home to fire you immediately. 

 

Always Keep Your Lines Open

Speaking of the kid’s parents, this is where the importance of communication comes into play. Sometimes, it’s hard to deal with babysitting on our own. That’s why there’s no other way to go and look for help but none other than the kid’s parents. 

Always be on the lookout for telephone calls or even text messages from the parents. If you need help about finding certain stuff the kid wants, call the parents. If you’re having trouble dealing with the kid’s temper, call the parents again. 

Parents know their children very well so don’t hesitate to ask for help about certain matters. This is why it’s also important to build a connection with the parents too and not just the kids. Connection is the easiest way to build trust, which is very important for a babysitting job. At RealDiaperAssociation, you can find articles about parenting and how to raise a child.

 

Be Interactive

Babysitting is not just about feeding the kids and waiting for them to fall asleep until the parents get home. It’s also about being interactive with the kids you are babysitting. Kids love to play around, especially when their parents aren’t home.

Use this opportunity to play games with them. Whether it is hide n’ seek, tag, or board games, you have the freedom to choose what games that they will surely like.

You can also buy your child some food treats or snacks that are stored in packaging made by a reputable packing pouch manufacturer as these are guaranteed to be clean and safe.

Be careful not to play games that might be too dangerous for them to play. It’s also very important to be cautious too. For example, when playing a game of tag, make sure that you do it outside to prevent the risk of knocking down furniture or fragile items inside the house.

If they have a console such as a Playstation or Xbox, then play multiplayer games with them. This is the best way to interact and play with the kids without breaking anything fragile. 

 

Just Have Fun

At the end of the day, take things slow and steady on your babysitting job. Do not stress out too much and just go with the flow. That’s why it’s important to be ready and prepared in case the unexpected happens. 

Whatever that might be, you are now more than ready to handle kids and their tantrums just like a super nanny. Don’t let your emotions get the betterment of you. Always try to cool down when things get rough.

Be friendly to the kids, interact with them, and most of all, understand their needs and wants as if they are your siblings. When they finally fall asleep, this is the time where you can take a deep breath, check your social media, and reward yourself after a tiring day. 

 

Conclusion

Being a babysitter is no easy feat. It is a job that one can be challenged in terms of self-control, patience, and comfort level.

If you are new to all of this babysitting stuff, we hope this article is a big help for your journey. For those expert babysitters who are reading this and have some extra babysitting tips, feel free to comment down below and we will be glad to feature it in future articles.

Color is one of the essential features of any design or interior décor. It tells a lot about the quality and flow of the design print or décor. You must take necessary caution while adding color to your kids’ room because they are sensitive to colors.

There are several colors to choose from for the kids’ room. Although this leaves you with numerous options, it also presents a hassle of making the right selection. Either way, you don’t have to lose sleep over the right color to use in your kids’ room. 

This guide provides a list of colors that are suitable for the kids’ room. You will also understand why these colors are suitable options. Find out bellow.

 

Baby Blue

Baby blue is also referred to as cerulean blue. It is a darker and richer shade of blue. Besides the fact that it offers deeper quality to your kids’ room, it also adds richer texture and a cool feeling. You can consider blending this color with white to make it light and diverse. 

 

Aqua Blue

Aqua is another shade of blue with a lighter shade. It is one of the most versatile colors for kids’ rooms because it flows well with many other bright colors like yellow, coral, and pink. This bright warm color is one of the best appearances kids love seeing around them. 

Bonus Tip: Consider using a boat-shaped bed for your kids’ room if you are using aqua blue color to create a complete ocean feel. 

Yellow 

Yellow is one of the most beautiful colors on earth. Besides the fact that your kids will find yellow attractive, it also gives a warm feeling to your kids’ room. Yellow is also a decorative, hence, the reason for its presence in most kids paintings. So, it provides enough room for proper exploration. 

 

Green

Green is another impressive color suitable for your kids’ room. This option allows you to add warmth, style, and class with a natural feel. All shades of green will work great in your kids’ room. But the lighter shades of green will add brightness to the room space. 

 

Lilac

Most people confuse lilac with purple. Well, it is close to being right because lilac is a lighter shade of purple. Besides the fact that this color appears sophisticated in your kids’ room, it can also stand the test of time. So, you won’t have to change the color in your kids’ room when they get to high school. They can use it until they are teens or young adults. 

 

Pink

Pink is one of the most beautiful colors that exist, and it is classic for a reason. Many people consider it as a sign of meekness. All shades of pink will give a perfect fit for your kids’ room. This color adds extreme beauty and warmth to any space design. Kids love this color because it is attractive. 

 

Summary 

Color is one of the most vital design elements in any space, including the kids’ room. It is often the basics of other arts, décor, and design in a room. Besides, color is capable of defining mood and enhancing relaxation. So, choosing the best color for your kids’ room is the first step in the right direction for having a perfect décor! 

 

 

 

 

 

Sleep is an essential habit that is important for a newborn’s health and well-being. The average newborn sleeps during the day and night, waking only for a few hours to eat and do other activities.

Unfortunately, newborns do not have a given sleep schedule, causing them confusion as they try to develop their nighttime sleep patterns. These uneven sleep patterns also affect the parents as well.  According to a report by the US-based National Sleep Foundation, almost 70% of parents are sleep deprived due to their babies. This can alter their own sleep cycle with repeated awakenings during sleep.

This is why parents need to instill in their newborns good sleeping habits right from the beginning.

How Much Sleep Does a Newborn Baby Need?

On average, your toddler can sleep for up to 18 hours a day, ranging from sleep duration of 3 to 4 hours on the go. However, as they reach 4 months, their sleep schedule becomes more predictable, and they settle for a more regular schedule for their naps. Yet, we suggest maintaining a sleep diary to help you recognize your child’s current sleeping pattern.

Moreover, it’s this phase during which you can try promoting healthy sleeping habits in your toddlers. This way, you routine their lifestyle with a set time to fall asleep. While the routine might not kick in right away, as the child grows, he/she picks up the habit.

Here’s a definite list of steps that we think will come in handy, to help you develop healthy sleeping habits in your child.

Steps to Develop Healthy Sleep Habits in Newborns

• What Soothes Your Baby?

Every baby is different! Some newborns can be easily soothed by swaddling. On the other hand, some prefer motion (generally rocking or patting) or white noise to fall asleep. Until three months of age, babies need help in sleeping. Try to understand what soothes your baby. Hold, rock, or feed your baby if needed.

 

• Is Your Baby Comfortable?

Do you know? Even your child’s diapers or clothing can prevent them from falling asleep. Children’s skin is soft and tender; they feel the slightest of changes to their skin. If your little one is uncomfortable with their clothing or their diaper, they’ll stay irritated and won’t be able to sleep. Further, it’ll also impact their sleep cycle and overall health. Therefore, we suggest using natural baby diapers & pure cotton clothes, to prevent your child from getting harmful rashes on the skin.

• Develop a Sleep Routine

By the time your child reaches the two-month mark, you can foster a sleep routine as they can signal you about the ‘sleepy time’ via signals. To help your toddler go off to sleep easily, try incorporating predictable and calming bedtime practices. You can also include feeding sessions as a part of a healthy sleep habit. However, after three months of age, try to skip this by feeding the child before bedtime.

• Encourage Napping

Encouraging naps is a great part of incorporating healthy sleep habits in your toddler. According to sleep experts, the better small children can rest, the better they can fall asleep. Once your baby has been awake for a couple of hours, you can encourage him/her to go for a quick nap.

However, you should avoid overstimulating the baby at all costs. Babies have a hard time sleeping if they are tired as it induces stress hormones that interfere with their sleep patterns.

• Allow the Baby to Fall Asleep Independently

After babies reach three months of age and are healthy, encourage them to sleep on their own. This life-long skill is pivotal in shaping good sleeping habits to sleep quickly at bedtime, napping, and throughout the night.

Implement positive changes early to prevent problems from becoming chronic and difficult to fix. Once, you start taking small steps, you can cultivate healthy habits that promote the child to sleep independently.

Be a Patient Parent

Developing the right sleeping habits in babies takes time. Apart from creating a bedtime routine, take note of their night feedings to keep their tummy full. After feeding, use natural bamboo baby wipes to refresh them.

Being a parent, take cues and behavioral indications from your baby. This will help you in making them fall asleep fast.

Working from home is often the most advantageous career route for parents with childcare responsibilities. Franchising is a business model ideally suited for those who need a flexible work schedule to fit around family life.

Stay at home parents opt to pursue a career from their own property for many reasons. Often this is borne out of necessity. It may be to care for children yet to reach school age, to look after those already in education who have additional needs or it can be because before and after school arrangements are unable to accommodate working to traditional office hours.

For other parents, working from home is a lifestyle choice. They may simply want to spend more time with their children, to nurture them and be there for their landmark moments. There is a wonderful saying which applies to parenthood that “the days are long but the years are short”. You may be trying to fit everything in if you work for an employer without realising your children are growing up all too quickly.

Whatever your reasons for opting to be a stay at home parent, there are some notable benefits to investing in a franchise business. And it’s a trend which is set to continue in the global economy.

The coronavirus pandemic accelerated a shift in employment patterns and a refreshed focus on work-life balancing. It is estimated that almost one in five people now live in countries with the infrastructure required to work from home. That figure is much higher in certain developed nations.

 

Mix business with pleasure

There are lots of children’s franchise opportunities available. For anyone who loves being around kids and enjoys working with little ones (or bigger ones), a children’s franchise can be a rewarding career.

If you’re dedicating much of your time to the development of your own children, then a franchise based around infants, school kids or teenagers can combine your enthusiasm with the necessity of earning a living.

You could choose to invest in a daycare franchise, an educational enterprise, pursue your passion for performing arts, or run sports classes. Essentially, any talent you have, or skills you’re passing on to your own kids, can be shared with a wider audience of children while providing your family with a source of income.

 

Harness your parenting skills to run a business

There are very good reasons why stay at home parents make ideal entrepreneurs for operating a franchise. Without realising it, if you’re a home-based mum or dad, you already possess and have demonstrated in abundance the skills and desire required to make a success of a franchise.

The essential abilities to organise and manage a household, look after children, tend to their needs, and provide emotional and educational support to your own kids, while also having time for a little fun, are holistic life skills that cannot be taught and are those that others simply may not have.

To be a stay at home parent, you have to be able to organise and prioritise, managing multiple demands at once. You must also be an effective communicator, to people at all levels, abilities and ages. You have to be able to set goals for others and encourage them to make progress every day.

 

If you’re planning to return to work as a stay at home parent

As children grow, the focus for parents can begin to shift from raising their family to beginning to consider a route back into employment.

For some, this may mean considering part-time or freelance work. However, these paths back into the workplace following a career break can be low-paid and/or offer variable levels of income.

Franchising is good for those who wish to build up their return to work while maintaining a level of flexibility and control over their schedule and commitments.

 

Why the franchise model is good for stay at home parents

Franchising offers significant benefits for stay at home parents over other business models. This is both because of the way franchise investments operate and the unique situation, challenges and needs of those who have responsibilities for kids.

If you’re raising children, one of the most important factors to consider is how stable and secure your source of income is. This becomes of paramount importance if you are the sole breadwinner in your household. This is an increasingly common feature of family life across the Western world.

A franchise system offers a secure, low investment route into becoming your own boss. You benefit from trusted brand names, expert training, ongoing advice and abundant resources to establish your business and then grow it in a manner that fits around family commitments. It may just be the very best of both worlds for stay at home parents.