Jan 17, 2023 | Parenting Tips
Every parent wants to protect their children. You look after your children physically, emotionally, and mentally, making sure that they’re safe, happy, and healthy. However, modern children have a whole other world to navigate, which is as full of danger as it is of opportunities and fun.
It isn’t always reasonable to keep children completely away from the online world or screens. Most kids socialize online now, and even schoolwork is often done on laptops and computers. The good news is that you can help your children to be safe online and to have fun while doing it. This can even give you a chance to bond with your kids.
Become Tech-Savvy
The modern generation of children is relatively tech-savvy, often more so than their parents. This has been a trend for decades now, but while many parents do know their way around a computer, keeping up with teenagers is another matter entirely.
However, the best way to keep your kids safe is to become more tech-savvy yourself. Modern computers and tablets are designed to be far more user friendly than earlier iterations, and you can find plenty of free courses online to become more acquainted with them.
Educate and Monitor
As you become more familiar with technology, you should also look into apps and parental controls that allow you to monitor what your kids are doing online. You can look at this site for software that can help you to do this.
It’s best to be open with your children and explain why you’re keeping an eye on them. This also provides you with an opportunity to teach your children about the dangers of the online world and how they can be safe. Teach them to avoid conversations with people they don’t know or trust, and create an environment of open communication so they feel comfortable talking to you about any issues they do have.
As well as monitoring what your children do online, pay attention to how much time they spend behind a screen. You should encourage them to spend at least some time outside, as this keeps them active, healthy, and happy.
Bonding With Screens
For many families, screens are a fact of life. Your children will need to learn how to use computers, and there’s a reason that video games and social media are so popular. Simply put, they’re fun.
Rather than trying to stop your children from spending any time on screens, why not find out why they enjoy it so much? If you’re already interested in gaming, then this is an ideal time to bond with your kids by introducing them to games that you enjoy and giving some of their favorite games a try.
Playing video games with your kids allows you to bond with them in a natural way, as well as help you to understand what kind of things they like playing. It also opens the path for you to talk to them about their gaming habits in a comfortable way. Understanding your children more is always a good thing.
Jan 4, 2023 | Family Activities & Events
When choosing activities, keep in mind that both how much time you spend and how well you spend it are important. So, make memories by making sure your time with your family is fun and creative. Here are some ways to make family time more enjoyable.
Share A Meal And Talk
Most kids today don’t know what it means to have dinner as a family. Still, this is a key part of a healthy family life because it helps people talk to each other and work together. When people eat together, they can talk about what’s going on in their lives. This is a chance for parents to listen and offer advice and support. When you listen carefully, you show that you are interested in each other. It gives people a sense of worth and helps them learn to trust.
Read More
Research shows that reading to your kids helps them become interested in learning and improves their language skills. It also helps them pay more attention and become more interested. Find books that your child would like to read. After you’ve read, ask questions about what you’ve just read.
Do Chores Together
Part of what happens at home is that people learn how to work together. Everyone needs to do their part for the family to work. The best way to teach your kids about responsibility and accountability is to give them chores. Doing chores with your kid will help them learn how to talk to you.
Help With School Work
Helping kids with their schoolwork is a great way to spend time with them. When a parent wants to help, a child will become more interested in school, which will lead to better grades. Taking kids to the library often for school projects is a cheap and fun way to spend time with them. Helping should start with the idea that kids should do their own homework. Parents are there to help their kids get organized and cheer them on when they’re having trouble.
Start A Project Or Hobby
Choose something fun that your child likes to do. Cooking, making crafts, going fishing, or riding a bike are all great hobbies that can lead to fun family time. Once a child knows how to make a new recipe or cast a lure well, let him or her take the lead while you watch.
Play Games
More people play video games now because of new technology. You can play with them, but you can also get them interested in a board or card games. This will give you more time to talk and get to know each other better.
Plan A Family Trip
Sometimes it’s important to get out of the house. Get in the car and let’s go somewhere. Make a picnic lunch and go to a park nearby. Play catch or ride a bike when you have time. A walk in the woods will help you connect with other people. A trip to the zoo or museum might also get a child interested and lead to good conversations. You could even have a look at things like St. Patrick’s Day Décor and decorate your holiday home for the occasion.
Get Involved In Sports
Playing sports not only makes the body stronger, but it also helps build character and drive. It’s important for a child’s emotional and physical growth to have time for sports. This is also a great way for a family to spend time together.
Dec 15, 2022 | Parenting Tips
Technology has become so much a part of our daily lives that it can be hard to remember how important it is to turn it off. When it comes to our kids, schools all over the country are giving them I-pads and laptop computers as early as kindergarten to use at school and take home. Children are getting their own cell phones at younger and younger ages, and the video game industry is always coming out with new and better tech that draws kids in. Most of us can probably agree that our kids sometimes spend too much time on technology and video games and that we wish we could get them to play outside.
Getting your kids to spend more time outside has been shown to have a number of benefits. The most well-known reason to play outside is to get exercise, but there are also a number of cognitive skills that can be learned, such as developing imagination and creativity, reducing anxiety, learning to solve problems and lead, and improving communication and listening skills. When kids play outside instead of sitting in front of a computer or TV screen, they start to learn more about their surroundings and the world around them. They also develop better senses.
How can you get your tech-obsessed kids to stop playing video games and go outside? Not working for you to tell them to go outside and play? It may be hard to get your kids away from the screen, but there are ways to get them outside that work and teach them good values at the same time. Before you know it, your kids will be begging you to load up the car and go camping for the weekend without any electronics.
Lead By Example
Mom and Dad, you need to unplug every once in a while, too, if you want your kids to be happy. “Don’t do what I do, do what I say” doesn’t work in this case because your kids will always copy your actions and learn their values from you. Actions speak much louder than words, so put down the phone and step away from the computer screen. Take your kids outside and play with them.
Spend Family Time Outdoors
Instead of playing games or watching movies as a family, try gardening or playing outside. You can take the family hiking if there are lakes or state parks nearby (there are always plenty of short, easy paths for kids and/or beginners), take the family dog to the dog park together, or just go for a walk or to the playground. Make it a family rule to go outside at least once a week. This will help you break the tech habit. Here are some fun games that the whole family can play outside or while camping. You could even have a DJI m3e with you and take some tech to the outdoors.
Scavenger Hunts
If your kids aren’t used to playing outside without a plan, you might need to help them by planning a fun activity like a scavenger hunt that you can do together. You can make your own or print one off the internet, but the idea is simple: go out and find things. Scavenger hunts are fun for kids because they like to play games and compete, they get to move around, and they feel good about themselves when they find the things on the list. This kind of play is a great way to learn how to solve problems, pay attention, and explore. The parents will have fun, too, as they watch their kids explore nature.
Let Them Get Dirty
You have to let your kids get dirty, even though it may go against everything you feel as a mother. Even more so if you want to take your family camping in the great outdoors, you’re going to have to get used to a little dirt. Tell your kids to go dance in the rain, jump in puddles, and act silly the next time it rains. Plant a garden with your family and take care of it every day to get down and dirty together. Your kids can make mud pies, dig in a sandbox, look for worms after it rains, build outdoor forts, and do a lot of other messy things.
Get Involved
Most big cities have a big parks and recreation department that plans a lot of activities for kids to get them outside, into sports, and involved in their communities. This summer, you might want to send your kids to an outdoor day camp where they can hang out with a lot of their friends and meet new ones. You can also join them up for outdoor sports such as baseball, water sports, horseback riding, soccer, and many others. These will teach your kids how to be kind to the earth and how our actions can affect our resources and the health of the environment.
Give Some Tech Time
It is simple to implement a regulation that requires you to put in labour before you can play video games or watch television over the summer. Your children can earn a half an hour of game time for every hour or two that they play outside, or whatever works best for your family. You have the option to choose. Youngsters may have to do chores or something else to earn their digital time during the winter, but the end impact is the same: they begin to perceive technology as a treat rather than a need.
You may instil in your children a genuine concern for the natural world and a passion for spending time outside if you put even one of these suggestions into practise in your day-to-day life. It’s possible that you’ll need to start small with only a few of these ideas and then keep building on them if you have children who are particularly focused on technology or who are difficult to get outside. But if you retain a positive attitude and join your children while they play outside, you won’t have to worry about them wanting to escape the house for too long.
Dec 12, 2022 | Parenting Tips
It’s a known fact that everyone wants to look after their elderly parents. You’re going to want to offer nothing but the very best for them. However, you’re also going to want to ensure that you know what you’ll be able to do to keep them safe. As people get older, they fall into more risk, not just health-wise, but more suspectable of falling, dealing with theft, abuse, and so much more. So, here is everything you need to know about keeping your elderly parents safe through all of this.
Gather the family to discuss your loved one’s needs
Bringing the family together to discuss your elderly parent’s needs can be an important step. The process can be stressful, especially if family members don’t know where to begin. However, taking advantage of the many tools and techniques available can help. To make the most of this process, you’ll want to gather as much information as possible about your parent’s health.
The better informed you are, the more likely you are to make the right decisions for your parents. You’ll also need to consider the best way to help your parents. Working with a financial advisor to get a clear picture of your parent’s financial situation is a good idea. This can help you make the most of your assets and settle any debts.
Assessing how much to keep them safe
After you gather your family to see what the needs are and how everyone in the family can meet these needs, you’ll also need to look into what can be done to help. Getting the right information can help you avoid crises and extend your independence. This is a major thing to consider, as elders will still want to maintain independence.
The first step is determining if your aging parent requires assistance with daily tasks. If so, there are many support services available. You can hire a professional in-home care service or find a friend or relative to assist with certain activities. You should also ensure that your aging parent is taking all his or her medications. Consult your geriatrician about how to administer these medications properly. Have a conversation with them about all of this. If you want to keep them safe, then have the discussion.
Organizing for their needs
Organizing your elderly parent’s needs can be a daunting task. The process can take weeks or months to complete. If your parent isn’t physically or mentally capable of doing it alone, then you could do it alone or hire someone to help. Alternatively, you could look into home assistance for them. Organizing your elderly parents’ belongings is a necessary part of aging. Having a safe and organized home can make life easier for your loved one. Not only will it be easier to keep clean, but it will also reduce the stress they feel.
Fall proofing the home environment
Keeping your elderly parents safe from falls is integral to maintaining their health and independence. A fall can be a serious injury, resulting in head injuries, broken bones, or other severe effects. Plus, a fall can also cause a loss of independence, requiring a caregiver to take over care of the child. The older you are, the worse this will get.
The best way to prevent a fall is to ensure the home environment is safe. Some modifications might be as simple as adding lighting to a room. For example, install task lighting near a bed and other important areas. You can also add night lights to the hallways. These can alert caregivers in the event of a fall. The main risk factors for falling include clutter, uneven flooring, and unsafe surroundings. It is important for seniors to identify and remove any hazards in their homes that may increase their risk.
Using strong passwords
Keeping your elderly parents safe should also mean keeping them safe if they go online. This requires you to use strong passwords. It is also important to watch out for scams and avoid using the personal information on unsecured sites.
Whether you are using your computer or a smartphone, having a strong password is a must for online security. Your email, banking, and health-related accounts are the most important accounts to protect. You should also make sure to keep your email accounts restricted. Watch over their accounts very closely.
Organizing the home to avoid injury
Organizing the home to avoid injury for elderly parents can be daunting. This is especially true in the face of unexpected health conditions. For starters, keep an eye out for any potential hazards before you take the leap. This includes any wet areas containing a loved one’s prized possessions. It’s also a good idea to have a designated area to contain items such as medication or clothing that can be easily transferred to a more suitable locale. While there is no such thing as an accident-free home, a little TLC can improve the quality of life.
Do your homework before choosing a nursing home
Choosing a safe nursing home is a big decision, so do your homework. The best way to determine the quality of care offered by a particular facility is to have a personal visit. This will allow you to gauge the staff’s attitudes and level of commitment to the residents. Another way to do your research is to go online.
Medicare and Medicaid have websites that provide information on nursing homes. The government website is a great place to learn about the benefits and costs of care, and you can also read inspection reports. You’re also going to want to look to see if there was ever a nursing home abuse lawsuit at one point in time at the nursing home.
Expect setbacks
Setbacks are normal, especially when having to move into a new home. Taking care of an elderly parent in a nursing home can be a difficult and frustrating task. You should expect setbacks, but it is important to remember that they will pass. You can avoid some possible issues by preparing beforehand. If you have concerns, discuss them with the facility’s staff.
This will help you get an objective assessment of your parent’s needs. You can also avoid potential misunderstandings by establishing a regular schedule for family visits. This is especially helpful if your parent has difficulty adjusting to a new environment. You should make every effort to make your parent feel comfortable.
Dec 12, 2022 | Parenting Tips
Moving your elderly relative into a nursing home can put a huge weight on your shoulders, as you need to be able to maintain faith that they’re going to be well looked after. It’s hard to know for sure whether they’re truly being taken care of, as it’s not always as obvious as a black eye when elder abuse is afoot.
This guide contains some of the red flags that you can look out for when visiting your elderly relative in a nursing home, helping you to spot the signs of potential abuse or mistreatment. Read on to discover more and better protect your elderly relative today.
Body Odor, Long Fingernails & Oily Hair
If you arrive to visit your loved one in their nursing home only to find that they appear to have not been bathed for days or even weeks, then this is a sure fire sign that mistreatment is taking place. Warning signs such as body odor, long fingernails, oily hair and other similar factors suggest that your elderly relative has not been showered or groomed for some time, and this is one of the key responsibilities of a carer in a nursing home. If they are failing to complete such basic yet essential tasks, then it’s more than likely that there are deeper, more serious problems too. Never ignore these red flags when you visit your elderly relative.
Bedsores & Other Pressure Wounds
If your elderly relative isn’t very mobile, then there’s a real risk that they can suffer from bedsores and pressure wounds if they are not moved regularly. Bedsores can be extremely painful, and unfortunately in some cases they can even be fatal. Being left in one position for weeks on end can lead to a massive build of pressure in certain areas of the body, and this can break through the skin and even leave bone visible in the worst cases. Always check your elderly relative for signs of bed sores when you visit them in a nursing home, as they should be moved frequently to prevent these painful pressure wounds from occurring. As bedsores mean your relative hasn’t moved for some time, this can also translate into them having no socialization throughout this period too. So, it’s bad for both their physical and mental well-being.
A Change In Their Personality
Noticing a change in your elderly relative’s personality can be extremely frightening, especially when they go from being a happy, outgoing person to being withdrawn and quiet. A change in their personality suggests that something is wrong, and if it happened while your elderly relative was inside a nursing home, then this likely means that some aspect of their surroundings is to blame. Don’t feel the need to poke and prod to get to the bottom of the situation – make sure your relative feels comfortable enough to share the details so that you get the full picture. Never be afraid to pursue a legal case and try suing a nursing home if your elderly relative has been abused, as you can stop the injustice happening to other patients who may not have family of their own to step in and act.
Dec 11, 2022 | Parenting Tips
When it comes to giving birth, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some women want a home birth with just a few close friends and family members in attendance, while others prefer to give birth in a hospital with all the bells and whistles. Still, others may want something in between. The important thing is that you choose the type of birth plan that is right for you and your unique situation. This blog post will discuss five things to consider when choosing a birth plan.
Your Birthing Beliefs
The first thing that you need to consider when choosing a birth plan is your own birthing beliefs. For example, do you believe that natural, unmedicated childbirth is the best way? Or do you prefer pain medication or epidurals to help with labor? You may also have religious or cultural values that influence your preference for giving birth. Whatever your beliefs, make sure they align with your chosen type of birth plan. For example, if you want a home birth but believe strongly in receiving pain relief during labor, this may not be the right choice. You must consider your beliefs and test them by doing plenty of research before deciding on your birth plan.
Your Support System
When choosing a birth plan, it is also important to consider who will be there to support you during childbirth. If you want a home birth with just close friends and family members present, do any of these people live near enough so that they can make it in time? On the other hand, do you have anyone who may not be supportive of your birthing choices or who may try to persuade you otherwise? Your support system plays a very important role in the type of birth plan that you choose. If you know that some people in your life won’t be supportive of a home birth but are completely on board with an epidural-free delivery, those individuals should be involved when you go into labor.
Your Health And Medical History
Another important consideration when choosing a birth plan is your own health history and medical needs. If you have certain health conditions or are on any medications, then this will play a role in the type of plan that you choose. For example, suppose you’ve had a difficult time giving birth or have been told by your doctor to stick close to the hospital during childbirth due to certain complications. In that case, an unmedicated home birth may not be the right choice for you. Similarly, suppose you want an epidural but have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and told that it could interfere with the effects of pain medication during labor. In that case, this should also factor into your decision-making process. Ultimately, your health and medical history should help to inform which type of birth plan is best for you. It is also important to consider the medical facts associated with certain birth plans and what can go wrong. This could include things like understanding erbs palsy, knowing the risks of choosing a home birth, and understanding the process of an emergency C-section.
Your Pain Tolerance
Another thing to consider when choosing a birth plan is your own pain tolerance. Do you know that you can handle the physical pain of childbirth without any issues? Or do you think epidural or other pain relief may be necessary? When deciding on a birth plan, it is very important to consider how well you can handle the physical burden that comes with labor and delivery. If you know for certain that you cannot tolerate the sensations of childbirth without some sort of pain relief, then you may want to opt for a birth plan that involves medications or other means of easing your discomfort. On the other hand, if you are confident in your ability to bear the physical pain associated with giving birth and choose an unmedicated approach, then this will play a big role in which type of birth plan works best for you.
Your Budget
Finally, when choosing a birth plan, it is important to consider your budget. Do you have the money to pay for a home birth or a hospital delivery? How much will epidurals and other pain relief costs if they’re not covered by insurance? You must carefully consider your finances before finalizing your birth plan to ensure that you are making the right choice for yourself and your family.
Overall, there are many important factors to consider when choosing a birth plan, including your beliefs, support system, health history, pain tolerance level, and budget. By doing plenty of research and considering all of these factors carefully, you can be sure to choose the type of birth plan that best aligns with you.
