Volunteering With Your Family

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Volunteering with your family is a great way to teach your kids about giving back to the community. Volunteering will strengthen your family bond, and help re-orient narcissistic perspectives. If you aren’t able to volunteer, you can always donate to charitable organizations like Kars for Kids.  Your children may not be self-centered, but they live in a world of people that are!

So how can your whole family volunteer together? Well, you can start by considering times to volunteer. You may feel like you’re too busy to incorporate volunteering into your schedule, but you might consider making it an extracurricular activity. Or, you might volunteer during holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Easter and Thanksgiving are great times to volunteer.

One thing you might do is organize a food or clothing drive in your neighborhood, or perhaps a bake sale. Baking cupcakes and cookies is fun, and you can help the organization of your choice. You can have all bake sale proceeds benefit the charity you want to support. You could also consider volunteer opportunities at a homeless shelter or your local humane society.

There are lots of other ways to volunteer, too. Consider your family values. Decide what’s important to you, and how you can contribute. Also, consider your likes and dislikes. Perhaps you love gardening, but your kids hate it? Figure out something that everyone will enjoy. What about a walk or bike ride to raise awareness? When you’re trying to find volunteering activities for the family, you have a lot to consider!

Another simple way to volunteer and involve the family is to make a donation. With Kars for Kids, for example, your donation will benefit J.O.Y, also, which is a charity organization that helps disadvantaged Jewish children. They give clothes, food, furnishing and toys, and also pay for children’s summer camp, education, and other supporting services. Also, some added benefits: you can donate your car and get a free vacation voucher for a two night hotel stay. Finally, your car donation is also tax deductible.

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Keep the Family Safe While Camping

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are planning to take the family camping, there are a few preventative measures you can take to ensure that all have a good time. Spending a night or weekend away from the home and out in the wild can be a enjoyable experience for the entire family. Millions of Americans each year take to the outdoors for family fun. It is a very cost effective way to spend a weekend and allows families some much needed bonding time free from the distractions of everyday life. There are certain precautions you should take however to make sure everyone is happy, warm and safe.

1.) Prepare for rain- Even if the forecast looks good, the wise camper will always plan for a rainstorm. Make sure your tent comes complete with a tarp to drape across the top of the tent so rain is not allowed to enter. Also, bring plenty of extra wood. You may be counting on the forest to supply your camp fire wood but if there is a good rain, the wood will be wet and useless. Also, bring waterproof matches with you and paper to get a good fire going and to be able to start multiple fires over the course of your trip.

2.) Know where you are- Bring a compass or some sort of GPS tracking device with your if you are camping somewhere new and it isn’t a traditional camping resort. Nothing will ruin a fun weekend faster than getting lost while camping and spending frantic hours searching for the way back to your site. This is not an enjoyable experience and is potentially very serious. make sure you know where you are and that you have all the supplies you need.

Camping is a great way to spend time with your family. Be safe and make sure to have fun.

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Stretching Your Parenting Pennies

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of a new parents biggest fears is whether or not they can afford a new baby. Not all of us are swimming in cash and times are tough. The responsibilities of raising a child are endless and of course, kids do cost money. Parents who don’t know any better could end up spending much more than they need to for essentials like food and clothing. Here a few simple tips to remember as you begin your parenting journey.

1.) Buy clothes from clearance ranks- You can still get top notch clothing at a fraction of the price by shopping the clearance racks. Stores like Baby Gap or Macy’s have racks of old inventory that need to go to make way for the new stuff. In this instance, you can benefit greatly by buying some slightly out of style kids clothes for which no one will be the wiser. Goodwill stores are also becoming increasingly popular and offer a wide selection of pre-owned clothes for very little cost.

2.) Clip your coupons- These days it’s more like print coupons from the internet or your e-mail inbox. Items like baby formula are constantly offered at a savings and as two for one deals. Keep an eye out for these offers as well as signing up for new ones.

3.) Plan activities that don’t cost money- As your kids get older, it becomes your responsibility to take your kids out and teach them the ways of the world. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to take your kids out an have a good time. Just a few ideas of places to take your kids that costs no money is the beach or the park. In winter, take the kids sledding. The one time sled purchase offers hours and hours of entertainment that your kids will love.

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Tips for Teaching Bike Riding

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of the keys to parenting is to teach kids the tough stuff. As a parent, only you have the access to a child to really teach them the ways of the world and basic skills. One such basic skill is riding a bike which can be easy for some kids and harder for others. Here are some tips to get you and your child on the way to some great bike riding adventures.

1.) Get the necessary safety equipment- There have been enough bike accidents in the last couple decades that most of us have grown accustomed to wearing a helmet when bike riding. There is never a more important time to have a helmet then a child learning to ride a bike for the first time. Also, knee pad and elbow pads can save a few viruses and cuts and should be worn at all times while bike riding.

2.) Hold the seat, not the child- It is important as your child learns to ride that they don’t feel your hand on their back or shoulder. That’s because the transfer of weight could cause their fall and do more harm then good. Instead, hold th back of the seat as they ride and when you let go, then will notice it significantly lesser than if you held them and let go.

3,) Watch out for yourself- A crashing peddle into your ankle with the weight of the child also factoring in is not something you want to experience. Don’t wear sandals, wear shoes or sneakers that can soften the impact in the event of a crash. Make sure to protect your own body while teaching a young one and don’t risk the health of your back or legs in the learning process.

Teaching a kid to ride a bike isn’t easy but when they finally get it, it is truly rewarding.

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Taking Back the Fun in Relationships

March 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As a single mother, you probably think more about your kids than you do yourself. It is likely that your children are your world and that every decision you make revolves around them. That’s the right attitude to have — but only if you also remember to take time for yourself. For many single moms, that means jumping back into the potentially scary world of dating. From worrying about introducing a new guy into the kids lives to concern over how much time it means away from the kids, many single moms forgo the whole experience. Online services often make the process of finding a new relationship much easier for single moms – and more fun.

Taking Time for Yourself

While you may not be willing to spend every weekend night at a club trying to find that special someone, remember that a happy mom is a good mom. Make a compromise and use an Internet service to kick-start the dating process. It’s a great way to narrow down the dating pool, and more and more men and women are turning to these services to get back into the swing of things.

Making It Fun

When you have kids, finding someone special takes on a whole new light. Once you’re comfortable and ready to date, the biggest step after the first date is often the “introduction.” Make this fun! Plan an outing that will keep everyone busy. Depending on the ages of the kids, putt putt golfing or bowling may be fun. Younger children may enjoy a meeting at the park. Tweens or teenagers may prefer a sporting event or similar activity. Just remember, everyone will be nervous about the big ‘meet up’.

Dating is fun – even for single parents. If you’re feeling guilty about spending time away from the kids, consider an online service to help get you started. Always remember that a relationship is about having fun, so enjoy it.

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Before Saving For College, Eliminate Your Debt

March 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many new parents feel they should begin saving for their child’s education from the day they’re born. The truth is a little more complex than that. When you should start saving for your child’s college depends a lot on your current financial position. For some people, they are ahead on their bills and have reliable and comfortable cash revenues. Other people need to clear up a few things before they should start saving for college. Here are a few steps to take before you worry about 18 years down the road.

1.) Credit cards- Clean up your credit cards and then just get rid of them. Many people will rack up credit card debt in their youth without much regard for the future. The longer this debt hangs out there, the longer it will be before youa re financially secure. Credit cards have you paying more interest than premium and do you no good over the long run. The best thing to do is to cut up the cards and pay down the debt.

2.) Loans- Make sure to pay off expensive car loans and home mortgages as soon as possible. While you want to make payments over a period of time to build or repair a credit history, you also don’t want to have loans burdening your ability to save money for your child’s college.

All new parents are exited to be parents but don’t necessarily need to worry about college immediately. Getting your house in order can pay large dividends over the long run in the form of better interest rates.

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Toddler Proofing Your Home

February 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Parents of toddlers will want to be sure to take some preventative measures ensuring their child’s safety. As young ones begin to walk, parents learn very quickly that they need to save the child from themselves. left to their own devices, children will walk out of the house and straight into traffic or plummet down a flight of stairs without realizing what the end result will be. Here are a few of the basics to protecting your child, not to mention making life easier for yourself in the process.

1.) Keep all poisons out of reach- It may seem like common sense, but there are items will poisonous characteristics that could greatly damage your child. A toddler does not have the ability to differentiate between drinking items. They are curious and will try anything they can get their hands on.

2.) Get toddler gates- Gates are crucial to your child surviving toddler hood. Indeed, we all have areas of our home that are not safe for young children and foot pedal gates are an ideal way to have access to the hole house without risking danger to your child.

3.) Keep drinks and other things off the table- Every parent of a toddler learns at one time or another that if you leave a drink or food on the table then odds are good your toddler il get into it. Drinks get spilled, food gets dumped and carpets get ruined. In a worst case scenario, your child could break a glass and then inadvertently cut themselves on it. This is easily preventable but make sure to also train your friends and family to pick up their glasses as well.

These are just a few of the tips you can use to toddler proof your home and keep your child safe. Use these as a stepping stone to protecting your child as they transition from being a baby to toddler, to an off and running child.

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Fearing A New Baby

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It is perfectly natural for new parents to have an initial fear of their baby. Indeed, children do not come with instruction manuals. The reality that you have a new child may not set in while you are in the hospital. Nurses help with the diaper changes and give you pep talks as you get accustomed to your new baby. Once you take your baby home however, you are pretty much on your own. Here are a few tips for new parents feeling a little afraid of their first born.

1.) Your baby is fine while they are sleeping- If you are taking every precaution to ensure your child won’t suffocate, then you need not worry. It is quite common for new parents to check on their kids several times per night as they fear the worst. They feel that they need to check on the child regularly to make sure they are still alive. The best thing to do is to purchase baby monitors placing the speaker in the child’s room and the receiver in your room. This allows you to hear the child breathing and alleviate your concerns that they are in any danger.

2.) Adjust to their sleeping schedule- In the first year, there is not much you can do but to adapt to your child’s sleep schedule. Indeed, you could drive yourself nuts trying to sleep your regular hours as it is unlikely your child will cooperate. Instead, sleep when you can and appreciate the time you get. Your time is rarely yours in that first year but it gets better after that.

3.) Don’t let the crying discourage you- Most babies are criers and that’s just something parent learn to deal with. This too is temporary so consider it a sort of parenting boot camp. You will come out on the other side a more patient and understanding person after enduring the cruel punishment of nearly non-stop crying.

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Teacher Your Child Basketball Basics

February 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of the joys of parenting to to teach your kids some sports. The earlier you start teaching them, the more likely they are to learn and like the games you teach. Basketball is a great way for fathers to bind with their sons or daughters. While standing around shooting or even play one one on one, you can have time to talk about what’s going on in each other’s lives. Indeed, basketball has become an important part of American culture and a great way to get to know your kids even better. Here are some lessons to incorporate when teaching your young child the ropes of basketball.

1.) Start with the granny shots- Most likely your child is learning basketball at age six or seven. They may not be strong enough to shoot overhand jump shots but they can reach the hoop by throwing the ball up in the granny style motion. It may take some practice for them to stop throwing the ball straight up in the air, but eventually the will get the right trajectory of the ball.

2.) Make sure they aim for the center of the square- The easiest way for kids to start making shots and feel less discouraged is for them to aim for the center of the red square. When trying anything new it can be discouraging for kids to fail. Helping them to succeed at one facet of the game is a great way to keep them interested and working towards getting better.

2.) Tell them it’s OK to fail- Even Michael Jordan missed his fair share of jump shots. It’s important for you to let your child know that everyone fails at basketball and making shots. The important thing is not to get discourages and to continue towards understanding the game.

Parents want to bond with their kids and a sport like basketball is a great venue for that. They will appreciate your teachings and you will live their undivided attention.

Filed Under: Baby Foods, Parenting Tagged With: , ,

Being a Parent and Having a Life

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Parenting takes over your life from the minute of childbirth until at least the next 18 years. Newborn babies of course need a lot of time and attention and there is little time for yourself while the baby is awake. However, as children age a few months it becomes easier for both parents to care for the child individually. This becomes important as parents whose only focus is the child sometimes could experience depression or loss of self. Here are a few helpful hints to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

1. Make time for the gym- There is perhaps nothing better for the soul than a good workout. Exercise not only helps our body stay lean and fit, but the satisfaction derived from a good workout lasts the entire day. Depending on your schedule, have your spouse set aside an hour in the morning to watch the child while you exercise. This can be at the local gym or a home workout, which ever is seen as more practical.

2.) Touch base with other parents- Once you have a child, you are part of an inner circle of parents. If you know people with kids, you will find that it is pretty much all you talk about. This serves many purposes of course because in addition to soliciting parenting advise from others who have already been there, you are also getting valuable social timea an adult that can feel lacking after countless late nights with the baby.

3.) Don’t let your hobbies disappear- We all have things we like to do in our free time but that can seem impossible once a child is born. Even though it seems like you have no time for your hobby, it may just be that you need to utilize the resources you have at hand. If you have a spouse, don’t be afraid to ask them to set aside exclusive time with the child so you can engage in your hobby. If you have family members around who are willing to help, don’t be afraid to ask them.

Filed Under: Baby Foods, Parenting Tagged With: , ,
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