Keeping Children Entertained During the Holidays

No matter how many different ways there are for families to spend the holiday season, one thing’s for sure: it can be a challenge to keep children entertained throughout this busy season.

In between all the family gatherings and holiday activities, there will be plenty of times when children need to entertain themselves while the grownups get things done.

Save your sanity this holiday season and make it an enjoyable time for all with these ideas for keeping kids entertained during the holidays.

Holiday Activities for Younger Children

• Costumes & Make Believe. Younger children learn through play, and dressing up gives them the opportunity to step into the shoes of other people. Check out a costume shop, like Props N Frocks, or dig through your closet to find clothing and costumes young children can use during holiday playtime. Encourage them to develop their own ideas or offer up a few to get them started.

• Music & Decorations. People of all ages enjoy listening to holiday music, including children. Put on their favorite holiday songs and provide them with age-appropriate craft materials so they can make some holiday decorations and contribute to the atmosphere. Younger children love to feel that they’re contributing something of value to the season.

• Spend Time Outdoors. Get the kids outdoors, especially on days when the snow is falling and it’s a perfect day for building snowmen, sledding (Amazon is a great source of sleds) or just running around in the snow. If you’re too busy with your own activities to head outdoors with the kids, pay a responsible teen to look after them for a couple hours so they can play outside and you can get things done indoors.

Holiday Activities for Older Children

• Party Planning & Preparations. Most teenagers are capable of participating in the planning and preparation phases of holiday parties. Delegate tasks that tap into your teen’s interests and talents. If he loves to cook, have him help out with the dinner. If she enjoys music, have her create a holiday playlist.

• Holiday Entertainment. Whether they love to make you laugh, put on a show or play DJ for the evening, many teens would enjoy being put in charge of the entertainment. They may not want to help with dinner or get stuck trimming the tree with the folks, but they’ll shine when put in charge of keeping everyone entertained.

• Spread Love & Kindness. Instill a love for giving back by encouraging your older children to volunteer their time or talents during the holiday season. Whether they make cards to send to troops in other countries or visit older folks living at a retirement home, giving back is one of the most wonderful ways to be in the spirit of the season.

Balance Your Time so You Enjoy the Season Too

As you endeavor to keep the children occupied and happy throughout the holiday season, remember to plan some fun activities for yourself, too. Grownups have a tendency to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that they wind up with little to no time to enjoy the season themselves. Treat yourself to a new bag, there is plenty on offer from Bags Etc.

Plan some time to enjoy yourselves as a family by starting new family traditions, going to your favorite museums or getting together with other families. In the end, children will remember the fun times you spent together more than anything else.

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Parental Control Apps – Effective for Parents or Going Too Far?

It seems like everywhere we go, there’s an individual on a smartphone. Apple and Android smartphone technology have changed our lives, sometimes for the better. These devices help us maintain a schedule, communicate with friends instantly and offer endless entertainment with apps.

However, smartphones also have several negative effects, particularly when used by teens. Parents now have a variety of apps to monitor their children’s smartphone habits. Some popular Android parental control apps include Kaspersky’s Parental Control, which lets parents block certain sites on smartphones and tablets.

The program also lets parents decide what apps are allowed to be accessed on a family’s device. KidLogger can monitor a child’s activity on a phone, including a call log, web site log, SMS messages and more. Another option for Android parental control is GPS monitoring. Parents can access their child’s current location by using apps like the MamaBear app to let their kids “check in” and more.

If parents are concerned about their children accessing “freemium games,” applications that are free but feature expensive add-ons, they can install the app Kid Mode, to prevent their children from accessing all apps except parent-approved ones. Teens and children are some of the biggest consumers of Android content.

The PewResearch Center’s report of Teens and Technology 2013 featured 37% of teens responding owned a smartphone by Android or Apple. Teens use their smartphone to text friends, tweet, visit Facebook, download music, and more. But parents can’t be over their teens’ shoulders every minute, and for the moments when you can’t monitor their use, parental control apps are there to help.

Should you utilize an app for parental control for teens?

Giving your child a cellphone or tablet means discussing issues of safety. Ten years ago, parents didn’t have to worry about the dangers of cellphones like we do today. Now sexting, cyberbullying, and “selfie” obsessions are the norm as teens use cellphones through every facet of their lives.

A cellphone is no longer a device used to call friends and family, now it’s a computer, a social networking tool, a text message system, and an entertainment center. Teens can do virtually anything on a cellphone and are often more adept than their parents, therefore parental control apps on Android and iPhone devices helps parents monitor their teens online activity and offer peace of mind that they are safe.

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Does Classroom Technology Really Improve Learning?

In our ever-changing world, there are the occasional, monumental shifts in the way we do things. Most recently, the introduction of technology into the classroom has divided many. Is it a boost to the way children learn? Or is it simply giving into a technology-addicted age? Whichever way we look at it, it cannot be denied that technology has revolutionized the way people learn.

Many would agree that computers and gadgets cannot be avoided, so why not embrace the fresh possibilities that they provide? However, others would counter that children already spend enough time glued to their gadgets and school should provide respite from the digital world. The arguments for and against technology in the classroom are equally compelling.

Inspiration for all

One of the biggest problems facing our education system is inspiring interest in students, especially those who struggle to achieve academically. Students can vary in terms of ability and willingness to learn and it could be argued that technology reduces the thinking process for more limited students, giving them easier access to learning tools.

iPads, smartphones and other relatively novel gadgets might spark the interest of otherwise reluctant students and only serve to enhance the experiences of more gifted participants. Meaning that overall, everyone involved can benefit.

Too much tech-time

A common argument against technology in the classroom is that many children already spend an inordinate amount of time outside of school using computers, tablets, iPhones and various other devices . It’s a valid point, but one that should probably be addressed at home.

If technology becomes a necessary part of a child’s education, a parent could then make the decision to limit the amount of tech-time that is spent at home. Time spent tapping away could soon be evenly distributed and children could be encouraged into trying other pursuits with their spare time.

Costs

One of the most imposing elements of bringing technology into the classroom is finances. Schools that are rather behind in the technological stakes can find themselves facing huge costs in purchasing new equipment, installing it and then training staff on how to use it.

However, there are various grants and schemes in place that can help schools get on track with their technological requirements provided by the government, foundations and charitable trusts. With the right approach and plenty of research, a school could soon find itself eligible for a significant helping hand.

In-classroom research

Giving students the power to be able to research things quickly and efficiently can speed up the learning process. Whereas in the past, they would have to root through encyclopedias to find things out, students with access to tablets such as iPads can quickly run a search and find masses of useful information.

But there’s a strong argument regarding the possibility of distraction. With internet access and a speedy device, wouldn’t students be heading off to update their Facebook status or send a quick tweet?

Not necessarily. A crucial part of technology finding its way into the classroom is ensuring that the use of devices cannot be abused. Screen locks and restrictions on usage can be put in place, and schools can invest in robust firewalls to ensure that a wrong link clicked doesn’t translate into school-wide computer viruses. Technology in the classroom certainly wouldn’t be so successful if such measures weren’t taken to protect the devices and the students.

New opportunities

There are many pros and cons when it comes to the use of technology in the classroom. While both sides have valid points, one thing that cannot be contested is that using iPads in the classroom opens up a wealth of exciting new opportunities for students, and most would agree that can only be a good thing.

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Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby

Knowing when and how to introduce solid foods to your baby are questions every first time parent asks. You want to ensure that they want to get the proper nourishment they need for their age, but at the same time you know you will have to wean them off breast milk or formula eventually.

When Will Your Baby Be Ready for Solid Foods

The Australian Paediatric Society recommends that your baby should be fed exclusively on breast milk for the first six months. This means that you do not give your baby any other food or drink. After that, you can slowly introduce solid foods while continuing with the breastfeeding. Your baby’s digestive system is just not ready for solid foods until he or she is reaches six months.

Furthermore, research seems to indicate that exclusive breastfeeding until that age protects babies from sicknesses as well as reduces the risks of allergies. While the six month rule of thumb is useful, each child is a little different. Some might be ready a little earlier, while others a while later.

If you feel that your baby is still not ready to have solid finger food after seven months, you might want to consult with your doctor. At the same time, you should look out for visible cues your baby is showing. These might be that she is more curious about food, especially those she sees on your plate and opening her mouth when food is offered.

Your baby should also have good head control, which means that she can keep her head in an upright position steadily without support. At this point, your baby should also have lost the habit of using her tongue to push food out of her mouth (known as the extrusion reflex).

How to Introduce Solid Finger Food to Your Baby

It is a good idea to start with a single food that your baby might like and is easy for her to consume, for example infant rice cereal. You can also start off with any pureed solid food which is easy to digest. Good pureed foods to start off with include sweet potatoes, bananas and peaches. Mashed food and small pieces of finger food are also options.

You start off with a teaspoon every day until your child is able to eat at most two tablespoons. At that point, you can start feeding her solid food at least twice a day. While babies will generally not have any problems with new foods, you should watch out for signs of allergic reactions.

These can be very dangerous for her. Tell-tale signs include diarrhea, vomiting or rashes. Unlike the movies, these symptoms will not always show up immediately. With this in mind, you might want to hold off letting your baby foods that are more allergenic such as dairy, soy and nuts.

Try each new food for about five days to allow your child to accustom herself to the different textures and flavours. If perhaps she doesn’t like something the first time you let her try it, you can try it again another day. You will still have to watch out for any signs of allergic reactions though.

Don’t forget that you will still have to feed your baby breast milk or formula throughout the first year. They provide her with the nutrients she needs in a form that is easy to digest.

John Sydney is a writer cum caterer for Fingerfoods.com.au, a Sydney-based catering company that offers finger food party menus for kids.

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Tips on Buying a Baby Teether

Teething is a very uncomfortable but natural process for babies. Many companies have created teether products to help soothe those sore gums and help rid them of the pain. From water filled teethers to ringed teethers, there is so much on offer that for parents the whole buying process can become rather confusing. So if you are scratching your head over what kind of teether should I get?  please read on.

1. Buy a teether that will ensure that you baby’s teeth develop well. There are teethers which help create sensory awareness. The ringed water filled ones vibrate whenever the baby teethes. There are many teethers available which mimic shapes then help prepare the baby in eating solid foods.

2. Be practical. It is a good idea to buy a pacifier which also acts like a teether. There are different teethers available for different age groups, a pacifier has been designed in such a manner that it will reach deep inside the baby’s mouth.

3. Purchase a teether which can also act like a toy, many teethers come in a variety of animal shapes and rattles for the baby’s entertainment. Choose bright colors that will attract the baby’s eye and want to use the teether. Babies will have great fun in exploring the teether and will observe the animals closely as the teether is attached to it.

4. Ensure that you buy teethers which are non-toxic. Some companies produce teethers which are organic too, you can also buy special jewellery for mothers which babies can bite and gnaw on.

The online website by the name of justbabyteethers.com is a lovely place to start. You will find some cute and trendy baby teethers including the popular Sophie the Giraffe and Baby Banana Bendable range, which your baby will just love and hopefully allow you some rest time.

As a parent, you should never settle for less and go for only the best teether products to help the baby cope with the painful process of teething. Fun teether toys will keep the baby busy for hours on end and will also ensure that the baby does not suffer from sore gums. With less pain, the baby will stay happy and will not whine and cry about the pain.

Justbabyteethers.com is your one stop answer to all your doubts of what kind of teether should I get plus the site also offers some very good help and advice. The products on this website are something that both parents and kids will love.

For teething advice and tips, visit http://www.justbabyteethers.com/

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Open Source University

Open Source University is a comprehensive education system built from the ground up as a drop in replacement for all current methods of employment. It is designed for all ages and lifestyles. So go ahead, start earning your degree today for free, and end up with a more practically applicable qualification than any Ivy League college will ever be able to offer you.

The interface of Open Source University is intuitively dynamic: so much so that even a child could use it. It is true that the degree program is incredibly advanced, but I am here to open up that level of thought to all ages. It has been designed for the smartest of children to become the new teachers of the world, not only teaching their own generation, but also our future ones.

The topics have been presented in a way that any child with an attention span can learn very complicated subjects in a very short period of time. It achieves this by breaking apart very complicated information and relating it with the stories that they grew up with. It then demonstrates what deeper meaning those stories have to their own day to day lives and in that process they will be required to draw their own conclusions about the topics.

Open Source University is a project of compassion. It is entirely free, has no ads, nor makes any type of revenue: forever. It is here merely because one brilliant individual noticed our society lacking these structures, and he was driven to create them before anyone else did but uncorrupted by human greed. It is the model post-technological university and it will be very difficult for anyone to implement a better system. It is timeless and will live throughout the ages. And it is now here to train your children how to be super heroes.

http://osuni.org

WARNING: Open Source University will create stars. And from them we will see the world’s most beautiful constellation form from the passions of our children.

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Help Your Child Learn The Alphabet

Help Your Child Learn The Alphabet, It Will Not Be Wasted Time

Learning the alphabet is an important cornerstone of learning language and developing into a fully functioning adult. The fundamentals of learning the alphabet are a key part of young children’s early educational development. If you want your child to learn to read and write, then they need to be able to recite the letters in order, but also recognize the letters out of sequence and in different combinations.

A child will have an advantage if they can master the sounds of the  letters, and are able to write down the letters that correspond to those sounds. Many parents know that learning your Abc’s  is impotent, but quite often do not know how to go about teaching it to their children. Quite often a parent will spend a lot of money on expensive products and programs designed to teach their child the alphabet, but that really is not necessary as there are plenty of free resources available.

For any literate parent it is quite easy to teach your child the alphabet. There are three main actions to focus on. It can be useful to use an online resource to help imbed your child’s newly found knowledge. At  LearnAbcOnline you can find some useful tools to engage your child in some different activities. The three key areas you need to focus on are:

Make learning fun.

Make it real to your child.

Make it regular to embed the knowledge.

I believe it is worth adding the most emphasis to making the learning fun. If you can turn any learning opportunity into a game, this can have the added benefit of your child not even being aware they are learning. Fun experiences are far more likely to stay with your child rather than dull regurgitation of the alphabet which can get frustrating for young children.

Children do not just learn through seeing and hearing but also they like to engage in tactile activities, to touch letters and to feel their shape. Have a think about what you can do to really bring the learning experience alive for your child. If you make learning into something boring or something that looks just like work then you will probably have to fight your child every step of the way.

Young children will learn at an incredibly fast rate but because they are learning and experiencing so many new things they will probably forget what they have learned quite quickly. That is why it is important that you regularly reinforce their learning with regular lessons. If you want to give you child a real head start in life then this will make a big impact on their early education, and they really will start school with a head start over other children.

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Kids Activities: Things to do in Newport NC | Sleep with the Fishes!

For Crystal Coast families, it can be hard to find activities throughout the school year to entertain kids while keeping costs low. The ocean gets cooler and it’s harder to head off to the beach every day. Kids are in school all day, but parents want to find options to keep kids engaged and active in nature.

The North Carolina aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores provides all of these things at low costs, and in a great location. Only thirty minutes from the family friendly neighborhood of Bogue Watch, it’s a cost effective way to keep kids involved in coastal nature while also having fun with the whole family.

A year long family membership is only $60, while day tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for kids 12 and under. The Pine Knoll Shores aquarium has exhibits on mountain, piedmont, coastal plain, tidal waters, and ocean ecosystems. There is also a marsh boardwalk with an exhibit on snakes, two nature trails, and a free fossil hunt for kids.

The Pine Knoll Shores aquarium also provides live daily programs. These include the Live Dive, where divers explore a Living Shipwreck and talk with the audience. You can watch the live feedings of animals, including Otters, Pungo, Neuse and Eno. Creature Feature explains special findings on different marine mammals, like horseshoe crabs or water snakes!

And for parents with smaller kids, there’s toddler time where music, crafts and fun abound every Wednesday morning! Older kids can take classes and camps at the aquarium for reasonable prices. From learning where the best sea food restaurants acquire their fish to learning what a sea turtle rescue team does, weekly classes vary on dates and ages so there are options for everyone.

Camps run over both winter and summer break, so there are options for Bogue Watch families and other neighborhoods. You can also have your child’s birthday party or even a sleepover at the aquarium! If you’d like to give a special gift to a marine loving kid, adopt-an-animal is a great program that donates to NC Aquariums, while placing the “adoption certificate” under the child’s name and sending them a stuffed animal matching the adopted animal in an NC Aquarium sweatshirt!

This aquarium is a North Carolina treasure, with great value for families and great options for getting kids entertained throughout the year. Only half an hour outside of the popular off-base housing and family friendly neighborhood Bogue Watch, the Pine Knoll Shores aquarium is the place to take your kids this fall to learn, laugh and see some fantastic ocean animals.

If you searching for homes for sale in New Bern NC, try the master planned community, Bogue Watch.

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Starting Big School – How to Make it Easier

So the great day has finally come – it’s time for your little one to start school for the first time and you can be forgiven for the worries that you have.  Worrying over the first day at school is a natural thing for parents – you’d be strange if you didn’t have a few misgivings about sending your child out into the big world for the first time.

You’ve probably been preparing for this for quite some time – attending mum and toddler groups and other child-centres social activities where you and your child can get to know other mums and kids at similar stages of development. All of these pre-school social activities are a great way of preparing your little one for school.

He/she will have learned that there are other kids in the world and may even have made some friends that you see on a regular basis.  One of the easiest options is if your child can start school with some classroom friendships already established – children of your friends who are due to start during the same week as your little one.

This will make the whole experience a lot easier than if it were a solo experience and your little one started school not knowing a soul in the place. Grebot Donnelly, experts in child education and school marketing, say that you must encourage your little one to develop friendships with local children of the same age – go to all of the local mum and baby/toddler activities.

You’ll meet other parents whose children will be in the same school year as yours and your little one will form friendships with a group of chums who will all be familiar faces when it comes to the first day at school.  Being part of a group will help promote self-confidence, especially when faced with new experiences such as starting school.

Most schools nowadays have a nursery class where little ones can attend either morning or afternoon sessions.  These nursery classes are often places where budding friendships are fostered, ensuring that little ones have a group of chums who will move through the school systems at the same pace.  Attending a school based nursery facility is a great way of getting kids ready for school proper.

The transition is often smooth and seamless as the nursery staff will be preparing the kids to move into the Reception class at that particular school.  The buildings will already be familiar to both you and your child so it won’t seem like such a huge change.

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Decorating With Children’s Wall Stickers

Want to know one of the most forgotten aspects when decorating a kids room? The walls! But while most people throw up a layer of paint and call it a day, you could be decorating your son or daughter’s room with one of thousands of gorgeous, fully-removable, peel and stick wall decals – in ANY theme your child can possibly think of.

Today’s peel-and-stick technology allows for beautiful laser-printed color on easy-to-apply vinyl wall stickers. Since there’s no glue there’s no mess: you simply peel away the protective backing and apply these decals to any smooth surface. They look equally great on walls, doors, headboards… the possibilities are endless.

And since they’re fully removable and re-positionable, you can peel them back off and re-apply them elsewhere (or even take them with you when you move) whenever you want to change your decor. Children’s wall decals come in a variety of sizes. There are small applique packs, containing dozens of decals where each sticker is a few inches wide, all the way up to giant, life-sized stickers depicting cartoon characters, TV and movie heroes, and even real-life sports stars and team logos.

There are also full-length wall murals made out of the same peel-able technology; in this way you can transform an entire wall of your son or daughter’s bedroom into a whole panorama – again, without mess or fuss! And since kids go through phases even faster than they go through clothing? You’ll be able to change out the decor of your kids room in no time flat. Imagine your little boy going from dinosaurs to super heroes, from pirates to TV shows, and then to planes, trains, and trucks.

As he gets older he might want to decorate with sports themed wall decals, or put up a logo or player from his favorite baseball, football, basketball, or hockey team. All of these options are available in a wide assortment of styles, each of them perfect for your son’s bedroom or playroom. But let’s not forget the girls! Your little one might love butterflies, ladybugs, Hello Kitty… or Dora the Explorer.

And of course, the most famous of all little girl fantasies: being a princess! There are hundreds of beautifully-printed princess wall stickers; Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, and all the other famous princesses by Walt Disney. You can create a princess-themed room in no time at all, decorating with everything from horse-drawn carriages to Tinkerbell.

And since all of these decals are peel and stick, you’ll be able to let your little one help in the decorating. You can’t make a mistake because everything is re-positionable! Baby nursery decor is also a very big thing, and some of the most adorable wall decor includes wall trees, zoo animals, and cute little monkeys swinging from vines.

There are decals of traditional favorites too, such as Winnie the Pooh, Sesame Street, and all kinds of softer, gentler themes that are perfect for your baby’s room. Finally, many of today’s wall decals can be personalized with any name or phrase. Children get a kick out of seeing their name printed on a pretty pink princess crown, or across the bottom of a Disney Cars wall sticker. Names, initials, and monograms are all available and make great gifts for that little boy or girl.

Be sure to check out Wall Sticker Outlet for thousands of wall decal options! They have every style or theme you can imagine, and ship their decals FREE to any address within the United States.

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