admin, Author at 3 Kids and Us

What Hobbies Can Parents And Children Do Together?

September 16, 2021 by admin

It’s good to have a hobby. No matter who you are or what else you are doing in life, if you have a hobby, you will keep active (physically or mentally, and sometimes both), have something to look forward to always have a topic of conversation, and be able to de-stress more easily.

Of course, the problem can sometimes be the work-life balance. You have to work and enjoy your hobby, but is that really possible when you also have children to take care of? This is why hobbies can sometimes fall by the wayside; you just don’t have the time. However, if you can find a hobby that your children can do with you, you’ll be able to fit everything in and enjoy yourself immensely, as well as getting some extra bonding time with your kids. Read on for some ideas to get you started.

Reading

Reading might not seem to be a hobby as such, but it can be if you do it right. Simply reading a book is an excellent way to relax, but reading a book and then discussing it, writing a follow-up, or learning more about the author makes it more of a hobby.

Since reading is so good for children (children who read at home often do better at school, and their creativity will have an outlet and even improve through reading), it’s the ideal hobby to do together. You could choose to read the same book and then talk about it, or you might have your own books but use your reading time to find new places to read – even outside – or bake some treats to enjoy while you’re reading. Reading by itself is great, but it’s even better when you turn it into a hobby.

Gardening

The more time children spend outside, the better. They aren’t focused on their screens, they’re getting a break from schoolwork, and they’re breathing in the fresh air, as well as getting exercise and topping up their vitamin D levels. Of course, the same goes for the adults who are with them; being outside is good for everyone.

A hobby that involves being outside and that you and your children can do together could be gardening. This hobby offers a good amount of physical exercise, but it also teaches you something; you’ll need to know what plants will thrive, what to add to your soil, how to weed, and, importantly, what landscape gardening tools to use.

Gardening is a hobby without end; there is always something to do, so you’ll never get bored, and if you need to fill some time, gardening can be the solution there too.

Collecting

Collecting might sound like a generic, vague hobby, but once you determine what you want to collect, you can spend a lot of time and enjoyment searching those things out. Some of the things you might collect could include:

Old postcards
Stamps
Music memorabilia
Spoons
Pin badges
Anything to do with a certain animal
Wooden boxes

The list goes on and on; whatever it is that catches your eye and makes you want to know more and have more can be your collection.

You don’t have to collect the same thing as your child; you might find that you have completely different tastes, and they want to collect gemstones while you want to find old cookery books, but this doesn’t matter. Going out together to scour the local shops, antiques markets, or boot sales to see if you can pick up any more items is always going to be fun.

4 Of The Best Family Rides At Universal Studios

September 8, 2021 by admin

Planning a family vacation can be difficult if you’ve got a wide range of ages coming along. Your teenager may not want to do the same kinds of activities that your eight-year-old wants to, and vice versa, but a certain vacation destination offers fun for the whole family: Universal Studios, Orlando. Whether your child is learning cursive in the third-grade or enrolled in an online high school trigonometry course, Universal has plenty of different family-friendly attractions that will keep every age satisfied.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

A great start to your adventure, the Spider-Man ride is one of many motion-based 3D rides throughout the park. Not quite a roller coaster, this immersive ride requires special 3D glasses that lets you feel like you’re actually on the run from some of Spidey’s most infamous villains. It blends motion rails, 3D technology, and interactive environments to create a wholly unique experience.

Men In Black Alien Attack

This rail shooter is a classic throwback that sees its riders blasting aliens with lasers in order to get the high-score. This adds a little friendly competition to the fun as you’re pushed through a dark cityscape of pop-up aliens and flashing lights with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Jurassic Park River Adventure

Prepare to get wet on this dino-inspired adventure! Take a leisurely float through the Jurassic environment and do some amazing sight-seeing with realistic animatronics and delightful commentary. The ride takes a thrilling turn, however, when carnivorous dinosaurs escape their confines. Be sure to check out your flash-photo after the ride!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Yer a wizard, Harry. Well, you feel like one, at least, after getting in line for this Harry Potter themed ride. Explore the halls of Hogwarts itself on your way to board this motion-based attraction. Once the ride starts, you’ll fly on your broom alongside Harry and the gang, traveling through the Forbidden Forest, fleeing from dementors, and soaring through the sky with a dragon. This is a must-ride for any Harry Potter fan of any age.

Wrapping Up

We skimped out on the roller coasters for this one, but if your kids are old enough for them then check them out by all means! They have plenty of crazy coasters to choose from. Another option is to pair a parent with a kid if one wants to ride something that the other can’t or doesn’t want to. Overall, Universal Studios is a great family getaway if you’re looking to accommodate all ages and still have a great time.

Preparing Your Child for a Hospital Stay

August 5, 2021 by admin

A stay at the hospital is never ideal, but it can be especially frightening for children. If it was up to you, you would surely trade places with your child rather than subjecting them to a stay at a strange place with unfamiliar faces, but unfortunately, there are times when a night spent in the hospital is necessary and unavoidable.

The next best thing to trading places with your child is to do everything you can to prepare them for their hospital stay. There are a few things you can do to prepare them and put them at ease:

Explain All of the Various Roles to Them

It seems that more than ever before, there are an awful lot of people involved in a hospital experience. Your child will interact with many more people than just a doctor and a nurse when they spend time at the hospital.

There may be individuals present from organizations like provider’s choice scribe services that record interactions between your child and the doctor, teams with multiple nurses, imagery experts, and students in the case of a teaching hospital. There are a number of different medical professionals involved in your child’s hospital stay.

Interacting with all of these different people can be intimidating if your child isn’t prepared for it. Therefore, discussing all of the roles involved in your child’s care is an important element to preparing them for being at the hospital.

Pack Things to Entertain Your Child

Being at the hospital isn’t just scary, it can also be very boring and time can feel like it moves much more slowly. Giving your child entertainment that they typically enjoy at home can go a long way to making the experience more entertaining and make the environment feel more familiar.

The best sorts of entertainment are things that your child can completely immerse themselves in, like coloring books, handheld video games, laptop computer games, and small craft projects. Make sure that whatever you include doesn’t have too many small pieces that can end up creating a mess for nurses to clean up. It may also be best to avoid very expensive gadgets that could be stolen.

Talk About Times You’ve Gone to the Hospital

It may be a natural instinct for you to avoid thinking about the hospital or talking about it with your child, but explaining your experiences at the hospital could help your child understand that this is an experience all people go through and not something that they need to be very afraid of. Naturally, it’s best to leave out any particularly frightening details or bad experiences.

Make the Most of Your Child’s Hospital Stay

Although you surely wish that your child could stay healthy forever, the fact is that they will need to go to the hospital at some point in their lives. Properly preparing your child for the hospital can make the experience much more manageable.

4 Common Hurdles to Overcome in Global Ecommerce

July 19, 2021 by admin

Accompanying the rise in popularity of online shopping are increasing global ecommerce opportunities. Shoppers can get the latest and greatest products with just a few clicks, even if their favorite store is literally an ocean away. Brands can also pursue an omni-channel approach—offering physical stores and online-only options for shoppers near and far. It’s an exciting time for the industry.

But global ecommerce, while rewarding, is not effortless. It requires handling more moving parts to facilitate smooth, secure international sales. Here are four common global ecommerce hurdles entrepreneurs will have to overcome to be competitive in a worldwide market.

Payment

Accepting payment on an international scale is a multi-faceted challenge. How can customers pay? How does payment preference vary by location? How can you ensure secure payment regardless of endpoint device or location?

The first step is understanding the needs and wants of your target market. As CPC Strategy writes, consumers prefer different payment methods depending on what they’re accustomed to using. While over half of shoppers in Japan prefer to pay with a credit card online, 70 percent of shoppers in Germany would choose Bank Wire Transfer or Direct Debit as a payment method. Failing to offer the best payment method to customers could cause them to abandon their carts and shop elsewhere.

Global ecommerce payment innovation has progressed in leaps and bounds, and cloud based ecommerce solutions have allowed online stores to expand their range of payment options without sacrificing security. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) becomes even more important when you’re crossing borders.

Language

To sell to an international customer base, you’ll have to speak their language and a quick auto translation will do more harm than good. Take this cautionary tale courtesy of Business News Daily: When KFC opened in Beijing in the 1980s, its slogan “finger-lickin’ good” translated to “eat your fingers off.”

In addition to accurately translating your online store’s offerings, including the home page, product descriptions and your contact information; you’ll have to implement customer service channels capable of handling inquiries in different languages and time zones. Simple, accurate translation often starts with your platform itself. For example, several of Shopify’s themes come translation ready—all your team has to do is select the language.

Legalities

What may be legal to sell in your country may be illegal in another. Before you offer any products worldwide, do your due diligence—especially if you sell sensitive products. For example, some countries have strict rules regarding disclosure on nutritional labels. It’s your job to know your industry and how it relates to local laws so your ecommerce store does not accidentally land itself in hot water by violating them.

Logistics

Logistics like shipping are especially important when it comes to online sales. When a shipment arrives and is cleared by customs, a logistics company driver must then upload items they need delivering and take them to designated pickup stations or delivery addresses. Online stores must set forth a firm shipping and delivery policy so customers know exactly what to expect. According to Ecommerce Guide, here are the staples of a solid policy that aims to prevent misunderstandings and costly mistakes:

–Expected delivery timeframe (so international buyers know when to expect packages)

–Cost (while cost may be higher for global shipping, it’s better to be honest up front)

–Special shipping promotions and conditions (free after a threshold, discounted, etc.)

Global ecommerce is on track to grow immensely in the coming months and years. As you set your sights on seamless international sales, face these hurdles head on to figure out the best solution for your customers and your bottom line.

How to help your parents grow old with dignity

May 20, 2021 by admin

No one likes the harsh realization that our parents are aging and need a helping hand to grow old comfortably.

The older they get older, the less independent they seem to become, and the more likely they are to reject assistance.

Below are some quick tips to help you!

Treat Them With Respect

First and foremost we must treat our parents at this stage of their lives with the utmost respect.

Talk with them and discuss your ideas or ask for permission with any big decisions needing to be made.

If they decide that they do want your help a good place to start is by going along to their appointments with their regular doctor.

As your parents age, it is challenging, and the last thing they want is to be a burden on their children.

If they’re physically able to take care of themselves there’s no need to suddenly start discussing mobility aids.

Do not be disrespectful towards your parents or interfere in their business without their consent.

Safety Always Takes Priority

If you parents are finding it tough to get around the house however, it might be a good idea to start looking at some possibilities.

Companies such as Age UK Mobility provide home visit services where they come and evaluate your parents home for possible upgrades.

These can be anything from handrails to walk in showers or baths. These simple yet effective changes to your parents home really help with keeping their independence.

If stairs are in the home you can look at getting an assistance device such as a stair lift, which allows them to use the stairs.

What about maintaining the garden? Is that something they can do or should you look at other options. Just because they’re old doesn’t mean you can let the gardens go.

If getting groceries is difficult for them perhaps it’s time you look into home delivery or one of the many options available today.

Be Supportive In Any Way Possible

You should be as supportive as possible towards your parents both physically and mentally.

Being unable to drive or to remember things can have a serious impact on a seniors self-esteem.

Consider encouraging your parents to develop new hobbies or meet new friends. Always ensure that they have reliable transportation to get around when possible.

Learn To Communicate With Their Specialists Or Doctors

Eventually the time will come where you will have to take care of their health or manage medications.

The importance of having a good relationship with their healthcare professionals is paramount. Nobody knows when an unexpected situation might occur, so you must be prepared.

Take notes when talking to their doctors and have them saved in your phone for reference.

Make sure your parents understand what the Doctor is explaining and that any instructions are clear to both you and them.

Be sure to keep track of their legal documents and medical information, and remember to follow up with your doctor’s instructions as older parents often forget their dosage and medications.