admin, Author at 3 Kids and Us

Helping Your Child Get Used To Being At A Child Care Centre

September 8, 2017 by admin

If your child has just started at child care, remember that things can go wrong on the first day, and your child will likely protest when it’s time to say goodbye. Many kids experience nervousness and anxiety when starting child care for the first time, but there is quite a bit you can do to make the transition as easy as possible for both you and your little one.

Helping Your Child Adjust to Child Care

You can begin preparing your child by talking to him or her in advance, telling then where they will be going and what they will be doing during the day. You could also take your child to visit the day care centre a few times before you have to leave them for the first day. Show your child where he or she will be going and answer any questions that have as openly and honestly as you can to reassure them that everything will be okay.

On the first day, try to arrive around 15 minutes beforehand to help your child settle into some sort of activity before you have to get to work. This way, they’re less likely to protest your leaving if they’re already having fun.

If your child is bound to be anxious, send a familiar object like a favourite blanket or stuffed animal to help him or her adjust to the situation. Child care centres in Sydney or in your local area are always happy to accommodate these kinds of things.

Here are a few more tips to make your child feel at ease:

Try to make enough time so that you won’t be rushing to sing in and get your child settled with an activity.
Be sure to take note of your own body language when you say goodbye to your child. If you feel uncertain, you could be showing your own anxiety to him or her.
Try to resist the temptation to just sneak out the door when your little one is not looking – it could well create problems for you both. If your child fears that you are going to disappear each time you drop them at school, they may be unwilling to let you out of their sight.
If you think your child is going to react very strongly on day one, see if your partner or a friend could drop them off.
Ask the teacher if they can provide insight about any problems. For example, your little one may not like other children or is just having a hard time settling down for a nap.
Do your best to stick to a routine and avoid making any changes while your child gets used to the new arrangement.
Accept that it’s time for your little one to adjust to his or her new school routine and that some children may take longer than others.
Try to be alert to any underlying problems. If your little one has yet to settle into the new arrangement, it may be time to talk to the teacher. It could be something as simple as a personality clash and your child may do better in another classroom.

Remember those tips and your child will be able to adjust in the child care centre easily.

Essential Tips on How to Have a Great Family Vacation in LA

September 3, 2017 by admin

So, you’ve decided that you want to take the family for a vacation in LA. You know what you want to do and have already found one of the Los Angeles vacation rentals that’s going to be perfect for you and the kids. But, there’s one nagging feeling at the back of your mind. And that’s all about how you can make sure that everyone one is happy and has the best time on their vacation. If you’re in this position, don’t worry. We’ve all been there and experienced this at some point. Here are some essential tips on how to have the perfect family vacation in Los Angeles.

What Makes LA a Great Destination for Families?

The main reason is that LA has so many things to keep everyone in the family entertained and interested for the length of the trip. You can find something that suits pretty much any age and even the more resilient of teens will enjoy some of the activities. But, as parents, we all know that there’s a fine line between having a perfect trip and an absolute disaster! Let’s have a look at what you should do.

Plan, Plan, Plan:

Planning is one of the most important parts of having a successful and stress-free family vacation. The more time you take at the start by coming up with a suitable itinerary to keep everyone happy, the smoother it will be when you arrive. It’s also a good idea to read recent reviews on blogs or TripAdvisor to get an idea of any unexpected things that may pop-up so that you’ll be more prepared.

Plan what you want to do each day and draft up an itinerary to keep things organized. You should also consider spending a full day at the theme parks. One of the most important things to do is to plan carefully and not to overdo it with the different activities. The last thing anyone wants is to start off at breakneck speed to find themselves exhausted on the third day.

Start Your Day as Early as Possible:

When you’re on vacation, it can be difficult to drag yourself out of bed at 7 am. We all want to stay in bed until 11 am when we’re not working, right? But, this isn’t a good idea if you’re planning a day of sightseeing. The crowds typically start to come in the late morning and early afternoon. This means that you may be faced with long waits if you don’t get there early enough.

Quite simply, the best thing to do is to aim to avoid the crowds as much as possible. This means there will be less stress for you and the kids won’t get bored whilst waiting in the long lines. And the earlier you start, the earlier you finish, which means you can then have more time relaxing later in the day.

Take Advantage of Early Bird Deals and Offers:

A savvy parent will look online before taking their family vacation to see what early bird tickets and promotions are available. The better ones will give you a discount and allow you to skip the line. This is one of the best features of booking in advance because who wants to spend hours standing in the queue to get into the attraction?

Always Book a Hotel with Breakfast Included:

One of the top ways to make the most out of the time when you’re on vacation is to book a hotel or resort that offers a buffet breakfast. This saves you both time and money in the morning and the day will typically start off in a positive light. Compare this to waking up early and then spending 30 minutes walking around the street to find a place to get some food. If you’re staying at a vacation rental, consider stocking up on food from the supermarket for breakfast. This also helps you to leave at the earlier times to avoid the crowds and long lines later on.

Allocate at Least One Day to Relax:

There’s nothing wrong with spending a few hours relaxing around the pool. It’s a good idea to find your accommodation in a place that’s near the beach or has a pool at the very least. One day of relaxing will be perfect for everyone. And the best part is, you don’t have to plan the day!

Choose the Activities to Suit Everyone in Your Family:

Just because you and the spouse want to see Hollywood or visit some of the museums, it doesn’t mean that the kids or teens will appreciate it as much. Make sure you ask everyone what they want to do and find something to suit everyone. Younger kids tend to prefer areas where they can play and older ones love the thrills at the theme park. This is a family vacation and everyone should have their say on what they want to do.

Have a Budget and Stick to it:

The final point is a practical way to enjoy your holiday and not feel the post-vacation blues when you return home and realize just how much you’ve actually spent. Set a daily budget and stick to it as much as possible. It’s OK to spend a little extra, but if you do go overboard, the little extras quickly add up when there are three or four of you.

The Takeaway Message:

Los Angeles is a great place to spend a family vacation. Plan ahead and ask everyone what they want to do and see. And don’t forget to have at least one day around the pool or beach to relax!

Grandparents Day: Fun Facts

September 1, 2017 by admin

How much do you know about Grandparents Day? A little bit? You may know what month and/or week it falls in, but do you know any fun facts about it? No? Well, you are in luck because this article will share with you fun facts that will have you scratching your head and belly-laughing at the same time! So, have you ever had wild thoughts like how many grandparents have multi-colored hair and how many like to boogie down at the local night clubs? What about how many grandparents have tattoos and how many of those are new? Better yet, who has the most grandchildren in the US or even the world? Well, we don’t have answers for all of those questions, but you’ll be shocked at how many surprising facts about grandparents, you will learn from this article. So, jump a board and learn some fun facts that you can share with your own grandparents on their very special day!

How big is your family?

Another surprising fact about grandparents signed, sealed, and delivered to you for Grandparents Day is that there have been some pretty gigantic families (size-wise) throughout history. In fact, according to the Daily Mail, Indian-based Ziona Chana currently holds the record for the biggest family. To date, Ziona Chana has 39 wives, 14-daughters-in-law, 94 children, and 33 grandchildren. In addition, before he died, Samuel S. Mast had 11 kids, 97 grandkids, 634 great-grandkids and a whopping 82 great-great-grandkids, according to Kristen Sturt from the American Grandparents Association. The total of family members – 824! How amazing is that?!

Abraham is that you?

Another fun fact about grandparents is lurking around the corner. Did you know that President Abraham Lincoln was named after his grandfather, Abraham Lincoln, who was also killed! No, John Wilkes Booth did not shoot and kill grandfather, Abraham Lincoln, but American Indians did shoot him (and kill him), while he was farming in Kentucky. Wow, now that’s one heck of a coincidence!

How wild are you?

According to a recent survey published in Redbook, approximately 35% of grandparents still have sex at least twice a week. Not only that, but approximately 10% of seniors have been inked (tattoos), and about 7% admit having tried illegal drugs at least once in their lives. Mind-blowing, I know!

How well can you drive?

Ready for some more surprising facts about grandparents for Grandparents Day? Well, one study found that children are safer in vehicles driven by their grandparents than their own parents! No way! Grandma’s and Grandpa’s slow driving could be saving more lives than you think!

Who raised you?

Here’s a fun fact for Grandparents Day that will blow you away. Guess who raised these influential, world-renown leaders: Maya Angelou, Carol Burnett, Bill Clinton, Willie Nelson, Jack Nicholson, Barack Obama, and Oprah Winfrey? Yep, you got it – their grandparents. Look how well these grandchildren did in life! So, who are the most influential people in the world? Grandparents.

It has an official flower?

One of many surprising facts about Grandparents Day is that it has an official flower associated with it! The official US flower for Grandparents Day is the “forget-me-not.” This majestic plant bears small sky-blue flowers that bring to mind the old phrase “tiny but mighty.” You may not know this but “forget-me-nots” have been used for centuries, as a symbol of respect and remembrance. In fact, during the 15th century, German women wore these delicate flowers in their hair, as a sign of everlasting love.

Wait…there’s a song too?

Yes, here’s another fun fact that you can share on Grandparents Day. This special day has its own official song! “A Song for Grandpa and Grandma,” is the official Grandparents Day tune. It was written and performed by Johnny Prill, an award-winning and Grammy-nominated songwriter. “A Song for Grandpa and Grandma” became the official song on April 20, 1999. The thing that makes this heartfelt song standout is that it’s told from a grandchild’s perspective. Throughout the song, this sweet young child sings about how much he adores his grandparents. It’s now common for children to sing this song to nursing home residents, who can’t be with their families on Grandparents Day.

How I Was Traveling To My Nephew’s Football Game

August 29, 2017 by admin

Ten years ago, when my nephew only was born, I lived with my parents in a little town in Massachusetts. My sister and her husband bought a house next door, so all our big family used to hang out together, watching tv, babysitting the little one and playing sports on weekends.

Especially we all loved playing football. Therefore, as the second youngest member of our family, I was very close to my nephew, Steve. We both were about crying when I was leaving to New York for my Master’s degree. Vividly, I remember a scene, when my 7-year-old nephew stands with a football in his hands and asks me if I come to his first game. I made my promise and departed.

Three more years have passed, Steve joined the boy scouts, so I forgot my promise, as one day my sister called me.

‘Stevie has his first football game in a week’, she said. ‘Come Friday night’.
‘In a week?’, I felt really irritated. ‘And you’re telling me now?! I have other plans, I have a girlfriend, I have a job!’

‘Honey, calm down. If you don’t want to come, do not come then’.

And she hung up.

What did I have to do besides packing for my trip? I called my employer and arranged stuff with my girlfriend, apologizing so many times, and in a week, on Friday morning, I drew out of New York, heading North.

The music was playing loud, I was in a cheerful mood, imagining how happy Stevie would be when he sees me at the game. But suddenly my car stopped for no reason. I tried to turn on the engine, however, there was no luck. I stuck in the middle of the highway!

The road was quite empty, so somehow I pushed my car aside. Actually, all I was thinking at that moment was how would I get to the game on time. So, I couldn’t think of a better idea than to hitch-hike. I stopped by a local store to buy some helmet accessories for my nephew.

It is hard to say how long I was standing there with my finger up. For me, it seemed like an eternity. All those cars passing by with drivers, who do not give a damn about you and your trouble.
Suddenly an old green truck stopped. A small lady in her sixties waved to me in a friendly way.
‘Any problem, hun?’

‘I need to get to Boston as soon as possible’, said I. ‘Could you give me a ride?’

‘Sure. Get it. I am going to a football game of my grandson. The first one! And you?’

I have never believed in miracles until that day. Now I know that the most beautiful things happen to us in an unexpected way. The lady was going to another town in Connecticut, but she gave me a ride home and dropped me off by the front door of my parents’ house. She disappeared as fast as she appeared before, and I still don’t know her name. Maybe, she was just an angel? Who knows. But my nephew’s team won the game and it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Top year-end holiday travel destinations you’ll surely love

August 29, 2017 by admin

Already considering the many awesome sights to see and locations to shop during the Christmas holiday season this year? Seoul, Tokyo, Bali, Manila, Taipei, Melbourne – these are just a few of the places you should look forward to this year!

Check out these top year-end holiday travel destinations and pick one (or two) for your upcoming travel plans.

Seoul, Korea. Considered as Asia’s winter wonderland, Jimjilbang, Korea’s traditional spa for grooming and soaking is something you should definitely experience in winter. There are 24-hour ones available for you to scrub the old year blues away. During October, you can experience the autumn at full blast as the weather transitions from warm to cold, plus you’ll see some amazing colours. The vibrant Christmas trees are paraded starting November, coupled with festive carolling and free concerts. Seoul Plaza Hotel boasts a 20-metre Christmas tree, which is sure to put you in a good mood.

Tokyo, Japan. If you’re looking for something even more exciting, you can find it in Tokyo. If you’re looking for tradition, Japan offers you with Buddhist amazing hot springs and temples. You will love the colours of autumn and if you want something modern, the fantastic lanes of Shibuya and Shinjuku will instantly put you in a festive mood. Consider spending your New Year’s Day in Japan as it’s one of their biggest holidays.

Bali, Indonesia. If you feel like you’re about to burst from stress, the island of Bali is a perfect place for rejuvenation and peace of mind. You can spend your weekend relaxing in a spa or a yoga retreat for spiritual cleansing. Bali boasts amazing beaches and quiet mountainside retreats. Here you can find basically anything and everything you’re looking for in a holiday getaway.

Manila, Philippines. The capital of the Philippines is an up-and-coming destination for anyone looking for cosmopolitan chills and thrills on a budget. Here you can find some of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world. Communication is easy because English is the medium of exchange. If you’re in the mood for some shopping action, then consider Manila as your end-of-year holiday destination.

Taipei, Taiwan. The climate in Taipei is perfect during the year-end. It’s cold enough for tourists coming from a tropical climate, but not too cold to stop them from enjoying. The city boasts a lot of activities and experiences, including shopping and dining, plus culture lovers will find many fantastic finds in the rich traditions of this Asian country. Taipei is a worthy place to close out the year with everyone you love.

Melbourne, Australia. Looking for a European winter trip this year without the matching cold, then consider the fabulous city of Melbourne. Despite the lack of winter in Australia during the year-end months, it still has plenty of chilly wind coming from the South Pole. The city itself is active and friendly, and the tram system makes it easy to move around to experience European-style Christmas, old-fashioned Aussie barbecue, or a trip to the beach. If you happen to visit in November you can even go to the Melbourne Cup where massive horse-race event happens throughout the nation.

End Note

Found a destination you, your family, or friends will love going to? Time to plan as early as now, and to make sure you can avoid the most common travel hitches, don’t forget to secure travel insurance for you and everyone travelling with you. This way, you can focus on the fun and less on worrying about any likely issues you might encounter while having a blast out there.