admin, Author at 3 Kids and Us

All You Need to Know about Making Your Child Look Cool and Funky

February 24, 2017 by admin

It seems like only yesterday where, if you wanted your child to look a bit different, you had to make the clothes yourself. And even then, you were probably quite limited to funky shirt for boys, or a frilly dress with a belt and bow for girls. Today, however, there are so many kids clothing brands available, and at such friendly prices, that you can literally allow your child to dress however they please.

Some say this is a negative development. One where people lose the skill of being able to make things themselves. But on the other hand, being able to pick from such an array of choices, and making your child look cool and funky, yet different from everybody else, could be considered a skill in its own right. Best of all, thanks to the popularity of kids designer clothes, they are now functional and comfortable as well.

How to Buy Clothes for Your Child

You have the option of going all out and buying something from the Ralph Lauren kids line of clothing. Doing so, however, will leave a burning hole in your pocket. It will generally also mean that your child will only be able to wear those clothes on very special occasions, and they will be able to sit still whenever they do. Realistically, this means your child will be able to wear their outfit no more than twice, before they will have outgrown them.

Instead, try to look for some of the more popular, and affordable, kids clothing brands. Those clothes are designed to be practical and functional, as well as being made of high quality, durable materials. In other words, your child will be able to look amazing and unique, while still being able to just be a child, play around, and have fun. Plus, because these items are so much more affordable, you will be able to buy multiple outfits that you can mix and match, so your child can look good every day.

When you do start shopping for your child’s new clothes, make sure that they are involved in the process as much as possible. You have to allow your child to develop their own individual personality, with a little bit of guidance from yourself. Because cool kids t-shirts and clothing are now available largely online, you don’t even have to drag your children out for the dreaded shopping trip anymore either. Instead of having to worry all the time about your child’s sticky fingers getting on the clothing racks, losing them in the mall, and worrying about your husband eating too much fast food and drinking too much beer as they wait for you, you can make a fun activity at home from it. Simply sit behind the computer together and decide on what types of things they would like. Once they arrive, you can try them on together and send back anything that isn’t as nice as you both would have hoped.

How to Choose a Summer Camp for Your Child

February 24, 2017 by admin

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If you want your child to have a fantastic time this summer, then you need to start looking for summer camps now. One example of an excellent summer camp can be found on http://preschoolfunland.com/our-programs/junior-summer-camp/. However, the internet will only tell you so many things, and since you will be entrusting your child to the group leaders at a summer camp, it is likely that you will have a few other questions. This is true whether you want to send your child to Preschool Fun Land or to any other camp. This is why it is recommended that you think about what your most important outcome is for your child.

Possible Outcomes

Most preschool camps have a focus on a particular outcome with their children, but they touch on all of them. If you know which one is most important to you, you will also be better equipped to choose the right program. Key focus areas are:

Pursuing a passion.
Skill development.
Relaxing.
Making friends.
Being a child.
Learning something new.
Academic challenge.
Trying a wide variety of activities.
Family time.
Gaining independence.
Building social skills.
Travel.

When you consider what your decision is, you have to do some introspection to think about why you are picking a certain focus. Is it:

Because you really want this focus?
Because someone else thinks that it is best for your child?
Because it is what your child wants?

One issue that may also help you cut your shortlist down significantly is that of location. People tend to send their children to camps that fall into one of two categories:

The convenience of being very nearby, which means that there are little associated travel costs, and that someone can come if anything goes wrong.
The experience of going to a completely new destination.

There is no right or wrong in this answer, only a right or wrong for you and your child. Do take location into consideration, focusing again on what you believe is best for your child. And remember to involve your child in that decision.

Remember that children are only children for a very short period of time, and they need to be able to enjoy it. When you consider that they will spend between one and eight weeks at camp, it is important that your child will have an opportunity to build positive memories. Before you know it, they will be all grown up and there will be no more need for any kind of summer camp!

Now, you should be ready to start looking for the camp of your choice. This may seem overwhelming, because there are so many options out there. However, if you have determined what your focus is (and that your child agrees with that focus), you should be able to narrow your list down significant. If you feel a bit overloaded, then you need to simply take a step back and wait a couple of hours.

Bringing Your Child to Work: Great Ways to Keep Them Busy and Out of Trouble

February 17, 2017 by admin

Oct. 30, 2015 "This is the first time the same child has made two appearances in the Year in Photos. But it was difficult to not again include Ella Rhodes, daughter of Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, after the President lifted her in her elephant costume that she was wearing for a Halloween event at the White House." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House. — Source

Your child minder let you down, the kid’s school is closed due to bad weather; sometimes it’s necessary to bring small children to work with you. What you don’t need is for them to get bored and start whining or running around the office disturbing all your co-workers. What you do need is some ideas to keep them busy and out of trouble while you get through your workday. Here are some ideas to inspire you.

Inspire Their Creativity

Children love creative task so why not get your kid to color you a picture with the Coloring Book for Me & Mandala app? This app can be downloaded to any mobile device and provides hours of coloring fun without the need for paper and pens. The app has a great selection of pictures to color, including: people, places, birds, animals, flowers, geometric designs, and mandalas so kids won’t get bored. With more than 25 color plates to choose from, kids can really go to town. To color, just pick a shade and touch an area of the image. It’s than simple.

Get them Thinking

Kiko’s Thinking Time: Cognitive Training for Children’s Brains will give your kids a stimulating mental workout. This collection of games is designed for kids age 5 and under, to help them to develop concentration, reasoning skills and memory. They are encouraged to develop an eye for detail by matching colors, shapes, animals and objects. The free app allows children to complete one level per day. Parents can purchase unlimited access in one month, three month and annual time periods.

Stimulate Young Scientists

Designed for budding Einsteins, Thinkrolls 2 logic puzzles brings science concepts like electricity, force and density into play. With two settings, easy and hard, you can set levels for preschoolers and older children. You can also set accounts for up to six separate users with customized levels. Each time kids complete a level, they’ll have a new character to play with.

Explore with Robots

Tinybop’s Robot Factory is a unique app for early elementary school-age kids, which allows them to explore, design and interact with mazes, quirky characters, a rolling ball platform game and other thought provoking challenges. Kids will have to concentrate to keep their Thinkrolls gliding, rolling and teleporting using basic physics to guide them through themed levels.

Have Fun With Numbers

Motion Math: Cupcake! In this simulation game, kids are encouraged to build a cupcake delivery shop. They will need to design cupcakes, buy ingredients, set prices and deliver the goods to customers. Kids have to get used to being the boss, dealing with customers, handling word problems, helping the business grow and using match and strategy to make a profit.

Whether your office is at home or elsewhere, keeping children engaged when you have to take them to work with you will mean that they will be happy and you have a more productive day.

Samantha McLean is a working Mother who has 2 sons. She writes about parenting when you work and other family lifestyle topics.

Travelling with Kids? Here’s how you survive!

February 15, 2017 by admin

Hundreds of thousands of people went on holiday last year, and the bulk of them travelled with children. Parents had a wide range of problems: complicated travel arrangements, grumpy spouses and bored kids! It doesn’t have to be this way. Here are some tips on what to do when arranging a holiday with the whole family. Travelling with kids? Here’s how you survive!

1. Choose the Right Destination

You can’t please everyone. Always wanted to travel to a particular destination? It doesn’t mean your spouse does. Or your children. Why not do things differently next time and consult with the whole family? Brainstorm a list of destinations that everyone wants to visit and come to a compromise. Not only will everyone will be happy but children are less likely to get restless if they’re travelling to a destination that they want to go to. So, start planning and choose a place that everyone will love!

2. Brings Lots of Entertainment With You on Your Trip

Long car journeys and flights can be a chore for you and your little ones. Make the process more tolerable by bringing lots of things to keep them entertainedduring your trip. This might include books, games, toys and other activities which will interest them for a few hours. You might even want to create games that you can play as a whole family to make your journeys feel much quicker than they really are. If you’re bringing board games,keep them in a separate bag to your suitcase if you’re travelling by plane. This way, you can access them quickly if you need to.

3. Choose a Family-Friendly Hotel

Choosing a family-friendly hotel can make all the difference when travelling with the whole family, especially if you have young children. This type of accommodation will provide you with all the services you need when on your travels, including baby cots and even toys to keep your little ones entertained when you’re in your room. You can search the Internet and find family-friendly accommodation quickly. Once you’ve whittled down your list to two or three hotels that you might be interested in, contact the establishment directly and ask them what services they provide for children. This might include a children’s dining area, a children’s swimming pool or a kids club. Don’t forget to check out third-party review websites, too. These provide you with all the information you need about your hotel from guests who have stayed there in the past, so you know exactly what to expect before you hit that “book” button.

4. Arrange Activities Before You Travel

Finding something to do for the whole family can be difficult when you get to your destination. Why not arrange day trips at home before you travel instead? This way, you’ll be well-prepared for your trip and know exactly what you’re doing when you get there. There are loads of websites that offer excursions for the whole family and if you book early, you might be able to get a discount. Don’t forget to use a promotion code, too, which could entitle you to money off your trip!

Young Families and Travel: Top Tips to Share Your Adventurous Side with Your Kids

February 14, 2017 by admin

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With the average modern-day family having 2.4 children (basically, two kids!), life can be pretty hectic. Especially during your kids’ younger years if they’re very close in age, juggling the stresses of modern life in addition to looking after your children is likely to take up the majority of your time and money.

By the time children reach two years of age, parents spend an average of $12,500 per year. Therefore, traveling or taking family vacations are likely to be the last thing on your mind. But, if you yearn for adventure but feel held back by your kids, there’s no need to be! There are plenty of ways families can travel without earning a fortune; you just need to be sensible and follow the tips you’re about to read.

Budget and prioritize

When raising a family, your kids will always come first – and that’s totally normal. You should never prioritize traveling and vacations over your kids’ welfare, but there are plenty of other factors you can put aside to make saving more of a priority.

If you like to regularly go out for family meals, try planning meals at home and even encourage your kids to help out! Not only will this provide a perfect opportunity to save money, but will also get your kids involved too. Even if eating out isn’t your thing, there’s bound to be some form of luxury you and your family regularly do that isn’t wholly necessary – establish what your weakness is and come up with a cheaper alternative.

Many families also experience debt, especially if kids are born close together. If you’re victim of debt, it’s vital to accept it and take expert advice to help consolidate your debt as quickly as possible so you can fully focus on family travel.

Research deals

If money is still tight even after attempting to save, put some time aside to research vacation deals that suit your budget. The best way to identify whether something really is a good deal or not, is to figure out what the normal cost of your desired trip would cost. Then, if you spot a deal, you’ll know whether it’s worth taking or not!

Often, deals you may come across online aren’t all their cracked up to be so make sure you’re in-the-know before you hand over your money.

Be flexible

This may not be suitable for some families for obvious reasons but, when wanting to travel cheaply, being flexible is key. Typically, school holidays are the most expensive times to travel so, as long as you’re happy taking your kids out of school for the duration of your trip, you’re almost guaranteed to save serious money!

Just because you have kids, this doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to vacations and traveling forever. As long as you’re sensible with any existing debt and do the right research, there are plenty of methods you can start using right away to book your cheapest trip yet.