Children Archives - Page 19 of 39

Traditional Birthday Gifts That Kids Still Love

April 13, 2018 by admin

Technology has changed the world completely in the last two decades, and the pace of innovation shows no signs of slowing down. It’s also true that today’s children are very different to those of previous generations, because they are much more tech savvy. These two facts don’t mean that modern children don’t appreciate traditional gifts, however, as here are three birthday gifts that will be as welcome today as they were to their parents and grandparents.

Wooden Puzzles

Children have always loved solving puzzles, and it’s an activity that should certainly be encouraged as they can play a vital role in a child’s cognitive and educational development. Of course, there are many excellent puzzle games that can now be played online or via a mobile phone app, but children still enjoy traditional puzzles with a much longer history. Jigsaws, for example, will still prove popular with children, especially if the target picture relates to a subject they’re interested in. One great advantage of completing a physical jigsaw puzzle, as opposed to a computerized version, is that parents and children can play at it together, picking up pieces and comparing them side by side until the correct match is found.

Building Blocks

When you were young, did you love playing with building blocks? The magic of them is that they allow your imagination to run riot, and a humble set of colored blocks can soon become so much more. In recent years, building blocks have seen a huge resurgence and leading the way is the market leader Lego. So popular has Lego become that it has spawned a hit series of movies that children and adults alike love, and has been named recently as the world’s favorite brand. The sets may have become more sophisticated, and many of them now have tie ins to movie franchises, but the premise is still the same: slot bricks together until you have created something wonderful. A simple idea, but one that is proving timeless and will surely do so for generations to come as well.

Birthday Cakes

One children’s birthday essential that will never go out of fashion is the birthday cake. It’s important to ensure that our kids have a healthy, balanced diet of course, but on this one day a year we can allow them to enjoy a treat that’s a little more sugar laden than they may be used to. Chocolate cakes come in all shapes, sizes and flavors, so it’s easy to find one that’s ideally suited to your child’s tastes, whether that means a traditional chocolate sponge, or a strawberry gateau. A great cake can be more affordable than you think as well, with specialist websites such as Allcakeprices.com allowing you to find the best cake at the best price.

When we watch our children playing on their mobile phones or games consoles, we can imagine that their lives are very different to how ours once were. Put a wooden puzzle game or a set of building blocks in front of them, or present them with a candle topped birthday cake, however, and you’ll see that they aren’t so different after all.

Family Activities – Tyre Recycling Projects

March 20, 2018 by admin

Replacing your tyres leaves you with four old tires. Throwing or giving them away is one option, but there are other options, ones that are much more interesting and useful. If you’re the creative type, you’ll know exactly how to recycle your old tyres, but even if you aren’t, there are things you can make from tyres that don’t require any special skills. Plus, if you include your whole family in the project, you’ll get to spend quality time with your children while creating something together.

When and how to replace your tires

Replacing your tyres is the basic thing you need to do for your own and other people’s safety on the road. How often to replace them is determined by your driving habits and tyre maintenance, but also by the state of the roads. It’s important that you inspect the condition of your tyres at least once a month, checking the tread depth, looking out for uneven wear patterns, bulges or blisters on tyre sidewalls, lacerations, flat tyres or tread punctures. It would be best to replace all four tyres at the same time, since it’s important that they all match. You can find a great tyre dealer with a wide selection of premium tyres here. Make sure you go through the vehicle’s manual or talk to a professional before making a purchase, so that you’re properly informed of what exactly to buy. And as soon as you replace the old tyres with the new ones, the fun can begin. Here are some ideas for recycling tyres.

A dog bed

If you have a dog, use a tyre to make a bed for them. It’s an easy project and you can include your children by allowing them to paint and decorate the bed to their own liking. All you need is a used tyre, some paint and a cushion to place in the middle of the tyre, so that your dog is always soft and warm.

A tic-tac-toe table

This is another fun thing to do with your kids and for them at the same time. Use an old tyre, paint it the colour you and your children like and shape a wooden board to fit the centre of the tyre. Draw a hash and, instead of X’s and O’s, pick some stones of approximately the same size and use some paint to turn them into bees and ladybirds, or simply paint them two different colours. Let it dry and play a game or two with your little ones.

Garden chairs

These will go great with your new tic-tac-toe table. All you need are two (or more) tyres, two types of rope, glue and some patience. If your children help you with this one, pay extra attention to how they use the glue. You don’t want their delicate little hands glued to the tyre, or the rope at the end of the day.

Rocking chairs

Turning old tyres into little rocking chairs for your kids is a simple task, but a very rewarding one, since they’ll probably love them and spend a lot of time on them. Cut a tyre in half, paint it, cover it with a wooden plank and add a handlebar. Instead of a classic handlebar, you can turn it into an animal head, to make the rocking chair even more appealing to your children.

Tyre swings

You have an old tree in your backyard? Perfect. Find a stable branch and hang one or two old tyres on it using some rope. Of course, you get to decorate the tyres, or better yet, your children do. Make them nice and colourful, so that they make your kids cheerful as soon as they look at them. After only a few minutes on the swing, your child’s mood is bound to improve, so be prepared for some joyful giggles.

A sandbox

When it comes to this particular project, the bigger the tyre, the better. Paint it, find a nice place to it in your garden, fill it with sand, stick a parasol in the middle to protect your children from the sun, and that’s all. Let them bring their little shovels and other plastic tools for hours of carefree play.

A seesaw

This is a perfect project for families with two or more children. If you build a seesaw, two children can play on it at the same time, avoiding an argument over who wants to go first. Use half a tyre, a long wooden plank and two handholds for each end of the plank. Pick a colour, or pick as many as you want, sit back and relax while your children play.

Flower pots

There’s nothing as easy as turning used tyres into flower pots. Simply fill the centre of the tyre with some dirt and fertilizer and plant whatever you choose inside it. Leaving the tires black is an option, but why do that, when you can colour them, or even place them one on top of another to make a Minion, a frog, or even a well.

These recycling projects can be a lot of cost-free fun. They can turn your garden into a beautiful and fun place for your whole family. So, start today and make some wonderful memories in the process.

Dealing with Backpain After Childbirth

March 19, 2018 by admin

If giving birth wasn’t painful enough, you then have to deal with a host of other problems. In fact, it probably feels as if your body is never going to be the same again!

Celebrity mums seem to snap back into shape the moment their baby arrives. For the rest of us, life isn’t so kind. Unfortunately, it is very common for new moms to suffer from a backache in the days and weeks post-birth. Your body has been through an awful lot, with a host of physical changes to contend with.

You probably gained a few extra pounds when you were pregnant, on top of the extra baby weight you had to lug around for nine months. This extra weight will have put a lot of extra stress on your pelvic region, including your lower back. And, to make matters worse, ligaments will have softened and joints loosened, all thanks to pregnancy hormones. There is also the issue of poor posture. After all, who can stand up straight when their belly is huge?

Backache post-pregnancy is very common. Many moms associate back pain with pregnancy, but like those extra few pounds, back pain is one annoying problem that doesn’t always melt away when the baby arrives.

Why Your Back Hurts

The human body is a wonderful thing, but it needs time to recover from the rigors of childbirth. You have to give yourself a break and try not to do too much. Instead of rushing around cooking, cleaning, and taking care of a newborn baby, rest, recuperate, and let other people do the heavy lifting for a few weeks. It is important that you give your body a chance to heal. Rest is a great healer, especially if your back is sore after the birth.

Being overweight is another factor. The more weight you are carrying, the more strain it places on your back. As discussed already, your back and core muscles are likely to be weaker than normal post-birth, so carrying extra weight won’t help.

Dealing with Back Pain

Where possible, stick to a healthy eating plan and breastfeed your baby, as breastfeeding is great for post-partum weight loss. Try and include gentle exercise in your daily routine. You might not feel like going out, but a bit of fresh air will be good for you and your baby. It strengthens your muscles and may help the baby get to sleep.

Be careful when feeding your baby. Poor posture is a trigger for back pain. Many new mums hunch over when feeding their baby. Try to sit back when encouraging your baby latch on or take the bottle.

Long-Term Strategies

Once you feel more energetic, consider joining a fitness class for new moms. Yoga or Pilates are very useful for helping ease back pain. If this doesn’t help, consult an echiro practor or ask your doctor to refer you to a physio.

Back pain is mostly nothing serious, but if you experience any other worrying symptoms or the pain isn’t helped by over-the-counter painkillers, speak to your doctor for advice.

5 Ways to Enjoy a Weekend Away from the Kids

March 15, 2018 by admin

When you’re a parent, your life revolves around your children. You spend a huge amount of your time caring for them, worrying about them, and doing things for them, that it can be easy to forget about yourself. However, it’s important that you maintain your social life –– if for no other reason than to keep your sanity! That’s why you should plan for the occasional weekend away from the kids. And to that end, here are the five best ways to get the most enjoyment out of a big weekend on your own:

Arrange a Trustworthy Babysitter

If you’re a parent looking to reduce your stress, the last thing you want to do on your weekend excursion is fret about your kids. So before you do anything else, make sure to line up a sound babysitter to look after your kids. Friends or family are preferred in this instance, but if you have to use a stranger make sure to vet their credentials beforehand. Otherwise you’ll constantly be checking in on the situation back at your house, and not living it up.

Diversify

A truly delightful weekend is a combination of high and low-energy activities. Don’t make the mistake of staying out all night, only to plan a rock-climbing excursion the next morning. Plus, adding a wide array of different events will help to keep all of your friends engaged.

Find the Right Spot

If possible, spending the weekend out of town can be a great way to blow of steam for a few days. The key here is to identify a destination that is close enough to reach quickly, but far enough away to offer you a chance for new experiences. When in doubt though, don’t travel too much. Since you only have a few days available, make sure to dedicate them to relaxation –– not travel.

Hit an Old Haunt

Sometimes rather than experiencing a new city, the best way to have a blast on your free weekend is to rediscover an old restaurant or bar. Going back to an old haunt can help you keep in touch with friends or well-wishers you may not have seen in years.

Party Down

Ultimately, your weekend away form the kids is all about you. Go out there and party, relax, and enjoy yourself while it lasts. Also, if you coordinate your plans with a group you should consider a party bus rental to provide a safe ride and fun atmosphere for everyone involved. At the end of the day you should return to “normal” life on Monday and be all the more refreshed for your exploits.

Five Tips for Looking After Your Family’s Dental Health

March 5, 2018 by admin

As a parent, you’ll want to always make sure that your family is as happy and healthy as possible. This also means making sure that everyone’s dental health is in top condition. Along with ensuring that everybody brushes at least twice daily, there are several things that you can do to keep your family’s smiles gleaming all the time. These include:

#1. Get a Good Dental Insurance Plan:

Dental insurance will give you peace of mind about financial cover if anything goes wrong. Dental insurance can cover everything from small fillings to root canals, orthodontic treatment, extractions and more depending on the type of cover that you sign your family up for. In the case of a dental emergency, having insurance cover will ensure that you or your family member is treated quickly and effectively with no issues. For more information on choosing the right dental insurance plan for you, see Fep Blue Dental reviews.

#2. Visit a Good Family Dentist Regularly:

Even if nobody is complaining of problems with their teeth, regularly visiting a reputable family dentist for a check-up at least twice per year will ensure that any potential issues are spotted and dealt with straight away. Dental issues such as decay and cavities might not be causing any noticeable issues in the early stages, which is why it’s always important to see your dentist, who can spot any warning signs and issue treatment straight away. Regular visits to your dentist will also ensure that you’re up to date with the latest advice for keeping everybody’s teeth healthy, strong, and clean.

#3. Upgrade to Electric Toothbrushes:

Electric toothbrushes for your whole family may seem like a big investment, but it’s certainly worth it when it comes to looking after your dental health. Not only are electric toothbrushes easier to use than their manual counterparts, they’re also designed to provide a better clean and will get to all the hard-to-reach areas in your mouth. You can even get fun design electric toothbrushes for kids featuring their favorite cartoon characters to make brushing their teeth even more fun.

#4. Choose Tooth-Friendly Foods:

What you eat and drink as a family can have a huge effect on your dental health. Try to limit foods and drinks that are high in sugar or acid, such as fruit juices, sodas, and sugary treats. When you do eat or drink anything with a high acid or sugar content, it’s best to wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth to avoid any damage to the enamel.

#5. Floss Daily:

Lastly, getting the whole family into the habit of flossing their teeth daily is great for dental health and building healthy habits for life. Since it’s impossible to reach in between some teeth by brushing alone, dental floss helps you reach further areas where food particles can become lodged and cause decay and plaque. If you’re unsure how to floss your teeth correctly, ask your dentist or try an online tutorial.

If you found these tips helpful, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!