3 Kids and Us

Kids and Teens More Vulnerable to Sleep Disruption from Electronics

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One of our primary concerns as parents involves ensuring that our children obtain a good night’s sleep, from the time they are babies. In the U.S., recent reports show that children under the age of nine spend over two hours a day on electronic devices, with around 42% of children this age having their own tablets. In addition to raising concerns about the type of apps they are using/games they are playing, so much screen time has also recently been found to risk their quality of sleep.

Why Are Children and Teens More Vulnerable to the Effects of Screens?

A recent large-scale review of available research, published recently in the journal Pediatrics, found that children are particularly sensitive to the sleep-disrupting effects of electronic devices, because their brains, sleeping patterns, and eyes are still in the process of development. As noted by the report authors, when light hits the retina of the eye, it suppresses the production of melatonin – a hormone which makes us feel sleepy. Light extends the period of time during which we feel awake and alert, and because lenses are more transparent in young people, the effect of electronics on their eyes is significantly higher.

Psychological arousal is also more significant in children and teens: that is, texting friends, watching visually impactful media or networking on social media sites can increase their cognitive arousal.

Why is Sleep so Important?

Sleep is vital for a host of bodily functions; it helps keep anxiety, obesity, and fatigue at bay, to name just a few. Lack of sleep can lead to major health issues that are costly and challenging to treat, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Although the majority of Americans enjoy coverage for these diseases, some medication or treatments may lie outside their policies, which can pose a great economic and personal burden for families.

How Can Parents Improve Sleep in Children?

Experts recommend specific steps, including:

  • Ensuring children do not spend time on electronic devices in the hours leading up to bedtime.

  • Turning off all devices at bedtime and charging them outside the bedroom.

  • Removing plug-in devices from children’s bedrooms (including computer games, televisions, etc.).

To improve sleep in kids, try to reduce their amount of screen time, especially in the afternoon and night time. Stick to a routine, ensure your child’s bedroom is cosy and dark, and if you do opt to give your children a snack before bed, make it a healthy one such as fruit or veggies, or snacks from a food group your child may have consumed little of during the day.

How to Be a Superstar in the Field of Social Work

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Donating to a cause isn’t the only way you can contribute to the community. Here at Walk San Francisco, we also value those who volunteer and take action. There are a lot of programs you can help too, plus you can make a bigger impact by getting involved in helping the community.

You can contribute your time, your expertise, and your energy to helping a great cause. To help you get started with becoming a superstar when volunteering for a cause, here are some of the things you need to know.

Pick a Passion

One of the best ways to get involved in community movements and social work is by finding a cause that matches your passion. When you are passionate about something, you are more likely to do great things helping that cause.

Social work can be challenging; it is often more challenging than working in a corporate environment. Picking a cause that matches your passion is also a great way to overcome the challenges and remain motivated throughout.

As mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of movements and causes you can support. If walking, saving the sidewalks, and helping younger students keep their safe routes to school is what you love, be sure to check out our Volunteer page.

Work on Your Skills

A lot of our volunteers – and volunteers for other social movements – are people with an incredible education. Top universities such as Rutgers Online are now making masters in social work online programs more accessible too, which is why there is a growing number of students and professionals entering this field.

These online MSW programs are designed to equip future social workers with the skills they need to thrive in any environment. You will learn to be more empathetic, study how you can listen to others and understand them better, and master other things such as project management and personal development.

These are skills that can be trained. There are also a lot of short courses and programs by non-profit organizations that will help you improve these skills. To be a superb social worker, you must maintain that drive to learn new things and be better.

Go Digital

We can’t separate social work from digital communities these days. Digital marketing – and the internet in general – is one of the best ways to raise awareness and capture the attention of stakeholders. Having the ability to promote movements, advertise activities, and get people involved beyond the boundaries of social media will make you a fantastic social worker in many ways.

More movements need to go digital and take advantage of internet marketing. More importantly, digital marketing is much more measurable – and cost-effective – than any other form of promoting the cause. Will you be that final piece of the puzzle that helps your cause go digital? We’re certain that you will.

The things you achieve as a social worker are things that affect the lives of thousands around you. Work towards becoming a fantastic social worker and you will have that ability to create a bigger impact in the society.

5 Profitable Home-Based Business Ideas for Nurses

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Being your own boss has several advantages and as a professional nurse, you could reap some of those benefits from the comfort of your home. These advantages include creating your own schedule, choosing your co-workers and patients, and making a substantial amount of money in the process.

There have been more and more nurse entrepreneurs in the recent past and becoming one is easier than ever. Nurse entrepreneurs can take advantage of the huge and growing healthcare market thanks to their nursing education. Here are five great business ideas for nurses.

1. Daycare Center

A child care center run by a nurse is very appealing to parents because they feel their children are in good hands, which is actually true. A daycare center can easily be set up in your home and you don’t need a lot to get started, just a few small chairs, toys, games, table, and outdoor play items. In most cases, you may already have most of the equipment needed or you might have access to it.

With just a half dozen kids at prices ranging from $45 to $200 per week, you stand to make a lot of money. Even if you’re not a nurse, you could look at online doctoral nursing programs while operating a daycare center from your home and increase the prices once you graduate.

2. Senior Citizen Assistance

The elderly population has been on the increase in the recent past and they need assistance to accomplish several household tasks. With a nurse practitioner doctorate degree, you’ll have the skill and knowledge to effectively take care of them. A lot of people are willing to pay high amounts to have a qualified professional take care of their aging parents, and as a nurse, you are in prime position to fill this.

3. Birth Doula

The work of a birth doula consists of providing both physical and emotional support for couples during delivery and labor. To gain experience and confidence, you may consider to spending a little time with an experienced doula.

4. Run a Natural Childbirth Class

This is another field with a very high demand and high pay. You will need to do a little bit of research on the topic to ensure you provide quality services, but other than that, you should be already qualified. Please ensure your new business complies with your jurisdiction’s rules and regulations.

5. Health Blogging

You could also decide to become a health blogger and start a blog on issues surrounding the healthcare field. With your medical background and experience, you have a lot to offer and there are always questions about health that need answers. Once you write helpful and useful content, you will attract a lot of traffic and make a lot of money.

Conclusion

There are a lot of nursing business opportunities that you could start from your home and all you need is creativity and a consistent customer base. Take advantage of this and several other available nursing business opportunities to become your own boss and make a lot of money from the comfort of your home.

Helping Your Teen Dye their Hair For The First Time

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One of the best parts of being a teenager is experimenting with different looks and finding your own style. If your teen is in this stage right now, it can actually be a lot of fun to join in with it, rather than thwarting their desire to try out different things with clothes, hair, and make-up. As long as it doesn’t go against their school’s dress code and the changes aren’t permanent, there is nothing to lose by embracing their interest in having a unique look (or a series of unique looks that change like the wind!).

One thing where your own experience may actually be a big help is if your teen wants to start changing their hair color (assuming you have ever dyed your hair yourself – although even if you haven’t, a second pair of hands and eyes can help a lot when applying hair dye as a novice!). It can also be a really fun thing to do together and a great way to bond.

Helping Them Choose A Dye Carefully

Hair dye comes in lots of flavors, and if they want to make a dramatic change like going from naturally blonde hair to black, then it is best to talk through their options. A permanent hair colorant is not the best choice for a first-time hair experiment. While they may be certain they want black hair forever and ever, if they change their mind and want to go back to a lighter color and have used a permanent dye, this will mean they’ll have to do some serious bleaching, which will damage their hair. And even then, they may not get it back to the color they want (it may very well turn bright orange).

Encourage them to choose a temporary or semi-permanent color instead. While this will fade, it is better to dye it again in a few weeks to keep the color if they like it than to have to go to great lengths and ruin the condition of their hair if they want to go back or try something else.

Look Through Style Ideas Together

Teens who are new to changing their hair color may simply assume that a color they like on a model or celebrity in a picture will look the same on them. Actually, skin tone and eye color make a lot of difference, and what may look striking on one person can make another look washed out. It is a good idea to look through pictures and try and find images where the model has similar eye color and skin tone to your teen, and base tones on that. One shade of red, for instance, may be better for them than another, and doing this will help you both find out which. There are lots of useful hair images and ideas at  mynewhairstyles.net, which can be a good starting point.

Get Your Gloves On!

The final thing to do is to help them to apply the color. Even experienced people sometimes end up with patches at the back that they missed, and so for a first timer, getting even coverage on their own is going to be ultra-hard.

If you dye your own hair, you and your teen can even make a day of it, picking out new styles together and helping one another with the application!

13 Alternative Date Night Activities to Try

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Going to dinner and a movie can be a fun date night activity, but it can become a little monotonous over time. Keep the spark alive in your relationship by doing something a little different every now and then. To help you plan the perfect evening with your partner, read the following 13 alternative date night ideas.


  1. Beat an Escape Room

Sometimes you both need to have a little fun and let your hair down, which is why you should consider an escape room. Head on into an Atlanta Escape Room to break your way out, and you can also determine your breakout experience by picking from different room themes. You can even choose to double date with another couple, so you can easily crack codes and follow clues to break free from a room successfully.


  1. Book a Cooking Class

Instead of spending your time and money at expensive restaurants, why not broaden your culinary repertoire by attending a cooking class with your partner? A local chef can help you create different dishes in the kitchen, which you can recreate at home. It’s a fun way to improve your cooking skills while experiencing different cuisines and flavors.


  1. Be a Tourist in Your Hometown

Many locals fail to recognize the biggest and best qualities about their own town or city. As a result, they may never experience the best sights and sounds their hometown has to offer. So, why not become a tourist for the day by creating a bucket list of all the places in the city you have yet to explore, such as a museum, historical site, popular park or even a new bar or coffee shop. You can guarantee you and your spouse will have plenty of fun along the way.


  1. Watch the Sun Set or Rise

A beautiful backdrop can provide the perfect setting for a date night. Take a blanket and picnic basket and watch the sunrise or set in the perfect location and at the perfect time. If watching the sunset, fill the picnic basket with a bottle of wine, two glasses, cheese, and sandwiches, or create a breakfast hamper when watching the sunrise.


  1. Attend an Art Class

Do you and your partner have a picture-perfect relationship? Well, an art class could be right up your street. If you both are looking to be a little more creative with your date night activities, you can guarantee an art class will add a touch of color to your love life. For example, you could attend a fine art class or could even create sculptures or pottery. Even if art isn’t your forte, you can trust you will create plenty of fun memories throughout the experience.


  1. Sing Your Heart Out with Karaoke

Do you want to shout how much you love your partner from the rooftops? Why not belt it out instead by enjoying a spot of karaoke? Everyone has a go-to karaoke song they can turn to when handed a microphone, so take yourselves along to a karaoke night at a local bar. You could even buy a karaoke machine to have a little fun inside the home with no judgement.


  1. Enjoy a Thrill-Seeking Experience

Those looking to add a little more excitement to their love life should enjoy a thrill-seeking experience. For example, you can both put your bravery to the test by skydiving from a plane or bungee jumping off a cliff. You will love the feeling of adrenaline rushing through your body, and it is an exhilarating experience you will both share with each other.


  1. A Murder Mystery Evening

Spend the night tracking down the mysterious murderer in the room, as you and your partner will have to put your heads together to identify who done it at a murder mystery evening. You will both need to pay close attention to the clues to win the game. Sounds like fun, right?


  1. Go Wine Tasting

If you both love a tipple or two after a hard day’s work, you should enjoy a spot of wine tasting at a winery or restaurant. You’ll both smell the wine while talking in-depth about the varying bouquets. It will also provide you with an opportunity to try different varieties, and you could even find a bottle you will both love to crack open over a romantic dinner in the future.


  1. Play Laser Tag

Unleash your inner child by playing a game of laser tag. You will have plenty of fun as you both turn childish fun into a full-blown, but enjoyable, competition. Act younger than your age and remember what it feels like to ‘just be kids.’ However, if you win, try not to gloat – that can turn a successful date night into a dating nightmare.


  1. Visit a Museum

If the weather is more than a little bit dreary, grab your partner and take yourselves along to a local museum to explore different exhibitions and artefacts. You’ll have an opportunity to learn more about a topic, such as local history, dinosaurs, art, space, and more.


  1. Enjoy a Live Music Event

Many bars often host live music events that feature local musicians and bands. You simply need to do a little research the best places to attend an event. It will provide an opportunity to enjoy a night of great music, which will be complemented by good company and drinks. You never know, you could watch a talented artist before they hit the big time.


  1. Go Bowling

How does an evening of bumper lanes, quirky shoes, beer pitchers and bar snacks sound to you? If it sounds like the perfect night out, grab your other half to enjoy a game or three of bowling. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the game or have experience, bowling can provide hours of fun, so it is the perfect activity for a date night. You could even make the game a little more fun by placing a silly bet on who will win.