3 Kids and Us

How to Make Your Child More Independent

by

Children seem to grow up so fast, but there comes a time when you can use their help with some of their jobs. Getting dressed, making their breakfast or brushing their teeth are just some of the things you can let your child do as they grow older. Teaching them that they can be more independent can be tricky as they might like you doing things for them. Here are a few tips on making your child more independent.

Give Your Child Warning

To start, you don’t want to spring the idea of doing things on their own as this may make them anxious and feel as if they have done something wrong. Tell them a few days in advance that you think they are ok to start doing a few things by themselves. Start with one job at first and when they have mastered that, move onto the next one. Soon, they will be doing many different things.

Make a List

Think about what things they can do on their own as they grow older. This list can include more complicated things, but at first, you just want to give them easy jobs. It is also a good idea to ask your child what they would like to do on their own; it will make them feel part of the process and give them the encouragement to do it.

Make Time

When your child starts to do things for themselves, especially at the beginning, they are going to take more time then when you do it for them. For this reason, you need to allow more time for them and try not to rush them, if you do, they will get upset and might not want to do it again. See how much time it takes them to do certain things and build that extra time into your morning routine.

Don’t Expect Perfection

Your child will not be good at the things they do in the beginning, they may spill their cereal or not brush their hair properly, but that’s ok, allow them to make mistakes and try not to clear things away while they are still around. You can help to make things easier for them by trying to adapt areas such as the sink and the kitchen counter so that they can reach more easily. The website parent.guide has many ways that you can help your child adapt to their surroundings.

Offer Praise

Try not to tell them if they have done the job wrong, instead, praise them for doing it in the first place. You can then guide them about the way they did it so that they get it right the next time. By doing this, they will feel proud of doing things on their own and be eager to try again next time.

With help and encouragement, you can help your child to develop the skills to do things for themselves. That will make them more independent and able to do more things for themselves as time goes on.

3 ways to motivate your kids by using the internet

by

There is no end to the horror stories about letting your children use the internet. Keeping kids safe online has become a constant source of worry for parents, with many deciding that the risks are too great and as a result, many are unnecessarily restricting access. This can be a bad move for all concerned. While the internet should not be taken lightly, it is also a vast resource that can benefit your children in a number of ways, and by being overly protective, we can unintentionally make their present and future less successful, less adaptive and even less fun. Here are some great ways to use the very best of the internet to give your kids a positive experience and a solid foundation upon which to build their confidence online.

Homework can be cool

No matter how old your child is, they are very likely to be unhappy about the volume of homework that they have to complete. This is a constant source of irritation for kids, but there are ways to get them interested to the point where they might actually look forward to that next assignment. Obviously, a key element here is to be involved with their workload, so that you remain a part of their education. However, for those that fail to use the best tools that the internet provides, homework can be a tedious chore that ends up badly due to lack of interest. If your daughter is studying Greek myths, show her online articles about the kick-ass women of that time, and you might see a difference in enthusiasm. If your son is creating a presentation about space, then sit together and explore the NASA website, which might just ignite some eagerness for the subject.

Make a Channel

We’ve all seen those YouTube videos of kids unwrapping the latest toy trend, and have no doubt looked on in astonishment at the money they are able to earn doing something so simple. If your children have the confidence, there’s nothing to stop them creating their own YouTube channel, and with that comes some impressive advantages. Not only do they get to explore their interests (whether that’s a video about bugs in the garden or a discussion of the latest superhero film), they can also learn some basic branding tips that will come in handy in the future. Having a personal brand is becoming more and more important in the digital age, so it’s never too young to start. Teach them the importance of shareability and the best way to use a YouTube thumbnail editor, and you give them some key skills that they learn by using.

Learn a skill

There are a never-ending number of websites and videos that can teach your children everything from how to play an instrument to when to plant tomatoes, so whatever interest your child has expressed, there are tools available to help them explore their intentions. They could be learning a new language, planning their first gig or writing their first comic before you know it, using professional advice and experienced teachers. The sharing of knowledge is easier than ever, and your children will only ever benefit from the best the internet has to offer.

Stay safe and always be aware of what your children are doing online, but don’t forget the huge advantages that the online world has to offer. You might even find that your kids can teach you a few things.

3 Major Benefits of Educational Vacations with Kids

by

Source

Planning where to go on a family vacation is always a major undertaking. While you want to go somewhere the kids won’t be bored silly, you also want to take a much-needed break that you so deserve after all the hard work you’ve put in this year. Actually, you can accomplish all that and so much more if you plan an educational vacation with the kids. There are at least three major benefits of educational vacations, but when you stop to think about it, you’ll find many more as well!

1. Real Quality Time Spent Together

One of the great things about educational vacations is that you really need to spend time with the kids. Instead of going to a beach where the kids will play in the sand and wade on the shore while you sip tropical drinks and get that tan you’ve been looking forward to all year, you will have to actually talk to your kids. Don’t think that just because you are visiting Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty, or the Space Needle in Seattle that your kids will not be entertained.

These historic sites have been thrilling students, not just Norwich University master in history grad students, but kids of all ages, for many years. Even if you follow a tour guide around, you will find that your kids have plenty of questions and will babble your ears off in the process. What better way to spend quality time with your kids than looking at our heritage together and talking about how it impacts our lives today?

2. An Up-Close Look at History

In fact, just imagine that someday your kids might look back on this vacation as the inspiration for earning that advanced degree in history at Norwich University. It is one thing to study history and world events in a textbook, but it is something else altogether when you get an up-close look at the places where history was made. Sometimes it feels like we are letting our own history pass us by in this digital age, but a family vacation to some of the most important historic destinations can ground us for just a few moments in time.

3. Learning to Appreciate the Diversity of Other Cultures

Another way in which an educational vacation can benefit our children is to show them the cultural diversity of the peoples living on this small (and getting smaller!) planet upon which we live. Sometimes it only takes a trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown or a day in Little Havana (Miami) to see that our nation is comprised of people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Instead of learning to fear and hate other people who differ culturally from our way of life, we can learn to appreciate the beauty and diversity each culture adds to this nation.

There are just so many educational places to visit and lessons to be learned that you will probably want to do this very same thing again next year, and the year after that. You can always take a weekend trip to the beach or an extended weekend camping, but how often do you actually get to go on vacation that demands you spend quality time talking together? This is that chance, so use it wisely – a vacation your kids will remember for many, many years to come.

Developing a Happy, Healthy Home Life for Parents with Kids

by

Source

Creating a happy, healthy environment for your children to grow up in matters enormously for their emotional, mental, and personal development. Kids need to feel secure in their environment and have a greater degree of predictability because most things are new to them. This is why when going on a trip, kids need to know when they’ll arrive and make plans after their arrival to return a sense of control when out of their limited comfort zone.

Here are a few ways to create a home environment that’s conducive to a happy life for children.

Children Need Their Own Autonomy

While they depend very much on their parents for help, support, and advice, they also must learn to think for themselves, solve problems and not require parental assistance at every turn. Just like with using stabilizers on a bicycle, it’s good to help them avoid injury, but sometimes they have to take a few knocks to learn important life lessons you cannot get from reading a book.

It’s always better to learn from the mistakes of others, but that’s not always useful with practical challenges.  Parents will do well to note the different types of things that their kids will need to learn and when practical lessons override book smarts.

Rewards for Participation Isn’t Setting Them Up for Long-term Success

One of the issues currently evident with the millennial generation is a lack of desire to win. It’s been found that millennials as children were given awards just for participating in an event or a challenge, regardless of whether they won or not. Doing so creates several new problems long-term.

Firstly, it makes it clear that winning is not necessary; just doing the minimum is good enough, which is a lousy ethic to bring into a competitive workplace environment later.

Secondly, not striving for continual improvement because average performance is rewarded makes it difficult for young adults to keep up with a rapidly-changing marketplace that we’re currently all facing.

For the next generation, it’s important to expect higher performance as children get older. Whilst parents should recognize that each child has their own innate abilities and limitations, doing the best that they can do is the mark to attain. Teaching children to finish what they start and to be heavily goal-oriented are both vital disciplines that lead to better performance throughout life.

Healing Emotional Abuse with Foster Kids

For foster parents, the challenges can often be even greater than for biological parents. Many children that go into foster care were poorly treated, previously suffering one or more kinds of abuse. A sense of betrayal and abandonment leads to a lack of trust in authority figures, which if not handled the right way continues through to adult life, leading to potential difficulties in the workplace and elsewhere.

Taking an emotional abuse test is a good way to confirm whether there are any major difficulties in this area, which can then be addressed in a positive way. Rebuilding trust in authority and learning to accept sensible guidance takes time in children who are preschoolers, tweens, or of school age. But it’s a critically important component of a child’s developmental path.

Creating a safe environment for children allows them to focus on their lives, accelerate learning and leave plenty of time to play. In chaotic homes, it’s been shown time and again that this leads to erratic children who grow up to be detrimental members of society. By doing your part as a parent, your children can grow up to be leaders and inspire others.

4 Ways to Make Your Kids Feel at Home at the Doctor’s

by

No matter what age your children are, going to the doctor’s office can be a stressful and nervy experience for many youngsters. Even if it’s just a routine check up, the next time you have to take one of your kids to the pediatrician’s could prove to be a tough day on the parenting docket. Fortunately, here are four steps you can take to mitigate against a stress-inducing day out to the doctor’s –– and help both you and your little one relax!

Bring Entertainment

The most excruciating aspect of any visit to the doctor’s isn’t the check up itself, the reflex tests, or even the dreaded shots –– rather, it’s the anticipation that can unsettle even the most fearless child. Plan for having to wait in the lobby for some time while at the pediatrician and make sure to bring along something for your child to play with. A book, iPad, tablet, or small toy are all good suggestions. Anything that holds their attention, without causing too much of a ruckus will serve to relax them, and allow you to fill out paperwork without distraction.

Consistency is Key

The last thing your child needs on an already stressful day are unplanned shocks to the system. So if possible, schedule each trip to the doctor to be as similar as possible. Find a pediatrician you like and trust at a location that’s convenient for you and continue with them. Your child will appreciate the consistency and will learn to trust a doctor the more they see them.

Be Transparent

If your kid is especially freaked out by going to the doctor’s, one way to help calm their nerves is to explain the different processes to them. Tell them what to expect at the doctor’s, why certain exams and shots are necessary, and how long everything is going to take. You can even show them images of different lab equipment like needles, pediatric blood tubes, and stethoscopes to help destigmatize any fears they might harbor. Remember, your child is perceptive; misleading them, or downright lying will cause more trouble than it’s worth.

Reward Good Behavior

Let your little one know up front that after you go to the doctor’s, there will be a treat in store for them. Whether you take them out for a classic like ice cream, or candy, or a trip to the movie theater or zoo is up to you. Just let them know you appreciate their cooperation and reinforce their positive behavior.

Recent Posts

Write For Us

Like What You See?

We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!