With summer fast approaching in many areas around the world, it’s common for parents to be both excited and overwhelmed at the idea of their kids being home all day for a few weeks or months. And while many families like to spend their summer vacations outside enjoying nature, families that live in very hot parts of the world often need to take extra precautions and have different plans to help their families stay cool. So if you live in a hot climate, here are three tips to help you and your kids enjoy your summer without overheating.
Holidays
Gifts That Keep on Giving: Ideas for Children During the Holiday Season
The Holiday is season is one that is no doubt convoluted in its true meaning. Though most can agree that the season is about love, being with those you cherish, and celebrating your faith, many get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, surrounding themselves with so much stress financially and socially, that they almost forget the meaning of the season in the first place.
Come this holiday season, your children have probably already expressed their Christmas wish list desires to you and since many of them may still believe in Santa Claus, they have no barometer for understanding that their request just doesn’t fit into the budget this year. [Read more…] about Gifts That Keep on Giving: Ideas for Children During the Holiday Season
Family Roadtrips: Are We There Yet?
Are you dreaming of escaping on your next family getaway? Ready to load the family up and take a vacation? If you ever took a road trip with your family, I am sure you remember. Whether your memories are good or bad, you remember. Families often have their own oral history and road trips are ideal times for storytelling. Family vacations are a fantastic way to build your relationships and your family’s story.
Yellowstone National Park
This is an epic family destination. According to this blog post on ShopAdelaides.com, “It is one of the most visited of the US national parks and boasts an astounding number of wildlife, beautiful views, and truly amazing geological activity. Old Faithful and the rest of the geysers in the western region of the park are sights that will interest anyone with even a passing interest in earth and environmental science.†It appeals to kids of all ages, as well as the adult members of your family.
Visiting Yellowstone allows you to adapt your trip to meet your specific needs. Do you need to get out of the car and move? There are walking trails and small hikes at most of the features. The majority of these trails are stroller and wheelchair friendly. Do you have members of the family that would rather just ride in the car? Plenty of thermal features and all of the animals can be seen via the road. Kids can even earn a junior ranger patch. [Read more…] about Family Roadtrips: Are We There Yet?
Family Vacations: Make the Most of Your Time and Money
I’ve learned to value two things when it comes to planning family vacations: time and money. Kids are only kids once. The time when they’re young is precious and the best way to use it is to make the most of our experiences.
We want to provide the greatest vacations possible, but we too often associate the word “vacation†with “expensive.†To get the best experiences for your money, you have to know where to go. Time and research have taught me that sometimes the best place is the one that breaks the obvious vacation mold of Disneyland or a cruise.
By choosing less-known destinations, you can get more for your money. You’ll also deal with fewer crowds and have a more unique experience. The national parks and forests are among the best places to have this kind of experience.
These budget-friendly destinations combine enjoyable experiences with affordability. Here are some top picks for this year’s family trip.
The Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are home to beautiful valleys, streams, waterfalls, and of course the mountains. Picturesque views can be savored by hiking, horseback riding, biking, or riding the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.
Two nearby cities, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, are home to unique attractions, such as Ripley’s Aquarium—the top aquarium in the U.S., WonderWorks—an upside-down building filled with sights and activities, and The Tomb Adventure—a pyramid-themed building that challenges you to solve problems in order to escape from Pharaoh’s tomb. [Read more…] about Family Vacations: Make the Most of Your Time and Money
Family New Year’s Resolutions: Being Better Together
Almost everybody has made at least one New Year’s resolution in his or her life. It is not common to hear about family New Year’s resolutions probably because it is hard enough to seek improvement for one’s self. Imagine the effort in doing it together with all the other members of the family. One way to look at it positively is the possibility that one family can function better as a group through individual and common efforts to actually get better together.
[Read more…] about Family New Year’s Resolutions: Being Better Together
Do We Tell Our Kids the Truth About Santa?
For many parents who have allowed their children to believe in Santa Claus from the time they were able to conceive his connection with Christmas, concerns about the truth may arise as children grow up. Growing up kids are equivalent to unending questions that would tend to test the veracity of the existence of the jolly man in red. The truth about Santa is not much of a concern for children who did not grow up with the belief but rather those who have treasured memories of the man who leaves gifts for children on Christmas Eve.
The Accepted Truth
In the adult world, Santa Claus come in the form of dads or any male figure bearing gifts primarily for the benefit of children. Although there appears to be some historical connections of how such a character came to be, the Santa that we now know is not exactly a precise manifestation. Never the less, many parents allow and encourage belief in Santa Claus to continue a tradition that has been started a long time ago.
This perpetuates a belief that not all are in agreement with. With respect to all kinds of belief with regards to the existence of Santa, we have to acknowledge that Santa and what he represents bring cheers to many people, children and adults alike. So many of us, including myself, chose the path towards Santa with our kids, in spite of knowing the “truth”.
Telling the Kids
Do we tell our kids the truth about Santa Claus? When do we do it? Why will we do it?
Personally, I don’t see any reason to rock the boat and declare one Christmas Day to our kids that there is no Santa Claus. In time, they will discover for themselves what the truth is. Like us who have gone before them, they will discover and will take it matter-of-factly so there is no pressing reason to destroy the belief right now.
Now, parents should know when their children are going overboard with the belief in Santa Claus and guide them along the way. Santa may not be real but the joy he brings to children is real enough and that is good enough for me. Will I tell my youngest kid the truth about Santa? Not just yet. Let her enjoy her Christmas as a child as I did mine.
Kid-friendly Beach Resorts
It’s fun to go out with the family and enjoy the beach during summer. Seeing the kids have a blast in the sand and seawater is priceless.
But first things first. Safety should always be a top priority when you bring along small children outdoors most especially at the beach.
Parents need to choose a place which are safe for their kids. Plan your excursion ahead of time so you can pick the most appropriate beach resort where you and your family can enjoy the most.
[Read more…] about Kid-friendly Beach Resorts
Family Friendly Ideas for St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day has gained a reputation of being a day to overindulge in green beer and wear a badge proclaiming “Kiss me, I’m Irish.†But at its heart, St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural celebration perfectly suited to family. No matter your national heritage, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to teach your children a bit about the world while having fun. And that’s no Blarney!
Host a Party
Send out some rainbow-inspired invitations to a few of the kids’ closest friends. Have everyone help make green popcorn (put food coloring in the butter before tossing it over the popped corn) and watch a movie or play games. For favors, give the kids gold-covered chocolate coins, fun holiday bracelets and homemade shamrock pins.
St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
There are dozens of easy St. Patrick’s Day-themed craft ideas to do with the kids that won’t cost you much green but will provide plenty of fun, such as making shamrocks out of green construction paper or baking green cookies. Other examples include:
- Shamrock Potato Prints
Slice a potato in half and carve a shamrock shape into the pulpy side. Use the relief method of carving so the result is a shamrock stamp that’s approximately half an inch high. Press the stamp into green paint and decorate fabric, posters or sheets of brown paper to use as wrapping paper. - Leprechaun Hats
Green top hats are an essential part of any St. Patrick’s Day outfit and they’re fun to make. Cut the center from a paper plate to create a hat rim and paint it green. Roll a sheet of green cardstock into a cylinder and glue to secure the shape. Attach the rim to the cylinder with glue. Add a buckle made from black paper and a glittered shamrock for the perfect holiday accessory.
Outdoor Activities
Even with tons of fun crafts to do you probably don’t want to keep the kids indoors all day long. Here’s a list of outdoor activities to burn off some energy while keeping with the theme of the day:
- Search for four-leaf clovers.
If your lawn is too pristine for clovers, head to the nearest open field or park. The first person to find one wins a pot of gold—or maybe a handful of gold-covered chocolate coins. - Attend a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
If there isn’t one in your neighborhood, help the kids put on their own parade and march down the street displaying their green top hats. - Play Kiss the Blarney Stone.
It’s just like tag but a large rock or other structure gets selected as “base,†and players have to kiss it to be safe. - Do an Irish jig.
Play some great Irish music and let everyone do their best version of a jig or Irish step dance.
No matter which activities you choose, end the day with a big meal of corned beef and cabbage and shamrock milkshakes for dessert. Just put a little green food coloring in a vanilla shake and everyone will be thrilled. There’s no reason St. Patrick’s Day can’t be a holiday the whole family enjoys together. Celebrate the rich heritage of the Irish culture with crafts, games, food and a lot of fun.
Easy Ways to Keep Kids Safe in the Car
Safety first should be every family’s mantra when traveling. This is whether they have small or big kids to bring along during their trip.
Many families travel on the road all year round and if you’re one of them, make it a point to check everything including seatbelts before you leave and during your trip. This way, you avoid accidents and injuries among your loved ones.
The seatbelt is a very important safety tool in the car. The standard one found in the vehicle is meant for adults hence, parents must ensure they use the proper child restraint appropriate for their kids’ age.
Babies must be put in a baby capsule and they must be fastened first. Toddlers up to three years old should be in a car seat and if you’re placing them in the front seat, they need to be positioned facing backwards. This is the safest position recommended by the experts. [Read more…] about Easy Ways to Keep Kids Safe in the Car