Category Archives: Family

Family

Ideas for Thematic Rooms in Your Home

Your house is your palace and your rooms represent your taste and style, your thoughts, and expressions of various parts of your mind. You can choose to have thematic rooms in your home in order to fully express the different aspects of yourself. You could have a Star Wars-themed room, a Space themed room, a music-themed room, a room with the theme of a single musical instrument hanging from the walls. We are going to present many themes for you to pick from.

Thematic Rooms Ideas 

The concept of thematic rooms has been around since our ancestors started building houses and shaping them to their individual tastes. There are virtually countless themes to choose from, just look below!

Guitar Room Theme

As the name implies this is a theme that reflects a person’s love for guitars.  You could have this type of room in your home if you have a collection of guitars, from electric guitars to acoustic vintage guitars. You can present this theme however you want, you could have guitars hanging on the wall, a guitar-shaped bed, and guitar wallpapers. Put your spin on this theme and let your creativity loose.

Piano Themed Room

Just as you have the guitar room you could as well have a piano themed room, your bedroom could be like a piano. This could give your room an air of sophistication and classical music ambiance. If you are a fan of pianos you can Express that love in several creative ways in your room.

Space Themed Room

You could have this type of room by simply painting you’re the ceiling of the room dark with stars. You could have a bed shaped like a planet or any space object, maybe even a spaceship or satellite. There are many spins you could put on this theme to make it truly representative of space.

Sky Themed Room

This is a truly unique theme and consists mostly of blue and white colors, the allure of fluffy clouds and blue sky can make your room a wonder to behold. You can run with this theme as much as you want or as little as you want, it is very hard to get it wrong.

It is a simple yet very classic room theme and quite popular too. Many homes have this, the colors used are usually very natural and appealing to the senses, you can sleep well and fill like you are hovering in the sky with the clouds whenever you step into your room.

Sea Themed Room

There is an allure that the sea exudes that has intrigued men for the longest time ever, maybe because we have not been able to explore the extent of the seas and oceans we have on this planet, although it makes up seventy percent of our planet. If you are one of the people that like the seas, oceans, waves, and such then you probably should consider using this theme for one of your rooms.

You can go with the deep-sea version of the waves. With the deep sea version of this theme, you would have realistic paintings of sea creatures around the room with the deep sea vibe. In the waves version of this theme, you can try to get waves painted on the walls, this would give you the ambiance of waves and the exhilarating feeling of being at the beach.

No matter the theme that you select, put your creative spin on it, and see how unique your rooms would look and feel.

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How to Safely Gather with Extended Family During COVID-19

After the whole long months of being away from friends, family, and even close colleagues, it should be time to reunite with all the people we really care about once again. It’s been a really long period of lockdown, and it’s about time we took the time to love to them again.

Are you wondering how to safely gather with extended family during COVID-19? Do you still worry about their status, but you still want to meet with them? Don’t worry, in this article, I’ll show you some simple ways to have a really great time with family and the people you care about without putting yourself in harm’s way.

Inform Everyone Beforehand

If you’re planning or organizing a meeting with the members of your extended family, then it is only very wise to inform every single one of them of your plans preferably some days or even weeks before this time.

This isn’t only going to help you practice safety, but it’s also going to help you know how many people are coming so that you can better plan the gathering. It is going to end up a mess if you just suddenly give them an impromptu call asking them to come over.

Meet with Each Family Personally

If necessary and possible, contact every family in your extended family and discuss your plans with them. Hear their opinions about the coronavirus pandemic and share yours. You need to get everyone enlightened about how to get themselves safe.

Put Safety Measures in Place

You may argue that it isn’t possible to practice social distancing with your own family. Well, no one is asking you to do that, especially now that you’re all going to be sharing some things in the house. However, practicing safety outside the house must be of paramount importance.

Maybe at the time of the meeting, everyone was well but while there, they might have some friends over and that could be risky since you don’t know the status of their friends. This is where your safety measures will be needed.

Everyone should wear masks, gloves, and wash their hands frequently. Avoid touching your face, and stay at a safe 6-foot distance.

Initial Treatments

Now, we may all get a little bit concerned the moment we begin to see someone who lives with us coughing and/or sneezing. It’s normal to be a little bit worried about that. In fact, you should. However, it shouldn’t stop at being worried. You must ensure that you have some medicines around to cater for some symptoms. For starters, try Cough & Bronchial Syrup by Boericke & Tafel.

Coughing and sneezing are symptoms of COVID-19, but it could also be caused by something really mild and so you would need a really good and active cough syrup that sends the symptoms packing. If, however, the symptoms persist, then you can take the next step which is visiting a professional health practitioner.

Get Everyone in Safe and Sound

Now that you have put all the proper steps in place, and you’ve gotten the preventive measures ready, you can move on to bringing everyone into your without any worry whatsoever.

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Is There a Safe Sleep Aid While Breastfeeding?

As a breastfeeding mom, especially if this is your first baby, you would go through a whole lot of new things. Most of these would be reduced peace of mind, anxiety from wondering if the baby is hungry again, and most commonly, sleep deprivation.

Sometimes you just want to fall on the bed and find the shortest route to dream Land as quickly as possible but it just doesn’t seem to be coming does it. This is where you’ll need a sleep aid.

In this article, we will talk shortly about what a sleep aid actually is and what it does. Then we will see if there is a safe sleep aid while breastfeeding.

What is a Sleep Aid?

As stated earlier, the main goal after a long day of doing your usual thing and seeing to it that your little prince or/and princess is well fed, the next thing you want to do is find some sleep so that you can continue tomorrow.

Sleep aid is what actually helps you to sleep; however, there are only very few of them you are safe for breastfeeding mothers. Sometimes breastfeeding mothers are scared of the side effects of some of the sleep aids and effects they would have on them and on their babies.

The first question to even answer at all is whether or not it is safe to use sleep aids while breastfeeding. And the answer to that question is that it depends on the sleep aid that you’re using. Let’s attempt to answer the question now.

Are There Really Sleep Aids that are Safe?

The simple answer to that question is yes. There are sleep aids that are safe for breastfeeding mothers and as you may already have guessed, they have side effects. Some of the side effects of these drugs include drowsiness. Yes, and that actually pushes in the sleep for you.

One thing that you must know as a breastfeeding mom is that, the side effects that these drugs bring other than drowsiness may include itchiness, dehydration, overall body weakness, allergy signs like colds, fever, and some others.

Antihistamine-based sleep aids are some that you can trust to not cause any harm to your baby. You rest assured that sleep would always come calling when you need it.

What is the Best Time for Breastfeeding Moms to Use Sleep Aids?

You must note that what works for your neighbor may not work for you. If you do a remote job where you get to wake up at night a lot, you don’t want to be like your neighbor who says she prefers to take hers at night.

The favorite time as far as I’m concerned is just as soon as the baby is breastfed and tucked in bed for a peaceful sleep. That is when you should take your own nap. So it is advisable that you do it just moments before breastfeeding.

Always remember to drink a lot of water, as some of the drugs may dry out the breast milk. I do hope this helps you.

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How to Calm Down a Hyper Child

Having a hyper child can be a blessing and a real problem. Unfortunately, some kids go over the top. Caregivers and teachers are the most hit, since kids spend the most time at school. Can there be any remedy? Are there ways to calm a hyperactive kid? In this article, we will consider a few ways to combat the traits.

What is the Meaning of Hyper?

Hyperactive is a synonym for hyper, which means to be extremely excited or active. It can also be described as a state of being abnormally active. These traits can help one get things done swiftly. Someone who is hyper is considered to be a fast learner. With this advantage, intricate and complex things can be learned quickly. This individual can perform tasks in record-breaking time.

However, when it is a child that has these traits, it becomes a liability instead of a blessing. A child’s hyperactive behavior could pose a huge risk to a child’s cognitive reasoning. It might serve as a hindrance to the child’s mental development.

Common Characteristics of a Hyperactive Child

A hyperactive child will not have the will power to sit in a place and take informal education. He or she unwittingly gets distracted at every opportunity. As a result of constant movement, a child who is inattentive could:

·       Find it difficult staying put in tasks and play.

·       Appear not to listen, even when talked to.

·       Experience trouble while trying to organize tasks and duties.

·       Make careless mistakes as a result of not paying attention to details.

·       Forget to do chores.

·       Get distracted.

·       Hate any task that will require him or her to sit in place.

·       Fidget.

·       Feel nervous.

·       Exude aggressive behaviour.

·       Have impulsive behaviour.

What could lead to such a severe health condition? Here are just a few reasons.

What Causes Hyperactivity

Mental or physical conditions can trigger hyperactivity. Medical conditions that could affect the thyroid or the central nervous system can lead to hyperactivity. The common causes include:

·       Brain disorders

·       Nervous system disorder

·       Hyperthyroidism

·       Psychological disorders

·       ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive disorder)

Sometimes, patients with ADHD may be diagnosed when they are already adults, many are usually diagnosed at an early age as a child.

If your child or anyone is seen with symptoms of hyperactivity, the best and safest thing to do is speak with a doctor. Doctors will help to ascertain if it is as a result of new or existing conditions. If it is a result of the side effects of medications or hormonal imbalance.

How to Calm Down Hyper Kids Naturally

1.     Help them practice relaxation.

2.     Before a big task comes up, allow the child time to play.

3.     Be consistent and patient.

4.     Break down some house chores with activities.

5.     Follow instructions of health personnel.

6.     Gradually form a habit.

There are few ways  to treat hyperactive kids, it includes:

1.     Therapy. There are two types of therapy provided for hyper kids – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Talk Therapy. CBT is used to change the line of thinking and behavior of hyper kids while Talk therapy is a discussion between the patient and the therapist. Suggestions are then given to help the patients.

2.     Medications. Medications prescribed by a medical doctor have a calming effect. Caffeine and nicotine should be avoided.

3.     Supplements. Try natural mood balancing supplements like Calm Kids from Terry Naturally.

4.     Essential Oils. Try diffusing a few drops of essential oils in water using a KidSafe Diffuser to help calm your child. Lavender Essential Oil from Plant Therapy is especially calming.

Prevention of Hyperactivity in Kids

·       Pregnant women should refrain from anything that could interfere with the development of the unborn child like the use of recreational drugs, alcohol, and smoking of cigarettes.

·       Parents should shield little children from pollutants and toxins such as led paint or third party smoke.

These few tips will surely go a long way to provide relief as suggestions are being applied. Depending on the level and the cause, it can be treated swiftly or managed properly.

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Best Parenting Group Activities

In order to acquire good parenting skills, you need to take part in parenting activities like playing outdoors with your kids, or spending quality time indoors. It will help you see the shortest paths to win the heart of your children and to be the best parent you can. 

Proper parenting helps you create a vision for you and your family and even helps you to deal with difficult times. When your family is experiencing a difficult situation, your ideas and plans are what they need most. 

You can as well discuss your goals and actually form a plan with your family. Whenever there is a misunderstanding, try to talk things through with your family. Talk it out and agree on a specific plan so as to strengthen your family’s relationship. Below are some necessary parenting activities you need in order to be the best parent for your family.

Always stay positive

Dig out ways to encourage yourself and your family’s positivity, because this may help them to stay positive and act accordingly. Do not only focus on the bad situations that are happening in your family, but always stay positive and think of the good things that have yielded from being with your family.

Always communicate with your family

Learn to communicate with your family. This would boost the love in the family and the cheerfulness. There are situations where parents would have used better communication but didn’t. So always ensure that you communicate with your family with an open heart, ears, and mind.

Give directions lovingly

Sometimes parents give their children directions that may seem a little bit rash and difficult. And as a result of this, your child may not follow this direction. Do not be harsh whenever you give directions, they may not understand what you are talking about, so let them know to help them to see things in your perspective and everything would go fine.

Apply discipline

Discipline is very important while parenting. It might be tough while responding to children, because they appear to be stubborn or annoying, so use loving discipline and teach them the correct standards. 

Kids get frustrated when they are not sure of what to do or how to go about doing something. So always see the need to set aside time for the family. Kids are creative, so always set time for your kids and take some time to enjoy playing with them.

There are many activities you can carry out when parenting, but these few ones mentioned earlier can go a long way to help your family and help your way of parenting. Try hard to keep these things in mind and you will make a good family.

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Best Kids Footwear: The Shoes that Light Up and More

Kids are fond of flashy, unique gifts. Even though toys are ideal, the shoes that light up also offer a lot of fun for kids!

The shoes that light up are comfortable and functional and can be worn at home or at school. This aspect really makes kids happy. Below are some of the best shoes that light up.

The Skechers Twinkle Toes

These shoes sparkle and it will affect your baby positively. Twinkle toes light up and are really comfortable. The shoes have a stylish aspect as well. Boys and girls can wear these twinkle shoes, but it best fits girls. These shoes are made of breathable, flexible fabric and offer comfortable low-top designs.

The Uantasy Fashion Sneakers

As the name implies, this is a fashion-forward pair of sneakers for kids and is comfortable for them. It also has light and breathable, stretchy fabric that fits most kids. If your kid loves clothing but does not have shoes to match, you can select some fantasy sneakers like these. They come with different colors and will make your kid happy. It is also available in different sizes, is super fun and easy, due to its stability and design. It is made of a thick rubber sole and stable lace designs.

The SLEVEL LED Light Up Shoes

The SLEVEL light up shoes are unique, stylish, and most of all last for a very long time. The footwear is easy to wear and it is comfortable. If you are looking for stylish light up shoes, then check these out.

The shoes’ light up design comes with a rechargeable battery that helps the lights to last long, and kids love this because they do not get disappointed at the end. It is made of many colors, rechargeable battery pack, absorbing rubber sole, and comfortable slip-on designs.

The Nsasy Roller Shoes

Nsasy roller shoes are another unique light-up pair of shoes that are cute, weather-resistant, and made with tough fabric and leather. The shoes have durable designs and colors that do not fade.

In order to be sure of comfort, the Nsasy has fitted a very thick rubber sole on the shoe with lights that boost the beauty and charm. Your kids will be impressed. It is made up of bright LED lights, multi-styles, beautiful and admirable colors, and a thick rubber sole.

The Gleam N’Dream Sneaker-Skechers Kids

This sneaker is 100 percent textile quality with a comfortable shaft. It can be worn and removed easily. It has a very strong sole made of fabric and it lights up brightly for a long time. Kids can wear it to school, parties, or any occasion. The shoe is made of a durable synthetic sole, colorful lights, and sporty designs.

This is the best kid’s footwear, and kids would love it. It is a shoe design that lights up and would be even more delightful, because they will wear it to school and to parties as well.

But while they move around in this footwear, they will be needing a supplement that will help sustain them. In the case you are looking for a suitable supplement, try Vita Chews for Kids by Neurobiologix for children’s health support.

Get your kids suitable footwear and suitable supplements to keep them going.

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What You Should Know About Emotional Maturity and Parenting Styles

Parenting is a task that is highly underrated in terms of difficulty and maturity levels. If being a parent was a job, most parents would be underpaid because nobody would be able to pay for the problems you have to deal with.

Remember being young and wanting to have your own kids? How you envisaged the whole thing, I bet you even mapped out a plan on how you would raise your kids. Things are quite different now, aren’t they?

Kids are lovely creatures, at the same time, they could be a major source of worry for parents. You have to worry about their health, their attitudes, their growth, as a matter of fact, you worry about them more than you get to think about yourself.

In dealing with these kids and the issues that they face, you would need a good level of emotional maturity or you would end up getting things wrong and getting yourself misunderstood.

What is Emotional Maturity?

Emotional maturity simply means your ability to guide and have a good level of control over your emotions. How do you respond when you’re anxious, what do you say when you’re sad, what do you do when you’re angry? Do you appropriately think about your actions before you display them?

Considering the above questions, if all of your answers directly relate with good control, then you can say you are emotionally mature, otherwise, you might need to work on that.

Emotional maturity is what helps you ensure that you give the appropriate reaction to the actions of your children. So many parents probably don’t even know that their emotional maturity is what determines what parenting style they use.

What is Your Parenting Style?

As mentioned earlier, most parents don’t actually sit down to decide what their parenting style would be, as a matter of fact, there is no assurance that choosing a particular parenting style would work for you. The simple reason for that is, our emotions usually always come to play in our decision making and taking strict guidelines for training your kids may not be easy.

Nonetheless, here are some parenting styles that you may already be using without even knowing.

Authoritative: This is an authoritative parent is one who sets down rules for the kids, makes the kids aware of what the rules are, gives them some freedom of expression, and also enforces the rules, making sure that adequate punishment is meted on defaulters.

Authoritarian: This style of parenting leaves only very little freedom for the child with very strict rules which aren’t even properly explained to the kids. This kind of parent expects the child to know what is right or wrong from the punishment they previously received. They also expect so much from the child.

Permissive: Some parents may decide to use this method sometimes for their children when they want to study the behavior of the child. A permissive parent gives the child so much freedom and little strictness. The kids are able to completely express themselves even to their parents and peers.

Uninvolved: This parent has little to no time for parenting. They don’t care about the behavior of their kids and they don’t care how their actions affect the children. The children are allowed total freedom to do whatever they want. No form of discipline is involved, nothing.

It is important to know that your emotional maturity would help you with any parenting style you choose or are already using. The ideal parent is one that has control over their actions, especially when interacting with their kids.

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Does Parenting Affect Mental Health?

Being a parent has to be the most hectic long term job to do. Seeing these little beautiful kids grow from infants to adults, all the love, all the sweet times, and all of that has a positive effect on mental health, but the bad times may also make their mark.

It is not all rosy, because raising kids can be really big trouble sometimes. Living with somebody who doesn’t have the level of understanding that you have and trying to ensure that they grow up to be great is a task that should require a big salary. However, we are parents for the love of our kids.

A lot of parents do their best for their children, but not all of them have the knowledge and skills to raise a child in the way that his or her mental orientation isn’t affected. Parenting styles are different, and these styles may either make or mar a child in the long run.

What Parenting Styles are There, and How Does Parenting Affect Mental Health?

Your parenting style has to do with the ways you raise your child. Different parents have different styles, and most often times it is not because they chose the style they want, it is usually a reflection of their own personality.

Here are the four major parenting styles. It is possible that a parent combines one or more of these styles.

4 Common Parenting Styles

Authoritarian parenting: You know you’re an authoritarian parent if you train your kids with specific rules and ensure that they follow these rules to the letter. In situations where the rules are not properly attended, punishments follow.

Authoritarian parents usually don’t give so much room for the children to express their emotions, as the communication is usually one-sided. The child has little freedom and flexibility and is expected to do exceptionally great.

Now, different kids have different mental receptiveness; some may grow up okay and strong, and others may develop several social and mental disorders if this style is overbearing.

Uninvolved parenting: Unlike the authoritarian, uninvolved parenting affords the children way too much freedom to do whatever they want. Some parents do this deliberately to study what their kids would do if they had total freedom; others do this because they don’t even know what to do.

Uninvolved parents mostly don’t care what their kids do. They are not bothered and they don’t train the kids, they just let them live whichever way they want. This might result in serious social issues.

Authoritative parenting: This is a more educated and self-aware authoritarian parent. They set their rules, let the kids know the laid down rules, and give their children an adequate chance to express themselves, while at the same time giving the appropriate punishments when rules are disobeyed.

Permissive parenting: This type of parent is a tiny percentage of authoritativeness and hugely uninvolved. With this style, there are no rules or regulations; however, there may be punishments once in a while. Sometimes the punishment may not be calculated well enough and kids may get punished for what they didn’t even do.

Choosing the appropriate parenting style would most definitely help your child grow into what they should become and not what you decide. Remember that in order to become the ideal parent you can choose a combination of one or more of these, as long as it is what works for you and your child.

And when it comes to mental health for parents, try all-natural nutritional supplements for mood health from Pure Encapsulations’ NeuroMood Pure Pak and BrainMD Serotonin Mood Support.

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Homeschool Parenting Tips to Teach Third Grade while Schooling from Home

In these unprecedented times where parents, guardians, and loved ones are stuck at home till this pandemic ends, we need to know how to homeschool our young ones as they would have to continue schooling at home.

Gather your peace of mind and check out the tips below for homeschool parenting to teach third grade and others grades while schooling from home.

Homeschool Parenting Tips to Teach Third Grade while Schooling from Home

Learn Your Homeschool Options

You can start up at any time, even if your children have several years of schooling or if they are toddlers. Some parents have learned that the ending of a school year is a good time to begin their research, because then they get enough time to know all the homeschool options and begin their research in autumn.

Learning the various options a parent can take is one of the best ways you’ll know the type of decision you want to take and what you desire for homeschooling to teach third grade would accomplish at home.

Learn the State’s Requirements for Homeschooling

The rules of homeschooling and its regulations are completely different according to the state. In a place like New York, for example, the parents of the child have to file an annual declaration of intent to the local superintendent around the first of July or two weeks before the homeschooling can begin. Also with a properly made home instruction plan . All these parents have to obtain attendance records, conduct standardized tests, and to submit quarterly reports.

Join a Local Homeschooling Group Online

Meeting more homeschoolers in your area will help you gain more information. At this point, you’ll get other families who can help you with more answers to your questions because they have experienced it. They also allow you to review all their teaching habits from home. They also show you how schooling at home works for them. You could also learn about activities that are proper for the age of your children and the ones they would like to participate in, these include clubs, sports, tutoring, and others that suit the interest of your child.

During weekly meetings online, parents could opt into teaching a particular subject like one that is foreign or to create a science lab for a group of students.

Get Your Own Homeschooling Space

Your classes can’t be conducted on the table in the kitchen; you’ll need a desk and a board for writing on. Also, you’ll need empty wall spaces where calendars, schedules, and completed work could be posted. You’ll need a computer nearby that’s connected to the internet for research. You need to get organized and purchase bookshelves and cabinets for your third grader. If you want to keep loose school supplies handy, you’ll also need organizational baskets too.

These unprecedented times are difficult, but there are plenty of resources to help you teach third grade while homeschooling your kids.

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How to Be a Calm Parent

Parents have many obligations to our family members, which can get very stressful and overwhelming. But we need to stop letting our emotions keep getting the best of us. We all know being a parent is not an easy task.

When parents get too frustrated, they may get angry and scream at their kids. Losing control is not a good thing. That’s why you may need to learn how to become a calm parent. Studies have shown that yelling at your kids may make them verbally and physically aggressive later in life. However, if you’re a parent who tries to be calm and patient, you’ll make your children feel accepted and loved, even when they are acting badly. It’s a healthier behaviour.

How to Be a Calm Parent and Find Peace

You can learn to manage your anger and practice a more peaceful parenting strategy using these techniques.

Think of the Negative Impact of Being Angry

If you feel yourself wanting to get angry and burn the world down in the short run, you’ll cause more damage than intended. Before yelling at your kids, think about what would happen when you’re not angry anymore. Try deep breathing techniques to calm down and think before you act or react.

A Timeout is Necessary

Timeouts are not just for kids. We as adults also need short breaks so our minds and brains calm down. Giving yourself some time to reason things out will help you be a calm parent. In the end, you’ll make better decisions.

It’s OK to Make Mistakes

When you feel it is okay, let your kids make their own decisions and make mistakes. It isn’t your goal in life to correct everything and make everything perfect. It is your responsibility to educate them between wrong and right. Even though you can’t control their choices daily, be sure they’ll have to learn from the consequences so your kids can make better decisions in the future.

Take Some Time for You

When you’re stressed, you may take out your frustrations on your kids. That’s why it’s important to take time for yourself too. This could mean taking a walk around the neighborhood, taking a hot bath, or drinking some calming tea. We recommend Yogi Tea’s Calming Tea and VPK Maharishi Ayurveda’s Vata Tea Calming. Do whatever works for you, so you can feel well rested and balanced. Then you can be your best self for your kids.