Parenting Parenting Methods

Everything You Need to Consider as a New Parent

Finding out that you are going to be a new parent is both exciting and daunting, the idea that you will be responsible for the life of a child can be very stressful for some people but you should know that most prospective parents feel this way too. There are a lot of things to consider in the run-up to your child’s birth so it is vital that you are proficient in making sure the necessary preparations are made in time.

 

Preparation

In order to be truly prepared for your child’s arrival, you should research everything that you will need or even ask any of your family and friends who have been through this before for advice. You should make a list of the things that you need to buy and if you are having a baby shower you could put together a list for your guest to buy you gifts that you actually need to save yourself some money as well as providing your family with gift ideas that you will actually make use of.

 

Plans For The Future

It may seem a little morbid to be thinking about these things but when you have a child it is your responsibility as a parent to make sure that they are set up with everything they need in their lives. This includes making preparations for your death and looking into processes such as setting up a will detailing what should be done with your money and possessions in the event of your death. As a parent you have to think about these things as dying without a will can cause unnecessary stress to your loved ones when it comes to deciding who gets what.

 

Online Help

If you are struggling with getting ready for the birth of your child then I would urge you to make use of the various online forums that are available to help new parents. Forums created by experienced parents have been circulating the internet for many years now but it seems that this useful resource is often overlooked within the parenting world when the information is actually very detailed and trustworthy as much of it comes from people who have gone through being a parent. Using forums also opens up communication between fellow parents which is a very useful tool to have accessible even after your child has been born.

 

Making Sure You Have Everything You Need

With being a new parent comes a long list of essential equipment that you will need to buy before your child is born, there are many books and online resources available telling you everything you need so it would be a mistake to not make use of this. If you are worried about the costs then why not look into what second-hand baby gear is available in your area and as previously mentioned it is common for new parents to compile a gift list for baby showers or christenings so that your guests are able to buy you something that you actually need whilst saving you some money.

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Activities Parenting

The Best Kids Films that Encourage Kindness, Sharing and Positivity

As a parent, you dedicate lots of your time to teaching your kids the best morals and hope they pick them up and express these morals in their day to day lives. You probably try to be the best influence you possibly can on your kids so that they grow up to be good people and carry these morals with them into adulthood. This makes picking films for them to watch difficult, as after putting all this time and effort into helping your kids become the best version of themselves that they can be, you don’t want to allow them to watch any movies that will instill different morals into them.

Kindness can be learned by example so by being a good example and finding movies that emphasize kindness and positivity your kids will learn these quicker. Kindness, sharing, and positivity are all extremely important qualities in kids and in adults, they will help your child to be able to create and maintain friendships at school and this will follow on to adult relationships. These qualities will also help to teach your children to accept other people that are different as they encourage acceptance and tolerance which are also important qualities. We’ve found some of the best kids’ films that encourage kindness, sharing, and positivity so you can show your kids some great films.

 

Spirited Away

Spirited Away is a Studio Ghibli film, we found out from a quiz about Japanese animated films that this is the Studio Ghibli movie that most closely aligns with encouraging kindness, sharing, and positivity. The film is about the ten-year-old Chihiro when she and her parents stumble upon an abandoned amusement park her parents get turned into massive pigs and she is stuck. She meets Haku who explains to her that she has to work to free herself and her parents from the supernatural resort. This movie promotes many positive messages, it encourages people to always have time for others and to give them attention if they need it and to not hate those who hate you, but instead learn to love them regardless. These are very positive messages and teach kids how to be kind so it’s a great movie to show your child.

 

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Kiki’s Delivery Service is another Studio Ghibli movie that promotes good morals and encourages kindness. It’s a movie about a young witch named Kiki who leaves home to carry on her witch training. She leaves with just her flying broom and her cat, Jiji to make a new life in a different city. She starts a delivery service to improve her flying skills but unfortunately, she loses confidence in her own abilities and begins to lose her magic. The kindness of other people in the village help Kiki to regain her abilities, this is a great example for kids to encourage kindness within their behavior. It also promotes positivity as it teaches kids to have confidence in themselves the same way that Kiki found confidence in herself.

 

The Secret World of Arriety

The Secret World of Arriety is another Japanese animated film, this type of movie is one of the best to promote kindness in films to children. Arriety is a tiny teenager who lives in a suburban home without the homeowner knowing. She spends most of her time remaining hidden from those who live in the house but occasionally has to risk going above the floorboards to borrow sugar cubes. This leads to an unlikely friendship forming between Arriety and the 12-year-old Shawn who lives in the house.

This friendship is a strong one but it has the problem of it could lead the homeowners to find out that Arriety and her family are living there causing problems for her family. This film is one of the most wholesome Studio Ghibli films and the entire movie is focused on the message that you should always be kind to others. It promotes that you shouldn’t just be kind to people that you know but you should be kind to every person that you meet. This is a great message to promote to kids so we highly recommend this movie.

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Creativity Parenting

The New Parents Guide to Decorating Your Childs Bedroom

When it comes to starting the process of preparing for your first child, it is likely that your mind is going to be swarmed with plenty of things to think about, like clothes and all of the other things that you will need in order to properly care for your child. Some things can be quite daunting and you may put them off for as long as possible due to their difficulty, one of the key victims of procrastination neglect is decorating your child’s room. This can be a very daunting task and requires a lot of work, there is just a lot to think about like furniture, themes and general decor. Though the idea of having to decorate your child’s bedroom can be quite off-putting, it can also be quite an exciting and fulfilling activity. One of the ways you can keep the project exciting is by following a strict guide and getting things done bit by bit, here is the new parents guide to decorating your child’s bedroom.

 

Paint

Painting the room should be the first thing that you think about. Choosing a color can make it easier when addressing other areas of your decoration, as choosing a color will allow you to establish a theme. Establishing this theme will also make it easier to pick out furniture and another decor. Not only is painting important to starting your other decorating processes, but it is also important that you do it before you bring any other furniture into the room. Having to paint around large pieces of furniture can be extremely inconvenient and so it is easier to just get it done from the very start. If you are struggling to pick the right color for your room and you are finding it difficult to continue the rest of the decorating process, perhaps choose a classic color based on your baby’s gender.

 

Furniture

You also need to focus on choosing the best possible furniture options for your baby’s bedroom. Some of the main things that you need to focus on our storage solutions and also your babies crib. When you first have your child you are going to accumulate a lot of baby clothes due to how quickly they grow, and so it is important to make sure that you purchase a large chest of drawers. If you fail to do this then you will just have to be dealing with a build-up of clothes taking over your life, so it’s best just to secure storage options to start with. It is also important to make sure that you have a comfortable place for your baby to sleep. Within the first few months of their lives, it can be impossible to get babies to sleep at a reasonable time. Something that a lot of new parents neglect to consider is upgrading their baby’s mattress past the average mattress solution. Something that a lot of new parents are doing is purchasing bamboo mattresses for their babies. These are far comfier than the regular mattress that you would receive with a crib and thus will make it far easier for your child to fall asleep, they’re becoming extremely common and can be purchased at several sites, such as those reviewed at bedroompedia. So be sure to shop about and you will be able to find one that fits into your price range.

 

Personalize

It is not uncommon for parents to go for plain rooms, however, one of the best recommendations that we could give is to personalize the room and give it a theme. This can make the decoration process way funnier and also give it a clearer direction, as a theme will make it easier to pick out things such as decor and bedsheets.

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Activities Parenting

Father & Son Activities: 8 Ways to Bond With Your Son

Raising boys can be difficult at the best of times. With generations constantly changing, it can be difficult to keep up with your son’s life as he enters a world you’re unfamiliar with. Whether we intend to or not, as your child develops, soon we’ll be the dinosaurs that need our kids to help with new and complicated tech. This is sadly just a fact of life and unfortunately can end up putting a strain on you and your son’s relationship. So, how can you make sure you maintain a healthy relationship with your son? Well, here’s a list of 8 activities perfect for father and son bonding.

Movies

The best way to bond is to find common ground with your son. Ask him about movies he likes and then maybe suggest watching some with him. It’ll reassure him that you’re interested in his life and it will also potentially help you learn things you may not have realised about your son’s personality. It may also be worth suggesting a father and son cinema trip to help you both get outside of the house. Who knows, it may end up becoming a regular thing.

Video Games

As long as you’re prepared for him to likely be far better than you, then another great way to bond with your son is by playing video games with him. Most boys nowadays spend a crazy amount of time on their consoles, what better opportunity to spend some quality time with him than by getting involved in one of his favourite hobbies. Find out his favourite games and if any of them happen to be multiplayer then you’re in luck. If you’ve never played a video game, it’s probably best to get some practice in before you suggest a game – it may end up frustrating for both of you if he has to spend his time trying to teach you how to play.

Fishing

A very popular father/son activity, but for good reason. It will remind him that you still have plenty of things to teach him. There’s still probably a lot more you can learn about fishing as well. Like, did you know you can get special fishing reels for catching bass? As long as you remain patient, fishing can be a calming activity for both of you and it’s always good for both of you to reconnect with nature. Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet and show your son there are more ways to enjoy yourself. Plus, actually catching something would be a bonus as well.

Cooking

Something we could all improve is our cooking skills. Try making some meals or even try your hand at baking with your son. It’s a great activity as there is room for error from both of you and requires you both to work as a team. Teaching him to cook will definitely benefit him in the future and you’ll also (after some trial and error) get some delicious meals out of it.

Sports

Whether watching or playing, there are so many different sports out there that there simply has to be one that you and your son can bond over. You could introduce him to your favourite sports team and take him to games as well as a treat. If you’re wanting to improve you and your son’s fitness then there are plenty of sports you can play in your backyard. Just be prepared to be a bit slower than you remember. Remember, you both have things to learn from each other.

DIY Projects

If you have some work to do around the house, then why not ask your son for some help? An extra hand will make sure you get those jobs done quicker. Anything from painting the walls or fixing up the car to building some furniture, there’s plenty of benefits for both of you by working together. Plus, by teaching him and letting him help, you’ll be giving him invaluable life skills as well. Boys always like to be right and can get frustrated when things don’t work out the way they intended. Be sure to keep your cool and reassure your son if he seems to be getting frustrated. Remind him that IKEA furniture is a challenge for everyone. There’s no harm in getting confused.

Ice Cream

If you’re looking for an activity that’s both sweet and simple (pun intended), then look no further. You don’t need to do anything fancy to bond with your son. Even just taking him to get some of his favourite ice-cream will help improve your relationship. It also works as a great reward after doing some of the other slightly more strenuous bonding activities from earlier like DIY or fishing. You never know, you might even find him feeling more comfortable with opening up to you.

Help them with homework

A bane of every kids’ existence, keeping on top of homework can be a difficult task. An excellent way to bond with your son is by helping him with more academic challenges like homework. Kids sometimes have trouble asking their teachers if they’re confused, so it could be beneficial for him to be able to ask you. Just make sure he doesn’t trick you into doing it for him. The most beneficial thing you can do is clear up his confusion so he can solve the problems for himself. This may require some refamiliarizing from you, but he’ll surely appreciate it.

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Parenting

3 New Games Your Kids Will Love

Whether we like it or not, kids these days love their video games. Whether on a console, PC or on their mobile, there are an unbelievable amount of games for your kids to choose from. From FPS (First Person Shooter) games, all the way to roll playing strategy games, it’s a world that many of us are very unfamiliar with. It can be impossible to keep up with what kids are playing as it seems to be constantly changing. It can also be difficult to make sure your kids are staying safe if they’re playing online or if they’re playing content that may be a bit too mature for them. Well, fear not parents and guardians, here are 3 new parent-friendly games that we’re sure your kids will love.

Dreams

A new release exclusive to PS4 consoles, Dreams has been regarded as a breakthrough in modern gaming technology. From the creators of Little Big Planet, Dreams combines the traditional elements of gaming with playable levels and a progressing storyline with the opportunity to learn how to create and develop your own games. It’s an excellent opportunity for your child to use their imagination and you never know, this could even be the beginning of a career in game design or development.

Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross

A PC game rapidly growing in popularity, SDS is a cinematic role-playing game (RPG) based off of the Seven Deadly Sins anime. Absolutely filled with interesting characters, fun visuals and hours of gameplay, this is a great example of a game with a massive community of players. A great opportunity for your kids to make new friends. Online gaming may sound daunting, but rest assured, sdsgc is totally safe for your kids! Your kids will be free to explore a beautifully designed 3D world and will be swept up in an exciting adventure full of challenges.

Animal Crossing: New Horizon

A long-awaited game for many adults, there has never been a better time to introduce your child to the wonderful world of Animal Crossing. New to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite, Animal Crossing: New Horizons sees your character make their home on an island run by the ever-wonderful Tom Nook. The game offers a totally inoffensive world in which your child will be free to explore. With the opportunity to catch a wild variety of fish and bugs and also to dig up fossils, the game also offers an excellent opportunity for your child to learn more about the world around them.

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Parenting

5 Benefits of Getting A Private Tutor for Your Children

Is your child struggling at school? Or are they coming home with more questions than answers? Then it may be worth investing in a private tutor. Throughout the US, you will find tonnes of tutors that specialize in pretty much every subject you can think of. For example, if you’re in around NYC, this private tutor specializes in LSAT testing – not an easy feat. But what are some of the benefits of getting a private tutor for your child? Well, here are a few to help you make up your mind.

 

Give them an edge

Getting a place at college can be tough, especially if your child is aiming for a place at one of the Ivy League universities like Harvard, Yale or Stanford. Competition for these universities can be intense and a tutor could help give your child an invaluable advantage to ace their tests and get that place.

Deepen Their knowledge

With most schools, there are set texts taught to every student. A tutor, however, allows for an opportunity to deepen your child’s understanding of their chosen subject with a wider variety of examples and questions.

Personalized Learning

Schools normally offer one method of teaching but, with tutoring, there is an opportunity for a more personalized learning experience as the tutor will be able to tailor their lessons to your child’s learning style, allowing them to have a deeper grasp of the information.

Communication skills

For some children, it can be difficult to ask questions in class, however, with a tutor your child will be able to improve their communication skills and ask those otherwise unanswered questions that may have left them stumped.

Confidence

One of the greatest benefits your child will gain from having a tutor is confidence. They will be able to build on their knowledge and when the test comes around, they can be sure that they can answer any question that comes their way.

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