How to Safley Introduce your Dogs to your New Children

It is important to any family that the relationship between your children and your pets is one of mutual respect and that the pair are able to be left alone together without the risk of something happening. Although you should be able to trust your dogs I would highly urge you to never leave your new children around your dogs unsupervised, especially during the early stages as you can never be certain what your dog is feeling and sometimes their animal instincts can take over.

With proper training, you should be able to have peace of mind that your dog would never hurt a member of your family, as long as you put the effort in to train your dog to know that your new children are not a threat to them everything should go pretty smoothly. I would recommend a few different methods in order to build a strong bond and relationship between your dogs and your new children that can hopefully go on as your children and your pets get older.

 

Creating a Comfortable Environment

When it comes to the initial meeting of your children and your dogs you should do everything in your power to make the meeting place a setting that makes both parties comfortable, for the dog you can make them feel at ease by conducting the meeting in familiar territory. Using rewards such as toys and treats and of course plenty of affection you should stay close to your dog when you present them to your child. Give your dogs a moment to investigate your new child and do plenty of sniffing, it is usually the case that your dogs will react pretty calmly but you should be very gentle with the situation in case your dogs react badly.

Creating a comfortable environment is one of the best ways that you can show your dog that everything is okay and that your new child should be considered a member of the family. If you need help or advice in regards to creating a relaxing setting in your home for both your dogs and children then  I would urge you to research online or speak to a professional for ideas that could really help make the situation easier.

 

Observation

As previously mentioned observation is key to making sure that everything runs smoothly in regards to your dog and your child’s first interaction. Although it would be ideal to presume that your dog is going to be fine you should remember that this is a new experience for your pet and no matter how calm they may seem there is still a risk that they will not be okay with your new family member straight away. Change can make your animal’s behavior also change so it is an important part of their training to be present during the initial interactions. If you are training a younger dog or puppy then it would be very useful to use a beginners guide to looking after your new puppy to make sure you are doing everything you can to build a good relationship between your child and dog.

 

How to Keep Your Puppy Calm

Keeping a puppy calm is easier said than done sometimes, as they are younger and more excitable it is important that you are serious about their training. Using rewards when your puppy interacts in a  calm way you can help to encourage them to be calm if they are going to be rewarded with treats and affection. With younger animals, they find it harder to understand what is going on so you need to be doing everything you can to let them know how they should behave around, small children.

 

Regular Interactions

One of the best ways to introduce your new children to your dogs is to make sure they have regular interactions and the opportunity to build a relationship together that is positive. Over time you will see that your dog is actually very wary of your children in a way that they would protect them if anything were to happen. A strong relationship like this is a great step in the direction of your dogs and children growing up very happy together.

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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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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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The Child Health Guide for Soon-To-Be Parents

Finding out you’re pregnant is an exciting and life-changing moment for those who’ve been wanting and planning for a child. Soon there will be a new little life joining your world! You’ll have the joy and pleasure of seeing them born, growing into a child, waving them off on their first day of school, to watching them leave home for university.

But after the joy has somewhat worn off the worries of parenthood, and all its tasks, set in. The panic of a parent never really goes away, because once you’re a parent, you’ll always be worrying about their safety. To help with some of those post-joy worries are some tips and guides to help you plan you for a new little bundle.

 

Vaccines

Although there are negative myths about vaccinating your child, they are false. While there are some very rare cases of people having allergic reactions to vaccines, it is so rare that not vaccinating your child because of this worry would do more harm than good.

Childhood vaccinations help protect your child from childhood diseases that have been infecting children for millennia. Our technology and medical advancements mean we’re able to study such diseases and create ways of preventing the harm they cause. Vaccinating your child against childhood illnesses such as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningitis, and other illnesses, means your child already has a stronger immune system going into life. And don’t worry if these names are a mouthful, vaccines are a topic discussed with you by your OBGYN at your prenatal and antenatal visits.

 

Teething

While you won’t have to worry about your baby teething until they’re around six months old, being prepared for this process will save both you and your baby some pain. For babies, teething can be painful, but providing teething toys such as medical grade silicone rings to chew on, can help relieve their discomfort. Teething rings and toys are available at your local chemist, as well as specialized parent and baby stores.

Your child’s teeth are always something you’ll worry about, especially while you are abroad. A child can chip or fracture a tooth with ease. Luckily, most countries offer great emergency dental services. A quick search along the lines of dental implants hong kong will steer you in the right direction.

 

Breastfeeding or bottle?

Now, there’s that old saying, “breast is best”, but for some, breastfeeding is too hard, or even impossible to sustain. While it’s true that anti-bodies are passed on from parent to child through breast milk, many, many children have also been raised just as healthily on formula milk from the bottle. Again, your OBGYN will provide you with all the information you need, and will discuss with you your worries and intentions on breastfeeding or formula.

Many people shame new parents for choosing formula over breast milk; those people are wrong. Regardless of choice, or why it’s chosen, it’s a parent’s prerogative to do what they feel is best for their child, and themselves. The only people whose opinion is valid in making these decisions is the parents and their baby’s doctor.

 

So, from making sure your baby is protected against common childhood illnesses by vaccinating them, to preparing yourself for the terror that is teething and deciding for yourself what is best for you and your child about feeding, I hope that this guide has helped you prepare for the arrival of your little one.

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Why It’s Important to Get Outdoor Time with your Children

These days we are almost entirely focused on the progression of the tech world. We are all excited to see the release of a new phone or smart device and can spend hours every day playing and using our own personal tech. This was not the case over a decade ago when these technologies didn’t really exist and so we had to find other ways to entertain ourselves. This was especially the case if you were a child growing up in the years before the technologically advanced 2000s. Kids back then would spend hours and hours outside, exploring their local area and hanging out with their friends. However, kids these days choose to spend their time surfing the web or connecting with friends on social media.

 

It is rare to find a child that prefers to experience the outdoors over new technologies, and though these new technological advancements may be exciting, it really is not healthy for children to spend all of their time indoors. Here is why it is important to get outdoor time with your children.

 

Health reasons

As we have advanced in terms of technology, we have also seen a rise in the number of children suffering from childhood obesity.  This is because children are not taking the time to go outside and get that much needed physical exercise. There have been steps to try and combat this through the use of technology, as many gaming companies have released games that encourage people to get on their feet. Though this has been helpful, nothing can really combat the feeling of walking through the great outdoors and stretching your legs.  Getting your child into the routine of often going out to play is also much more useful than trying to make them do strenuous exercise that they may not enjoy.

 

Bonding

Spending time with your children can also be very beneficial in terms of building your relationship. If you spend all day inside, it is easy to get on each other’s nerves and this may put your relationship on the rocks. One of the best things that you could do with your child is to go on a camping trip. Camping trips are a great opportunity to take on the great outdoors and work together. It will also mean that you are spending an extended time away from technology, which can be extremely helpful if you are trying to gain some mental clarity. If you are hesitant to take a camping trip due to a lack of outdoor knowledge, you can always go online and look at reviews of gear for the outdoors. This will give you a good idea of what gear you will need and how to use this gear.

 

Memories

When your child gets older,  you don’t want them to only have memories of their childhood based indoors. There is nothing exciting about looking back at the days you spent indoors watching tv, so getting your child out and about will be a great opportunity to form memories that they will be able to look back on and smile.

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4 Great Starter Pets you Can Get for your Children

Fish

A classic pet to get your children used to the responsibility of owning an animal, parents have been buying fish for many years now. Fish take little maintenance apart from their daily feeds and cleaning of the tank so they are definitely a safer option when it comes to buying your child their first pet. Your local pet shop is likely to sell a whole range of different fish, depending on how many you buy will depend on the size of the tank and the other equipment you will need. Something to remember is that you will require the right size aquarium filter to ensure the filtration system is able to effectively filter the aquarium, according to how many and what type of fish you choose to buy. Fish are particularly great starter pets as they teach children the responsibility of having a pet, and a fish can be a great compromise in comparison to the other pets they may want.

 

Lizard

If you think a fish may be too basic for your children, a step up in terms of responsibility would be a lizard or gecko. Leopard geckos in particular would make a great starter pet as they only require a small-sized tank, and little maintenance or attention. The only thing that really requires observation is the maintenance of a warm temperature within your lizard’s enclosure, as lizards tend to be from warmer areas of the world it is important their tank is at a regulated temperature, if you feel that your children are ready for the responsibility of owning a lizard of some kind, it is definitely something that should be thoroughly researched before going ahead with a purchase.

 

Hamster

Another great option for a starter pet would have to be a hamster, as hamsters are kept in a contained hamster cage, they are perfect for starter pets as they can be constantly observed. Hamsters are an affordable alternative to the larger pets your children may want, as well as teaching valuable lessons about the responsibility of owning a pet hamster are relatively easy animals to look after. For a starter pet, you want something that doesn’t require daily activities such as walking, if you are a busy family it can be hard to find the time to look after a larger animal like a dog. It isn’t fair to bring an animal like that into a home where its needs are not properly met, hamsters are a great alternative as they only require regular feeding and cleaning, which can be done around work or school schedule.

 

Cat

A cat may not be the first pet you think of when it comes to buying your children their first animal, however, cats are actually pretty low maintenance animals as they tend to look after themselves, aside from the daily feed, ensuring fresh water is available and changing the litter tray if you choose to let your cat outside it is likely you won’t see them until they return for something to eat, or to sleep. Giving your children the responsibility of ensuring the cat has everything they need on a daily basis can prove to be a very valuable lesson in what it takes to own an animal. Something to consider before getting a cat is deciding on where to get it from, as a potential pet owner you should be aware of the illegal breeding of pets that goes on, so you should either make sure that you find a reputable breeder or consider adopting a cat from a licensed charity such as the Blue Cross.

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