Practical Positive Parenting Advice and Resources
Pool safety for kids is so crucial. Days in the water can be fun for the whole family, but we have to make sure that water safety stays at the top of the list. The steps below will help you feel better prepared and less stressed during pool season. I follow this routine every single time that I take my kids to the community pool (which is almost a daily occurrence), and it allows us all to stay safe and enjoy our time together.
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7 Exciting Holidays Across the World to Celebrate This Summer
Summer is the most cheerful season! Music festivals, backyard cookouts, Sunday brunches with friends, and picnics under the sun. And this is also a perfect time for celebrations – no matter the occasion. So, if you’re looking for fresh ideas and inspirations for your summer gatherings with friends and family, this article is for you!
Below, we will share the essential information about several most amazing holidays across the whole world you can celebrate this summer. They range from China’s Qixi Festival and Tanabata in Japan to Pride Parade and Independence Day celebrations in the US to the European Summer Solstice holiday and Krishna Janmashtami in India, just to name a few. Continue reading and choose some holidays across the world to celebrate this summer!
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If you’re traveling to Europe this summer, make sure to catch the longest day of the year – the European Summer Solstice. It falls on June 21 and is one of the oldest holidays in the world that has been celebrated for thousands of years by many cultures. The celebration of the Summer Solstice is based on the astronomical event when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. This holiday is all about enjoying the warm weather and spending time outside with friends and family.
There are many ways people celebrate the Summer Solstice across Europe. The most popular ones include holding massive bonfires, decorating homes and public places with flowers, and organizing street parties. In some places, such as Stonehenge, people also like to stay up all night to watch the sunrise on the Summer Solstice morning.
Independence Day is a national holiday in the United States that is celebrated on July 4th. Each year Americans come together to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the document declaring that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject to the British Empire.
Independence Day is typically celebrated with parades, fireworks, barbecues, and picnics. Many people also take advantage of the long weekend to travel. If you’re planning to celebrate Independence Day this year, check out the local events in your area and plan ahead.
The Pride Parade is a massive annual event that is celebrated in many cities all over the world to support the LGBT community. Some of the best places to attend Pride are New York, Tel Aviv, São Paulo, and Sydney, though each celebration is magical. It usually takes place in June or July and lasts for several days. The parade features colorful floats, live music, and dancing.
The Pride Parade is an excellent opportunity to have fun and show your support for the LGBT community. If you’re planning to attend the Pride Parade this year, make sure to wear something colorful and be prepared to go wild!
Tanabata is a traditional Japanese festival celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, though the dates might vary depending on the region. It commemorates the tragic love story of two lovers – Hikoboshi (cowherder) and Orihime (weaver girl). According to the legend, they were forced to live apart on different sides of the Milky Way. And they were only allowed to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th month.
A special Tanabata tradition is wish making. People write their wishes on tanzaku, special pieces of colorful paper, and then tie them to bamboo branches alongside other decorations. If you are able to travel to Japan, make sure to visit the amazing Tanabata festivals around the country. Some of the most famous ones are in Sendai and Hiratsuka, Kanagawa.
The International Day of Friendship is an UN-sponsored holiday celebrated every year on July 30th. The main goal of the holiday is to inspire people to reflect on their friendships, improve them, and encourage others to do the same.
There are many ways to celebrate the International Day of Friendship. For sure, you should dedicate it to your friends so you can spend time together. For example, you could have a movie marathon or hit a pub together. You could also use that opportunity to reach out to someone new to make even more friends.
The Qixi Festival is one of the most romantic holidays in China. It is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. It’s also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day as it commemorates the love story of two lovers – Niulang (cowherd) and Zhinu (weaver girl). It is similar to Japanese Tanabata. In fact, they are both based on the same myth.
On this day, couples exchange gifts and spend time together. The most popular gift ideas include flowers, chocolates, and jewelry. Many couples also like to go on romantic dates or take a trip together to celebrate their love.
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Shravana. It commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most popular Hindu deities.
Krishna Janmashtami is a very important festival for all the Hindus. It is typically celebrated with fasting, prayer, as well as bathing and clothing the idol of Krishna. Other important elements are decorating the temples, singing songs and aarti of Lord Vishnu and Krishna, and sharing food.
There is no doubt that summer is the most exciting and active season of the year. This is the time for spending time with family and friends, traveling, celebrating holidays and traditions. If you’re looking for some holiday inspiration, make sure to check out the list of holidays above. From the European Summer Solstice to the Pride Parade, there’s something for everyone!
Enjoy your summer!
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Top Tips for Starting a Budget
One of the hardest things to do if you’ve never done it before is to start a budget. Instead of going out and spending your money free reign, you have to pay your bills and your rent and your food and all of your other expenses pertaining to travel – it becomes very tedious over time how much you have to spend out.
If you have a budget in place, you’re going to be able to decide where your money goes and whether you are spending your money efficiently or effectively enough. You can use the help of companies like DFW Specialty Hard Money Lenders to get a jump on a credit card, but one of the best things that you could do is look to set up a budget so that you can make it an easy transition to manage your money. Here are top tips to get you there!
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If you’ve never done this before it’s going to take some time to get used to just like anything else. Start your budget by simply making a note of what you spend on a daily basis. No matter how big or how small the expenditure, write it down or put it on a spreadsheet. You can’t know how to tighten your belt or where you can make savings until you know exactly what it is you are spending every single day.
When you figure out what you spent today, make a list of the big things that you have to buy each month. This could cover your car payment, your mortgage, your food budget – whatever is important and essential for you. Once you’ve got an idea of what you need to spend in a month, figure out what you would like to spend in a week. This way, you can work out if your money habits are matching what your income and outgoings are currently.
If you have a partner living in your home, budget with them. If not, rope a friend in to help. It’s so much easier to budget your money when you know that you’re not doing this by yourself, because then you can bounce ideas off the other person. This makes a very big difference to how successful you are in your budgeting journey.
It’s easy to say, but you can bet that it is also easy to get very tempted when you want to spend your money. Trying to stick to a budget is not easy, so don’t beat yourself up if you get it wrong occasionally. Avoiding situations that’ll tempt you is a good place to start.
Starting a budget is a big deal and there’s so much to celebrate already because you’ve made a very big choice for you. The first step to knowing that your budget is that, is to congratulate yourself on your hard work. A budget is much easier now you know how to start!
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Following the school curriculum helps children learn about academic subjects. But if you want to give them a wider experience of life, then you need to explore extracurricular activities as well.
We all know extracurricular activities when we see them. Mountaineering, cooking, camping, and playing the harp all fall under the umbrella. But why, exactly, are these activities so critical? Let’s take a look.
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When kids spend all their time with peers their own age, it can be potentially harmful. It’s common practice to group particular ages together in formal educational settings but, in general, it’s not a good idea. That’s because children don’t get to experience the full spectrum of relationships.
It’s different, though, when kids are outside of the classroom. In these contexts, they rub shoulders with people of all ages, gaining wider life experience.
Allowing kids to socialize outside of school also provides other benefits. School relationships become less paramount in their lives. They know if things don’t quite work out in the classroom, they can always fall back on their other friends elsewhere. Having a wider circle of friends gives kids more confidence and helps them feel more relaxed about their daily lives.
Extracurricular activities also help kids develop their passions. While they might have an interest in school subjects, exposing them to a wider variety of activities can be a great way to get them to engage more fully in the world.
Extracurricular activities examples include sport, music, and intellectual pursuits. The more kids are able to direct their own activities, the more passionate they generally feel about what they are doing. Eventually, many children internalize their desire to pursue certain activities.
Giving kids a routine is more important than many parents realize. It gives children a sense of control, security, and stability. For many children, it reduces their anxiety levels because they know what is going to happen next.
Nobody is saying that kids should always live by a schedule. There should be times in the week when they don’t have anything to do. However, having a bit of structure gives their lives focus and lets them develop skills they wouldn’t usually obtain.
When you make extracurricular activities routine, it makes it easier to get kids to stick to a schedule. A bit like getting them to brush their teeth, the more repetition you have, the more likely they are to do it.
While academic subjects seem important to many parents, they aren’t everything childhood should be about. Fundamentally, academics don’t lead to success. What really matters is the character and experience of the person studying them. Very few people in the adult world can point to their grade 9 geography classes and say that they were the reason for their success.
Taking a break from studies actually helps kids concentrate better once they get back to their desks. Physical movement or just a change in scenery is good for helping the brain to focus more on learning new knowledge. Variety inspires children and lets them avoid the feeling that every day is pointless drudgery.
Why aren’t highly academic people more successful? It’s not for a lack of intelligence. In many cases, it is simply the fact that they haven’t had a chance to develop important life skills.
Extracurricular activities can help correct this. As stated above, they let children explore more of the world than they can access in the classroom. Things they do outside of school can teach them leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork skills that they would find hard to develop in a formal educational setting.
If parents and teachers aren’t careful, there is a risk that children can develop asymmetrically. They may be incredibly good at math, but their social skills may be lacking.
Ideally, as a parent, you want your child to develop in all areas of their life so that they can become successful human beings in their adult life. They might be happy right now, but if they have significant deficits in certain areas, it is unlikely that that will last.
Extracurricular activities can address the problem of uneven development. When children do more things outside of school, they develop themselves in all the areas they were weak before. Over time, they change, preparing themselves for the next step in their development.
Convincing kids that they should go on runs every couple of days is a challenge. Adults might force themselves to do it, but kids won’t. However, getting them involved in a sports club provides them with more motivation. When they can compete against other kids or learn something new, they are much more likely to enjoy themselves.
When it comes to sporting activities, you’re spoiled for choice. Kids can indulge in individual sports, team sports, dance, martial arts, or activities focused on exploring the outdoors. Depending on where you live, you might even be able to get them involved in watersports.
Getting kids to exercise provides all kinds of health benefits. It reduces the likelihood of depression, helps to control high blood pressure, improves bone density, and avoids metabolic syndrome.
Lastly, extracurricular activities help to instill a sense of belonging in kids, giving them the social skills they need to thrive in the adult world. Feeling like they are part of a group helps them to become happier and healthier in their lives.
Being part of a group is particularly important during the period children transition into adolescence. Having extra support and learning more about others’ worldviews helps them become more rounded adults. Parents should focus on children around the age of 13 since these are most likely to benefit from activities outside of the school context.
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What Can We Learn From Dogs About Life?
A dog’s life seems simple from the outside. All they really need are companions, food, and exercise.
The same is true for us human beings. We also need the basics. However, we have a dreadful habit of making everything more complicated than it should be. We worry endlessly about things that just aren’t important.
Dogs, on the other hand, are content practically all the time. You rarely see a pup moping around because of something another dog did or because they are worried about their mortality. It simply doesn’t occur to them.
Okay, with the preamble out of the way, what can we actually learn from dogs about life? Let’s take a look.
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Dogs follow their noses. It’s their main sense. If something smells right, they’ll go for it.
Naturally, humans’ sense of smell isn’t quite as advanced. However, we can copy dogs metaphorically. Curiosity might have hurt the cat, but it need not harm us.
If you think an opportunity is worth exploring, follow it and see what happens. Don’t let fear get in your way. See life as an adventure or a quest, not an exercise in wrapping yourself in cotton wool.
Life is a passing pleasure, so enjoy it while you can – that’s the lesson dogs have for us. Things won’t last forever, so indulge in your passions and find out what makes you tick. Look for ways to get into the race and make things happen in your life. Don’t sit on the sidelines. Experience it all.
You don’t have to be grandiose, either, even small things can have a massive impact on your health and happiness. A simple walk in the park or game of frisbee is all dogs need to keep themselves joyful, and the same applies to you.
You never see dogs apologizing for who they are, and you shouldn’t, either. Just be yourself and do what feels right. Don’t try to conform to society’s straight jacket. People will always tell you who you are and what you should do, but the trick is to ignore them all and follow your heart. Dogs do this unapologetically, and so should you.
In this free download, you’ll find a variety of resources to help your family care for you pet!
Did you ever see a dog hold a grudge? It never happens. Dogs live and let live. If another dog or person harms them, they let it go and just continue with their lives as normal.
Pups won’t hold injustices against you. If you get something wrong, don’t worry: they will forgive you. They show you how nurturing relationships with your enemies can allow great friendships to develop.
Dogs are enthusiastic about everyone they meet. It doesn’t matter whether they are a new acquaintance or an old friend, everyone gets the same treatment.
Dogs are also incredibly enthusiastic about life in general. A walk in the park is just as exciting as going abroad. Dogs don’t care. There are always opportunities to have fun and enjoy oneself.
You can see this enthusiasm from a young age. As sites like
https://chocolatelabradorretriever.ca/lab-retrievers-london/ point out, dogs are always looking for ways to enjoy their lives more. Their energy is infectious.
Dogs are possibly the most loyal animals on the planet. It doesn’t matter if you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a homeless bum, they’re always by your side. They never judge and they are happy to be in your company.
Dogs teach us the value of good friends. They want people who are there to feed them when they are hungry and keep them warm when it is cold outside. They also want companions they can grow together with for years to come.
Being as loyal as a dog is hard, but not impossible. Being dog-like in your relationships with others builds trust, connection, and intimacy. We can absolutely learn from dogs when it comes to loyalty in our own lives.
Loving unconditionally is tough for people. However, for dogs, it’s second nature. They don’t mind how hard things are for you or what you do with your life, just so long as you are with them.
Dogs help people through rough patches, even when they are self-inflicted. Dogs understand that people aren’t perfect and that they always make mistakes. They don’t mind that. Even if they mess up, they are still there to help them.
As people, we can often find it hard to ignore the faults of others, but that’s what unconditional love is all about. Being patient with friends and families, even in their weakest moments, are opportunities to be dog-like.
Dogs love to move around, run and play. They don’t vegetate in front of Netflix every day, watching entire seasons of Korean zombie dramas.
Humans could learn a thing or two from this. We tend to spend the majority of our free time sitting on our butts, not doing a great deal. But dogs are always moving, and it gives them a level of energy we simply don’t have.
When you move more, it improves the hormonal balance of your body. You feel better about life and more able to take on the challenges of the world. Feel-good chemicals flood your system, and you feel more like a dog at the park, not a gray-suited worker at the office.
The last, and perhaps most important lesson we can learn from dogs is to be present. According to https://bestlifeonline.com/life-lessons-from-dogs/, they don’t think about the past or future. Instead, they live entirely and exclusively in the present. Fretting about what’s happening to their 401(k) simply isn’t on their radar.
If you find yourself living at any other time than the present, bring yourself back to the center. Focus on what’s important right now and accept it for what it is. You can make any moment in your life blissful if you take this approach.
If you struggle to stay in the present because of your devices, simply switch them off.
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The Benefits of Online Shopping Explained
Shopping online has become more and more popular over the years for a variety of reasons! Here are a few of the benefits of online shopping for your family…
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The convenience of online shopping has increased dramatically in the past five or ten years. Originally, convenience meant purchasing items in the local store, and later, picking them up on the way home. Today, consumers can purchase almost anything, anywhere, at any time. With the convenience of online shopping, they can do so at any time, from the comfort of their home. But there are some cons to online shopping with hobby lobby coupon. Firstly, online shopping can be costly. Secondly, consumers might not receive what they had originally planned to buy.
The most significant benefit of online shopping is its time-saving properties. Busy lifestyles make it difficult to visit the high street, so online shopping offers a way to buy goods in a matter of seconds. In addition to reducing the shopping time, computers have become increasingly advanced, making the process faster. For example, quick purchase buttons are now available online that allow account holders to buy a product in a few clicks. Computers are even more sophisticated than before, saving information about their customers.
The internet is a wonderful resource for saving money by online shopping. There are many benefits of shopping online, from convenience and price savings to the ability to track items. You can even get a price alert when an item goes on sale or is delayed. This can really save you a lot of money. You can use the website Paribus to track your online purchases and alert you when the price drops or goes up. Most websites offer a 14-day price adjustment window, which means that you can still get the product you want at a lower price.
Using a mobile phone to shop has numerous advantages. While browsing the latest deals online is very convenient, it can also be addictive. You may find yourself spending more money than you intended because of the constant browsing. However, online shopping is difficult to quit once you start, and it can be frustrating to try to find the right product. You may also settle for a cheaper deal because you didn’t take the time to compare prices.
There are many time-saving benefits to shopping online. You won’t have to spend hours in line or carry heavy bags. Especially when you shop at popular stores, you’ll save more time this way. You can buy a wide range of products, and you’ll be able to compare prices easily. Online stores also have larger inventories. That means you’ll find a wide range of items, and save time too!
Another time-saving benefit is that it is convenient. Many people don’t have the time to visit the high street regularly, and shopping online allows them to purchase items in a few clicks. Many large online shopping sites even offer a comparison of stores, making it even easier to choose the perfect item. However, online shopping is not without its risks. The risk of buying something you don’t like is much higher, and you may end up returning more items than you would if you bought them in a physical store.
Shopping online is more energy-efficient than physically going to a store. According to a recent study by Carnegie Melon University, the primary reason for this difference is transportation. In fact, e-commerce consumes thirty percent less energy than traditional retail. That means that you save money while still enjoying convenient and fast shopping. You can shop from home or anywhere in the world, and you will use less energy than you would if you drove to the stores.
The study by the Green Design Institute at Carnegie Mellon University shows that online shopping reduces carbon dioxide emissions by almost 30 percent. This difference is significant, given that shipping and packaging account for more than half of the carbon dioxide emissions from shopping in a store. Furthermore, the study assumes that customers make a round trip of fourteen miles to buy an item. However, in practice, shoppers tend to make more than one shopping trip per year, which increases their carbon footprint.
Compared to traditional shopping venues, online shopping can be more private and convenient. If you’re on a public computer, you can’t always be sure what websites you visit. Your browsing history and login information may be saved, which means your shopping history could be accessible by others. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one way to protect yourself from such risks. You can either set one up yourself or use a VPN service. Also, avoid giving personal information to websites that do not offer SSL encryption.
Online stores use consumers’ information to personalize and enhance their shopping experience. Some consumers appreciate personalized content and discounts and are willing to share their private information. Others are cautious and unwilling to share their personal information due to privacy concerns. The decision to share data online will be up to you, so make sure you understand your choices before you shop. If you’re still unsure about whether or not to share your data, read this article to learn more.
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How to Give Your Child a Bright Future
Your primary concern for your children will be regarding how they’re doing now. If they’re safe and secure, then you’ll have done your job. After that, you’ll begin thinking about their future. The seeds of adulthood are, of course, planted in childhood. If you can give your child an excellent start in life, then they’ll be in a good position to live their best life once they leave the nest and set out on their own.
In this article, we’re going to run through some of the key elements that’ll dictate their future success. Get these right, and their future will be bright!
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Life is all about the connections we have. If we know how to interact with each other, then we can live our best life. Learning how to socialize is something that we can learn in adulthood, but truthfully, it’s much easier if we learn in childhood. You can ensure that your child knows how to socialize with others by exposing them to people from an early age. If they’re always surrounded by their cousins, and they’re part of a sports team, then over time, it’ll all sink in.
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You can’t have a bright future without a solid education foundation. While your child may or may not choose to attend college, they will need the basics if they’re going to make their future dreams come true. So it’s important to ensure that they’re in the right educational setup. This could involve teaching them yourself, putting them in private school, or trusting the public school system. Homeschooling is a particularly good option because it allows you to create a learning environment that will get the best out of your child. Whatever you decide, the main thing is that your child feels like it’s the right environment for them.
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There aren’t too many people who are following their passions in life. All too often, people give up on their dreams before they’ve even tried them. Don’t let your child be one of these people! Encourage them to follow their passions.
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A healthy body is a healthy mind. How we treat our bodies in adulthood is determined, to a large degree, by how we treat it in our youth. If you value the benefits of exercise and eating well, then it’ll be likely they will be healthy adults!
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Finally, let’s think about optimism and belief. These two things are often overlooked, but the truth is that they’re arguably the most important elements. If your child has a positive view of the world and has the belief in themselves that will allow them to pursue their dreams, then it’s hard to see how they’ll be successful, in their own way at least, in adulthood. There is no guaranteed way to instill optimism into a person, of course, but having an optimistic outlook of your own will be a good start. Kids learn much more from their parents than just what they’re told, after all.
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How to Diversify Your Children’s Diet
Some people naturally love all types of foods. But for most people, it’s something that they have to learn to enjoy. And even then, some people simply never learn to eat a variety of foods. It’s much easier to adopt a positive approach to food if you learn how to do so in childhood. If you wait until you’re an adult, then you might be too stuck in your ways! And that’s sad because there are a lot of delicious recipes out there.
If you have children, then it’s a good idea to look at pushing them towards a diverse diet early on. In this article, we’ll look at some useful tips that’ll make it more likely that they have a varied diet that they enjoy.
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Kids learn from their parents, of course, and this goes beyond what they are told. They learn by watching. If you’re a reluctant eater, or you’re just eating the same old things, then the chances are that your child will be the same way. So if you want your kids to have a love of food, then you’ll need to have it too! A “do as I say, not as I do” approach very rarely works, after all.
The quality of the meal is important, of course, but it’s not the only important factor. For instance, everything that surrounds the meal is essential, too. If dinner time is an event, then your kids will learn to associate food with importance. There’s a big difference between eating a meal while watching TV and eating a meal in a dining area. Do your best to create a restaurant-worthy dining area; it’s a lot easier than you think!
Try as you might, you’re not going to get your children to enjoy new dishes if they’re not very good! But happily, that never has to be the case. In this day and age, you can find a host of recipes online that will allow you to make really tasty meals using all sorts of ingredients. If you have a child that has shown a reluctance to eat fish, then take a look at this salmon cakes recipe — the cake aspect of it will hide the fishy appearance. Once they’ve tasted it, you’ll more than likely find that they enjoyed eating it. And just like that, they might just announce that they’re a fan of fish after all.
Finally, remember not to force your child to eat anything. You can see why parents do this, but it usually has a negative impact. Many parents ask their kids to have “just one bite,” but since they’re already going into that one bite with a negative expectation, that’s usually what they get. You’ll do more harm than good by forcing your child to eat everything. Just put all the pieces in place and then wait for them to eat the dish of their own accord. Eventually, they will!
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6 Top Tips to Ensure Your Virtual Baby Shower is a Success
Virtual celebrations were the norm during the Covid-19 pandemic with gatherings on Skype, Zoom and Teams taking place for birthdays, anniversaries, bachelorette parties and everything in between. The big advantage of a virtual event is the ability to easily get people together regardless of distance, allowing friends and family from different cities, time zones, or even different continents to join the party.
Whether it is for your bestie, your sister, or yourself, these six tips will ensure it is a success from the moment you send the virtual baby shower invitations to the event itself.
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Make sure to give plenty of notice of the event, especially if it is on a weekend. People lead busy lives, and you don’t want to disappoint the mama-to-be if her nearest and dearest can’t make it due to leaving it too late. Send out these virtual baby shower invitations from Greenvelope to everyone on the guest list to make it super simple. Not only is it better for the environment, but Greenvelope also makes it easy for guests to RSVP in advance of the event. Don’t forget to mention anything they need to bring to the event, or if there’s a dress code. Have fun with it. If the gender of the baby is common knowledge, you could opt for a pink or blue party, or fancy dress is always entertaining.
Just because you’re staying in doesn’t mean you can’t go all out on your outfit. Whether there is a dress code or not, make a statement with what you’re wearing. It might be online, but it’s still a party! Don’t forget to style your hair and apply makeup to look and feel your best. Accessories can complete an outfit so make an effort – particularly if you have any that are baby-themed.
Quizzes and party games are always popular at baby showers and virtual baby showers are no exception! The baby photo game can be hilarious, whether you choose to ask guests to guess the celebrity from their baby photo or pick out the expectant mom from a line-up of baby pictures. Why not put together a playlist of songs containing the word ‘baby’ and ask the guest to identify the artist or show pictures of babies from TV shows and get guests to name them. No matter which options you choose these are great icebreaker games to get into the party spirit and can produce some hilarious wrong answers!
If having a virtual baby shower is through necessity rather than choice, you might feel disappointed that you can’t get all your posse together. Combat those feelings of distance through creating a memorable shared experience. One easy way of doing this is to send all guests a party pack to open on the day of the event. Include items like baby shower sashes to wear, snacks to eat, and anything they will need for games or crafts. Everyone loves receiving happy mail, so this is sure to be popular with your guests.
Why not dedicate part of your virtual baby shower to creating something special for the new mom? There are some fun activities that work just as well virtually as in person. Such as writing words of wisdom that can then be shared during the baby shower before being collected together and placed in a scrapbook for the guest of honor to look back at when in need of parenting advice. Another memento that involves getting creative is providing each guest with a plain white baby onesie and fabric marker pens and asking them to decorate it with a design of their choice. These can be held up and shown to all the guests and then sent to the mom-to-be.
Gifts are an integral part of a baby shower, and you might need to think creatively during a virtual party. If each guest is going to get a present, are they going to hold it up to the screen and then mail it out? Or will they send a wrapped gift to the expectant mom before the event so she can open it at the shower? Instead of individual gifts, all the guests could come together to give one larger item, either something from the baby gift list or gift cards for a department store. If this is a second, third (or more) baby, the parents may have everything they need already. So instead of unnecessary gifts consider buying gift certificates for a massage or spa day so that mom-to-be can relax. Or donate to their favorite charity.
More than anything else, be prepared for the unexpected and accept that however much planning goes into your virtual event, some things are beyond your control. Wi-fi connections cutting out, guests dropping out because of illness, or the mom-to-be going into labor. Any of these could happen during your virtual baby shower. But if you’ve spent time putting in the groundwork organizing the event, it should be a fun celebration for all involved – no matter when it happens and with whoever can join.
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Getting a pet can be great for families! Pets allow kids the opportunity to take responsibility over something, learn how to care for something, and of course, have plenty of fun. Dogs are a great example of this, and can make for an enjoyable, adventurous companion. But which dog breeds make the best pets for families? Read on to find out our top picks!
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Corgis are a great pet to add to your household. They’re known for being loyal and intelligent dogs. And due to their small size, they can make a great friend to smaller children. You may be wondering, are corgis good with kids? If you’re curious, this article from Native Pet — Are corgis good with kids? — explores the question in plenty of detail. Since Native Pet specialize in providing the highest quality food for pets, and is made up of a team of pet lovers; they’re a great source of information on pets and the kind of things to expect.
Corgis also have bundles of energy and make every day plenty of fun. In fact, you’ll find many social media pages dedicated to their goofy antics, showing just how lovable this breed really is. It’s no wonder that corgis were the most popular dog of 2019!
[Read: A Child’s Best Friend: Reasons To Get A Family Dog For Your Kids ]
If you’re looking for a dog that’s incredibly lovable and full of energy, look no further than a Labrador retriever. Just like the classic film Marley and Me (which is based on a true story), you’ll be sure to have an adventure full of craziness and excitement! As well as make a best friend.
Labrador retrievers are known for having lots of energy, meaning they need a lot of exercise. This is great for a family because it’s an opportunity to head out to somewhere new and explore a local forest or beach. It’s also a chance to encourage the kids to get some exercise too, as a Labrador retriever needs plenty of walks.
Labrador retrievers are quite big dogs, so it might be worth having older children to look after them. You’d be surprised how strong they are! But these lovable creatures make a best friend for any member of the family, and you can be sure with a Labrador retriever that you’ll have memories to remember!
In this free download, you’ll find a variety of resources to help your family care for you pet!
This breed of dog isn’t as common as the first two, but don’t let that fool you. A Bernese Mountain dog is basically the gentle giant of the dog world. And even the face of one is filled with simple joy and kindness. In fact, a Bernese Mountain dog is known to be one of the least aggressive dog breeds towards humans, so you can be sure that your children are safe around one.
It’s not only their warm, calm nature that makes them the perfect companion; they also come with a huge, thick coat, which is perfect for kids to spend time brushing and looking after. It’s a great way to teach kids how to look after something, as well as show them to be gentle and careful in the things they do. They are big dogs, so they do need a lot of space to roam. But they’re also easy to train, so you can be sure they’ll fit in well with the household.
The best thing about Bernese Mountain dogs is, however, their love for people. They grow deep, strong connections with family members and are eager to protect them and look after them. This makes them feel truly part of the family.
[Read: 6 Budget-friendly Items That Every Dog Owner Must Have]
West highland white terriers, or westies for short, are a great choice for those looking for a playful dog. And they are also easy to look after. Not only are westies great with kids and always looking to play, but they’re incredibly smart too. This means that you can not only teach them some fantastic tricks, but you can have a lot of fun trying out different games with them.
Westies are loyal and self-confident, making them excellent companions, especially for young children. You can be sure that they’ll grow a strong bond with your kids and protect them at all costs. But they also require relatively little grooming and pampering, making them easy to look after and great as a first pet for kids to be responsible for.
While they’re known for being loving to people, they can be a little anxious around other animals, so a house with no pets is the most suitable for a westie. However, with humans, they’re friendly to almost everyone they meet, making them great family pets.
[Read: 8 Best Treats for Puppies To Keep Them Healthy]
Though there are plenty of dog breeds out there for families, these are our top four picks for dogs that would make the best family pet. So, no matter what family dynamic you have, or whether you have older or younger kids, you can be sure to find your next family member!
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