Karissa Tunis

Need Some Parenting Advice? Here Are A Few Ways To Find It

Searching for parenting advice can be a difficult task. There are many parenting blogs and parenting books out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? This article will cover some of the ways that people find parenting advice and explore what to look for when reading parenting content.

For more on this topic, check out the full Child Behavior collection

Visit Websites Led By Experienced Parents

The Internet can help you out with parenting advice if you know where to look. There are websites led by experienced parents who can provide their knowledge and answer your questions about parenting or being a parent. For example, the parenting website will give you great parenting tips on how to discipline children when they misbehave in order to stop bad behavior from happening again.

It’s not just for new mothers either-you don’t have to be pregnant or have kids of any age in order to get help with parenting issues that come up day after day! You can visit Mommyhood101.com to learn what to do at any time and at any age. Surf and find tips and advice on parenting, baby gear, tips, and tricks for any given situation.

Join An Online Parenting Forum

Forums are pretty useful places to go if you are looking for parenting advice. You can ask parenting questions and get good, honest suggestions from people who have experience with the same issues as you do. Many forums consist of parents that offer each other support through tough times like pregnancy or even parenting teenagers.

When deciding which forum is right for you it’s important to find one that is age-appropriate. If your kids are still young there may not be many conversations about parenting toddlers at a teen parenting site and vice versa! So make sure to join an online parenting community/forum where everyone has similar experiences in raising children. It will help simplify the process of finding great advice while feeling less alone in this wonderful yet challenging job we call parenthood!

You may also want to join parenting chat rooms if you are looking for parenting tips more quickly. These can be found on parenting forums or they may have their own website completely dedicated to the subject!

Read Parenting Books

One classic place to seek advice is parenting books. It is a good idea to read them, especially for new parents who are starting out on the journey of parenting. You can find parenting book recommendations online or in your local bookstore. Some people even like purchasing children’s picture books about parenting! There are many different parenting advice topics you can address depending on what kind of principles and advice you want to promote as a parent yourself.

Here is a list of popular parenting book categories:

Parenting by connection
Gentle discipline
Positive discipline
The growth mindset parenting
The spirited child parenting
The parenting teen

Seek Out Parenting Groups In Your Area

Most communities have parenting groups where young parents can go for parenting advice. You may be able to find one that meets once a week or bi-weekly in your neighborhood, and if there isn’t one already, you might even start your own!

Other parents may know better parenting practices because they have been through it themselves, but sometimes parents need a little help from outside sources as well. Perhaps something has happened with your child which is causing them distress, or perhaps you are not sure how to handle certain parenting situations at home or with childcare providers? Whatever the case, it is important to seek out parenting groups so that you can receive support and good parenting advice when needed.

Ask Your Own Parents On What To Do

Who better to give you parenting advice than the people who raised you? Ask your own parents in order to get parenting advice. You may disagree with some of the parenting principles that they taught you, but there is a good chance that their parenting advice will hold true throughout all these years. While it might be awkward asking them questions at first, especially when you don’t agree with what they’re saying, ask them anyway. You might be surprised at how much you’ll learn.

Talk To Friends Who Are Parents About The Challenges They Faced

If you aren’t the first in your group of friends to have kids, you can ask parents you know for parenting advice. You might not be the only one asking around either, as parenting is a big topic of conversation among adults nowadays! If you aren’t sure who to talk to first, consider those with kids close in age to your own children. Other modern-day parents might be able to give you the advice you haven’t heard of earlier, that is still effective!

Parenting is a 24/7 job and having help along the way is always good. Visit blogs and forums on the Internet to get some tips and tricks and don’t miss out on parenting books. Join parenting groups in your local community and make sure to ask your own parents and friends to see what they would do in certain situations. Good luck raising your kids!

For more on this topic, check out the full Child Behavior collection

15 Quotes to Inspire Body Positivity + Free Printables

15 Quotes to Inspire Body Positivity + Free Printables

Body positivity is one of those buzzy new terms that pop up in Instagram hashtags and Pinterest posts. But at its heart, body positivity is the notion that everyone should have a positive body image. This is regardless of how society and popular culture have defined the “ideal” body shape or size.

Most of us struggle with feeling comfortable in our own skin. Whether it comes in waves or it’s something you experience every day, there are steps you can take to treat your body with more kindness and develop a healthy love for yourself.

One way to do that is by carving out time for yourself. Self-care is a great way to do this and can be done in such a wide variety of ways, making it perfect for someone that’s short on time or is unsure of where to begin. This could include something as simple as 15 minutes of journaling each morning.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

Body Positivity Affirmations

You can also start or end your day with affirmations. This can help you develop a positive mindset and ward off negative thoughts. Start by repeating an affirmation out loud about ten times each day — you could do this all at once or throughout the day.

This free printable can help you get started with daily affirmations. Print these out, frame them, hang them around your house, or simply save them as your phone’s wallpaper! These daily reminders will help put you in a more positive mindset.

Quotes to Inspire Body Positivity

Another way to develop body positivity is to remind yourself that others experience this, too! We rounded up 15 quotes to help remind you of how other famous figures and experts have grown their own body positivity.

“Since I don’t look like every other girl, it takes a while to be okay with that—to be different. But different is good.” — Serena Williams, Professional tennis player

“There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.” — Maria Mitchell, Astronomer

“Each individual woman’s body demands to be accepted on its own terms” — Gloria Steinem, Journalist & Activist

“I’ve learned that if you’re too skinny, they’ll say something about it. If you’re not skinny enough, they’ll say something about it. I just try to feel good in my own skin as much as I can.” — Jennifer Love Hewitt, Actress

“Life is way too short to be focused on scales, weight and cellulite. If you can look in the mirror and know that you’re a beautiful, loving, friendly person who’s good to people, that’ll ultimately make you shine on the outside.” Teresa Palmer, Actress

“I am allowed to look sexy, feel sexy, and be in love. I am worthy of all those things. And so are you.” — Mary Lambert, Singer

“I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” — Emma Stone, Actress

“As a child, I never heard one woman say to me, ‘I love my body’. Not my mother, my elder sister, my best friend. No one woman has ever said, ‘I am so proud of my body.’ So I make sure to say it to my daughter because a positive physical outlook has to start at an early age.” — Kate Winslett, Actress

“Even though it will never be flat again, my stomach’s still my favorite because it reminds me of my greatest achievement: my babies.” — Isla Fisher, Actress

“This body is fierce, strong, and unapologetic” — Mirna Valerio, Author & runner

“Being a healthy woman isn’t about getting on a scale or measuring your waistline. We need to start focusing on what matters — on how we feel, and how we feel about ourselves.” — Michelle Obama, Activist & former First Lady

“If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself. — Barbara De Angelis, Author & consultant

“Finding balance as a mother means accepting your imperfections.” — Mary Organizes, Influencer

“Don’t waste so much time thinking about how much you weigh. There is no more mind-numbing, boring, idiotic, self-destructive diversion from the fun of living.” — Meryl Streep, Actress

“People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder.” — Salma Hayek, Actress

For even more body positivity quotes, check out Tommy John’s roundup of quotes for men and women of all ages. And remember that feeling comfortable in our own skin is a lifelong journey, but one that we’re all on together.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

8 Sweet Treat Ideas To Indulge Your Child’s Sweet Tooth

The majority of children have a sweet tooth, and they constantly crave something sweet. Evidently, you should be careful not to feed them too much, as these can have extremely negative effects on their oral and overall health. However, there are certain times where these rules are overlooked and children can eat more candy than they should – their birthday, Christmas, and of course Halloween, which is quickly approaching us. Considering this holiday involves young people and toddlers going out ‘trick or treating’ to get as many sweets as possible, it is only natural that they are given some leeway.

There are many sweet treats you can give your children. Once you go shopping, you may be overwhelmed with the number of options that you have. Your child may not like them all, which makes your purchases easier. But if they do, you will need to consider carefully what to buy or what to make. This article will provide you with eight sweet treat ideas to indulge your child’s sweet tooth.

For more on this topic, check out the full Fall Fun collection

Shop Bought Candy

One of the easiest ways to get your children some candy is to simply go to the store and buy this for them. When you buy candy already made, you have many options that your children can choose from, and they may be able to get something from a store that you may not be able to replicate at home. Below are some examples of the candy you can purchase in a store.

Pick and Mix

You may be familiar with the candy stations in a store with a variety of shelves where you can fill up cups of different sizes full of their favorite candy. This is a good way to indulge your child’s sweet tooth as they will be able to get a variety of candy. This is particularly a good idea for parents who are unsure of what treats to pick for their child, as they can essentially pick anything they want.

Sweet Cables

Most of us are familiar with the sweet cables. These are certainly children’s (and adults!) most favorite treats. You have a wide variety of flavors to choose from that will suit any child’s palate. There is also a range of sizes – you can either go for the small or giant cable sweets. The latter is probably best if you have multiple children so that they can share. If you decide to go for this option, you can buy this treat in-store or online in bundles to save money too.

Healthy Options

Everyone loves sweet treats, but too much processed food and refined sugar are no good for your health. Children may disagree, but there are ways to indulge their sweet tooth with a healthier option. You can introduce the few healthier treats below:

Smoothie

A smoothie is fun and easy to consume. It is all blended, therefore perfect for picky children who often complain about the texture of different fruits and vegetables. Smoothies are great because you can mix anything you like in them. This will make it easier for you to feed your child their five a day without them even noticing.

Fruit Salad

For those less picky, as mentioned above, you can give them a fruit salad. They can help you prepare the fruit and put it in a fun bowl so that they can eat it. Mix all their favorite fruits together and pour natural orange juice for extra flavor. This is something delicious that the kids will certainly love.

Yogurt and Frozen Fruit

Almost every child enjoys yogurt – this is essentially a healthier option than ice cream. There are plenty of different yogurt flavors you can choose from, and adding frozen fruit makes it even more fun to eat. A popular favorite is frozen grapes and raspberries – children love these because they look like little candy, but they are healthy.

Make’em Together

Eating candy and sweet treats is great, but making them with loved ones surpasses this. If you want to indulge your child’s sweet tooth whilst also spending quality time with them, making the treats together is a great way to achieve this. You can choose whatever dessert they love, and something easier the younger the child is. Work together through the process, and eating together will be tastier.

Candied Apple

Yes, you can buy these at any store, particularly during the Halloween season. However, you can also make them at home. These are simple to make and fun to eat! Most children and parents enjoy them, and they are somewhat healthy (once you get past all the sugary coating!). You can also decorate them however you want.

Chocolate Cake

A chocolate cake is something common that you may find anywhere, but every little person enjoys stuffing their face in this type of dessert. Baking a cake is one of the easiest things, depending on the recipe you choose. Evidently, make sure to choose something that you can easily make with your child. They can learn a range of different skills when baking with you, and you will both enjoy the process. Make a big cake for the whole family or small individual cakes, one for each member.

Waffles

Who does not like waffles? Once again, this is another sweet treat that you can find in any store, but if you make it with your children you will know exactly what ingredients it contains, and it will be a healthier option. If your child prefers pancakes, this is something that you can make too instead of waffles, considering they are both very similar. Once you make them, you can add all kinds of different toppings – from the chocolate spread, fruit, nuts, syrup and even add a scoop or two of ice cream on the side. This is a treat that will get rid of any cravings your child may have.

Sweet Treat Ideas To Indulge Your Child’s Sweet Tooth

You have a diverse range of options to choose from whenever deciding on what sweet treat to give to your child, whether you want them to fully indulge in sugary treats or a healthier option. The list provided above only covers some of the options you have available to you, and you can either use one of them or be inspired by it to indulge your child’s sweet tooth.

For more on this topic, check out the full Fall Fun collection

Four Reasons A Family Portrait Is Good For Your Kids Development

Today, just about everyone owns a camera. But it cannot replace a professionally taken family portrait you’ll be proud to display. Your childhood home probably comes to mind when you envision the family portraits. Surly you remember details, like right down to the clothing and expressions you wore. They hold memories that will last the test of time, and are an important reference point when learning about your connections to family. Make time for your children’s family portraits as well. This will help insure they carry the legacy through to their own families. Blue hour photography understands the importance of getting your family portrait just right. So below we will examine why a family portrait is good for your kid’s development.

For more on this topic, check out the full Photography Tips collection

It Can Boost A Childs Self-Esteem

Portraits allow children to learn about themselves and their family. Portraits promote feelings of love and belonging beyond their physical presence. This enables children to develop an intuitive sense of self. If you want to boost your child’s self-esteem in a practical way, you should consider hanging photographs in the child’s bedroom. Or some place where they’ll see the portraits before sleeping and when they wake up. No matter how difficult life gets, these visual reminders will show them they can always count on their family for support.

It Can Help Them To Understand Their Position In The Family

In enforcing the family unit, parents shouldn’t underestimate the importance of visual cues, especially in young children. Your photo albums or desktop will certainly contain plenty of happy snaps. But these photos will only be accessible when prompted. The act of taking a photo with your family will give your children an appreciation for family history and prompt their curiosity about where they come from and where they belong. The portrait serves as a daily reminder that ‘this is where I come from, and that is where I belong.’ In particular, if you have additional family photos on display in the living room, kids can locate their generation in this family hierarchy and tell stories about their own families.

It Documents Their Growth

School photos are embraced annually. So why not family photos? Growing up is a fast-paced process. The ability to capture a child’s progress as it happens, as a group (instead of putting together individual photos) is a valuable memory to cherish. Family photos are always a regret for most families down the road – never the other way around! Families have unique traditions for capturing milestones. Some parents even take a picture of their kids every day in the same pose until their pre-teen years to document growth. Taking a family portrait every year or every two years is a terrific way to capture the likeness and personality of your family as everyone grows and changes.

It Teaches Them Family Values

Children benefit from sentimentality, togetherness, and family pride through taking photos for posterity. With the ‘selfie’ culture of our day, especially among older kids, photography has a tendency to be less associated with family. Because portraits preserve connections between family members and photos, they’re an ideal way to preserve those connections. If your kids are young, they might resist taking photos at first. But as they grow older, they will surely treasure them. As well, establishing a family portrait tradition will most likely be carried forward to your children’s families.

Family Portrait Tips

Here are some tips for taking an amazing family portrait

Be sure everyone is well-rested and well-fed before you arrive at the studio. Fatigue and hunger will lead to restlessness and impatience, which will negatively impact the photo shoot.
If you choose an outfit, use complementary colors and prints rather than completely matching pieces of clothing. There is no harm in sticking with colors that suit you and your children, and by incorporating a bit of contrast here and there with a bright pop of color.
Consider another approach to the ‘say cheese’ tradition, because you don’t have to look directly at the camera to get a successful photo. You don’t even have to smile at the camera at all times to get a good picture.
You don’t have to be a determined or ruthless soldier when taking a portrait of your loved ones – it’s just supposed to be fun! As long as you have fun, your photos will also appear to be less staged and forced and your personality will be able to shine through the more fun you are having.
Providing all people with access to family portrait
The cost of a professional family portrait session is usually a barrier to ordering them regularly. In addition, you would generally need to pay for extra shots that you are really delighted with.

Conclusion

This guide should help you to understand the importance of having a family portrait with kids, and how it can help their development.

For more on this topic, check out the full Photography Tips collection

Montessori Activities to Do at Home (on a Budget)

Find out how you can create your own Montessori activities to do at home on a budget! Montessori education for toddlers is a wonderful choice. In case you are not familiar with Montessori, here is a brief overview:

Over 100 years ago Maria Montessori discovered that when children were given the tools they needed, learning happened on its own. These educational methods still inspire students today throughout the world, as they can benefit from self-directed learning through hands-on experiences. This leads to the development of fine and gross motor skills, along with many other wonderful achievements. While some schools may offer their own customization, the overall approach is always the same. All Montessori classrooms host five learning areas: practical life, sensorial, language, math, and cultures/science.

Check out our Montessori shopping list and photo inspiration at the end of this article

This article is written by Katie Strohecker
For more on this topic, check out the full All About Toddlers collection

This post contains affiliate links

Montessori Learning

lthough sending your child to a Montessori school is the best option, it is not the only option! With the rise of stay-at-home or work-from-home moms, it is not always in the budget, or feasible to send your toddler out of the home for preschool. But what is so great about Montessori, is that you can easily replicate these valuable lessons right in your very own home!

Included in this article is a collection of activities that you can put together for your child to enjoy! You can find most of the necessary items at thrift stores, the Dollar Tree, at craft stores like Michaels, Amazon, or look for free printables (like the one in this article) online. Some activities you will need to create or set-up yourself, but I promise…it is simple!

Toddler Readiness

One other thing to keep in mind is toddler readiness. In other words, some toddlers are ready to learn certain tasks/skills, while others are developmentally unready. Avoid introducing a task or activity that will frustrate your child. Each child learns and grows at his/her own pace. It is our job as parents to foster and provide experiences that will encourage their growth both mentally and physically.

Note: Many of these activities listed below satisfy multiple areas of the Montessori classroom (example – playdough is sensorial, but can also be language or math depending what activity is being completed)

Montessori Activities To Do At Home for Practical Life Learning

Zipping/buttoning/snapping

Find old shirts at thrift store (or in your closet) with buttons or snaps and cut them to fit in an embroidery hoop ($1.89 at Michaels).
You can also practice zipping coats, jackets, or bags/purses.

Food Prep

You can purchase toddler-safe peeler & knife like this. Great examples are:

Husking corn
Peeling bananas
Slicing bananas
Peeling cucumbers
Peeling hard-boiled eggs
Grinding peppercorns
Clipping ends off green beans with scissors
Peeling a tangerine
Popping pea pods
Juicing an orange

Sweeping/dusting/washing/scrubbing

Scrubbing potatoes
Sweeping the floor-make a square on the floor with tape for child to sweep dirt
Washing rocks, animals, baby doll, toy cars
Dusting furniture
Window washing with spray bottle and squeegee

Cutting

Place a ball of yarn in one glass jar and poke a hole in the lid-child will pull yarn and clip pieces with scissors.
Practice cutting paper. Then allow them to put the pieces in a bag or envelope – cutting is hard work!

Lacing

Make your own lacing cards with shoelaces and card-stock.

Pouring/Scooping

Pouring water into a bowl is great practice! And scooping items from one bowl to another (buttons, beans, beads, etc) by using measuring spoons of various sizes will help enhance their hand-eye coordination.

Pinching/squeezing/twisting/screwing

Moving pom poms or cotton balls with tweezers from one dish to another, or into an ice cube tray
Moving water from bowl to bowl by soaking and squeezing a sponge out
Twisting lids on/off various containers from your kitchen
Screwing a screw into a wood block (make or purchase here)
Twisting a nut/bolt onto a screw (purchase here)
Use eyedropper with colored water on coffee filters
Squeeze syringe with colored water onto cotton balls
Clipping clothespins on a rope or side of a bowl

Folding

Such as folding towels or washcloths.

Gluing

Cut pieces of paper, wrapping paper, or tissue paper and allow child to glue onto construction paper.

Self-care

Getting dressed and putting on shoes
Toileting
Putting on coat, hat, mittens, etc. “Montessori coat flip”
Songs (“This is the way”, “Put on your shoes”, etc)

Other Great Activities

Wrapping a wooden spool with yarn (purchase at Michaels)
Stamping
Setting the table: Create a mat with outlines for each item
Use an old coffee can or pretzel tub and cut a slit/hole in the lid large enough for child to drop in pom poms or plastic rings
Hammer golf tees into clay

Montessori Activities to Do at Home for Sensorial Learning

Pairing

Color strips (use from a paint store and cut apart)
Socks
Patterns (use scrapbook paper and velcro)
Colors (use construction paper and household objects)

Sorting

Parts of a flower (label cups with “leaves, stems, petals”)
Animals (land, water, air)
Shapes
Color sticks (color or paint popsicles sticks and match with plastic cups labeled with color)

Discriminating

Trace everyday toys on notecards to match
Matching letter magnets on cookie tray
Same/Different: Use note cards cut in half and put same and different stickers on each card (2 stickers per card) and offer 2 sorting bowls

Window bag

Tape a clear ziplock bag onto a window and fill with hair gel, shaving cream, water/oil/food coloring, or water beads.

Felt activities

Parts of my face (cut from felt).

Playdough

Create homemade playdough and add in spices, essential oils or glitter to engage more senses

Touch/feel books (Purchase here)

Painting

Add different items into paint such as glitter, salt, sand, shaving cream, etc. for texture
Bubble wrap painting
Paint with flowers, potatoes, apples, toilet brush, cookie cutters, feet, fingers, dryer balls, toilet paper tubes squeezed into shapes

Rubbing

Place paper over a leaf and rub with crayon
Hot glue shape outlines on card-stock and then put paper over and rub with crayon (also can be done with letters or numbers)

Scarves

Movement to music
Sort by color

Sensory bin

Fill with oatmeal, flour, snow, rice, corn, dry cereal, sand, colored water, confetti, shredded crinkle paper, feathers, etc. and provide scoops, blocks, animals, etc. to interact with in the materials.

Magnet tiles

Hold up to eyes and see different colors through them
Build

Montessori Activities to Do At Home for Learning Language

Pre-reading activities

Size classifying: use objects from around the house such as a small, medium, and large bowl
Story sequencing cards (first-next-last)
Nomenclature cards (labeling)

Sandpaper/Felt letters

Write letters on sand paper and have child trace with finger and make sound
Cut letters out of felt and glue on notecards

Letter/Sound work (advanced)

Provide letter cards and objects/toys from around the house that match beginning sounds

Books with labels/vocabulary

Writing letters on chalkboards with chalk

Montessori Activities To Do At Home for Learning Math

Stacking

Blocks
Construction paper bars of varying lengths
Stacking puzzles (purchase here)
Peg board

Counting

Match Q-tips with numbered jars
Match wooden sticks or popsicle sticks with number cards
Sectioned container with numbers and beans

Tactile numbers

Write numbers on sandpaper and child traces with finger

Writing numbers on chalkboard with chalk

Shapes 2D/3D

Puzzles
Solids
Shape match cards (trace shapes on notecards and provide needed shapes in bowl)

One-to-One correspondence

Stamp finger prints to match numbers
Dab paint with clothespin/cotton ball to match numbers

Montessori Activities to Do At Home for Learning Cultures/Science

Geography

Continent Song (Learn it here)
Globe (Purchase here)
Maps
World Puzzle (Best price here)

Zoology

Labeling animals (ocean, farm, wild, insects, etc.)
Classifying animals (advanced)
- Movement (fly, swim, walk, hop, slither, etc)
- Body covering (shell, fur, scales, feathers, etc)

Botany

Flower arranging (allow child to use fresh or fake flowers and a vase)
Planting/growing seeds (purchase kit here)
Watering plants with spray bottle or watering can
Parts of a plant (felt activity)

Calendar

Days of the Week song (Learn it here)
Months of the Year song (Learn it here)

Science

Nature tray with magnifying glass (Include leaves, twigs, flowers, pinecones, nests, feathers, dead bugs, shells etc.)
Life cycles of butterfly, frog, pumpkin, chicken, plant (printables and puzzles)
Sink/float (use bin filled with water and various objects to see density)
Color mixing (using eyedropper/food coloring/cotton balls)
Weather (clouds, rainbows, rain, sunshine, snow)
- Song
- Paint clouds using shaving cream and Elmer’s glue
Nature collage (find items outside and glue on a paper)
Magnets & metal household objects (Purchase here)
Seasons song (Learn it here)
Feelings song (Learn it here)
Parts of the Body song (Learn it here)
Grow butterflies (Purchase here)
Books

*Art & Music are other components incorporated daily*

Below is a free printable that you can take advantage of when shopping for your own Montessori supplies. Most of these items can be found at the Dollar Store, or at other local discount shops.

Click on the image to view the full-size PDF

Enjoy these photo examples of Montessori Activities that you can do at home with your toddler!

A great resource for free printable Montessori activities is themontessorifamily.com. They have compiled a list of the ten best websites for FREE Montessori materials. This is a great time-saver as we all know the internet is endless and time-consuming to browse!

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Toddlers collection

Featured Contributor: Katie Strohecker

Katie Strohecker lives in Lancaster, PA with her husband and two children. She is a former teacher, turned work-from-home mom with a background in event planning. She is also the co-owner of Milestone Family Expos, which strives to showcase the newest and best parenting, baby, and child-related products/services through two of the largest annual expo shows in the Central PA area.

- - Website: milestonefamilyexpos.com
  - Facebook: @pafamilyexpo @lancasterbabyshower
  - Instagram: @milestone_family_expos/

Reusable Grocery Bags (that went viral on TikTok)

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Free Family Planner (150 pages)

Simply enter your email address below to receive instant access to this free family planner! This free printable includes 150 pages of helpful calendars, checklists, and worksheets to keep you and your family organized despite your busy lives.

5 Nanny Interview Questions when You Have an Infant

It’s hard enough to leave your children with anyone that’s not you, but having to leave your infant? We’re talking next-level hard. But sometimes, it’s just a necessity. Whether it’s because you have an unusually short maternity leave, or just feel overwhelmed and need to get away for an hour or so, hiring a nanny for an infant requires a great deal of forethought and careful screening. Which is why the nanny interview questions are so crucial.

We’ve come up with a list of the most important questions to ask a nanny for an infant. Of course, there may be many other questions you’ll want to ask a potential nanny (and don’t forget to check those references!), but the questions below pertain specifically to the critical job of infant care. You know, that round-the-clock cycle of feeding, diapering, and putting to sleep?…

Factors to Consider When Buying a Family Car

If you are in the process of shopping around for a new family car you might be wondering what factors you need to be thinking about. There are quite a few, even simple ones such as the color of the vehicle. You will also need to think about what the car will be used for. Like if you are planning on going on long adventures with the family, then it needs to be comfortable. This matters to the driver as well as the passengers. After all, no one wants to arrive at their new destination with a backache! So continue reading below to learn what 3 factors you need to consider when buying a family car.

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

3 Factors to Consider When Buying a Family Car

Size of Family Car

When thinking about a new family car you need to decide on the size and how many seats you need it to have. You might need three full-sized back seats for everyone to fit properly. But while most cars promise this, you very rarely get it. If it will be two older kids, or adults, on the ends; then you might only be able to fit one smaller person squeezed in the middle seat. If you are going to be using car seats in your new car, you need to make sure that they will fit safely and securely using the Isofix feature or the seatbelt.

The best way to figure out if the backseat will be big enough for the intended riders, it to try it out. Take everyone along for a test drive. Put your carseat in it. And make sure that everyone is comfortable with enough seat and leg room.

Something else to think about is the size of the trunk. If you are getting a car with extra seats in the back, you will need to remember that the storage space will be cut off when those seats are in use. You may need to fit a stroller in the trunk with the shopping bags, so be sure to get a big enough trunk.

New or Used Car

Another thing to consider is if you want to get a new car. Or save a bit of money and get a used one. There are many pros and cons to this. A new car is ever so slightly more expensive than a used one. However, used cars will not have as much reliability as new ones as they often have a higher mileage with less of a warranty attached.

If you are into your tech then a new car is the route to go down. New cars are always being updated and upgraded to include the latest technology. This includes extras such as built-in navigation systems and cameras that help you reverse.

If you want to buy a new car you could cut some of the money off the final bill by trading in your current car. There are many companies out there who say sell us your car. If you use one of these make sure they are reputable.

Car Safety

When new cars come off the production line they are put through rigorous tests to make sure they are up to safety standards. This includes using crash test dummies and crash simulators to find out how the car and the people inside would fare if they were to be involved in a car accident.

You need to be aiming to get a car with at least a 5* overall rating and a 95% driver and passenger rating. This way you know the car will protect you and your family should the worst ever happen.

Choosing your next family car is a big decision! But it can also be a fun process, and very rewarding once you drive your new family car home for the first time. Happy Shopping!

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

50 Easy Toddler Activities

Putting together this list of easy toddler activities brought back so many memories for me! Memories of the days when I had a baby and a toddler to keep occupied for hours and hours at a time. Raising toddlers is no easy feat, and every parent needs resources to help them get through each and every day.

Toddlers are busy, hilarious, curious, and every-changing. It is incredible to watch them learn and grow so quickly, and they have a beautiful way of finding delight in even the smallest things. The following list of ideas will help your days go by a little more smoothly and bring fun to everyone involved!

And the best part is that I chose activities for this list that are easy to set up and easy to clean up. No parent needs to add extra work to their day. I’ve experienced the frustration of spending 30 minutes setting up an activity for my kids, watching them play with it for 5 minutes, and then spending 30 minutes cleaning up after them. The activities on this list aren’t those types of activities! Let’s keep it simple… for the sake of our sanity.

Be sure to share this list with fellow toddler mamas who could use it!…

7 Reasons Why You Should Consider Family Therapy

Many families have specific unresolved issues that linger for years. The existence of these issues is entirely natural, and most people can relate to this experience. However, some situations are far more problematic than others. Problems within the family can be of different natures and intensities. To address such complex issues, some families may opt for family therapy. Family therapy is an excellent resource for families who face difficulties in handling their domestic troubles. Family therapy can be highly effective, and it can yield great results when done from centers like recovery center baton rouge. If there are unresolved issues that persist in your family, you should consider family therapy. Let us look at seven reasons why you should consider family therapy, and learn how family therapy can be beneficial.

For more on this topic, check out the full Tough Times collection

7 Reasons Why You Should Consider Family Therapy

Stronger Bonds

Family therapy is a collective process that involves every member of the family. When you go for family therapy, you are not just seeking help for yourself alone. In today’s fast-paced world, it can get challenging to find some time with your family. Due to this reason, many families face issues of disconnection. Many families realize that they do not speak to each other for extended durations, and this lack of communication negatively impacts the family’s dynamics.

When families go for family therapy, they create stronger bonds with every member of the family. These bonds become even stronger over time because every family member shares intimate details about their life during family therapy. This bonding process is vital for every family. When you have stronger bonds within the family, your relationships will improve inevitably. Stronger bonds will also reduce the number of other issues within the family because everyone will become more understanding of each other’s actions.

Resolution of Family Conflicts

Many issues arise within the family that go unresolved for years. These unresolved issues may seem trivial at the time. However, they can lead to significant difficulties in the future. In many cases, family members hold resentment against each other for years and sometimes even decades. If your family does not resolve its conflicts effectively, it will be significantly detrimental to the entire family. Dealing with complex issues at home can be challenging, so family therapy is an ideal outlet. Certain family members may feel more comfortable opening up in front of a therapist, so it is essential to give everyone the chance to express themselves. If you go to family therapy to resolve your family conflicts, you can rest assured that you can deal with those issues comprehensively. A qualified therapist will guide your family through every step of the process.

Source of Support During Life Transitions

We all go through several life transitions, such as moving out, buying a home, having children, and many others. These life transitions can take a toll on all of us regardless of our strengths. In this situation, you need to have support from your family. Your family will be with you every step of the way to ensure that you move smoothly through the transition. You will also have access to valuable insight that your family possesses. Your family will share those experiences during your transitional phases, and you can benefit immensely from them.

[Read: Making it Through Tough Times – Overcoming Struggle as a Family]

Increased Self-Esteem

Not only will your family benefit collectively, but you will also gain self-esteem at an individual level. Many people have insecurities when their families are not solid and cohesive. Individuals who have a stable family tend to have higher self-esteem because they are proud of their family.

Improved Group Dynamics

When you go through family therapy, you will learn many skills that you can apply and other aspects of your life. For example, during your family therapy, you will learn essential skills to manage many group situations. Navigating complex situations involving multiple people is a crucial skill that will benefit you immensely. Not only will you know how to navigate group situations, but you will also learn how to make yourself heard. Many people easily get drowned out, and they put their preferences at the end. Through family therapy, you will learn to prioritize yourself while ensuring that you do not hurt anyone else.

Better Communication Skills

Excellent communication skills are undoubtedly one of the most valuable skills an individual can possess. Regardless of the situation that you are in, good communication skills will always come in handy. Every prominent position involves a great deal of communication. If individuals do not have a good command of their communication skills, they can fall behind. Communication skills are indispensable in every aspect of your life, and you will inevitably reap the benefits of possessing better communication skills.

Learning how to communicate appropriately will help you resolve any issues that arise in the future. You can handle any challenging domestic situation when you can address a particular problem by sharing your feelings. The communication skills you will learn will be comprehensive. You will learn to express yourself, and you will also learn how to listen to others. It is imperative to create a perfect equilibrium in a family so that no member feels left out or ignored. When you have excellent communication skills, you will realize that most of your domestic issues are easy to tackle.

Make Your Family Life Enjoyable

Unfortunately, a lot of families do not look forward to spending time together. This preference is understandable because domestic situations can become extremely challenging to handle. If you do not enjoy family life at all, you are missing out on many valuable experiences. Your family is the most crucial entity in your life. Your family will stand by your side unconditionally, and they will support you in everything you do. However, no one is perfect. There will undoubtedly be situations where you feel hurt by your family and want to separate yourself from them. However, it is worth the effort to work on your domestic issues to ensure that your family life is thoroughly enjoyable. Many people say that they regret not making up with their family in the later years of their lives. It is ideal to seek family therapy so that your family does not drift apart.

[Read: Family Home]

Conclusion

Family therapy can be an excellent resource for families who want to improve their domestic lives. It is not a necessity that you must have a lingering issue to take family therapy. Families can also opt for therapy for regular maintenance and upkeep of their relationships. Any relationship that is worth resolving will take some time and effort to maintain. Therefore, you should never lose hope merely because you face a few hiccups.

For more on this topic, check out the full Tough Times collection