Karissa Tunis

4 Common Struggles Your Teen May Face

Being the parent of a teenager isn’t easy. They can face a lot of problems, and you’ll need to be prepared to tackle this head-on. Here are some of the common struggles your teen may face.

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

Self Harm

First, it’s important to understand how common self harm can be in the teenage population. It is estimated that more than 70% of teens could self harm at least once before the age of 18. Critically, the majority of these children will not get any type of psychological support. Part of the reason for this is that the signs of self harm are often missed. People tend to believe that children will self-harm in areas that are easy to see. But this isn’t the case. It’s not always a cry for attention. It can be a way of dealing with deep trauma. If you are worried that your child is self-harming, you need to make sure that they do talk to a therapist about what is impacting them.

[Read: Child Behavior]

Addiction

Addiction can impact teens without parents realizing it. It is possible for teens to start using drugs without you noticing. They can do it in private. And they can ultimately keep it from you for years. There are however signs of addiction to watch out for. This includes sudden changes in mood, as well as more erratic behavior. A teen who is addicted may also start doing anything necessary to ensure that they get their fix. Recovery can be a long process. And your teen will often need a customized detox plan to get the best results.

Bullying

You might find that your teen is experiencing issues with bullying. The majority of young teenagers report that they have been bullied during their time at school. While it’s not always serious. And it can give a child thicker skin. However, you do need to watch for the signs that the situation is getting more serious. You should be talking to your child regularly and guaranteeing that they are coping with an issue like this. It can start to impact their mental health. Bullying has also been shown in the latest research to have long term implications.

[Read: Friendships]

Eating Disorder

Finally, you might find that your child is suffering from some form of eating disorder. While this does affect girls, it can also affect boys as well. It depends on the person and what they are going through. Eating disorders are often born either out of the desire to take control of an aspect of their life or it can be due to the pressure that they feel to look like everyone else. You need to nurture your child’s confidence and ensure that they don’t feel alone. Again, if you are concerned, it’s definitely worth getting them to speak to a therapist about this problem.

[Read: Eating Disorder Screening Quiz]

We hope this helps you understand some of the common issues that your child might face and the steps that you can take. If you explore the right options, then you’ll be able to make sure that you do get your child or teen the support they need before things get any worse.

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

Providing Your Child With the Best

September 22, 2021

When you have children, your world begins to revolve around them. You will do anything you can to support them and provide them with everything they could want or need. This is just part of being a parent. However, nobody actually ever tells you how to give your child the best upbringing possible. Of course, this will cover various areas. You will need to provide for your child not only physically and financially, but emotionally too. Here are just a few suggestions that should help you to reach this goal and provide your child with the best!

For more on this topic, check out the Parenting Advice collections

Providing for Them Financially

All children need to be cared for financially. It costs money to raise a child and, while you don’t have to be rich, you will have to provide some sort of income to provide them with shelter, warmth, food, clothing and everything else they need for a good quality of life. There are countless ways you can go about this. You can work an employed position with employee benefits and guaranteed hours. You can freelance, giving yourself more freedom over your working hours and days off. You can set up your own business, focusing on product development, marketing, Customer Education and more to take full control over your career. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that still allows you to dedicate time and attention to your little ones too.

[Read: Work Life Balance]

Supporting Them Emotionally

You need to make sure that you care for your kids emotionally too. Forming a strong bond and ensuring that they know you’re always there for them is extremely important. You can do this in a number of ways. Make sure your children can confide in you. Don’t shout at them. Encourage their interests and support them in what they want to do. Remember that different kids are going to like different things and these things might not always align with your personal interests either. Spend quality time together. This will help to build and strengthen your relationship with them.

[Read: Child Behavior]

Providing a Good Education

Remember that education is hugely important to any child’s upbringing and future prospects. The better an education your child has, the more opportunities that will be open to them later in life. Whether they want to take on apprenticeship, head straight into the workforce or continue into higher education, having a good education will give them a choice. Sadly, not all schools have the same facilities or quality of teaching. So, take a look at different schools in your area and determine which will best suit your child’s needs. You can look at teaching standards, and average grades and exam results for insight. You can also read other parent’s reviews and recommendations for further help deciding.

[Read: Education Options]

These are just a few areas to focus on when it comes to providing your child with the best upbringing you can. Sure, they may feel broad, but they’re good starting points to work from.

For more on this topic, check out the Parenting Advice collections

How Can I Improve My Child’s Health?

As a parent, you want to make sure that your child has everything they need to have a bright future. While you may consider their education, and even extra-curricular activities, you may also want to think about their health. With obesity on the rise, and a number of other conditions known that could cause long-term problems in their future, it is better to start any health improvements as early as possible to reap the most benefit. Continue reading below to learn how I can improve my child’s health.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

Check Their Eye Needs

Many people across the world need to wear glasses to be able to see and focus effectively. Without them, some find that they suffer from debilitating migraines caused by undue strain on the eyes. Taking your child for regular eye check-ups can help their optometrist to understand their eye needs. If required, they will give your child a prescription for glasses which can help to rectify their sight.

When getting glasses, make sure you measure their pupillary distance correctly. You can learn more at EyeBuyDirect on how to do this. This way you will know if the lenses will be able to do their job properly. Good eye care and health can greatly improve their ability to focus on their schoolwork, as well as to enjoy the sights around them.

Promote Healthy Eating

While the random takeout here and there may not cause a number of problems, the regular consumption of junk food will have a negative effect on your child’s body. Not only will it cause them to gain weight, but the additives may also affect your child’s organs. It can be difficult to get a child to eat healthier meals, especially if other members of the household are not doing so.

You can help by being a good role model and making sure any adults in the home are also eating nutritional food. Basing it on the different foods that your child likes, you may be able to find a number of healthy meals that are quick to make, affordable in regard to ingredients, but will also be greatly enjoyed by the whole family.

Introduce Sports and Exercise

Alongside eating healthily, you may also want to consider getting your child involved with more sports-related activities. Some types of exercise can be undertaken alone. But other types could also have some level of team or social aspect. This can also be great for your child’s mental health. Exercise helps to control weight, strengthen the muscles, and even releases endorphins which can make your child that much happier. It may take a few tries to find an exercise that your child enjoys, but it is possible.

[Read: What You Need To Know Before Sports Registration]

Improving My Child’s Health

Your child’s mental and physical health is important for them to have a fulfilling childhood, as well as to make the most of their education and activities. By figuring out ways to improve your child’s health, they may have less problems, both in the now and the future. Alongside this, teaching them about how to lead a healthy lifestyle could set them up for when they are independent.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

How to Teach Your Kids About Self Care

We often think about self-care as a practice that busy adults and independent people undertake when they have the resources to care for themselves. However, some skills are best taught when young. This way, these valuable lessons can grow with them into the future.

Teenagers and young adults are under an incredible amount of stress these days. Therefore, parents need to teach them how to care for themselves. Kids can grasp whatever they see their parents do even without them having to talk about it. Make sure you demonstrate good practices in your personal life to set a good example for your children.

From taking ten minutes to meditate, to investing in simple procedures like rhinoplasty, there are many ways to care for yourself. And you should help your children understand this. If you feel clueless about how to encourage these practices, this guide will offer the perfect advice on how to do it:

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

Start with the Basics

At least, one thing that is almost constant in most homes from when a child starts walking is being enlightened on the everyday hygiene basics. Some of these include: bathing, brushing your teeth, drinking enough water, and even getting enough sleep. These basics may look very casual and straightforward, until you get to the stage in life where you meet someone whose hygiene standards are low. Then you will understand how crucial this stage is.

Changing some of these habits later into adulthood is quite hard. A smart way of doing this would be to include some of these steps in their morning routines. It can be hard at first. But it will no longer be a struggle once they get used to it.

Encourage Them to Live an Active Lifestyle

Kids have a lot of energy. It can be easy to take for granted that they are getting the right kind of physical activity. Staying fit is not only an adult thing to do. Kids can get into the habit early in life. This is why most schools include a gym period for physical activity.

Physical activity can be done in many ways like dancing, swimming, walking, playing basketball; the list is endless. If your kid already has a sport they love doing, encourage them to keep doing it through organized team sports. These will help keep them active and teach them important values like working with others.

[Read: What You Need To Know Before Sports Registration]

Encourage Them to be Themselves

Nowadays, it’s easy for your kids to get lost in social media and technology and forget just to be kids. In the past, kids had many outdoor games, which made them socially active and helped them grow mentally in many ways. These days kids are stuck in their homes with phones or video games. This prevents them from interacting with the outside world. And this lifestyle is breeding a poorly adjusted generation.

Therefore, you must encourage your kids to join clubs, get new friends, identify their hobbies besides screen time, and enjoy their free time. Teaching your kids to have some “me time” in the right way goes a long way in helping them separate some time for fun once they get into the busy adulthood life.

Let Them Join You in Your Self-Care Routine

The best way to teach is by example. By demonstrating your self-care techniques to your children, they will begin to learn what works and does not work for them. Your self-care routine may not necessarily include difficult things to do. For example, you can make natural skin-care treatments from home and apply yourself. Additionally, you can also take time to go for a walk together, read a book, dance, listen to music, meditate or even go shopping together.

Like we said earlier, children mostly learn from what they see their parents doing. The idea is to show them how it’s done as you enjoy yourselves together. Eventually, this also builds your bond with your child. And they will be able to approach you at any stage of their lives when they have issues without fear.

[Read: What Do I Need? (A Self Care Printable)]

Allow Them to Express Their Emotions

One of the most fantastic self-care routines that you can ever teach your kids is how to take care of their mental health. We live in times where depression can easily hit anyone. Remember that your kids also have emotions, and they should be allowed to express them just like adults do. At the childhood stage of their lives, they are also learning who they are.

Therefore, it’s crucial to create a safe environment for them to speak out, especially if they have any concerns. And help them understand and manage their emotions. That way, they will grow into adulthood knowing how to deal with their feelings and speak out if they feel extreme pressure.

The list of self-care techniques that kids can take up is endless. Teaching them how to do these things at an early age is crucial for childhood development. It also helps them transfer the same lessons to the future generation. You will be amazed at how well they will also relate with their siblings, the world, and, most importantly, themselves.

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

About the Author

Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

3 Printables to Help Teach Kids to Tie Their Shoes

3 Printables to Help Teach Kids to Tie Their Shoes

As parents, there are many huge teaching milestones we get to tackle with our kiddos—walking, potty training, tooth brushing—they’re happy times that also require a lot of patience. Shoe tying, for example, isn’t always the easiest to teach. From the bunny ear method to loop swoop and pull, helping your child understand the steps to shoe tying can become difficult. This can lead to you and your child feeling frustrated. Nonetheless, with practice and patience, there are plenty of ways you can get your kiddo to flex their fine motor skills and make learning to tie their shoes fun.

If you’re looking for a way to make shoe tying more enjoyable for you and your kiddo, here are a few activities to make tying shoes for back to school a breeze.

Scroll down for 3 free printables to help teach kids to tie their shoes!

For more on this topic, check out the full Back to School collection

Shoe tying sequence activity

For this activity, go over the steps verbally with your child. Once you’ve gone over it a few times and have shown them the visual steps, have them cut the steps out. Once cut, mix up all of the steps and have them put the steps in the correct ordered sequence. This can help your child learn the correct order of the steps prior to practicing with real laces.

Shoe cutout cards

For this activity, cut out the shoe templates and punch out the holes for the laces with a hole puncher. Then lace up the shoes and have your child start practicing tying with laces. To help differentiate the laces from each other, use different colored shoelaces to help make it easier. Once they’ve got it down on the shoe templates, have them move on to practicing on their own shoes!

Shoe tying certificate

Once they’ve mastered shoe tying, congratulate them with this shoe-tying certificate letting them know they’re officially part of the adidas shoe tying club.

Tying shoes can be simple with the right activities. And these free printables to help teach kids to tie their shoes can help you and your child have a fun and easy learning experience.

Free Printables to Help Teach Kids to Tie Their Shoes

For more on this topic, check out the full Back to School collection

Should I Worry About My Child’s Back Pain?

Back pain is common in adults. But it is now also being diagnosed more often in children and teenagers. Back pain can be more common in children due to higher average body weights, higher rates of obesity, higher intensity and year-round sports, and the increasing weight of backpacks that students take to school. Most parents don’t expect their healthy kids to complain about back pain. But since it can occur, we wanted to share with you some advice and insight into this topic. Continue reading below to find out when to worry about my child’s back pain.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

Warning Signs of Child’s Back Pain

The vast majority of kids with back pain have symptoms that are caused by muscle or ligament injury. While this might sound scary at first, there is typically nothing more serious to worry about.

Some of the warning signs of a more serious issue that you should look out for include:

Pain at night, especially pain that wakes your child up.
Constant pain.
Illness symptoms such as fever, chills, or weight loss.
Symptoms in very young children.
Leg pain, numbness, or weakness.

These signs don’t necessarily mean that there is a more serious problem, but they are a good test to determine if more investigation should be carried out. For example, muscular back pain can stick around for months. However, if the symptoms have been going on for a few weeks, it’s a good idea to see a doctor or chiropractor to make sure nothing else is going on.

Muscular Back Pain

Muscular back pain is the most common cause of back pain in kids and teenagers. Injuries include muscle strains, ligament strains, overuse injuries, posture problems, and poor conditioning of the muscles in the back.

In most cases, muscular pain will improve after some rest and changes to daily activity. Many treatments will offer some relief. But the long-term effects of treatments are debatable, although they are safe. Treatment could be physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, stretching programs, yoga, or massage.

Stress Fractures

Stress fractures can happen in the spine. Oftentimes, they might never realize that an injury even happened. But stress fractures like these can happen in teenagers.

The most common kind of spinal stress fracture is called spondylolysis, which is an injury to the bone in the back of the spinal column. This injury can happen to teenagers who do sports that involve bending the spine backwards such as gymnastics or diving.

If the stress fracture happens on both sides of the spine, this can make the spinal column unstable, which is called spondylolisthesis. This is sometimes known as a spinal slip.

Recovery

Stress fractures can make children and parents very worried because these injuries don’t heal. They can cause symptoms through adolescence and young adulthood. However, most children and teenagers that are given a diagnosis of spondylolysis are treated without surgery and do well with less-invasive treatments.

Surgery is usually only for those who have pain even after months of nonsurgical treatment, or for patients with more severe slips.

Long-term studies show that the chance of having back pain in adulthood is unchanged by the presence of a stress fracture in childhood. This can be a source of problems, but the chance of developing back pain in adulthood is not changed by spondylolysis as a child.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

Why Dads are Awesome! Appreciating All Dads Do for Our Families

Why Dads are Awesome!

Dads are incredible! They do so much for their families, their homes, and especially their kids. With Father’s Day just around the corner, I thought I’d share why I love my husband so much, and why we appreciate all that he does as a dad!…

Easy Laundry Room Makeover + Free Printables!

September 2, 2021

Easy Laundry Room Makeover + Free Printables!

Giving your house a makeover and changing it to your liking can be a great way to make your house feel like a home. Our surroundings influence us more than we realize, and room makeovers can be fun to do and maximize your space, but don’t forget about the laundry room! Giving your laundry room a makeover can positively impact your attitude around household chores and make it more efficient.

If you want some budget friendly ideas or go for a renovation, here are some tips on how to upgrade your laundry room.

For more on this topic, check out the Family Home collection

Clear any Clutter

Getting rid of nonessentials should be the first step to tackle your laundry clutter. Put everything in its place and throw away any empty packaging. To make it more organized and efficient, get storage shelf units, so you can store your laundry essentials, as well as your dirty and clean laundry.

Upgrade the Lighting

Having better lighting can not only make your house look better but also change the mood around the house, and that includes your laundry room. Having a well-lit and relaxing area can make it more inviting, so add some decorative lighting to your laundry room, such as lanterns and fairy lights.

Adding a Sink

If you have the budget, and your plumbing allows, consider adding a sink right next to your laundry machine. A sink will make it more convenient for you when cleaning stains, treating fabric or just washing products off of your hands and detergent cups.

Add Helpful Wall Art

Hanging wall art around your space can give your laundry room a pop. But hanging a useful one can also also make your life easier. Consider adding laundry cheat sheet printables to your wall to help guide you and make laundry easier. See below for your free printables!

Laundry Room Free Printables

Are you ready to get started on your laundry room makeover and make chores more fun? If you need even more tips, you can check out HomeAdvisor’s guide on Laundry Room Makeover

For more on this topic, check out the Family Home collection

How To Prepare For A Move

September 1, 2021

Moving can be a big task. But by taking mindful steps to thoughtfully plan it out, you will help ensure a more positive experience. Continue reading below to learn how to prepare for a move.

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

Start with a Home Inspection

Find a notebook around your house that you can use for all of your moving notes. If possible, look at a floor plan of the new residence you will be moving into, or draw your own if needed. Now walk around your current home and pause in each room. Ask yourself where each piece of furniture or accessory will go in the new place. Begin making a list in your notebook of what items will go in each new room, and keep your list handy as you begin packing and labeling boxes.

Sell, Donate, or Toss

After you give your current home a full inspection, you will then be able to decide what to let go of. The less you have to move, the easier it will be. So only take with you what you really want or need. Moving is a great time to give your possessions a thorough purge, so take advantage of it now!

[Read: Get Organized]

Make a Moving Plan

Will you be handling the move yourself? Will you need some help from family members or friends? Or will you be hiring movers? And if so, will they just be transporting? Or will they do all the packing and unpacking as well? A lot of moving companies offer a variety of packages and options.

Moving experts, like Bekins Moving Solutions, can often handle all of those moving logistics. And then they will quite literally do all of the heavy lifting for you if that is what you choose.

Hiring Movers

If you do decide to reach out to a professional company for help, here is typically what that involves.

First they will speak with you to assess your needs. Knowing if this is for a local or cross-country move is important because not all companies cover the entire nation.

After scheduling the packing date, professional movers will arrive at your property to pack all of your belongings if you choose this option. If you have unique or uncommonly shaped items, they can make custom crates to fit what you need.

Your items are then often stored at one of the moving company’s secure facilities until you are ready to receive them at your next destination. Or they will be transported immediately based on your schedule.

Finally, when you arrive at your new location, you will schedule the delivery of your household goods. Now you and your family will have the opportunity to set up your belongings just as you had planned in your notebook.

What to Pack In Your Car

Of course the majority of your items will be in the moving truck. But with everything packed away, it will take time to get to anything specific. So you need to keep that in mind when packing. If there is anything that you need right away, you will want to set it aside to be packed in your car. Things like medicines, a few clean outfits, a roll of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, a toiletry bag and towel, etc. Anything that you might need to help get you through the first few days of unpacking and relocating all of your things should go in your personal vehicle.

Saying Your Goodbyes

Say goodbye to all of the family and friends you have made during your time in your current location. Stop by favorite local establishments for a fun goodbye photo. Making memories should be part of your moving plan. And if saying “Goodbye” is hard for you, try “See you later!” instead.

Wrap Up Your Appointments

Getting unpacked and settled into a new home always takes longer than anyone expects, especially if you are relocating to a new area. It will take time to learn where things are at, and finding new medical care professionals is a whole other job in itself! So before you prepare for a move, get as many health appointments out of the way to by you more time once you arrive.

Be Mindful of Your Children’s Feelings

A location change can be stressful for anyone, but it can be especially frustrating for children. Check in with your family members routinely to assess their feelings. Talk about any fears or concerns they may have regarding the move. Often, children will internalize their feelings and act out in unexpected or seemingly unrelated ways. They are trying to process the immense change that is about to take place which will move them from everything that has been familiar to them in their short lives.

Help your children take ownership and give them responsibilities during the moving process. Ask them to make a list of items they want to bring with them in the car, and another list of things they wish to be packed in a “To Be Opened ASAP Upon Arrival” box. Task them with making a list of snacks and other travel necessities to purchase before the move.

Prepare For A Move

Moving happens for many reasons. But it can be a wonderful experience when you properly prepare for a move. Happy Packing!

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

Butterfly Garden for Kids – Free Printable Activities

Butterfly Garden for Kids Free Printables

With school starting back up again, you may be in search of some valuable after- school family activities to try. If you have a garden space or porch, a fun way to enjoy the outdoors together is to plant a butterfly garden.

Planting nectar-rich flowers in a garden bed or window box will attract beautiful pollinators. Butterflies are fascinating creatures worth supporting and learning about, and you can do so all from your backyard. With these butterfly garden ideas and activities, you can use the garden as an opportunity to get the kids more engaged in the natural world!

For more on this topic, check out the Summer Learning collection

Butterfly and Caterpillar Observations for Kids

Print out activity sheets below to let the kids practice their observational skills. Each time they see a butterfly or caterpillar among the flowers, they can describe and color it in on the sheet. Then, you can work together to find out what butterfly species it is. The activity will get the kids even more excited each time they spot a new creature in the garden!

Butterfly Garden Log for Kids

To get your little ones involved in the care of the garden, print out the garden journal pages below. And then fill it out together each week. You can use it to keep track of the garden to-do’s, goals, observations, and log which plants you watered each day. Filling out the log can encourage kids to learn more about plants and appreciate the value of gardening.

Butterfly Garden for Kids Free Printables

The garden can be much more than a pretty group of flowers to stare at. With these butterfly garden activities, you’ll get the whole family more involved in plants, appreciating nature, and creating a habitat for butterflies!

For more on this topic, check out the Summer Learning collection