Practical Positive Parenting Advice and Resources
Back to School is always a weird time of year for families. Everyone is on varying levels of dreading going back, and looking forward to it. Oftentimes, it’s a mix of both! And since this transition is something that we have to do every single year, it’s a good idea to seek out some strategies and ideas to help make things go as smoothly as possible.…
Networking can be hugely beneficial if it is done in the right way. When we hear the phrase “business networking,” we picture a room full of men in suits swapping business cards and reciting canned elevator pitches. However, you can set yourself apart from the crowd in a professional and memorable manner by following these simple, yet effective networking tips….
Sure, the summer’s slowed-down pace, coupled with not having to pack school lunches, makes July and August pure joy. But for me, after eight weeks, I welcome the opportunity to outsource six children, for six hours a day, and send them off to their first day of school.
However, if your little bird is leaving the nest for the first time this year, you might not be feeling so ready for school to start. Here’s my advice: Try not to panic as September approaches. Instead, follow these 3-step plans far in advance of school starting, a few weeks ahead of school and on the actual first day….
View, save, and print this free morning routine checklist for your kids! Consider laminating or framing, and displaying in an area that your children will see every morning while getting ready for school.
For more on this topic, check out the full Back To School collection
Back to School is always a weird time of year for families. Everyone is on varying levels of dreading going back, and/or looking forward to it. However, it oftentimes is a mix of both! And since this transition is something that we have to do every single year; it’s a good idea to seek out some strategies to help make things go as smoothly as possible in our morning routines and throughout the day!
In this collection we are covering the topic with lots of Back to School advice, tips, and suggestions from both expert professionals and seasoned mothers! Enjoy topics on how to help the whole family adjust back to school, 3 ways to prepare for the first day of school, a free morning routine printable, guidelines for accomplishing homework, homeschooling, and more!
Best of Luck!
And for more on this topic, check out the full Back to School collection
What if your son is developing a personality where he keeps to himself? Don’t be alarmed, you might have someone very unique being made right in front of you! While some kids love being in large groups, other children actually prefer to be by themselves – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Introverted boys have amazing things to offer. And it is always our job as parents to support them in their interests and natural abilities.
But I think we can almost all agree that we would be alarmed if our children chose not to take part in group activities at all. Well, let’s learn to understand what this means before we think of it as a defect. First, your child isn’t abnormal, he is actually quite normal. However, he has a few characteristics that you may need to explore.
For more on this topic, check out the full Child Behavior collection
If he appears to be reading a lot more than the other kids, you should encourage this. However, let’s take a look at why this could be happening. He’s bored with his surroundings? He finds stories to be more exciting than playing with other children? Or perhaps he wants to understand ideas, concepts, characters and their actions as well as motives. What you could have in your son, is an inquisitive mind eager to understand the meaning of these stories. To a greater extent, you might want to understand why he is reading such stories as well as understand the reason why they are important. Children’s stories always have a moral to them. ‘The boy who cried wolf’ is a prime example. Sit down and explain why using alarmist or over-the-top language can cause people to undermine and not believe you. Logically, he is very interested in hearing the explanation.
[Read: Curiosity or Anxiety?]
Every single boy is different, and dads need to be okay if their son is breaking the common mold. How boring would it be, if every child growing up, turned out to be the same? But it’s totally understandable why fathers might want to see signs that indicate their son is growing up to be ‘normal’. If you want to know more about his personality, ask him to take the online Enneagram personality test. Just answer a few simple and complex questions, and you will be given a personality type. If he scores personality type 5, he is a thinker. These types of people like to explore ideas and concepts. If you have a son like this, it might be a great idea to introduce him to a philosophy book or perhaps a science journal.
[Read: 100 Fun Ways to Connect With Your Dad]
Studies have shown children who are introduced to chess and classical music, tend to be at home thinking about long-term solutions to problems. The intricacies of chess maneuvers and strategies, together with the complex compositions of classical artists, create a mind that is designed to look ahead. If given this type of upbringing, your son could feel right at home in an economics class, or perhaps learning about the classics which explain how civilization itself came to bear.
[Read: New Year New Goals]
Fathers need not worry if their sons are a little reclusive. It’s okay to be different. And if your son is more interested in ideas than people, cater to his needs instead of forcing him to go play with the other children. If you look hard enough, you will find something that the two of you can do together and bond over.
For more on this topic, check out the full Child Behavior collection
Make Sure The Sitter Is Prepared, and Your Kid’s Safety is Considered!Of course you would prefer to be the one watching your kids 100% of the time! No one takes better care of them, knows their every want and need, and no one can keep an eye on them like you do! So how do you know that the babysitter is prepared for all things related to your kid’s safety, no matter where they are?
Unfortunately it’s not possible to always be with your children. Or you may at times find yourself needing a quick break. Every once in awhile, or perhaps even every day, we will need to trust someone else to care for your sweet little darling(s). Here are a few tips for making sure that they are in the best of care, that the babysitter is fully prepared, and to be sure that your kid’s safety is always taken seriously….
Do you know what a Cultural Care Au Pair is? That is my favorite question for people. Most often I get a very confused shake of the head. I love that it is my job to educate about cultural care au pair, and the amazing childcare possibilities that they provide! When the position of LCC (local childcare consultant) popped up on my Facebook feed from a college friend, I was intrigued. I enjoy helping people, and I am definitely a matchmaker (insert song lyrics in your head).
This super-flexible position lets me meet young people from all over the world. I also help them to have meaningful and enriching years with host families all over our area. I am the liaison between the company Cultural Care Au Pair, the host families, and the au pairs themselves. At my latest count, I have gotten to spend time with au pairs from France, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, China, Brazil, Germany, and Columbia.
[Read: Tips to Finding a Babysitter That’s a Great Fit]
This article is written by Jill Lubin
For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection
In the simplest terms, an au pair is a young person from another country who lives in your home and provides flexible & affordable childcare. Typically they are between the ages of 18-26 years of age.
But truly an au pair is so much more!
A cultural care au pair becomes a member of your family, a big sister or brother (yes there are BRO-PAIRS) who cares for your children as if they are their own. By exposing your entire family to a new language and culture, an au pair will open up everyone’s imaginations to see more of our country. While they know they are taking on a full-time job, au pairs take the transcontinental leap of faith to further their own global education. They come to improve their English, widen their scope of experience, and have an adventure.
Of course not only does an au pair share their culture with you, but your family allows them to experience the culture, language and customs of the US. Becoming a member of your family and sharing everyday adventures, birthdays and holidays.
A live-in provider can give a busy parent serenity and security. An au pair eliminates the stress of on-time pick-up and drop-off at day care. They also decrease the hassle of depending on family and babysitters to cover when illness and emergencies change your regular schedule. With an au pair, your childcare works around your needs and schedule, and not the other way around. Sick days and snow days are covered. Date night can return without the hassle of calling babysitters.
[Read: Babysitter Safety Preparation – Ensure Your Kid’s Safety]
I have seen pictures of host families who have traveled to Europe to attend their au pair’s wedding, and host parents who become godparents of their au pair’s children. Just today one of my au pairs posted her Easter basket on Facebook with such excitement.
Sharing holidays, pastimes, sports, and cultural activities; the au pair, host parents and children learn to be more tolerant and considerate of all differences that they encounter. And in the end, everyone values the similarities that bring us all together.
Actually, less than 20% of potential applicants are accepted into our program. Each candidate is interviewed in person and completes testing in English competency. They also undergo a criminal background check, and provide personal and professional references. In addition, there is also an extensive application.
Cultural Care au pairs are required to have a minimum of 200 hours of childcare experience. If any au pairs are interested in working with infants and toddlers, they must have 200 hours of documented experience with children under the age of 2 years of age.
[Read: 10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Sitter]
Cultural care au pair childcare benefits many different families:
Another amazing advantage to an au pair is that part of their job can be child-related chores….laundry, changing sheets, cleaning rooms, organizing playrooms, making lunches, prepping snacks, buying, wrapping gifts, and even attending birthday parties. I have a long list I can share.
Can you imagine coming home from work, eating dinner with your family & au pair, and then relaxing knowing that everyone is ready for school the next day? You can enjoy your weekends without worrying about finding the perfect tutu, running to return books to the library, and supervising book reports.
I imagine that this article may have raised so many questions as it has answered. I would love to talk to you about how au pair childcare can expand your family’s cultural horizons, allow you the flexibility that you desire, and create a wonderful experience for a young person to broaden their own horizons.
For a few more facts and statistics, check out The Truth About Au Pair Childcare
For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection
Featured Contributor: Jill Lubin
Jill is a trained, non-practicing elementary school teacher and reading specialist. She works as a local childcare consultant (LCC) for Cultural Care Au Pair where she helps host families and au pairs share a meaningful time together; living together, providing childcare and sharing cultures. Jill lives in Lititz with her husband Jeff and her 3 sons Matt (10), Alex (7) and Josh (3).
Take advantage of this Free Babysitting Printable!
Print this out to leave for your babysitter, nanny, or whomever is watching your child(ren). Find out how everything went while your were gone.
Also, check out our free Important Notes printable. Leave reminders for your sitter, and make sure they are always prepared for an emergency.
While You Were Out – Free Babysitting Printable Created by Karissa Tunis
For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection
Parenting requires a lot of time, patience, and energy; which is why it’s so important to have help and support! Whether you work outside the home, or are home full-time, child care for kids is an important decision that you will need to figure out.
Check out our free additional resources in the Childcare Options collection for ideas and tips on how to find, interview, and hire the right child care provider. Explore your options and feel confident as you make the best decision for your particular family!
And a special thanks to a few of our guest contributors this week: Mommybites, Katerina’s Finest, UrbanSitter, and Jill Lubin. Check out their insightful content within the collection!
For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection
Take advantage of this free Notes for Childcare Provider Printable!
Fill this out to leave for any babysitter, nanny, family member, friend, or anyone else that might be watching your child(ren). If a lot of this information remains the same, you could fill it in and laminate (or frame) in order to keep this helpful reference always looking nice.
Also, check out our free childcare While You Were Out printable. Find out how everything went while you were gone.
Notes for Childcare Provider Created by Karissa Tunis
For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection
Parenting requires a lot of time, patience, and energy; which is why it’s so important to have help and support! Whether you work outside the home, or are home full-time, child care for kids is an important decision that you will need to figure out.
Check out our free additional resources in the Childcare Options collection for ideas and tips on how to find, interview, and hire the right child care provider. Explore your options and feel confident as you make the best decision for your particular family!
And a special thanks to a few of our guest contributors this week: Mommybites, Katerina’s Finest, UrbanSitter, and Jill Lubin. Check out their insightful content within the collection!
For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection
Finding and hiring the right babysitter can be unnerving for parents. While we’d all like to leave our kids in the kind and capable hands of Mary Poppins, the reality is that you’re not going to find a sitter who “has it all.” My advice is to take time to think about the skills, characteristics and “extras” that are most important to you, your spouse and your kids. Then make a list of your questions to ask when interviewing and hiring the babysitter.
…
