By the time your due date arrives, you’ve become a pro at prenatal doctor’s visits. And while labor and delivery marks the end of your nearly constant prenatal check ups, now it’s baby’s turn to frequent the pediatrician for numerous check ups! Between “well baby” visits and “sick appointments,” it can feel like you are always in the doctor’s office with your little one. You will become an expert in no time! But to get you started, here’s how you can best prepare for your baby’s first pediatrician appointment! …
Earth Day Activity for Kids (Printable)
Simply click the image to print out this earth day activity for kids 🙂 Brainstorm with them about some things that they can do to help take care of our planet.
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
And for more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
Veggie-Packed Vegetarian Lasagna (Grain Free)
Veggie-Packed Vegetarian Lasagna is a classic lasagna recipe turned grain-free by using shredded vegetables in place of the pasta. It’s a surefire way to sneak vegetables into both kids and adults! (It’s also a great option to make ahead and freeze.)
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Answers for All of Your Common Baby Concerns
Becoming a new mom, whether it is your first time or your fifth time, can bring on a range of emotions from joy to anxiety. As you and your infant begin to get to know one another, and as you learn how to best meet your little one’s needs, you will at times find yourself wondering (or even worrying) about their health and care essentials with these common baby questions.
Below are several of the most common baby concerns that all newborn parents face, and a few answers to give you better guidance as to how to handle these issues. However, if you ever have questions – please reach out to your baby’s pediatrician right away. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and to catch something as early as possible….
How to Create Care Kits for the Homeless (spring/summer)
It is very important to put together care kits for the homeless throughout the winter months. However, it is also helpful to create & hand out care kits for the spring & summer months. There are unique challenges that come with the heat & harsh sunshine. So we need to find ways that we can give our support to the homeless within our own communities. Continue reading to learn how to create care kits for the homeless.
Homelessness in Your Community
According to this article more than half a million Americans were homeless last year & 36% of those were families with children. The summer months can make homeless individuals increasingly vulnerable to health risks such as severe sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion, & heat stroke.
Long-term housing is obviously the best-case solution for homelessness, & it is important to support these types of efforts through advocacy & donations to local organizations. However, creating care kits can also be beneficial as a form of short-term help. These are a great way to get involved right now & begin making a difference.
[ Read: 50 Simple Ways to Help Others ]
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
How to Create Care Kits for the Homeless
Putting together care kits can be a wonderful way for you & your family to get involved in helping the homeless. Here are a few steps that you can take to put together & deliver season appropriate kits…
- Throw a family care kit get-together
- Think about what YOU need
- Focus on hygiene basics
- Include food and water
- Don’t forget first aid supplies
- Take note of the season
- Find and include resources
Throw a Care Kit Party
Invite friends, family, & coworkers over to help assemble care kits. You will be able to put more kits together, & it will establish a great, supportive atmosphere.
Consider What Will Help
If you left your home, what would you need to bring with you? What would you want to stay comfortable? What would you need to keep your self-respect? These are the tough questions that we do not always think about, but are a harsh reality for homeless every day.
Focus on Hygiene Basics
Again… think about the things that we take for granted. Brushing our hair, brushing our teeth, washing our face, putting on deodorant, shaving, & clipping our nails. Get miniature versions of these items that would be easy to carry around to add to the homeless care kit.
Include Food & Water
Include individually wrapped & nonperishable foods that will be healthy & sustaining – things like granola bars, crackers, dried fruit, & trail mix can be good. Be sure to include some bottled water as well.
Don’t Forget First-Aid Supplies
Simple first-aid is commonly out of reach for many homeless individuals so it is important to include basic medical supplies in the care kits. Band aids, antibiotic ointment, tissues, & items to help treat foot ailments are helpful.
Take Note of the Season
For your spring & summer care kits, you will want to focus on sun protection & hydration – hats, sunscreen, plenty of water, lip balm, etc. Obviously, winter kits will require some different necessities.
Find & Include Resources
Care kits are a great way to meet short-term needs of homeless individuals; but, these items are short term solutions. These are serious issues that require the help of expert services & resources. Do some research & include resources to help people find resources in your local area.
For more specific ideas of what to include & what not to include, read this Guide to Supporting the Homeless as well.
Simple Acts of Kindness – How to Help Others
This thing called life brings us many obstacles throughout our journey. Many mountains to climb. Many storms to walk through. And many incredible moments of peace, joy, and celebration in between. In addition to taking good care of myself mentally, emotionally, and physically; there is something that has always helped me to make a shift whether I’m having a great day, or if I’m in the midst of a personal storm. – To do something kind for someone else. It’s a win-win as it puts a smile on the recipient’s face, and lifts my spirits at the same time. We often refer to this as a Random Act of Kindness. Continue reading below to learn more about simple acts of kindness and the impact that they can create.
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Volunteering at School – Benefits for Moms, Kids, and Schools
Although certainly not a new concept, volunteering at school has exploded in recent times. More and more parents have become school volunteers! These volunteers spend many hours of their days helping in classes, planning school activities, and organizing fundraising endeavors.
Trust me, I know. I am one of those professional school volunteers. For the past 5 years, I have been the equivalent of the PTO president for my sons’ school. I have joked that with all the hours that I have invested… I have enough 20 hour blocks (the requirement for the year) for a dozen children per year. My two older sons now attend a different school and I have started volunteering there as well. I have listened to readers, helped with teaching writing, run committees, helped run a book fair, and created internet sign-ups for all kinds of volunteer solicitation.
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How to Raise Money for Charity – Fun, Unique Ideas
We are sharing inspiration for how to raise money for charity! Raising money for charity is always a great thing, but oftentimes we get stuck when it comes to fun and unique ideas that will actually gain some traction. Below are 6 ideas that would be fun to plan, that people will get excited about, and will ultimately raise significant money for the charity of your choice!
Fun Ideas to Raise Money for Charities
- Cook Off
- Talent Show
- Scavenger Hunt
- Shave Your Head
- House Party
- Nearly New Sales
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
How to Raise Money for Charity
Host a Cook Off to Raise Money for Charity
Invite supporters and foodies to a friendly culinary challenge! At this charity cook off competition, contestants will be able to create their best dishes. Then you raise money by having people donate money to be able to taste the dishes and vote for their favorites.
Talent Show
Crowdsource talent and entertainment with this fun fundraising idea! Put on a talent show and charge an entry fee. Supporters will be able to have a fun evening watching a variety of entertainment and performing front and center! Then everyone can vote for their favorites at the end of the night.
Scavenger Hunt
Organize a scavenger hunt that sends participants all throughout your community. Raise money for your charity by charging a registration fee, and you can also offer extra hints for extra donations as they go through the puzzles. Businesses in your community may also want to get involved in the fun!
[ Read: 50 Simple Ways to Help Others ]
Shave Your Head
Shaving your head has become a popular form of raising money and awareness for charities. Participants pledge to shave their head (or their beard) in order to raise money. It would also be fun to have a photo gallery of before and after photos!
House Party
Now is your chance to host an awesome house party for a great cause! Plan a purposeful, yet fun house party and and encourage donations by offering prizes for different levels of sponsorship and donations.
Nearly New Sales
Collect gently worn, barely used items throughout your community and then host a sale or an auction. Promote the event ahead of time by taking beautiful pictures of these items and starting buzz on social media.
Teach Your Children How to Respect Nature
Trying to teach your preschooler about climate change, sustainability, pollution or GMOs might be a huge waste of your time. Most likely you will face a blank stare and your little one will lose interest in your speech in a matter of minutes. However, it is never too early to teach your child to cherish the environment. Help them develop a relationship with nature. This way when they get a bit older, they will be ready for more complex lessons. If you are wondering what the best ways are to teach your children how to respect nature, continue reading below for some strategies to help you get started!
This article is written by Grace Collins
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
Incorporate nature into their life
Put a swing set in your yard and encourage your little one to spend more time playing outside. If you and your child love eating fresh vegetables and herbs, make a small garden near their play space. You can also build a bird feeder together and hang it up on a tree. Kids who spend more time engaged with nature are more likely to respect it.
Introduce them to the environment
Your kids won’t be able to connect with Mother Nature if you are constantly keeping them indoors. Instead, encourage them to get outside and get their hands dirty. Children usually love to play in the mud! So let them make mud pies and learn about the texture and moisture of the soil. You can also teach them how to make that loud whistling sound with a blade of grass. Or come up with other fun activities that help to bond your child to the nature around them.
Teach by example
It is a known fact that kids usually copy their parent’s behavior. That means they don’t do as you say; they do as you do. Therefore, lead by example. Show them how much you enjoy spending time outside, and how you respect Mother Nature. Show them your favorite types of trees, let them smell your favorite flowers, and allow them to watch you recycle while explaining why you are doing it. If you wish to take things one step further, teach them about recycled materials and clothing that is made from them. You can find more resources here. In addition, you can tell them how watering your lawn or garden only as much as necessary helps save water. Or explain to them why turning the lights off when you exit the room is important for the environment.
Let them assist you
After showing your kids how you are respectful to nature, let them participate in taking care of the environment. When you are recycling, let them sort out plastic and paper, or ask them to flip the light switch off themselves. Children take pride in helping out, so remind them not to leave the TV on when they are done watching it, or ask them to not leave the water running when they finished washing their hands. Here are 50 simple ways to help others in your community.
Books and movies can help you
There are so many books and movies that can teach young children valuable lessons about taking care of the environment. You can turn to the grumpy yet charming creature the Lorax for help, or let your kids read Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. Take your little ones to the bookstore and pick out several books that can help them learn about the world that surrounds us.
Don’t let them kill all the bugs they see
Little ones are not as grossed out by bugs as grownups are, and they don’t have a problem with catching the bugs and squashing them. Therefore, teach your kids that these little creatures are a part of our world and have an important function in the natural environment. If they find a bug inside, help them carry it outside in a cup or a paper towel. Here are additional educational earth facts for kids.
Now Go & Teach Your Children How to Respect Nature
By teaching your little ones to embrace nature, you will help them grow into adults who will respect and help protect our environment 🙂
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
Earth Facts for Kids – Educational Planet Earth Infographic
This week we are celebrating Earth Day! There is so much we can do to help our neighborhood, our communities, our cities, and even our whole world. And there are so many simple ways that kids can help the Earth! The educational infographic below is filled with Earth facts for kids. It’s a fun way to help kids learn more about their planet and feed their fascination.
Created by Karissa Tunis
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
Earth Facts for Kids
Size of Planet Earth
- Planet Earth Mass 5,972,190,000,000,000 billion kg
- Earth’s Equatorial Diameter: 12,756 km
- Earth’s Polar Diameter: 12,714 km
- Planet Earth Equatorial Circumference: 40,030 km
Earth Fun Facts for Kids
- It takes 8.2 minutes for sunlight to reach the Earth
- The surface of the earth rotates on its axis at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour
- Water covers 155.6 million square km of the Earth’s surface
- Earth is the only planet in the Solar System that is not named after a mythical god
- If you drilled a tunnel straight through the Earth and jumped in, it would take you about 42 minutes to get to the other side
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
