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Children

How to Help Your Child See Their Sports Dream Come True

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If your child loves sport and, more importantly, is a little superstar, then there is a good chance that they can take their passion to the pro-leagues. It is not an easy career path; in fact, it is one of the most challenging career paths to choose from. You need to give it your all, but in many cases, your all is simply not enough. With that in mind, you will also want to encourage your child to do well academically so that they have options afterward.

In short, there is a lot of stress and pressure right from the beginning. That is why you need to use the guidance of companies like ASM Scholarships to help guide your child’s efforts and provide the necessary connections so that they can go beyond high school and into the collegiate levels, and then into the pro leagues.

It will take a lot of love and support, and in some cases, it might not feel like you have a lot of power, but with this guide, you can help your child see their sports dreams come true:

· Encourage a Variety of Hobbies

Though your child loves their sport and shows real, unadulterated promise, you cannot push that one hobby above all others. One of the biggest reasons why talented athletes don’t make it through to their dreams is because they become burnt out. Children need to explore and test their boundaries to learn what they like. So, while you will want to help your kid become better at their sport while they are young so they can be top of their league when they become teenagers, you should never limit them.

Instead, encourage a variety of hobbies. You can even make it a bonding opportunity. Go take a short community course together where you learn to cook or repair a bike. There are many advantages to this:

  • It is something you can do together
  • It is a great way to help your child learn key skills
  • It can help them feel fulfilled in every aspect of their lives

· Know There Will Be Down Periods

There will be times when your child feels like giving up and just scraping all of their efforts. Though you should certainly listen to them and work out ways to improve their routine so that they feel more supported, you should never give into the first instance they say they want to quit. You want to give your child a buffer to help them decide if that is what they really want or to get over that small moment of doubt and rediscover their love for the sport.

· How to Help Them Through an Injury

In any professional sport, injuries are a given. How well players recover from that injury, however, is something that will dictate their entire futures. Even if they heal and get back to 100% (a likelihood in teens and young adults), fear can end careers more effectively than a slightly inflexible elbow. You need to encourage and support your child emotionally so that they can gain confidence in their body and their limitations once again, and never let your own fear project onto them.

7 Tips on Raising a Child in God’s Way

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Parenting in the 21st century can be hard, particularly if you’re wanting to raise your child in a spiritual manner. Teaching your child about God is part of your role as their parent. There are no guarantees that teaching your child will be successful or easy, but here are some tips to help you raise your child in God’s way:

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1. Teach Your Children to Have Confidence

All children are different and it’s important that they know it. We are all individuals with our own opinions and choices to make. Try to avoid comparing children and instead value their differences, including their talents, skills and values.

2. Teach Them to Care About Others and to Value Them

Once you’ve taught your child that they are unique and special in their own way, then you need to teach them to value and respect others irrespective of their opinions or status. Teach your child that it doesn’t matter who you are, everyone is special.

To help your child on their spiritual journey why not consider sending them to a school that will help support and guide them? The Visitation School is the perfect choice for parents of Catholic children. Not only do they help support your child in their faith, they also make sure they grow up knowing that they are special and cared for. This school also works with your child to help them get the best grades possible and the most out of their life as a whole.

3. Teach Them that it’s OK to Say No

All children need to learn that there’s nothing wrong with saying no. You should teach them to be confident in their opinions, which will lead to them becoming better leaders as they grow up. Talk to your children about the importance of being honest.

4. Set Boundaries for Your Children

As your child’s responsibility increases, so should their liberty. Giving your child rewards when they try their best or achieve something new will also encourage them to try harder.

5. Set a Good Example

You need to make sure that you set a good example to your children. Jesus led by example when training the twelve disciples. Try not to force the Bible on your children, instead teach them life lessons by following the teachings yourself. Children are much more likely to learn from your actions than they are from the teachings in a book.

6. Attend Church on a Regular Basis

Encourage your children to attend church with you on a regular basis. Children who are brought up attending church are more likely to carry on attending when they get older than children who don’t. Many churches provide areas for children to learn in a fun way away from the adults. This might be a great way to teach your child about God.

7. Discipline Your Children

It’s important not to react to your child in anger. You also need to try and not make empty threats that you’re unlikely to follow through on. Try and take a balanced approach to discipline; as your child grows, try and reason with them more and punish them less.

Raising your child in God’s way may seem like a challenge, but with the support of your friends, school and community it’s achievable. Follow some of our top tips above and you’ll be well on your way.

3 Tips for making your Pregnancy more Comfortable

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Ask any mother who’s had multiple births, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: pregnancy gets easier each time around. However, for new expecting mothers, pregnancy can be a challenge. And it’s perfectly normal, bringing life into this world is hard work. However, there are many ways that you can make your pregnancy much more enjoyable. Here are a few tips that you can apply to make the whole experience easier.

Learn How to Listen to Your Body

Knowing what your body needs is important when you’re pregnant. Certain nutrients are not just essential to your own well being, but your baby’s as well. Fortunately, our body has a way of telling us when something is missing and it’s possible to know when you’re deficient if you’re attentive.

Nutritional deficiencies can have a much bigger impact on your pregnancy than you can imagine and are responsible for a large portion of difficulties you may experience. Something as simple as being dehydrated or missing important nutrients and minerals like healthy fats, iron or calcium could throw your whole system out of whack. Making sure you have the right nutrients will help prevent things like fatigue, headaches, morning sickness, leg cramps and even external issues like varicose veins for instance.

If you want your pregnancy to be as smooth as possible, you could add supplements like calcium capsules, cod liver oil, magnesium lotion or spray and iron when needed. Dried greens and seaweeds can also help.

Consider Buying a Belly Band

Pregnancy belly bands can be a literal lifesaver during the final months of your pregnancy. They were made specifically to provide additional abdominal and lower back support during pregnancy. They can prevent things like Sacroiliac joint pain and round ligament pain and can reduce discomfort when performing physical activities.

Maternity belly support belts can improve your posture and prevent your lower back from overextending. They can also be worn after your pregnancy to help you deal with decreased core strength.

Be Active

While it may not always be easy, it’s always better to be active when you’re pregnant. Something as simple as going for a brisk two mile walk in the morning could help you reduce the risk for hemorrhage during birth. It will also make birth much easier and will allow you to recover faster.

The kind of exercise you partake in is up to you. Ideally, you should avoid any contact sport or any type of exercise that puts too much pressure on your belly. However, if you were able to perform any activity before you were pregnant, listen to your body and continue with your regular routine until your body tells you to stop. Swimming in particular is one of the best forms of exercises you can do while pregnant and one of the safest as well.

Conclusion

If you follow these few simple tips, you should be able to have a much more pleasant pregnancy. Just remember to give your body the nutrients it needs and stay active to facilitate recovery and labor.

Hands-on ‘Cooking’ Projects Your Little Ones Will Love

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Summer is fast approaching, and all the little people will soon be out of school. Whether you have preschoolers or elementary students off for the summer vacation, what will you do to fill those long and tedious days. Of course, every kid looks forward to getting out of school for a couple months, but the anticipation is much more pleasant than the reality of day after day with nothing to fill the hours.

Why not spend some time teaching your little people their way around the kitchen? Kids love to ‘cook’ with mom and there are quite a few easy recipes Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice suggest for children.

When Is Cooking Not Cooking?

The funny thing about the term ‘cooking’ is that we aren’t always referring to something actually cooked or baked. How many times do you tell the family that you are cooking dinner when actually you are making tuna sandwiches to be served with chips?

We use the term loosely instead of the more properly descriptive ‘preparing dinner,’ and so kids will think they are cooking even when no heat is used! However, even when you must use the stove or oven, there are prep or garnish steps which kids can help with at no danger to them.

Let Them Add the Ingredients

Have you ever noticed how much fun kids have dumping things out? Just leave your shampoo on the side of the tub during bath time one night and see how quickly your little ones will pour it all into the tub with them. They will then proceed to splash around until bubbles are formed. Then there is the sand pail at the beach. Most kids will work diligently to fill it up, only to dump it out and start all over again.

If you pre-measure your ingredients when baking a cake, for instance, let the little ones pour the ingredients into the bowl as you need them. Not only will they believe they are ‘cooking’ but they will begin to develop stronger motor skills as well. It does take coordination to hit the bowl after all!

Shaping and Cutting

Kids also like to get that hands-on experience. It is one of the most effective ways they learn. One night, make meatballs and let the kids form the balls after you’ve mixed all the ingredients. Did you know that this can also be a lesson in personal hygiene? By teaching them the 20-second rule of handwashing before working with food and, of course, after as well, you are teaching them one of life’s most important lessons.

So many germs are spread by contact that it is a good idea to teach kids early on the importance of scrubbing away those invisible creatures! Don’t forget, when you make sugar cookies, let the kids do the shape cutting while you put them on the cookie sheet and into the oven. It’s loads of fun without letting them anywhere near that dangerously hot oven. From shaping to ‘cutting’ to the frosting, there are many ways kids can help you cook while learning some of life’s most valuable lessons. Spending time with mom in the kitchen is the best part of all! See for yourself.

TACKLING CHILDHOOD OBESITY

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The fact that over a third of American children are obese should concern any parent. While some of these children have unhealthy weight through no fault of their, either through the hand dealt to them by genetics or congenital medical conditions, for many it boils down to the diet.

It should concern parents since they have an important role in deciding what their children eats and inculcating in them healthy eating habits.

While the health risks associated with obesity are not as severe in children as they are in adults, obesity still poses health problems for children in both the short term and the long term.

Health risks of childhood obesity

Obese children may have breathing problems which hinders their ability to participate in physical activities expected of their age and this can later develop into asthma. This can also manifest itself as sleep apnea which heightens ones risk of suffering a stroke or a heart attack as they grow older.

In the short term, excess weight can cause a child to have self-esteem issues and joint problems since their skeletal structure isn’t as developed to handle their body weight.

Furthermore, obese children are at risk of developing diabetes and heart disease in addition to growing up to be obese or overweight adults. Some of the well-known effects of obesity in adolescence and adulthood include reproductive problems where there is early or delayed puberty and sexual health issues.

Overcoming childhood obesity

The good news is with time on their side, parents and caregivers can help their children manage and overcome their weight problems and grow into healthy and fit adults. The last thing an overweight child needs is to be mocked and teased about their weight – it could ruin their self-esteem for life. Instead be empathetic, understanding and supportive. Here’s what you need to do;

Encourage eating healthy habits

Kids learn from the examples of their parents, not their words. Your child is unlikely to eat healthy if the parent is a junk food aficionado. This starts with the kinds of food you have and prepare in your house. It’s hard for your child to eat healthy if your refrigerator is filled with unhealthy processed and junk foods.

Clean your house of unhealthy foods and replace them with healthy organic alternatives. With less temptations your child is likely to start eating healthy. Make it a family goal to eat and live healthy. Visit Easy-Diabetic-Recipes.Com for healthy recipes.

The second aspect of healthy eating lies in the quantity. Actually, this is the easiest way to maintain a healthy weight but also the hardest to master. To help them control their quantities, encourage your child to drink plenty of water during the day and snack on fruits which make them feel full faster and stay that way for longer.

Physical activity

Ensure your child participates in physical activities to help them lose weight and stay fit. This can be fun activities like gym sessions at school, swimming or biking. Household chores and gardening are also great ways to keep your child active. You can even be exercising together as a family.

You can easily achieve this by minimizing the passive activities your child engages in like watching TV or spending countless hours on their phones.

Make it Easy for Your Kids to Learn Origami with these Tips

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If you are looking for some arts and crafts ideas, you may want to consider making origami. Here are ways on how you can make it easy for your kids to learn origami with these simple and easy to follow tips.

Getting the Paper

One of the best parts about making origami art is that all is required is a piece of paper. You will not need to purchase any expensive paper from an arts and crafts store. Any paper you have on hand can be used effectively and put you on the path to creating some unique and fun origami art. The more paper you have the better, as you will have more than enough material to try out different designs.

Don’t Make It Difficult

Before your child begins making origami, make sure you start them off with something easy to make. Origami folds differ in their levels of difficulty. It is better to start off with an easy to follow design. That way, your child can get the hang of how to do it. It can be easy to get carried away and try and make a design completely out of your depth. If your child is struggling, make sure to let them know that practice makes perfect and give them as much motivation as you can.

Staying Inside the Lines

Children are not known for their patience or neatness, however, keeping inside the lines when creating origami will help create the best pattern possible. One of the main tips when creating origami is to focus on folding precisely and neatly, as opposed to trying to quickly get to the end of the instructions. When you are folding, the instructions can become confusing, but it is important to remember that each instruction needs to be followed carefully to finish with a good outcome. Also, staying consistent and motivated is a key trait to helping your child stay on track and finish a task.

Be Creative

Another great reason to let your child have a go at origami is giving them the freedom to create whatever they desire. Opening their imagination and putting all their thoughts and ideas onto paper can be a wonderful way to physically express their feelings. Being imaginative and thinking outside the box can enable your child to create a unique origami pattern.

It’s Just Paper

The main thing to remember about origami is that it is just paper. If your child falls at the first hurdle, make sure to reassure them and let them know that there is plenty more paper and they can have another go. It can be easy to lose motivation at the beginning, but if your child stays focused and determined, they can end up creating some fantastic origami. Websites like origamiway.com will provide you with more details on the diverse designs and patterns that you can make.

Learning and making distinctive designs and shapes out of origami should be a fun and exciting experience for your child. If your child is struggling with making a certain design, make sure to be on hand for support should your child need any assistance.

6 WAYS IN WHICH A PACIFIER CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR BABY

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Pacifiers can sometimes be helpful in calming down a restless baby. The sucking provides comfort and soothes them. Pacifiers are not only handy in stopping babies from being fussy, but also provide temporary distraction or help them fall asleep faster. Having a pacifier can save you, and your baby, from a lot of pain. However, they can also harm your baby, for example, causing misalignment of teeth and increasing their risk of suffering from infections to the middle ear.

Here are six ways in which pacifiers can harm your baby;

Latex allergies

Latex pacifiers are preferred to silicone ones as they are softer and more flexible. However, most babies are said to suffer from latex allergy arising mostly from vaccinations. The allergy could lead to rashes, or even worse, asthma and shock.  The softness of the latex pacifier also makes it easily chewable and can cause serious health issues when ingested.

Silicone allergies

Silicone pacifiers are recommended because they are stronger, more durable and silicone allergies are not as common as latex allergies. Some babies are however allergic to silicone and any exposure, however minimal, can trigger a reaction. Silicone allergies are characterised by watery eyes, rashes, labored breath and in the worst cases, shock.

Sweetening the pacifier

Oral bacteria thrive in sugary environments and therefore can cause harm to the baby’s gums and teeth which are still developing. The bacteria release acids that cause decay and childhood cavities. Honey is also known to contain a chemical that can lead to food poisoning and should never be given to children under the age of two.

Contamination

Pacifiers, being constantly in contact with saliva and oral bacteria, can be an avenue for the growth, contamination and transmission of bacterial organisms. Given that most parents just wash and dry the pacifiers instead of disinfecting them, pacifiers can cause dental caries, intestinal parasitic infections, candidiasis and infection to the middle ear. Use of tap water to clean the pacifier has also been linked to bacteria that cause dental caries. While cleaning a pacifier in your mouth can help pass good bacteria to your baby, there are also risks of transmitting harmful bacteria to them.

Addiction

Frequent use of the pacifier can turn into a habit such that the baby cannot do it anything, including fall asleep, without it. This can interrupt the baby’s sleep, and yours, when it falls off in the course of the night. Addiction to the pacifier could also delay the baby’s speech development. As the baby gets older, consider restricting the use of a pacifier to bedtime only until you get them completely off it. Momcrib.Com recommends finding other ways of calming the baby down.

Gassing up the baby

It is inevitable that the baby will swallow air when feeding and have the need to pass gas. However, frequent and vigorous sucking on the pacifier could also cause gas problems. If the gas builds up, it may cause stomach acid reflux or abdominal pains which make the baby uncomfortable. When they cry due to the discomfort, giving them a pacifier further worsens their discomfort.

How to Host the Perfect Baby Shower

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The impending arrival of a baby is an exciting moment in any mom-to-be’s life, and it’s a special time to be shared with family and friends. It’s a time for celebration, which is exactly why baby showers are held. If you’ve taken the lead in hosting a baby shower for a close friend or family member who is expecting a bundle of joy, then obviously you want to do all you can to ensure it’s a special and memorable event for her. This can mean a bit of stress and rushing around on your part, unless you’ve got a plan that you can follow.

Here we’ll take a look at tips that will help you host the perfect baby shower, keeping you organized and on schedule with very little stress and worry.

Will the Shower be a Surprise or Will the Mom-to-Be Know About It?

The first thing you’ll want to figure out is if you plan on hosting a surprise baby shower or if you plan on letting her know. There are obviously pros and cons to both sides, so it’s really personal preference. Giving the mother-to-be notice at least makes the event a bit less stressful to plan, and it can be less stressful on her too as she won’t be waiting and wondering when it’s going to happen.

Choose a Location and Date

Next on the to-do list is to choose a location and date. Your guest list will help to determine the location as it will dictate how much space is needed. It’s quite common for the host to hold the baby shower in her home as long as space permits. At least by holding it in your house you won’t have to worry about transporting food, beverages, and décor to an outside location.

If you choose not to hold the shower in your home then a catering hall or restaurant can make for a fabulous location. Keep in mind you will probably have to book well in advance.

Send Invitations with Plenty of Notice

As far as the invitations go, you’ll want to send them out as early as possible. Ideally you want to give six to eight weeks’ notice on the shower, and then have your RSVP date set no later than one week before the shower is to take place.

Give Thought to Food, Beverages, and Décor

In order for the shower to feel festive and special, then food, beverages, and décor are needed. There is no shortage of baby shower décor out there from balloons, to signs, and fun banners that you can hang. You can choose a theme and have that carry-through in the décor and the cake. And speaking of cakes, the Allcakeprices.Com site is a great resource when it comes to all things cake-related, in particular pricing.

As for the food, finger foods and light appetizers tend to be a popular option. They are easy to eat, you don’t have to sit down at a table to enjoy them, and they can be served throughout the shower.

By using these tips you’ll find that the planning process goes much smoother, allowing you to enjoy the event rather than worry and stress about it.

How to Prepare Your Child for a Visit to the Dentist

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Visiting the dentist can be a frightening experience for your child. However, knowing the right tips and tricks beforehand can help reassure your child and ensure they are well prepared. Here are a few ways on how to get your child ready for a visit to the dentist.

Let Them Know

Your child’s brain is like a sponge that absorbs everything you tell them. It is important to let your child know exactly what to expect before their dental appointment. Being honest with your child from the beginning and giving them instructions and guidance on how to best prepare for their appointment will help them enormously and ensure your child feels confident and ready.

Be Positive

A way to help your child be prepared for their visit to the dentist is by being upbeat and describing the dentist in a positive way. Letting your child know that they are the good guys and they are there to help protect our teeth can help in changing your child’s overall view. The way you speak about the dentist can have a significant impact, so ensure you remain positive and be on hand for any questions from your child. If your child is facing any problems with their teeth, websites like Health Row can give you more information and guidance on the appropriate steps to take.

Giving Support

Being on hand to give support to your child can help them feel relaxed and ready for their dental appointment. If your child has any worries or fears about going to the dentist, make sure that you empathize with them and offer any support that they may need. Be prepared to answer any questions your child has and try and relate back to when you were young, so you can understand why they are fearful about the dentist.

Practice Makes Perfect

Before your child’s dental appointment, make sure that your child is aware of the importance of good oral hygiene. Show your child how to brush your teeth correctly, so they can copy and learn from you. It is best to practice from a very young age, so your child is aware of how to practice good oral hygiene. Whilst your dentist will be able to offer advice and guidance, it is up to you to remind your child of the importance of brushing our teeth.

Make It Fun

There are ways to help your child prepare for their dental appointment and not make it seem as scary as it sounds. Many dental practices have games and activities in waiting rooms for children, which can give them something to look forward to and help take their mind off where they are. If your child has never visited the dentist before, it will be an unfamiliar environment for them so ensuring they can have toys and games to play with will help keep them relaxed.

If you would like more information on the best ways to prepare your child before their visit to the dentist, make sure that you look online at specialist websites that can give you more of an insight and learn tips and tricks to ensure the dental appointment goes as smoothly as possible.

Tips for Teaching Your Child to Play Nicely

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No parent is perfect, and when your child is consistently showing an inability to share, aggression towards others or other forms of bad behaviour, it can be difficult not to blame yourself or know what to do. It’s important to note that all children go through phases of bad behaviour as they grow and develop, and these are perfect opportunities to work on teaching your child how to play nicely.

Create a Chill-Out Zone

Instead of punishing your child every time they act out, which could lead to further tantrums and bad behaviour, try instead creating a ‘chill-out zone’ where they can go to cool off and collect themselves. Encourage them to think about their behaviour and what they could have done instead to improve. This helps your child to learn self-calming skills, as well as giving them the opportunity to reflect upon their behaviour.

Set a Good Example

Children see and copy everything, so if you want your child to play nicely with other kids, you’ll need to start setting a good example yourself. This isn’t to say you have to be perfect all the time, but try to make a concerted effort to display to your child how you overcome disagreements with your partner for example, or how you can stay calm even when you’re arguing. If you do mess up and end up getting angry or aggressive, remember to talk to your child about it and point out where you went wrong.

Encourage Empathy and Conversation

One of the key steps to learning how to play nicely with others is learning how to effectively communicate and empathise with them. It’s important to encourage empathy with your child, even if they are young, by asking them to consider how their actions affected other people, and asking them why the behaved the way they did. Often young children struggle to understand ‘why’ questions, so instead try using ‘what’ questions such as ‘what made you hit your brother?’

Read Books That Encourage Good Behaviour

Try reading to your child from books that encourage good behaviour, sharing, kindness and empathy. There are plenty of kids’ books geared towards encouraging nice play, such as ‘Why Should I Listen’ and ‘How To Be a Friend’. Reading these books before bedtime is a great way to calm your child down, ready them for sleep and teach them some life skills. Studies have also shown that we are more likely to remember concepts we learn before going to sleep, so making it a bedtime routine can help good behaviour to stick.

Create Some Art That Demonstrates Friendly Playing

An easy and fun way to encourage friendly productive play in your children is to incorporate it into an art session. For younger kids this might mean bringing out the finger painting kits and making a picture of them playing nicely. For slightly older kids, try using an online comic creator such as Rage Maker, to make a fun and silly comic addressing how to resolve conflict effectively.

Parenting is never easy, and we all struggle sometimes.  Searching online for a little help and guidance now and again can provide you with some tips and reassurance and will also make you realize that you are not alone.