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Style Your Whole Family in Vintage, Nostalgic & Retro Fashions!

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Teach your family and friends alike about the 20th-century heyday of pop culture.

Swinging 60s

Right from the explosion of the mini skirt to the ‘out there’ mod-inspired styles, the fabulous 1960s will always be one of the most impactful eras of fashion. Not only that, but the 60s are also the decade that consistently influences modern-day fashions and trends. They were arguably the most fashion-forward decade. Think Bewitched with less hairspray. Think The Brady Brunch with a more complementary color.

60s fashion was kaleidoscopic, colorful, tailored yet relaxed, and, essentially, a complete floaty free-for-all. The 60s are experiencing a tremendous revival, and dressing like this is even more fun this time around.

Sensational 70s

There was a lot more going on in the 1970s than just bell-bottoms and fitted shirts, although this was the ultimate classic look for the era. In 1970, Vogue announced, “There are no rules in the fashion game now!” The early part of the decade was still consumed with the Hippie look but, a few years later, a more casual, everyday style emerged. Women began entering the workforce; tailored blazers and midi skirts began sweeping the fashion houses. Men’s suits, however, took on a more European feel, with slimmer cuts, tighter waists, and a much straighter pant leg. Embrace your inner ‘70s star with flannel shirts, bright sweaters, light blue jeans, khaki chinos, leather jackets, and, of course, the obligatory oxford shoes.

The 1970s were known for their bold colors and even bolder patterns. Shirts got shorter, boots got taller, and anyone who was anyone sported a headscarf.

Epic 80s

The 1980s were all about cheap fabrics, gawdy fashion accessories, and clothing completely covered in sequins and diamonds. Fake, naturally. An era of striking style, colors, and silhouettes to match, the 80s were definitely one of the most eclectic decades in fashion we’ve ever seen. Fabulous.

Throughout the 80s, t-shirts were worn with absolutely everything, from jeans to suits. Usually crew-neck, nearly all designs featured some kind of slogan, logo, or bold placement print. Check out 8ball.co.uk for a huge selection of t-shirts representing and celebrating the fabulously gaudy 1980’s, including slogans from all the best 1980’s movies and tv shows.

Naughty 90s

Saving, in our opinion, the best till last, why not consider revamping your family’s closet and becoming bang on trend at the same glorious time? The 1990s were all about relaxed, sporty, and downright cool as chuff fashions, with the low-key style comfortable and easy to wear.

The most iconic fashion pieces of the 1990s were, in no particular order:

Pleated skirts (we own some), cargo pants, bike shorts (available everywhere right now), oversized blazers (just like the shorts), and the incredibly useful and surprisingly practical claw clips.

Go on, treat yourself and take your whole family on a journey through the fashion world of the 20th century. If it doesn’t suit you, well, at least you had a laugh and tried something new style-wise.

How To Raise Active and Health Kids

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Physical activity participation decreases with a child’s age and grade in school. Physical activity is important for families. Here are some tips to keep your children active and healthy.

Getting the entire family moving

Researchers have found that lifestyles learned in childhood are more likely to stick with an individual into adulthood. If children take an interest in sports and other physical activities as a family, they will lay the foundations for good health.

Be an Active Role Model

Engage in physical activity as a way to take care of your body and health, instead of a chore. Find activities you enjoy and spend at least 30 minutes five days a week being active. 

Children will be more likely to copy their physical activity habits when they see you enjoying time being active. It’s also a great way to build a lasting bond with your kids. 

Include Physical Education

Healthy lifestyles require children to both be able to engage in free play and be properly instructed in specific physical skills. An easy way for children to achieve this is to participate in physical education as part of their regular schoolday, while attending school. 

Whenever there is time when children are at home due to school being out or an event like a snow day, block off a certain time each day for them to participate in physical activity. The most effective approach would be age appropriate and fun.

Organized Activities

Active play can be organized by either a parent or a child. There are games such as Simon Says, which are played indoors, and dozens of outside games such as hopscotch, jump rope, dodge ball, Frisbee golf, badminton, volleyball and the list goes on.  

Consider taking the kids to a bowling alley, a surfing school such as Aquasurf,com, basketball park or skating rink depending on the season.

Make Fitness Part of Your Child’s Day

If your children are old enough, they can walk or bike to school every day, and they will get the many physical and mental benefits of being active. Get them engaged with a hobby that involves fitness such as hiking. 

You can include fun new ideas such as using a disposable camera to take cool pics with. Don’t have a camera pick one up from Analogcc.com.

Make the most of not being at school by walking or biking with your kids when possible as well as organizing family walking or biking trips.

Playing tennis, bowling, or baseball can maintain physical activity at a time when going outside is possible. Active video games can also be used to promote physical activity on ‘physically-active’ television when the weather is bad out. 

Get Help With The Household Chores

Make active chores feel fun with upbeat music, so your children will be motivated to help out with the chores. Make sure they help by joining in with your chores as a family and offer some pocket money to really get them motivated. 

If your kids are old enough encourage them to get a casual job such as a vegan meal delivery rider, lawn mowing or paper delivery. 

This Is How You Can Keep Your Baby Safe at All Times

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Around 2,000 children under 14 years old died after a home injury.

We want our little ones to be safe whether it’s crawling around the living room to having a safe journey in the car. Perhaps you’re baby-proofing your home and are worried about missing a major hazard.

Sound familiar? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s how to keep your baby safe.

Baby-Proof the Bedroom

The first step to keeping your baby safe is ensuring they have safe sleeping habits. Your baby should always sleep on his/her back because sleeping on their stomach increases the risk of sudden death syndrome (SDS).

To protect your baby, avoid buying soft bedding that could suffocate them like blankets, stuffed toys, and pillows. All you need is a firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet so avoid cluttering their sleeping area.

Further, make sure the crib slats are at least 3 inches apart so your baby’s head doesn’t get stuck and vice versa. As a general rule, if you can easily fit a soda can between the slats then it’s not safe for your baby.

Keep their bedroom at room temperature so they don’t overheat and get a baby monitor so you can tend to them if they cry. Check out these baby monitor reviews for inspiration.

Secure the Nursery

A useful baby safety tip is securing the nursery to prevent accidents. Although babies find them soothing, remove mobiles that have stringers longer than seven inches as your little one may sit up and yank them. To protect your child when you’re changing diapers, buckle them up on the table so they don’t fall.

You should also regularly inspect your baby’s toys. Make sure that they aren’t sharp and can’t come apart otherwise they’re a choking hazard.

Promote a Safe Bathtime

Make sure you have a safe baby during bathtime by taking the right preventative measures.

You must never leave your little one alone in the bathroom especially if there’s standing water in the tub. Babies are naturally drawn to water because they want to splash around but this is dangerous because they could drown in even a few inches.

Before putting your baby in the water, test the temperature by dipping your elbow into it. The bath water should be just above 100 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent chilling or burning your little one. Further, store electronic appliances like hair dryers or radios so they’re unplugged and out of reach.

And don’t forget grooming products. For instance, lotions, oils, or shampoos can be toxic if your baby ingests them. You should also store sharp items like razors or curling irons in a cabinet with a childproof latch.

Practice Baby Safety in the Car

Avoid buying second-hand car seats because they may not be fully safe especially if it’s already been through an accident. Choose a federally approved car safety seat and read the instructions so that it’s properly installed.

Note that until your baby is two years old, the car seat should face the rear of the vehicle and keep it in the middle of the back seat. Further, never leave little ones in the car in the summer because babies heat up almost five times quicker than adults.

Baby-Proof the Kitchen

Kitchens can be potentially dangerous for babies so gate off this room or keep a close eye on your little one when you’re in it. Avoid handling hot foods, drinks, or crockery near your baby because it could scold them.

Because babies love to grab things, only cook on the back burners on the stove and turn pot handles away from the edge.

If you’ve got a dishwasher, invest in a robust dishwasher lock, point all sharp utensils down, and only add detergent just before you wash a load of the dishes. Be wary of your other cleaning supplies too. Make sure they’re in child-resistant packaging and stored out of reach of your little ones.

You should also learn how to safely feed your baby. Never prop up your baby’s bottle or leave your little one unattended with it because they could choke. Further, avoid giving your little one raw carrots, nuts, or other small bits of food that could be a choking hazard.

And when your baby is in their high chairs, properly strap them in so they don’t slide out.

Other Precautions to Take

Examine your home for any safety hazards. Parents should install guards or stops so windows can’t open more than three inches and place security gates at the top and bottom of the stars. You should also cover outlets with sliding or box covers instead of plastic plugs because babies can easily pull these out.

Use brackets to secure your furniture and TV because they could topple onto young children. You should also consider putting cushions on table corners to prevent any accidents.

If you’ve got a fireplace then section off the area and store matches, lighters, and other sharp tools in a locked cabinet.

That’s How to Keep Your Baby Safe

Hopefully, this article has taught you how to keep your baby safe around the house.

Our homes are riddled with hazards so evaluate every room and spot potential risks. You must baby-proof the bedroom, nursery, kitchen, and bathroom so your little one stays safe. Further, follow the right practices for sleeping and feeding your little one. Good luck!

Did you find this article helpful? Awesome! Then check out our posts on everything from Career to Health.

Top Tips for Parents of College Kids: How Can You Enhance Their Success?

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Getting into college is one of the most critical moments of a teenager’s life, and for many parents, the lead-up of getting into a good institution can be a stressful time. Each year, more than 17 million people embark on their college journey, which is an experience that shapes them to become young adults and leads them into their desired career.

Students must make the most of their college life to enhance their future success, so it’s only natural as a parent to wish to be well-equipped with the necessary information to steer your child in the right direction.

Here are some useful tips to make a note of, if you’re a parent about to send your child off to college:

Talk them through the admissions requirements

Before applying for colleges, your child must be aware of which institutions they have a chance of being accepted into. Some colleges have higher grade boundaries than others, which means carrying out research beforehand is essential in finding out what is realistically achievable. Typically, college entry at Ohio state GPA, amongst many others, is based on the individual’s SAT score, ACT score, and GPA. It is a great idea to sit down with your child and calculate their average scores to determine which universities may be an option for them. This will give them goals to aim for and a clear focus when sitting their exams. 

Don’t pick your child’s course – but offer advice where possible 

Your child should be able to choose their course, so it wouldn’t be a good idea to overrule their course decision. They must pick a subject they are comfortable with and plays to their interests to succeed. It’s perfectly reasonable to voice your own opinion to help them make the best decision for their future goals, but they should have the final say on which course they wish to choose.

Encourage them to see their professor

Once your child has been accepted into college, they will be assigned a professor who they can turn to if they have any queries or issues. Many students ignore the opportunity to have regular meetings with their professors, which can be a huge mistake for their educational development. They may be struggling with lesson topics in the early days or find difficulty building on friendships with other freshmen, which is making them feel socially isolated. Encourage them to make an appointment with their professor to talk about any issues they have as soon as they arise. After all, you are paying the fees, so they have every right to make the most of this resource.

Do be aware that it is never good to phone the professor yourself. Unlike school where parents were entitled to get involved with their child’s education, this is very much discouraged in college. Students must stand on their own two feet to pursue their goals. In some colleges, there is even a ‘dean of parents’ with the principle aim of limiting parental interference.

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.