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Top 5 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

July 1, 2020 by Angela Paris Leave a Comment

Summer is here and one of your biggest priorities as a parent is to find fun activities for kids. The sunny days of summer are best to create fun memories that your kids will look back at them with nostalgia. As a parent, you want to make sure that your kids have lots of fun activities to do. Here is where I come in. Today I am going to show you my top five favorite summer activities for kids. Without wasting any more time, let’s jump right into it.

#1 Backyard Camping

summer activities

If you have a small garden or open space around the house, then you can never go wrong with a backyard camping adventure. Your kiddos are going to love the fact that they can stay outside for as long as they want. To make things even better, you don’t need to do anything else other than to set up a tent. If the weather starts getting bad, then you are only a couple of feet away from the house.

#2 Bike Rides

Bike Rides

It’s always a good idea to get kids to exercise. Here is where bike rides come in to save the day. Take the kids out for a fun bike ride around the house and I promise that they will love it. If you have any forest or river close to the house, then you should make sure to visit it.

#3 DIY Chalk Bombs

DIY Chalk Bombs

If there is one fun summer activity that all kids love, then it has to be throwing DIY chalk bombs on the ground. What’s great about this activity is that it’s really simple to clean up the colors from chalk bombs. You can just use some water and the colors will be gone in an instant. The trick to making great DIY chalk bombs is to us a soap-dispenser pump to fill water and chalk-paint mixture into the balloons.

#4 Look for Shapes in the Clouds

Summer Activities

Do you want to encourage your kids to be creative? If that is the case, then you should ask them to start looking for shapes in the clouds. Place a blanket in the grass and simply stare up at the sky. Let your imagination run free and you are surely going to find some funny shapes.

#5 Community Park Activities

Summer Activities for Kids

Kids have more fun when they are with friends and thanks to this, going to community park activities is always a great idea. Parks offer lots of fun summer activities for kids this includes sports, arts, crafts, music, swimming, and many more. In addition, there is no entrance fee to the community park.

Filed Under: Crafts & DIY, Kid Friendly, Parenting Tagged With: summer activities, summer activities for kids

How to get kids to eat vegetables

June 9, 2020 by Angela Paris Leave a Comment

How to get kids to eat vegetables? Ahh, the decade-old question that moms are trying to figure it out every day. Getting your kids to eat healthy veggies is sometimes an impossible task because, as we all know, kids love nothing more than ice cream, chocolate, cotton candy, and all other types of sugary snacks. Back in the day, cartoons such as Pop-Eye taught kids that eating spinach is right for them, but what about now?

After talking with my friends who are successfully making their kids get excited about eating veggies, I found the secret that helps them to that. The secret of getting kids to eat vegetables is to cook delicious and healthy meals. This is easier than done! Finding the right recipes that will make your kids ask for a second plate is not easy at all. Here is where I come in! I did my research and discovered what is the most mouth-watery veggie recipe that your kids will not only love, but they will ask for it every day.

Delicious Veggie Nuggets

If there is one thing that all kids love when it comes to food, then it has to be finger food that can be dipped in their favorite sauce. McDonald’s owes most of its success to nuggets, but that is not the recipe that I want to share with you today, and instead, I will show you how to prepare veggie nuggets. The recipe is borrowed from Real Mom Nutrition.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups seasoned breadcrumbs, divided
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

How to Prepare the Recipe

  1. Shred carrots (I use my food processor’s shredding attachment).
  2. Steam broccoli in the microwave for two minutes or until tender.
  3. Place shredded carrots, steamed broccoli, garlic, eggs, 1 cup of the breadcrumbs, cheese, onion powder, and black pepper in food processor and pulse for 15 seconds or until well combined. Mixture should form easily into a ball. If it’s too crumbly, add water one teaspoon at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
  4. Form mixture into balls, about a tablespoon each (I use a cookie scoop). You should get about 25 nuggets. Flatten slightly into round discs about 1/2-inch thick.
  5. Place remaining 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Coat each veggie nuggets with breadcrumbs.
  6. Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat until it sizzles when sprinkled with water droplets.
  7. Arrange nuggets in skillet and cook about 4 minutes each side, or until golden brown and crispy. You may need to do this in 2-3 batches depending on the size of your skillet.
  8. Serve with honey-mustard sauce, ketchup, or other favorite dip.

Nutrition Information: Yield: 8, Serving Size: 3 nuggets, Amount Per Serving: Calories: 175 Total Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0g, Unsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 57mg, Sodium: 371mg, Carbohydrates: 19g, Net Carbohydrates: 0g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Sugar Alcohols: 0g, Protein: 8g

Teach Your Kids About The Benefits of Veggies

Now that you have a delicious recipe to help you, getting your kids to eat vegetables is no longer impossible. However, this is not the only thing that you can do. Experts are saying that one of the best ways to get kids excited about eating veggies every day is to teach them about the benefits that eating healthy brings.
Obviously, your kids will not care about the low carbs of veggies or the fats that they contain, and this is why you should teach them in a different way. According to experts, you should tell your kids that if they eat veggies, they will be powerful just like the heroes that they see in Marvel movies such as The Avengers, for example. Do your kids want to have super strength? Tell them that green foods will make them powerful. You can also invent things on the go and tell them that orange fruits such as will give them supervision!

Filed Under: Parenting

Five things first time moms need to know about newborns

June 25, 2020 by Angela Paris

I bet that you have spent hours thinking about how your baby is going to look like. However, I am also sure that the thought of motherhood can be frightening, especially if this is the first time that you are going to bring home a baby from the hospital. The job of being a mother is difficult, and what you should keep in mind is that you will learn everything on the go.

Learning how to take care of newborns is difficult, but it’s also an enriching and amazing experience. If the thought of becoming a new mom is scary to you, then you have arrived at the right place. The reason why I am saying that is because I have prepared a list with five things all first time moms need to know about newborns.

#1 How to Handle a Newborn

If you didn’t spend too much time around newborns, then handling them might seem scary. They are fragile, and we need to be extra careful when holding them in our arms. Here are some tips that experienced mothers have to share about handling newborns:

  • Always wash your hands or use hand sanitizers before holding the newborn. Don’t forget that the immune systems of babies take time to become strong;
  • Support the baby’s head and neck. You can do this by cradling the head when carrying the baby;
  • Do not shake the newborn! The reason why you don’t want to shake the baby, not even in play, is because this can cause bleeding in the brain.

#2 Trust Your Instincts

I am sure that you have heard of the term “maternal instincts”. This is a real thing and my advice to you is always to trust it. If you feel like something strange is going on with your newborn, don’t rely on Google to provide you with answers. Pick up the phone and call a medic as soon as possible. If your maternal instincts are making you uncomfortable about a toy that your baby is playing with, take the toy away! Always trust your gut when it comes to your baby.

#3 Listen to The Baby’s Cues

Another essential tip that is going to help you become a strong mamma is to listen to your baby’s cues. Babies communicate through body language and crying. You should make it your top priority to listen to these cues and learn what they mean. For example, some babies will start sucking their fingers when they start feeling hungry. If you fail to pick up on this cue, you will surely notice the next one because it is crying. So, keep an eye out for small signals and motherhood will be an easier job.

#4 Post-Baby Body

The last thing that you need to worry about when becoming a mom is extra weight. Your body will change significantly during pregnancy, but it doesn’t stop there. Your body will experience changes, even post-pregnancy and it will take you some time before you can get back to where you were. It’s unfortunate that we live in a society where looks matter so much, but you should not be stressed about getting back in shape after having a baby. Your priority should be to make sure that your baby is healthy and happy.

#5 Enjoy Every Moment

Even though the job of a mom is tiring, and you will rarely have time to spend on yourself, you should make it your top priority to enjoy every moment. Babies are adorable when they are little, and you should spend as much time with them as possible because this is not going to last. Babies grow up very quickly, and if you don’t spend all your time by their side, you might miss out on important moments.

I talked with many moms, and they all had the same tip to share with me. They all said that new moms should document every moment from the little one’s life. Take a picture when your baby takes the first bath or eats solid foods for the first time. These moments are incredibly precious, and you will thank yourself for documenting everything as the years go on.

Filed Under: Parenting

5 Tips to Make Your Child Eat Its Food

June 25, 2020 by Angela Paris

Every mother knows that the key to proper child growth is healthy and nutritious food. A child’s diet needs to be healthy and diverse, but it’s pretty challenging to make them eat their veggies and other foods. When children refuse to eat something, parents are ready to do everything they can to make them. It’s a vicious cycle that involves petty blackmail that can have unforeseen consequences. But, worry not – we have a few tips that will make your child eat.

  • Whenever your child refuses to eat, leave them without food for hours

It may sound cruel, but it’s a method that works. Whenever your children refuse to eat, take the food off the table for a couple of hours. This method will make your child a bit irritated, but they’ll eat whatever’s on their plate later.

  • Never feed your children when they’re tired

If you want your children to eat whatever you’ve prepared, never do it when they’re tired. Force-feeding them just to meet expectations isn’t going to lead you anywhere. Let them have a break and you can try again later.

  • Let your child help in preparation of meals

Hey, what child doesn’t want to make a mess in the kitchen? If it helps, why not try it? The next time you’re preparing a meal for your kid, let them help. The chances that they’ll eat it will be far higher.

  • If they hate something, don’t go for their favorite dish

If your child doesn’t want mashed broccoli, don’t go with pizza or whatever their favorite meal is. It may calm them down at once, but they’ll also learn how to manipulate you.

  • Make mealtime fun

Fill the period with songs and stories that’ll make the whole process fun. In this way, your child is guaranteed to eat anything you put on their plate.

Filed Under: Kid Friendly, Parenting Tagged With: child, eat, mother

Top 100 Best Baby Names in 2021

January 27, 2021 by Angela Paris

Your life is going to change when you become a parent and the only thing that you can do is to prepare yourself. If you are expecting and you are not sure yet what name to pick for your baby, then you have arrived at the right place! Picking the right name for your baby is very important. The name you pick is going to follow them all their lives and you can’t make a mistake. This is why today I am going to show you the top 100 best baby names in 2021 based on the analysis provided by Nameberry.

The Most Popular Baby Boy Names in 2021

  • Tate

This might come as a surprise but one of the most popular baby boy names in 2021 is Tate. This name has Norse origins and it means cheerful. It’s a great name for a happy baby boy.

  • Austin

If you are looking for a name that is going to make your baby boy stand out, then you can always go with Austin. You can even tell your friends that you picked this name because you were inspired by the famous author Jane Austen.

  • Cash

Cash is an awesome name and there is no doubt about that! Just say it a couple of times. Doesn’t it feel smooth? If you believe in the law of attraction, then Cash is the perfect name for your baby boy.

Check out the list below to see what are the other top 50 most popular baby boy names according to Nameberry.

  1. Alfie
  2. Alistair
  3. Amias
  4. Ansel
  5. Apollo
  6. Archer
  7. Archie
  8. Arlo
  9. Arthur
  10. Atlas
  11. August
  12. Beau
  13. Beckett
  14. Bennett
  15. Brooks
  16. Caius
  17. Calix
  18. Casper
  19. Cassian
  20. Chester
  21. Cian
  22. Clliian
  23. Cormac
  24. Elio
  25. Emmett
  26. Enzo
  27. Ezra
  28. Felix
  29. Finn
  30. Flynn
  31. Grant
  32. Hugo
  33. Jax
  34. Jonah
  35. Josiah
  36. Jude
  37. Kieran
  38. Kit
  39. Lazarus
  40. Leon
  41. Lincoln
  42. Mateo
  43. Micah
  44. Miles
  45. Nash
  46. Nico
  47. Nolan
  48. Oliver
  49. Orson
  50. Otis

The Most Popular Baby Girl Names in 2021

  • Billie

This shouldn’t come as a shock if you listen to pop music, but Billie is the most popular baby girl name in 2021. This is thanks to the fact that the singer Billie Eilish has smashed records with her hit songs such as “Bad Guy”. She is also the world’s second artist to take home four Grammys at the same time!

  • Nova

Another highly popular name for baby girls is Nova. This is the perfect name if you love gazing at the sky to admire the stars in all their beauty.

  • Adah

The most popular baby girl names in all history start with Ad. This includes the names of famous singers and actresses such as Adele, Adelina and Adelaide. In fact, the name “Ah-dah” is deeply rooted in religion being featured in the Bible.

Check out the list below to see what are the other top 50 most popular baby girl names according to Nameberry.

  1. Adelaide
  2. Allegra
  3. Amaya
  4. Anastasia
  5. Andromeda
  6. Anya
  7. Ariel
  8. Artemis
  9. Astra
  10. Aurelia
  11. Avalon
  12. Ayla
  13. Briar
  14. Camila
  15. Cecilia
  16. Clara
  17. Claudia
  18. Clover
  19. Cordelia
  20. Cosima
  21. Delia
  22. Eden
  23. Eliora
  24. Elodie
  25. Eloise
  26. Fia
  27. Harlow
  28. Indigo
  29. Ione
  30. Juniper
  31. Kiara
  32. Lara
  33. Luna
  34. Lyra
  35. Mabel
  36. Mira
  37. Myla
  38. Nyx
  39. Octavia
  40. Olive
  41. Persephone
  42. Piper
  43. Poppy
  44. Primrose
  45. Reign
  46. Sally
  47. Selah
  48. Sloane
  49. Theodora
  50. Willow

Filed Under: Parenting

5 Best Parenting Tips for 2021

January 27, 2021 by Angela Paris

The toughest part about the job of a parent is that it never ends. You are constantly learning new things that are teaching you how to connect with your kids and help them grow. I think it’s safe to say that all moms will agree with me when I say that while parenting might be exhausting, it is also rewarding. There’s nothing that will make you feel better than seeing your kids smile and this is why parenting needs to be done the right way! What’s tricky about parenting is that just like almost everything else, there are trends that you can follow.

The introduction of social media has helped trends spread faster than ever and if you are curious to see what are the latest parenting tips for 2021, then you have arrived at the right website. I have scoured the web in search for the best parenting tips for 2021 and today I am going to present it all to you! Without any further ado, let’s get into it.

#1 Sleep is Important!

In this day and age, social media has most people believing that we shouldn’t sleep more than six hours. All influencers are saying that we need to be productive and to work all day long. However, this is not the case for kids! Even though kids will hardly admit that they feel tired, you still need to set a bedtime that allows them to get enough sleep to grow healthy and strong.

The most important rule that you need to respect when setting the bedtime for your kids is to be consistent. However, you need to be strict about the bedtime and not let them oversleep. Luckily, this is not going to happen if you run a tight schedule and they get all the sleep and rest that they need during the regular bedtime hours.

#2 Control Your Emotions

While the previous parenting tip was about making sure that your kids are well rested, the second one on our list focuses on you. It’s easy to get angry or upset when your kids make a mess around the house. However, this doesn’t mean that staying angry or scolding them is a normal reaction. You should never let your emotions get the best of you. Responding in the heat of the moment is not going to lead to a good outcome.

Learning how to control your emotions is not easy, I’ll give you that. This takes practice but fortunately, it’s all worth it in the end. Your kids will appreciate you even more if you control your emotions and avoid overly-harsh punishments. Not just that, but you will become a great role model for your kids because you will show them that staying focused, consistent and calculated in your responses is the best way to act. This will be a valuable lesson that will help them succeed in life. Think of it this way, you will demonstrate the behavior that you want to see in them.

#3 Give Tasks to Your Kids

The biggest mistake that most parents make, especially new ones, is that they don’t ever give their kids any tasks. This is understandable, because you are simply trying to let them be free and have fun. Although, there is a downside to this. Your kids will not be ready for school or adult life if they are not taught how to deal with tasks and how to be responsible.

I am not saying that you should give them serious tasks, just small things that will make them feel useful and needed. If you remain consistent in your expectations, your kids will realize that that dealing with their tasks is important and that they should make it their top priority. Learning how to prioritize tasks is an essential skill to being successful in school.

#4 Weekly Family Meetings

One of the most popular parenting trends for 2021 is to prioritize family meetings. The meetings can take place once a week and the only rule is that the entire family needs to be there. It’s easy to get side tracked or stressed from work and go for weeks without spending precious time as a family. What’s great about weekly family meetings is that you can use them to have fun with your kids and also to talk about problems that your family needs to solve.

Are your kids fighting too often? Use the weekly family meeting to have a talk with them. Listen to their problems and help them understand what needs to be done. After you get done with the serious talk, you should whip out a board game and have some fun! This way, everyone will love it when the weekly family meeting comes around.

#5 Limit the Screen Time

We live in the age of technology and almost every kid has a tablet around the house that they can use to watch YouTube videos or listen to music. While using technology as entertainment for kids is not necessarily a bad thing, experts are saying too much screen time can have a significant impact on children brain development. Obviously, you don’t want this.

Learning to say no when your kids are crying because you are not allowing them to watch the TV or play games on their tablets might be tough and make you feel bad, but it’s for the greater good. Not just that, but kids these days often feel entitled to their parent’s smartphones. Saying “no” once in a while is only going to do them good.

Filed Under: Parenting

How to make YouTube Safer for kids

June 25, 2020 by Angela Paris

Back in the day, I used to spend my free time watching movies and cartoons on the TV. This was my favorite thing to do when I came home from school and truth be told, I wasted too many hours in front of the TV. Things are now worse for kids these days. They have access to YouTube, and this app consumes time like nothing else!

While YouTube might be an excellent app for kids to learn new stuff or watch entertaining shows, there is a dark side to YouTube. Thousands of videos are being uploaded on YouTube every single hour, and not all of them are kid-friendly. On the bright side of things, there are some things that you can do in order to make YouTube safer for kids, and today I am going to show you how!

#1 Turn Off the Search Feature

The developers who are in charge of YouTube know that not all of the app’s content is suitable for kids, and this is why they have created a special version of the app called “YouTube Kids.” What makes this app great is the fact that it gives you, the parent, more controls over the type of content that your kids can watch.

The first thing that you want to do is to disable the search feature. Without having access to this feature, your kids will only be able to watch videos that are deemed safe by the algorithms. The search function can be disabled by tapping on the “lock“ icon that is located in the lower right of the screen, enter your passcode, tap on “Settings”, select the kid profile and then toggle off “Search settings”.

#2 Report and Block Offensive Content

If your kids use your smartphone to watch YouTube, then one of the best things that you can do is to use the app and look at the list of videos that it recommends. If you see something that shouldn’t be there or that you consider offensive, then you should be pleased to know that you can get rid of it with a simple click. However, my advice is that you should also report and block the video.

The reason why you want to report offensive videos is that this is going to help improve the YouTube Kids algorithm. The software developers will know exactly what are the type of videos that you don’t want your kids or someone else’s kids to watch and automatically red flag them. Even though the YouTube Kids algorithm is super smart, there are some things that only a mother’s eyes can catch!

#3 Create Playlists

The best way to make sure that your kids only watch videos that are appropriate for their age and don’t stumble upon offensive content is to create playlists. Even though creating a playlist might take you some time to do, it’s worth it! You will have full control over all the videos that your kids can watch, and the YouTube Kids algorithm will not make any mistakes.

What’s great about creating playlists for YouTube is that the process is really simple. All that you need to do is to click on the “Add to” option at the bottom of the video and then create or select a playlist. The tricky part is to find kid-friendly videos. You can make this task easier by subscribing to family-friendly channels such as Disney, Pixar, The Muppets, and so on. The latest videos uploaded by these channels will be automatically added to the playlist.

#4 Set Up a Family Google Account

Another simple and effective way of monitoring the content that your kids are watching on YouTube and making sure that it is safe is to set up a family Google account. This might sound complicated, but I assure you that it’s super simple. The only thing that you need to do is to create a new Google account and tell your family to use it when watching YouTube. You don’t even have to tell your kids about it, manually sign in the family account into the device that they use to watch videos.

After setting up a family Google account, you will be able to see the history of all the videos that your kids are watching. Not just that, but you will also have access to recently downloaded videos. This email address will now become receive notifications from the channels that your kids are subscribed to.

Final Words

The job of a parent is challenging, and you need to stay up to date with all the latest apps if you want to make sure that your kids are not watching offensive videos. The last tip that I want to share with you is to watch YouTube with your kids. If you don’t have enough free time, you should pop up in their room from time to time and ask them what they are watching.

Filed Under: Parenting

Is Having Children with Large Age Gaps Better?

June 25, 2020 by Angela Paris

Some people like to have very tight age gaps between children wanting to ‘finish the job’ sooner rather than later. Other people love to keep the age gap as wide as possible. Of course, each group claims that their method is better. However, in real life, things aren’t so simple.

If you ask most moms, they will tell you that the latter option is the better one. As mentioned, it’s all down to you, but if you ask us, having children with large age gaps may truly be better. Why? There are many reasons for it.

You’ll Be a Mom to One

Probably the biggest perk for large age gaps between children, it will allow you to be the mom of one and focus on one child at a time. Raising children is stressful, and it can be quite the challenge when you have back-to-back children. You’ll be tired, they’ll be tired, and there’s a great chance it’ll be a train wreck of a ride for years. This is why many new moms prefer to have children that are years apart.

The Older Kid is Helpful

When you’re raising children, every little bit helps. It’s an exhausting job and you’ll need all the help you can get. So, even if the older kid just hands you over a diaper while you’re changing the little one, it will a lot of help. Plus, older siblings want to help with their younger sisters/brothers. It might not look like much, but trust us – it’ll help.

You Will Be Well Rested

Another major perk of having your children with a large age gap is that you’ll be (finally!) well rested. When you have children, sleep is a commodity and that goes double if you have two small kiddos. Having them 5 years apart, for example, will allow you to be well rested and more energetic about raising your kids.

Plus, you’ve already done it once and that helps as well.

These are just some of the perks of having your children with large age gaps. There are others as well, so don’t feel bad for having them 5 or more years apart. You’ll be well rested and more able to do your duties which is very important when raising children.

Filed Under: Parenting

What’s all the fuzz in Facebook Quiz and why you shouldn’t take that?

June 25, 2020 by Angela Paris

Are you a pizza or a taco? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I am sure that you have seen hundreds of this type of quizzes on Facebook that are advertised as “personality tests” but do you know that they are actually bad for you? Personality tests are all over social media, and kids are the ones that fall the most for them. After all, what kid wouldn’t want to see who is the superhero that he resembles the most? Even though these quizzes might seem safe and fun, this is not the case. They are actually used as a tool of the dark arts of politics.

Data leaks such as the infamous Cambridge Analytica fiasco have revealed that companies are using the popular tests to gather private information about you and your family members. This is why you or your kids should never take them. If you don’t know how these quizzes work and how scary they are, then you are doing the right thing by coming to our website. Today I am going to show you everything that you need to know about them.

Do Quizzes Really Collect Data?

These tests are fun, and this is why so many people fall for them. Not just that, but they seem harmless, and no one thinks that their data is being collected. However, this is all made clear when you pay attention to the permissions that quizzes ask. If you click on the “Allow” button for these quizzes, you are unknowingly allowing the developers to store all your answers and analyze them.

“Allowing [quiz name] access will let it pull your profile information, photos, your friends’ info, and other content that it requires to work.” And just beneath the “Allow” button is a statement that says, “By proceeding, you are allowing [quiz name] to access your information and you are agreeing to the Facebook Terms of Use,” says the fine print of these quizzes.

These quizzes are becoming such a massive problem that Facebook felt the need to update its Privacy Update Page in order to warn everyone about them. Here is what Facebook has to say:

“When you use third-party apps, websites or other services that use, or are integrated with, our Services, they may receive information about what you post or share. For example, when you play a game with your Facebook friends or use the Facebook Comment or Share button on a website, the game developer or website may get information about your activities in the game or receive a comment or link that you share from their website on Facebook. In addition, when you download or use such third-party services, they can access your Public Profile, which includes your username or user ID, your age range and country/language, your list of friends, as well as any information that you share with them. Information collected by these apps, websites or integrated services is subject to their own terms and policies.”

Credit Card Fraud

As if the fact that your private data is being stored to be sold by data farms wasn’t scary enough, there also are some quizzes that lead to credit card fraud. There are many quizzes where data collection is not the primary focus, and instead, these quizzes are trying to steal your hard-earned money. The way that they are doing this is by providing various rewards, and to get them, users will need to pay a small fee. What users don’t realize is that when they introduce their card info, all of it will be copied by the scammers.

How Do I Protect My Data?

The first step is to do your research and be weary of all quizzes that require personal information, which is what you are already doing here so congratz for that. The next step is to avoid and report all Facebook quizzes at all costs. Even though the theme of the quiz might be interesting, it’s never a good idea to give it a try.

Another critical piece of advice that I want to share with you is to delete old accounts and, more importantly, update your old passwords. If your passwords are based on your favorite pet or the name of your children for example, you should change your passwords as soon as possible because the scammers will use the info that you provided in the quiz to crack your account.

You should also make sure to check what is the information that a quiz or a Facebook plug-in request before accessing it. Some apps will give you the option to opt-out of these requests and still access their features, but if you are not paying attention, you will end up sharing more information that you want.

Filed Under: Blogging, Parenting

What motivates your kids?

February 12, 2020 by Angela Paris

Finding out what motivates your kids is not an easy task. Every parent is faced with this problem and convincing your kids to do things that they might not feel like doing is sometimes challenging. Learning how to motivate your kids is an important step towards becoming a great parent but more importantly, it will help them be successful in life. With the right motivation, the kids will be able to finish their homework in time and take care of their chores. If you are looking for the best motivational techniques, then you have arrived at the right place. Today I am going to show you what are the best ways to keep kids motivated.

#1 Giving Out Rewards is Not Good for the Long Term

This might come as a surprise, but giving out rewards is not always a good idea to motivate kids. This motivation method is considered a “temporary solution” by experts and the reason behind this is that what are you going to do when you run out of rewards?

“It is true that rewards will motivate people to do activities. But what happens is the behavior becomes dependent on the rewards and will stop when the rewards stop,” states Edward Deci is a Ph.D professor of psychology at the University of Rochester.

Think of it this way, would you be motivated to go to work if you didn’t get paid? This is why giving out rewards is not the way to do motivate your kids.

#2 Recognize Personal Achievements

One of the best ways to make your kids feel great for doing something that they were not necessarily feeling motivated about is to recognize their personal achievements. Most of the time, children desire to be viewed as competent and successful in all activities. This is why praising them for their hard work and making them feel good about themselves is always a better option than giving out rewards.

The tricky part about motivating your kids by recognizing their personal achievements is to be careful not to turn this into praise. If you find yourself giving praise to your kids for everything they do, they will soon stop feeling the sense accomplishment when dealing with bigger tasks. You should expect excellence because offering unearned praise will lead to losing overall motivation.

#3 Set Goals

Hands down, the fastest way to make someone feel motivated is to set short-term goals. This works for kids as well. Obviously, you don’t want your kids to be forced into one direction and the goals that you set for them should have a “loose grip”. What I mean by this is that you should set goals for them to work towards, but you should give them enough freedom to show their character strengths and what they like.

If you are not sure what goals you should set for your kids, then my advice would be to write down with pen on paper how you would like them to be when they grow up. Do you want them to be hard workers? Then, your goals should be focused on short-term goals that will teach them how good it feels to take care of chores in time.

#4 One-on-One Talks

Who else knows better what motivates your kids other than them? Kids can sometimes be difficult to “crack” because not all of them like talking openly about their feelings. This is where one-on-one talks come in. You should have meaningful conversations with your kids and learn what they like, what drives them and what makes them curios. Dr. Kennedy-Moore has a great way of explaining the importance of meaningful talks with kids.

The doctor picks a member from the audience and she tells him that she will give him $1,000 if he does a backflip. When the audience member declines to do the impossible task, Dr. Kennedy-Moore says: “Look how stubborn he is! I guess I need to be more firm with him”.

This why motivating your kids to do something that they excel at is more important than forcing them to focus on things that they don’t necessarily like or enjoy doing.

Final Words

If there is one thing that all parents will agree about, then it has to be the fact that no one is ever fully prepared for the job. Being a parent is the most difficult job in the world and learning how to do it right is a long process. As a conclusion, the best way to find out what motivates your kids is to talk to them and let them show you what drives them.

Filed Under: Parenting

Top 6 Best Indoor Activities with Kids

February 12, 2020 by Angela Paris

Finding something fun to do with your kids on a rainy day can be difficult. You can go visit the local museum or cinema, but what if the kiddos don’t feel like going out? Fortunately, there are lots of fun indoor activities that your kids will love. If you are out running out of ideas for fun indoor activities, then you have arrived the right place to get some inspiration. Today I am going to show you my top six best indoor activities.

#1 Laser Maze

If there is one thing that I learned during my days as a babysitter, then it has to be the fact that there is no better way for kids to spend their energy other than running around the house. However, running without a reason can get boring at times.

This is why you have to get creative with crepe paper and masking tape. These two items that cost less than $5 and you can use them to set up a laser maze in your hallway. Your kids will love feeling like spies in a Hollywood movie. To make things even more fun, you can tell them to play catch!

#2 Make a Blanket Fort

One of the fondest memories that I have from my childhood was when it started raining outside and my mother helped me build a blanket fort. This doesn’t take longer than ten minutes to set up and believe me, your kids are going to have a blast inside. You can also get a flashlight and make some funny shadow shapes such as a rabbit. However, the fastest way to turn a rainy day into the “most fun day ever” for your kids is to invite their best friends to have a sleepover in the fort.

#3 Board Games

The previous two activities are a blast for the kids, but what do you do if you want to get involved in the fun? This is where board games come in. There are lots of family board games that are fun to play. Although, this is not the only thing that board games do. They also help develop your kid’s cleverness while having a good laugh. If you don’t know which board games to pick for your family, then you might want to check out this guide.

#4 Play Hide and Seek

Even though playing hide and seek might not be as complicated to set up as creating a laser maze, it’s still super fun. If you have more than one kid, then playing hide and seek is the perfect indoor activity for your family. If you don’t, then you can simply call your neighbors and tell them to bring their kids over. What you should keep in mind is that even if the kids are not too difficult to find, you should still make a big fuss about how well they are hidden.

#5 Read a Children’s Book

Who says that reading books can’t be fun? Even if your kids are too small to read or they don’t want to, you can still turn reading into a fun family activity. Cuddle up in a blanket and start reading together a children’s book. If you want to make this fun activity something regular, then you can pick a lengthy series such as Harry Potter or the Chronicles of Narnia. Learning about the adventures of Harry Potter is going to teach them valuable lessons about life.

#6 Play Charades

The last indoor activity that I want to share with you is playing charades. This is one of the most fun games ever made and what’s great about it is the fact that your family is going to laugh a lot. Seeing their mommy or daddy pretend to sing is going to make the kids laugh harder than any cartoon! To top it all off, you don’t have to spend any of your hard-earned money to purchase charades because the game is also available as an app for smartphones.

Final Words

These have been my top six best indoor activities with kids. I hope that I have inspired you to make these cold winter days more fun for your kids. If you are looking for more activities, then you can check out this article.

Filed Under: Home & Life, Parenting, Uncategorized

Gadgets for the Whole Family

February 4, 2020 by Angela Paris

It’s the new year and we’re turning to a new decade. Aren’t we all fond of ‘something new’ as the new year starts? Well, if you’re still on the hunt for your something new, I got you and I promise they will not break your bank! 

Your something new should be something everyone in the family can use, may it be for a good bonding time, studying, or even a little bit of work-related stuff. With that said, there’s only one thing that comes to my mind, gadgets for the whole family. How does that sound to you? Well, they can be expensive, that’s for sure. But what if I tell you that there are a couple of tips and tricks to afford these items. In fact, you might not feel that you’re paying at all! If this sounds interesting for you, then read on. I’ve compiled my top 3 gadget picks for you.

Gaming Console

What better way to keep your kids entertained other than with a gaming console? Believe me, the kids are not the only ones who will enjoy having this device in the living room. Your husband will have a blast with it too! Microsoft’s Xbox One is the one featured in the image above and the great thing about it is that Xbox One users can access subscriptions that offer hundreds of amazing games.

Smart TV 

On the second spot on our list, we have, the Smart TVs. Whether it is for your room or for your living area, there is no doubt that a smart TV is a great addition to your home. Keep your kiddos occupied in the tune of Disney movies while you tidy those legos up. Then catch up with your favorite Netflix series at night or pull off a movie Sundays with the whole fam. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with this one. 

Laptop 

The last on our list is a laptop. This one will definitely be beneficial for you and the whole family. Not only that it can be used for entertainment, this can also be used for research and work-related tasks. Plus the new models of laptops now are just as thin and light as an iPad.

How to Afford All of This? 

Now that we’ve talked about my top 3 picks, let’s talk about how we can afford this without hurting the budget. If you went on a gift shopping spree during the Christmas holidays and now the budget is tighter than usual, then you should be pleased to know that there is a way to afford all the products featured on our list. The trick is to use buy now pay later catalogues. Pick payment plans that works for you, whether it is weekly or monthly. You can spread the cost of your new gadget without a deposit. Isn’t that a life saver?

Filed Under: Home & Life, Nerd Stuff, Parenting, Tech

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