2Sep2018
Kids Development, Music and Children's Development
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September 2, 2018

via Sacramento Press: Are you looking for an after-school activity for your child?

Do you want to appeal to their artistic abilities as well as provide them with tools to succeed in other parts of life?

If so, strongly consider enrolling your child in piano lessons.

Obviously designed around artistic talent and music ability, piano does offer more to learn than just the keys. There are many ways children who take piano grow to become well-rounded, successful adults in their studies and relationships.

Read on to learn the 4 benefits of piano lessons for children:

1. Children Learn Hard Work and Discipline
Ask any musician and they will tell you the key to success is practice, practice, practice.

Learning piano takes the dedication to sit down and concentrate. It takes committing to something when you are not being told to or checked on.

Committed students learn the value of their efforts and go on to apply discipline in reaching any goal, not just learning a new song.

They also learn to try again. Piano is not something one easily picks up, and by sticking to lessons and practice, children see the value in learning from mistakes and having perseverance.

2. Piano Lessons Improve Performance in School
Perhaps one of the most valuable benefits of piano lessons are the boosts in cognitive skills.

Children with musical training go on to have stronger neural connections, better memory and IQ, and better information processing.

In essence, the time spent learning notes and songs primes their short and long-term memory for academic use later on. Particularly in math and science, piano students shine in their ability to pick up patterns and understand abstract concepts.

3. Music Builds Strong Emotional and Social Awareness
Music is meant to make us feel something. Children in piano lessons are taught to listen for the emotions a certain piece is trying to create.

As children learn to pick up such effects from changes in music tones, they are actually becoming more aware of how voices change depending on a situation.

This makes them more likely to pick up when someone is angry or upset, as well as happy or surprised. Being able to notice such differences makes them more empathetic in their relationships.

4. Learning Piano Builds Confidence
After taking individual or group lessons, there is always time for a performance.

Playing in front of an audience teaches children confidence by making them shake their nerves and trust in their ability. This shines true in many areas of life later on from sports to academics and careers.

Confidence is also built by criticism.

Piano students will often receive corrections from their instructor or their peers, and the more they learn to accept and work on their faults, the better off they will be.

Learning to give and receive critique reminds students no one is perfect and helps them turn negative experiences into something positive.

1Sep2018
Kids Development
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September 1, 2018

via catbehaviorassociates: For many parents, the idea of kids and cats together is an absolute natural. For other parents though, it’s a scary thought that may get the family cat a one-way ticket to the local shelter.

Children and cats can be wonderful companions for each other. My kids have had the most loving, playful, endearing relationships with the cats in our lives. These relationships didn’t just happen by accident though. We prepared, educated and set up an environment that was both kid-safe and cat-safe.

As with any companion animal in the family, it’s crucial to use common sense, set up safeguards and create an environment that provides security for everyone. This isn’t just unique to cats – it applies to any companion animal you bring into the house where you also have children. The key is to prepare in advance and then continue to monitor and educate. To get you started, here are 10 things that every parent should know when it comes to cats and kids living together.

1. Don’t Get Rid of the Cat
Surprised? Don’t be, because many expectant parents panic about having a litter box in the house during pregnancy after being told by their doctors that if a pregnant woman touches cat feces it will harm the fetus. Sadly, parents are given inaccurate information and they end up getting rid of the cat in a total panic. Here’s the truth: there is a disease called toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite toxoplasma gondii, that can result in birth abnormalities in the fetus. Just about all warm-blooded animals, including humans are susceptible to this common parasite but cats are the primary host carriers and shed the oocysts through their feces. The accurate information is that the oocysts don’t become infective right away after being shed so if the litter box is scooped twice a day, it will greatly reduce the risk. Pregnant women should have other family members do the litter box duties to be on the safe side. If you’re pregnant and must do litter box duty, wear disposable gloves, a face mask and wash your hands afterwards. The most important way to prevent infection is to practice good hygiene and common sense. Additionally, the risk of toxoplasmosis is actually greater by the improper handling of raw meat or using the same cutting board for vegetables/fruit that you use for cutting meat. The best way to prevent toxoplasmosis is to educate all family members about washing hands and using proper care in the kitchen and when cleaning the litter box. Make sure all fruits and vegetables are washed before eating, don’t allow your cat to eat raw meat and keep your cat indoors. Infection is probably more likely to occur with a cat who is allowed outdoors where he can ingest infected prey, dig in infected soil or come in contact with the feces of an infected cat. Speak to your veterinarian for more information on toxoplasmosis but please don’t get rid of your cat. Be informed and you’ll discover the risk is very small compared to the everyday risk you face by handling and/or eating raw or undercooked meat.

2. Prepare Your Cat in Advance
If you’re expecting a baby and you already have a cat, there are many things you can do to help prepare him in advance for this major life change. Use your “think like a cat” perspective and imagine how confusing it would be for a cat to suddenly find major changes taking place to his environment (in the form of nursery and baby furniture) and then all of a sudden there’s another person in the home and this person squeals loudly and smells unfamiliar.

Prepare your cat by starting the nursery early so you can do it gradually. Get your cat comfortable with sound and motion-generating baby equipment by having them out long before the baby arrives. You can also take time to do interactive play sessions in the rooms where objects are that may cause concern for your cat – such as a baby swing or exersaucer.

The mother-to-be can start wearing baby powder and lotion to help the cat become familiar with the scent.

Get on a schedule of playtime with your cat that you’ll be able to maintain once the baby arrives. Don’t make the mistake of going overboard on being attentive to your cat now. Cats thrive on a consistent schedule and familiar routine. Make sure the level of attention to show your cat now will be able to be maintained after the baby arrives.

If you know any neighbors or friends who have young babies, do some training sessions where a friend visits with her baby while you do some casual playtime with your cat and help him get familiar with the sight, sound and smell of babies. Doing it in short increments it will be much less overwhelming as opposed to surprising him later with a baby in the house 24/7.

3. Create a Cat-Friendly Environment
This really comes down to two aspects: the ability to escape and the ability to have access to kid-free zones. This will be crucial when the baby becomes mobile. Your cat needs to be able to climb up to an elevated area (typically, a cat tree or perch) that is out of reach of baby’s fingers. If your cat has a safe and comfortable perch where he can watch the household activity without having to be in the center of it, he’ll feel much less stressed. Cats prefer to escape rather than engage in conflict so if you make sure your cat has multiple avenues to get to elevated, safe areas, it will greatly decrease the chance of an unwanted encounter.

As for kid-free zones, these will be where your cat sleeps, eats and eliminates. Make sure that when your cat is either napping, chowing down or using the litter box, he doesn’t have to worry about a toddler suddenly appearing around the corner. The litter box should be in a room that is off limits to the young child. You can easily do this by installing a baby gate. You can either cute a hole in the gate just large enough for the cat to get through or you can raise the raise off the ground enough for kitty to sneak in underneath. Another option is to place a stool or box on the other side of the gate so the cat can jump the gate and land on the elevated surface on the other side.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that installing a covered litter box will keep the cat safe. All a covered box will accomplish is to potentially make your cat feel trapped and confined.

4. Adult Supervision
With babies and young children, make sure you’re always supervising when the child is in a position where she can come in contact with the cat. The crib, for example, should be a cat-free zone. Actually, when it comes to infants, nothing should be in the crib – not a blanket, stuffed toy or pillow. A cat may naturally find the crib a cozy place to nap, especially if he can curl up next to the sleeping infant, so make sure the nursery door remains closed during naptime or use a crib tent.

As the baby gets older and is enticed by the cat’s tail as he walks by, there’s a chance someone may get hurt. Supervision is always needed when babies or small children are in the same room with the family pet. Even the most tolerant animal may react defensively if he feels under attack or experiences sudden, unexpected pain from having a tail yanked, fistful of hair grabbed or an ear pulled.

5. Monitor Your Cat’s Health
I’m a mother of two children and so I completely understand that there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. I frequently feel as if I’m just playing catch-up. Parents’ plates are very full but it’s important to make sure that the cat’s health is monitored and maintained. It can be easy to forget to notice that kitty didn’t get his flea protection for the month and is now covered in fleas or that he didn’t get his nails trimmed and one or two nails are growing back around into the paw pad. Even if you have to write notes on the calendar to remind yourself to brush him, clip nails, or attend to other duties, make sure you continue to pay attention to his health needs and can act quickly if something unexpected comes up (such as a wound or illness).

Keep in mind that animals who are in pain are more likely to react defensively when touched and they also may display behavior changes. If your cat appears short-tempered around the child, cries out when touched or displays aggression, if could be that there is an undetected health issue going on. It could be an undetected abscess, a bad tooth, a urinary tract problem, a sore paw, you name it. If your normally sweet-tempered and tolerant cat displays a change in behavior, it’s time for a trip to the veterinary clinic for an exam.

6. Maintain Your Cat’s Normal Routine
Cats don’t like change so to avoid adding extra stress, keep on the normal feeding and playtime schedule. This isn’t the time to have your cat become an afterthought when it comes to meals or time spent with you. If you’re unable to do a play session with the cat, make sure another family member can. Introduce puzzle feeders to your cat as a way to incorporate extra playtime when you’re busy feeding or care for the baby. The cat is an important member of your family and he deserves to continue to receive the care, love and attention he’s used to.

7. Teach Children How to Pet and Interact With the Cat
It’s natural for children to be attracted to and want to grab onto the furry cat. A toddler needs to be taught how to pet with an open hand. Take the time to teach your children how animals should be handled, how to read body language (for children age appropriate) so they know when a cat is giving distance-increasing signals, and when/where cats should be left alone.

8. Teach Compassion and Empathy Toward Cats
To your child, the cat may look like the stuffed animal she plays with, so it’s important to teach about compassion and understanding how animals have feelings, experience pain, fear, confusion and of course, love. Dressing the cat up in doll clothes and stuffing him into a stroller may make for a funny picture but it can be very stressful and frightening for the cat and can lead to fear of being around your children. The sooner you teach your children about how to love and care for animals compassionately, the more likely they’ll develop a life-long love of these precious companions.

9. The Cat Isn’t a Child’s Responsibility
Many times a child begs the parents for a pet with the promise of being the one who will take full responsibility. Don’t allow a cat to suffer because the child falls short in her responsibility or is really too young to know what the animal needs. A cat shouldn’t be left with an empty water bowl because the child forgot to fill it. Children are also not able to monitor the cat’s health, changes in appetite, litter box habits or behavior. Give your children age-appropriate duties but be sure to monitor so the cat never suffers from a child’s forgetfulness or neglect.

10. Model the Behavior You Want to See in Your Child
If you want your children to be tender with the cat, then be sure you are displaying the very behavior yourself. Don’t fall in the trap of getting frustrated and lashing out at a cat who scratches the furniture or jumps on the counter and then finding yourself upset when your children react the same way. Let your children see how much you love and care for the companion animals in the family and you’ll be paving the way for them to do the same.

31Aug2018
Kids Development, Parenting Tips
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August 31, 2018

via Shakespeare: Fishing with kids is a great family outdoors activity. To make the experience fun, safe and pressure free, consider these 10 steps.

1. SCOUT FOR LOCATIONS
Fishing means catching fish. Whether you plan to fish from a boat, shore or a dock, scout out locations where fish are plentiful.

The local tackle shop is a great place to get some help. If possible, bring the kids along when you visit the store. Have them observe while you ask for pointers on where to go, productive baits for the area, and information on fishing regulations and fishing licenses.

2. GET READY
Organizing gear in advance minimizes stress. Check as you pack: fishing gear, snacks, drinks, water, sunscreen, bug repellant, rain jackets, hats, first-aid kit, sunglasses.

3. FISH SAFE
Safety must come first. Life jackets, while sometimes uncomfortable, are a must for kids around water. Hooks have barbs so should only be handled by adults. If you prefer, barbs can be pinched down. Shakespeare’s Hide-A-Hook Float is a great device that hides the hook within the bobber for safer casting.

4. TALK TACTICS
Boys and girls alike are naturally curious, so explain how a float works and moves when a fish bites. If casting jigs, tug on the line while the child holds the rod to simulate a hit. Demonstrate setting the hook, emphasizing that like any skill, in takes time to learn.

5. GET A GRIP
Teach kids how to grip the handle of the rod keeping it in front of them in a 9 to 11 o’clock position. Explain how the reel handle turns and how to react to a bite.

6. CAST AWAY
A sidearm cast, not an overhead, is better and safer for kids. Here’s an overview:

  • Shoulder-check no one’s in harm’s way
  • Bring the rod back keeping it above the waist
  • Swing the rod forward while flicking the wrist and releasing the line prior to the rod pointing at the target
  • End with rod pointing at target
  • Offer lots of encouragement for young casters

7. GEAR FOR SUCCESS
Success can result from the simplicity of a bait and bobber on a lightweight rod. Buy a quality spinning or spin-cast combo between 3’6″ to 5′ and spool the reel with 6-pound monofilament line.

8. USE ARTIFICIAL BAITS
Worm and minnow soft-baits are durable and won’t spoil. Rig baits on a 1/32- to 1/8-ounce jig. Marabou or tinsel crappie jigs also work well.

A jig dangled beneath a small float and occasionally twitched is an effective tactic for youngsters. For kids who want to become more engaged, teach them a slow reeling or hopping jig retrieve.

9. PLAY AND LAND
Learning to fish takes patience. Coach kids how to slowly and steadily play fish, stopping when the fish is at the water’s surface. Encourage kids to independently land a fish quickly or to ask for help. Once the catch is out of the water and admired with photos secured, demonstrate proper release methods. If it’s fish for dinner, explain selective harvesting.

10. HAVE FUN
Fishing should be always be fun. Keep this objective in mind and regardless of the number of fish caught, each outing will be a success.

30Aug2018
Kids Development
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August 30, 2018

via Childmind: Most young children are aware of death, even if they don’t understand it. Death is a common theme in cartoons and television, and some of your child’s friends may have already lost a loved one. But experiencing grief firsthand is a different and often confusing process for kids. As a parent, you can’t protect a child from the pain of loss, but you can help him feel safe. And by allowing and encouraging him to express his feelings, you can help him build healthy coping skills that will serve him well in the future.

Kids grieve differently

After losing a loved one, a child may go from crying one minute to playing the next. His changeable moods do not mean that he isn’t sad or that he has finished grieving; children cope differently than adults, and playing can be a defense mechanism to prevent a child from becoming overwhelmed. It is also normal to feel depressed, guilty, anxious, or angry at the person who has died, or at someone else entirely.

Very young children may regress and start wetting the bed again, or slip back into baby talk.

Encourage a child grieving to express feelings

It’s good for kids to express whatever emotions they are feeling. There are many good children’s books about death, and reading these books together can be a great way to start a conversation with your child. Since many children aren’t able to express their emotions through words, other helpful outlets include drawing pictures, building a scrapbook, looking at photo albums, or telling stories.

Be developmentally appropriate

It is hard to know how a child will react to death, or even if he can grasp the concept. Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer his questions. Very young children often don’t realize that death is permanent, and they may think that a dead loved one will come back if they do their chores and eat their vegetables. As psychiatrist Gail Saltz explains, “Children understand that death is bad, and they don’t like separation, but the concept of ‘forever’ is just not present.”

Older, school-age children understand the permanence of death, but they may still have many questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly. It’s okay if you can’t answer everything; being available to your child is what matters.

Be direct

When discussing death, never use euphemisms. Kids are extremely literal, and hearing that a loved one “went to sleep” can be scary. Besides making your child afraid of bedtime, euphemisms interfere with his opportunity to develop healthy coping skills that he will need in the future.

Attending the funeral

Whether or not to attend the funeral is a personal decision that depends entirely on you and your child. Funerals can be helpful for providing closure, but some children simply aren’t ready for such an intense experience. Never force a child to attend a funeral. If your child wants to go, make sure that you prepare him for what he will see. Explain that funerals are very sad occasions, and some people will probably be crying. If there will be a casket you should prepare him for that, too

Keep in mind that even the best-prepared child might get upset, and his behavior can be unpredictable. “Kids will not behave in a way that you might want or expect,” Dr. Saltz notes. “If you decide that a funeral is not the best way, there are other ways to have a goodbye.” Planting a tree, sharing stories, or releasing balloons can all be good alternatives for providing closure to a child.

Discussing an afterlife

The idea of an afterlife can be very helpful to a grieving child, observes Dr. Saltz. If you have religious beliefs about the afterlife, now is the time to share them. But even if you aren’t religious you can still comfort your child with the concept that a person continues to live on in the hearts and minds of others. You can also build a scrapbook or plant something that represents the person you have lost.

Don’t ignore your own grief

Children will often imitate the grieving behavior of their parents. It is important to show your emotions as it reassures children that feeling sad or upset is okay. However, reacting explosively or uncontrollably teaches your child unhealthy ways of dealing with grief.

Stick to routines

Children find great comfort in routines, so if you need some time alone, try to find relatives or friends who can help keep your child’s life as normal as possible Although it is important to grieve over the death of a loved one, it is also important for your child to understand that life does go on.

Some specific situations

For many children the death of a pet will be their first exposure to death. The bonds that children build with their pets are very strong, and the death of a family pet can be intensely upsetting. Don’t minimize its importance, or immediately replace the dead pet with a new animal. Instead, give your child time to grieve for his dog or cat.This is an opportunity to teach your child about death and how to deal with grieving in a healthy and emotionally supportive way.

The death of a grandparent is also a common experience for young children, and it may bring up many questions, such as, “Will my mom be next?” It is important to tell your child that you will probably live for a long time.

After the death of a parent, children will naturally worry about the death of the remaining parent or other caretakers. Reassure a child that he is loved and will always be cared for. It is a good idea to rely on family members during this time to help provide additional nurturing and care. Dr. Saltz also recommends therapy in the case of a significant death, such as the death of a parent or sibling. “Therapy provides another outlet for talking when a child may feel like he can’t talk with other family members, because they are grieving as well.”

Treating serious problems

If you notice that your child seems unusually upset and unable to cope with grief and his loss, he may have something called adjustment disorder. Adjustment disorder is a serious and distressing condition that some children develop after experiencing a painful or disruptive event. It is a good idea to consult your child’s doctor if you feel that your child isn’t recovering from a loss in a healthy way.

25Aug2018
Kids Development
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August 25, 2018

via Huffpost: As parents, we must teach our children the realities of life. Life hurts us, people hurt us, we hurt other people and we hurt ourselves. That is what relationships and life are about. The sooner we let our children in on this secret, the healthier their life-approach will be. We must teach that life is not built to be fair. The relationships our children have will, for certain, be their greatest teachers of love and pain. They will never need to use forgiveness more than in their relationships. Forgiveness is many things — but we also must teach that forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation. It is not about condoning harms which have been done. Forgiveness is about taking power back.

5 Ways To Empower Our Children:

1. Let go of the need for closure.
When we have been hurt, we want people to be sorry for what they did. We get so hooked into this that we put our happiness on hold until we get this “apology.” Our children need to understand these apologies rarely come, and each day they are waiting to feel good until they get the apology they believe they need is another day wasted on a person who doesn’t deserve their head space. Closure comes from within and in their ability to let go and move on.

2. Accept what has been done.
What is done is done. They have already been hurt; the attack has happened, and no amount of their anger or sadness can or will change that. We have to teach them that when they can accept there is no way to reverse the damage, they can move on and not give any more time to something they cannot change. This liberates and brings the power to determine their own worth back to them.

3. Grateful thinking.
It is important to teach the “sliver lining” theory to our children. There is positive thinking and negative thinking; each can be an extreme path to take after we have been hurt. There is something disingenuous about a strictly positive thinker, because life is hard and to be positive all the time is not realistic — and to be consumed in negative thought is simply a lack of effort. Grateful thinking is that middle ground where we teach our children to accept life on life’s terms and to find the good in the painful and in the wonderful.

4. Forgiving is a verb.
We need to teach our children the importance of time when they have been hurt, because hurts don’t usually heal quickly. Forgiveness is not an event; it is a process. Their feelings are going take time to process, and they need to know this is OK. Their emotions are healthy and they, like us, need to experience the full range of emotions when they have been betrayed before they can get clear about what they need to do next.

5. We come through every hurt stronger.
If we can show our children that how things are supposed to be is often very different from how they turn out, this will help them develop a realistic and mature view of life and people. With each hurt, our children have the opportunity to turn a grievance into a success. We must show them their emotions are natural, and that they grow the most by being more human (feeling emotions), not by being less human (acting like they don’t care).

We owe it to our children to teach them that forgiveness is the continual process of understanding that, no matter how much they want to have life lived according to their ideas of fairness, it doesn’t work that way. When they can see forgiveness doesn’t always mean taking a person back who has hurt them, they can breathe. All forgiveness means is accepting that what happened cannot be changed and no amount of their pain, anguish or anger is going to undo what was done.

Little Life Message: Teach your children that their best revenge is to move on and find their happy.

24Aug2018
Kids Development, Parenting Tips
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August 24, 2018

via Fishing. boy’s life:

You don’t need to buy expensive fishing gear for kids to start fishing. Even a simple setup can catch a ton of fish, according to fishing pro Tom Redington. The key is to keep the fishing kit small and light — light pole, light line, line bobber — and kids will have more fun and catch more fish.

Start with a small hook. Although it seems like a big hook would work better, a little hook is much more effective at catching the smaller fish and can still hook the big ones. Next, put a little split shot weight just a few inches above the hook, followed by a small bobber.

Smaller bobbers are more sensitive, so choose one that’s just big enough to hold up the weight of the sinker. Clip the bobber about a foot from the end of the line. By keeping the bobber pretty shallow, you’ll avoid snags and keep your bait visible to fish that are looking up to feed.

The line should also be light. Six-pound test is universal, but anything between four- to eight-pound test line will work great to catch crappie, bass, catfish and panfish.

An entry-level rod and reel is fine for kids or beginners. Click here for more information about choosing a fishing rod.

23Aug2018
Kids Development, Parenting Tips
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August 23, 2018

via Parenting Chaos: Planning a road trip? When it comes to planning a family vacation there is no such thing as being over prepared. By planning ahead parents can avoid many meltdowns and tantrums along with being ready to handle any bumps in the road.

How to Prepare for a Road Trip with Kids:

1. Pack Lightly
Traveling with kids requires packing a ton of stuff. When deciding what comes and what goes, think minimalist. A car that is overflowing with stuff will do nothing but add stress to everyone. Keep to the bare essentials and try to stick to items that are designed specifically for travel. Trust me you just do not want your car to be overflowing with junk…

(I just could not even begin to imagine traveling like this…)

2. Pack Snacks:
There is nothing worse than hungry kids. When it comes to eating on the road there might not always be a fast food joint or store easily available. Plus who really wants their kids fueling up on only fast food? A small car cooler packed with healthy snack options is an easy way to save money on your trip while making sure your family is eating right. As an added plus car coolers typically fit beautifully in between captain seats and can be used as a table space or some may even have additional cup holders.

3. Pack Quiet Car Activities:
Simple activities that your kids can play on their own in the car will be your friend! Some of our favorites for traveling are our DIY Paint Chip Puzzles, DIY Lacing Cards, and DIY Story Book Puzzles. Making your own toys, games, and busy bags for travel is an awesome way to save money!

4. Electronics are your friend!

Family road-trips aren’t a daily occurrence, because of this we are a lot more lenient about our screen time rules when traveling. There are going to be parts of your trip where there is no where to stop, nothing to look at, and bored kids. Packing electronics gives your child access to eBooks (you can find an amazing amount of eBooks for free), movies, and even educational games. Most smart phones can act as a hot spot, and most cellular plans will allow you to up data for a month (just remember to call to knock it back down after the trip)! Also your local library is a great resource for finding movies or eBooks for your trip.

5. Avoid the Flat tire!
A flat tire when traveling is already miserable. Add kids into the mix…and yeah, you don’t want to go there! No one wants to be stuck on the side of the road with kids in the car, especially when hundreds of miles away from home!

It’s always a good idea to have your car checked and tuned before you head out on a long road trip. Make sure you get your oil changed, your car systems checked, and your tires looked over. If you’re tires are getting a little bald, you’ll want to get those changed before your trip.

Sam’s Club is a great place to get those new tires. A Sam’s Club membership continues to get you unbeatable summer deals on everything, including auto & tire services! On these tire brands Sam’s Club has the best all-in price (or will match offer): Michelin, Goodyear, BF Goodrich and Pirelli. Not only do they have low prices on tires and offer a great value on their Tire Installation Package* ($15/tire, $25/dually tire) but my favorite part is that they offer emergency roadside tire service — for three years from the date of purchase, members have 24-hour toll free access for emergency tire change service! A great deal for us moms!

Other services available to active Sam’s Club Members are:

  • Tire Mounting
  • Tire Lifetime Balancing
  • Tire Lifetime Rotation
  • A Value Stem
  • No Charge Tire Lifetime Flat Repair

How Sam’s Club’s #DareToCompare offer works: Bring a valid “all-in” quote from a tire sales and installation retailer to your Sam’s Club Tire and Battery Center service counter. The quote must be printed on dealer/retailer letterhead and dated within the past 7 business days. The tire must be the same brand, same line, same load index and speed rating (service description) as the tire intended for purchase at Sam’s Club. Sam’s Club carries some club-specific tire lines – in these cases, Sam’s Club will compare the club-specific tire line to the equivalent general-market tire line.

16Aug2018
Kids Development
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August 16, 2018

via Adventuroo: Big roller coasters, little spinny rides, water slides with lots of twists.

Amusement park rides can be lots of fun, but sometimes kids are a little hesitant to give a ride a try. Okay, more like a little hesitant to an all-out FREAK OUT about riding something new to them. This summer, we took a mini-vacation up to Williamsburg and hit both Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. And that’s exactly what happened.

My kids were scared of way more than I expected. I’m not even talking about big, crazy roller coasters. Even some of the small, gentler rides. The ones you know they’d just love if they’d try them.

By the end of our trip though, they made progress and each rode at least one thing out of their comfort zone. Here are my favorite tips for encouraging your kids to try new rides (and what to do if they don’t):

1. Point Out Kids Coming Off Rides Laughing and Smiling
A friend on Facebook shared this tip with me and it does help to ease their anxiety! We did this with everything from small rides to water slides. Knowing that other kids their size were enjoying the ride can make kids feel more at ease with getting on a new ride.

Just be sure to frame this positively, versus acting like those kids are brave and your kid is not. Remember you can still have a great time at the park without going on all the rides!

2. Try Smaller Rides First
I know that’s kind of like “duh,” but remember that a kid isn’t going to conquer their fear of rides with the blink of an eye. Marathon, not a sprint and all that. Head straight to the main kiddie ride section and let your child try some of the miniature versions of the bigger rides.

At Busch Gardens, we made a beeline to the Sesame Street Forest of Fun and spent a good half hour or more riding things like a mini roller coaster, mini pendulum ride, and mini drop tower. My five-year-old Ethan was eager to try the mini roller coaster but was white as a sheet after it. However, he LOVED the drop tower (Elmo’s Spire) and rode it about 5 times!

The eight-year-old Noah loved BOTH the roller coaster and the drop tower. He didn’t go on the grown-up drop tower, but he DID try a grown-up roller coaster. (No he didn’t like it — see #3 — but he went back to ride the one in the kids’ area. I call that progress!)

3. Know What the (Big) Rides Are REALLY Like
If you’re hoping your kiddo will ride something with you, but he’s unsure, try riding it first if the lines permit. Or at least pick a coaster or ride where you can see the entire thing so you can point out what the ride does. Many amusement parks will let you do parent swap, meaning you can ride, then switch parents and go to the quick queue or fast pass type line. Lots of times this is so each parent can ride with a child if another child can’t/won’t ride, but we also did this with just the adults (i.e. hubby rides a coaster, then I do). Saves lots of time.

I speak from first hand experience about testing a potentially scary ride first! When we were at Busch Gardens, I tried to research which roller coaster would be a good one for my eight year old to try. From the pictures on the website, one particular roller coaster looked tamer than the others. Even in person, it looked tame. BOY WAS I WRONG.

My oldest son went on with his dad and came off shaking his head at how horrible it was! LOTS of dark tunnels with creepy eyes and the worst… an 88-ft drop in the dark. The website said “plunge” but I pictured a roller-coaster-like plunge, not a oh-my-gah-my-heart-stopped drop. Oops. (It’s Verbolten, in case you’re wondering.) He didn’t ride a big roller coaster after that (but he DID conquer his fear of the carousel-style swings).

4. Understand What They Are Fearing (in some cases it has nothing to do with the ride… AND it’s not even fear)
When we were at both Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, there were times when the five-year-old started crying that he didn’t want to ride something. We stayed in line and starting probing to see what was up. Turns out one time he just wanted some popcorn, and in other cases, he was just being a typical impatient kid and didn’t want to stand there and wait. In those cases, we were able to move past the “issue” and he LOVED the rides.

5. Point Out the Safety Features
Kids are often scared because they don’t understand how the rides work. My oldest asked me how the roller coasters stay on the tracks so I pointed out how the coasters are connected to the rails. I also explained how the harnesses lock so you can’t fall out. The kids had ALL sorts of questions about the roller coaster my husband and I both rode. I mean just look at the thing! Answer the questions as best as you can. You never know if it might help ease their anxiety about a ride.

6. Nudge but Never Force
I can’t stress this one enough! You DON’T want your kid’s memory to be of you forcing them on something that scared them to death.

In one case during our trip, we got right up to the top of a water slide — almost ready to get in a tube — and my five year old was squealing and pitching a fit. He had just gone down a similar slide, but he wasn’t having any of it. Knowing the ride DID have some dark tunnels and was mostly enclosed, I didn’t force him on the ride. I didn’t want to be THAT MOM. Instead, I walked him all the way back down and let the other my hubs and older son ride it.

There’s a difference between nudging a child and forcing one. Knowing when to back down can be the difference between a happy memory and a not-so-happy one.

My five-year-old was also hesitant to get on the Sky Ride that transports you from one part of the park to another. He’s been on ferris wheels before so I KNEW he’d be okay once got on. We talked about all riding it together and it would save him from walking. By the time we got to the front of the line, he was ready to get in… and getting a green bucket to ride in was icing on the cake (his fave color). He loved it and was bummed when we had to get off.

7. Revisit the Idea Later
Like I said, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. As the day (or days) go on, your child might decide they want to try a ride they were once too scared to go on. The more you’re at an amusement park, the more the newness wears off and they become more comfortable.

The eight-year-old didn’t want to go on the big carousel-style swings at first. He was willing to go on the kiddie ones but there was one problem… he was too big for them! So the little guy happily rode those.

Seeing his younger brother ride the little ones, I asked if he wanted to try the big swings and suggested we could ride in the double seats. It was a go! Turns out to be a favorite ride (and he rode it twice)!

We also found the kids had less fear overall with the water slides at Water Country USA than the rides at Busch Gardens.

8. Let It Go
Take it from Elsa. There’s something to be said for encouraging your child to conquer a fear, but you need to be the ultimate judge and know when to back off. Some kids might get to a place where they enjoy the faster rides. Other kids? Never.

There are still plenty of other things to do at amusement parks beside the rides!<

How Does Your Kid Like Amusement Park Rides?
When it’s all said and done, some of these might work and some might not. Each child is different and some have an easier time conquering fears than others.

Above all, remember these two words: PATIENCE and FUN. Have patience while encouraging them at the same time. And above all, you can all still have fun without riding a lot. Fun shows, sugary snacks, train rides, games… there’s still a lot to do at an amusement park.

I’d love to hear your experience with your kids at amusement parks!

15Aug2018
ADHD in kids, Kids Development
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August 15, 2018

via eileenburns: The challenges of a hyperactive child or child with ADHD
Hyperactivity is a state of mental, emotional and physical over-activity. Kids with Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder can be in a perpetual state of stress due to their hyper-sensitivity. A hyperactive child is more suspectible and triggered by anxiety and stress.

“While hyperactivity is most commonly associated with ADHD, individuals might also have difficulty with a brain or nervous system disorder, emotional disorder, or hyperthyroidism.” SpecialNeeds.com

Symptoms Of A Hyperactive Child

Behaviours and symptoms of a hyperactive child can be extremely varied. But common symptoms of hyperactivity include fidgeting, poor focus and concentration. As well as impulsiveness, irritability and aggessiveness, emotional outburts and overwhelm.

A hyperactive child maybe something you have to deal with more than just, daily or weekly. Especially with so much technology and information overload. So many kids parties and event. This can be extremely stressful for you the parent, caregiver or educator. So it is important to manage or reduce the risk of hyperactivity as much as possible.

Here is 7 Tips To Calm Down A Hyperactive Child

  1. Be Calm, Firm But Caring – A hyperactive child is a child in a highly emotional or stressed state. So firm boundaries and rules are often the only way to stop a situation getting out of hand. Don’t let your emotional frustration fuel the situation. It is important you mange your own anxiety and stress. For toddlers a stop hand signal with a specific word can give a clear message. Especially done at eye to eye level, not hovering down or pointing a finger. Which can trigger more fear or emotional frustration.

  2. Remove Your Hyperactive Child From Their Stressors – Removing or reducing external stimulus. Encourages your child’s mind, body and emotions back into a calm and balanced state. We are more easily stressed by noises, lights, smells, others energy and emotions when we are hyper-alert. So moving your hyperactive child to a more calming environment or activity can be extremely helpful.

  3. Redirect Your Hyperactive Child To Release Excessive Energy – Encouraging a hyperactive child to do short bursts of exercise can help. Young children can learn to shake their body like a deer does, after it freezes during a stressful event. Or they may enjoy sprinting a short distance. Any activity with a certain amount of heavy lifting can also be helpful. But hyperactivity is usually triggered by sensory, stimulus or information overload. Which is often followed by exhaustion. So it’s important not to push a hyperactive child into too much physical acitivity. The reason no 4 and 7 are extremey important.

  4. Teach Your Child How To Manage And Reduce Their Stress – When a child can manage their own stress they feel MORE calm and confident. Their less frustrated and overwhelmed. Children can learn how to relax properly with relaxation techniques. Many younger kids find blowing bubbles deeply calming. My online courses teach kids, teenagers and parents simple ways to switch off. A child’s ability to switch off and relax is vital to get deep restful sleep.

  5. Teach Your Hyperactive Child How To Meditate – Teach a child the right type of meditation skill and you give them a friend for life. Meditation gives your child an empowering self-help tool for life. My meditation and mindfulness program for kids teaches both parent and child how to meditate in a fun and educational manner.

  6. Lavender For Your Hyperactive Child – Pure lavender oil is something most children find relaxing. A diluted lavender blend can be applied directly to the hyperactive child’s pulse points e.g. wrist, neck or forehead. Aroma roller ball’s are great little inventions. You can add your own aromatherapy blend into to an aromatherapyroller ball and apply directly to the skin. A few drops lavender oil can be blended with a base oil such as grapseed. These are usually an approx 10ml-20ml bottle size, so easily fit into a pocket or handbag. NYR Organic does a range of aromballs. My clients love the Relaxation Remedies To Roll – a blend of bergamot, lavender, geranium. Which is used to help you relax, unwind from stressful situations and the night time remedy one. These could be used by teenagers.

  7. Reduce Internal Stimulants – Stimulants i.e. sugar, artificial sweeteners, colourings especially energy drinks seriously over-stimulate the mind, body and emotions. Even foods your child is slightly intolerant to, can be too stimulating.
14Aug2018
Kids Development, Parenting Tips
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August 14, 2018

via OUTDORIA: Ask yourself: do you want your kid to end up being the type of adult who thinks milk comes from the supermarket? Or that if they sink a line in the local pond they’ll reel in a box of Bird’s Eye fish fingers? We didn’t think so.

Fishing is almost a rite of passage for kids. Not only is it heaps of fun and a great way to spend quality time together, it helps them learn about the circle of life and how that relates to the food we eat.

Now, we’d be lying if we said fishing with your kidlets will be as easy as it is when you go by yourself. The reality is you’ll probably spend most of your time helping them cast, baiting hooks and untangling line. But fishing with your kids or grandchildren can be incredibly rewarding, and just as much fun as fishing alone or with your mates.

Focus on the kids, not the fishing
The fact of the matter is, you’re probably not going to catch as much when you take your kids along. This is especially true if they’re under primary school age. But don’t let this put you off. Remember – you’re going out there to teach your kids how to fish, not to bag a monster yourself. If they get bored and start splashing about in the shallows, try not to get all worked up about how they’re scaring all the fish away. Deep breaths people.

Besides, you want to make fishing an experience your kids enjoy, right? If you berate them every time they start getting squirmy, not only will they lose interest fairly quickly, all those happy family moments you’re trying to cultivate are going to be recalled fondly for all the wrong reasons. Hey, remember when Dad lost his sh*t at the lake, his head went purple and we cried so much that strangers kept asking if we needed help? LOL!!! Oh memories.

Sometimes it’s not just kids who need to exercise a little patience, and you know what they say about leading by example. Over time, kids learn that if they’re patient, they’ll catch more fish. So guide them in this direction but don’t worry if they don’t catch on straight away.

How old do they need to be?
If they’re old enough to stand and hold a rod, they’re old enough to fish. We’ve taken kids as young as two out for a fish. Granted, we didn’t catch a whole lot (though we didn’t always go home empty handed either) but it was still a lot of fun for all of us.

Bear in mind that if you’re taking tots along or kids that aren’t strong swimmers yet, you need to pay extra close attention to them around water. It’s all-too-easy to take your eye off them when you’re trying to untangle the bird’s nest of fishing line they’ve just created, and we don’t know about you but we’re not really keen on adding any more material to our future teenager’s arsenal of parenting faux pas. Hey, remember that time you took us fishing and I almost drowned?! Btw I need fifty bucks to get a neck tattoo.

Where can you take kids fishing?
Whether you prefer freshwater or saltwater, there are heaps of places you can take your kids fishing. The main features to look for are either railings (like on a jetty or fishing platform) or graduated banks. Kids like to get as close to the action as possible, so we’d suggest avoiding anywhere with a sudden drop-off where they could fall in if they lose their footing.

It’s also a good idea to choose a spot that’s relatively free of snags. While fishing close to structure might be a good tactic when you’re on your own, if the kids keep getting snagged it’s just going to be frustrating for everyone.

Beaches
Fishing off the beach is a great way to lure the littluns – although if it’s a surf beach you’ll probably need to help them cast out over the waves. Kids can leave their rods in a rod holder and then busy themselves building sandcastles and looking for shells until they get a bite. And if they decide to abandon the whole fishing thing altogether, guess what? You’re at the beach! It’s a fail-proof day out.

Jetties
Jetties are excellent places for kids to have a go at casting on their own. The railings mean there’s little danger of your kid going over with the line, and they’re also less likely to get wet fishing from a jetty than say, a beach. Getting drenched and standing around on a cold day is definitely not going to score you too many good parenting points. Hey, remember when we went fishing and I caught pneumonia and was bedridden for three weeks?

Also, because there’s often just as much action (or more) directly below the jetty as there is further out, it’s not going to matter if those little arms can only cast a couple of metres out. When they do get that fish, your kids will feel especially triumphant knowing they did everything themselves.

Lakes
Many lakes and dams in Australia are set up specifically with family fishing in mind, so if it’s your first time going with your kids, hitting up a lake is about as stress-free as it gets. There are often barbecues and playgrounds nearby and some have purpose-made fishing platforms to sweeten the deal.

If you’re in Victoria, check out our guide to the many stocked family fishing lakes around the state.

Choosing fishing gear for kids
A great way to get your kids keen on fishing before you even get to the water is to let them choose their own rod and reel. There’s a wide variety of small rods designed for children in bright, kid-friendly colours that are lightweight, easy for small hands to handle, and usually come in a combo with a spinning reel.

Many cheaper rod and reel combos come ready-spooled with line. However, it’s not a bad idea to spend a bit extra and get some quality line to replace this with as cheap line is often harder to cast and more prone to tangling.

If you’re looking to get some gear for yourself, check out our guide to fishing gear for beginners.

Bait or lure?
Fishing with frozen bait is a lot less confronting for kids than seeing a live animal (even if it is just a worm) wriggle around on a hook. Also, because frozen pilchards and squid are still identifiable as animals (as opposed to strips of mullet for example) they can be a great way to educate kids about the food chain.

Soft plastics are also a good option for younger anglers, provided they’re reasonably confident casting and retrieving, as they’re not smelly like bait and the kids can change up what they’re using (from grubs to minnows for example) if they get bored.

A word on hooks
The last thing anyone wants is a hook through the finger (or ear) and when kids get excited they’re likely to start waving the rod around with the hook flying everywhere. While there’s no sure-fire remedy for this, making sure the tip of the hook is embedded in the bait is one way to mitigate the chances of an injury. While this may make it harder to set the hook when you get a fish, at least you’re less likely to go home with a new piercing. That’s right, sweet child o’ mine, you’re not the only who can claim to be ‘scarred for life’.

Fish on!
When you get a fish on the line, let them reel it in. Nothing compares to the excitement of catching a fish and once they get a taste, any boredom they were feeling will be washed away. Be aware that some kids might struggle to use a reel with the weight of a fish on the end of the line so make sure you’re right there with them to help reel it in if needed.

Catch and release or dinner?
Always be respectful of the fish you’ve caught and make sure the kids are ready for what’s coming if you decide to take it home with you. (Pro tip: watching Finding Nemo in the lead-up = never a good idea.) A good way to gauge whether they’re ok with the fish being killed sent to fishy heaven is to ask ‘should we take this one home for dinner or put it back?’

If you decide to take it home, after you’ve established that it’s of a legal size, make sure you dispatch it quickly and humanely so the kids don’t have to watch the poor thing flapping around and slowly dying in the bucket. We’ll skip the italicised flash-forward and let that visual speak for itself.

Fishing licence
While people under the age of 18 don’t need a fishing licence, remember that (depending which state you’re in) all the adults fishing may need one. It’s always a good idea to check out your department of agriculture and fisheries website for information about species, size and bag limits within your state. Hey, remember that time you were arrested for illegal fishing? Okay, okay, that would never happen. But you get the point.

Now grab your little nippers and get out there. The memories will be worth it – the good and the not-so-good!

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