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Keep the Kids Busy All Season Long: Fun Outdoor Activities Everyone Can Enjoy

It can be difficult for a mother to entertain her children while getting them to move. Have you ever yearned for some enjoyable outdoor activities to keep everyone engaged?

These are not only lovely family activities but also fantastic chances to get your kids active. However, many enjoyable outdoor activities will enable everyone to make the most of these warm days, so do not be alarmed.

To help you, we’ll break down a few of our favorite things to occupy the kids all season long. From backyard games to beach adventures, there’s something for everyone. So if you’re looking for a way to keep the kids busy and entertained, read on for fun outdoor activities everyone can enjoy.

Below are some great outdoor activities that are sure to keep the kids busy all season long:

Install a Monkey Bar Set In Your Backyard

Installing a monkey bar set in your backyard is one of the best ways to get your kids off their devices and into the great outdoors. A fun & safe monkey bars set offers a range of physical activities that will keep your kids entertained all season long.

Whether they are swinging, climbing, doing pull-ups, or simply hanging out on the bars, this activity will keep them active and engaged. As a bonus, it’s also great for their physical development. So give them the gift of a backyard playground and watch them burn off their energy in no time.

Have Them Play in Your Garden

If you have a garden, why not let the kids explore it? You can also transform your garden into an outdoor playground with kid-friendly additions. This could include a sandbox, a swing set, or even some backyard games like badminton and croquet.

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You can also opt for something more creative such as setting up an obstacle course or doing DIY art projects with the kids. This is a great way to get them outdoors and encourage creative thinking. With some imagination, your garden can become the perfect playground for kids.

Take a Trip to the Beach

Nothing says summer like a trip to the beach. Whether you’re building sandcastles, playing in the waves, or relaxing on the shore, endless activities will keep your kids busy all season long.

Going to the beach also provides extra entertainment, such as ice cream stalls and arcades. Perfect for those days when the kids need a break from all the outdoor fun. So get your summer started with a trip to the beach and let them enjoy some fun-filled days in the sand.

Set up a Water Table in Your Backyard

A water table is ideal for cooling off on sweltering summer days. All ages can enjoy this pastime, which can also help children become used to having fun in the water.

You can opt for a permanent system such as a pool or kiddie splash pad. Still, a water table is a perfect solution if you’re looking for something that doesn’t require much maintenance. Not only will this provide hours of entertainment for your kids, but it’s also relatively inexpensive and easy to set up.

Have a Picnic in the Park With Some Friends

This is the ideal method for making the most of those bright days. Have a picnic in the park with some buddies whom you invite. Kids can enjoy this pastime for hours as they run around with their pals, play games, and explore their environment.

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It’s also beneficial for your parents because it allows everyone to catch up with one another. So come outside and spend some quality time with friends while having a picnic in the park.

Go on a Nature Walk

One way to engage the kids is by going on a nature walk. The environment will also benefit from this activity, easily adapted to any age group. While you meander through the woods, discover a variety of wildlife, from small species like bugs and frogs to larger ones like birds and squirrels.

To further improve their experience, urge the kids to draw or snap images of what they see. A great approach for your kids to learn about their surroundings and appreciate their beauty is by taking them on nature walks. These walks will also allow them to interact closely with nature.

Final Thoughts

Keeping the kids busy all season long doesn’t have to be a challenge. These fun outdoor activities allow everyone to enjoy quality natural time while staying safe and healthy.

Whether it’s an afternoon at the park or a weekend nature walk, there are plenty of ways to get outside this summer without breaking the bank. So grab your masks, pick up some snacks, and head outdoors for an adventure with your family today. Happy exploring!




Writing An Explanatory Essay For Kids: Tips And Tricks

 

Writing an explanatory essay for kids can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenging task. An explanatory essay is a type of essay that explains a specific topic or idea to the reader. This type of essay requires the writer to provide clear and concise information on the subject, making it easy for the reader to understand. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips and tricks for writing an explanatory essay for kids, as well as how to use MLA format and cheap essay writing services.

Tip #1: Choose a Kid-Friendly Topic

The first step in writing an explanatory essay for kids is to choose a topic that is appropriate for their age group. Topics that are too complex or difficult to understand will only serve to confuse the reader. Instead, choose a topic that is relevant to their interests and is easy to comprehend. For instance, you could write about the benefits of healthy eating or the importance of exercise.

An explanatory essay is a type of essay that explains a specific topic or idea to the reader.

Tip #2: Create an Outline

Once you’ve chosen a topic, the next step is to create an outline. The outline will serve as a guide for your essay, ensuring that you cover all the essential points. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should provide some background information on the topic, the body paragraphs should cover the main points, and the conclusion should summarize the main points.

Tip #3: Use Simple Language

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When writing an explanatory essay for kids, it’s essential to use simple and clear language. Avoid using complex words or jargon that they might not understand. Instead, use words and phrases that are easy to understand. For example, instead of using the word “complicated,” you could use the phrase “hard to understand.”

Tip #4: Follow MLA Format

If you’re writing your essay for school, it’s essential to follow MLA format. MLA format is a set of guidelines for formatting academic papers. It includes rules for things like citing sources and formatting your paper. Make sure you follow these guidelines carefully, as they will affect the overall appearance of your essay.

When selecting a topic, make sure it is appropriate for the age group and easy to understand.

Tip #5: Consider Cheap Essay Writing Services

If you’re struggling to write your essay, you might want to consider using a cheap essay-writing service. These services can help you write your essay quickly and easily. Just make sure you choose a reputable service that delivers high-quality work. A cheap essay writing service can be an excellent option for students who are short on time or struggling with writer’s block.

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In conclusion, writing an explanatory essay for kids requires careful planning and attention to detail. When selecting a topic, make sure it is appropriate for the age group and easy to understand. Use simple language, follow MLA format, and consider using a cheap essay writing service if needed. With these tips and tricks, you can write an excellent explanatory essay that is sure to impress!




Crafts To Keep Kids Happy During The Holidays

When the holidays come around, you have to think of new ways to keep the kids happy and occupied for hours and days. The good news is that kids are creative and crafty, so one of the best ways to keep them occupied is to give them some fun crafts to work on. In the article below, you can find some classic and innovative craft ideas to keep your children occupied.

Craft Bookmarks

Bookmarks never go wrong; they are also fun and inspiring to make. During the holiday, families tend to read a lot more, so there is a higher demand for bookmarks, but you can also hand them out to your family and friends. If your children don’t read very often and you want to encourage them to read, making bookmarks on the holidays is a nice way to spark their interest in stories.

Making a bookmark is very simple and straightforward; all you need is a piece of card, some pens and pencils, and any decorations you want to include. Start by using an existing bookmark as a template to draw the outline, then get creative with a design; think animals, characters from books, or fantasy creatures. When you’ve finished decorating it, taper the ends with scissors.

The good news is that kids are creative and crafty, so one of the best ways to keep them occupied is to give them some fun crafts to work on.

Crafting Beautiful Candles

Candle-making is a fun and creative way for children to spend their free time during the holidays. It also teaches them about the science behind the process and gives them an opportunity to learn new skills. Candle-making kits are a great way to get started in the craft, and they can be found in a variety of styles and sizes.

Paper Plate Crafts

Paper plate crafts are a classic form of creative expression for kids; not only is it creative, but it’s simple, affordable, and accessible. All you need for some fun paper plate crafting is a supply of paper plates, some drawing and coloring materials, and some textured items for decoration. Some nice ideas for plate decoration include pipe cleaners, yarn, natural elements, and stickers.

The simplest thing to create for a plate craft is a face, but you can be as creative as you like with the face you choose. For example, why not create plate portraits of your family members or famous people? Alternatively, you could choose a favorite character from a book or movie. It can also be fun to make paper plate faces of each other and ask family members to guess who.

Crafting Cards

Card crafting is normally associated with Christmas, but special cards are relevant at other times of the year as well, such as birthdays, easter, and other special occasions. When your kids are off for their holidays, or you need to fill up some time on the weekends, why not buy the things you need for a card crafting session and have a few hours of creative time together?

Crafting cards is very easy; all you need is some cardboard, pens and pencils, decorations, scissors and tape, and some time and space to get creative. It helps to use an existing card as inspiration for the dimensions of your card, decorations, and for the writing inside. Once you have cut the dimensions of the card, it’s time to decorate it using your creative inspiration.

Crafting cards is very easy; all you need is some cardboard, pens and pencils, decorations, scissors and tape, and some time and space to get creative.

Nature Crafts

Nature crafts are an excellent way to embrace the season, explore the local wilderness with children, and create lovely items that you can share with your friends and family members. Some nature crafts you can make include necklaces, lamps, pine cone roses, and wicker items made by weaving different grasses and straws. Some of these crafts require online instructions.

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If you want to make the most of the season, why not head out for a nature walk with your family and collect items for crafting? It helps if you have an idea of what you want to craft before going on a nature walk; then, you can look out for the correct items along the way. Pine cones and chestnuts are useful for a whole variety of crafts, so make sure you find a lovely foraging forest.

Origami Crafts

The art of folding paper originates in Japan, where it has a long tradition; in fact, origami is considered an art form, and people can create some quite amazing models and figures. However, origami is also excellent for children during the holidays, and you don’t need to be an expert to have some fun crafting paper animals, people, and fantasy creatures, only paper.

If your kids are not skilled at origami, it’s best to start as simple as possible; begin by making paper airplanes, paper ships, and paper hats; this will get them into the habit of folding and creating 3D shapes. When they have some basic skills, they can move on to the origami crane, which is the most popular and easiest origami animal. Then, there are other animals to make.




7 Writing Exercises To Improve Your Kid’s Writing Skills

Does your kid make a scowling face when asked to write? Writing may not be their favorite activity because it requires deep focus, creative thinking, and practice, and all of these are boring for children. However, they do like games and fun.

So, why not teach your kid writing with exciting activities? Gamified learning has proven to be one of the most effective ways to help children develop essential skills. You can certainly pay for essay online for your teenager, but writing ability goes a long way. Therefore, here are seven exercises you can try to build writing habits in your little one.

Journaling is perhaps the best writing exercise. Inculcating a writing habit from an early age improves a child’s mental health, emotional intelligence, and memory.

7 Fun Writing Activities for Your Kid

Finish the Story

Kids are imaginative and love stories. But writing one may not cross their minds. You have to direct their imagination and motivate them to write a story.

You can compose a few opening sentences of a story and ask your kid to continue and finish it. Furthermore, help them understand the context and encourage them to be creative. You will be surprised by their creativity! This constructive exercise inspires curiosity and allows your child to use their imagination at best.

Start Journaling

Journaling is perhaps the best writing exercise. Inculcating a writing habit from an early age improves a child’s mental health, emotional intelligence, and memory. Give your kid a diary and encourage them to document their daily life. Their journals need not be very substantial. Instead, they can simply write about day-to-day activities – things like what they ate for breakfast, how they completed homework, and how their day went.

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With time, you can ask your kid to express their feelings and emotions. This kind of activity will help them learn self-expression and develop self-confidence. You can also get your high-schooler to indulge in such an activity. And if they are loaded with assignments, hire an essay writer and look for essayservice.com promo code for reasonable discounts.

Convince Me

Ask your kid to write and convince you of something they believe in or that matters to them. For instance, why do they love a TV show, a cartoon character, or candies? Then, let them write a short essay or poem with strong arguments. They can read out the final piece, and you can give feedback on how it can be more convincing.

This activity teaches students to study themselves, develop their thinking, and learn persuasive writing. Next time your kid asks for a new bicycle or video game, don’t miss the chance to have them craft a persuasive message that would influence your opinion.

Write Cards and Letters

Kids always love to get involved in adult matters. When holidays and special occasions are around, you can take it as an opportunity to teach your kid writing skills. Ask them to write holiday cards to their grandparents, cousins, and friends.

Similarly, encourage them to work on a birthday message whenever they are invited to a party. These activities inspire kids to give their best and develop a liking for writing. They also learn social etiquette and the importance of appreciating others.

Give them a specific time or page limit, and encourage them to put all their thoughts into the paper.

Work as a Team

Group activities are another proven and powerful method of learning. For example, you can make a group of 4-5 kids by assembling your child’s friends and cousins. Give them different story topics and ask them to write a few sentences before passing their notebooks to the person beside them. The next person will add a few sentences to their friend’s story and pass again.

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This process continues until everyone has contributed to each other’s stories. In the end, they all would read their stories to others. Working in a group makes the game more interesting and teaches them teamwork.

Retell the Story

Students read many stories in their textbooks, magazines, or novels. You can ask your kid to choose a favorite and rewrite it. If it’s a short story, let them read it first and then write the major events in their own words. Allow them to make changes and introduce characters for more creativity. This exercise enhances memory and analytical thinking of your kid. Don’t forget to appreciate the most creative story and give your feedback.

Explain the Photo

Writing becomes even more fun when you use visual elements. For example, you can give your kid a photo and ask them to describe it. Then, they can write what they see in the picture and what it reminds them of or craft a story related to the scene. Give them a specific time or page limit, and encourage them to put all their thoughts into the paper. This simple photographic writing activity allows kids to be creative and strengthen their writing skills.

Wrapping Up

Games and activities make learning engaging and fun. They help students feel motivated to participate and build a positive attitude toward learning. You can introduce fun activities to help your kid develop and polish their writing skills. These exercises also teach children problem-solving, creative thinking, communication, and teamwork skills. This way, you can ensure your kid excels in academics and advances toward a bright future.




6 Essential Digital Literacy Lessons You Must Teach Your Kids

 

The internet is a double-edged sword. Despite being a powerful learning tool for your kids, it exposes them to cyber-attacks and can build toxic habits. And with digital learning becoming essential even in primary classes, it is impossible to keep children away from the online world.

However, excessive use of the internet can not only degrade their mental health but also make them victims of cybercrime.

Hence, it is every parent’s responsibility to educate their children on digital literacy. Adult learners must verify a platform and check reviews before asking someone to make my essay for their assignments.

This article discusses six essential lessons you must teach your kids for online safety and effective use of the internet from an early age.

Kids should also avoid chatting with strangers or accepting unknown friend requests.

6 Crucial Online Safety Lessons for Primary School Kids

Be Mindful of What You Post

With 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created daily, we may think that the posted content would be lost among others. But photos or information kids put on social media are always there to be misused. The content can be shared, downloaded, edited, or uploaded on different websites by online predators with ill intentions.

Hence, you must teach your kids to be careful about what they share on the internet. They should never reveal sensitive information on social media, including their location and phone numbers. Kids should also avoid chatting with strangers or accepting unknown friend requests.

Never Share Your Passwords

If criminals hack one’s passwords, they can steal sensitive information that may lead to identity theft or financial fraud.

You must teach your kids to keep their passwords secure and safe. They shouldn’t share it with friends or strangers. Teach them to avoid weak passwords like their name or birth year, which can be easily guessed. Help them use a password generator or set it yourself using the following points:

  • Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols;
  • Passwords should have more than ten characters;
  • Set unique passwords for different accounts;
  • Don’t use dictionary words or common phrases’
  • Don’t store passwords on Google Docs or the computer.

Be Mindful of What You Click

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Primary schoolers are too young to understand what they are clicking on devices. Hackers send fake emails and easily trick kids into clicking unsafe links. Or kids may be tempted to download an infected game or files that spread viruses and malware on the system. This can enable cybercriminals to steal confidential information and spy on the kids. They can also remotely control the web camera and misuse the recorded footage for blackmail.

Therefore, you must teach your kid never to click any links on unknown websites or emails from strangers. They shouldn’t download any files without supervision. You should also ensure to use powerful antivirus software and update it regularly.

You must teach your kids to keep their passwords secure and safe. They shouldn’t share it with friends or strangers.

Learn to Deal With Cyberbullying

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Cyberbullying has become common among children because of the mass use of social media.

Teach your kids never to respond or retaliate to cyberbullies to avoid making things worse. You must talk regularly with your kids and specifically discuss online issues. Let them know they can come to you and freely share any bullying or disturbing behavior.

This way, you can sit down with your kids and discuss a plan to handle such problems. You may block the bullies on social media and take screenshots of chats or comments for proof.

Limiting Internet Usage

Spending too much time on the internet can have serious impacts on children. This may lead to internet addiction, lower their attention span, and degrade their social skills. Kids can also become sleep deprived, anxious, and depressed. It harms their physical and mental health, putting their future at risk.

Hence, parents must limit their kids’ screen time and activities. You should ensure your kids use the internet only after their studies, homework, and sports practices. Educate them on the harmful effects of internet usage and inspire them to build productive habits. You should also monitor what content they consume and restrict certain sites.

Be a Responsible Digital Citizen

Kids should take part in building an ethical online community. They should follow the same etiquette on social media that they would in the real world. This includes respecting others, being kind and helpful, and never abusing or threatening other kids.

Spreading hate or responding to hateful comments or messages on social media affects their mental well-being. Therefore kids mustn’t make rude comments or get involved in useless debates under posts. Although they are just facing a screen, they should understand that they are dealing with real people with feelings and emotions.

You should ensure your kids use the internet only after their studies, homework, and sports practices. Educate them on the harmful effects of internet usage and inspire them to build productive habits.

Conclusion

Digital literacy is essential for every kid. It helps them understand the limitations of the technology and how to safely navigate the internet. The above points are crucial lessons you must teach your kids for the best online experiences. This way, kids can become responsible digital citizens and establish a strong presence in the modern world.




14 Tips To Help Your Children Sleep Better During Summer With A Cooling Pillow

Studies have found that the best bedroom temperatures for sleeping are between 16 to 19 degrees Celsius.

Most people regard summer as the best season. For starters, it’s a break from winter’s grey and melancholic mood. You can now organize that barbecue event for your friends and family with the sun out. The kids get a chance to play outside on the beach and roll in the hot sand as adults catch up with other adults. Alternatively, if you prefer more family time, summer is a great time to go hiking, camping, and picnicking. 

However, summer isn’t always a bed of roses. It has its cons, such as difficulty when sleeping for both children and parents. Since most adults have adjusted to summer’s hot and humid nature, the children’s sleeping condition is the biggest concern. 

The hot temperatures of summer can cause sleeplessness in children. This is because, as human beings fall asleep, the body temperature decreases up to two degrees, shedding heat into the bed. If the sleeping conditions aren’t cool, your child might complain, “I can’t sleep!”. They’ll also be sweaty and restless.

This article will expound more on the relationship between summer and lack of proper sleep. It’ll also give you tips on how to cool the temperatures, for example, by using the Cooling Pillow and many other hacks. Keep reading to learn more. 

 How Does Summer Affect Sleep In Children?

Studies have found that the best bedroom temperatures for sleeping are between 16 to 19 degrees Celsius. When the temperatures are anything beyond this, your child may begin to experience difficulty falling asleep. As mentioned above, for a human body to initiate sleep, it has to lose its temperature. The body may gain a degree and not lose one with the hot temperatures. This, therefore, creates a challenge for your child to sleep. 

In the unlikely event that your child sleeps despite the high temperatures, they’re likely to experience disruptions such as nightmares, restlessness, and waking up in the middle of the night. This is because when our body is in a Rapid Eye Movement sleep (REM sleep), which is considered one of the deepest states of sleeping, we’re less able to regulate body temperatures. Therefore, your child may experience disrupted sleep due to the high temperatures. 

Although the inability to fall asleep or sleep disruption may look like a light situation, overheating may lead to more complicated health conditions. According to research, hot temperatures during sleeping have been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) among children. Hot temperatures during sleep have also been linked to: 

  • Heat exhaustion and 
  • Heatstroke, especially among adults. 

Other than high temperatures, summers also have longer daylight hours. Such light during nap time can be distractive to your child’s sleep. Since your child or toddler can’t communicate their needs, it’s better to prevent overheating than dealing with a distressed child or, sometimes, heat-related illnesses. 

One of the ways you can prevent overheating for your child is by using cooling pillows. 

A cooling pillow is made from a cooling gel that absorbs temperatures from your body and releases the temperature through the pillow.  

 Cooling Pillows

In a bid to provide comfort in your sleep, experts have come up with new technology in manufacturing pillows, which you can watch in this video to know more.

 

 

A cooling pillow is made from a cooling gel that absorbs temperatures from your body and releases the temperature through the pillow.  

Assuming your child’s room temperature is hot, the pillow will work by absorbing some of the heat from the child’s head, neck, and shoulder area. Studies have proven that cooling your head is among the fastest ways to help you fall asleep. When the pillow absorbs heat from the body parts mentioned, the body cools down, increasing the chances of falling asleep. 

Besides that, this new pillow technology also works by absorbing moisture occurring from sweat. As discussed before, sweating is one of the factors that cause restlessness during sleep. Therefore, if you’re prone to sweating in your sleep, either due to high temperatures or other causes, a cooling pillow can absorb moisture around your head, helping you sleep more comfortably. 

Here’re tips on how you can use a cooling pillow for your child during summer: 

  Utilize A Breathable Cooling Pillow

A breathable cooling pillow works by ensuring the absorbed heat isn’t retained in the pillow. This is possible since the pillow is made from breathable material that allows ventilation. As such, the absorbed heat is distributed throughout the pillow, ensuring that the child’s body remains cool throughout their sleep. The ventilation feature of the cooling pillow also works to prevent dust and particles from being trapped in the pillow. When trapped, these dust particles may cause respiratory-related diseases or allergies to your child. 

When purchasing a breathable pillow, go for the down pillow made from a bird’s belly feathers. Alternatively, a buckwheat pillow can work as well. Buckwheat pillows are made from the buckwheat seed’s hard outer shell, hence their name. The hulls of the seed don’t retain or reflect heat. It’s this feature that makes them a better alternative to using feathers and foam for your cooling pillow. The only backside of a buckwheat pillow is that it’s heavy. 

A lighter alternative to the buckwheat cooling pillow is the microbead pillow. This type of pillow is filled with small polystyrene beads. The microbeads allow proper ventilation, making them a great material for breathable pillows. 

The three materials discussed above are the natural options for cooling pillows. 

Studies have proven that cooling your head is among the fastest ways to help you fall asleep.

 Use A Gel Memory Foam Cooling Pillow

This type of pillow resembles the regular foam pillow, except it has an added gel layer to create the cooling effect. It’s the most common type of colling pillow. As described above, the gel memory foam works by absorbing the heat from the child’s head, shoulder and neck and dissipating it throughout the pillow. 

 Purchase A Combination of Cooling Pillows

Well, since there’s no knowing what works for your child, you may as well go for the combined cooling pillow technology. This type of pillow combines breathable and gel memory form technology to produce one of the most sophisticated and efficient cooling pillows. 

However, before picking a cooling pillow for your child, consider factors such as its weight, size, and material. Choose a size that suits the shape of their head. Moreover, some breathable down pillows are made from feathers that may cause an allergy to your child. Therefore, if you’re concerned about the health safety of your child’s cooling pillow, you can consult your home doctor or a paediatrician. 

 Use A Breathable Pillow Case

Although most cooling pillows come with their own covers, it’s good to have an extra pillowcase to replace when you wash the other one. When purchasing a pillowcase for the cooling pillow, go for the 100% natural cotton pillowcase. This type of case will allow ventilation for your cooling pillow. Otherwise, your cooling pillow will be useless if you cover it with an unbreathable cover. 

 Clean Your Cooling Pillow regularly

Experts recommend that you clean your cooling pillow at least twice a year. It helps to keep the pillow properly aired, making them function better. 

Additionally, replace the cooling pillow after every two years for the optimum results for your child’s sleep. 

Now that you’ve read the tips on using a cooling pillow, here are other tips that you can use to ensure better sleep for your child during summer:

Choose a size that suits the shape of their head. Moreover, some breathable down pillows are made from feathers that may cause an allergy to your child.

 Use Blackout Blinds

As aforementioned, another reason why your child hardly falls asleep fast during summer is due to daylight savings. To start, some people can’t sleep in a room with lights. If they do, they become restless, and they often wake up in their sleep.  

Other than the destructive nature of light to sleep, the more light sips into your child’s room, the warmer the room gets. Since you’re working to cool the room’s temperatures, you might as well shut out the natural lights. 

One of the best ways to do this is by using blackout blinds. These blinds don’t allow any light in so that your child’s room remains dark and cool for the best sleeping conditions. 

 Invest In A Room Thermometer

Babies are very delicate. The last thing you want is to overestimate the temperatures in your baby’s room and end up over cooling them. Since you want to operate from a place of accuracy, it’ll help if you vest in a room thermometer. 

The thermometer will update you on the prevailing temperatures so that you can know when to take action if the room is too hot. With the guesswork out of the way, you won’t second guess every move aimed at improving the quality of your baby’s sleep.

 Keep Track Of The Outdoor Temperature

Another hack you can use is monitoring the air temperatures outside. If you keep a record of when the temperatures outside begin to peak and fall, you’ll soon notice a pattern. 

In summer, air temperatures begin to fall outside at around 6 p.m. During this time, the temperatures inside the house start to peak. With such information, you now know when to open the windows of your child’s room to circulate air and let the cool breeze in. By the time the child retires to bed, the room is suitable for sleeping. 

 Change The Beddings

This is arguably the first thing you should do when the season changes to summer. It’s time to switch up the heavy blankets and replace them with a low tog rating duvet. 

Additionally, it would be best if you used cotton bedsheets for your child. The bedsheets will help absorb the sweat due to high temperatures, and the baby can sleep comfortably. 

 Dress Your Toddler Appropriately

Once you have confirmed the room temperatures from the thermometer, you can know how to dress your baby for bedtime. When the temperatures are over 25 degrees Celsius, dress them in a thin cotton vest and a nappy. This helps keep the baby cool.  If the temperatures are slightly lower than 20-23 degrees Celsius, you might want to add a pair of shorts and socks or a sleep sack. Add a light cloth that can keep the baby warmer. 

 Freeze The Pillow Case

While some people recommend freezing the pillow, freezing the pillowcase works best. This is because sometimes, the pillow’s material may absorb a lot of moisture during freezing such that when your child sleeps on the pillow, they might breathe in the dampness and get sick. 

When freezing the pillowcase, put it into the fridge a few hours before bedtime. You can also freeze the baby’s favourite toy or doll. As such, when it’s time to sleep, the frozen pillowcase will draw heat from the baby’s head, luring them to sleep. 

The same applies to the toy. When the child holds on to a frozen toy while sleeping, it helps keep them cool and fall asleep faster.  

 Place Some Ice Cubs In Cup

For some, it’s a common habit to wake up in the middle of the night to take some water. During summer, the need to hydrate doubles. Since you’re trying to maintain your child’s temperatures at cool, you shouldn’t just provide them with water.  Put ice cubes in a cup and place them by the bedstand. By the time your child wakes up to hydrate, the ice cubes will have melted to water, and the water will be at cool temperatures, which work in favour of the child. 

While some people recommend freezing the pillow, freezing the pillowcase works best.

 Use A Fan

For those extremely hot days, a fan will come in handy in allowing proper air circulation hence cooling the room. Place the fan by the window to blow outside air into the room for the best results. Moreover, keep the fan on low setting and switch it off when your child falls asleep as a safety measure.

 Let The Child Have Cool Shower

In place of the regular warm bath your child has before bed, use a cooler shower. The water should preferably be lukewarm. This helps to cool them right before going to bed. However, don’t let them overstay in the cool shower to prevent catching a cold.

 To Sum IT Up

One of the most efficient ways to ensure quality sleep for your children during summer is by using cooling pillows. If you have been wondering how to hack it, the tips above can be beneficial. Additionally, if you still need more tips to cool your child’s room, consider using the other nine tips discussed. All the best with your summer naps!




Super fun and creative ways to help your kids learn

As a parent, you always want the best for your kids, especially regarding their education. For them to grow up happy and prosperous in all aspects of life, with as few or as little bumps along the way. Now more than ever, it’s imperative to keep kids stimulated and nurture their active imaginations. Even the youthful exuberance of a child can be sullied by the tedium of long hours stuck inside. Exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. In short, it isn’t always good for their creativity. Homeschooling can be very boring, but it doesn’t have to be! You must find ways to help kids learn and have a little fun along the way.

But how do you make sure that happens?

We have some ideas! Here are six super fun and creative ways to help your children learn: 

Snow Tiger Media

Snow Tiger Media is the creator of the Winning@range, which is a series of activity books filled with lots of fun things to do and is produced to accommodate children in forming a love of learning from the young age of 3 years old. Understanding the need to find new ways to help kids engage in their education was a major driving force behind the brand new series. The fun exercises support children in achieving their scholastic goals while building up their confidence. Every page has a different purpose highlighted to trace the improvement and inspire children to work freely. All the masterfully crafted illustrations and narratives were completely designed and penned by the creators themselves.

The winning@range is available now

Maryan, part of the dynamic couple behind the series, explains more “We want children to keep up, top up and catch up as pandemic restrictions continue, and the entire world of learning has been turned on its head. The books are designed to be fun, and we hope they’re incredibly useful, too.” 

The new series is literally hot off the press, being made available just a few days prior on the 12th of April, 2021. To find out more, download free worksheets and how to purchase the new range, we recommend visiting their website, Snow Tiger Media. You can check out their TikTok too, give them a follow, and see how the magic happens!

@snowtigermediauk

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. #FYI #VIRAL illustration #summer

♬ Face Dance – Funny Tok

Reusable sight-word sandbox

A re-usable sight-word sandbox is a lunchbox with sugar, salt, or even actual sand placed inside it with a sticky note on the inside of the lid with a word written on it. With a pencil, your child will then write an imprint of the same word in the sand. The kids will find it fun as it’s easy to play and the benefit of using this is that it’s inexpensive and easy to set up. The perfect combination.

Alphabet Matching

Teach your children the letters of the alphabet by utilizing a magnetic alphabet set and a spare cookie sheet. Write the alphabet letters on the cookie sheet by using washable markers or stickers of the alphabet and have your child match the magnetic letters to the letters that they find on the sheet. You can also do the same thing on the fridge by placing the letters of the alphabet and asking your kid to match them with the magnetic alphabet set. The benefit of using this is that it can become adapted as the kid gets older by asking them to name the alphabet in order until they know the sound and the letter off by heart.

Sunflower Word Family

Kids who are in the beginning stages of learning how to read can explore various sound mixtures with a word-family sunflower. You do this by using yellow paper to create sunflower petals and writing word endings on the yellow petals. Afterward, you attach the petals around a paper plate, add all the letters of the alphabet around the rim, and then let kids spin the plate and read the results. The benefits of using this are it is easy to use, and it helps your child practice their reading and enunciation skills.

Catch a letter fishing game

The ‘catch a letter’ fishing game is essentially an activity where your child uses a fishing rod to ‘catch’ fish-shaped objects with letters on them. You can ask your kid to identify the letter and test their recall. The benefit of using this is that it’s really fun and engages the memory part of your child’s brain. Several bands make versions of the game and you can order a set from most good toy stores.

Indoor gardening

The benefit of gardening is that it helps your children learn about where the food they eat every comes from, and how things grow, which will help them in school in the future. Since we may be in lockdown for a while, and it’s not as easy as it was to go outside to enjoy nature, you may want to consider creating an indoor garden. Many YouTube videos explain the process, and it’s a fun activity for both you and the kids.

Being indoors with your kids as you try to balance work and being a parent can be tough. But, it shouldn’t be. There are many fun and creative ways for you to help your kids learn, regardless of how young or old they are. It also gives you an opportunity to bond with your kids and really get to know them. The current situation has given new opportunities to not be as reliant on their teachers when it comes to learning and educating. Use the extra time to teach them new and fun ways to learn about the world. It’s important to note that every child is different and should be treated accordingly. Perhaps, using an activity book may work best for you and your kid. Or maybe your child is more of an arts and craftsperson. Luckily this is the time for you to find out, so don’t be scared when it comes to experimenting with different types of methods. Just keep your kid’s interests always at heart, and with a bit of creativity, there are lots of fun ways to help your children’s education.

Learn keyboard typing for kids

One extra but fun indoor activity. Teach your children how to type through some fun games




Fun and simple activities for kids during Covid

As any parent knows, looking after kids is a tough job! It’s 24/7 and 365 days a year. The last year has certainly been a test for everyone, with the threat of the virus, job insecurity, and even more pressure on parents to keep it together. Offices of work and schoolyards have been eerily quiet in many parts of the country, with people spending more time than ever at that place we call home. Spending all those extra hours in the house with your loved ones can be an opportunity though. Not only can you learn some new skills together but have some fun with the extra bonding time that maybe wasn’t available before. The only problem is kids get bored, they need stimulation. Endless hours at home will only act as a multiplier to any restless bodies, young or old. So new and old ways to keep your kids entertained is not only important for them, but for yourself as well. 

So here are a few fun and simple activities, to keep your kids on the right track and to help alleviate the old lockdown blues. The good thing is once we get back to normality, you can still try them out too.

Be That Spark!

Wouldn’t it be great to find something you can do on a nightly basis over a week, that not only entertains but educates? Well, we have found just that in “A Little Spark”, delivering on both fronts.

A little spark is a multisensory, interactive experience for children through the age-old art of storytelling. The overarching message that underpins the book is to “Be that spark” and the importance of sharing with your family. One of the many lessons your kids will learn throughout the 160-page story, packed with neat illustrations, original songs, and an award-winning audiobook. Its length between story and chapter book means it can be a source of fun and entertainment over multiple nights for a week or any which way you like to space the ten chapters out.

The books are made with QR codes embedded throughout the pages that link to a custom-made soundtrack to elevate and enhance the reading experience. The catchy soundtrack written by Chris Parsons is complemented by illustrated music videos to match that you can find on their website and Youtube. Overall the book is a magical experience combining fantasy, action, and a good dose of adventure. Sprinkled with all-important life lessons tailor-made to resonate with children of all ages. We highly recommend you head to the Be that Spark website. Find out everything else you need to know and how to get a copy by clicking here for their homepage.

Check out the ” A Little Spark” trailer on youtube below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_GAJSYS4L4

4 year old kid activities

 
* Food Colouring Spray Paint

By mixing food coloring with water, you create an art medium that is easy to clean and fun to play with. This can keep your kids occupied for hours. Give your kids their food coloring spray paint, and put out some large paper on the lawn and let them paint all over their paper -and maybe some of the gardens too. This is all safe for kids, safe for your garden, easy to wash, and easy on your wallet. Kids enjoy activities like this because they get to be creative and make a mess without too much concern. This is very quick and easy to prepare with just water, food coloring, and paper. You’ll have your kids busy in no time, so this is a great activity when you’re in a bit of a pinch.

* Finger Painting

Finger painting is a craft we have all done and loved. Kids love getting to use their hands and really get stuck in to what they’re doing. For this activity, you just need paper, some non-toxic paint, and an area for your kids to paint. This is a fantastic activity to get some good tactile stimulation for your kid whilst they just enjoy getting messy and painting with their fingers. This activity can keep your kids busy for hours and it only takes a few minutes to set up. 

Sock Snakes are fun

These fun toys can be made with a bunch of old socks. All you’ll need is some old socks, a sewing needle, thread, and perhaps some googly eyes or buttons. This can either be a shared activity with you and your younger child, or older children can do this themselves with supervision. Cut your socks open into a shape that can be sewn against other material. Once you have cut all your socks open, place them in any way you like, and then sew them all together, forming a rectangle. Then, sew the two long sides together, forming a tube, and then sew one more sock on the end for the face. Stuff the open end of the sock snake with whatever you can find that would be appropriate for stuffing, then sew up the open end, stick some eyes on it, and you’ve got a sock snake! This could be a rather time-consuming task and could be completed over a few days. Your kids will feel a great sense of accomplishment after finishing this.

Bake to your heart’s content

Baking is such a rewarding activity, as you get to spend quality time together whilst also making a delicious treat. I know when I was a child, I loved to bake cakes, especially the taste testing part! The bonus is that baking allows kids to make use of measuring cups, play with flour, and so much more. This activity stimulates the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hands. While baking cannot be done by the child alone, it can be a tiresome task for the kid as they’ve got to pay attention. This is a simple activity as all you need to do is look up a recipe for your favorite treat online and follow the instructions. 

There are countless ways to entertain kids, it’s a little too easy to stick an Ipad in their face these days and think that is enough. Something that allows interaction is a much healthier and ultimately more rewarding way to keep the kids amused. So try them out; they aren’t just good for your time in lockdown, but when the world returns and our busy lives get back to the way they were.




3 Easy Christmas Craft Project Ideas To Try With Your Kids

Christmas is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your family and make cherishable memories! While you can have fun with your kids in a million different ways, but there are some exciting indoor ideas too. Bring in the holiday spirit by joining your little ones for a Christmas craft project for kids.

Christmas ideas for 9 year old

Snowflake Popsicle Ornaments

Christmas is incomplete without decorating your Christmas tree with some sparkly ornaments. So, how about we make some on our own? All you need for this craft project are some Popsicle sticks, string, glitter, shiny decorations, and any other decoration of your choice.

Color the Popsicle sticks with a couple of your favorite colors, or you can even use the Christmas themed colors. Now, glue the sticks together to create the shape of a snowflake. Then create a twine using a string and glue it to the back.

Decorate with your kids using glitters, stars, stones, and pompoms. And hang this beautiful masterpiece on a branch of your Christmas tree.

Pinecone Christmas Trees

This is the easiest Christmas craft project you’ve ever come across. So much so that you can even have a 3-year-old try this out. Moreover, it looks super chic when you place it on a side table as a Christmas decoration item.

To gather the supplies, you just need to go out into your backyard to collect some pine cones. Also, grab some wooden slices lying here and there. Now, the kids can paint the cones with solid green acrylic color.

Leave it for drying and once it is completely dry, make snow on the branches by painting the tips of the cone white. Next, add tiny colorful dots on the leaves of the tree. These will work for the Christmas tree lightings. Finish it off by placing a star on top of your pine cone Christmas tree.

Sock Snowman

Do you want a cute little snowman sitting on your table? Let’s make one! For this easy craft, you need a white sock, a colored sock, a handful of rice, elastic bands/threads, buttons, ribbons, and pompoms.

First, fill in the sock with rice, then tie the top with an elastic or a thread. Now, grab another elastic and tie the middle of the sock to form the head and body. Then, glue some colorful buttons to his body in a line and draw his mouth and eyes with a marker.

You could also add some pinkish cheeks and make his nose out of orange-colored pom poms. Then, you can glue a ribbon piece to its neck for a scarf and cut out the excess of the white sock. For the hat, you need to cut the foot of a colored sock and roll it a little bit. Now, secure it on the snowman’s head with some glue.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of whatever you and your kids decide to do this Christmas, the most significant thing is you spending time with them. What more could anybody have asked for? So, give outdoor activities a bit of rest and get on with those creative crafty ideas!




Educational Games for Toddlers

Your child won’t miss out on his learning because of the pandemic.

Know how?

The internet will come to your rescue!

Oh yes! Including a pool of learning tools, the online space is an ocean blending fun and knowledge.

Toddlers usually catch noises and sound that they hear even if they can’t quite perceive the meaning or speak efficiently. Thus, you want your child to be surrounded by the right kind to help him evolve early on.

Online games that are education-oriented are your go-to place. You’ll get a list of such games on Google or PlayStore.

This article has curated a list of three such educational games which are by far the most exciting and informative.

SplashLearn

 

SplashLearn is an engaging and interactive educational app designed for children in Pre-K to Grade 5. It offers a comprehensive learning experience with a variety of resources including fun ELA and math games, printable worksheets, and live classes, all tailored to the curriculum of each grade level. 

The heart of SplashLearn’s effectiveness lies in its adaptive learning algorithm. This technology personalizes the educational content, ensuring that each child receives learning material that matches their individual pace and level of understanding. This personalized approach helps in keeping the learning experience both challenging and enjoyable. For parents and teachers, SplashLearn offers a transparent window into their child’s educational progress. Through detailed reports and updates, they can track improvements, identify areas needing more focus, and celebrate their child’s learning milestones. It’s an excellent tool for parents and educators looking to enrich their child’s educational experience with engaging content and personalized learning.

Location: App store

Rating: 4.5

ABC KIDS – TRACING AND PHONIC

ABC kids

Location : PlayStore

Rating: 4.4

About: The fame once downloaded, has an eye-catching background with animated characters introducing themselves. The opening page shows a train that has a bunch of options as the carriers. The options to choose from include – tracing alphabets (both capital and small), identifying the correct alphabets (both capital and small).

The game makes your child familiar with how alphabets look like and sound like. For the same, there will be a wall given wight blocks where the kid is required to match similar looking words. For example match M with M and q with q. This will not only help him/her learn but also work on the visualization and memory powers.

Download link

PRE SCHOOL KIDS: NUMBER AND MATHS

preschool kids

Location : PlayStore

Rating: 4.3

About: This is the perfect game to learn numbers and basic mathematical techniques. The game not only gives an insight into how the numbers look like but also repeats then so as to tell how they sound like. Children pick on sounds faster and try to copy in their own voice, thus this will come in handy.

It includes a bunch of options like to go for how the numbers are spelled, addition, subtraction, greater than, lesser than LR equal to functions, how the numbers are placed on a click, and also to find missing numbers. Hence, this game can be used not only for toddlers but also can help them when they join their nursery and later.

Download link

COLORS FOR KIDS, TODDLERS, AND BABIES – LEARNING GAME

colors for kids

Location : PlayStore

Rating: 4.0

About: As the name suggests, this game familiarizes your child with a world of colors. It makes the kid indulge in colors in a variety of ways – to choose the right color when that particular color is called out, mixing different colors to form a new color (i.e mixing blue and yellow to get green), matching the appropriate color when a picture is shown. It also has a coloring section that enables the child to color shapes and sceneries provided. Each time a color is selected, it is named.

Download link

KIDS ACADEMY

Talented and Gifted is a treasury of educational activities for children ages 2 to 10. It was developed by experts in early education and covers all the main subjects of preschool and elementary school: World Around Us, Math, English Language Arts, Social Studies and more.

Thanks to the cohesive structure of each course, children can work with the app independently —  cheerful design, rewards and play activities help them stay engaged and focused.

The range of activities includes videos, games, interactive worksheets, quizzes and coloring pages.  A great bonus in the app is a top-notch Chess course!

Download Link

There are thousands of games out there for shapes and various different subjects too. Just dive in and choose which suits you the best!