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12 Ways to Keep Kids Occupied At Weddings

October 1, 2018 by

girl
Weddings are a special occasion. It is special for the bride and groom that have decided to spend the rest of their lives together, it is special for the families getting together after a long time and reconnecting with each other, and it can also be a special occasion for the cute little kids attending the ceremony if we put in a little effort to keep them occupied. It is too much to expect children to remain quiet during the wedding ceremony, as they would prefer to play games and eat candy instead. While planning for a wedding, we should not do so by keeping only the adult guests in mind. It is important to invest time and resources into ensuring that our little guests are equally comfortable! However, we have made your work a lot easier by putting together a list of things you can do at your wedding to keep the kids entertained, and not cranky. It doesn’t cost much to set up a play area for the kids, or arrange a few kid-friendly snacks! Given below is a list of 12 things you can do to keep the kids occupied at weddings.

1. A bouncing castle

Kids can get easily bored during a wedding ceremony, so having a bouncing castle set up on site is a great way to keep the little ones occupied! Have a few teenagers take turns to keep an eye on the kids, and be assured that they will have the time of their lives!

2. Crayons at their table!

This is an absolutely adorable idea that instantly brightens up the kids table! Have tiny cylindrical cups with crayons placed on the table for each child, along with a bunch of coloring books. These are bound to make the little ones happy and quiet during the ceremony!

3. Kid-friendly food

You can be assured that fancy finger food will not impress kids. They are also your guests, and it is important to include some kid-friendly items in the menu. Keep in mind that milk and cookies, hot dogs and candy are their favorite!

4. Appoint a babysitter

The best way for both adults and kids to have a good time at the wedding is if there is a trusted babysitter to take care of the children. Have the sitter seated at the kids table, or kid’s room where she can keep an eye on the kids. In this way, the parents can enjoy themselves without any worry!

5. Bubble Station

This is one idea that is bound to get the little ones super excited! How adorable does this bubble station look? This is perfect for an outdoor wedding or reception, so the kids can be occupied for hours!

6. A “Cookies & Milk” Bar

During the day, there might be a long gap between meals when the ceremony is going on. Kids start to get hungry quickly, and what will make them more excited than their favorite cookies and milk? I absolutely love this table of cookies; with so many varieties and the eye-catching labels! If you make your “Cookies & Milk” bar so impressive, then the adults might also start stealing from the cookie jar!

To complement the delicious cookies is this lovely milk station. Include different flavors like chocolate, strawberry and soy milk! The milk can be served in these adorable little milk bottles. A long queue of excited kids is bound to be formed at this counter!

7. Kids love to dance!

Have a time slot for only the kids to dance. They are bound to love it!

8. I-SPY!

Kids love games, and the best way to keep them occupied during the
long wedding ceremony is by engaging them in a game of i-spy. Equip each child with a disposable camera, and a list of all the things
that they need to take pictures of! The kids will be really excited, and bonus- you get great pictures from your wedding!

9. Popcorn Bar

For many years, popcorn has been an effective tool to keep us quiet during movies. During the solemn wedding ceremony, nothing can be more awkward that the sound of sulky whining kids who are bored. The best way to keep them entertained is having them equipped with a tub of popcorn with amazing toppings! How cute does this easy-to-set-up popcorn bar look?

10. Fun centerpieces

Nothing can get kids more excited than Lego! Have a bowl of Lego at each kids table and be assured that they will be occupied when the best man makes his toast! You can also grab their attention with this adorable lollipop centerpiece!

11. Games!

You can set up both indoor and outdoor games to keep the little ones engaged while the adults socialize. For an outdoor activity, you can arrange for a ring-toss game or a friendly game of tug-of-war for the kids. For an indoor set-up, you could set up tables with board games like this one!

12. Set up a kids-only zone

Setting up a kids-only zone is a wonderful idea because the kids have their own space to have fun. You could appoint a known babysitter to stay with the kids at all times. While the adults are dancing and enjoying themselves all night long, the kids can huddle up and watch a movie, or take nap.




Why Family Involvement is Important to Overcome Addiction

September 27, 2018 by

Drug addiction

Drug and alcohol abuse does not only affect the individual in question; the effects also extend to their family and friends. There is a breaking of relationships, and everyone involved is hurt in some way because of the loss of trust and increase of anger. When you have a loved one struggling with an addiction, whether it be from alcoholism to trying to overcome heroin addiction. you easily feel helpless about the whole situation, and you begin to blame yourself for the things that are happening.

The good news is that you are not alone in experiencing the pain and anger that comes due to addiction. It is often referred to as a ‘family disease’, because it affects everyone in the individual’s life. It is therefore wise to involve the person’s family and friends in the recovery process, as they can also act as a source of support for the person even after recovery. There are also various ways you can participate in the process to understand prevention of relapses, and seeking social support.

Since addiction recovery is a lifelong journey, you cannot also expect that your friend or loved one will come back from the drug rehab facility being all fine and never struggling again in their lives – this attitude is a recipe for disaster, and can easily result in relapses. Your support is therefore very important to them, and here are some steps you can follow to help.

Understanding that treatment is not a ‘fix all’ for everything

chronic disease

Because addiction is a chronic disease, you cannot fix it all in one session of treatment. Therefore, expecting that your loved one will return from treatment having ‘completely healed’ is a dangerous and unrealistic assumption to make, and could set your loved one up to suffer a relapse.

Regardless of the length of time your loved one has spent in treatment, and whether they have gone through inpatient or outpatient treatment, it still remains that the results of addiction will trouble them even after the treatment period is over.

In rehabilitation, it is also essential to understand that there will be challenges you and your loved one will face because of addiction. These include recovery from debt and other difficulties in your financial status, recurring issues with their health due to drug abuse, them trying to regain steady employment and source of income, and also rebuilding of trust and damaged relationships.

Remain supportive and involved in their lives

Support

When the person completes their rehab treatment program, it is very important to keep in mind that you may have to change your lifestyle, both for the family and friends of the person. This means that you do not take them out for alcoholic or drug outings, and your home remains a drug and alcohol free zone.

This is particularly important when your loved one is in the early stages of their recovery journey. When you intentionally create an environment of sobriety in the home, it will also decrease their chances of slipping back into drug and alcohol abuse.

It is a fact that the first days of recovery are lonely ones, because the person has lost many of their friends, needs to let go of the toxic friendships built on drug and alcohol abuse, and also needs to repair their own relationships with themselves and the people that matter to them. When they are given sufficient support as well as understanding, thanks to close friends and family, their success in sobriety is better guaranteed. They can also check addiction rehabs for treating alcohol addiction.

Make sure to find support for yourself

Support for yourself

The fact remains that taking care of an individual in addiction or a loved one that has left addiction is a tiring process. They are therefore not the only ones who need help – you require some help as well.

As you take care of their needs, do not forget about yourself. It is not going to be an easy process, but you need to find an outlet where you can express how you feel, avoid blaming yourself, and allow yourself to heal from the emotional wounds. In addition, you also learn that you are not responsible for the decisions of anyone, except your own – and that includes realizing you have no control over the choices your loved one makes. You also learn that you cannot force them to change, and they alone have the power over that decision.

In fact, this only serves to remind you that there is no shame in asking for help, so make sure you have some healthy activities to fall back on, and a proper and strong support system. For instance, you can try out support group meetings, where you can hear the stories of others who have been through the same thing, join a local gym, go for some one-on-one therapy sessions, journal your feelings, and make some time to take care of yourself.

All of these activities will give you a mental and emotional boost to cope with the stress you have endured so far.

It is important to understand and decrease stress in your own life

Decrease stress

According to statistics from the NIH (National Institute of Health), among the major reasons of people getting into alcohol and drug abuse, as well as relapses, is due to stress in their lives. This is the reason why getting to understand stress will let you know your loved one is also struggling with it during their recovery process.

It will also help in knowing specific stress triggers that increase the chances of your loved one slipping back into the world of drug abuse. They include health issues, their relationships with their friends and family, school or work situations, problems in their financial state, and exposure to triggers of their drug, alcohol or signs of Xanax abuse.

When you acknowledge these factors, you can assist them to cope in better ways, such as going for therapy sessions and exercise.

Final thoughts

When dealing with a loved one in the recovery process of drug rehab, it is important to understand them and yourself. The addiction might be affecting them, but their recovery depends on your actions.




10 Quotes That Show The Strength of Special Needs Parents

September 17, 2018 by

family
C.S Lewis famously said, “Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” This couldn’t be more accurate; being a special needs parent teaches us three important things, among others- to love unconditionally, to protect ferociously and to find strength during adversity. Being a special needs parent can be both challenging, and rewarding. It is hard to see your child go through so much with the endless doctor appointments and the difficulty in being independent. At the same time, it is beautiful to see your big boy take his first steps, or make a new friend. They have this remarkable ability to light up a room with their smile, and never hesitate in letting us know how much they love us. This is what helps special needs parents gather the strength to wake up every morning, put on a brave smile and take care of their special child. We have interviewed a number of special needs moms, who have been kind enough to anonymously share their thoughts on being a special needs parent- the good, bad and ugly. You might be a special needs parent, or you might know somebody who is. This article is dedicated to all the special needs parents out there. We hope it gives you strength, courage and determination to keep doing what you do best. You are indeed special.

1. “I eagerly wait for my son to do something new. Last week, he rode a bicycle on his own! It was such a special day for us. The best part is that he will always remain a child at heart, no matter how old he grows. Just like Peter Pan! ”

2. “I have learnt so much from my son. It is really hard for me to be a special needs mom; there is so much to learn and so much to do. Yet, every time I look at my little boy, I can see that he is holding on to the hope that his mother will guide him through all the obstacles. That’s what keeps me going.”

3. “Being a special needs mother has taught me how to be more compassionate towards others. When my son was born, so many friends and relatives came forward to help me out. When we are at the hospital, the staff is warm and always ready to help. I make it a point to help out new special needs moms and let them know that I am there for them.”

4. “People come up to me and ask, “What’s wrong with your child?”, and I say,” Nothing, she’s perfect.” I’m not offended. I know that she may look different, and may speak differently, but she’s trying to learn and do everything on her own, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

5. “It can get lonely. From the day my son was diagnosed, I’ve not had time for myself. I’ve lost touch with my friends, and it has been years since my husband and I have gone out on a date. I’m not complaining, but I feel a little better when I accept it.”

6. “My daughter is my biggest inspiration in life. Every time I feel like giving up, I recall how far my little girl has come. She’s gotten through all the numerous doctor appointments, the stares of rude people and has even started going to school! She gives me the strength to keep going.”

7. “It is wonderful to be the mother of such a special boy. I was so overwhelmed when he took the effort to make a beautiful card for my birthday. It’s the little things like this that I will cherish forever.”

8. “I had a choice, and I chose to adopt a special needs child. I don’t see why I shouldn’t have; I have the money and resources to look after him. More than that, I have a lot of love to give. When I saw him for the first time at an orphanage, his smile just lit up the entire room. That was when I knew that he was the one for me. “

9. “The world has started to be more tolerant, and people have started accepting that special needs children have a place in society. That makes me happy, because it means that my little girl can lead a normal life.”

10. “I never thought that I could do it. When I realized that my son is a special needs child, I broke down and cried my heart out. Life seemed to be so unfair, and I felt weak and vulnerable. But the next day, I woke up and vowed to myself that I would do anything in my power to protect my little boy for as long as I live. I haven’t turned back ever since.”




How to Heal a Broken Heart

August 28, 2018 by
Broken heart

If you ever had your heart broken by someone you love, you know that everything in life seems to lose its meaning after a breakup. The only thing you care about is if your ex will send you that text, reaching out with a rekindling message like “i miss you..” so you can get back together again.

If you find yourself in this situation or have a friend that’s currently facing a breakup, good news, i’m about to share some tips to improve the situation. And no, I’m not talking about Netflix & Ben n jerry’s marathon type of advise. Here is some two healthy actions you can take towards recovering from a breakup:

Number one: Reach out to an old friend for a coffee

People are great mood changes! You probably recognize the feeling when you and a friend have planned a get together, but your having a bad day so you’re not feeling like it anymore. But as the good friend you are you end up going anyways, and to your surprise, your mood changes because your friend takes you off your a mind, and afterwards you feel grateful that you got together.

Why an old friend, does not my best friend work?

The reason and old friend is good it’s because it keeps you from falling into your habitual behaviours you have with your closest friends. You want to put yourself in a new situation so you can feel present and alert. This will feel like a splash of cold water in the face, it will wake you up.

So take up your phone and send a message or call to a friend you haven’t been in touch with for a while that you know will cheer you up.

Number Two: Invest and improve yourself

After a breakup there can be a lot of emotional pain, you might feel that this is the time where you are supposed to crawl down in your bed and just watch movies until the pain vanishes.

Do this and you be wasting a great opportunity!

You see, in order to make improvement with our ourselves we have to change, it’s simply impossible to improve something in our lives while staying the same, change happens outside our comfort zones.

The problem here is that were not designed to wanna to push ourselves outside our comfort zones, we are designed to maintain survival, not peak performance.

Another word for comfort zone could be “survival zone”, it’s a place your body and mind feel safe. Your body and mind knows that if your actions stays within this zones you’re more likely to survive, so it’s does everything to keep your action inside these zones.

This is why people struggle with reaching new goals and make changes in their lives.

Breakup pain creates an opportunity for growth!

Let me explain.

When were experiencing pain our body and mind gets more open to change. The pain sends a message to our brain and body and its saying: “we can’t stay like this, we are under attack, something needs to change”.

So this is the time to cultivate pain and make sure it’s works for you and not against you..

Since you’re feeling low, it does not really matter what you do, in every direction you go there will be pain, so you might as well make sure you head in the best direction possible.

So start take actions that will make your life better than it was before the pain even started. Break up expert Patric Tarnhamn talks about this in his post about the no contact rule, that is designed to help you get your ex back.

List of ideas with healthy changes and new habits:

  • Start working out and create your dream body
  • Buy some self improvement books and start a daily reading habit
  • Create a mindfulness habit like yoga or meditation
  • Make new friends and connections by networking at social events
  • Try new hobbies with a friend or by yourself

The idea is to do new activities that also contributes to personal growth so that when done habitual for a longer timeframe, your will experience identity change as a result of personal growth.




8 Easy Ways To Burn Calories Without Going To The Gym

July 11, 2018 by

Go for walk

As a parent, it can be hard to maintain a gym membership between the cost and the time commitment that it requires. The good news is that burning calories is not as difficult as you might think, and we have put together a list of eight easy ways that you can burn calories without having to visit the gym. Keep reading to find out more.

Walk Up the Stairs

Always find yourself waiting on the lift to get to your office? Next time you go to work, take the stairs in the morning and when you leave in the evening. You will make it to the top and even though you might be out of breath, you will have burnt a few extra calories.

Go For a Walk

Sitting at your desk all day every day can actually take a toll on your body but if you make sure to go for regular walks you can burn some calories.If you can get away every hour or so, then spend your lunch break going for a walk through the streets nearby. You’ll get some fresh air and exercise as you burn the calories.

Do A Spring Clean

If you haven’t done a full house clean recently then you should think about doing so if you want to burn some calories. Not only will you be able to benefit from a clean house, but you’ll feel lighter on your feet.

Buy A Machine

Just because you cannot commit to the gym doesn’t mean that you cannot make a one-off payment on an exercise machine for your home. Check out some of the amazing workout machines that you can purchase if you want to skip out on the gym by reading this guide to the Bowflex Max Trainer (one of the most recommend items for home gyms): http://www.allworkoutroutines.com/home-fitness/bowflex-max-trainer-reviews.

Skip the Bus

Get the bus to work? Why not start walking to and from your office in order to burn a few extra calories? You’ll find that it is really easy to walk to work and you’ll feel fresh in the mornings after your walk.

Go For A Hike

If you have any nice hills or mountains nearby, consider going for a hike this weekend. You’ll burn loads of calories and you’ll love the experience. Make sure to stay hydrated will you make your climb.

Wash Your Car

Another great way that you can burn some calories without hitting the gym is to give your car a wash. This is a great activity to do on a sunny day and you’ll love how sparkly your car looks by the end of it. You might even save money on the car wash that you would have had to eventually pay for.

Walk Your Dog

Our final suggestion to help you burn calories is to take your dog for a walk. You might find that your other family members are the main dog walkers, but you can actually burn a lot from doing this. If you don’t have your own dog, why not ask to borrow a friend’s?




How to Keep your Kids Occupied During the Summer

July 2, 2018 by

Kids lesson

We all know that a bored child is a mischievous child. I know this not only because I’m a mother, but I also remember my parents tell myself and my siblings off for causing mischief.

When school is out for summer, you’ll often find parents over the globe looking for things that will keep their kids occupied. The good news is there are plenty of activities that could help to prevent your children from getting bored, you just have to know what they are. This article explores what you can do throughout the summer to keep your little ones occupied.

Send your Children to Summer Camp

Many parents and carers tend to send their children to summer camp. Not only does summer camp keep your kids busy and entertained, but it can also be a great place for them to learn new skills. Of course, if you cannot afford summer camp or you simply don’t want to send your children away every summer, there are other options.

Enjoy a Vacation Together

If you would like to offer your child the best vacation ever, then I can wholeheartedly recommend going on a family trip to Universal Studios. When I took my children there a few years ago they simply loved every moment of it. However, there are many other destinations that you may want to consider visiting. For example, going camping with your children is a lot of fun, as is hiring an RV and making your way across the country.

Wherever you decide to go, make sure you plan to let your kids have fun. Take them somewhere exciting for the day such as a theme park, take them fishing, walk around museums and art galleries, and make sure they have a great time.

Visit Family Together

During the summer you are likely to find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands. This is when travelling across the country and visiting family can help. Why not book a two-week vacation to see your relatives so your kids can play with their cousins? Explore the local area while you’re visiting family, and enjoy a few activities together.

Take your Children to the Park

Unless you have a park that’s on your doorstep, you may want to think about taking your children to the park. Spend at least a few hours there two to three times a week and let them blow off steam. Kids tend to love spending time at the park, it lets them run riot for a few hours, and they can have a lot of fun with their friends.

As you can see, you can keep your kids occupied during the summer, meaning you won’t have to put up with arguments, mischievousness, and upset children. Make sure you and your kids plan to have a lot of fun this summer so you can all have a great time, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.




Transitioning Together – The Importance of Community for the Elderly

June 8, 2018 by

Elderly Community

Many would know that as human beings, and indeed, as animals, we have a natural desire to identify with others. We are, after all, part of a group of mammals who feel the need to connect and socialise. Identifying with a common group makes us feel wanted, included and gives a means of belonging and support.

This becomes ever more important as we go through the different stages of life. Not only does it help us recognise where we belong in society, but to build new relationships and friendships with those in a similar situation.

So, when we reach our “twilight years,” how do we make the transition into a new community and build up those new relationships?

A village feel:

If you are a person who is among those who have lived in small towns, you build up a certain level of closeness and belonging with those around you. You knew everyone and had a level of connection with those you saw regularly, possibly building long lasting friendships over time.

Many retirement villages help to offer this feeling of tight knit community, while giving you the option to remain independent and have still live in your own private space. This closeness allows the elderly to build up new relationships, which can help with mental health and connections.

Group activities:

Sharing common interests and hobbies is often how we build connections with others. Whether it is something such as knitting or art, it helps to build brain connections by learning or creating something new for either the person or someone else to enjoy.

In addition, using these connections can help to maintain cognitive function and stave off certain psychological ailments, such as depression. It can also be a source of fun that you can enjoy with others regularly.

A Younger Touch:

Learning and growing with other age demographics can also have its benefits for the elderly. Whether it’s through grandchildren or other interactions with younger generations, it can help both parties. As my grandmother would often attest to, it helps “keep you sane”, as well as “up-to-date and on your toes” with what is current.

As much as we all like a bit of nostalgia, it can help the elder generation to remain in the present, while for the younger group, the elder generation can assert some wisdom they may not have yet gained.

According to Ish- Horowicz, and an article in the Guardian on the elderly and toddlers “It’s about learning through generations and caring for each other”, proves that regular social interaction is important and helps both with learning new skills.

Combats Loneliness:

As discussed in the previous point, being part of a community helps with social interaction. This can help to stave off loneliness and feelings of isolation, which can be prevalent as we age.

According to David Inn and Forbes, loneliness greatly affects mental health as “approximately 80% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition…taking steps to encourage social activities is essential.”

Benefits physical health:

Being part of a social community has many benefits for seniors, linked to increases in physical health.

According to AgingCare.com, by taking up regular exercise within your community, seniors can benefit from improved cardiovascular health, better bone structure, and limited chances of dementia due to regular learning and socialising with others.

Being in a common activity with others also helps to reduce stress, which can help with combating many chronic conditions, helping to keep the elderly slightly more independent.

Now, when it comes to the “golden years,” invite a close-knit neighbour, for cake or a cup of coffee. For who knows what friends you’ll make.




10 Common Travel Money Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them

June 7, 2018 by

Traveler mistakes

The more frequently you travel, the more likely you are to seek out travel money hacks and ways to save money. However, when looking to save money while traveling, it is important to know the mistakes that can add to the cost of your holiday.

Here are 10 common travel money mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Failing to Inform Your Bank of Your Travel Plans

If you forget to notify your bank of your travel plans, you risk having your cards frozen for fraudulent charges. Having a card declined is not only inconveniencing but can be costly to resolve. Therefore, make it a point to notify your bank or card provider of your travel plans.

2. Not Taking Out Travel Insurance

Make sure you buy travel insurance when traveling abroad. The coverage will protect you against financial losses incurred following unexpected events such as theft, loss of baggage and belongings, illness, injury, holiday cancellation and travel delays. If you’re a frequent traveller, consider investing in an annual plan instead of paying per trip.

There are numerous travel insurance comparison tools that can help you find the right coverage for your trip. Some popular tools worth trying out include Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip to name a few.

3. Paying in Home Currency – Rather Than the Local Currency

While paying in sterling or pounds may seem simple, it is often expensive. Retailers charge a conversion fee for foreign currency transactions meaning you’ll be paying more for whatever you’re buying. You’re also likely going to get the worst exchange rate.

If you’re given the option to pay in local currency or your country’s currency, always choose to pay in local currency.

4. Exchanging Money at The Airport

A common mistake tourists make when travelling is buying currency at the airport. Currency exchange booths at airports have less competitive rates and may also charge a fee for the service. The best way to get value for money and have more control over the rates you get is to plan ahead. You can also exchange currency at a high street bureau or a bureau de change that’s away from tourist hotspots. Currency exchange comparison sites like Comparecurrency.com allow you to get the best deal before you leave for your holiday.

5. Carrying Travellers Cheques

Travellers cheques were once a preferred way to foreign currency. This is because they could be refunded if lost or stolen, were safe – they required the holder’s signature to be used and convenient – were accepted by most retailers around the world.

Today, travellers cheques are only accepted by a few banks around the world meaning you’ll have a hard time cashing out the money. A great alternative to a travellers cheque is to carry a debit card, credit card, travel cards or pre-paid currency card.

6. Eating near Tourist Attractions

Cafes and restaurants around popular tourist hotspots are often expensive and have low quality food. To avoid eating at tourist traps, spend some time before your trip finding out where the locals eat and drink. You can also ask your hotel concierge for recommendations.

7. Using a Taxi or Rental Car to Get Around

Before you rent a car or flag down a cab, explore the different options for getting around the city. Many cities offer different modes of public transport including buses, trains, and trams. Another option for getting around the city is carpooling with other tourists to your destination.

Using public transport or carpooling services will help you save money on transportation costs when compared to using a rental car or taxi.

8. Using your Regular Credit or Debit Card for Spending

Credit and debit cards are a safe, convenient and flexible way to pay abroad. However, if you’re not careful they may prove expensive. Most cards charge a foreign transaction fee ranging from 2% to 3% and a transaction fee ranging from £1 – £1.5 each time you use your card overseas.

The simplest way to avoid these charges it to use cash when possible. If you prefer using a card, consider getting yourself a card designed for overseas spending.

9. Keeping All Your Money in One Place

When you withdraw money, don’t keep it in one place. Split it up and keep a set amount in your backpack, money belt, or on your person. Some hotels have safes where you can hide some of the cash.

10. Not Researching Your Destination’s Tipping Policy

While it’s customary to tip your waiter or waitress between 10-15% of the bill in the UK, that’s not the case in most countries. Different countries have different policies. For instance, the service charge in the United States and Canada is 15-20% while that in Asian countries is 10-16%.

Be sure to research the tipping policy of your destination so you don’t end up tipping more.

Avoiding these travel money mistakes will help you save some money while enjoying your vacation overseas.




5 Life Lessons Every Parent Needs to Teach Their Kids

June 4, 2018 by

Kids lesson

The lessons you give your sons and daughters when they are little kids stays with them for a life time. Train them up from childhood and they will grow up to be strong and confident people. We have heard the saying “child is the father of man” often enough without probably never understanding the depths of the quote. Following are certain lessons we should teach kids as parents.

1. The Importance of Hardwork

The mind to work hard can be cultivated in your kid by helping them to understand its importance. Teach them how fruitful a quality  hard work is. They should understand that things can be achieved in life only through perseverance and hard work. Kids have to learn such things early in their life for them to grow up as human beings who are capable of chasing their own dreams.It is not necessary that they will get to do only what they love. Teach them that every work they do will have long term benefits. It is necessary to do these so they can reach their goals.

2. To Respect and to be respected

It is of utmost importance that a kid learns the value of respect. They should be taught to respect everyone irrespective of their differences. They should respect people in all walks of life. It is said that a man’s behavior can be understood your how he treats those beneath him. It is thus necessary that kids respect their elders, peers and their young ones equally. They must also learn that they should earn respect by respecting others.

3. Necessity of being kind and forgiving

Kindness and the willingness are two wonderful qualities we need to cultivate in kids. These are values that can define a true human being and thus substantial in any kid. As a child, if they are taught to share what they have and be kind to everyone around them, bullying can be prevented to a great extent in schools.

4. Gratefulness for the life they live

Kids should grow up appreciating the life they have been given. It is a great part of how they view the world. Being grateful for everything they have will give them a new appreciation of life itself. But it is not a value easily found unless you teach them to view things from that point of view from early in the childhood. As important as it is, they should also know they deserve the things they have been given. Every day, kids should try to be worthy of being alive and healthy.

5. Helpfulness is a requirement

Being helpful should not be a choice for your kids at any point in their life. This can be made possible by imparting in them the positivity of being helpful. The willingness to help those who are in need of assistance should develop in them as they grow. The best way to cultivate this is by setting examples yourself. When they watch you being kind, grateful or helpful, your kids are bound to copy you in their life.




Yoga for Anxious Kids

May 14, 2018 by

yoga

Anxiety disorders are fairly common among children. However, if not treated, it could affect the child’s overall confidence and happiness. Yoga has been known to help alleviate anxiety and stress in people. The ancient practice of yoga helps to unite one’s mind, body and spirit. Kids are known to grasp concepts faster than adults, and have extremely flexible bodies. Doing yoga is an effective way for children to reduce anxiety. It is also helps improve their confidence, and discipline them. Help your little ones try out these ten yoga postures in order to alleviate anxiety and boost their confidence!

1. Snake posture

Benefits: Helps improve blood circulation, improves flexibility, reduces stress and useful for people with respiratory problems.
Directions:
• Lie face down with your feet together, and your forehead touching the ground.
• Place your palms in line with your chest
• As you inhale, raise your head and chest off the floor; looking upwards.
• Exhale, and slowly release the posture to come back face down on the ground.

2. Warrior posture

Benefits: Strengthens the legs and pelvis, relieves back pain, and alleviates anxiety.
Directions:
• Place your legs four feet apart; with your right leg in front and your left leg at the back.
• Turn your torso to a side.
• Now, turn your right foot 90˚, and your left foot 60˚.
• As you inhale, stretch your hands upwards.
• When you exhale, bend your right knee as you stretch your left leg.
• Repeat with your left leg in front and your right leg at the back.

3. Tree posture

Benefits: Helps strengthen the bones and muscles, improves concentration and stability, and helps calm the mind.
Directions:
• Stand straight with your feet close to each other.
• Keep your hands to the sides, with fingers pointing downwards
• Lift your right leg, and place your foot on the inner thigh of your left leg.
• Fold your hands in prayer position and focus on your breathing
• Slowly place your right foot down, and repeat the steps with your other leg.

4. Camel posture

Benefits: Corrects hunched-back, relieves chest congestion and helps improves confidence.
Directions:
• Kneel down, with your legs slightly apart and your palms on your hips.
• As you inhale, extend your chest and abdomen forward and bend backwards while looking upwards.
• Focus on your breathing, and slowly return to the start position.

5. Fog posture

Benefits: Helps tone legs, improves blood circulation and reduce stress.
Directions:
• Stand with your feet slightly apart.
• Bend your knees and sit down, placing your hands between your feet.
• While you concentrate on your breathing, lean forward and shift your body weight to your hands.
• Slowly raise the soles of your feet upwards.
• Gently place the soles of your feet to the ground and stand up.

6. Downward facing dog posture

Benefits: Helps tone muscles, strengthens the body and leaves you feeling energized and calm.
Directions:
• Get on all fours so that your back remains straight and parallel with the floor. This is the table pose.
• Now, push up your hips by straightening the knees and elbows so that your body forms an inverted V shape.
• Hands must be shoulder-width apart, feet must be hip-width apart and parallel to each other, and toes should point straight ahead.
• Hold the pose for 30-60 seconds and take long deep breaths.
• Exhale and slowly return to the table pose. Relax.

7. Cat posture

Benefits: Improves blood circulations, relaxes the mind, strengthens the wrists and shoulders and improves spinal flexibility
Directions:
• Get on all fours so that your back remains straight and parallel with the floor. This is the table pose.
• Your arms must be perpendicular to the floor; with your hands directly under the shoulders and your knees must be hip-width apart.
• Look straight ahead.
• As you inhale, raise your chin and tilt your head back and push your navel downwards. Raise your tailbone upwards and compress your buttocks.
• Hold the pose and take long, deep breaths.
• As you exhale, drop your chin to your chest, arch your back upwards and relax the buttocks.
• Hold the pose for a few seconds before returning to the table pose.

8. Star posture

Benefits: Improves flexibility, helps maintain balance and builds confidence.
Directions:
• Stand straight with your feet close to each other and your hands by your side.
• Slide your legs widely apart.
• Stretch your arms upwards on either side in such a way that you take the shape of a star.
• While you hold this position, concentrate on your breathing.
• Lower your hands and slowly stand upright again.

9. Child posture

Benefits: Helps alleviate anxiety and strengthens the back.
Directions:
• Sit on your heels. Bend forward and lower your forehead to the floor.
• Keep your arms alongside your body with the hands on the floor and your palms facing upwards.
• Gently press your chest on the thighs and hold the pose.
• After holding the pose for one or two minutes, slowly lift yourself up to sit back on your heels.

10. Corpse Pose

Benefits: Helps alleviate insomnia, useful in reducing stress and calm the mind.
Directions:
• Lie flat on your back and close your eyes.
• Keep your legs apart, with your toes facing to the sides. Place your arms a little spread apart from your body, with your palms open and facing upward. Relax your arms and legs completely.
• Slowly relax your entire body by taking your attention to different parts of your body.
• Begin by bringing your attention to your right foot, move on to the right knee and so on. Slowly move upwards to your head after relaxing both your legs.
• Focus on your breathing; keep breathing slowly, gently and deeply.
• After 10-20 minutes, while keeping your eyes closed, slowly roll onto your right side. Lie in that position for a minute or so.
• By taking the support of your right hand, gently sit up.
• Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing as you gradually become more aware of your relaxed body and mind. Slowly open your eyes.




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