As children get older, they start to crave more independence. It also might be something you encourage. For example, your child getting the bus on their own is a step towards teaching them valuable life skills – such as how to handle money and pay for things. Soon, these things will become second nature to both you and your child. But what happens once they get older? When your kids reach college age, it’s fairly likely that they are going to want to go travelling. Gap years are more popular than ever – albeit more in Europe than they are in the US. But, more and more universities are readily accepting students who have taken a gap year to go travelling as it shows they have initiative and independence. So what can YOU do as a parent to ensure your child is safe if they choose to travel the world before college?

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Know their whereabouts all the time

This is likely to be the kind of conversation that makes your teenager sigh and roll their eyes. But, it is a good idea to know their exact itinerary so you are aware of their whereabouts should anything happen. Plus, once you know they are there safe, it will make you relax a bit rather than calling them constantly asking what is next on their agenda. Ask your child to give you the address of their accommodation, include hotel room number, and a phone number if possible. That way, if anything should happen, you will know who to speak to first.

Protect them against theft

Unfortunately, in some parts of the world there are gangs of thieves who specifically target backpackers. It is unlikely your child will be able to do much to mask their ‘backpacker’ appearance  – especially if they quite literally have to carry a backpack around with them! But, there are ways they can be savvy and not openly advertise their possessions to thieves. Buying a money belt before they leave is an excellent idea as they can store money for the day in there underneath their clothes. Also, encourage your teenager to not take out too much physical money for their trip. If they get a bank card stolen, they can call the bank up to cancel the card, meaning the thief will not be able to withdraw anything. Once physical money is gone, it’s gone, so consider splitting your child’s money between a card and notes.

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Encourage them to take a smartphone

This might seem an unusual tip, as smartphones are some of the most stolen items in the world. But, as long as your child is discreet about their phone in certain areas, having a smartphone with them can really enhance their trip. If they get into any difficulty, they have the internet at their fingertips with a smartphone, and it can also help them speak the local language.  From a more lighthearted perspective, they can use their smartphone to take amazing pictures of their holiday to remember it by. Plus, it is easier than ever to video chat over a phone, so you’ll be able to keep in touch too.

The summer is in full swing, and it’s time to get out of the house and enjoy the sunny weather. Still, we’ve got commitments like work and school that prevent us from going on vacation. Never fear! You can hold a vacation in your own backyard with a bit of creativity. So, buy the large dome camping tents from an online store, find a sleeping bag or two, and take some inspiration from our ideas.

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Bring Your Home Movies Outdoors

Ah, home movie night. A great opportunity to sit around and cringe while watching our former selves. While movie night might be a great idea, you don’t want to be stuck indoors. So, as part of your backyard camping idea, why not bring the movies outdoors? For this, you’ll want a cheap projector of some sort. You can find these online, and the cheapest ones aren’t all that costly. Then, hang up a white sheet, and you’ve got everything you need for the perfect evening.

Invest In A Fire Pit

One of the best things about going camping is the ability to sit around the campfire and tell stories. If you want to recreate that experience in your backyard, a fire pit is the best way to go. Fill it with a visually appealing material like fire glass for the best effect. Then, you can all enjoy sitting around the fire in the evening before retiring to your camping tents. Sounds good, doesn’t it?!

Make Lanterns With Glow Sticks

The one downside of being outside in the evening is that you won’t get the benefit of electric light sources. While you could use phones and tablets, we want to ditch the technology as much as we can. Instead, start getting creative. You can actually make awesome lanterns with nothing but glass jars and glowsticks. They create a visually striking effect that will compliment your evening perfectly.

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Create A Treasure Hunt For The Kids

While there are plenty of positives when camping in your backyard, the downsides are plentiful too. Normally, when we go on a camping vacation, we’re able to go on adventures and discover our new surroundings. That isn’t the same here, so you need to make it more interesting for both you and the kids. How can you do that? Create a treasure hunt! This will encourage everyone to explore areas of your backyard that you rarely pay attention to.

Stories & Songs

What’s a camping trip without a few songs and stories to tell around the fire? You’re at an advantage – spend the day researching some basic songs and finding the best stories to tell. Print them out and bring them with you in the evening. That way, you’ll never be stuck for great stories and new songs to learn. You could even invest in a used guitar-or-two. Teach your kids some basic songs around the fire, and you never know if you’ll have a budding superstar on your hands!

Don’t let this opportunity go to waste! Camping in your backyard is a great way to bond as a family throughout the hot, summer months.

It makes a lot of sense to have a life insurance policy on the primary breadwinner or in a married couple when both parties are contributing financially to the household. That being said, it is just as important for a stay-at-home parent to have a life insurance policy as well.

There can still be a tremendous financial impact on the family if a stay-at-home parent passes away. Few people, however, think about the important services provided by a stay-at-home spouse. The loss of him or her could mean significant expenses and frustration for the other spouse to have to identify appropriate childcare and household management services. Did you know, for example, that the price of full-time care for an infant in a daycare center could be as high as $15,000 a year? This is just one of the reasons why a stay-at-home parent should always have a life insurance protection.

There are all kinds of ways to figure out how to calculate the costs you might have to pay in order to obtain similar results as you would from a stay-at-home parent’s work. That being said, it can run anywhere from $50,000 to more than a $100,000. Remember that a stay-at-home spouse typically works more than 96 hours a week serving as chauffer, cook, teacher, housekeeper and even psychologist. You might think of the stay-at-home parent as the at-home CEO. In order to determine how much life insurance a stay-at-home parent needs, you need to think carefully about your own individual circumstances.

The annual financial value of services provided by a stay-at-home parent can be used to establish a face amount. There are two primary choices for a life insurance; temporary and permanent coverage. Temporary coverage gives you a set period of years during which if the insured individual passes away, the life insurance company provides death benefit outlined as the face amount on the policy. Sadly, families put in the position of copying without a stay-at-home-parent might not realize just how many functions were handled by this one person until it’s too late. Take the time now to appreciate and protect those valuable inputs and services provided by a stay-at-home parent by taking out a life insurance policy.

Term life insurance with or without exam is typically cheaper and easier to obtain. Permanent life insurance, on the other hand, lasts for the duration of the insured individual’s life, but it is typically more expensive. There are usually more riders and bells and whistles on a permanent life insurance policy, but most people choose a term life insurance policy because they are so much easier to get and so inexpensive. For a minimal cost associated with paying your term life insurance premium, you will get the peace of mind in knowing that the working parents will have the necessary support if something happens to the stay-at-home parent. Investigating your term life insurance options can start online and can be assisted tremendously by the help of an independent insurance agency.

So, you promised your teenager a party? Perhaps it is the sweet 16 bash your child has waited their entire life for or maybe it is to celebrate a great year, they remembered to put their clothes in the laundry or any other major accomplishment. The day has come (after your child has reminded you about a ½ dozen times) to start party planning. Mommy, you were a teen once, so I know you remember your expectations versus your parents, right? You remember your list of wants versus what your parents were willing to pay for being drastically different! Most of us don’t live like the people our teens idolize on television. So as you plan your party, set limits and guidelines right away. You can still have an amazing party on a realistic budget.

No Helicopters, No Limos, No Way

It is your choice if you can financially afford to spend a large amount of money on a party for your teen but for the majority of us, we can’t fly in the latest pop artist or rent out a fleet of limousines, but we still want to throw an amazing party. It is important to set that financial boundary with your overly excited teen at the beginning of the planning stage. Use this opportunity to talk to your teen about budgeting and being smart about expenses. Instead of renting out an expensive venue, mommy can move some furniture around in the basement. Transform your basement into a cool party space and remember, it is your teen’s party but it is your budget, so you have to do what makes sense to your pockets. Check out Limo Find.

No alcohol/Drugs, No Drama

Yes, teenage parties get a lot of negative flack. Television has done a remarkable job depicting teenage house parties as wild and uncontrollable with the police arriving only after the entire house is destroyed. Ensure that this party is safe and fun and use this as an opportunity to have a conversation with your child about how important it is for you to have open communication. Set the ground rules and your teen will understand that they are responsible for everything that takes place. Make it clear that if all goes well, mommy may very well consider more parties in the future but if all goes wrong, then it will never happen again (and stick to your agreement).

No Surprises

Once you have all the details figured out, allow your teen to send out invitations. These days, the speed of technology is both great and maybe not so great here. Teenagers can text faster than most of us can speak so the fact that they can communicate about anything in seconds makes for a huge guest list if you aren’t careful. You don’t want a few kids showing up that your teen doesn’t even know. Be clear about who is coming and it isn’t a bad idea to communicate with the parents of each child.

No Extra Expenses, No Stress

Here are a few additional party tips:

• Throw a candy party/candy buffet. Teens love snacks so consider reaching out to SweetServices.com a company that specializes in sending bulk candy and candy buffets. Something quick at a decent price and a different spin on your typical party treats!
• Don’t hire a DJ, get your speakers and have your child create a playlist using their phone or MP3 player.
• Don’t forget, this is your teen’s party so this is your teen’s mess! Part of being a responsible parent is to raise a responsible kid.
• Have fun, create memories!

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Author Bio

Wendy Dessler

Title: Super-Connector at OutreachMama

Wendy is a super-connector with OutreachMama who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.

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Twitter Handle: @outreachmama

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Website URL: http://www.outreachmama.com/

We all want our little ones to succeed, and it’s no different when it comes to organized sports. If your son or daughter loves heading out onto the field and taking part in America’s favorite pastime, you know how stressful it can be for both parent and child when it comes time to try out for competitive leagues. If you’re looking for ways to set your kids up for success on the baseball diamond, keep these tips in mind and help them stand ready to impress the coach and improve their future both on and off the field.

Preparing Beforehand

If you want your little one to do well at tryouts, make sure they’re in shape and practicing long before they step in front of a coach. It can be tough to get kids off the couch in those hot summer months, but you can circumvent this behavior by turning physical activity into a game or challenge of sorts with the help of a children’s activity tracker from iBitz. They’ll love seeing the rewards they get from fitting more activity into their days, and this will leave them prepared to impress when they head out to tryouts.

The Right Gear

It’s important for your child to look the part when they step out onto the field. As much as we hate to say it, appearances are important, and that’s true of the tryout world. Make sure your kid is ready to impress with the right gear and equipment, without breaking the bank. It’s not to say you need to run out and buy top of the line baseball bats and gloves, or deck your little one out in a miniature jersey. However, having them show up in a pair of shorts with no equipment will show they’re not serious about the game, and that impression can stick with a discerning coach. Providing them with the right tryout essentials can go a long way and it doesn’t mean you have to put your life savings into gear; find cheap infield gloves here, ask neighbors and family members if they have any hand-me-down bats and equipment you could borrow for the time being, and always check out local listing sites like Craigslist.

Encourage Your Child to Introduce Him/Herself

If your little one has never met the coach before, encourage him or her to go up and introduce themselves before tryouts start. This will help them get noticed from the get-go, and show the coach your child is professional (as much as little ones can be) and confident—a feature every coach wants in a player.

Check Yourself

Coaches aren’t just watching the kids—they’re watching you, as well. Parents are just as much a part of the team when it comes to tryouts, and if you stand out with loud, obnoxious tendencies on the sidelines, it may unfortunately factor into the coach’s decision about your child. Keep comments to a minimum, be positive, but try to refrain from being over-celebratory when your child is doing well in the tryouts.

Be Prompt and Punctual

Life gets busy, and no one understand that better than a fellow parent. However, when it comes to tryouts, ensure you’re there on time (which usually means being early), and be prepared to stay late when time inevitably runs over—we all know how difficult it can be to wrangle kids and keep things punctual. If you truly want your child to succeed in baseball, you need to make a commitment to the sport. Coaches won’t see a late arrival or early departure as the sign of a reliable player. Punctuality is an important skill for every child to learn; lead by example, and make the opportunity to be on time more exciting with the purchase of a children’s watch from Flik Flak. Guaranteed they’ll love showing off this personalized new gadget and it will definitely instill the importance of understanding timelines, a facet every coach will appreciate.

Make sure your child is ready to throw and catch like a pro with these tips and impress the coach by encouraging the aforementioned skills and behaviors—it’s sure to make a difference in both their extracurricular and academic endeavors.