Categories
Adulting How To Learning Life Parenting

New Baby Incoming? Make The Transition Easy With These Top Tips

It’s been a hard year for a lot of people. Job losses are abundant and people are still worried about coronavirus and its effects on millions of people around the globe. If you’re bringing a baby into the world at the moment you might be worried and have reason to be.

However, you can transition to life as a parent just like you would have before. These tips can help you get started and help shift your perspective to one of wanting to be ready and to tackle any issues which come up. Winter might be around the corner, and the baby may be on the way, but there’s always time to set your life up for parental success.

Plan The Events Stuff Now

This is the stuff you do to celebrate your baby coming into the world. This could be planning a little party a couple of weeks after having the baby. Maybe it’s looking at professional newborn photography to immortalize the moment.

Whatever you choose to do, plan it in now so that you can fully focus on the baby when the time comes. Planning events like this is never easy when you’ve got kids to look after. Think ahead and make it easier on yourself.

If you don’t think you’ve got time you might be able to ask friends and family for help, maybe they can arrange things if you’re a bit too busy to do it.

Source

Plan The Hospital Route

Planning the hospital route is a must, especially if you’re getting yourself to the hospital. Of course, you (hopefully) won’t be driving, but whoever is needs to be able to get you there quickly and know the way.

Go on a couple of dry runs and see how long it takes. Knowing how long it takes is important and should factor into your planning. You should also get a go-bag ready, full of what you’ll need at the hospital.

Little things like this take away some stress from what will always be an incredibly stressful day. You should also get a backup. Your partner might be away, busy, or even unwell.

If this is the case, you’ll need someone else to help you out. Always use an ambulance as a last resort because they can cost a lot of money, and they’re pretty much a waste when they could be doing something else.


Guide created by Natera

Scrub The House

You need to ensure the house is clean. Now, it probably is, but when a newborn is concerned it’s always best to be sure.

Disinfect everything. Your baby won’t have the same immune system that you do. Their immune system is weaker as they haven’t had the time to let it develop yet.

When you also factor in coronavirus it makes sense to have a deeper clean than usual. Don’t forget to clean and disinfect the car.

Your baby will be traveling home in the car, so make sure that the car is just as clean as the house. The immune system develops quite quickly but it always pays to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to things like this.

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Categories
Adulting Guest Post How To Life

Different Businesses and Online Money-making Ideas You Need to Know

In this guest post,Valentina Wilson explains different businesses and online money-making ideas.

Valentina is a writer and blogger who specializes in personal finance and positive change. Valentina has a master’s degree in financial journalism and seven years of experience in personal banking and believes that small behavioral changes are the key to achieving financial freedom. Check out her blog, Best Debt Consolidation Blog, https://www.bestdebtconsolidation.org/blog/ and follow her on Twitter:@valentinailson https://twitter.com/valentinailson

Due to this corona virus pandemic, the unemployment rate is growing fast. The vast numbers of pay cuts and job losses have created a financial crisis among people. It is true that due to this pandemic, the economy is going through a rough phase and it is the consumers who are suffering from financial problems.

But, to survive in this difficult situation, you have to find different income sources. Most people are trying to look for a secondary source of income so that they can repay debts on time and protect their credit score. Many students are in knee-deep debt due to having no jobs out there. However, there are options to consolidate student loans. Also, Govt. help and an extended payment policy that can help.

According to the experts, you can consider some part-time jobs or businesses to manage your financial life.

According to the experts, you can consider some part-time jobs or businesses to manage your financial life. Online money-making opportunities are widely available, too, if you know where to look.

Home-based businesses, weekend businesses, or jobs can support you by providing extra income that can be utilized in living a peaceful financial life.

Here you go:

Weekend business ideas:

●       Baby-sitting-services

If you have very small kids and you take care of them, taking care of another child along with your own will not be very difficult for you. This service is also very cost-effective as your customers will have to come to you. This will save on your fuel expenses too. In most cases, the parents of these children have their food packed and you will just need to feed the child. However, even if they do not provide you with that then you can make a little extra food at home and feed them that. You may even take additional charges for providing food. You can pay daily, weekly or monthly fees depending on your needs.

●       Cooking classes

If you are good at cooking you could give cooking classes at home. These classes are a very convenient option as you can limit the number of classes based on your needs and you also get paid on the spot.

●       Have  a yard or garage sale

You can also organize a yard or garage sale to sell unused or mildly used items. This can be done at any weekend to get some extra bucks.

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Home-based business ideas:

●       Rent your garage home to earn money

If you have space in the garage, you can rent your garage to earn money out of it. If you have a big house and one part of the house is empty, you can rent a part of your home. This will be a great source of income

●       Sell homemade products

You can sell homemade baked goodies. This will be more convenient for you if you have older children at home who can help. In a few main festival seasons, the demand for homemade goodies such as cookies and cakes rises. This allows you to get money by sitting at home and baking.

●       Be a financial coach

During times when there is too much financial uncertainty, most people are looking for someone to fall back on. If you can become a financial coach, you can help people make better financial decisions and thereby make money. You can give an ad for this and open a financial class at your home premises.

You can also create a financial website of your own so that people can have the option of signing up with you and clearing their financial doubts.

Online money-making part-time jobs to earn extra money

●       Start freelancing

If you have the skills to write, you can sit at home and with the help of the Internet, you can do freelancing. There are various freelancing jobs available on the Internet. You just need to choose the right one for you. While choosing any freelancing job, you also need to make sure that you get proper remuneration. Freelancing helps you earn good money in the comfort of your house.

●       Get paid with social networking websites

Different social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter help you earn money. They have become very popular these days. Such social networking websites need more members to join them. In return, they pay their new joiners and also pay them if they post any messages.

●       Get money to read mail.

You get paid just to click on the email and then close it. Every day, you receive paid emails in your inbox that have links to different websites. These emails help you earn money when you view them for just a few seconds.

●       Get paid for data entry

There are many types of data entry jobs available on the Internet. You just need to enter basic data information into these data entry jobs. You can earn good money with the help of data entry jobs.

●       Get paid for participating in online surveys

Online surveys are good ways to make money with the help of the Internet. While conducting online surveys, consumers’ feedback is very much essential. Those who participate in these online surveys are paid some money by the survey companies.

●       Be a social media marketer

Nowadays social networking websites are very popular and you can also carry on social media marketing about your website so that you can earn extra money. Create a profile on any of the social media websites and increase your network and friends so that you can easily boost your profits by boosting the traffic to your website.

●       Become an online content writer or blogger

Another online money-making option is to become a content writer as this way you can nurture your writing skills as well as earn money at the same time. Get in touch with a webmaster that can provide you with enough projects where you can show your expertise in writing and earn online cash. What you need to remember is that you have to do complete research on what you’re writing. You also need to be able to write unique content for their website. You can also start online blogging to earn money over time.

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Lastly,

we all know that due to a rapid increase in the price of basic amenities due to the COVID pandemic, life has become very difficult. It has become difficult to pay for basics, that any luxury is way beyond reach. Thus, a single earning member family structure can not quite provide much economic stability in today’s scenario. 

So, both husband and wife must contribute towards the budget of the family. But if you want to be at home and also want to work from the comfort of your home, then there are many ways in which moms at home can make money. Also, if you have no job right now, you can easily embrace an online money-making opportunity. 

However, in any circumstances, you should never give up hope. If you have no income and you are unable to manage any job, you can ask for GOVT. grants and financial help.

Categories
Adulting How To Life Mental Health

A Guide To Showing Up For A Grieving Loved One

If your loved one is grieving, you’ll know better than anyone that they need help and support. Showing up for somebody who is grieving isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but your support will mean a lot to them and could help them to further move through the stages of grief. Below, we’ll take a look at how you can show up for your grieving loved one:

Talk To Them

Talking to your loved one is one of the best things you can do for them. Talk to them about their feelings, and let them talk about their loved one for as long as they need to. Sometimes they may simply want you to sit in silence with them, so be prepared for that, too. Try not to refer to your own experiences, as that likely won’t help them. They need to talk to move through their grief, so just be a good listener and ask questions. 

Help Them To Find Support

You aren’t a licensed professional (we assume), so consider helping your loved one to find some professional support. Counseling could be a good way to help them move through difficult emotions. You can hold space for the person you love and show up for them, but without proper training, you may not always say or do the right thing. It’s not your job alone to help them move forward, and this can be a big weight to carry. 

credit

Do Things To Take Their Mind Off It 

One of the best things you can do is give ideas to take their mind off it. You could paint with them, go for a walk, or do something else that could be therapeutic to them. Sometimes they may simply need to sit and feel sad, but other times, they may need somebody to do things with them. 

Offer Physical Support 

Physical support could be cooking them dinner, going shopping for them, or even helping them to find jewelry for cremation ashes from Memorials.com. Ask them what they need and make sure they know you are there for them. Bear in mind they may not always tell you what they need, so try to be thoughtful without overstepping the mark. 

Accept Their Feelings

Accept your loved one’s feelings and don’t try to make them feel better with platitudes like ‘Everything happens for a reason’. Just listen. Saying the wrong thing could seriously upset them or make them feel like their feelings are invalid. Validating them is one of the most powerful things you can do right now.  

Watch Out For Warning Signs Of A Serious Mental Health Issue 

Grief can sometimes progress into depression and other mental health issues. Look out for the signs and make sure you get help for your loved one if you feel it is needed. Working through these heavy emotions isn’t always possible without professional help. 

Showing up for a grieving loved one isn’t the easiest task in the world, but you could make such a big difference to their lives if you do. 

Be there for a grieving loved one, how to be supportive, support, grief, help a sad friend
Categories
Adulting Decor For the Home Home How To

The Best Halloween Decor Must-Haves to Buy Now

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for. The Halloween decor is so cute, and there are options for every taste and design idea.

No matter how much I bought the year before, I still find myself adding to my Halloween collection when the season is approaching. Do you find yourself doing this, too, even after promising yourself you wouldn’t? LOL!

I gathered all of my favorite Halloween decor from Amazon and put them into this post for you! Since I can’t buy it all, I’m hoping I can live vicariously through some of you!! In the end, I’ll let you know which pieces I decided to add to my collection this time around!

**This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.**

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Halloween Decor for the Kitchen and Dining Room

Decorating these two rooms can be so much fun! From centerpieces to cute Halloween plates and napkins and adorable runners or tablecloths, the options are endless. Plus, you definitely have to have dish towels for the kitchen and placemats for the dining room.

Halloween Decor for the Living Room and Bedroom

Both the living room and the bedroom should be cozy, so lots of the decor can be interchangeable between the two rooms. Throw pillows, blankets, Halloween wall decor, flowers, and small pieces to go on a shelf are all perfect.

Want to see some cute and easy Halloween crafts for kids?

Check out this post —–> Halloween Crafts for Kids

Halloween Decor for the Bathroom

While the bathroom may seem like a weird place to decorate for Halloween, it is actually one of the most fun! You can choose a creepy bath mat or hand towel or, if you’re feeling super festive, you can even get a Halloween shower curtain. Plus, there are other Halloween decor items that are designed just for the bathroom.

Bloody Bath Mat – Color Changing Sheet Turns Red When Wet – Make Your Own Bleeding Footprints That Disappear White – Sheet, for Shower/Bathroom – Novelty Gag Gift
Color Changing Sheet Turns Red When Wet to Make Bleeding Footprints That Disappear White

Did you know many Halloween candy favorites contain common allergens?

Click to read this post! >> Popular Halloween Candy That Isn’t Safe for Kids With Allergies

Halloween Decor for the Entryway or Outside

You can’t go wrong with a Halloween mat inside of your doorway. Plus, Halloween door hangings are the perfect way to set an immediate tone of festivity for your home.

For the outside of your home, fall-inspired flower pots filled with mums or other fall plants are a must-have. Put in some pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and corn stalks and it will be a complete look.

If you are going for something creepy, you can include skeletons and other creepy creatures.

Homeschooling or looking to work on math with your child?

Check out this post —- Halloween Math With Free Printable

Halloween Decor for the Office

Since you spend much of your time in the office or at work, you have to decorate there, too! You’ll want to make sure the decor won’t take up much space but still sets an awesome Halloween vibe.

Halloween Decor For Anywhere in Your Home

Looking for things to do with your kids this fall?

Check out these 2 posts!

1. Fall Sensory Play with Dyed Rice (this dyed rice is SO easy to make!)
2. Fall Bucket List With Free Printable

My Picks – Halloween Decorations

I seriously want every Halloween decoration I posted in this blog post. Unfortunately, I could only choose a few! So, after long deliberation, I chose:

1. Hot Cocoa and Scream Candle
2. Skill Decor Vintage Dictionary Art Prints
3. Ravens on Skulls Bookends
4. Beware of Well Just Beware & No Trespassing We’re Tired of Hiding The Bodies Metal Signs
5. Palm Reader Jewelry Stand
6. Skull Makeup Brush Holder, Pen Holder, Office Organizer
7. Crow Skull and Pumpkin Pillow Covers Set of 4
8. Mysterious Oddities Coffin Shelf

Tell Me!

Which ones were your favorites? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for?

Let me know in the comments! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Categories
Adulting For the Home How To Winter

3 Important Tips for Preparing Your Family Home For The Winter

Although it may seem like time is passing by in a blur, winter will soon be here, meaning you have many household chores. Keeping your home safe and cozy during the winter months can be a tiresome task, so you must get started preparing your home before it feels like it’s the right time. Waiting until the time feels right will likely leave you scrambling at the last minute. The kids go back to school, then Halloween happens, and suddenly, it is Thanksgiving, and you wonder how you even got here. We’ve all been there, parents. So how can you start preparing your family home for winter?

Tip for Preparing Your Family Home For Winter

Structural Security

First, let’s get the boring stuff out of the way. Your home can fall prey to frozen pipes, water damage, and drafts during the winter. So, now is the time to take a look over your home’s outer structures.

Are any repairs needed before the cold comes? To keep the place free of cold drafts or worse water damage that requires extensive refurbishments, make sure you undergo any repairs before the winter. Not only will keeping your home maintained help keep the heating bills down, but it will also increase safety and spare you expense down the line.

Preventing water damage in the winter can be done in a few ways. First, check your pipes for any cracks that can leak and cause damage. Second, make sure any flood risks are minimized by installing high-quality drainage in your home’s foundations. Third, say a little prayer to the home maintenance gods for guidance.

Keeping It Cozy

One lovely thing about the winter months is that they give us the opportunity to snuggle up and get cozy. Ensure you are prepared for this by pulling out your old throws and blankets from the attic.

Similarly, one way to cozy up your home for the winter is wintery scented candles. These don’t have to be overpowering or intense but can be subtle mood-setters that light up dark corners of your home in the evenings while giving a gorgeous aroma too.

Maximizing Your Heat When Preparing Your Family Home

Lord knows the heat bills can be off the charts in the winter. If you want to save money this year while also doing your part for the environment, make sure you do everything possible to keep the heat inside your home.

How can you maximize the heat in the winter? Well, it all starts with identifying the weak points – the windows and doors, of course!

Are your windows double-glazed? If not, time to invest. Investing in double-glazed windows will change your life and give you amazing heat-sealing for years to come. In addition, never underestimate the value of high-quality curtains or blinds which are thick enough to block the draft.

No matter what kind of home you live in, there are easy ways to prepare it for the wintertime. Start preparing your home for winter now, and save yourself the headache later in the year.

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Categories
Adulting How To Life Mental Health

3 Tips for Getting Less Stressed about the Small Stuff

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Pixabay CC0 License

Life contains a number of different sources of stress, which can wear you down quickly. Before it becomes too much, you should find a way to get less stressed about the small stuff.

Between rushing the kids around, dealing with household chores, meeting work deadlines, and staying on top of appointments, you will find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed.

Some of the things that will stress you out will be major and will need to be taken seriously. But, at the same time, there are also plenty of “smaller” things that may be stressing you out.

Here are a few tips for getting less stressed about the small stuff.

1. Indulge in regular opportunities to be playful and to have a good laugh

Laughter can serve as a potent and effective medicine against stress. It can help put things in perspective and remind you of what’s important and what isn’t.

Simply indulging regular opportunities to be playful and have a good laugh with those close to you will help. One fun idea is gifting each other fun sweaters from UglyChristmasSweater.com. Activities like this can really help calm you down and allow you to see things through a clearer lens.

It’s difficult to stay stressed about forgetting to buy milk when you’ve just had a really good laugh.

2. Take up centering and grounding practices such as mindfulness meditation

One reason we get stressed out by “small” things is that we get caught up in our negative thought loops. We end up confronting a version of reality that isn’t the one that’s right in front of us.

It can be a very useful and uplifting exercise to take up centering and grounding practices. Mindfulness meditation can be used to help return your awareness to the present moment. You will be more aware of when you are getting lost in your own mental projections.

3. Focus on getting enough sleep, eating enough, and taking care of your physical well-being

Stress is a physiological phenomenon as well as a psychological one. If you find that you are getting easily worked up about small things, there’s a good chance that at least part of this is because you are caught in an ongoing cascade of stress hormones.

There are various things that lead to a chronically stressed physiological state. This includes sleeping too little, eating too little (and not getting enough vitamins and minerals,) and chronic illness.

To the best of your ability, you should focus on optimizing these features of your physical well-being. Then, you will have the best possible safeguard against stress coming from that direction.

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How Do You Get Less Stressed?

What do you do to stress less about the small stuff? Tell me about it in the comments. 🙂

Categories
Adulting Guest Post How To Life Wine

Alternative Methods of Opening Wine Without a Corkscrew

You are so excited to attend your best friend’s party! You arrived early to help prepare and set up. However, while doing an inventory of needed party materials, you realized something: your friend doesn’t have a corkscrew! And the party will start soon! What should you do?

In times like these, creativity is your greatest asset. You must find a solution – not drinking the wine is not an option. We will tackle some methods of opening wine without a corkscrew to prepare for similar problems in the future.

Before we start, let us first review how a typical corkscrew works.

Steps in Opening a Wine Bottle Using a Corkscrew

Typically, opening wine only requires two materials: a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. The most popular type of corkscrew is called a waiter’s key. To open the wine, you need to:

  • First, remove the foil or the covering. Place the knife part of the corkscrew underneath the bottle’s lip. Turn the bottle to slice the foil and then remove the cover foil.
  • Push the corkscrew through the middle of the cork and turn clockwise. Stop when most of the corkscrew has penetrated the cork.
  • Pull the handle until half of the cork is out of the bottle.
  • Repeat if necessary.
  • Pull the cork until only a small part remains in the bottle.
  • Using your hand, pull the cork out.

The instructions above are quite easy to follow. But what if you don’t have a corkscrew? What can you do?

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Other Ways to Open a Wine Bottle

Opening wine without a corkscrew will require different materials. Take note of them in the list below:

  • Use a screw, screwdriver, and hammer
  • Get a long screw and using a screwdriver, screw it to the cork. Stop pushing when you only have around one inch of the screw visible. Pull out the cork using the claw (the backside) of the hammer. This method requires a little strength, so you better prepare.
  • Use a wooden spoon
  • You can use the handle of a spoon to push the cork until it goes inside the bottle. You’ll need to hold the bottle steady, as it can easily slip using this method.
  • Open it with a bike pump
  • Punch the needle through the cork until it reaches beyond the cork. Then pump air and watch the cork move out from the bottle.
  • Use a serrated knife or keys
  • Opening wine without a corkscrew is also possible if you have keys or a serrated knife. Push the knife or keys into the cork at an angle (around 45 degrees). Then move the item in a circular motion, slowly removing the cork. After a few rounds, the cork will come out.
  • Use a towel and the wall
  • Wrap the bottom of the bottle with a towel and then hit it repeatedly against a wall. Use just enough strength to move the cork but be careful with the glass bottle. Continue until the cork slides out of the bottle, and you can pull it free. Practice caution when using this method. You don’t want to break the bottle, so make sure you form an adequate cushion with the towel before hitting the wall.
  • Use a shoe
  • If you’re afraid of using the wall, you can use a shoe to slap the wine’s bottom. However, before doing this, you must wrap the wine bottle with a towel and then place it upside down between your legs. Continue slapping until you notice the cork sliding out of the bottle.

Now, you know some techniques used to open wine bottles without a corkscrew. If ever you find yourself missing a corkscrew, then you can utilize one of the above techniques.

This guest post was written by Bill Marcia at Stags’ Leap Winery.

You can follow Stags’ Leap Winery on social media at:
https://twitter.com/stagsleapwines https://www.facebook.com/stagsleapwinery https://www.instagram.com/stagsleapwinery/ https://www.youtube.com/user/StagsLeapWinery

Categories
Adulting For the Home Home How To

How to Paint Countertops

With Giani Countertop Paint Kit

Since we moved into our home 7 years ago, we’ve been living with terribly ugly orange countertops. It’s been the thing I hated most about our home, but it’s always gotten put on the back burner for more important things. We’ve read about how to paint countertops but were always a little skeptical.

We weren’t sure how it would turn out. Plus, since we have five kids at home, we needed something easy because we couldn’t have our kitchen out of commission for too long.

We’ve been spending so much time at home during quarantine that curiosity finally got the best of us. I figured that anything was better than the orange countertops we’d been living with.

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Sooo…

Painting our countertops was easier than I thought it would be! It took around a total of four hours to complete over the course of two days. The best part is that it doesn’t look awful! I actually really like it.

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How to Paint Countertops

1. Order the kit

After researching multiple options, we decided to go with the Giani Countertop Paint Kit. This is the one that had the best reviews and outcomes, plus it was easier to use than other options.

The kit contains:

  • A 16-ounce can of primer
  • 6 ounces of mineral colors paint
  • 16 ounces of topcoat
  • A Giani sponge
  • A foam brush
  • A roller handle
  • 2 roller covers
  • A practice board
  • Step-by-step instructions

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

2. Prep your countertops

Your countertops should be smooth before you being. If there are any chips or uneven edges, you should fill them in. Next, sand your entire countertop lightly to make sure that everything can adhere to it.

3. Roll on the primer

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This part was pretty crazy because we had black countertops for eight hours. That’s when I knew there was no going back.

4. Sponge on the color

Each color kit is different. We used the White Diamond kit, so we first sponged on gray. After the gray dried, we sponged white on top of it. This is the part that took the most time.

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The other color options for when you paint countertops include:

5. Roll on the topcoat

We did two coats of this. It was easy and dried quickly. They do recommend that you avoid putting small appliances on the counter top for three days.

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Final Thoughts On How to Paint Countertops With Giani Countertop Paint Kit

This countertop paint kit was great. I’m mad that I didn’t do it sooner, actually. It was easy enough that anyone can do it, and it looks so good!

Now we need to paint the cabinets!

Have you ever used a countertop paint kit or have you thought about using one? Leave me a comment and let me know.

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Categories
Big Kid How To Kindergarten Age Parenting Teenager

Too Much Screen Time? Try This!

So, life has changed drastically for most of us in the last month. At our house, this means we have five kids at home while I’m also trying to work from home. I hate to admit it, but that leads to way too much screen time for the kids.

My mom guilt has been eating at me every time I see the kids with a tablet or a video game controller in their hand. Even worse, when I’ve witnessed them sitting on the couch for 2 hours straight staring at the TV.

I know that their life could definitely be worse. I just can’t help thinking of all the memories they are missing out on when they’re constantly getting screen time.

The Struggle

When you’re working from home, there is no super simple solution for keeping your kids occupied. They constantly interrupt, need something, or just begin fighting in the other room. I ignore it as much as I can, but it’s not always possible.

This is when I find myself saying, “do you want to watch YouTube?” or “here, play Talking Tom”. Otherwise, I just simply pass the tablet over without a second thought.

While this struggle is hard to overcome, it’s isn’t impossible. Plus, once you get it figured out, it’s even easier than passing the tablet over.

Pros and Cons of Screen Time For Kids

Don’t get me wrong, there are MANY good things about electronics for children. There are even more bad things, however, if we don’t play our cards right.

Benefits of Screen Time For Kids

  • Encourages engaging writing (it’s easier for them to get the words out when typing)
  • Can be used as a tool for communication or school work
  • It can be educational
  • Children can learn responsibility if they have set tasks they have to do BEFORE getting their screen time
  • They can play with friends

Cons

  • Can lead to obesity
  • Causes a lack of sleep
  • It leads to lower grades in school
  • Increases the chance of behavior issues
  • Connected to mental health issues in children
  • Causes eye strain and headaches
  • It makes children irritable
  • Prevents the development of proper social skills
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What We Can Do When Our Kids Have Too Much Screen Time

1. Set an example.

Kids aren’t the only ones who spend so much time staring at screens. As parents, we do it, too. Of course, if you’re working from home it may be unavoidable at times.

If you’re not working, though, try to be more aware of your screen usage. Children learn from example, and they watch us way more than we think.

2. Give them a screen time limit.

Make sure your kids know they’ll still get to watch their favorite videos and play their favorite games. The only change is that they have a time limit. This will help with the transition.

Give them a 10 and 5-minute warning. This helps them prepare for the end of their screen time. They can finish up what they’re doing or watching.

Plus, it reduces the chances of a melt-down. These melt-downs can be pretty tragic. Especially if the child feels they had no warning before having the device ripped from their hands.

3. Be upfront about the dangers of too much screen time.

Kids do hear what we tell them. Depending on their age, they may be able to understand why screen time rules have to change.

4. Don’t allow screens at certain times or in certain areas.

At our house, there is no screen time at dinnertime. The littles aren’t allowed to have screen in their bedrooms, either.

I’d have that same bedroom rule for the big kids, but they already had TV’s in their rooms when I moved in. My husband knew from the beginning that I wasn’t at a fan of that, but I wasn’t moving in to change their life-long rules so the TV’s stayed.

The big kids aren’t allowed to have their phones at bedtime on school nights, either. We actually have a cell phone contract that they have to follow.

You can make whatever rules are appropriate for your home. Everyone’s rules will be different.

5. Let your children know about the change ahead of time.

You shouldn’t just wake up one day and enforce new rules that yours kids have never heard of. They need time to get used to this idea. So, maybe tell them that after the weekend, the rules for screen-time will be changing.

6. Put it away where they can’t see it.

We’ve all heard the saying “out of sight, out of mind”, right? Well, think of that when screen time isn’t allowed. If your kids can see their device, they’re going to ask for it.

Asking for it and being told ‘no’ will cause a melt down. I promise it’ll be better to hide it until it’s time.

7. Play with them.

Ok, so I know you’re busy. But, when your kids will not stop interrupting you, something has to be done.

Don’t cave on the tablet unless it’s 100% necessary. Instead, take a 10-minute break to do a quick activity with your kiddo. Get them started on something fun, then get back to your work.

That little bit of time will make both of you happier. You can play Barbie’s, Lego’s, or anything else that you know your child will continue doing after you stop.

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This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Screen-Free Activities For Kids

These activities can mostly be done on their own. You may have to do prep work for some of these independent activities for kids, but that’s about it.

  • Play soccer or basketball outside
  • Play catch with a family member or neighborhood friend
  • Blow up some balloons to play catch with or to smack around
  • Write or color with sidewalk chalk
  • Blow bubbles – Try this dinosaur bubble gun
  • Build with legos
  • Play with a deck of cards
  • Use play-doh
  • Color
  • Play Barbie’s or superheroes with a parent
  • Explore a sensory table or bucket
  • Play with the family pets
  • Make up a dance to your favorite song
  • Create a card for a loved one
  • Put beads on pipe cleaners to make jewelry
  • Play “The Floor is Lava”
  • Create an obstacle course
  • Make paper airplanes
  • Play school or doctor
  • Build a fort
  • Play with empty boxes
  • Do a puzzle
  • Make a collage from old magazines
  • Play dress up

Too Much Screen Time? It’s Not Too Late

I’m the first parent to admit that my kids get too much screen time. I’m working to alleviate this issue, though, and so far it seems to be working!

Are you having the same problem? Do you have any tips? Leave a comment and let me know!

Categories
Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Free Activities How To Outside Fun Sensory Play Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

Can You Grow a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone? A Lesson In Sustainability For Kids

I saw this picture being shared on Facebook and Pinterest where a pinecone was planted into soil. The photo showed that the pine cone was about half-buried in soil, with the top half sticking out. There were sprouts coming from the top of the pinecone, indicating that it’s possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone.

This left me wondering… is it possible? Can you really grow a pine tree from a pine cone?

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The Research About Growing a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone

I tried to find information about this, and couldn’t find a conclusive answer. Just when I thought I had, someone else had a different point to make.

I couldn’t find any accounts of someone successfully going a pine tree from a pine cone. Plus, many people did explain that it is pretty much impossible.

Some people thought it would work, though, and I just have to test the image that was floating around.

With that being said, I found literally no confirmed answer. I couldn’t even find a source for the image that was floating around social media. **Updated to add that the social media image can be found here**

The Information We Did Find

Before we tried this for ourselves, I assigned our teenager the task of learning a couple of things about pine trees. She had to share the information with the younger siblings before we went around the yard hunting for pine cones.

One of the things she shared was that there are male and female pine cones. Am I the only adult who didn’t know this?!

With that fun fact, we took all of the pine cones we collected and played a game. We made teams and worked together to sort the pine cones into two pines; male and female. We also learned that the female pine cones are the ones that carry the seeds.

Finally, we learned that trees produce oxygen and that oxygen is what we breathe.

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Growing Pine Trees From Pine Cones

So, since I couldn’t find the actual answer online, we decided to figure it out for ourselves.

Materials

  • Empty 2-liter soda bottle
  • X-acto knife (or you can use a pocket knife)
  • Soil
  • Pinecone

This is the exact knife I used. I use it for pretty much everything, to be honest. LOL.

Yes, that’s an affiliate link, which means I’ll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I truly do use this x-acto knife and stand behind it, however.

Instructions

1. Cut the soda bottle so that you only have the bottom portion left. Say, 1/4 of the bottle.

2. Add soil to the soda bottle bottom.

3. Create a hole in the soil that is big enough to fit 1/2 of the pinecone.

4. Fill dirt back in around the pinecone. Only the top half should be showing.

5. Water everyday and monitor the progress.

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Did it work?!

Ok, so since we know that this method for growing a tree isn’t for sure going to work, just bear with me. I’ll update on the progress (if there is any) right away.

In the meantime, however, do this project with us!! Help your kids plant their pinecone so you can see for yourself if it is possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone.

We’re all looking for ways to teach kids from home, so why not mix in a fun science lesson?

What do you think will happen? Is it possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone?

I had the kids all draw pictures of what they think will happen. Nevaeh was the only one who thought we would have to remove the seeds from the pinecone to grow a tree. The others thought the tree would grow from the pinecone.

Lets be honest, I think Nevaeh is right. Tell me what you think.

Will a tree begin to grow out of the planted pinecone? Tell me the reason behind your answer! I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks!

Need another project idea?

Check out this paper mache diamondback rattlesnake! Using paper mache is so easy, and the post has a recipe to make it with ingredients you already have on hand!

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