The new norm? Sitting at the kitchen table, trying to do my “job” while homeschooling my two daughters. Oh, you have a literature zoom at 2:30? My mind runs through today’s to do list… which report can I finish in that 30-minute window. Your worksheet is taking a while? Maybe I can draft a media release now so I won’t be up as late tonight. Kids can work on kindergarten worksheets to improve their skills at a very young age.

Every minute is painstakingly filled to maximize productivity and it’s somehow become our normal. What’s more? Even though much of our time together is spent homeschooling, I want it to be fun; something they look back on fondly, which means I have to preserve my sanity in these beautiful daily tasks.

And when the time comes to switching over to focusing on work, I have a find a way to do so without mom guilt because I need to provide for my family. What I’m discovering is that there are a lot of fun, free resources out there that engage and educate my kiddos, when I need to switch over to work.

Our new favorite activity is Gettysburg: A Nation Divided, a free mixed reality app that recreates this historic battle in our kitchen, backyard and weirdly enough… the bathroom. Basically, wherever your mobile device can go, the battle can go. The experience is immersive, not something the girls watch, rather something that unfolds around them with 360-degree views of the battlefield. Their favorite part is the artifact scavenger hunt which allows them a chance to earn Civil War era coins and a deeper understanding in the process. They move our phone around to put Lincoln’s hat on one another’s heads and laugh hysterically when they fit the cannon next to the toilet. It really doesn’t get more immersive than that.

I was surprised to find images of Robert E. Lee riding his horse next to our car and apparently General Picket was in the kitchen with me while I was cooking dinner. Ultimately, my kids were having fun and learning while I was working, cooking and even just sitting.

Thank goodness for technology which is allowing many of us to work from home and our children to learn at home. In an effort to make this app available to as many people as possible, developers QuantumERA have waived their initially planned download fee of $12.99 so that more children will be able to learn from home using mixed reality.

Note: The BETA version of Gettysburg: A Nation Divided optimized for Apple iPads, is available in the app store. Mobile optimization for other Android devices will be coming soon. Free downloads are available for a limited time. The app has been carefully designed for children ages nine and up.  

Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

We all take our senses for granted; however, over time, these can deteriorate. 

Losing your hearing can be tough. You’ll miss out on things that people are saying, and it can cause you to become more withdrawn and to avoid certain social situations. 

Hearing loss can impact your enjoyment of your favourite music, and it can affect your overall enjoyment of life. 

Taking care of your hearing health is important, and you should be aware of the signs of hearing loss, and what you can do to avoid them. 

Here’s how you can take better care of your hearing health. 

Turn Down The Volume

If you’re someone who enjoys their music turned up to eleven, unfortunately, by doing this you’re putting your hearing at great risk of getting damaged. 

The hearing loss sustained through damage to the inner ear from loud music is not reversible. While you may be able to wear a hearing aid to help you to be able to hear, it is not curable. 

So, turn down the volume whenever you’re listening to music. 

If you’re using headphones, consider getting noise-cancelling headphones that block out external sounds. You can also check out the list of 12 best home subwoofers which can add to the overall look of your home. Also, many modern devices that play music will have warning signs that come up when you’re listening through headphones. Take heed of these warnings and don’t exceed the recommended volume levels. 

Use Earplugs In Loud Environments

If you need to spend any length of time in a noisy environment, use suitable ear protection. This may mean wearing earplugs if you are attending a concert. You’ll still hear the band play, but you’ll not damage your hearing as you do so. 

If you work in a factory or on a construction site, your employer should provide you with ear protectors. Wear these as directed around any noisy machinery. If these have not been provided, talk with your employers and request them. If they fail to do this, speak with your employment union.

Get A Hearing Test 

If you’re concerned that you’re not quite hearing what other people are saying as well as you should be, or that you have to turn the volume up quite loud on the TV, then it is important that you book yourself in for a hearing test. 

A hearing specialist will be able to identify the extent of your hearing loss and suggest ways to address this. It may be suggested that you need medical help to remove wax or to fight an infection, or it may be suggested that you get a hearing aid. Whatever the suggestion, you’ll be able to enjoy a better quality of hearing once more. 

Keep Your Ears Clean And Dry 

Infections can cause you to develop hearing problems. It is possible to have a build-up of earwax which can impact your ability to ear. 

You can avoid the types of blockages caused by infections by keeping your ears clean and dry.

If you’ve just been swimming or had a bath or shower, tilt your head to each side to allow any trapped water to drain out of your ears. Then, gently pat your ears down with a dry towel. 

If you’re a swimmer, you’ll be prone to getting an infection that is commonly called ‘swimmer’s ear’, to avoid this happening, wear swimmers earplugs to stop the water flowing into your ear canal. 

If you have an earache or cold and flu symptoms, get the help your doctor to treat these. This will stop any underlying lingering infections from affecting your hearing in the longer term. 

If you have a blockage of earwax, your doctor may be able to help to drain this, allowing you to hear fully once more. 

Don’t Put Anything Inside Your Ears

If you are someone that cleans earwax out of your ear canals using a cotton bud, your fingertips, or any other small object, then you are risking damaging your ears even more. 

It is perfectly normal to have some ear wax inside your ears; in fact, it’s actually quite healthy. Your ears are designed to clean themselves. The wax is there to stop dust from getting into the ear canal. 

By pushing a cotton bud tip into your ear, you’re risking prodding and damaging sensitive parts of your inner ear,

If you need to reduce the amount of ear wax because you have a blockage, put ear wax remover into your ears and allow that to break down the wax. You will need to repeat this process over the course of a few days. 

Hearing loss is something that affects many people as they get older and, in a lot of cases, it cannot be avoided. It’s a natural part of aging, but there are treatments available so you can manage it and still live a full life. There are also some simple things that you can do to protect your ears and reduce the chances of hearing loss in the future. 

Image From Pixabay CCO License

Many people underestimate how big the impact of hearing loss can be, which is why ear health is often neglected. Most people assume that it just means not being able to hear as well, but the effects stretch much farther than that. If you experience hearing loss, it is important that you get your ears checked right away and, if necessary, you get some hearing aids. If you already use hearing aids, it is important to keep up with hearing aid maintenance so your hearing issues do not worsen prematurely. Unfortunately, people are reluctant to take these steps because they don’t realize how badly hearing loss can affect your life. Aside from the obvious impact, there are a lot of unexpected problems caused by hearing loss. You may be surprised by some of these side effects of hearing loss. 

Cognitive Decline 

As you get older, it is important to keep your brain active and reduce the chances of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, if you suffer from hearing loss, it can speed up cognitive decline in a big way. You may not realize it, but you are constantly hearing sounds, but your brain filters out a lot of the useless sound so you do not register it. It also helps you to determine the difference between sounds. However, when you experience hearing loss and these sounds are no longer there, it can confuse your brain. It knows that you should be hearing sounds, so it struggles to find them, and this causes a lot of stress on the brain. The lack of stimulus and the extra stress on the brain can lead to a higher chance of cognitive decline. Older people have a forty percent higher chance of developing issues with memory loss if they suffer from hearing loss, so it is vital that you protect your hearing. 

Mental Health Issues 

When you suffer from hearing loss, it is very difficult to engage in social situations. If you are in a loud restaurant, for example, it is hard to pick out conversation over the general background noise. This means that people with hearing loss struggle to get involved in conversations and they may feel self conscious about constantly asking people to repeat themselves. Gradually, over time, they stop attending social situations or they end up sitting quietly in the corner and not engaging with people, and this can be very isolating. Social interaction is very important for our mental health, and the feeling that they are missing out can lead to feelings of isolation and depression in a lot of people. Getting treatment for your hearing loss will allow you to engage in social situations again and help to prevent the mental health issues that are associated with hearing issues. 

Relationship Issues 

Communication in relationships is important, but hearing loss makes that very difficult. It is easy for you to mishear people and that can lead to tensions with your partner if they feel that you are not listening to them. Many couples argue about the issue of hearing loss as well because the people around you will often notice the problem before you do. When people insist that their hearing is fine and they don’t need to seek treatment, this can lead to arguments with the people around them that know that they do have a hearing issue. 

Reduced Earnings 

Hearing loss can impact your ability to work, and studies show that people with hearing loss earn less money, on average. If you mishear instructions from your boss, for example, that can lead to more mistakes, so you are far less likely to be considered for promotions. Hearing loss also creates hurdles in any job where talking on the phone is important because this is particularly difficult for the hard of hearing. The reduction in earnings due to hearing loss will add up over time, and it can make it impossible to reach your career goals as well. 

Hearing loss isn’t as simple as not being able to hear very well. It has so many side effects and it can really affect your quality of life, so if you notice a difference in your hearing, seek treatment right away. 

It’s getting harder and harder to remember a time when our day-to-day lives hadn’t been utterly transformed by the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown. When the workplace and the home were separate entities. When the act of going out for a walk didn’t involve masks, gloves and clinging steadfastly to a bottle of hand sanitizer. When we washed out hands less than 468 times a day. But the human mind has a tremendous capacity to adjust to impossible circumstances. Our mental resilience and toughness have got us through two world wars and numerous pandemics before this one. 

Image by Severyanka via Pixabay

Still, even the most indomitable will could do with a helping hand. Here are some things that we should all be doing more to safeguard our health and psychological wellbeing while under lockdown…

Cooking

When it comes to our health, nutrition is everything… well, almost everything. Still, one of the few silver linings of this dark and gloomy COVID-shaped cloud is that we’re all spending more time in the kitchen. Fast food and processed foods are harder to come by, so we’re loading up on wholefoods and enjoying more veggies and fruits. Not only is a diet that’s mostly (or entirely) plant based loaded with nutrients, it’s also extremely cost effective. 

Walking and cycling

Just because we’re under lockdown doesn’t mean that we have to spend our every waking moment indoors. There are lots of great things we can do outdoors either alone or as a family (provided that we adhere to social distancing). Cycling is an especially enjoyable activity that is a tonic for our physical and mental health. However, it’s important to be aware of cars- one of the most common causes of cycling accidents. Some irresponsible motorists are using the current lockdown as an excuse to drive recklessly or needlessly fast.  

Talking over the phone

Being self-isolated needn’t necessarily mean being alone. Your friends are only ever a phone call away. It seems like we use our smartphones for virtually everything but making calls these days. Checking in with our friends can work wonders for our mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, you never know how much your friends may need to hear a familiar voice. They may be feeling a little stir crazy after lockdown or even getting over the virus themselves. Making contact with them can make a huge difference in their lives. 

Reading

We have more streaming content than we can shake a remote control at. But don’t forget that too much time spent in front of a screen can be detrimental to our mental health and prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep. There’s a strong argument that we all need to be reading more books while under lockdown. 

Hugging 

Obviously, we shouldn’t be hugging anyone who doesn’t share the same roof as us. That would be the antithesis of social distancing. Still we should make sure that we spend some quality times in the arms of our kids and significant others. As well as bringing us closer together as a family, hugs bring a range of physical and psychological benefits and can even help to strengthen the immune system! 

It’s getting harder and harder to remember a time when our day-to-day lives hadn’t been utterly transformed by the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown. When the workplace and the home were separate entities. When the act of going out for a walk didn’t involve masks, gloves and clinging steadfastly to a bottle of hand sanitizer. When we washed out hands less than 468 times a day. But the human mind has a tremendous capacity to adjust to impossible circumstances. Our mental resilience and toughness have got us through two world wars and numerous pandemics before this one. 

Image by Severyanka via Pixabay

Still, even the most indomitable will could do with a helping hand. Here are some things that we should all be doing more to safeguard our health and psychological wellbeing while under lockdown…

Cooking

When it comes to our health, nutrition is everything… well, almost everything. Still, one of the few silver linings of this dark and gloomy COVID-shaped cloud is that we’re all spending more time in the kitchen. Fast food and processed foods are harder to come by, so we’re loading up on wholefoods and enjoying more veggies and fruits. Not only is a diet that’s mostly (or entirely) plant based loaded with nutrients, it’s also extremely cost effective. 

Walking and cycling

Just because we’re under lockdown doesn’t mean that we have to spend our every waking moment indoors. There are lots of great things we can do outdoors either alone or as a family (provided that we adhere to social distancing). Cycling is an especially enjoyable activity that is a tonic for our physical and mental health. However, it’s important to be aware of cars- one of the most common causes of cycling accidents. Some irresponsible motorists are using the current lockdown as an excuse to drive recklessly or needlessly fast.  

Talking over the phone

Being self-isolated needn’t necessarily mean being alone. Your friends are only ever a phone call away. It seems like we use our smartphones for virtually everything but making calls these days. Checking in with our friends can work wonders for our mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, you never know how much your friends may need to hear a familiar voice. They may be feeling a little stir crazy after lockdown or even getting over the virus themselves. Making contact with them can make a huge difference in their lives. 

Reading

We have more streaming content than we can shake a remote control at. But don’t forget that too much time spent in front of a screen can be detrimental to our mental health and prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep. There’s a strong argument that we all need to be reading more books while under lockdown. 

Hugging 

Obviously, we shouldn’t be hugging anyone who doesn’t share the same roof as us. That would be the antithesis of social distancing. Still we should make sure that we spend some quality times in the arms of our kids and significant others. As well as bringing us closer together as a family, hugs bring a range of physical and psychological benefits and can even help to strengthen the immune system! 

There’s much to love about taking a trip into the outdoors as a family. Indeed, it’s something that perhaps more families should do. It gets everyone healthy, it’s exciting, and there’s a lot of scope when it comes to creating memories. However, while they can be a lot of fun, there are also some risks — things can go wrong whether you’re just in your local state park, or you’re exploring somewhere a little bigger in scale. Below, we’ll take a look at some useful tips that’ll help ensure the whole family is kept safe.

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Know Where You’re Going

You’ll be excited to get out and begin exploring, but it’s important that you’re conducting a little bit of research beforehand, just to check that there are no warnings in place. For example, sometimes there can be risks of flooding in some areas, especially during the transition from winter to spring. Even if there are warnings in place, it’s not as if there’ll be a high risk of anything bad happening: it’s just best to know these things before you set off. A little bit of knowledge can go a long way! If you’re planning on traveling with a firearm to protect your family from the unexpected, whether it be someone who would do you harm or a dangerous animal, you may want to first check out the concealed carry (ccw) laws and the reciprocity details of wherever you’re going. This way, you’re being both responsible and law-abiding as you don’t want to find out you’re not following the law after the fact. Protecting the family and benefiting from the second amendment all comes down to respecting the law, the civil rights afforded to you, and the safety precautions you should make when handling a firearm.

Be Wary of Animals

When you’re in the city, you have to be on the lookout for other people. When you’re in the outdoors, you have to be on the lookout for animals; this is their home too! If you’re going into a wild area, then read up on what wild animals may live there, and what you should do if you encounter one. It’s also important to teach your children how to act around dogs, who will typically be off their leash in the outdoors; if something does happen, then you can always use the services of a dog bite attorney to get the financial compensation that you deserve. Most animals won’t try to harm you or your family, but accidents do happen, so take steps to protect yourself.

Unrestricted Play

Your children will love all the adventure that comes with spending some time in the outdoors! However, you’ll want to keep a close eye on them. Natural areas are not like playgrounds, which have been designed with safety in mind. In natural areas, you’ll have to accept that not every inch will be as safe as you’d like. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t explore, but just that you should keep an eye on what your kids are doing.

Check the Forecast

No-one wants to get caught out in a heavy rainstorm when they’re far from the comfort of their home. It’s not just that this will ruin your day out, but it’ll also increase the chances of things going wrong — it’s much more difficult to stay safe when the ground is wet, or when you’re driving in rural areas in difficult conditions.

Tiredness and Mistakes

Finally, be sure to call it a day at a reasonable hour. The longer you’re there, the more tired everyone will be, which increases the chances of someone slipping or making another mistake that causes an injury.

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We should all take pride in our homes. Whether you’re buying your home or you’re renting, you’re inevitably spending a large proportion of your income on it. You’re also inevitably going to spend a fair amount of time in it. So, you’re obviously going to want to make sure that you keep it in tip top condition at all times. This will help to keep everything functional, convenient and comfortable for you and everyone else who lives under the same roof as you. To achieve this, you’re going to have to give your home a little TLC. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make sure that your property is kept in the best condition possible at all times, creating the perfect haven for you to kick back and relax in every time you walk through the door.

Repair Any Issues

Most of us turn a blind eye to minor issues that arise in our homes. We think we can get by without repairing them and just put up with the inconvenience out of sheer laziness or a reluctance to pay to fix the problem properly. But really, you’re just making life difficult for yourself, degrading the quality of your home and, eventually, you’ll find you have to fork out a lot more to fix problems that have been left to worsen over time. So, whatever the issue – whether you need to fix a leaky tap, need a garage door repair, have to replace a tile on a roof, or anything else – get in touch with the relevant professionals and have the problem fixed as soon as possible.

Clean the Carpets

Our flooring tends to get relatively neglected when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. Sure, we might run the vacuum regularly. But this just picks up surface dirt and debris. More ground in dirt is much more difficult to get out and can darken and dirty your carpets. Every once in a while, it’s important that you clean your carpets properly. You can bring in professionals to do this or you can hire a carpet cleaning machine yourself. Either way, set an afternoon aside and dedicate it to cleaning the carpets properly!

Sort the Garden Out

If you have a garden, it’s important that you keep on top of it. The sooner you get started on your gardening, the easier it will be for you. If things are already really overgrown, call in a professional gardener who will have the tools, equipment and know-how to get on top of things. If not, you can get on a pair of gardening gloves and run the lawn mower around the garden, pull up some weeds, dig up some flower beds and get things under control. If you have never done lawn work before, it’s not too late to learn. Just a few basic techniques to use the mower should be enough to get you started; you may wish to use Zero turn mowers for easier mowing and efficient cutting.

These are just a few different steps you can take to really spruce up your home and make it a more appealing and functional space to spend your time. Try them out and enjoy the benefits that they bring!

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We’ve experienced one of the warmest and sunniest Springs that many of us can remember. This is pretty typical seeing as the majority of us are in lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus and can’t get out and about to take our little ones to parks, visit families and friends for BBQs, or do much else outside of the confines of our homes. But it is giving us hope that if we’re eventually free from social distancing measures by the time the summer months come around, we could be in for a real treat. Even if we are still in lockdown by then, it’s still a good idea to prep your family for the summer months. You could perhaps start off by getting your air conditioning or coolers fixed and repaired, and then follow up with a regular doctor checkup for your kids. You would definitely want the best time possible, regardless of circumstances. Here are a few steps you can take to make sure you all have the best time possible!

Make Sure Your Little Ones Have Summer Clothes

Maybe your kids don’t need a full blown summer wardrobe for your little ones yet, but now’s a good time to start ordering your kids’ clothes for the summer. This will allow you to build up wardrobes that are suitable for the weather rather than having to do a huge, rushed haul all at once. Spread the cost and pick up a piece at a time in the lead up to summer!

Stock Up On Sunscreen

We all need sunscreen to protect our skin from UVA and UVB rays. But our little ones can’t apply it properly themselves and really do need us to make sure they’re topped up whenever they’re outside. So, make sure you have plenty of factor 50 ready and waiting. Waterproof options often prove great for little ones too, as they tend to want to jump in and out of paddling pools and spray each other with water guns or sprinklers.

Come Up With Some Plans

There are so many different plans that you and your family could arrange for the summer months. Sure, you might not necessarily be able to do all of them if lockdown restrictions stay in place throughout the summer. But there are some things you can plan to carry out in your own home. Thinking them up can be a great distraction for you and your kids, giving you something to occupy your minds and take up your time. It can also give your family a sense of hope that will ensure everyone has something to look forward to! Here are some you might want to have a little think about.

A Garden Picnic

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, make the most of it. Pack up some food in a little hamper, roll out a blanket for everyone to sit out on and have a garden picnic. This can be so much fun! Little plastic cups and paper plates add a sense of doing something different rather than just having lunch in the garden.

Fishing

With the days getting longer and hotter, it is time to make some beach plans. Although, instead of simply making sandcastles and splashing in the ocean, you can provide your kids with a learning experience like fishing. Charter Fishing in Milwaukee, for example, can be a really satisfying fishing experience, especially for newbies, if you are willing to splurge a little. Charter fishing is an excursion planned by professional fishers and boat owners, in which they take guests out in the sea in order to catch fish. This way you kids are not only having fun this summer but they get to learn a new skill too.

A BBQ

In a similar vein, you could have a summer BBQ in the garden. There are plenty of disposable BBQs out there, but you might want to consider investing in a proper one, potentially like these, or you may find suitable ones from a local retailer if you did decide on one that is non-disposable. You’ll get plenty of use out of it and it will cook your food more evenly and to a better quality.

Paddling Pools

Kids love to splash about in the heat – and you needn’t go out of your way to a local pool to give them this joy. Instead, you could order a home pool or even a simple paddling pool to provide them with somewhere to splash about in your garden as the summer months progress.

Out of Lockdown Plans

Hopefully, lockdown restrictions may have loosened by the summer. If this is the case, you could bring some out of lockdown plans into play. Even if not, then you can be prepared to have some family fun at home. Summer’s likely going to be very warm this year, so the first thing you want to do to prep your home for it. Get in touch with an AC repair Mississauga professional (or one where you are located) and get the air conditioner serviced and working. You don’t want to be stuck inside the home in the heat with a non-functional AC! But it’s very likely that you will be able to get out of the house, so plan mini-vacations in advance.

Perhaps going on a holiday. Heading on a camping trip. Visiting a local beauty spot. Seeing long distance family members and family friends. The possibilities are endless!

These are just a few suggestions. You’ll know what’s best for your family and how to keep your little ones as best entertained, as well as healthy and happy, during the summer months. Sure, it can feel a little difficult to plan when we’re living through such odd times. But it’s always good to stay positive and keep spirits up. Hopefully, the above guidelines could help you to organise some really enjoyable plans for you and your family in the upcoming months – whether we’re still in lockdown or not!

A new survey found that the amount of time that children time outside today is just half of what their parents used to do. The previous generation, today’s young parents, played a lot outdoors, as did the generation before them. Yet kids are still stuck indoors, playing with electronics or watching television.

Of course, at the moment, we are going through an entirely unprecedented situation: the coronavirus pandemic. To protect ourselves, our loved ones and the rest of our community, we are being asked to stay indoors unless we need to gout for work, supplies or a small amount of exercise.

While we all understand the importance of doing this, it has many adverse effects. It is much harder for young children to get exercise indoors, and without fresh air and space to be free, it can stifle creativity. It also can mean that children have lots of pent up energy, and with no outlet to expend this, it can lead to irritability and poor behaviour.

However, being in lockdown does not mean that you can’t go outside. It means that you have to be a little bit more creative and a whole lot more careful, but you and your children can still get out and get some much needed fresh air and exercise.

Remember to follow the rules of your country or state and to maintain social distancing and good hygiene at all times.

Image credit: Pixabay CC0 License

Go on a bug hunt

If you are going on a walk around your local neighborhood or park, give your children a container and get them to collect as many types of bugs that they can, if it is safe to do so. Look at them carefully when you get home with a microscope or a magnifying glass before letting them go somewhere appropriately. You could even make a bar graph of all of the bugs that you find.

Go on a treasure hunt

Everyone loves a treasure hunt, so why not try metal detecting with your kids? If you live near a beach, it is a great activity to do on an evening or in the early morning when the beach is likely to be quiet. If not, you can do it in your own back or front yard. Who knows what treasures will be thrown up?

Go on an actual hunt

This is only applicable to you if you live in a large estate with hunting grounds within your boundaries or somewhere close by. You could take your kids out for a hunting trip and teach them the basics of how to shoot an animal. You may have seen how various hunters find a hunting trip through various sites such as America’s Hunting Network which tends to provide interested parties with a range of amenities such as a large
Network of hunting leases, hunting maps and even guided hunts for first-timers! You might want to find similar websites and get in touch with them to arrange trips for your hunting expedition. Although this may not be feasible during the pandemic, it would be a nice opportunity to meet fellow hunters after the pandemic is over (hopefully).

Play with water

If in doubt, add water! Kids will rarely pass up the opportunity to play in the water. Whether it is the pure pleasure of jumping in a muddy puddle after a rainfall, washing the car, running through a sprinkler on the lawn, watering the garden, playing in an inflatable pool or having fun on a slip-n-slide, a bit of water makes outdoor play fun!

Create some sidewalk art

Give passer-bys something to enjoy on their daily walk by creating some fun artwork on the sidewalk A big tub of chunky outdoor chalk from the dollar store can give your kids hours of fun. Encourage hopscotch and movement trails for people to have a go, or write positive and happy messages. They will quickly wash away with a bit of rain or a bucket of water.

Outdoor art

Collect lots of natural materials from your outdoor environment – pine cones, flowers, leaves, sticks, shells – whatever you can find – and create something beautiful with them. You could also try making natural paints or make perfume using petals from flowers.

Develop new skills

If you have the luxury of a yard or garden, give them the freedom to explore it and play in it as they see fit. They will no doubt invent games and learn new skills without any intervention from adults, and it can be fascinating to see what they can come up with when left to their own devices.

Create an assault course

If you have enough space, this can be an enjoyable way for kids to burn off some energy, and you can get them involved in creating it. Old tyres, branches and logs, pallets and scraps of wood, as well as a few bits of play equipment such as skipping ropes or cones, can create a really fun assault course for both children and adults. See who can complete it in the shortest time!

Take photos

Give your child your phone or camera, or if you don’t entirely trust them not to drop it, get them their own child-friendly camera and take it with you on a walk. Ask them to take photos of things that interest them. Encourage them to look from new perspectives and angles. You could create a superb photo book or slideshow movie to send to family.

These are some weird, crazy, and different times we’re living in, amirite?

As so many people are home right now, we’re all feeling somewhat of the same feelings. Some days we love this quarantine because we can have family time that is precious and we’ll never forget. Some days we are pulling our hair out and hiding in the closet eating chocolate just to get five minutes alone.

Parents have limits, different limits, so comparing yourself to someone else or vise versa is just not productive. Not only that, but it’s wrong. It hurts others, and eventually (I’m willing to bet) will hurt you in some way.

We’re all struggling, we’re all trying to do our best, we’re all wanting to go back to the norm. So let’s show some kindness, spread the love, and be encouragements to one another!

With all that being said, we have compiled a list of products that we’ve been using during this quarantine time to keep our kids busy. We love the brands that we work with and want to showcase them too, because everyone is having a tough time staying afloat right now. We hope that these products will make life a bit easier for you, and a little more fun for your kiddos.

Stomp Rocket – Stunt Plane

This fun activity is perfect for kids of all ages. Stomp Rocket is a great STEM teaching toy that gets kids outside, gets them moving, and requires no batteries. Assembly is super easy, so fun is just around the corner. Their new Stunt Plane set was designed by Aeronautical Engineers and is perfect for kids between the ages of 5-12. Three different types of planes are included in the set, all of which have different features. The kid-powered toy is the perfect activity to get jiggles out and play outside.

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Creatto

This simple building system offers endless amounts of creativity and fun. These durable and flexible tiles interlock together to create countless 3D creations. The quick and easy interlocking technology allows kids to quickly and easily form designs without any extra tools, materials, or hardware. Each Creatto kit includes directions for four different creations, but each kit is not limited to those. Kids are able to get creative and use their imagination over and over again. LED lights are included with each kit too, so the works of are can be illuminated. Models rang from $9.95-$29.95, with different size options to choose from.

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SmART Pixelator 

Use this smART Pixelator to create amazing art and endless activities. The combination of art and science is used with this innovative light technology toy. Kids can use this pixelator to engineer 2D and 3D projects using pixel beads, pixel pegs, or pixel sequins. STEAM learning is enhanced with this technology too; perfect for kids to be challenged with in these days, and always. Kids have a choice of using many different step-by-step projects that are included with the pixelator. But an app can be downloaded so any photo from a Mobil device can be used. Possibilities are endless! Creativity, small motor development, and special awareness are all challenged with the smART Pixelator.

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Precious Peg & Paper

Carrie, owner and artist of Precious Peg & Paper, is so unbelievably talented. The Etsy shop is filled with personalized, custom wooden peg dolls and watercolor portraits that are so beautiful. The meticulously painted dolls are hand painted and perfectly crafted. Using safe and non toxic paint and varnish, these are sure to be a hit with everyone in the family. The solid wood, hand painted peg set(s) are absolutely beautiful. Not only are the dolls gorgeous, but they are the perfect toy for any child. Children can play with them on their own, using a dollhouse, firehouse, train table, building blocks, the opportunities for play are endless. These beautiful dolls allow kids to slow down a little bit and use their imagination. Open ended play is just around the corner with these Precious Pegs.

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