For a kid, nothing beats summer break. No more pencils. No more books. You know the rest.

But while you are planning a summer full of kid friendly beach vacations, you need to remember that summer will soon end, and your child will return to school in just a couple of months. Although it may be tempting to allow your child to bend the rules during the summer, it will make your job as a parent that much more difficult when you have to put your foot down in the fall.

You also need to be aware of what teachers call the “summer slide.” Talk with any grade school teacher, and he or she will tell you that the first several weeks of school are spent reteaching material that students forgot over the summer break. Make sure your child stays sharp and ready to learn when school comes this August. Encourage your child to learn during the summer, even while on vacation.

You may be rolling your eyes at the idea of doing schoolwork while on vacation. While you may not want to bring a fractions workbook with you for your child to do on the plane, there are several strategies that you can try, especially for younger kids, that will trick them into learning when they didn’t suspect it.

Say for instance, if you are going to Greece through Greece vacations packages or similar others, you can take your kids to the museums- Greece tends to have a lot of it. It might help them learn a few new things about Greek culture and civilization. Besides, you can also teach your young ones a few Greek phrases that may come in handy when there. This might also spark their interest in learning a foreign language. The goal anyway is to encourage learning and self-growth so they do good for themselves and for others.

Here are some more strategies to help your early grade-school-aged kids learn while on vacation.

Sing Songs

When trying to determine pre-reading readiness, reading specialists test children on their ability to rhyme. Studies show that children who can rhyme are more ready to read than those who can’t.

How do you teach rhyming? One fun way is to sing fun songs such as Down By the Bay, where kids are given a chance to come up with their own rhyming lyrics. Look up YouTube videos if you aren’t familiar with the song.

Even songs with set lyrics, or nursery rhymes, are excellent for children to predict rhyming sounds.

Singing a wide variety of songs and repeating nursery rhymes also increases your child’s vocabulary. What is this “pail” thing that Jack and Jill are carrying up the hill? Miss Muffett sat on a tuffet. What the heck’s a tuffet? You can use the opportunity to show your child that you are always willing to learn too.

Read!

Try not to let your child spend the entire car ride engrossed in Netflix or YouTube videos. Instead, listen to an audiobook that your whole family will enjoy. Grab a printed copy of the book so you can continue to read it before bedtime at the hotel. Or, you can also read from it to your kids that may help cultivate their interest in reading.

Take a break from media and encourage your child to look at the outside world. You could take them on a bike ride, renting a bike from Motorcycle Rentals West Virginia, Florida, Australia, wherever you are vacationing. As you ride, you can take little halts at different places, to familiarize your young ones with different signs or symbols. You may also make them read the street signs and billboards. Your children will gain confidence as readers as they read McDonald’s, Home Depot, and Target signs. Sure, they are probably not necessarily understanding the actual words, but understanding visual clues is a pre-reading strategy.

Read signs at museums and zoos – maybe not every sign, but make sure your child is given a chance to read about subjects appealing to him or her. If your kiddo loves giraffes, spend time at the giraffe exhibit. Read small bits of information, and then ask casual questions to determine if your child understands what has been read. They should learn that reading is an appealing task because it unlocks the mysteries of the world around us.

More than anything, parents should try to present the idea of reading as an enjoyable activity that brings pleasure. It’s not something that should be checked off your child’s daily to-do list, such as feeding the dog or taking out the trash.

Pay Attention to Nature

If you are traveling this summer to a location that is a separate region from where you live, talk about the similarities and differences of the birds, trees, animals, and weather from your home to your vacation destination. For example, if you have made the trip overseas to England and you are staying in a Yorkshire Dales pub with accommodation or something of a similar type, you will be surrounded by nature completely different to your own as well as sights that are specific to certain regions, so you’ll be able to see and do so much more that your kids can learn from.

As you enjoy the great outdoors, talk about how particular trees thrive in different climates. Discuss how paying attention to droppings and broken limbs may indicate that there is an animal nearby. Try to determine what types of clouds are in the sky.

You won’t know all the answers, but your child will learn to pay attention to the wonders of the great outdoors. If you spend all your time during your visit to a national park or a beach taking selfies and checking email, your child will not learn how to investigate their natural surroundings.

Enjoy your summer, and remember if you want your child to keep learning over the summer, you need to keep learning as well.

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Yes, we may be rubbing our hands with glee at the thought of summer coming, but on the other hand, maybe you are in full-on panic mode. Having our children at home for the summer means that we are going to struggle to work as well as arrange suitable childcare. So, while it may be too late to prepare for this summer, what we can do right now is learn from our mistakes and get ready for the next summer, so the children are occupied in the best possible ways. Let’s give you some ideas.

Plan a Trip

Going away takes a lot of planning, so it’s better to start early than to leave it too late. This way, you’ll have something to look forward to whilst also knowing it’s all planned and all you have to do is wait for it to happen. Ask your family members where they would like to visit–the mountains, deserts or beaches. If they choose beaches, then look at the destinations that can be the most affordable and easy to travel to. Additionally, look for activities that can be taken up as a family when you are at the beach– perhaps you can go sailing. Firms like Kai Kanani are known to offer sailing tours in Maui, Hawaii. So, you can look for such firms at your vacation destination as well.

Anyway, if you can afford an all-inclusive trip, even better! All-inclusive trips save you effort and stress, making them perfect if you struggle to find the time to sit down to do the online shop let alone book a holiday. Consider a cruise to somewhere like The Galapagos Islands, or even just book a hotel by the beach with meals included. The earlier you do it, the easier it will be to book time off work too.

Put Them In Summer Camp

Maybe money is a constant issue in your home, and as such, summer camps are something you’d consider to be out of your budget. But if we start to put a little bit of money aside now, we can make sure that our children get a beneficial summer, even if we have to work. On americafinestsummercamps.com there are plenty for you to look at so you can get some inspiration. Summer camps are a great way for your children to make the most of the summer vacation. And yes, while you may not be spending time with them, if you have to work anyway, it beats them lying around the house watching TV!

Prepare Their Learning Materials

There are two sides to this debate. Maybe you think they spend a lot of time under academic pressure, and as such, they have earned some downtime. But if you think they would benefit from the next academic year, it is worth putting some things in place, not just so they are stuck in their rooms studying, but they are engaging with learning materials. As boring as a museum might be to a 13-year-old, if you can expose them to a wide variety of learning materials, from documentaries to museums, and anything in between that you can think of, perhaps it will set off a spark in their mind. After all, it’s about engaging with learning material in a way that they will benefit. It’s not just about sitting down, forcing them to read a chapter at a time.

Improving Their Life Skills

There are so many social skills that our children learn in a school environment, but once the summer comes, they may very well retreat to their rooms. But if you feel there are parts of the school curriculum that should teach more beneficial life skills, it’s down to you to do this! On selfsufficientkids.com there is a list of life skills to give you inspiration. Perhaps your children don’t know how to cook, or maybe they don’t know how to entertain themselves without their smartphone. Look at these things and see what they would benefit from to become a well-rounded individual.

In the meantime, make this summer all about having fun. You can throw a summer party on occasion, and go for walks. But if you think about this time next year, and the direction you want your children to go in, you had better start preparing right now!

After childbirth, a lot of changes. That goes all the way from your schedule; your body also changes physically and emotionally. You become a new person! With another blessing and responsibility bestowed upon you, your life becomes hectic, especially if you are a working mom.

With so many things to do at a go, you might end up losing touch with style. Well, you cannot be blamed. Not many people can multitask; breastfeeding, going for yoga classes, making dinner for the family, and still take care of themselves. That, however, does not mean staying fashionable is impossible!

Mom Fashion Tips

You may have noticed that your wardrobe changed completely when you were pregnant. Bouncing back is not always that easy. However, with the tips below, you should be able to revamp your closet.

1. Have Open Cardigans

You cannot afford to miss open cardigans in your fleet. They go well with almost everything. The best part is that you will not have to sacrifice comfort. They serve the same purpose as jackets, but they are even better: they will add a sense of style to your outfit and also give you a feminine look. Do not let your skinny jeans look so plain; you can always throw a cardi over it.

2. Scarves

This is one accessory that is always underestimated. You only get to realize how fashionable it looks when someone else is wearing it. The infinity scarf is not just like any other kind of scarf. It comes with a unique sense of style. They come in many patterns and textures; you only need to know the one that goes well with a specific outfit. The best part is that they are a perfect replacement for necklaces and your pearls. Just because the baby cannot help but pull on your necklace and earrings does not mean you stop accessorizing!

3. Jumpsuits and Rompers

If you are wondering why celebrity moms like Jessica Alba have a thing for jumpsuits, then here is the catch. On top of being very hip, they are very functional! Note that you will have to bend from time to time to either pick your child’s toy or the pacifier. While wearing low cut jeans may be tasking for you, you can find a similarly stylish replacement: jumpsuits. You will bend and play with no worries without showing off your skin more than you would prefer.

4. Flowy Dresses and Skirts

You are a busy mom, and you have a lot to attend to other than just meeting a client over a cocktail. You will be spending more time with your kids, and you will want to keep up with their pace. Children love to run around, roll over the ground, and many other things they deem fun. A flowy skirt would serve better than a pencil skirt. Also, they look pretty cute. Check out these Celia B Dresses for some flowery, flowy inspiration!

5. Leggings and Shirt Dress

This style is familiar with many moms. It must be because it is so effortless. The shirt dress can come in different designs, materials and so on. Adding leggings to the shirtdress completes the look. You can show up to your child’s school with this look, with probably a cardigan on top. For a chic look, you can wear an infinity scarf.

How to Save Money While Looking Fashionable

Changing your entire wardrobe may not be practical at this point. You are already spending a lot on nursery and getting nutritious foods. The last thing you want is to spend more money on new clothes which you will probably be using for a few months. Here are a few tips that will help you save cash.

1. Reach Out to Clothes Rentals

Instead of getting new clothes, you could use clothes rental services to source stylish postpartum friendly garments that will serve you a couple of weeks or months.

2. Visit a Tailor

There is that elegant blouse that you used to wear during your first trimester. You do not have to ditch it; you can always take it to the tailor to work on it so that it can fit. That way, you will be able to make use of the beautiful pieces lying idle in your house instead of buying new ones.

3. There are Still Some Wearable Maternity Clothes

Did you know that the flowy dresses will always look great even if you do not have a bump? Now you know! Do some audits and find maternity clothes that you can still keep.

Being a busy and stylish mom is easy. As you may have noticed, working with versatile pieces is one of the most instrumental time-saving fashion tips. Buy in neutrals as they are straightforward to accessorize. Simplicity is also something you will need to embrace if you want to be able to save time and money, and at the same time, look fashionable.

Have you been looking for a new delivery food service to try out?

Gobble is my new favorite meal delivery brand due to a few key aspects: amazing flavors, easy prep and lunch options!

Gobble features dinner kits designed for 15 minutes with one pan

Every meal we made from Gobble was tasty and easy to make. I love to cook, so chopping the green onions for one meal or smashing the baby potatoes are fun aspects I enjoyed doing. All the ingredients were very fresh and sealed in packaging making it easy to know what goes with what meal bag. Each bag was clearly marked, letting my know what meal in contained. Inside the bags were instructions that guided my prep and cooking steps. I was shocked at how fast it all went – from taking the bag out of the fridge to placing my fully cooked meal on my dinner plate was incredibly fast!

Every meal was exciting to eat. I looked forward to the flavor profiles each meal boasted. Nothing was too out there but nothing was plain or simple either. Each time I at a Gobble meal I felt like I was eating a dish from a restaurant, not something I made with my own two hands.

I was confident in each step of the cooking process because of the card instructions and how the meal was packaged with all items clearly labeled.

Gobble features meals with so many different types of proteins and ingredients that I was never bored with the next meal they sent me. Gobble loves to use recipes that features different ethnic flavors. Foods like, Salsa Roja Pork Tamales with Southwest Vegetable Hash, Pan-Roasted Barramundi with Tomato Chutney & Saffron Rice and Khao Soi Shrimp in Yellow Curry Sauce with Ramen Noodles (these are meals coming up in June of 2019)

As a mom with small kids I love how they offer Kid-Friendly meals and even labels them as such on the website, so as you check out their website, you can see the types of meals that other kids loved to eat.

There are few things more difficult in life than having to watch the people in your life that you looked up to, the people that may have even raised you from a very young age, get older and struggle to take care of themselves. It’s incredibly difficult for you and even more difficult for them. It’s something that we all spend most of our time trying to avoid thinking about and to avoid having to face up to, but it’s a reality that we all need to come to terms with. Sure, modern technology has made it so more and more of us are living healthy lives for far longer than ever before, but that doesn’t mean that life is always going to be easy for older people. More and more they will start to need a great deal more help and support than before. The question then becomes, how can we ensure that we’re providing the best possible care and support to the older people in our lives. Here are some simple things to consider that can help you do just that.

Help them find the right environment

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One of the hardest things about getting older, and watching someone you love getting older, is reaching the point where they no longer have the ability to live completely independently anymore. This might be because of some kind of physical impairment that prevents them from doing basic tasks, or it might be that their mind is starting to become less reliable and they are forgetting about things to the point that it’s putting their safety and wellbeing at risk. The key is to figure out what the best environment for them is going to be. If it’s just a couple of things that they struggle with, then assisted living may well be a solid option. That way they can stay at home but still have someone come and help them out when they need it. Of course, if they’re really struggling to the point where they’re not really able to stay independent, it might be a better idea for them to live in a dedicated space so that they can be sure that they’re getting the round the clock care they need.

Make sure that they’re safe

You should be able to rest easy knowing that, if an older person in your life is living in something like a nursing home, that this is a positive and comfortable environment for them. And most assisted living environments and nursing homes are wonderful places that are entirely dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of the people living there. However, there is always a chance that there are going to be people who are more interested in taking advantage of positions of power than actually caring for the people in their charge. If you find, or even suspect that this kind of mistreatment is going on then you need to do something about it. Someone like the Gray and White Law team of nursing home abuse attorneys can help to make sure that those living in those kinds of environments are safe and those mistreating them are brought to justice. It’s something that a lot of people would rather not think about but it’s far too important and dangerous to be ignored.

Listen to them

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One of the easiest things to forget as the people in your life get older is that they haven’t lost who they are simply because they need more support. Far too often people start treating the older people in their lives like children. As though, because they need support in some way, they’re no longer conscious people worthy of your respect. Remember, it’s not just about what you think is best for them, it’s about making sure that they are as happy and comfortable and possible. Often the very best way to make sure of this is simply to listen to what they have to say. Listen to what they want and respect their wishes. Sure, this can get difficult if someone’s mind is in some way compromised, but often the reality is that a lot of the problems that older people deal with are brought about because the people in their lives simply won’t listen to them.

Help them to hold onto their independence

It’s also worth remembering that just because someone needs support and help, that doesn’t mean that they have lost all sense of independence in their life. This is always not the ideal case. In some circumstances, your elders can be subjected to Nursing Home Abuse and carelessness. Therefore, it is important that you always keep an eye out for them and ensure they are protected at all times. Trying to do everything for an older person and refusing to accept their independence is actually incredibly disrespectful and upsetting for a lot of people. It can make them feel miserable and smothered instead of cared for and supported. Again, the best way to find this balance is to actually listen to them. So if you do get in-home support from services such as Care for family and others similar to them, you can visit homepage to learn more, you are doing it because you listened to their needs and took on board what they needed, not what you think they needed.

The truth is that, as a society, we have generally been pretty woefully bad at offering the care and support that older people really need. Far too often we have historically cast them aside and forget about them rather than facing up to the reality that these are the people who took care of us when we needed them the most, and now the shoe is on the other foot and it really is the least we can do to make sure that they are also taken care of. It’s rarely easy to see people that you love and respect getting older and struggling both physically and mentally. But if you have someone in your love who you love and who took care of you, and they have reached a point in their life where they can’t get by on their own, the very least we can do is to try and make sure that they are as happy and as well taken care of as possible.

There are plenty of demands put on us in this day and age. We have to work longer hours, we’re supposed to have a side-project, there are social events to attend, vacations to take, and oh so much more. While these are mostly good things, it’s also true that it can be a little bit tiring from time to time. It can feel like we’re always running low on energy! While there are plenty of ways to boost your energy levels, such as exercising and taking cold showers, one of the best — not to mention enjoyable — ways is through your stomach. It’s more than possible to eat your way to more energy! We take a look at a few ways how below.

Source: Pexels.com

Eat That Breakfast

There are some people who say that you don’t need to have breakfast if you had a big meal the night before. The thinking is that you haven’t used up any energy while you were sleep, so you’ve got plenty to burn off in the morning. Therefore, breakfast is not needed! This, however, may not be correct. Your body does, in fact, use up energy when it’s sleeping. And in any case, the meal from the night before is not going to see you through until lunchtime!

It’s better to follow the European way, which is to eat breakfast like a King. If you have a breakfast that’s high in nutrition and energy, then you’ll find that you’re flying all the way through to lunchtime. You don’t need to get too creative: a big bowl of porridge will do. You may want to check out the Best supplements for energy as well so you can make sure your energy is consistent as you make it to lunchtime.

The Right Approach

If you feel like you’re eating enough calories during the day, yet still don’t seem to have as much energy as you’d like, then take a look at how you’re consuming all that food. It’s much better, energy and metabolism wise, to eat multiple small meals, rather than two large meals during the day. If you take the latter approach, all you’ll find that happens is that you’re so full that the last thing you can think about is being upright and energetic. If you take the other approach, and have a few small meals, then you won’t need to worry about your metabolism processes weighing you down. You’ll be light as a bird.

Avoid the Energy Sappers

Knowledge is power! If you think you eat relatively well yet never seem to have as much energy as you’d like or need, then perhaps it’s the food you’re eating. Some are more harmful to your energy levels than you might realize. For example, goods that are high in carbs can give you a sluggish feeling, so you’ll want to avoid eating bread, rice, and white pasta in too big a quantity. And while breakfast cereals might sound like a healthy option, many are actually loaded up with sugars, which will cause your energy to spike temporarily, but then drop off.

Tried and Tested Boosts

So now you know what foods are going to cause your energy levels to drop, it’s best to find out what will have it moving in the right direction. One of the best things to include in your diet is fatty fish, which are high in Omega-3 and protein, two important components when it comes to having more energy. For your breakfast, you may want to look at including eggs, which have also been proven to be pretty great at providing energy, as is oatmeal.

Ancient and Modern Secrets

We’re beginning to understand more and more about the foods that can give us energy; some of them are ancient, some of them are more modern discoveries. Take zaatar, for example. In some countries, you don’t need to ask, ‘what is zaatar?‘ — in others, it’s just not part of the culture (yet). In basic terms, it’s a blend of herbs that have been shown to provide humans with a whole host of benefits, including more energy. If you’re looking for a way to make your meals more interesting and want to give your body and mind an energy boost (among other benefits), then look at making zaatar a staple of your cupboard.

Simple Snacks

If you’re in a pinch for energy, then instead of grabbing a coffee or energy drink, take a look at having one of the simple snacks that’ll provide you with a burst of power. The two most popular options are a peanut butter sandwich and an apple, both of which will slowly release energy until you can have a full meal.