Tag Archives: family

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

5 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Spend More Time Outdoors

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Sadly, many kids today would rather sit indoors in front of a television screen or computer screen than go outdoors. Research shows that fresh air and physical movement is vital for children, but getting them outside is sometimes more work than expected. Keep reading for tips on encouraging kids to spend more time outdoors.

1. Focus On Their Interests

Just because parents enjoy hiking and biking doesn’t mean their kids do. Kids will be excited about going outside if it involves something they love. If kids love a sport, get the equipment and go outside to play. This could be a Castle Sports a soccer goal, or a volleyball net.

If kids enjoy reading, find an outdoor location ideal for reading, like a park or a garden. For children who enjoy drawing, consider visiting nature areas for artistic inspiration. Check out parks, zoos, and locations with beautiful landscapes.

Children who love to build can be enticed to go outside and build a fort, bridge, or catapult. These projects can last for days, especially if parents go out with their kids.

2. Spend Time With Kids Outside

Kids are more likely to go outdoors if someone is going with them, especially a parent. Play games, like soccer or cornhole, splash in a creek together, or talk. Ask children what they would like to do outside instead of telling them what they should do.

Consider having a summer bucket list to work through with kids on summer vacation. Brainstorm ideas together and place the list on the wall or refrigerator as a reminder. An alternative might be to have a specific day of the week as a family adventure day. Each week, one family member gets to choose the activity and location.

3. Invite Friends Over

Some kids get very excited about playing with friends. Ask the neighbors or friends to come over for an outdoor play day. Consider organizing outdoor playgroups for the neighborhood. Encourage meet-ups at local parks or recreational areas. Only children especially enjoy having friends over to play outside with them.

4. Make Outdoor Time Routine

Families make time for what is essential. Consider making outdoor time part of the daily routine. Once an activity becomes routine, a habit is formed, and children will continue to do the activity even after it is not required.

Many parents make the hour before dinner time outdoor playtime. This provides children great time to get out their energy from the school day, while moms have time to prepare dinner and pack lunches for the next day.

Another routine many moms enjoy is children playing outside at the school playground after school pickup. This allows mom some adult socializing time and the children a chance to get energy out before coming home to start homework.

5. Use the Outdoors for Everyday Activities

Parents and kids alike can get outside for many everyday activities. Eat dinner on the deck, read books in a hammock, and play games on the patio. If the weather is nice, do crafts and homework outside. Purchase inexpensive patio furniture, throw blankets, and comfortable pillows. Everyone will want to spend time outdoors as a family in this kind of environment.

The great outdoors is calling. Use these tips to encourage everyone in the family to spend more time outside.

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

WIZARDS & WEREWOLVES® – BY STARLUX GAMES

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If you enjoy board games with friends and family, Wizards and Werewolves is a new game that’s perfect to play around Halloween and, well, any time! My kids are at the age where they want to play card and board games, and I already know we’ll be playing this game as Halloween gets closer…..then probably keep playing after.

Here are a few key detail about the game, you can read more and order the game from their website.

  • Bring fantasy to life with this glow-in-the-dark night game that’s part “hunt and go seek,” capture the flag and zombie tag – with unique player powers
  • This game is for 8yrs+, 4-10+ players: Werewolves hunt Wizards and Wizards search for glowing crystals to increase their power – it’s a thrilling neighborhood game for boys, girls, teens and adventurous adults
  • It’s an active alternative to “sit around” activities for fantasy genre lovers: step away from the video games, board games, books and movies and GET OUTSIDE
  • Play again and again! Ensure hours of play with bright light up game pieces, all required batteries and 3 levels of gameplay, keeping the game exciting for new and advanced players
  • Unique and great gift idea! It’s a memorable holiday or birthday gift for kids, grandkids and the whole family; a great alternative to fantasy toys, laser tag, LED balls, backyard and lawn games. It would make the perfect Halloween game!

Going Healthy, Life, Parenting, Tips

What To Do When Recovering From An Unexpected Accident As A Parent

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Many people become more safety conscious upon becoming a parent. However, no matter how cautious you may be in your daily life, accidents can and do happen. As a result, it’s important that you’re aware of the steps you should follow in the aftermath of an incident, in order to ensure the best outcome moving forward.

orange pylon cones, road safety, hazards, driving, accident

Photo by Lucian Alexe on Unsplash

This remains crucial regardless of whether or not your children were with you at the time, as your own health, well-being, and safety are paramount to theirs – meaning that if you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll find it harder to take care of them. 

With that in mind, here are some steps you should follow in the wake of an unexpected accident. 

Prioritize recovery. Whether you were involved in a car accident or are suffering from a workplace injury, it’s crucial that you give yourself the time you need to recover. Follow all medical advice that is given to you by your doctor, and don’t try to get up on your feet again before you are ready. If this means that you’ll need a little help with looking after your children for a while, call in for reinforcements from friends and family. While you may not want to burden them, they all want what is best for you and will be happy to step in when needed. The more time you give yourself to rest up and recover, the easier the next few months will be. 

Reach out to a lawyer. Unexpected accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries that are hard to recover from. If you require a lot of medical care and support, or to take time off work, they can also cost you considerably. As such searching for legal representation by searching War For Hou (or elsewhere if another location is more suitable) is a great way to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve in the wake of your incident. This reduces the amount of pressure you’ll face staying on top of mounting bills, meaning it can be a great way to lower stress that could otherwise prolong recovery. Furthermore you can have peace of mind that they are experienced in dealing with such matters, regardless of the kind of injury, you can find a specialist out there that can take charge of the case. Say you slipped on wet ground at work; offices like an Anidjar Levine slip and fall injury lawyer are only a phone call away.

Take care of your mental health too. The aftermath of an accident (or the recovery period) can also take its toll on your mental health. As a result, it’s important that you take care of yourself emotionally (as well as physically) during this time. This could mean that you need to work on your own mental health stigmas that you may have developed, by accepting that it’s okay not to be okay, and that you can ask for help no matter what situation you have found yourself in. Whether you choose to reach out to friends and family, or to a licensed professional, do not suffer in silence. There is always somebody ready and willing to listen, to provide you with the advice you need to get back on track and feel more like yourself again. Much like physical recovery, emotional healing can take time – but it’s an important one, and you’ll feel much better by working on it than by attempting to ignore your emotions.