Parenting Tips Archives - Page 12 of 36

8 Effective Ways to Plan Your Busy Months

June 19, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

We all have those busy months when we just can’t seem to get enough done in a single day. Between juggling a career, taking care of our family, and managing household duties, something always seems to get left behind. With a little planning, maybe we can get everything done during our busiest months! Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on effective ways to plan for your busy months and accomplish your goals:

Start With The Priorities

On the off chance that you get too busy to accomplish certain tasks each day or week, make sure that you focus on the priorities, Is there a big party or project you need to focus on? Are there home maintenance tasks that must be taken care of? Consider what is most important and put those at the top of your list.

Don’t Do What Others Can

Whether you’re at home or at the office, you have a team ready and waiting to help you. Delegate smaller task to your tribe so that you can focus on tasks that only you can accomplish.

Multi-task Strategically

Take advantage of online shopping, automatic ordering, and special plans like a home warranty to take care of home maintenance while you are focusing on more important things. As a result, you can get the house cleaned or focus on meal planning. Furthermore, take advantage of having your groceries and other items delivered to your door.

Discover the Low Hanging Fruits

Another effective ways to plan tips is to consider the smaller tasks that you can take on while you’re taking a mental break from a big project. Did you know that cleaning actually helps clear your mind? It gets those creative juices flowing. If you’re starting to feel burned out on a single task, jump to a different task so you can refocus.

Avoid Distractions

Having the television playing in the background may seem like a great idea. Or, some other background noise while you’re working. However, you’d be surprised at how many times your eyes drift over to the television. It kills precious time that could have been spent finishing work. Consider what distracts you on a daily basis and eliminate it for your busy month.

Reorganize Your Days

If you wake up each morning and seem to be dragging your feet, but you get your second wind at night, be sure to plan accordingly. Just because you want to prioritize your tasks doesn’t mean they need to be the first items to be accomplished. Tackle your priorities when you feel the most energized, and tackle the smaller tasks when you are low energy.

Consider Telecommuting

Many companies offer a number of days you can work from home or short periods of time to work remotely. Consider your options for working remotely. Plan to stay at home and get those smaller tasks done. You’ll get your work done ten-fold, plus you will save a ton of time by not having to travel to the office.

Take It Easy On Yourself

The amount of time you spend beating yourself up because you didn’t get to cross item off your list could be spent focusing on other tasks. Remember, you’re only human. So, take a breath and focus on the day ahead.

We hope that you find our tips on effective ways to plan beneficial.

Filed Under: Organization Tagged With: organization tips, parenting information, time management

Parenting Tips On Teaching Your Children Life Skills

June 18, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Preparing our children to go out into the world is an essential part of raising them. So many children are not prepared to survive in the big world that awaits them. We depend on our school systems to educate our children; however, their education most also come from their home life. Teaching children to be responsible and a functional human being is a part of parenting. So, get them off the electronics and start preparing them for life. Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on teaching children life skills.

We have 25 tips on what children should have learned when they enter adulthood. Teaching them early and at home will eliminate the stress and strain of not knowing or having sufficient skills to survive. Lets start on some ideas for teaching children life skills.

Money Management – Learning how to balance a check book and management money is a necessary life skill.
Organizational Skills – Getting organized and being tidy is a good habit to have. Especially, if you have roommates during college or after college. Nobody wants to live with a slob.
How to Cook – Teaching both our sons and daughters is a great way to put them on the road to healthy eating. Preparing healthy meals eliminates the need to order pizza and fast food. It’s a great skill to have when married with children.
Assertive Skills – Being able to express and defend yourself with yelling and violence is a necessary skill. At some point, it will be needed.
How to Clean – Being clean is another life skill everyone needs. Being unclean affects your emotional and physical health.
How to Mow Grass – Mowing should be a skill taught at home. Teens should be given this chore as a part of home maintenance. It will come in handy once they purchase their own.
How to Find Employment – Teach your child the importance of making their own money, but also how to apply for a job.
How to Change a Tire – The number of teens who don’t know how to change a tire is astounding. These skills aren’t taught in high school, so teach them at home. Make it part of the safe driving training. Most importantly, don’t limit the training to your sons, our daughters should know too.
The Importance of Being Punctual – Teach your children the importance of being on time. Showing up late for a job is unprofessional and showing up late for a date with the girls or friends is rude.
Be a Team Player – Being able to work individually is a good trait, but so is being able to work as a team member. Playing organized sports is a great way to learn this skill.
CPR – Everyone should learn CPR. It’s a live saving skill.

How to Swim – If your children are going to attend pool parties or join friends on the beach or other vacation destinations, it’s imperative that they learn how to swim.
Good Manners – Also, good manners is a life skill that will used and needed in everyday conversation as well as on the job.
How to Do Laundry – Learning how to wash and iron clothing is a necessary skill. Looking unkempt on the job or in your everyday life is not a good trait. Besides, when you look good you feel good.
The Importance of Being Positive – A positive attitude is more attractive than a negative one.
To Have Faith – We all need to have faith and trust in someone greater than ourselves.
How to Drive – Never be dependent on anyone to get you from point A to B. Being independent is a good thing. Having a driver’s license will provide a means to getting to school, your job and social activities.
Accepting Failure – Unfortunately, life is filled with success and failures. Accepting failures is as important as accepting the victories in life.
Have Integrity – Being honest, trustworthy, fair, and ethical are all traits that we should teach our children.

To Pray – Also, praying is our way of thanking God and asking for acceptance, forgiveness and guidance.
Be a Good Neighbor – Reach out to your neighbors, and your children will follow your example.
Volunteer – Teach your children the importance of volunteering in the community.
Stay Active – Staying active is essential to your health. Take a walk as a family, ride a bike, obtain a gym membership are few examples.
Get a Hobby – Having a hobby is important. Doing things that you love brings joy, reduces stress and relaxes you.
Have a Sense of Humor – We must learn to laugh at ourselves and at the world. It will make living life much easier.

Last, I hope that you are teaching your children these life skills. We can no longer depend on our school system to raise our children. Most importantly, we must step up and ensure they are ready to enter the world as an adult.

Filed Under: Character Building, Education, Parenting Tips Tagged With: educating children, life skills, parenting teens

16 Ways to Celebrate Great Outdoors Month

June 5, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Did you know that June is Great Outdoors Month? Yes, school will be over for the summer and the kids will need to be occupied. The Great Outdoors Month is opportunity to escape being inside. So, today I’m sharing parenting tips on the Great Outdoors Month and activities for kids. It’s a great way to get them off the electronics. Furthermore, it’s a great to get them to exercise, blow off steam from the stresses of the school year and bond as a family. Here we go:

Bike Riding – Pull those bikes out of the garage and get your kids riding. Encourage them to get the other neighborhood kids involved. It’s a great way to get them to exercise and gives you a few moneys to exhale from having them for the summer.

Scavenger Hunt – Send them on a scavenger hunt. Print our Summer Scavenger Hunt cards and let them explore and have fun. Most of the items can be found in your backyard or neighborhood.

Chase Butterflies – Purchase a few butterfly nets and let them run around the yard chasing butterflies.

Garden – Introduce your children to nature. Let them plant a few vegetables or a butter fly garden.

Plan a Picnic – Next, grab your picnic and fill it with sandwiches, fruits, and drinks and spend time with the kids. It gets them out the house, and allows you to bond with them. You can spread out a blanket in the backyard or park. Make it simple.

Hike – Take a hike through a local park or walk around the neighborhood.

Birdwatch – Head to one of your local reserves or your own backyard. Birdwatching in your own backyard can be a wonderful experience. It allows the kids to see what birds are native to your area and which ones they would like to lure to the feeders.

Horseback Riding – Also, check out your local equestrian center for rates on an hour of horseback riding. This may be a good time for the kids to take riding lessons.

Paddle Boating – Head to your local park, and spend some time on the water paddle boating. Don’t forget your life jackets and the safety rules.

Camping – Planning a camping trip complete with tents and outdoor cooking with the kids.

Fishing – Take the kids fishing. You can fry them up or throw them back. Either way, the kids will have a great time.

Outdoor Movies – Also, set up a movie night and let the kids enjoy the stars and moon while watching one of their favorite movies.

Star Watching – If you kids love to watch the stars, bring out the telescope. It’s a great way to look at the stars and learn about astrology as a family.

White Water Rafting – Check your area to see if this activity is being offered. It’s big in my area!

River Tubing – Take a journey along your local river or lake and just enjoy the day as a family.

Go Karts – Last, my grandson and his friends love the Go Kart track. It’s a nice family activity.

Finally, get creative. The goal is to get outside and get physical. Enjoy nature and make a commitment to get off the phone and get outside. The possibilities on finding activities for the kids to do during the Great Outdoors Month is endless. You may also like: Camping Injuries and How to Avoid Them.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Parenting Tips Tagged With: activities for kids, kids outdoor activities, outdoor activities

Tips On Decorating a Home Gallery

June 4, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Large expanses of plain wall are ideal to display works of art. And, if you are thinking of creating a wall gallery in your home, there are a few important things to consider. Colors, for example, can be either complimentary or contrasting. And, the size of your artwork needs to be in proportion with the room. Here are a few additional tips on decorating a home gallery.

Image Source: Pixabay

Light Color Wall

The gallery wall might be stark white, or a light beige, as a light background highlights the art more effectively. Furthermore, it helps to showcase the art features. And, with the right spotlights and some LED units, you can further highlight main features. You could have a textured finish to the wall, which really does create the perfect background for wall art. For example, textured plaster or concrete with a matte finish would work, especially with some colored LED spots.

Image Source: Pixabay

Other Art Forms

You can combine wall prints and antique items. Perhaps a military chest, or a vintage writing desk that sits against the wall. A pair of antique Victorian wall mirrors might be the ideal way to boost the natural lighting. And, with a couple of Victorian wall lamps, you have the perfect illumination.

Rich Color Contrasts

You can add splashes of rich, deep color, but keep it minimal. For example, a lampshade or even a picture frame can be a bright color. It gives the wall some variation outside of the two main colors. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment. That’s how many interior designers find the right color combinations, and by using a piece of card that has the exact color, you can place this in the room and see for yourself. Start with your base color, and add items one at a time. After while, you will have your furniture in place and can look at wall art and other forms of art, such as statues and sculptures.

Image Source: Pixabay

Online Solutions

Once you are ready to acquire some wall art, look no further than the Internet. There are many websites that sell all forms of wall art. Prints, abstracts and portraits, to name but a few, and prices are very reasonable too.

If you are on the look-out for a few antique items to enhance the room, the online antique dealer has an extensive catalogue of genuine antique and vintage pieces. If you are looking for something specific, the online dealer can certainly source the item on your behalf. If you forge an alliance with a reputable online antique dealer, he can always help you when you are looking for a specific item. And, if he doesn’t have what you’re looking for, he can soon find it. Mixing old and new furniture is very trendy at the moment, and most people prefer to add a few small antique or vintage pieces to a modern setting, which brings a nice balance.

Displaying art on a single wall brings in a new dimension to the ambience. With some trial and error, you will eventually decide on the right combination to create a wall gallery that will be the main feature in your home. So, we hope you find our tips on decorating a home gallery beneficial. You may also like Tips for Designing a Child’s Bedroom.

Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: decorating tips, home gallery tips, interior design tips, wall pictures

How to Boost Your Energy As a Parent

June 2, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Being a parent is tiring, no matter the age of your children. Once the sleepless nights of infanthood are over, you need to run around after adventurous toddlers. Furthermore, there’s the ever-changing emotions of teenagers. It’s not particularly surprising that most parents are absolutely exhausted. Rather than let this fatigued state become your new normal, you should do something about it. There’s not enough caffeine in the world to combat this problem, but there are things that you can do. Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on how to boost your energy as a parent.

how to boost your energy

1. Head To Bed Earlier

Once you’ve put the kids to bed, it can be very tempting to stay up late watching television or catching up on the chores. However, you need adequate rest to be able to function properly. For this reason, you should head to bed a little earlier so that you can get around eight hours of sleep. Adopt healthy sleep habits, like sticking to a sleep schedule and turning off electronics in the evening.

2. Eat A Nutritious Diet

The food that you put into your body can have a significant effect on how you feel. Therefore, if you’ve been feeling sluggish and tired, it might be worth looking at your eating habits. Your body needs fuel to keep you up and running. So, ensure that you eat the best that you can. Whole, nutritious foods, like nuts and seeds, leafy vegetables, and lean red meats all provide plenty of energy. Also, vitamins and minerals that your body requires to function at its very best.

3. Steer Clear Of Sugar

When you feel tired, it can be so easy to reach for a sweet and sugar-filled snack. This offers a much-needed energy boost, but, unfortunately, provides one that doesn’t last very long. Your blood sugar levels will spike for a short time, but, when they fall again, you are usually left feeling worse than before. Eating large quantities of sugar can also heighten your risk of developing certain health problems. For this reason, it’s best to stick to healthier, more nutritious snacks.

4. Work Out Every Day

You might think that exercise will tire you out, but it can actually boost your energy levels. The reason for his is that it helps to increase your stamina and strength, as well as your heart rate. This increase heart rate pumps blood faster around your body so that fuel is delivered more efficiently to tissues and muscles. Exercise also triggers the release of endorphins, which combat stress and boost mood. Because of this, you should try to work out every single day.

how to boost your energy

5. Find Reasons To Laugh

Like exercise, laughter also releases endorphins into the brain. These feel-good chemicals do a lot of good for your body and mind, including helping you to feel refreshed and awake. Finding reasons to laugh, therefore, can be incredibly beneficial. When you have a little one to look after, you’ll find a lot that they do is comical. You can also watch funny shows and films. When you’re not in a particularly comedic mood, fake laughing works too and can make you laugh for real.

6. Combat Your Hearing Problems

The harder it is for you to hear, the more energy your brain will use trying to do so. This can leave you feeling exhausted, even after only a short conversation. For this reason, if you’re struggling to hear, you should speak to a professional. They might suggest wearing a hearing aid, like the Miracle-Ear GENIUS 3.0. Sometimes your hearing problems aren’t quite so serious. All that might be required is for you to clean them out or have them cleaned out a bit more regularly.

7. Learn How To Relax

It’s not uncommon for parents to feel stressed, especially when you have a particularly busy schedule. However, that doesn’t mean that you should just ignore it when you feel overwhelmed. This won’t solve the problem and can actually make it worse. There are many ways you could reduce your stress levels, from yoga to medication and even drawing. Some people also find that journaling about their troubles helps them to combat them too.

8. Kick That Smoking Habit

Everyone knows what a terrible habit smoking is. It’s one of the worst things that you can do for your health, increasing your risk of developing a number of incredibly serious health issues, including heart disease and cancer. The tar and toxins from cigarettes can also reduce the efficiency of your lungs, making you feel tired. The only way to fix this is to kick your smoking habit. There is a lot of support out there that can help you through this, so speak to your doctor.

9. Drink Plenty Of Water

Our bodies are made up of mostly water, so it should be no surprise to you that we need water to feel our best. Throughout the day, you lose water when you sweat and go to the bathroom. This can leave you dehydrated, which can affect your brain function and energy. To stay hydrated, you must drink more water each day, especially when it’s warm. Carrying a water bottle around with you can remind you to take regular sips so that you don’t get thirsty.

10. Consult With Your Doctor

Tiredness is not something that should be ignored. If you’ve done everything that you can to boost your energy levels, but still feel fatigued, then you should consult with your doctor. This is a symptom of many different illnesses and health problems, like thyroid conditions, anemia, and even depression. These conditions must be dealt with quickly, so you should book a checkup right away if you think that something could be wrong.

Tired shouldn’t be the new normal, even for parents. Hopefully, with the advice above, you can boost your energy levels and feel refreshed.

Filed Under: Health, Parenting Tips Tagged With: health care tips, healthy parenting, parenting advice, sleeping tips

How To Deal With A Serious Injury As a Parent

May 30, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Suffering a serious injury can be one of the toughest things an individual deals with during their lifetime. This becomes exponentially more difficult when you have children. Unfortunately, serious injuries often impact all of those close to you. Furthermore, seeing a parent injured can be quite devastating to a child. They think their mother or father is a superhero. The most important thing for you to do is to start recovering and realize that the entire family is with you. Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on how to deal with a serious injury when you have children.

how to deal with a serious injury

Focus On Rehabilitation

The best thing that you can do for yourself and your children is to recover as quickly as possible. So, do not miss a rehabilitation session. You need to be dedicated to physical therapy daily to recover fully. Understanding the difference between pain and discomfort is important during your recovery period. Remember, pushing yourself too hard can lead to aggravating the injury again. Just as important, not pushing yourself enough will delay recovery time. As a result, find the balance and continually give input to your physical therapist. Getting upset that recovery is not going as planned can be an easy mindset for you to fall into. So, look at every day as a challenge with some days being tougher than others.

Do Not Take Your Frustrations Out On The Family

One of the most frustrating things is not being able to do something simple due to your injury. This can include not being able to do dishes because of a broken leg or not being able to shower without help. This is not the fault of your family, and that is something you need to remember. Unfortunately, it can be easy to take out a bad day on them. If you are at home due to the injury spend that extra time with the kids. An injury can have positive impacts depending on how you look. Having extra time with the family can be positive. So, learning how to deal with a serious injury as a parent is imperative.

Discuss How The Injury Is Impacting Your Family

Your children could be devastated that you are hurt. So, it is important to ask them about their feelings on the current circumstances. Have your children see a therapist if they are unwilling to open up. Your injury could be the source of their problem. Take the time daily to let them know that you will be back to your old self after recovery time. If you have suffered a permanent injury, sit down with them so you can talk about how life is going to change. Do not leave them to figure out these things alone. It can be a trying time for them as well as others in your family.

injured parents

Have Your Significant Other Help Pick Up The Slack

Your significant other is going to have to pick up the slack in order to keep thing running smoothly. You will be able to do some things, so trading off responsibilities will help everything run smoothly. Be sure to tell your significant other how much you appreciate what they are doing. Furthermore, sit down weekly to talk about how you can start doing more to help the family get through the post-accident recovery process.

Seek Financial Compensation

As a parent you cannot allow your family to endure financial stress coupled with the emotional stress that everyone is already feeling. Finding the nearest attorney can be done with a simple internet search. The Barnes Firm, a personal injury lawyer in San Diego, says, “Suffering from a personal injury is devastating, regardless of the circumstances. The unfortunate reality is that many of these injuries often go far beyond the physical effects and may affect ability to work and one’s future wages that deserve to be compensated.” Filing a lawsuit and winning will not only provide financial compensation, but it’ll help you feel empowered and show your children you fought for what was right.

The above tips can help you deal with a serious injury when you have children. But, a positive attitude throughout this process can make all of the difference. A negative attitude can lead you into depression and the trap of feeling sorry for yourself. An injury can be life changing, but at least you have your life as well as family. Remembering things could have been much worse is a way to stay grateful for what you have currently. Always stay positive during the difficult times!

You may also like: Choosing the Right Medical Mattress.

Filed Under: Health, Parenting Tips Tagged With: family injuries, health care tips, healthy parenting

How to Get Rest When You Have Children

May 28, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Getting a rest from your children is a good thing for both you and baby. For example, the children get some time away from you where they can have fun and socialize. But, you get some well-needed sleep or alone time too. It’s mentally healthy and quite frankly needed. This is incredibly important especially if you’re a new parent. There is no doubt your life has gone through some major changes. However, there are plenty of ways you can still get some rest and remain in control. Today we’re sharing empowerment tips on how to get rest when you have children. Many options are right in front of you, but you need structure to ensure your choices are reliable.

Tag someone else

If you do live close to your in-laws or parents, they can be a good resource for help when you need a rest. Perhaps if you have siblings that are close by they too can be substitutes. They will surely understand that you need help getting some sleep or just time to relax and take a bath. Asking them to come over and babysit can take a load off your mind. Alternatively, you can drop the kids off at their place and pick them up when you’re ready. Use the weekends to empty the house and get some peace and quiet for a few hours. If you have relatives who want to take them for a few days or the week-end take them up on it. Even this small amount of time can help a lot.

Invest in hobbies

Furthermore, child should be encouraged to find hobbies they like. Getting them moving and keep them active is imperative. But, that means parents must invest in their children. This includes buying equipment, signing them up for different leisure or children’s groups. For example, if your child wants to learn to play a sport, you should help them find a local team or club they can join. Sports like archery needs to be done in a controlled environment. As a result, this means you can drop them off for a couple hours and get some rest. Other hobbies like joining the scouts can be great for their learning potential, but also for you.

Start them early

The more you can help your children learn new things and have it as part of their daily life, the more you can begin to rest. There are plenty of child care options for parents as well, and you can take full advantage of them. The kids can be away and in a preschool learning environment from the ages of around 3 to 5. Not only will they be learning with other children, but the lunches and snacks will be provided by the facility. Early childhood development provides a curriculum that will also allow your child to learn a variety of educational activities.

Parents and children need some space and time from each other. Most importantly, it’s good to reset your mind and body as well as allowing the kids to go off to do things they find enjoyable and also learn at the same time.

Filed Under: Empowerment, Parenting Tips, Pregnancy-New Mom Tagged With: activities for kids, educational activities for kids, new mom advice

4 Ways Parents Can Plan for Financial Emergencies

May 16, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Planning for parenthood can be filled with joy. Especially, when you’re thinking of your future family, the adventures you’ll have, and the love you’ll share. However, some parts of planning are much more serious than others. In between looking at paint swatches for the nursery and touring preschools, parents need to examine their financial reality.

When it comes to organizing your finances, there is no predicting the future. But, you can plan for it. This is especially important when wondering how to stay afloat during emergencies. Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on how parents can plan for financial emergencies.

Start Emergency Savings

While most families have a savings account, all families need an emergency fund. A savings account can help you with big purchases such as vacations, back-to-school shopping, or replacing the tires on your car. An emergency fund is your family’s safety net during times where you face a much larger financial burden. For example, if you or your spouse are laid off or you are looking at a long hospital stay. A solid emergency fund is roughly equal to three months of your household’s income. It takes time to plan for financial emergencies and build an emergency fund. So, any time you get big payouts, like a hearty income tax refund, be sure to set it aside.

Prepay for Funerals

It’s an uncomfortable and unpleasant conversation to have, but pre-paying for your funeral expenses is an important topic to discuss. Not only does prepaying guarantee that your family will honor your memory and celebrate your life in a way you want, but it also helps save your children cash and prevent conflict during one of the most emotionally stressful times in their lives. After all, the average funeral sets families back between $7,000 and $9,000. This amount is based on factors such as where you live, whether you want to be buried or cremated, and what kind of memorial service you choose.

There are several ways to pre-pay your funeral costs. You can purchase a pre-need insurance plan through a funeral home or a more general final expense insurance policy, which offers the option of coverage for outstanding bills beyond your funeral. You can also set up a joint savings account with your children that provides the financial support to make your final arrangements.

how to budget

Purchase Insurance

Now that you have a child to consider, insuring you and your partner’s lives and well-being can mean a more stable life for your child should a crisis occur. You will help ensure they can maintain their lifestyle when you purchase life insurance, disability insurance, and homeowners or renters insurance. These three are crucial for helping your whole family maintain a low stress level during an unfortunate event. Disability insurance is important if your work relies on your body. If a tragedy occurs, you could still have a cash flow even if you’re not working.

Work a Second Job

If you really want to fatten up your finances, you can weigh the pros and cons of getting a second job. It can be as easy as delivering pizzas or as complex as serving as a professional consultant. A second job is a great way to shovel money into your emergency fund, pay off debt or begin saving for child care. In today’s gig economy, many parents make extra cash driving for a rideshare like Uber, freelancing or working part-time online jobs. Unless you plan on working a second job forever, don’t count this incoming cash as part of your regular salary. Use it instead as a means to work on padding up your savings or paying down your debt.

Starting a family costs money. In fact, it can cost more than $200,000 to raise a child in the United States. Smart parents plan ahead as much as they can from birth to death, and from preschool to college. While financial planning may seem like a joyless chore, you’ll have peace of mind and extra time with your loved ones. So, the sooner you starting a plan for financial emergencies the sooner you can relax and enjoy life.

You may also like: 15 Signs That You’re In Debt

Filed Under: Financial Tips, Parenting Tips Tagged With: budget planning, financial tips, parenting tips

35 Items College Students Need

May 11, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on items college students need. I don’t believe there’s one item on the list that I didn’t purchase or send money to purchase at some point. Do you have a child or relative who is college bound? They’re going to need your help getting prepared for college, trust me. Mom and dad aren’t going to be around for a wakeup call, to fix breakfast or to get them from point A to B. They will need to grow up quickly, and it’s not going to be easy. Our jobs as parents are to love them from afar and help them out where we can. As a result,

Items College Students Need:

Gift/Gas Cards – The top item on the list of items college students need is a gift card. All college students can use gas or a special gift. Also, gift cards can be used to purchase a book or other items on campus.
Snack Items/Cookies/Drinks – Next, chips, cookies, energy drinks and bars are always welcome for those late night study groups.
Instant Soup/Cans of Tuna/Chicken – Cans of tuna and chicken are great ways for protein. Instant soups and noodles are perfect for a quick meal on a cold day too.
Plates/Forks/Spoons/Bowls/Microwavable Dishes – These items will come in handy when ordering pizza, making sandwiches or eating salads in the dorm room.
Paper Towels/Napkins – At home or college, there will be spills, and a need to wipe those greasy pizza hands and mouths.
Keurig/Coffee/Coffee Mug/Tea/Honey – My daughter wasn’t a coffee drinker, but she loves tea and honey. The Keurig was perfect for making individual cups.

Highlighters/Mechanical Pens/Notebooks/Folders – These items come in handy. Eventually, highlighters dry up or get lost. Also, folders bend and notebooks get used. Each semester brings a new need.
Wrinkle Releaser/Febreze – Wrinkle releaser is perfect for those mornings when you don’t have time to iron. Your college student will appreciate both. Especially, Febreze on those days when they want to wear those jeans one more day before washing them.
Tooth Paste/Floss/Waterpik/Mouth Wash – Taking care of your teeth is important at home and school.
Shampoo/Conditioner/Flat Iron/Curling Iron/Detangle Comb – Students still like to look good.
Body Lotion/Razors/Shaving Cream – Keeping the skin hydrated and smooth is still important.
Loofah/Spa Items/Body Wash – To a college student, these are luxury items. So, be generous.
Bath Tissue/Air Fresher/Disinfectant – Next, having individual items can be heaven sent. There’s no arguments about who used the last roll or emptied the last can of spray.

Wireless Printer – Every college student has term papers to write and rewrite. It’s easier at times to print papers, schedules etc.
Printer Cartridges/Compressed Air to Clean Keyboard – Products for computer cleaning and maintenance will come in handy.
First Aid Kit – Unfortunately, accidents happen. It could be a cut, scrape, or burn. Being prepared is important.
Rolls of Quarters/Detergent/Dryer Sheets/Laundry Basket – Doing laundry doesn’t end because you’re in college. Unfortunately, washer and dryers take quarters and clothes can’t be cleaned with detergent. Dryer sheets will remind the student of home.
Bed Sheets/Comforter/Pillows – Additional items that college students need is bedding. Having a nice, clean bed is essential to getting a good night’s sleep. This applies to dorms or apartments. So, fresh sheets, a plum comforter, and heathy pillows are essential.
Towels/Washcloths – Oversized towels and washcloths are essential items for a college student.
Picture Frames and Photo Albums – Making memories in college is important. I remember my daughter wanting special frames to house her dance team photos. Additionally, specials nights out with friends, and with the love of life who is now her husband.
Subscription to Netflix, Hulu etc. – Being able to watch your favorite shows in college is a luxury. Being able to watch them in the privacy of your room rather than a common room is even better. Give them a subscription to Netflix or Hulu. It’s a perfect gift.
Footbath/Nail Polish/File/Clippers/Manicure Items – I remember my daughter and her roommates giving each other manicures and pedicures. They enjoyed painting each other nails and experimenting with makeup.
Shower Caddy/Shower Cap – Next, don’t forget the shower storage items. A means to store shampoo, conditioner and body wash is essential. Essentially, if they will be sharing a bathroom in a common area.
Diffuser/Oils – So, I replaced burning candles with diffusing essential oils. And, I love them. They’re great for relaxing, keeping calm and staying centered.

Duct Tape/Screw Driver/Pliers/Wrench – Although we may not want to think about things coming apart, they do. Throw in some nails, picture hangers and screws too. These are great gift ideas for college students that they won’t think of.
Charging Station – Additionally, charging stations are great for charging a phone, tablet, Kindle or other items in one place.
Fire Stick/Smart TV/Printing/Media Streaming Device –
Bed Support Pillow – Great for watching TV or studying on their bed.
Storage Crates – Great for storing movies, papers or using as a table.
Ironing Board/Iron – Table top ironing boards are perfect.
DSR Camera – Capturing memories throughout college years is important. It only happens once, so encourage your son or daughter to capture as many memories as possible.
Alarm Clock – There won’t be any knocks on the door to get up. As a result, give them an alarm clock to get them up and out.
Robe/Slippers – There’s nothing better than being able to wrap up in a nice warm robe and slippers after a shower in a cold dorm room.
Shelves – Remember, dorm rooms are small. So, shelves are practical for housing books, pictures or other mementos.
Refrigerator – Last, cold beverages, storing meals and left overs is a college student’s dream. Make sure it has a small freezer section for healthy dinners.

Finally, we hope that you found our list of items college student need useful. I guarantee as the mother of a college graduate, every item will be beneficial. You’ll actually purchase most of them more than once! You may also like: 6 Ways to Save on College Tuition and Cool Things for College Students.

Filed Under: College Tagged With: college preparation, college students, gift ideas

The Importance of Encouraging Children to Learn

April 21, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

When you were a child your parents would always emphasize the importance of going to school, remember? Now that you are a parent yourself it is part of your nature to encourage your little ones to always do their best. Learning is a magic part of life. So, you will want to immerse your kids into the world of learning. When it comes to educational activities, start encouraging children to learn. Here are a few parenting tips, when encouraging children to learn:

Sometimes Kids Need an Extra Push

It is very important to work with your children when they don’t feel confident in a certain subject. It is not uncommon for your child to have a subject they truly hate. So, it’s your job to make them love it again. If you are looking for a way to help your youngster solve fractions, check out these equivalent fractions math worksheets. Enhance their understanding of tricky topics and allow them to grow in confidence with a helping hand.

Don’t Let Them Get Behind

It is very difficult to keep on top of all the homework and projects your child is given daily. Try to encourage your child to tell you about their homework each evening. This will enable you to keep an eye on their progress. If you suspect they are lagging behind, don’t be afraid to talk to them or their teacher. They might not understand the project or they could just need a gentle nudge in the right direction.

They Will Adopt a Good Work Ethic from a Young Age

When your child knows how to conduct themselves in school, they will start to form good habits over time. Conscientious children will become more reliable employees once they enter the working world. So, encourage them to develop these skills early.

Education Will Instill Discipline

School will not only help your kid to become smarter, but it will also instill discipline into the most rambunctious little ones. Whether they have to wear a school uniform or refer to the teacher by a certain name, this will help to keep your children in line. Never underestimate how school can shape your child’s manners and behavior. There is only so much you can do at home to support them. As a result, their school life plays a huge role in their development.

Believe it or not, school life shapes who we are as a person from a very young age. When your child goes to school they are exposed to people they might never have met before. They also have a sponge like mind that can absorb information easily. Use this process as a chance for your children to have a head start in school and make the most of the educational environment they have been given.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: early childhood education, educational tips, preschool tips