Easy Estate Planning Tips You Want to Know

March 28, 2018 by 2 Comments

When it comes to financial stability, many people think that means having enough income to get by every month. Additionally, they include paying bills, having a well-established savings account, and having extra for family activities.  However, an important step is to secure your children’s future when you pass away.  As sad as it sounds, it’s time to plan for the future. Knowing that you have assets and finances is an important aspect for your family’s well being.  Their financial stability will be impacted for years to come.  So, today we’re sharing parenting tips on estate planning.

 

 

estate planning tips

 

 

One of the things you can do to secure your family’s future financially is to plan an estate. Estate planning isn’t something only rich people should do.  It’s a concept that is very much open to anyone who has assets to be distributed.  Given the potentially-complex nature of estates, it’s understandable that some people might be overwhelmed.  However, knowing what to consider when estate planning may make life easier for you.

According to Forbes, those who file estate plans don’t need to live inside actual estates. Estate planning is simply a legal way to make sure the planner’s family is protected.  Additionally, it ensures that the estate is secure upon your death or you become incapacitated.  Here are a few estate planning tips you should know:

 

Can You Leave the Estate to Your Spouse?

One of the ways you can plan your estate is to just transfer everything to your spouse upon your death or if you become incapacitated.  This is useful if everything that will be involved in the estate plan is jointly owned between you and your spouse.

You can transfer everything to your spouse as long as the estate tax exemption limit isn’t met by your assets. Should you exceed this, you’ll most likely benefit from two revocable trusts to help reduce the taxes owed to the estate. These trusts can be divided between you and your spouse.

 

estate planning tips

 

How Do I Ensure My Kids Are Secure and Protected?

Certain states only transfer your assets to your children officially when they reach a particular age.  However, it’s impractical to give everything to a 21-year-old in the form of a lump sum. However, you are allowed to name someone who can be responsible for managing the assets and the funds you’ve left to your children.  Once they mature, the money can be turned over to them.

  • Furthermore, this person doesn’t necessarily have to be a relative or someone close to your children. It has to be someone you trust and someone who will follow your wishes.

 

Can I Create an Estate Plan After My Child’s Birth?

If you plan on creating an estate plan right after your child is born, you may want to hold off.  Make sure you fully understand the estate laws in your state.  Furthermore, try to review your documents every three to five years to ensure that everything is in place.  Especially, the designation of assets that will be distributed.

You have to be extra careful when naming your children as beneficiaries.  For example, if a child develops special needs, it might be helpful if their trust has some form of supplemental needs attached.

What If You Don’t Undergo Estate Planning?

One of our biggest estate planning tips is this one: if you don’t plan your estate, then you may end up in probate court.   Most financial professionals try to avoid probate court because it expensive.  Additionally, it’s time consuming.

  • In probate, the court will decide who receives what. So, the court will assess potential creditors and heirs.  From there they will divide your payments and assets to them.
  • You can avoid the probate process in a number of ways. One is to create something called a revocable trust.  A revocable trust allows you to give ownership of properties and assets to something known as a “trust.”  It lists exactly what you want to happen if you pass away or become incapacitated.
  • Another way to avoid probate is to start assigning beneficiaries to your assets. These include a tax-deferred account or a life insurance policy.  In the event of your passing, your beneficiary will be the one receiving your assets.  So, check with a lawyer about these assets, your bank account, home and other assets on hand.

 

Estate Planning Can Work for Your Benefit

 Hopefully, the above estate planning tips will give you a better understanding of estate planning.  Once you determine the assets and finances you want to secure, getting help with estate planning can be a good experience.  A lawyer or a legal professional can give you a more in-depth understanding of estate planning or litigation.  Click here for more information.

 

estate planning tipsAbout the author:  Kiren Manning

Kiren is an estate law writer who enjoys writing about real estate and law. He has written for a few blogs in the past, and enjoys sharing his knowledge with those who enjoy reading. In his spare time he enjoys spending quality time with those he loves.

Filed Under: Financial Tips, Parenting Tips Tagged With: , ,

A Mommy’s Guide to Teaching Bike Safety to Kids

March 23, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 

teaching bike safety to kids

 

A bike is one of the many things that every child wants at some point in their childhood.  It’s a great way to allow them to explore the world around them.  Additionally, it’s a great way for them to learn about exercise.  Unfortunately, when you live in a city and your kids have to ride roadside before reaching a park or bike path, safety becomes extremely important.  In addition to knowing the laws for bike safety in your state, here’s a mom’s guide to teaching bike safety to kids when riding roadside.

 

Accidents Can Happen at Any Moment

Accidents can happen anytime; however, when riding roadside the risk is elevated.   Unfortunately, accidents are impossible to determine.  As a result, teaching your kids about riding roadside is imperative. Below are a few tips on teaching bike safety to kids that you can use to guide your children towards a more enjoyable biking experience.

According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, around 800 bicyclists and 5,400 pedestrians are fatally injured annually.  Cars and bicycles account for 17.7 percent of 2015’s grand total of 35,092 deaths in the United States. With these staggering statistics, teaching bike safety to kids so they can observe proper safety guidelines makes sense.

If you live in a densely populated area, your children riding a bicycle roadside can cause worry.  So, how can you as a mommy teach bike safety to your kids?  Check out these tips:

 

The Safe Biker: Good Discipline

The first step to bike safety is to teach kids to be responsible bikers. Biking is a leisurely exercise and activity, but only if it’s done safely and properly.

Even if your child knows how to ride a bike, always remind them that it should be taken seriously.  Make sure they ride a bike with both hands on the handlebars.  Additionally, all items should be in a backpack or in the bike’s basket. Just as important, make it clear that only one person should be on the bike.

  • Don’t allow your kids to ride bikes while wearing headphones. They need to be able to know there’s traffic, and that can only be done if their ears are free from distractions.
  • Don’t allow your kids to be on their bike when it’s night, dusk, or dawn.  This timeframe leaves them invisible to many drivers.  If they have to ride a bike at dusk or dawn, make sure their bikes have lights and reflectors.

teaching bike saety to kids

 

 

The Safe Bike: Get the Right One

Perhaps the most important aspect of teaching bike safety to children is making sure they know how to use the bike they are riding. Make sure the bike you buy  is the appropriate age level for your child.  This means you shouldn’t expect your child to grow “into” the bike.

  • Make sure the purchased bike suits the abilities of your child. If you don’t think your child can handle two wheels, then perhaps training wheels could help. If you think shifting and gears can be too difficult, .then perhaps just a single speed bike could work.
  • Try to make sure your child is also aware of things that can happen to their bike that can result in their new bike ending up in a state of disrepair. Aside from regular maintenance on your end, teach your kids just why you’re having their bike repaired in the first place. That way, if they notice that something is wrong with their bike, they may not take it out and consult you instead.

teaching bike safety to kids

 

The Equipment: Using the Bike Properly

When you bought your kid a bike, chances are you bought the entire “package.” Aside from the bike, you may have bought them the various kinds of gear that the children in the packaging are also wearing. If not, then here are some of the equipment you need to make sure you have:

  • Always make sure your child has a helmet when they ride a bike. This is extremely important, regardless whether they’re riding at home or outside on the road.
  • When your kids are outside, make sure they wear clothing that is bright and reflective. If you can find cycling clothes adequate for your kids’ size, make sure they have them. It’s important that they know they should wear these clothes so they are easily visible by everyone on the road.
     

Teach Your Child Safely and Efficiently About Bike Safety

When it comes to road safety, it’s important that everyone is aware of their responsibilities of  drivers and pedestrians.  This includes motor vehicles, skaters, scooters, and bicycles. Having an accident related to a bicycle can still create problems for all parties involved.  It can even end up in serious injuries or death.

If your child wants to learn how to use a bike, it’s important that you be able to teach bike safety to them effectively.   They must know how to avoid accidents when riding roadside. If you want to know more about the legal implications of this subject, click here.

 

About the author: Dianna Charles

Dianna Charles is a promising young law enthusiast who hopes to bring her youthful spirit to her field. She tries to add a refreshing modern take to topics on the legal world that people can learn from. Dianna enjoys her free time with friends and family, and loves to cook for them.

Filed Under: Parenting Tips, Safety Tagged With: , ,

Baby Safety 101: How to Protect Your Baby from Slips and Falls

March 23, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Parents have it hard when it comes to taking care of a baby.  Care goes beyond meeting their basic needs such as proper nutrition and hygiene. When your baby learns how to walk and explore the world around them, the difficulty level of parenting shoots from “cute but hard” into “extra cute, but extra hard.”  When babies are in their cribs and they fall, you know they’re safe.  Mattresses cushions their fall. However, when babies are outside the crib, there’s no guarantee that they’re safe from slips and falls.  Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on baby safety.  

 

 

how to protect your baby from slips and falls

 

 

The fragility of a baby’s body can make slips and falls life-threatening.  If you have a new baby, these tips on how to protect your baby from slips ad falls may be helpful.   So, how exactly do you protect your baby from slips and falls?

According to the Mayo Clinic when a baby starts learning how to walk, it can be a source of pride and joy for parents. However, when babies are learning how to walk they get excited.  They may hit things around them that could cause them to fall.  If a baby slips and falls at the wrong angle they can be injured.  As a result, it’s a good idea to take action to prevent accidents.  Here are a few tips:

Avoiding Slips and Falls

Slips and falls can be avoided by trying to make sure things at home are designed with your child’s safety in mind.  Here are a few examples of how you can protect your baby from slips and falls:

 

  • Keep bathtubs safe by using mats. Mat help reduce the risks of slipping and falling while taking a bath.
  • Keep beds safe by installing safety rails on beds, especially if you have toddlers. If you have bunk beds, make sure kids six and older are the ones that use them.
  • Keep balconies safe by not letting your baby play unattended in these areas, especially when these areas are porches and fire escape locations. Children might use this opportunity to wander around the house and even the neighborhood.
  • Keep stairs safe by installing safety gates at the bottom and top of staircases.  Furthermore, you can place covers on doorknobs that lead to staircases, the basement and the attic.
  • Keep windows safe by using window guards.  You can also install stops that won’t allow windows to open beyond four inches.  Babies five years old and younger can fit through six inch openings. Try to make sure windows are also inaccessible even if you have to install railings.

 

how to protect your child from slips and falls

 


Keep the Outside Safe 

While the outside world is a scary place, you can make it slip and fall proof.  At least to a certain degree with proper care and guidance.

  • Keep your child safe on the playground by choosing ones that include sand, rubber, mulch, or wood chips.  These types of area are safer than dirt and cement, which are likely to cause injuries.
  • When riding escalators carry your baby or hold your toddler’s hand. Additionally, make sure there aren’t any loose shoestrings, shoes, or clothing that can be caught in the escalator.  Make sure your children doesn’t sit or play while riding them.
  • Keep an eye out for obstacles.  Look carefully for wet patches that could cause you to slip, and take caution when walking through rain or snow.

 Safety Comes First for Baby

Take a proactive approach.  Make sure your baby is exposed only to things he or she can safely play with.

While this might seem to be an extra step in the plethora of things you have to do as a parent, this will definitely pay off in the long run.  Especially, if you have play dates and invited guests in your home.  Learning how to protect your baby from slips and falls is essential.  If you’re wondering just what the legal repercussions are due to slippery floors, you may click here.   We hope that you found our baby safety tips helpful.  You may also like:  Child Safety Tips

 

        About the author:  Vicki Haskett

Vicki is a law writing enthusiast who’s had over 25 years of experience in her field. She enjoys sharing her experiences with those who want to learn more about the legal world. In her spare time she spends quality time with her family and friends.

Filed Under: Parenting Tips, Safety Tagged With: , ,

The Night Dad Went to Jail: Recommended Children’s Books

March 18, 2018 by 1 Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on recommended children’s books.  The book is The Night My Dad Went to Jail.  First, while browsing through a list of books that I could purchase for my grandchildren, this book popped up.  My initial reaction was who would write a book about a child’s father being in jail and gear it toward children?  I felt uncomfortable about a child facing the fact that their father was in jail.  Would be uncomfortable if it was their mother, no.  When a parent is incarcerated is traumatic for any child.

 

 

recommended children's books

 

 

So, I opened my mind and read the book.  It was after all ranked among recommended children’s books.  Millions of children have parents that are in jail or prison.  I thought about the purpose of my blog and what I wanted to offer it to my readers.  Helping children face problems, and resolve them is one of the goals of Mother 2 Mother.  The book was perfect for any parent who was striving to help a young child through the trauma of a parent going to jail.  Not all of us have the same problems, but we all have them.  If you’ve never had a spouse or relative face jail or prison, you’re lucky.  Unfortunately, there are millions of children who must deal with a parent being in jail everyday.

I’ve had a brother go to jail twice.  My daughter was young, but she was old enough to understand jail. Furthermore, she understood that people who have broken the law go to jail.  Unfortunately, we have many who are innocent there too.  So, I had to explain to my daughter why her uncle was in jail.  It was difficult.  As a matter of fact, I wish that I had this book a that time.

It would have given me tips on what to say and how to handle things during that difficult time.  Well guess what, somebody was smart enough to write one.   It doesn’t take away the shame and embarrassment, but provide tips and insight on how to help your child.  Melissa Higgins is the author of the book.  And, educators highly recommended it.  It is on the list of recommended children’s books.

Next, Sketch’s is the main character in the book.  His father is arrested and taken to jail.  The flashing lights on the police car and his dad being handcuffed was scary for Sketch. The officer explains that his dad may have broken a law, so they needed to take him to the police station to ask him questions.

Later, Sketch’s mom explains that daddy had broken the law, and he would have to stay in jail.  One of Sketch’s schoolmates, Ava, teased him about his dad’s arrest and yelled to the other children, “Bailey’s dad got picked up by the cops last night.” Baily was Sketch’s given name.  Another classmate called Sketch jailbird.  Sketch let his anger get the best of him. He knocked Ava’s books on the floor.

Unfortunately, the principal’s office was Sketch’s next stop.  His mom gave the principal the details about his dad’s arrest. His dad would be in prison for 6 years.  Luckily, Sketch become friends with other kids who also had a parent in prison.  They could relate to his fear and anger.  Sketch understood that dad had made a bad decision and it was not his fault.  His dad had to pay for breaking the law.  Sketch was still angry, but he loved his dad.  He had to continue working on forgiveness.

Finally, the book answers questions that many children have when a parent is incarcerated.   It is appropriate for ages 5 – 8.  Among the recommended children’s books, this one is getting high reviews.  If you have a spouse, boyfriend or baby’s daddy in jail, purchase The Night Dad Went to Jail here.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tips Tagged With: , ,

Providing Care When Your Child Has A Long-Term Illness

March 12, 2018 by 2 Comments

Statistics show that 3.2% of children aged 5-11 years who missed 11 or more days of school were either ill or injured. This may seem like a small number, but this is only one age bracket.  Even a few days off can be something that a lot of families have to  make adjustments for.  For example, if both parents are working who will stay home and administer care.  There’s also the concern about the time in school that has been lost.  Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on children with long-term illness.

 

 

children with long term illness

 

 

Furthermore, a chronic or potentially debilitating condition can even be more concerning. The entire family’s life will be changed.  If you a have a child that has a long time illness, we have a few suggestions that may help you make the situation easier: 

Explaining The Illness To Your Child

Naturally, as a parent, your first thought is going to go toward your child’s health.  When you explain the situation to your child, be honest.  Especially, if the condition will require long term care.  Explain the sickness and the type of care that will be needed. Hospital stays and various procedures may be scary.  But, explain to your child that it’s necessary so they can get better. Depending on the age of the child, it may be important to remind them that their sickness is not their  fault.  

In some cases, you may want to consider getting professional counseling if your child is having a difficult time adjusting.  This is even more important if mortality is a concern.  In some cases, this can lead to acting out emotionally.  Depending on the severity of the condition, this can be normal.  Furthermore, you may want to see someone for yourself as well. Studies show that stress levels in parents tends to spike when it comes to dealing with children’s health.  This can stem from the child’s condition as well as the lack of control that goes with it.  

Home Health Care

When your child has a long term illness, parents must avoid getting overwhelmed and stressed out.  As a result, consider home healthcare.  In general, home healthcare encompasses a series of procedures that can be done in your home for an illness or injury. Home healthcare can include a variety of procedures, including:

  • Monitoring what your child is eating and drinking.
  • Checking your child’s vitals, like blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and breathing.
  • Ensuring your child is taking their medication and handling their health treatments correctly.
  • Teaching parents how to provide the needed care and making sure it done properly.
  • Coordinating care with doctors and hospital staff.

The intention isn’t to supplant hospital visits or appointments, but to take a little bit of pressure off of the family and patient themselves.  When you’re child has a long term illness, additional help is invaluable.  

Additionally, there are many resources you can go to for home healthcare assistance.  Providing care when your child has a long term illness is essential.  So, check out home healthcare providers, industry associations, and other experts in the healthcare field.  This includes sick children, the disabled, and the elderly. 

Finally, long term illness affects each member of the family.  You not only have to adjust the child’s lifestyle, but your own, your spouse’s and other children. This is a massive undertaking on an emotional level as well being a financial burden.  It’s okay to feel overwhelmed every now and then. What you want to do is combat this issue by getting plenty of help and support for your family.  We hope that you find our tips on children on long term illness beneficial.  

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: , ,

How To Get Kids Off Their Phones

March 11, 2018 by 2 Comments

These days mobile phones are common place for children as young as 3 years old. The world is a completely different place from when we were younger.   Because of this, it can be hard to know where to draw the line with technology and our children.  Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on how to get kids off phones.  

 

 

how to get kids off their phones

 

 

There’s nothing wrong with letting your child watch peppa pig or play Final Fantasy 15 for an hour in the evenings.  However, when the hour turns into a large chunk of the day it should become a concern.  If you are struggling with how to get kids off their phones we have a few tips:

Go somewhere with no reception

How to get kids off their phones is a question many parents are pondering.  Another suggestion is to have them pay attention to the wider world.  For example, simply take them somewhere where there is no cell reception.  Of course, in towns and cities you will never find an area which is completely void of cell phone reception.  However, if you venture out to the countryside you should be successful.  Involve your children in nature for awhile.  You can benefit in several way by spending the day hiking in the countryside.  You will bond as a family and a hike contribute to your health.   Most importantly, you will be encouraging them to stop and look at the world around them.  Invite them to take photos of what will remind them of a family outing.  They will gain tangible connections to the world around them and gain an appreciation for nature.

Start a project

How to get kids off their phone you ask?  Offer additional things for the kids to do.  By doing a fun activity or starting a project as a family you will allow your child to focus on something other than their phone.  Furthermore, they will learn new skills along the way.  If you have smaller children build a tree or playhouse. Kids love to climb and play, and they also love to have their own space to do things.  By giving them the task of helping to build a treehouse, they will be much happier and learn new skills which they can use later on in life. They will learn about measurements, colors, and building materials.

 

how to get kids off their phones

Limit Apps

With the number of mobile games that exist, it can feel as if your kids will never get off their devices.  However, as a parent you have the power to control what they do.  Limit how much and what your children download per month.  Set a limit on what games they play and how long they play them. They may get bored and stop playing it all together.  It’s the perfect way to control their gaming habits.

Use Digital Currency

Before you panic we aren’t talking about letting the kids loose with bitcoins.  However, the idea of paying for what you get is actually a brilliant way on how to get kids ooto limit the time they spend playing on their phones. For example, if you were to allow your child a budget of $30 for a month, they would have to spend this money every time they wanted to watch a film on Netflix or play a game online. You can then control how much time they spend on their phone because an hour of use will cost them $1 each time. They will therefore only realistically be able to use their phone for 1 hour each day.

Phone Stack It

If you have never heard of phone stack?  It’s a way to stop people from getting distracted when they are eating dinner or out with family and friends.  The idea is to place everyone’s phone in the center of the table in a pile.  The first person to pick up their phone is the one who has to pay for lunch or do a forfeit. At home you can do this when you sit down for your evening meal. Whoever picks up their phone first will have to clear the table and wash dishes.  This will be a great way to stop your kids playing on their phones.  The last thing they want to do is chores!

Rewards for work

Another way to get your kids off their phones is to set up a reward system.  For example, when your kids complete their chores or homework, they will earn an hour to play on their phones or watch a show on Netflix.  Additionally, this can also apply to not picking up their phones during family dinners and movie nights.  By motivating your child to receive an award, they may be more receptive to cooperating.

Give them a fun outing

Finally, another idea of how to get kids off their phones is a trip.  It can a trip to a theme park, the zoo or even a day at the beach. You will reward your child for not spending more than an hour a day on their phone.  It will teach your child a valuable lesson about earning rewards.  Most importantly, it will teach your child to value the world and all that is has to offer.  Besides, it can be just as fun as playing on their phone.

 

Filed Under: Teens Tagged With: , ,

How to Study With Kids: What Moms Need to Know

March 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Getting any sort of life balance when the kids are still in diapers can seem like a gargantuan task some days.  However, we must make time for ourselves.  Furthermore, getting extra career training while temporarily out of the workforce can be a fantastic idea.  Check out our parenting tips on how to study with kids below:

 

 

how to study with kids

 

 

 

It is possible to study with kids  

One of the most important things that moms need to know about studying when they have a family is that it is possible. Understandably, sometimes you may wonder how on earth you will find the time to read the next module or write that essay that is due in next week.  Sometimes you may even think you have overloaded yourself.  Furthermore, you may wonder why you began the process in the first place. Although it will get tough at times if you commit and manage your time well you can succeed.

To do this you may need to use a personal planner or diary.  Set a schedule and learn to stick to it.  It can even be useful to sometimes rely on other families member to take the kids for several hours.  Asking for help can free up some quiet time, and allow you to get down to some serious studying.  Grandparents or aunts and uncles can enjoy spending time with the little ones while you work.

Be sure to work out the schedule and times before you commit yourself to a course.  You don’t want to add any additional stress to your plate.

 

You can still be there for your family

Moms worry about is whether their academic work will take them away from their family. Both in terms of time and emotional connections.  Yes, it is possible for you to be there for the kids.  You can still help them with things like homework, reading, and play time on a regular basis as well as complete your own study.

 

how to study with kids

 

Image source

 

There are many program like this operations manager degree online that can be completed over the internet.  Our tips on how to study with kids can be easily implemented with online courses.  You can get access to first-class teachings without leaving your home.  Taking online courses and being at home with the children means you won’t end up missing the major milestones like their first steps or words because you’re on campus all day.

 

You can really boost your career prospects

Last, moms need to know that they can seriously increase their career prospects by continuing their education.  After all, they will have shown commitment to goals by completing courses as a full-time mom.  Employers love employees who can multi-task and balance work and home life.  So, continuing your education can give you an advantage over other candidates who are applying for the same position.  So, stop making excuses, and put our tips on how to study with kids into effect today.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: , ,

Tips for Helping Kids Excel at Sports

February 25, 2018 by Leave a Comment

If kids are going to excel at a sport, they need to have a natural ability.   Additionally, they need to have a desire to take part in the sport of their choosing.  However, helping kids excel is not all about what the kids want.  No, parents have to be involved and help push them towards excelling too.  So, check out our parenting tips below on helping kids excel at sports.   

 

 

sports for kids

 

 

 

 

Make taking part in the sport a positive experience

 

The sport your son or daughter plays whether it is soccer, tennis, dancing or skiing needs to be a positive experience.  Additionally, your child must be able to maintain passion and love for the sport.  If not, it is doubtful that they will be able to carry on with it.  Furthermore, they must demonstrate that they want to be involved.  Helping kids excel is good.  But, only when they carry on when not required or asked to do so, will they be able to truly hone in on their skills.

So, make sure that you are not being demanding in regards to their performance.  If they have natural abilities, they will excel with the proper coaching and support.

 

children and sports tips

 

 

Have them play at the appropriate age level 

 

When you throw your child in at the deep end and they do not have the skills to play at that level, you will stunt their development.  Furthermore, they will miss out on the opportunity to acquire and improve on the skills needed for their personal growth.  Each age group provides the needed skill set.  So, if you want your children to truly excel at their sport, make sure you enroll them in age appropriate groups.

Also, if your child is interested in being developed in soccer check out FC Barcelona.  They are a powerhouse in the world of soccer.  You can find information at https://fcbcanada.com/fcb-academy/  They embrace the methodology of teaching children exactly what they need to learn, when they need to learn it and no sooner or later. By keeping to this myology, children learn the fundamental and basic skills needed for success in soccer.

Finally, helping your kids excel at sports will be simple with our advice.

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Job Tips for Teens: How to Expose Them to Jobs

February 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Ever heard a child state, “I could never do that” when discussing jobs. Helping your teenage children see beyond the first impressions of an occupation can help them change their perspective.  Today, we have parenting tips on exposing teens to jobs.  They don’t understand the intricacies of various occupations, they form an opinion without really understanding what it entails.

First, helping your child create an appreciation of the work options available is not complicated.  The solution is to expose your children to occupations.  Here are some job tips for teens that will help them appreciate the wide-range of occupations and work options in the world.

job tips for teens

 

 


Expose your children to different occupations 

Next, whenever a person with an unusual profession is mentioned have you children look the profession up.  They can learn about social workers to baristas to medical procedures that involve endovascular training.

Additionally, the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has a great section on job industries. Each category or job type includes a description of the type of work that is performed in that career, the education needed for the occupation, and the average salary per year.  Additionally, they have a great game section for kids too.

Furthermore, check out books at the library on careers that catch your eye.  A Google search can reveal age-appropriate books with the career you wish to highlight.  Similarly, TV shows that feature a certain profession can be a great way to catch a glimpse of the inner workings of those in that career.  For example, Food Channel for chefs, Home and Garden for landscaping or  flipping homes, and Fashion Runway for fashion design.

Learning the details of a job and the people doing the job will help your child better under the roles.

Play a what-if game with your children

What would happen if sanitation workers stopped collecting garbage?  It is likely many parents would prefer their children chose a different profession. However, discussing what could happen if collection stopped can lead to appreciating these workers.

So, take a career that you or your children might have preconceived ideas about and play the game. Discuss what would happen if nobody chose a certain career.  For example, what if teachers stopped teaching?  Or lawyers stopped practicing law?

This can lead to a great conversation around the dinner table.  Listening to your child and their perceptions on a topic is important.  The benefits of bonding with your child over dinner are numerous.  The conversation can be beneficial for younger children too.  Young children learn words from dinner conversation.


Take your children onsite to see a career firsthand

Other job tips for teens is reading and talking about various careers.  Some children learn best through hands-on experience.   As a result, consider taking them onsite to your workplace.

Next, many companies have a Take Your Child to Work Day.  Parents are allowed to bring their children to work for the day.   Furthermore, many companies have job shadowing as well.  Employees, high school or universities partner with a business and allow students or employees to sit with a person already in the position.  It’s short-term, but a great way to see what is expected.  Most importantly, it allows employees or students to assess their current skills and improve them if needed.

Our job tips for teens include asking family or friends if they will allow your child to visit them on the job.  Some ideas of people to approach include…

 

  • farmers of a livestock farm
  • dog trainers
  • horse breeders
  • veterinarians
  • pilots
  • firemen
  • policy maker
  • wedding planner
  • financial planner
  • cake decorator
  • florist
  • baker

 

Furthermore, one of the best job tips for teens is to have them prepare questions in advance regarding their job.  For example, what is the best part and the least favorite part of your job?  How did you decide on your career, and what is something most people do not know about your line of work or career?

Last, your child will likely walk away from the experience with a deeper appreciation of the profession.  Most importantly, this deeper appreciation can lead to more respect and fewer judgments of various job and those who occupy.

Filed Under: Parenting Tips, Teens Tagged With: , ,

Leapfrog LeapPad Review and 5 Free Educational Apps

February 18, 2018 by 5 Comments

 

 

free educational apps

 

My granddaughter entered first grade this year.  I remember praying that she would pull through her birth and become a healthy, happy little girl.  She entered this world at 2lbs. 10oz.  However, she is thriving and feisty.  She loves watching YouTube videos on her tablet, but we’ve had to limit her time watching them.  We want her to engage in more educational sites so she can enhance her educational.  So, I purchased the Leapfrog LeapPad Ultimate, Pink  for her as a Christmas gift.  Math, reading, and science activities can be found on the pad when shipped.   Additionally, there is music, puzzles, and other creative activities.  The content is for preschool through 9 years old.  As a result, she will get plenty of use out of it.

 

Leapfrog LeapPad

The tablet is well made, and the screen is shatter proof.  Currently, we’re focused on reading and writing with Zarriah.  Thankfully, she love the reading app.   She is able to read along and focus on new words.  Additionally, you purchase other products on www.Leapfrog.com or Amazon.

In addition to the printables that I create for her, I also have her visit the following free educational apps. They come highly recommended by the Virginia Beach school system.  I must say I agree with their recommendation.

Seussville – www.seussville.com – First, great site for the Dr. Seuss lover.  There’s plenty of activities and games that teach children to notice differences, reading, word search and more.  You can also purchase Dr. Seuss books here.

PBS – www.pbskids.com – Next, this is a great site for the Daniel Tiger, Dinosaur Train, Arthur and Cookie Monster lover.  Learn how to read, science and help rescue animals are a few of the apps available on PBS.

Highlights – www.highlights.com – Highlights has been around for many years.  The site offers games and activities including hidden pictures, recipes, crafts and more.  My grandson loves the hidden object activities.

Storyline Online – www.storylineonline.net – This site offers a diverse selection of books which are read on-line by celebrities. Stars participating are Kevin Costner, Viola Davis, Christian Slater, Ed O’Neil, and Mary Steenburgen to name a few.  The site receives  100 million views annually from children around the world.  Teachers use this in their classroom and doctor’s use in their waiting room.  They also provide an option to purchase any books that you child may like.

Fun Brain – www.funbrain.com – Another one of my favorite free educational apps is Fun Brain. This site offers activities from 1st grade through 8th grade.  I checked out the activities for the 1st grade and 5th grades. The 1st grade activities included 205 lessons which included learning about money, addition, subtraction and reading.   Activities for the 5th grade included math, vocabulary words, reading and more.

Finally, I hope that you will check out the Leapfrog Leappad and the free educational apps.  Providing additional educational activities for kids will enhance their learning experience.   You may also like The Importance of Early Childhood Education.

 

 

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tips Tagged With: , ,