Now that your child has gone back to school after the end of the summer holidays, the homework begins again. As a parent, it can be beneficial to both you and your child to help with the work that they take home from school. Not only will you be showing an interest in what your child is learning, but you will also be able to understand your child’s strengths and help them to overcome any difficulties that they may have. (more…)

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It’s the beginning of the summer holidays again! Your kids have probably been looking forward to the holidays for several weeks, and now that it’s finally arrived they don’t know what to do with themselves.  It typically does not take long for a child to get bored after breaking up from school, so you will want to organise some activities and days out that you can all enjoy as a family. (more…)

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All parents want their children to do well in school and to achieve good scores in all their subjects.  It is so important for a parent to encourage their child and to help them without putting them under too much pressure. Children are typically under enough pressure as it is, and do not need constant reminding. (more…)

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While backpacks are an essential, parents must remember that regular use of heavily loaded backpacks can cause several long lasting problems.

These unwelcome side effects are confirmed by several studies including one by American Academy of Orthopedic Studies or AAOS. According to the studies, heavy backpacks stress and strain, spine and shoulder muscles. These strains in turn, in addition to fatigue, lead children to droop and to assume unattractive postures.

So how heavy is too heavy? That depends on the child’s weight and his or her fitness. According to AAOS guidelines, backpacks should not weigh more than 15 to 20 percent of the child’s weight. To illustrate, 100 pound child should not carry a backpack weighing 20 pounds. However this is just a guideline, if a child is very fit, he or she may carry a little more, and if not, must carry less.

Observe your child’s actual reactions when carrying the backpack to decide. If the child seems to droop, has difficulty in mounting the backpack to shoulders, complains of pain afterwards, and has marks on the skin, then you must immediately act to change the backpack and its weight.

You can also take some steps when selecting backpacks and later, to preempt problems that may arise. Select wide padded backpacks with padded straps to reduce strain. Buy backpacks with hip straps in addition to shoulder straps. Similarly try backpacks that can run on wheels when floor conditions allow. Encourage your child to correctly use and mount backpack and straps, in order to distribute weight evenly. When packing, tell your child to so place heavy items, in a way that they end up next to the spine. Encourage child to lift the backpack by bending and straightening legs at knees, instead of using hands alone. Finally encourage your child to make full use of school lockers and discourage carrying useless books.

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There are several things you can do in that regard.

• Most children are apprehensive about their first day. You should talk to them. Get them to express their fears to you. Let them ask any question they like about school and answer them patiently. Tell them about school experience, what they will get to do there, and about other children they will meet. Lay stress on activities they will learn to enjoy at school. Give an explanation about the time they will be spending, and routines they will have to follow, at school every day.

• In addition to allaying their fears, you should try give them some experience with the kind of things they will be dong at school. Encourage your child to play with other children in a group to develop their social skills. Teach them about taking turns and sharing. Give your child opportunities to speak or recite in front of others. Allow them to practice drawing and painting, and to play with other toys found in school settings.
• You can also role-play with your child about going to school and engaging in learning activates there.
• Choose his or her school uniform and bag, with child’s active participation in those decisions.
• Visit the school with child if that is possible, and make use of any transition programs school may have. Such familiarity will significantly reduce the initial stress child will feel on first day

All in all you can do a lot to reduce your child’s anxiety to great extent, and to make that first day an enjoyable and memorable experience.

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Your kids, spouse and pets are pulling you to pieces. All you want to do it get away as you realize this is your life. What if you want more? Should you want more? Do you feel bad for wanting more?

Yes, it is okay to want a break. It is okay to have your own identity and life away from your family. No, you shouldn’t feel bad for wanting more with your life!

Looking to get some “me” time? Try the following:

1. Delegate tasks. Yes, you work hard and other people need to help out, they live in the house too

2. During the summer find a day camp that your children can attend so that you can get tasks like getting your hair cut without interruption

3. Form a schedule that includes down time. This is great for those hot summer days. For the hottest part of the day have your children work on their summer work, read a book to themselves or play with each other. You can super vise and do a hobby of your own.

4. Dedicate a few hours on the weekend to yourself. Get up early one morning or ask your spouse to take over for a few hours.

5. Do activities for yourself after the kids bedtime.

6. Keep in touch with current friends and plan activities with them

7. Make a date night with hubby. Trade off baby sitting with other friends with children so everyone gets a night off.

8. Have a night for takeout food or to go out to eat.

Looking for a change?

1. Take a night class one a day a week

2. Pick up online jobs to get back into the work force

3. Play an online game to meeting new people

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