Children Archives - Page 18 of 18

Children, Parenting 101, Tips and Tricks

Tips + Tricks: To-Buy List for Starting Nursery

July 11, 2013 No Comments

There are lots of emotions associated with starting nursery. If your little one is starting Pre K group or a full nursery in September, you might find that you’re experiencing a mixture of excitement, worry and anticipation. This is perfectly natural, and all parents feel the same way. Some children can’t wait to start and meet new friends while others might be a little more apprehensive. Either way, getting prepared early is the key to getting off to the best possible start. So, what do you need to buy before your child starts nursery school?

The most important thing to buy is comfortable clothes that you won’t mind getting too messy. There is lots of creative play and exploring to be done at nursery, so don’t send them off in anything too pristine or expensive if they’re going to be spending each day playing with poster paints and glue and playing games outside and getting muddy. Most children are mucky pups, so send them in something loose, comfy and not too precious.

While many nurseries will provide food for the day, including snacks, some children are fussy eaters or may have special dietary requirements, or you may just feel more comfortable providing them with your own food from home. There are lots of novelty lunchboxes and coolbags aimed specifically at children decorated with their favourite characters from TV and film. You can also buy a special bottle for them to make them happier about lunchtimes, and you can pack it full of their favourite foods. Just check in advance if anything should be left out in case other children have allergies.

It can help children feel more grown up if they’re allowed to take their own little bag with them. Some nurseries, especially those linked with a primary school, provide their own book bags, but if not you could give them a little rucksack in which they can pack their favourite toy or book so that they will feel comforted by something from home. You can also put a spare copy of your contact details in their bag in case it goes missing or there is a problem. Also make sure that the bag is clearly marked with their name.

Some days there might be specific activities the children are allowed to participate in, such as cooking, special arts and crafts or sports, so make sure you know about these in advance so you can provide them with the appropriate kit or ingredients. Most nurseries will be able to provide everything for the majority of activities, but there might be times when they appreciate contributions from parents, so find out if this is the case.

Jennifer Oster is a young mother to two nursery age children who are growing up fast and blogs about her experiences as a parent

Children, health, Health and Wellness, Parenting 101, Tips and Tricks

Children: 4 Ways To Keep Children Healthy During Rainy Days

July 8, 2013 12 Comments

The rainy season is probably the most frustrating time of the year for us mums. This is when our little ones get sick the most. May that be with flu or cough and colds, it really is heartbreaking for us to see our children suffer from different symptoms which also keeps them away from their favorite activities like going to school or playing outside.

It might be impossible for our children to be in the pink of health at all times, especially during the rainy season due to the weather changes but there are certain things we can do to ensure that we boost their immune system and over-all health so they will not easily catch cold and any sickness during this time.

Here are 4 ways on how you can ensure your children’s health even during the rainy season:

Give them vitamins

To boost their immune system and ensure that they do not easily catch different weather-related ailments, it is best to give them a dose of Vitamin C, as well as other essential nutrients to keep them protected and keep the illnesses at bay.

There is also an assortment of dietary supplements that you might want to consider adding to your little one’s daily routine to boost their immunity and overall wellbeing. Nowadays, daily supplements come in a wide variety of different types including capsules, soft gels, and tablets, so there is sure to be something suitable for your family. Accordingly, if you would like to learn more about a reputable dietary supplement manufacturer Utah is home to SS Nutra. You can head to their website to take a look at some of the different products and services that they offer.

Children, Home, Tips and Tricks

Children: Is Bunk Bed Suitable For My Kid?

December 5, 2012 No Comments

Now that your home is completely renovated and all of the rooms are spacious and clean, it’s time to start thinking about the style for your children’s bedrooms. One of the possible options for the rooms is a bunk bed. Is this the bedding option for you and your family?

Multiple Children

Presumably, most bunk beds are going to be more expensive than a single bed as they are designed to sleep two people. If you have only one child, then half of this piece of furniture is going to go to waste. If you already have the children to fill a bunk bed then it would be an efficient way to utilise limited bedroom space to give them more room to play. The philosophy extends if you have three children, with triple bunk beds a popular option. This could also be a good purchase if you’ve got two kids but planning on having a third, this will let the older children adjust to the fact they’ll share the bedroom with another sibling soon.

The Children’s Age

Bunk beds are generally not appropriate for toddlers or even youngsters who are still in the early primary grades. The main concern is the height of the top of the bed. When children do not yet quite have enough control over themselves in their sleep, they could fall from the bed and be seriously injured. If you absolutely must have bunk beds for your children, then consider putting a rail on the top bunk bed so this issue is resolved.

sleeping matters, tips + tricks, mum's thoughts

The Height

As previously mentioned, the height of the top bunk is a major concern when you are selecting bunk beds for your children. When children have a fear of heights, a bunk bed is really not the best way to help them get over it. One suggestion is to put the frightened child on the bottom bunk, pending that the other child has no issue with heights. Another consideration is whether the child on the top bunk has sufficient climbing skills. It is usually a ladder that leads up to the top bunk; stairs are generally not part of such an arrangement.

The Cost

Another point that was briefly mentioned earlier involves the price of the bunk bed. In the majority of cases, they will be more expensive than a single bed; however, they could likely cost less than the price of two separate beds. Review the budget to figure out the type of bed that is most cost effective for you. Of course, it is so important to choose beds that are made out of high quality materials. You do not want the bed to have dangerous lead paint in it. Furthermore, the bed absolutely must be sturdy if your precious little ones are going to be climbing in and out of it.

No one answer exists as to whether or not a bunk bed is appropriate for your child or children. When space needs to be saved, yes, a bunk bed is a logical option. However, children also need to meet all of the other criteria to ensure that the bed is a safe and sound place for them to sleep.

image from www.freedigitalphotos.net