Family Walk Routine

Aside from biking, walking as a family is also our regular routine during warm weather days.  Speaking of weather, I am worried of my plants because we had frost last night, oh boy.  Below are some photos of our walks.

We went for a walk after visiting my FIL last weekend.  We dropped by at the park and let the kids be kids!  The photos below  were taken on a different day when we went for another walk.

The good thing about taking the kids for a walk around the neighborhood is that they get the chance to see  other things like baby birds trying to fly, they get to pet  dogs on the way, and  seeing neat things along the way.  It also give me and hubby a chance to be kids again lol.
Shadow Shots

Mobile Phone Trade In

Looking at the most valuable  mobile phone at sellmymobile.com, I learned that Blackberry Porsche Design has the most value if you want to sell it.  You can get up to five hundred and forty seven pounds for it if you try to sell it at the  website I mentioned above.  I also looked at the  my cell phone's brand and type and found out that  there are so many upgraded ones already, whew.  Technology  really advances very fast.  Gone are the days when only few people can have cell phone.  Nowadays, almost everyone can have because they are affordable.

I love my Samsung Galaxy phone and I think I  will  be holding on to this for a long time even though there are so many upgraded ones available already.    What  most important to me is that  I can use the functions that I want in a phone like browsing the internet, taking photos with it when my  camera is  not with me, and  check my opportunities online when we are somewhere and I can't use my computer.  I thought of removing my internet data with it before but after  my internet connection at home got lost for  several hours, I realized how important it is for me to keep the internet at my phone.

5 Tips for a Child Friendly Garden

If you’re keen to join the many families who are realizing the benefits of getting kids involved in the outdoors in a safe setting, here are some great tips for designing your kid-friendly garden.

Space for Play

While it’s great to fill your garden with lots of stimulating plants, features and ornaments, there should be some space left that’s free for play. An open space will be an asset into teenage years. Your child can use this place to run, make believe, play with toys or practice sports and you can make the most of this space to engage your child in play together. Whether it’s throwing a ball, playing fetch with the family dog or having a backyard picnic, a nice open space in the garden will lend itself to all sorts of fun outdoor activities that get you and your kids outside and in to nature. Coral Homes display homes are a great source of inspiration for maximizing the available space on your block of land through efficient house designs – leaving plenty of room outside for the kids.

Hidden Nooks

Encourage an element of fantasy and make believe by including secret hidden nooks and crannies for your child to discover and explore. A cubby amongst the trees is a great place to play, or a little birdbath under a rose-covered archway would make a magical place to splash or catch a glimpse of native birds. Hiding garden sculptures or ornaments throughout the garden will also add excitement to a garden walk and encourage kids to explore and develop a connection with the character of your garden.

You might also like to include garden furniture like a bench, stool or hammock where you and your kids can sit and enjoy nature, listen to birds, watch clouds or tell stories in your own little hidden garden haven.

Engage the Senses

Add a sense of wonder and excitement to your garden by including plants and features that engage your children’s senses. This also helps develop their perceptual abilities by providing new stimuli. Plants with brightly colored flowers, interesting patterns and textures on foliage and quick growth are all exciting elements to include in your garden that your child will love to experience, touch, smell and watch grow. Herbs are perfect because they smell great and your child can help you pick them to use in food. For the same reason, fruit trees and vegetables are fantastic for kids, as they can watch the colorful fruit and vegetables grow and ripen, then harvest them to eat or cook.

Educational Elements

Try to encourage some education about the garden and the outdoors by including elements that provide learning and knowledge. Signposts for different plants are a good idea, so too are stimulating features like sundials. Talk to your child about plants and animals, and encourage involvement in the gardening and education about the care of plants by providing your child with his/her own set of kids’ garden tools, watering can or even a kids’ wheelbarrow.

These are all easy and achievable methods you can use to make your garden more child friendly, whether you’re designing it from scratch or simply making additions to a well established space. You’ll love having your kids outdoors with you and they’ll just adore the magical space that you’ve created for them.

5 Tips for Getting Your Child to Sleep in Their Own Bed

Transitioning from the crib to a larger bed can be a challenge for kids, especially if they’re used to sleeping in the same room as parents. It may seem impossible at first, but with a little patience and a few simple guidelines you’ll make the transition much smoother for the whole family. Here are some tips that have helped parents.

A Sleep-Friendly Environment

Part of getting your child to stay in his/her own bed is creating a sleeping environment where they can settle down without being distracted, disturbed or stimulated once the lights are out. They should also feel safe and secure, if they are scared they may want to jump into bed with you for protection. Bunk beds can be a good way to encourage kids to stay in bed as they enjoy the novelty and for kids with a fear of the dark they can often feel safer when elevated off the ground, sleeping in the top bunk. Have the curtains drawn to keep anything frightening, distracting or noisy at bay. Sometimes some soothing music or the white noise of a fan will help drown out noises. Make sure your child has everything he/she needs for the whole night, like extra blankets and a glass of water, so that there’s no need to come to you in the night.

A Favourite Toy

Entice your child to stay in bed by providing a favourite toy or comforter to encourage a feeling of security and comfort. Make this a special bedtime-only toy that stays in the bedroom, so he/she is encouraged to relate bedtime with this favourite toy and the soothing effect it has.

A Nightlight

Some children get out of bed at night to find their parents because they are frightened by a fear of the dark. All the unfamiliar sounds and shadowy shapes can be scary when misinterpreted by the active imagination of a child. To alleviate this fear you can try installing a night light in your child’s room. If there’s a particular part of the room that your child voices concern over, like the cupboard or a doorway, place the nightlight somewhere that illuminates the area. A nightlight will also make it easier for your child to get up in the night and go to the bathroom, get a drink of water or find an extra blanket without having to call out for you or come into your room.

The Silent Return

If your child does get out of bed during the night or soon after lights out, simply take him/her back to bed calmly and quietly without engaging your child by speaking. This means that your child isn’t receiving any positive reinforcement by leaving the bed and coming to you. If your child needs a drink of water or to go to the toilet attend to their need saying as little as possible so as not to stimulate your child and then calmly guide them back into bed. When you tuck your child into bed for the night, let him/her know that he/she must stay in his/her own bed to sleep. Let your child know that if he/she gets out of bed you will take him/her back to bed without saying anything, that way your child will know what’s going on when you practice this method. It’s not about giving the silent treatment; it’s simply a method of returning your child to bed without creating any stimulation for your child or encouraging him/her to come to you.

A Rewards System

You can try creating a simple rewards system for nights your child stays in bed all the way through the night. This can be something like a sticker on a chart, or a trip to the movies after a certain string of consecutive nights without crawling into bed with you. With perseverance and patience, these steps should help to have your child sleeping soundly through the night in their own bed, leaving you to do the same.

5 Benefits of Outdoor Exercise for Your Children

It goes without saying that outdoor exercise and play are extremely advantageous pursuits for growing kids. Physical activities outdoors have many benefits for your kids that will carry into adulthood, forming healthy habits, healthy minds and healthy bodies.

Fitness

Kids that spend all their time indoors and being inactive are far more likely to have trouble with weight, physical and mental health and energy levels. Getting kids outdoors and regularly engaging in activities that require physical exercise will help them increase their fitness levels. They’ll build muscle, burn fat and improve their cardiovascular health too. Sports and games are the ideal way to turn fitness into fun, giving kids a workout that’s enjoyable and exciting. Physical activity will lead to better fitness levels and develop healthy habits when it comes to getting regular exercise.

Stress Reduction

Health and fitness professionals from many differing fields agree that outdoor activity reduces stress levels in children. Staying pent up inside all day, whether it’s in the classroom, in front of a TV or playing with electronics, can cause real health concerns, including increased stress levels. Getting kids outdoors and physically active lets kids engage with the wider world, work out their pent up energy, and gain perspective, opening their senses to the natural world and developing a connection with their physical environment, both external and internal.

Engaging the Senses

Allowing young children to explore the natural world helps to develop their perceptual abilities. Time spent indoors limits the range of stimuli they get to experience, while getting kids outdoors means they get to experience lots of engaging and stimulating new sights, sounds, smells, textures – all sorts of sensations that help them learn and develop. This kind of interaction helps them learn about the world they live in and develop a connection with their natural environment; a connection that they can cherish into adulthood. Some sports can also help develop physical skills like flexibility and coordination. Learning to ride a Merida bike or catching a football are great ways to help young kids develop important abilities.

Letting Off Steam

Kids, naturally, have lots of energy, far more than most adults, and that energy needs to go somewhere. Getting kids active outside gives them a chance to let off some steam and burn all that energy in an environment that lends itself to vigorous play and exercise. Running around outside means less hazards and less things to break, and making lots of noise outdoors is much less disruptive. Getting outside for some action and excitement means kids will get rid of their energy at the appropriate time, meaning they’re not trying to expend that energy at a time or place that’s not appropriate. It should also mean they settle down for bed much more easily and get a much better night’s sleep. Their levels of concentration and focus will also improve.

Social Development

Outdoor sports and games create lots of opportunities for kids to make friends and play with others. Team sports are a great way to help kids develop bonds and learn teamwork. Playing at a local park (with adult supervision, of course) can also be a great way to make neighbourhood friends. The unstructured setting of an outdoor play area can be much more relaxed for children and encourage interaction without any pressure or expectations, which can be especially advantageous for shy kids or kids who might have trouble behaving in a classroom. The benefits of outdoor exercise for kids run deep and it’s not just the children reaping the benefits, all of these advantages benefit parents too. Some outdoor play time will help you bond with your kids and develop healthy habits for you too.