Category: Kids & Family

Children can admittedly be a handful, so if you are dreading handling a bunch of them at the same time, your fears are not entirely unfounded. Even the most seasoned parents would find themselves pulled very thin by the end of a day spent with energetic little ones. But of course you cannot avoid this, especially when birthdays roll around, seeing as how you need to organize a party for them. Though attending a kids’ party is a breeze, putting one together is a whole other ball game. So here are a few tips that we think will help you avoid a catastrophe, ensuring you have a good time with everyone else as well! 

Simple Menu 

Unless you have a North West-style, Kichella-inspired birthday party complete with theme rides in mind, you want to keep the menu simple. After all, only the Kardashians can afford an entire team of people to handle everything at such an extensive bash, which would be ridiculous for us common folk. Do not go overboard with the food, since kids do not really eat all that much, but if you want to, you can cater to the adults as well. In fact, we think you probably should, especially since they are likely to be looking for some respite in some way as well at some point. So have sandwiches, cookies and mini pizzas for the little ones, and more grown-up options for the adults.  

Plan Games and Activities 

You do not want to be stuck in a space filled with kids and nothing to do. It is an apocalyptic situation, on the verge of exploding like the atom bomb. As much as this may sound like an exaggeration, we dare you to try it. You will see what we mean. Kids have insane amounts of energy which is baffling to us adults, and they need to expend this energy on something. Which means that there needs to be plenty of games and activities to keep them occupied and going; on that note, Footy Jumping Castles fit the bill. Depending on the age groups you are inviting, you can tailor these events accordingly. Just make sure to have gifts for everyone so nobody feels left out.  

Pick A Place 

Do you fancy being stranded with a group full of kids and nowhere to go? We did not think so. Obviously, a venue needs to be picked out, but the type of venue is what you need to think about. Will you have it in your home? If so, do you have enough space for boisterous kids running about? What about a backyard? Would you perhaps prefer hiring a third party space for the occasion? Some offer party packages and provide the staff you need so all you need to worry about is inviting the guests, and ensuring they get there. They can even source a jumping castle obstacle course hire Sydney if need be.  

Sort the Invitations Out 

What we mean here is that you can choose whether you want to order them, buy them outright or make them yourself, but decide on what you want to do early. If you want to order or make them, then you are going to need some time for both. Do not leave things for a week before, since you have to take care of your own child/children at the same time as well. Remember, kids’ parties are a lot more work than an adult bash, so planning is key! 

Tech toys are great facilitators of tech education. Tech toys can be introduced to all children in various developmental stages. However, the type of toys will have to differ based on age. Here are several tips for buying tech-related classroom toys for kids based on age: 

Age 2 and Under 

Children under two, which would be babies and toddlers, are in the stages of crucial brain development. This is the age range where children learn to understand and interact with three-dimensional objects as well. In general, kids at this age are very hands-on with their environment and they are always learning new things. Children this young also have seemingly never-ending energy reservoirs. Some teachers think babies are too young for tech toys at this age. That’s not really true. Younger children can be taught important reasoning skills that will be useful later when learning basic coding skills. It’s important to note that what babies don’t need is screen time. Don’t include tablets or computers with games in preschool classrooms. Instead, search for high-quality tech-oriented toys, such as Osmo Australia branded products.  Choose tech toys for kids in this age range should be able to stimulate their senses and challenge motor control.  

Ages 3 to 5 

This is an important age where kids learn social skills. Children of this age love video games and playing with various apps. But because this age range is crucial for developing social interaction, it’s best to avoid buying handheld toys. If the classroom includes tablet or computer games, choose games with a social component that facilitates collaborative play. Engagement with others is key at this age. Therefore, search for educational toys for toddlers Australia that’s suitable for group playing.  

Ages 6 to 8 

Kids are already learning the foundational science and math skills necessary for higher tech learning in high school during this age range. They are cognitively developed well enough to spot patterns, such as those in video games, at this age. Young kids in the primary school age are very likely to watch a lot of TV, play video games, and otherwise engage in tech-oriented sedentary activities. Therefore, the best toys for kids at these ages encourage them to move around a lot. Kids can move and learn about tech-related topics. For example, moving robots, assembling and flying mini drones, and the Sphero Mini are great toys for kids in this age range.  

Ages 9 to 12 

Kids in this age are already well attuned to tech. They are familiar with the latest gadgets and very much prefer to use the hippest gizmo available in the market. Students in this age will respond most to apps, video games, and software programs that facilitate teach learning and programming skills. Minecraft, the video game, is highly recommended to teach older kids basic coding skills. But teachers might also want to get these kids moving. Learning bots and drones are great toys that will get older kids away from screens. Advanced toys that require building, like electrical kits, are best suited for this age.  

Teachers, parents and other educators can sign up children for workshops with high-tech toys for better training on STEM subjects. When choosing tech toys, paediatricians warn of too much screen time. It’s important to ensure that the toys involve a lot of interaction and activity, and is not limited to staring at a screen.  

 

 

When it comes time to redecorate the house, children can start to become a hindrance and make your job even more difficult. However, you can avoid having more problems that are really necessary by involving your children and making sure that they feel a part of it and don’t get bored sitting around watching their parents and other people do all the work. If you feel like your children are old enough to get involved and that this could help prevent problems related to the project you’re trying to do, here are some things that you can consider. These will encourage your children to get involved with decorating their own bedroom, helping with character building, teamwork and creativity.  

 Let them make some decisions 

If you’re going to allow your children to help paint the room, you should let them choose the colour theme that they want. You’re not the one who has to sleep in this bedroom, so if your child loves the colour blue, why not let them paint the room in a nice light pastel blue? Be careful how much freedom you give your children, since kids are likely to choose things that might not be suitable for the home in general. Lighter colours are always much easier to paint over if anything goes wrong, so bear this in mind.  

Talk to them about the furniture 

Get them excited about the idea of decorating their own bedroom by talking to them about the furniture and other fixtures and fittings that they could have. You can let them choose some of the items for their bedrooms, such as childrens lamps or bookshelves. Look through catalogues or go to online websites which sell furniture for children and you and your child will be able to get lots of inspiration. 

Let them be creative 

If you’re conscious that the whole house looks beautiful and as perfect and pristine as you would like it to be, always remember that your child’s idea of perfection could be something completely different. Letting them be creative with nursery decorations is vital to ensuring that they feel they are part of the project, rather than feeling like they are just doing everything that they are being told to do. This may mean that they don’t stick to a particular theme or that they don’t quite match something up properly, so try not to worry about this.  

Personalise their room with them  

Apart from personalising a bedroom by using their own colour choices and furniture choices, you can also help your child to personalise their bedroom by literally putting their name on some pieces of furniture or outside the door. Don’t personalise anything that you think may be given away or sold soon, since you’ll struggle to get rid of anything that has somebody else’s name on it. However, name plaques on the door or a banner across their bed will help them to really feel like they belong.  

There are certain things you are going to sort out pretty quickly when you find out you are pregnant. From doctor’s bills and visits to your female practitioner, around the corner or a far distance in town, the factors will be several and you are going to need to keep a list of all the things you need to get done over the upcoming nine months. From the first week to the last days, you are going to be excited and nervous about the new adventure ahead of you. You and the father of the child can be well prepared, but there will always be something that needs taking care of as a last measure, or at the final minute. 

Sleep 

Your sleep is probably going to be interrupted by the baby growing inside of you. This is par for the course, and you should not think you are the first person to experience the tossing and turning to come. Many have done so before you and many will experience this in the future. A maternity pillow can be a very helpful way of kind of combating this. It will bring you some sort of comfort in the middle of the night and the early hours of the morning, when you need to get up for work in a couple of hours’ time. While your partner is probably next to you, dreaming sweet dreams, you don’t want to begrudge them of their sleep, so, yes, get this sort of body pillow to help you along the way. 

Other comforts 

Bedding items related to this pillow will help too. In the summer, you will want some thin bed sheets to cover you and your precious cargo. In winter, you might want to consider buying a thicker blanket and duvet to ward off the possible chill around your stomach. Either way, you only want the best for you and your baby, so you might need to invest a fair bit of cash into this. It will definitely be an investment, as you will need it for nine months and longer. Once your baby is born, you can just use it for your post-pregnancy body. Wash it and use it time and time again. 

Caring for the items 

Some will be easily washable with very little care instructions, while others might have pretty strict things that you need to read and listen to. Don’t take these things lightly, as you could shrink your item or have it lose its shape. Then you will probably need to throw it away and buy another one or two. So, yes, there is longevity to be explored if you go about this the right way. You can even go so far as having a certain back and a specific space these are stored when not in use, away from exposure to the sunshine and other elements. The press studs, zips and other parts of the sheets and blankets and duvet will also then last for a longer period of time. 

Even though as per reports about 96 per cent of the Australians mums wish to go ahead with breastfeeding, almost 35 per cent of the babies are given formula from the very first month.

By the time babies reach their sixth month, they are introduced to a toddler formula, either partially or completely. There are different kinds of baby formula available in the Australian market. New parents however are not aware of the huge varieties available in the market. If you stay in a place where baby formula samples are available, then most probably you would pick a similar brand.

However, is it essential to know what kind of formula you are feeding your child? This is an important decision that you must carefully select. Whether you child is totally dependent on formula or is partially dependent on it, you have to ensure that you select A2 Nutrition. When you are selecting a substitute to breast milk, you need to do so very carefully. There are some important points that you should consider, when you have to select a baby formula.

 

Mark the available protein content

When it comes to cow’s milk, you have to understand that it is obviously meat for baby cows. However, when you adjust the amount of fat, carbohydrate and protein content in the milk, you can make it appropriate for babies. Additional iron and vitamin is added which helps to take care of the nutritional requirement of the baby.

Even though back in the days our mothers and grandmothers used to feed babies on tinned milk, they are no more suited for babies. In fact, it is no more recommended for feeding babies.

Protein content needed for babies 

Evidence shows that giving a lot of protein to babies in their first two years would lead to the baby getting obese. This usually happens due to baby formula. There are a few brands that have a lot more protein content than required for babies. This is why infants, until they reach 6 months old, should only consume 10 gm of protein in a single day.

Have a look at the label cautiously

Since most of the formula manufactures are trying their best to sell across the same product, they try their best to be first in the market, when they have any additional ingredient added to the infant’s formula. This is why it can end up getting quite confusing for parents, when the selection time comes. But, you can follow a few crucial points mentioned below:

Prebiotics and Probiotics

Probiotics are known to be the good bacteria. It helps to keep the digestive system of your baby fit and healthy. The environment for the probiotics to grow productively is created through prebiotics. This is what you generally find in breast milk. But when it comes to selection formula, mark these points. The most frequently found ones are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are minute organisms. Some reports also show that eczema and diarrhoea in children are cured through prebiotics. It will also be effective in lowering down asthma and UTI infection and allergies.

Gold Formulas

These have a certain kind of fat, which is called long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. They tend to be vital for the brain and eye development. Breast milk does naturally have this fat available and AA and AHA in particular. However, whether or not the body can absorb these fats, which are present in the formula milk, is still uncertain.

Special Needs

A few babies do have certain health problems that need to be taken care of. Even though there is some special infant formula available, you must only give it to your child, if the doctor prescribes it.

Mothers should ensure that they pick the right feeding formula for their child, as per their requirement. This will help the baby to grow healthy and save the baby from getting obese.