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Most teens spend most of their waking hours during the week at school. And while homework and extracurricular activities are important, sometimes it’s nice for teens to have a break after a long day of learning. If you’re looking for some alternative after-school activities for your children, look no further! From teen entrepreneurship to learning an instrument, there are many fun and educational opportunities out there. Here are some ideas to get you started. 1. Teen Entrepreneurship Encouraging your child to start their own business is a great way to teach them about financial responsibility, marketing, and customer service. Take time to research the wealth of business ideas that might be a good fit for your child. Maybe they...

No one ever thinks that their spouse will end up in prison. But it can happen. So, when a loved one goes to jail, the first thing to remember is that you're not alone. There are resources that other single parents have utilized to deal with it, such as this blog post. Here, we'll share with you some strategies to help you support your kids and equip them to navigate this difficult situation. Enabling children to deal with parental incarceration These are some of the tips to help you support your youngsters during this challenging time. 1. Communicate with your kids effectively.  As parents, it's crucial to have open conversations with our children about the realities of life—especially the harsher ones. This isn't to...

If you are caring for young children and aging parents simultaneously, you are part of the “sandwich generation.” A 2020 report on caregiving in the United States showed that 53 million Americans provide unpaid care for family and friends. 41.8 million of those are caring for individuals aged 50 and older. Almost half of the care recipients are parents of caregivers. On average, family caregivers provide 23.7 hours of care each week. This number goes up to an average of 37.4 hours for those who live with the care recipient, making it equivalent to a full-time job. Now, add that on top of taking care of your children, keeping your house in order, and maintaining a marriage. Being stretched beyond your limits would be the...

As parents of children with special needs, we have a lot on our plates. Our babies are blessings, and it’s often hard for us to admit that we are overwhelmed. However, to maintain our own health and wellness, we have to learn to recognize the signs that we need a break.  Signs of Parental Fatigue According to the Daily Voice blog, parental burnout is typified by physical and mental exhaustion. Additional signs of parental fatigue you may not have considered include: DepressionLow parental satisfactionPoor sleepMarital problems It can be difficult at first to find a balance between caring for yourself and feeling as though you are neglecting your loved one. However, there are things you can do that will make things much...

Driving is a great way for teenagers to gain independence. However, a newly qualified teen driver is three times more likely to be involved in a collision than a driver that’s just a few years older than them. As a parent, it’s crucial that you teach your child all there is to know about driving safely - you could even take a parenting course to help you effectively do this. Here are some tips that will help you keep your new teen driver safe on the road. Set an example Your teen probably won’t ever say it, but they look up to you. They’ll have been watching the way you drive for years and will continue to do so. Be a good driver and your teen is more likely to be one too. Always be polite to other drivers and avoid...

A quarter of surveyed parents with high school aged kids say that their teens have brought up a tattoo, according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. While some parents may be quick to say no to such a request, many parents may find themselves feeling a bit lost in knowing how to navigate the situation. While it may feel like they’re growing up a bit too fast, here's a few tips as to how you can successfully handle the situation no matter what your final decision may be. Having a realistic conversation In regards to the subject of tattoos and piercings, it’s important to have as realistic of a conversation as possible should your teen ask for one or the other. According to an...

Raising a child can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but when that child is autistic, it can add an extra layer of complexity to the equation. Parents who are autistic often face unique challenges when it comes to raising an autistic child. There are many different theories and strategies out there for how to best approach this daunting task, but what works for one family may not work for another. In this blog post, we will explore some tips and tricks that have worked for other autistic parents in raising their children. We hope that this information will be helpful to you as you navigate this challenging but rewarding journey! Some of these tips include: Find a Support Group There are many online and in-person...

During the course of 2021, the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children received 2.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation. The 35% increase from the previous year can be largely attributed to the fact that children have been spending more time in front of electronic devices than ever before. In addition to using laptops and smartphones for gaming and social media, these technologies were also utilized to keep children up-to-date with their schoolwork.  While having access to the internet is undoubtedly beneficial in many ways, the more time a child spends on it the greater their chance to catch the attention of an online predator. Here are a few things you as a parent can do to help keep your children safe...

Coding is one of the most in-demand skills today since it can be used for many purposes and industries. Many kids nowadays are learning how to code so that they can keep up with the technological advancement of our world. While you may think that coding is just about knowing how to write in a programming language, it's actually so much more than that. Teaching kids how to code also teaches them soft skills, such as communication. In this article, we’ll talk about the importance of communication skills and how coding can improve them. Importance of Communication Skills Communication is an important skill that every person must have at some point in their lives. It helps us get along better with the people around us. This skill...