Category: Raising Children

America has the most children-friendly attractions that we can visit with our young ones. America and its holiday destinations cater to everyone, from parents and children to party-goers and young adults. Whether you’re looking to book the event of a lifetime, such as a helicopter ride booked via Jettly or a similar site, or trying to find the perfect child-friendly location, America has it all. Now in terms of what America has to offer for children, the places are pocket-friendly as much as they are children-friendly. These places have polar bears that we can see up close and also go for a fishing trip during the holidays. Our children can experience new things during family vacations, which is a great way for them to explore. Family vacations also include visiting zoos, museums, and water parks. Let us explore some of these destinations in the United States.

San Diego Zoo

This zoo is located in San Diego, California, and it is among one of the best family vacation spots in the city. The experiences here are great for children, and we can spot everything from pandas to polar bears at the zoo or look beneath the waves at Seaworld San Diego. The place also offers us an opportunity to see an aquarium, theme park, and oceanarium rolled into one. Our children can feel their first waves in the warm water at Legoland, California, which is a quick drive up the coast. There are also plenty of great accommodation options in San Diego that are also suited to your children. So you can stay at a San Diego Resort, have a relaxed time, and also plan quick day trips to the places mentioned above.

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Our children can learn, build and explore in different ways and this is what the museum offers. It is the most-top children-friendly destination. It has activities for older children, and our children can test their brains against an escape room game, much like some of the popular ones in Atlanta (https://www.paranoiaquest.com/atlanta/) or similar places, and children can dance to the rhythm. It also offers a self-guided scavenger hunt, which is awesome for the family. The museum is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum is located in Washington, DC, and it’s a fantastic location where we can introduce our children to the founding fathers on a family vacation here. It has plenty of children-friendly attractions and tours. It also teaches our children about its history. The best way to get here is by the hop-on, hop-off bus, and it tours at our pace. The Smithsonian Museums are free to visit, and therefore we can get a taste of them all without having to dig a hole in the pocket. Children can be double agents and play games that are inspired by James Bond and Mata Hari.

Georgia Aquarium

The Aquarium is located in Atlanta City. It has huge sharks here, and the children can be eye-ball to eye-ball near them. It’s an underwater wonderland that helps place Atlanta among the best family vacation spots in the South. This place is unique because it has super-hero and zombie-themed tours of Atlanta’s film sites, and this is going to be loved by our children. The world of Coca-Cola is packed with interactive and multimedia exhibits to keep children engaged from the start to the end.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We will find this in Los Angeles, California. Harry Potter is a series of books and movies that is loved by most children. Here, children-friendly vacations mean beaches, theme parks. We can take selfies with the few celebrities at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. In the wizarding world of Harry Potter, children can practice their wand work.

Disneyland, which is a premier place to go with our children in California, has the kids having an opportunity to meet the famous Mickey Mouse and ride mountain bikes.

World’s Largest Toy Museum

One of the most visited places in the world’s largest toy museum is located in Branson, Missouri. It is a favorite for the children-friendly vacation spot. This vacation spot not only offers Lincoln Legos and toy trains, but it also has water parks and amusement parks. It has shows that are family-friendly to watch. It offers fishing in one of the lakes and streams that cover the countryside. So if you’re planning on going fishing with your little ones, make sure to read up on the best bass lures for summer before you go!

These are a few places that we can visit with our children. America has one of the finest and unique places, and summer vacations here can never be boring. Some places have games to offer, and those that have scavenger hunts are good for us, as we learn new things while we enjoy.

I cannot wait for my next summer trip to visit one of these places, click tons of pictures, and make amazing memories. These places are also quite reasonable, and I don’t mind paying a little extra to enjoy all the activities. Let us book our next destination now and have a life-time experience.

When I grew up, it was a different world. Even living in a big city, the pace was slower; only a few cars were parked by the sidewalk. Computers were still big chunky machines sitting only in the most modern offices. And I’m talking not more than forty years ago. Since then, the world has begun to move fast; the digital revolution has completely changed how we experience the world; the same streets, once quiet and welcoming, became noisy, crowded, and dangerous.

Today, children are always “bombarded” by TV, use the computer extensively, and somehow are affected by this hectic world. It’s not about being nostalgic. There were things back then, which weren’t entirely right, too. I’m saying that too many external inputs may somehow naturally reduce the room for creativity. Children not only need to learn and play, but they have to find their way of doing it. I’d like to share some thoughts about strategies that, as a parent, can be easily used to foster kids’ creativity.

Treasure Their Lateral Thinking

Have you ever been surprised or amused by how your child has solved a small problem or issue using his/her creativity? One day, I was in the kitchen, preparing a complicated recipe that needed the use of various appliances, such as the planetary mixer and the meat grinder.

My little boy walked in and asked me what I was doing. I simply answered that I was using kitchen robots to help me out with my recipe. When he heard the word “robot,” he stared at me and asked if he could play with those funny shaped, noisy machines sitting on the kitchen bench. I had to say no because that would not only have wholly disrupted my home-made lunch endeavors, but it was dangerous for him, too.

He was disappointed, indeed. After a few seconds, his eyes lit up, and he ran towards the kitchen cabinet, brought out some small pots and pans, a couple of wooden spoons, a small colander, and a funny shaped lid. He arranged all the items on the table, creating the shape of a strange humanoid. “Don’t worry, Mom,” he said, “I’ve got my own kitchen robot now.”

Without using too many fancy words, this is precisely what lateral thinking is about. It’s the innate skill of solving a problem by looking at it from an entirely new perspective. Kids have this ability, but they tend to lose it when they grow up because the world (educational programs and culture) tend to present them with the solutions to most of their problems. Instead, it’s a skill that should be treasured because it’s essential when facing unexpected challenges in our lives.

Lateral thinking can be fostered by challenging the children’s mind asking them to solve their own problems, within limits, of course. “How would you fix this?”, “Is there a way to do this differently?” Those are the questions to ask.

Lateral thinking can also be fostered by allowing your kids to play with toys that require problem solving skill and narrative abilities. Luki Lab toy store is home to the amazing Robo-Max T-rex, a toy that tends to involve precisely these cognitive skills, encouraging your kids to think creatively, solve problems, and engage in imaginative storytelling. There are several other such toys available in the market that can encourage your child to think creatively, be patient and develop problem solving skills.

Get Them Interested in the World

As adults, we tend to be interested only in certain things. We have our jobs, hobbies, and friends. We have our habits and routines; we have built our personal tastes and discrimination strategies. Kids are beautifully open to the world. They do not have our filters, prejudice, and bias.

I don’t have to take them on a hiking trip in Kathmandu or diving on an exotic coral reef to have exciting experiences with them. Even the most ordinary trip to the supermarket can be mind-opening. The secret is to learn how to communicate. There’s a difference between talking and telling.

All it takes is a little bit of patience, but, at the end of the day, I’m having as much fun as they are. When we are out, we may talk about a tree we see outside, an insect we find in the bushes, a particular brand of cereal, where this delicious food comes from, about a car model, or about people we meet. The simplest thing can be a great conversation starter. Kids love to learn, have answers to their questions, and know how the world is organized and works. My dream is that they will keep the same interest when they grow up; it’s the key to a fulfilling life.

Every parent wants to see their kids succeed, and some go to great lengths to ensure that they prepare the kids for the future. Whether it is taking kids to good schools, engaging them, or walking the talk, you can impart some life skills to your kids in many ways.

Unfortunately, I had to learn most things that I know today by myself while growing in a foster home. My early experiences in life might not have been ideal for a young kid, but luckily, I could beat my path. I believed my dedication to soccer and fitness played a crucial role in achieving success in life.

Fast forward, I can now use my experiences to impart some noteworthy life lessons to my kids. As I try to be that parent that I never had, I have had my struggles and a fair share of experiences. My two kids, Juliana and Graham, are now grown. Looking back, here are some essential lessons that I believe were instrumental in helping me nurture these responsible young adults.

The Value of Honesty

The best way to instill honesty in your kids is to live an honest life. Looking at my dark past growing in a foster home, I was lucky enough to get a wife who went to great lengths to teach me how to live an honest life. I now love everything about honesty and the joy of spending life around an open family. Well aware that kids take cues from parents, we had to refrain from any dishonest behavior. Also, we had to reward them occasionally for their virtuous deeds. In case we noted some signs of dishonesty, we had to encourage them to own up their wrongs and explain the consequences of lying.

The Essence of Being Respectful

Respect is fundamental to a child’s development. Respect for elders, authority, other people, and most importantly, respect for oneself is vital to becoming a responsible adult. Training your kids to be respectable cultivates a feeling of self-worth and respect for others. It also goes a long way in helping your kids co-exist and accept everyone for who they are, irrespective of their caste, religion, or creed. Any sign of disrespect should be addressed immediately. At times, spend some time talking to your kids about the value of respect and the consequences of disrespect. You can even make them to attend youth ministry lessons on the Bible, so that they not only learn respect but other values of life as well. There are several essential qualities such as obedience, self-control, kindness, and cleanliness that follow when your kid can demonstrate basic human respect.

The Importance of Time Management

I am a person who values time. Hence, I do my best to manage time, meaning that I refrain from making mistakes that can cost me a moment of my life. Let me help my readers understand the above-mentioned point with an example. Say that I had to spring clean my house. As everybody must be aware, there are so many tasks when it comes to deep cleaning the house, from dusting to mopping and everything in between. I know that all these tasks require a lot of time. Hence, I do not try to juggle myself between them and waste my time unnecessarily. Instead, I consider hiring a helping hand (from firms like Modern Maids–look up house cleaning services San Antonio TX to locate them on the Web) who can assist me in my cleaning endeavor, so that I can finish the tasks quickly and move on to something else that needs my attention. You see, I love working with anyone who can keep time. And looking at the gains that come with effective time management, I knew that I had to raise kids who could manage their time well and meet deadlines. And whenever I got a chance to help them learn how to manage time, I was glad to grab it. Parents should teach the value of time management to their children when they are still young. This means coaching them on simple time management skills and practices such as prioritizing, planning well, and keeping time. The best time to impart this skill to any child is when they are old enough to understand what it means to save time and honor deadlines.

The Weight of Being Responsible

Parents who want the best for their kids should not compromise on responsibility. Your kids will undoubtedly benefit from learning to be responsible. As far as cultivating responsibility goes, I always advise parents to model responsible behavior. This means that you do not have to keep instructing them on how to be accountable. Instead, show them by walking the talk. Cultivating responsibility goes a long way in helping kids develop a healthy attitude and pride in everything they do.

I now understand that learning is a lifelong process that requires serious efforts from both parents and the kids. As a parent, you have to keep encouraging your kids along the way without losing motivation, even after they are past the age of majority. To achieve success in the parenting journey, then you should be it in the long haul. It is easy to lose touch with your kids when you have to attend to professional demands. You should be wary of all manner of demands that might compromise your parental obligations to find a way of giving your kids the best.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the renewed restrictions, we cannot take our children out to the park or to their friend’s house to play. We cannot invite friends over because we have to maintain social distancing. Some countries are still under lockdown, which means that our children are home throughout the day. The kids have online classes that keep them busy, but they have a lot of free time because they are at home. Below is a list of some of the things we can do with our children that will keep them busy and at the same time enjoy the activities.

Make Mathematics Fun

We should try and engage our children when preparing meals for the family. This is the best time to indulge in mathematics activities because they get to know different measurements, recognize different shapes, improve their estimating skills, and make comparisons. In short, it will be a practical learning experience for the kids, and we can all have a good time as well as a great meal. I always ask my kids to help in kitchen activities such as measuring and counting using cups and spoons. Kids can also count and estimate how many utensils will be needed when laying out the table for lunch or dinner. Let us teach the kids different shapes and colors using our cutlery.

Read More Books

These days, we give our children mobile phones or video games to keep them busy. Many children are not interested in reading books. We should always read out texts more often for our children if we want them to develop a reading culture. We can read out different stories and explain to them words they do not understand. Make it more fun by giving them a small quiz at the end of a chapter or reading session to monitor if the kids have understood what has been taught to them. Encourage the kids to tell us a story daily and use different creativity.

Play Board Games

There are many board games that we can play with our children. These include snakes and ladders, checkers, chess, and Monopoly, which is an exciting game for children. This game teaches the kids how to manage money, which estate is worth investing in, and paying bills and fines. Moreover, these games keep us occupied, and we have a great time with the family.

Discover Family History

With the development of so many sites such as Genealogy Bank, it is now easier than ever to look up your family history. Kids love to discover if they are descended from royalty or if there is anyone famous in their tree. You can combine this activity with creating a physical family tree as part of a craft project. Other activities like this might include looking up your last name origin or even searching through Newspaper archives for fun stories about your relatives.

Encourage Out-Door Activities

Many children these days do not like to play outside. Most kids are interested in playing on mobile phones or video games. This isn’t good for a child in the growing stage of life. That is why it is the duty of parents to encourage their kids to play outside. However, this would mean that parents need to ensure that they have enough place on their property which can accommodate the kids’ playtime. However, if that is not the case, then getting a porch or deck constructed (with the help of a custom deck builder or porch contractor) could be a good idea. This could ensure that your kids do not have to go on the road to play. In this way, they can see the world from afar without getting too involved. That said, besides the above-mentioned options, interested people could also opt for a backyard garden or a lawn.

Anyway, once these are done, parents should try getting tricycles for kids and teach them how to ride, play different games such as hop-scotch, or even consider treasure hunt games.

Honestly, it is our duty that we, as encouraging guardians, should also make our kids play other sports such as badminton or football with the kids. If we have a small inflatable swimming pool, we can teach them to swim. These activities keep the brain active, and by the end of the day, the kids are tired and will definitely have a good night’s sleep. Of course, some children might enjoy gardening too, so make sure to try that. For flowers to grow properly, you’ll need to make sure that there are no pests in your garden that could ruin them. One way of doing this is to look for any signs of destruction in other plants around your garden. If there is some damage, it might be worth visiting https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/pest-control/ to see if their services could help. Hopefully, by exterminating the pests, the flowers will be able to grow properly.

Try Different Crafts

Arts and crafts can be exciting and so much fun. Let us encourage our children to draw, color and paint. The pictures do not need to be perfect, and with time we will notice an improvement. We should let the kids paint and color freely and teach them to do it in one direction so that the crafts work looks neat. Trust me; this can be therapeutic for children and adults. We can also make different crafts with the children. We should always encourage the kids for a well-done job through gifts and appreciation when work is done neatly. Supplies can be bought online if you don’t want to go out to get them, and there may even be savings to be had with eBay coupons from sites like Raise.

Try Different DIY Hacks and Tricks

We have many items at home that we do not use. Make use of them by creating something new. YouTube has many videos that show us how to re-use clutter. For example, we can make coasters out of old CDs, or make a small garden using plastic bottles, among many more activities.

These activities will keep our children active and limit their time watching TV or playing games on mobile phones. They will help the kids learn and grow in different ways, and it is also a great way to have a good family time.