Angela

Few subjects are as sensitive as those concerning how to educate children. And the gifts you give to your kid are almost always the reason we can receive blame (most of the time!).

Indeed, nowadays, many parents compensate for their absences or shortages with gifts, thinking that giving toys replaces the time we can’t give a child.

The main reason we tend to buy so many toys for children is our love for them. 

We are crazy about our kids… 

We give them gifts because we love them, and that makes us happy. And we hardly support the reproaches and contrary opinions on this subject.

However, some research has found that this addiction is not always beneficial.

Is It Bad To Give Kids Too Many Toys?

It is legitimate for parents to see their children happy… 

As one can assume, the moment they receive a toy as a gift is the greatest joy for them, although it does not last long! 

Seeing them smile is our joy too, and that’s why we do it.

However, researchers recently discovered a downside to giving too many gifts to children. 

But this problem would be more related to the type of the gift, than to offering something.

Some sensory toys are essential for your kids’ brain development. Check this article out to know more! 

What Happens When We Give Too Many Toys?

Gifting toys is not inherently wrong, especially when they can spark your child’s imagination. 

Toys can also be educational and entertaining games. However, problems start to arise when too many toys are offered. 

Some children are too spoiled, but it’s the parents’ responsibility to control this scenario, not the little ones!

It doesn’t take much for a child to get used to receiving toys as gifts. Especially if he gets them without making any effort, which prevents him from appreciating them at their fair value. 

Receiving a well-deserved gift is not the same as just accepting one more. Therefore, the child is not aware of the true importance of the gift. 

With this in mind, here are some other reasons to stop giving your kids too many toys.

• His imagination becomes more limited because he only gets used to playing according to the game instructions. The child then stops creating things directly out of his mind.
• He only has fun with toys.
• Over time, he loses his enthusiasm for toys because he has too many of them.
• Most of the freebies pile up and get forgotten because there will always be a few favorites.
• He will have more work to do when it comes to cleaning up his room, which is why there will often be a mess.
• In some cases, these children become selfish and temperamental. And this type of attitude often remains until adulthood.
• The child is subject to frustration because, in the real world, you cannot have everything. This problem can arise in adulthood as well.

Sorting The Toys Is a Must: Here Is Why

The question is: don’t you have to get rid of the extra toys?

If there is a sort to be done, it is pretty simple according to the games they generate in your child. 

Thus, you will have a better idea of ​​the objects’ usefulness in terms of psychomotor development.

You can then set up a “toy rotation“… 

You can do this by providing the child with some toys for a given period, say a week, for example, and all other toys are out of sight. 

Once this period has elapsed (or if you notice a real lack of interest in your child), you change the toys!

There are two ways to do this:

Either you offer several toys from the same category, and the following week you change them. 

For example, you might come up with a small puzzle, building cubes, and interlocking objects to stimulate fine motor skills and building activities.

Or you offer a toy by category. 

For example, you can keep an object to manipulate with the fingers, a toy that moves the whole body, or a more symbolic toy, such as a soft toy or a figurine.

When I say “a” toy, it can, of course, mean a “set” of toys, for example, wooden cubes. 

Three to five toys per week is good; you can decide according to your child’s needs.

Other Alternatives (To Giving Toys) Are Possible

Toys remain essential for the development of the child. 

Experts recommend avoiding giving them toys with too many lights, sounds, and features, as they need to be creative. 

In addition, other alternatives can be great gifts, such as:

• Travel and walk together: Let us get children used to making an effort to merit a trip or a walk. There are no better memories than those of family trips; the children greatly appreciate these moments.
• Books are irreplaceable: Developing the habit of reading from childhood is the best gift you can give to a person. Give him a book and teach him to enjoy the art of reading.
• Offer family moments: Most family activities are appreciated when they are consensual. Ask them what they would like to do if they want to go to the zoo or the seaside. Add that you want to allow them to introduce them to places that they are passionate about.
• Give something special now and then:  you can treat them to ice cream or make an assortment of healthy sweets.

We abide by certain golden rules that have helped us sail through all the challenges in life. Some of us learned them the hard way, and some of us were lucky enough to learn them from our parents. There is no set playbook for fail-proof ways to succeed, but there are some essential life skills to raise a successful child. Coach your child to execute these skills in practical life for managing challenges effectively.

Below are the essential life skills for children to help them succeed in life:

Focus and Self-Control

There is a reason children are taught a morning routine or a set of good habits to follow. It helps them develop focus and self-control in a world filled with distractions. To accomplish any goal, kids must have a grasp on their attention span and behaviour. Ask your kid to follow study schedule or organize their belongings. Inculcate the habit of practising yoga and reading every day to enhance their focus.

Perspective-Taking

Children who are skilled in perspective-taking are less likely to get involved in conflicts. It’s because such kids understand others’ points of view and emotions over their own. An easy way to instil this at an early age is by discussing every movie character’s feelings and rationale behind its actions. When your kid has a conflict with a friend or a teacher, ask them to think about the opposite person’s perspective too.

Communication

We know the importance of communication in today’s world. It is essential for raising a successful child. While reading and writing are significant, learning how to express yourself efficiently is the real deal. Remove dedicated time to hear your child out. Observe their listening skills and the way they react to things.

Building Connections

Making connections with objects, acts and people is the epitome of essential life skills. Possessing all the information is not going to be beneficial unless your child learns how to use it. Children constantly learn how to make connections in their daily life, for example, deciding which shoes to wear for running vs a party or saying thank you on receiving a gift.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is to analyze facts and form a judgment -An intellectual life skill that kids must develop as it is will be helpful in all walks of their life. Critical thinking will help your child evaluate problems better using a logical approach.

Taking on Challenges

If it doesn’t challenge us, it doesn’t help us grow. When a child gets settled in their comfort zone, it does not leave any scope for development. Hence, children must be taught how to take up new challenges and overcome them, whether it is public speaking or learning a new language. 

Self-Directed Learning

What’s the fun in following a fixed, automated path to learning? Let your child reflect upon their life experiences and learn from them. Let them set their own goal and work towards their success. Teach them to be flexible in learning something in a new way. This life skill will also foster your child’s natural curiosity to learn.

Resilience and Grit

We all fail in life but having the ability and courage to bounce back is a sign of toughness. Do not let a bad experience grow on your child. Explain to them how resilience is an essential survival skill to keep going. At the same time, do not forget that a child is still a child, and they need their own time to recuperate. Support your little ones with positivity and give them strength in difficult situations.

Though a child learns from their own life experiences, being there for them when they need is a parent’s responsibility. Equipping your kid with these essential life skills can help them be successful in life.

Screen time has been a much-debated topic among parents, caregivers, and educators. However, the focus has been mainly on how badly it affects children. According to a 2010 study, children between the ages of eight to 18 in the United States spend around 7.5 hours on average with screens. This, along with the inevitable fact that the screens aren’t going anywhere, had parents and caregivers worry and wonder about how to limit screen time.

Let’s Learn More About Screen Time

Essentially, screen time is the time spent utilizing electronic media. These include televisions, smartphones or even game consoles. There are many reasons why screens are used. In the end, most of the time, these devices and screens make our lives easier and more entertaining. They are not going anywhere anytime soon. 

Though screen time can seem innocent at times, it is essential that parents and caregivers monitor their child’s screen time habits. For over twenty years, scientists and parents have been debating over screen time and many studies have been done on the subject. The majority of the studies point to the fact that unstructured and unmonitored screen time can harm your children in more ways than you realize.

Issues that Screen Time May Cause

Though it is not fair to blame every problem your child may be going through on the time they spend on their phones or computers, overuse of or unstructured screen time can cause real physical and mental issues to your child like the following:

Doing poorly in school

After health problems, this may be one of the biggest concerns for parents and caregivers. The observation is that elementary school-age children with televisions or other devices in their bedroom perform worse than those without these devices in their rooms. Of course, screen time may not be the only thing causing your child to perform poorly, but its contributions can be detrimental.

Obesity

Movement and exercise are such a big deal in a developing child’s life. Unfortunately, too much screen time can push the child towards a sedentary lifestyle, and can be linked to the child being obese and overweight. There are other moving parts here, though. The food advertisements on the TV can cause the child to develop an appetite for junk food. Also, experts recommend that no one should eat while also watching television or playing video games, because the act can make children overeat without noticing.

Behavior Issues and Violence

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that too much screen time can cause children to internalize what they see on the television and screen, imitate the characters they see, and resort to violence when they face a problem in their lives. This overexposure to violence through video games, television or other screens may eventually cause the child to be desensitized to the violence. Moreover, school-age children who spend more than two hours a day watching television or playing video games were found more likely to have attention and social problems.

Irregular Sleep Schedules and Sleep Problems

Children may get caught up in playing video games or binge-watching a TV series day in and day out, especially during the holidays. Or, you may think to yourself that watching TV with your family to wind down before sleep is nice. However, the effects of screens on sleep were studied and the results showed that the light emitted from the screens interferes with the sleep cycle in the brain. It might be a good idea to not look at a screen at least an hour or two before bed. Because these harmful acts may eventually cause the child to develop insomnia.  

Is Screen Time Really That Bad? What are Screen Time Recommendations?

Yes, screen time has been a highly debated topic. The American Academy of Pediatrics used to recommend that children should not spend more than two hours of screen time. However, with the development of technology, it is not realistic to escape screens and abide by this recommendation. The new guidelines by the AAP now focus on suggesting healthy habits that parents and children can adopt to prevent harm through screen time.

Of course, there is no solution that will fit all. However, if parents and caregivers are more informed about screen time and uses of it, and a structure is established, screen time can be beneficial for children. If used smartly, technology is a great source of information, education, and entertainment. The important point here is that parents should monitor the screen time their child spends as well as the content they consume.

There are a couple of recommendations by the AAP for the parents. They should model a healthy way of using technology, and establish a set of rules. Make sure that you as a parent put reasonable limits on time spent with devices. Unlimited access is not such a good idea.

Benefits of Quality Screen Time for Children with Special Needs

Parents and caregivers of children with special needs may especially worry regarding their kid’s screen time. Some characteristics and behaviors that come with the neurodiversity of the child, for instance, an autism spectrum disorder. Parents of children with special needs may feel like their children are at a higher risk compared to their peers without neurodiversity.

Children with special needs may exhibit characteristics such as difficulty with social skills, limited communication skills, or trouble sleeping. Children with autism may also have restricted and repetitive behavior. All of these may cause the child to be attracted to the smart device, and use it more often than anticipated. Of course, these are all valid fears.

However, when used right, there is an abundance of positive sides to the use of technology and smart devices. Screen time can be used to the advantage of the child. There are various tools and resources available online and on screen that support the child’s education. Many smart devices are built to support the child’s speech and language development, even become their way of communication, like Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.

The trick with utilizing screen time to the benefit of the child is to make sure that you monitor the time spent as well as the spent they consume. It is important that the child is interacting with the device or the screen, rather than passively watching it. This will make sure that the child improves their brain and motor skill development. Playing the piano or drawing a tree on the screen will be much more beneficial than watching a video that isn’t interactive.

Another point to make is that using screen time as a distraction is not really the way to go. Children, especially children with an autism spectrum disorder love routines and repetitions. Try to strategically administer screen time when social interaction is low during the day. This will make sure that the child still practices on their skills. However, avoid screen time right before bedtime, as it is harmful to the sleep schedule of your child.

Although it might be difficult to manage the screen time your child with special needs spends, catching these early and intervening and being adamant on your structure will be much more beneficial, and your child will be able to get the best and most technology can offer without actually doing harm to themselves.

So how do I limit screen time for my kid?

There is no specific method that works for everyone or for every child and parents and caregivers may find it difficult to limit the screen time for their child. You should know that the first step is to just start noticing, being aware of the time and the content. Then, it is possible to limit the screen time, and turn it into something that is beneficial for the child. Mayo Clinic has some tips that you can try to limit your child’s time spent on screens, like the following.

No eating in front of screens

You may have noticed that when you start eating in front of your TV or computer, you sometimes don’t know when you finished your meal. This is because screens can cause overeating and mindless munching as you don’t realize how much you eat while also watching something. Eating in front of screens can also increase your child’s time spent on watching these devices.

No background TV

There is no point in turning the TV on for background noise. Your child will be distracted by it, and there is no doubt about it. They will probably turn their head to the screen and watch it at one point. So if you are not actively watching the TV, try not to turn it on. Also try turning the TV off altogether a couple of nights a day, where you do something else as a family, like reading a book or playing board games.

No screens in the bedroom

The negative effects of screen time on sleep is now established. Putting electronics and other similar devices in your child’s bedroom would cause them to spend much more time on them compared to those who don’t have screens or devices in their rooms. Having these screens in the bedroom would also allow the child to use them right before sleep, which is harmful. Also, having these devices in a common room would allow the parents and caregivers to easily monitor the time and content.

Before bringing a new baby home, there is a lot to buy and consider.

But, first and foremost, you will need to consider buying diapers!

However, as soon as you begin looking, you will see that purchasing diapers may be rather challenging. Cloth or disposable are your only options, and even then, there are countless variations of each.

Let us make baby diapers simple to grasp by breaking them down into their many types.

Regular disposable diapers are the best option for the majority of parents. As your child grows, they will eventually need pull-ups or other toilet training underpants.

But other families prefer to use fabric instead, or a mixture of the two.

1. Disposable Diapers:

Disposable diapers have swiftly gained popularity among parents due to their ease of use and lack of maintenance.

A nonwoven fabric sheet is between two layers of absorbent material in the diapers.

In addition to the absorbing padding, the nonwoven fabric helps keep the diaper from leaking and gives it a pleasant fit.

Most of us have no idea how many stages diapers go through throughout the manufacturing process.

Disposable diapers are ideal to solve frequent issues with cloth diapers, such as leakage and the need to wash them.

2. Diapers Made of Cloth:

These are a much more affordable option.

The fact that they are kinder and cuddlier makes them ideal for use on newborns’ sensitive skin.

High-absorbency materials like cotton fleece and terry, as well as thick flannel, wool, and unbleached hemp, are in cloth diapers.

There are now diapers manufactured from bamboo or organic cotton fabric that are eco-friendly. 

However, compared to non-organic counterparts, these are a little more expensive. 

Cloth diapers come in a wide variety of styles. 

If you decide to go with cloth diapers, you should be familiar with the various types, so you can select one that fits your baby well. 

So, to ease your worries, I would recommend you RealDiaperAssociation.

3. Diapers for Multiple Purposes:

Such diapers are a variant of pockets diapers and are water-resistant. 

One such product is the Bummis Easy-Fit Diaper. 

These are great for on-the-go diaper changes and may even be used overnight if you include an extra diaper in the set. 

Due to their size and thickness, they may require additional time in the dryer following wash. 

Some are one-size-fits-all; rather than buying bigger sizes as your child gets older, you just fasten the front straps to the outer snaps.

4. Diapers That Fit or Those That Contour:

They have a small groin and broad wings which drape over the baby’s waist, making them look more like disposable diapers. 

Diaper hooks are necessary by some, whereas Velcro fasteners are in others. 

Those with snaps, such as the Baby BeeHinds one-size hemp fitted diaper, are a different breed altogether. 

The waist and legs of certainly fitted diapers are elastic, with a thicker absorbent layer in the middle. 

You will have to get many sizes of contour diapers as your child develops, which is inconvenient.

5. Pocket Diapers with Cloth Inserts:

Pocket diapers, sometimes known as “contemporary” cloth diapers, are a common pick for parents who want to leave their children in the care of a babysitter.

Both the inside and the outside of these diapers are separate systems. These diapers come with moisture-wicking fabrics like Minky, suede-cloth, or microfleece, and the latter being waterproof and typically constructed of PUL.

To launder pocket diapers properly, you should detach the inner and “re-stuff” them before utilizing them.

Pocket diapers are a popular choice among mothers since they are simple to use and dry rapidly.

6. Pull-Up Diapers:

Such diapers are ideal for toddlers who are just beginning to use the restroom.

Pull-up diapers resemble ordinary underpants in both designs and look, but they do not use elastic or sticky tabs.

Some of them are made and just let the kid know when the diaper needs to be changed as quickly as it becomes a tad drenched. 

It will alert the kids if they need to use the restroom more often.

Huggies and Pampers have gain popularity with some surprising developments for these diapers to facilitate toilet training as easily as possible for families.

7. Pre-folded Diapers:

All of those are cylindrical as well, but they are not quite as large as fully unfolded diapers, therefore some parents prefer them. 

For them to fit inside a waterproof diaper cover, you will have to fold them once or twice. 

However, depending on how you fold them, they may be modified to meet the varied absorption demands of males and girls or the less-solid waste of a baby. 

As your baby develops, you will have to buy new diapers and covers. 

As an example, Green Mountain Pre-fold Diapers include sizes for newborns up to XL-Toddlers, as well as small, medium, and large. 

Diaper services most often utilize pre-folded diapers.

Safety Concerns When Using Diapers:

Your baby will most probably live a couple of years in diapers, and therefore it is rational sense to consider picking diapers that are safe and comfortable. 

Cloth diapers have gone a long way in recent years of two additional pin closures, so there is no need to worry about your baby getting a finger puncture! 

To that end, you will be happy to hear that modern reusable diapers are safe and secure for your kid.

So, if you choose eco-friendly diaper companies, it will be safe for the planet as well. 

This is what you should know about the safety of diapers.

Take Away:

For the next few years, diapers will be a significant part of daily life.

The dampness will make your child unhappy and put an awful lot of strain on you if you do not pick a trusted source that benefits him.

With every reliable brand of disposable diapers, the number of recent parents and their babies will be OK.

Make your way up to Size 1 with just a few boxes of the Newborn size.

With the fall semester well underway, you might be excited for a return to in-person learning, but your child might need some extra encouragement. This may come in the form of new school supplies, such as clothes, a new laptop or a school bag.

However, school supplies can only go so far in getting your child excited for getting back to school. You don’t have to be reminded that staying at home has given children a sense of comfort and security that they simply don’t have at school. Changing environments and losing that level of comfort can be challenging for anyone, let alone children.

With how important education during these formative years in a child’s life is, you want to make sure they are as prepared and ready as possible to get back to school and succeed. Here are some tips to ensure your child has a successful year back at school with in-person learning.

Make Sure They’re Socializing

With a year (or more) having been spent learning at home, some kids may have difficulty socializing in-person again. Having a good circle of friends and being social is incredibly important to your child’s development, so look out for any signs of antisocial behavior or difficulties at school.

If your child is showing these signs, talk to them but don’t be intrusive. If they don’t feel comfortable saying something, trying to force it out of them will not help. Speak to their teacher as well, they’ll provide important insight about your child’s school life that you would otherwise be completely unaware of.

As a parent, one of your best resources for getting your child to socialize more is other parents. Get together with other parents from your child’s school and organize play dates or hangouts between both of your children.

Sign Them Up For Extracurricular Activities

One of the best ways to get your kids more excited about school and ready to get up every day is to get them involved in extracurricular activities. Whether this be a club or a sport, your child will have something else to focus on other than school. This can be incredibly beneficial for their mental health and social life.

Your child may be reluctant at first, but keep encouraging them to stick with it. Remind them that they’ll make friends and memories through extracurriculars that they will remember for the rest of their life. Don’t forget to get their insight when enrolling your child in any extracurriculars. You already know them, their wants and needs, but a parent can only know so much. 

If they have expressed interest in any activities or sports, tell them that they should sign up and get involved. Support their drive to get involved.

Write Them Inspirational Notes

Your child has more than likely spent a large amount of time with you during the pandemic with remote learning. With them going back to school, they may feel separation anxiety and need a little encouragement to keep them going throughout their day.

To keep your kids motivated all day, consider leaving them encouraging notes in their backpack or lunchbox to help them make it through the day. 

To make things simple, we’ve included a printable that will allow you to write your kids an inspiring, heartfelt message that they will love and appreciate. A simple message could be all that your child needs to get them through a tough day at school.

PDF Download Link

We’ve also included a printable with prewritten inspirational phrases and pictures that you just have to cut out and include in your child’s school supplies, no effort or writing necessary.

PDF Download Link