Dad of Divas

One Dad's Quest to Regain Control of his Kingdom

Indoor Activities That’ll Keep Your Kids Enthralled for Hours

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Many parents working from home will say that keeping their kids entertained (and off their mobiles or tablets) is probably the most challenging part of it all. However, there are things you can do to keep them busy; all you need is a little bit of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, and you’re sure to keep them entertained for hours on end. Here’s how:

 

Board games

Given that there are so many different board games to choose from, you’re sure to find one that will match the educational experience you are looking to get out of it. From numbers to problem-solving to clue finding, board games are a great way to keep your children entertained while still testing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

 

Cooking and baking

Teaching your child to cook or bake is one of the most beneficial activities you could ever teach them because it will be a life skill they can take into adulthood. Furthermore, it is fun for parents and children to bond by experimenting with different recipes as you eagerly await the outcome. Also, your child can learn numerical and word-building skills regarding measurements and proportions.

 

Crafting and coloring-in

Coloring-in is a past-time that never gets old for children and even adults alike. Coloring-in is especially fun for younger children, as it enhances their fine motor skills and helps them even to concentrate better. On the other hand, older children may enjoy the art of crafting more as they get to create beautiful works of art that they can be proud of.

 

DIY science experiments

Few things in life captivate a child’s attention more than a science experiment that could go wrong at any second. Moreover, it’s a highly educational experience that can teach your child to be self-reliant, resourceful, and creative while learning the basics of science, which can even aid them in their regular schooling.

 

Acting out a play

Most children enjoy activities that involve make-believe elements, so if your kids are interested in stories and storytelling and love to dress up, then acting out a play or story could be a great activity to keep them engaged and entertained as they test out their drama skills. It is also an excellent activity for creativity that can help improve their social skills.

 

Helping them to make the most of the day

Teaching your child how to keep themselves entertained will also be an invaluable lesson because you aren’t always going to be around to keep them entertained when they are bored. Here, it’s about encouraging them to use their initiative and creative skills to create something without having to rely solely on technology. Therefore, you should allocate certain times in the day for educational activities that involve the computer or tablet when you cannot get involved in the other types of indoor activities yourself because you’re busy working. This way, they will look forward to it more and give you the space you need to concentrate on your work.

 

So from an indoor perspective, there is plenty for your children to do that doesn’t have to be boring. Moreover, it’s often the simple activities that work well at keeping kids entertained, just as they did in decades gone by.

 

Are you a dad surrounded by divas and feeling outnumbered? Visit the Dad of Divas website and let Chris Lewis provide you with food for thought on how to regain control of your kingdom!

 

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Simple Ways to Encourage Learning

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Developing a love of learning benefits children and continues providing them with positive outcomes as adults. A few simple actions can help foster a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

 

Engaging Activities

In order for learning activities to be engaging, they need to be interesting, age-appropriate, and at children’s instructional level. When introducing a skill, providing practice, or reviewing concepts, provide kids with a variety of engaging activities. High-interest activities that kids can achieve success with will promote learning. 

 

Learning Styles

There are different ways to learn including auditory, which is hearing information, and visual, which is seeing the information. There is also a kinesthetic learning style, which is engaging in hands-on experiences. Lastly, concepts and skills can be learned through reading and writing. Most people, including kids, have a preference for how they learn best. It may be one learning style or it may be multiple. Helping children understand how they learn can be incredibly helpful. Once they have identified their preferences, they can use their learning style to tap into their strengths. This will continue to be valuable throughout their school career and beyond.    

 

Everyday Learning

Encourage learning by tapping into the many everyday things that occur and provide kids with experiences. Learning happens when they’re setting the table, sorting laundry, or adding items to the grocery list. It also occurs when you sing and read together. There is learning happening when the family plays a board game or a card game. Visit the zoo, an aquarium, or a museum. Take advantage of seemingly simple everyday activities that encourage learning.  

 

Setting an Example

Be a role model when it comes to learning. Kids need to see that learning isn’t just something you do while you’re in school and that it continues throughout life. They also need to see that learning isn’t always easy, everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes we have to really persevere to accomplish something. Let your kids see you doing your own taxes for the first time, learning a new computer program, or reading a non-fiction book about a topic that interests you. Show them what you’re passionate about, like cooking, running, or writing. Demonstrate how you greet learning with a positive attitude and a growth mindset.   

 

Exploring Interests

Encourage children to explore areas that interest them. They may identify topics on their own or they may need exposure to different activities in order to discover the ones they really love. Kids may find that they love learning about dinosaurs, playing soccer, painting, riding horses, or playing the piano. All of these activities, and more, will help them develop new skills and encourage a love of learning.    

 

Listening

A simple and fantastic way to encourage children to learn is by listening to them. Kids can be very inquisitive. Take advantage of their natural curiosity. Let them ask questions, provide them with answers when you know them, and research together when you don’t have all the answers. Encourage kids to express their opinions and let them know their opinions are valid. Teach them to explore different perspectives and to confirm and deny wonderings. 

 

Celebrating Achievements

Offer positive reinforcement to celebrate your children’s successes, including the everyday ones. Praise doesn’t need to be limited to scoring the winning goal or getting perfect on a test. Let kids know that you’re proud of them when they persevere on a challenging task, help out a sibling or friend, or try a new activity. It’s also important to let them know you’re there to help when they have questions or just can’t get something right the first few times. Surrounding children with support and encouragement helps them develop a positive attitude toward learning. 

Moving with Children on the Autism Spectrum

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Moving often appears high up on many lists of the most stressful events that can occur in life. Moving house is often thought of as being as stress-inducing as the death of a spouse or the loss of a job. Now imagine how daunting a major transition like moving can feel to a child who’s on the autism spectrum.

Having a stable routine is critical to an autistic child’s ongoing development. Any disruptions or unexpected changes to life’s daily routine can be difficult for anyone on the spectrum. This advice from Dad of Divas will help every member of your family feel more at ease before, during, and after your move.

House-Hunting Advice

It’s important that you find ways to make this transition go as smoothly as possible. Consider how much you can spend on a new home and the various features and home modifications that might be needed in your new residence before you and your family make a decision as to where you’re moving.

  • Have family conversations as soon as you realize you’re going to move. Involve your child in as many of these conversations as possible. If the actual task of house-hunting feels too stressful for your child, take photos of the new dwelling you’ve decided on and show them on a regular basis, asking for opinions and comments.
  • Find the best home to suit your child’s needs. Children on the autism spectrum are often bothered by bright lights and loud noises. While house hunting, be aware of noisy disturbances in the area that can affect your child. Work with a real estate agent who understands your needs.
  • Flow is important. A floor plan that flows nicely from one area to the next is good for a child on the autism spectrum, and each room should have a clearly defined purpose.
  • Look for a sensory-friendly yard space. Check out whether the home has a backyard with a swing set, sandbox, bird feeders, vegetable garden, or other outdoor spaces that add exercise and stimulation to a child’s daily schedule.

Tips for Moving Day

Give yourself extra time before the move to ensure your new home is clean and free of clutter when your child first arrives. A space that’s orderly promotes an atmosphere of relaxation. Decluttering and arranging furniture to resemble your former home’s schema as closely as possible, especially in your child’s bedroom, can help with the adjustment.

If you find a piece of furniture has gotten stained during the move, remedy this as soon as possible as the stain may disturb your child. A clean house with the same furnishings is important to keep stress at bay.

When a regular cleanser won’t get a grease stain out of a sofa, for instance, it’s best to call an upholstery cleaner right away. Speak to a few area professionals about what you need done, get quotes, and read reviews on the internet; you can search online for “best upholstery cleaning service near me” to find local professionals. Ask for referrals from customers and call them. Try to avoid using cleaners who use all-purpose cleaning tools to clean your furniture.

Enjoy Your New Surroundings

The tasks of house hunting and moving aren’t simple to begin with, and things get more complicated when you have a child on the autism spectrum. When you involve your family in the house-hunting process and prepare the new home with your child’s special needs in mind, the transition can be smoother and more pleasurable for everyone.

How to be a Dad to Kids Who Love Sports

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Soccer

How to be a Dad to Kids Who Love Sports

Being a dad is one of the best jobs in the world. There is nothing quite like having children that you love and adore. If you are ever lucky enough to be able to call yourself a father, you should cherish that greatly. As tough as it may be at times, it will be ten times more rewarding and enjoyable.

Of course, everyone wants to be a great dad. However, that can be easier said than done. A major part of being a great father is helping them discover who they are. If your child is particularly sporty, there are some ways in which you can parent to benefit from that. So how do you be a good dad to a kid who loves sports? Here are some things to consider throughout your parenthood.

Be Able to Play With Them

When kids are young, they love trying new things. However, it can be difficult to try them on their own at a young age. This is why it is so important for you to get involved with them. This applies to sports as well. Your children likely won’t enjoy playing the likes of football or basketball by themselves. You should be enthusiastic about getting involved with them and making connections. If you are unable to play with them due to physical reasons, you should try and get them resolved. For example, if eyesight is the problem, Motwani Lasik Institute is a great solution. Their reconstructive repair center will get your vision back to the point where you will be able to enjoy sports with your children. If your problems are more to do with your muscles, you may want to consider a trip to the physio.

Gymnastics

Don’t Force a Particular Sport on Them

As a father, it is far too easy to accidentally push your favorite sport on your child.  After all, it would be great if you both had such a common interest. However, it happens far too often when a parent forces a sport on a child; they end up disliking it. After all, no one likes to be forced into things. You can introduce them to it, of course, but do not push too hard to the point that the interest breaks. Let them discover a variety of sports, from here they can figure out what they enjoy.

 

Bring Them to Live Events

A great way to further your kid’s interest in a sport is to bring them to a live sporting event. The atmosphere and the professional skill level will give them an amazing insight into the world of this sport. Of course, you should make sure that they are age-appropriate events for your children before bringing them. If this is a sport that you are not particularly interested in, you can learn the sport with them. This could even actually prove to be more beneficial if you learn about the sport together. Going to live events will also create some great memories for your family.

Why Parents Must Play an Active Role in Their Child’s Education

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A child’s education isn’t a school’s sole responsibility. For a child to flourish academically, they will need help and support from their teachers and parents.

If your daughter or son is falling behind in class or struggles to grasp difficult concepts, you might need to encourage learning in your own home. Find out why parents must play an active role in their child’s education.

Better Academic Outcomes

According to a study by the Michigan Department of Education, a student is more likely to earn better grades and test scores if their parents are involved in their education. It can lead to improved academic outcomes and much higher graduation rates.

Also, the same study found that parental involvement will help students produce a higher quality of work and set realistic goals for the future. Yet, students whose parents aren’t involved in their education are more likely to drop out of school.

 

Improved Behavior

Almost every teacher will struggle with disruptive behavior in the classroom at some point. For this reason, many educators will introduce an effective classroom management strategy to restore order and help students reach their potential.

However, a teacher can only try so much in the classroom, as it is also a parent’s responsibility to help their children become more engaged and respectful at school and home. Parents must take the time to help children develop a respect and appreciation for education. By doing so, they will be more likely to listen to their teacher and engage in a lesson plan.

How To Showcase The Importance Of Education To Your Kids

An Established Learning Structure

Parents are responsible for establishing a strict learning structure in the home. For example, they must schedule a specific time for a child to complete their homework or read a book each evening. If a parent makes learning a priority, a child will soon understand the importance of education. Encourage your child to fall in love with learning by creating a designated study area or cozy reading space. This should be fairly easy to do, even with limited space.

Gardening will allow children to play in the dirt while learning how to eat right, and the process of photosynthesis while developing their bodies.

Extracurricular Education

The syllabus restricts most educators in the classroom. However, parents can improve a child’s education by embracing different topics and turning everyday activities into fun learning experiences.

For example, a child can learn about animals at a zoo, identify various insects during a walk in the park, or understand probability by playing age-appropriate card games. You can even talk to their teacher about the syllabus, which can help you choose activities or trips to support their education. For example, if your child is learning about a specific historical era, you can take a trip to a museum or visit a historic site to bring the topic to life.

Teachers’ skills and support can only stretch so far. If you want your child to secure top grades, pass tests with flying colors, and enter a high-paying career, you must play an active role in their education. Encourage them to embrace their passions and interests, aim to make learning fun, and set strict rules regarding homework and study time.

4 Tips for Fathers Looking to Quote Term Life Insurance Policies

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As a father, it’s vital to ensure that everyone in your family is covered in case of an emergency.

Father holding baby and blowing on a dandelion

It can be scary and upsetting to imagine a world without you in it, but it’s an unfortunate reality if there ever was a tragic accident. As the father of your children, you want to make sure that you do everything humanly possible to ensure that they are safe. Purchasing a term life insurance policy is one way to do so. In addition, if your family relies on your income to take care of them, a life insurance policy can give them the money they need if you were to pass away. Take a look at these four tips before you decide to quote term life insurance policies. There are plenty of options, and it can get confusing, so it’s crucial to make the right choice.

4 Tips for Fathers Quoting Term Life Insurance Policies

  1. Compare Term and Whole Policies

mother & father & child walking in a field

Image courtesy of Pexels.

Quoting term life insurance policies does not mean that you should rule out whole life insurance policies. Usually, term life policies are the most suitable plans for young families because they are the easiest to understand and are the most affordable. Before you decide on which one to go with, take a look at the definitions of each.

Whole life insurance: This type of insurance provides a person coverage for their entire life. Whole life insurance builds up value the longer you have it, giving it a cash value. The cash value can be invested in or used by the person while they are still alive.

Term life insurance: Term life insurance is much more straightforward because it does not have the cash value aspect. This type of insurance is only purchased for a specific amount of time, ranging anywhere from 5-40 years. Once the term expires, you can buy another policy, switch into a whole life plan, or decide not to buy any more life insurance. Because it does not have the added cash value, it is much cheaper than whole life insurance.

  1. Determine How Much Coverage You Will Need

Before you purchase a policy, you have to choose how much coverage you would like to buy. There are many factors to consider when selecting the amount of coverage to purchase, and it depends on how many people you are supporting, how much money you are making, and more. Here are some questions to ask yourself and your significant other when discussing the possibility of life insurance:

  • Do I have a special needs child or someone that I am taking care of who may need protection for their entire life?
  • Do I suspect that my family’s needs will change through the years? If so, what kind of changes?
  • Do I have a large amount of debt I would like to be paid off in the event of my death?

  1. Speak With an Insurance Agent

When you aren’t writing life insurance policies for a living, you will not understand every detail about them. It’s crucial to speak and consult with a life insurance agent because they will not only help you understand the process, but they will get you the most affordable plan for you and your family. In most cases, it’s best to speak with an independent agent because they are not tied to a single life insurance carrier. They are usually paid by the insurance carriers and do not have a bias so that they can quote and study plans from various companies. This means less research for you and more affordable coverage.

  1. Understand the Types of Term Policies

As mentioned above, term life insurance policies aren’t as complicated as whole life insurance, but there are still several decisions. There are three different term policies, and understanding what they are will assist you in choosing the most suitable plan for your family.

Level-premium: A level-premium term insurance plan is the most common type of term insurance. The policy premiums are the same year after year.

Renewable: As the name implies, this plan allows you to renew the coverage after the plan expires. The policy spells out possible cost increases and best for those who have a short-term need for life insurance.

Decreasing: A decreasing term policy has a death benefit that goes down over time, with the occasional lower premium. This is usually best for people who want to cover a specific debt.

 

Whether you are a single father or have a significant other, you can feel like providing for your family is mainly up to you. While you may be the breadwinner of the family, it is important to ensure that your family and loved ones will be taken care of in the event of an accident. Fabric is the ultimate place for you to quote term life insurance policies, write up a will, and organize all of your finances. You can receive a life insurance quote in as little as ten minutes, making it easier than ever. Learn more about Fabric and get started today to protect yourself and your family.

 

How You Can Help Your Kids Stay On The Right Path

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Being a parent is a tough job, one of the toughest jobs that there is. It takes a whole lot of love, patience, determination, and understanding, and even then, we often feel like we are getting things wrong.

This post may have been titled ‘How You Can Help Your Kids Stay On The Right Path’, the truth is that there is no right path in life – everyone has different ones and what is right for one person may not be so for the next. There is also no guarantee that your child will follow the path that you hope that they will take. However, here, we are going to look at some of the things that you can do to ensure that they are happy, respectful, and law-abiding citizens of the future – and that is all we hope they can be, isn’t it?

road

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Make time for your kids

Children – well, humans in general, thrive on attention and positive time with the people that they love, so by giving this to your kids in abundance, you are already well on your way to being a good role model and showing them the path that you hope that they will take. It does not have to be doing anything big or expensive. A cuddle and a story before bedtime, ice cream after school, and a trip to the park can be just as fun and special to a child as a big, fancy day out. A secure attachment makes children feel safe and loved and is more likely to help them make the right decisions.

 

Model the behavior you want to see from them

Children learn from examples, so show them the behavior you want to see from them. If you want them to be kind and respectful to others, you need to be kind and respectful to others. If you want to show them the value of working hard, you need to work hard. Be the best example that you can be – your children will often follow in your footsteps.

 

Communication is key

Children who are unable to express their feelings can become upset and act out in other ways. Children who can adapt their feelings to words and communicate them clearly to adults and other children are more likely to solve problems through conversation. They are more likely to approach you and talk to you about things rather than making a poor decision.

 

Make sure they are aware of the consequences of poor decision making

One of the biggest deterrents for criminal behavior and poor decision making is to make sure your children are aware of the consequences. At the more serious end of the spectrum is potential trouble with the law and needing a talented group of criminal defense attorneys to get them out of it. On the lesser end are friendship problems, but there is a whole lot of things in between.

Even the best will in the world cannot guarantee your child will always make the right decision and stay on the right path, but these tips will go a long way.

 

Keeping Your Family Safe Online

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Family safety is a priority for all families. We are exposed to so much more than the children of the 90s and before were exposed to. The internet and mobile phones now make it an incredibly difficult place to live, with the fear that our children may be talking to people that they shouldn’t and being on certain online spaces that are not healthy. Our priority is to keep them safe.

There are a huge number of quality and interesting sites on the net, discussion rooms on intriguing topics, articles, photos, games and many other fun activities. The problem with online activity, as in many other areas, is that it is not always possible to know when children are moving to an activity that may harm them. They may get hold of people’s numbers and start talking to them via the phone.  As in any other field in which you accompany your child, and teach them to distinguish between positive activity and negative activity, so too should the Internet be accompanied and explained. Important Note: Collaborating and communicating with your children is one way to learn the field and to get them to understand the problems relating to the internet. Also, supervising children online may be perceived as an invasion of children’s privacy. There are many pros and cons on this issue. However, Internet experts who are aware of the dangers in the field, claim that it is recommended to monitor the children’s activities. If the children get involved with danger, the responsibility of course falls on you – the parents. You can look to the professionals to help, such as using apps that can help you look online to find the information that you need.

What signs should I look out for?

Your child spends a lot of time surfing – especially at night. Most children who fall victim to cybercriminals spend a lot of time surfing, especially in chat rooms. These forums provide visitors with the thrill of conversations with people under anonymity. Although surfing may be a positive experience it is advisable to limit the surfing time. Evening hours are the sexually dangerous hours on the net. Sex offenders take advantage of these free hours to locate and seduce children.

 

You found disturbing material on your child’s computer – Sex offenders may seduce children by sending pornographic material as a means of opening a conversation on the subject. The pictures are used to show the child that sex between an adult and a child is a normal thing. Parents should be aware that children hide the pornographic material on disks, CDs or under password protection, especially if the computer is used by some members of the household.

They are spending time on the phone to numbers you don’t recognize – Cybercriminals strive to move from the online virtual chat room to a phone call with the child. These conversations are a means of excitement for them. They may suggest that the child make a toll-free call that parents cannot identify – but the offenders can identify the phone number through the child’s home.

Create A Second Income & Save!

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When you are dealing with debt and a squeeze around your income, you immediately begin to search for other options that make sense for your finances. One of these options for some people is to get a second income stream set up and ready to go. The trouble comes when it gets to choosing what to do as a second income: where do you even begin?

The thing is, it’s not all that hard to choose something to do and create an income stream out of it. Whether you are able to spend time driving and you are searching for a truck load to bid on for delivery, or you choose to go door to door delivering leaflets, it’s not hard to find a job that fits in with what you want to do in life. You can add some income to your bank account every month around your job, and you will see the benefit pretty quickly! With this in mind, here are a few ways you can create that second income with ease.


Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava from Pexels

  • Invest. Whether you invest in stocks, shares, houses or gold, investing your money is a clever way to ensure that you get exactly what you want for your income. Take the time to speak to a financial advisor and get yourself educated on how investments work. You may even be told to go ahead and invest in Monthly Income Plans, which is great as an option if you don’t have the time to pursue something in which you’re interested. There are plenty of options out there and it’s a scheme that invests in equities, offering a regular income.
  • Consult. What are you good at? If you know you have knowledge that stands out in a particular field, you can take that knowledge and run with it by offering your services as a consultant. You can sell your advice and services both online and offline, helping other people and small businesses to solve their biggest problems. Developing and managing your website, referring students to a particular institute – you can outsource pretty much any skill if you know where to look!
  • Ecommerce. You can sell any old items and things that you create online on e-commerce sites and earn a crust that way. You can manage this around your current job in the evenings and still manage to enjoy a good income! You should consider what you’re selling and how others will benefit from it and then you’ll have a good option to add a second income securely.
  • Tutor. Similarly to consulting, you should consider becoming a tutor. You will be able to provide unbeatable knowledge either privately or via a school or college and earn a small income at the same time. You can enhance your knowledge and add to your income at the same time. You may have an excellent knowledge in a specific subject, and if you do, you can sell that knowledge to help others. No matter what you do, creating a second income allows you more stability with your income.

Mental Health Tips for Parents

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Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world, and in the midst of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, you may be struggling more than ever to keep your mental health in check. As a result, you may have felt a sense of guilt or uselessness for your inability to take control of everyday situations as you once did, but this is completely natural given the circumstances, and you shouldn’t feel the need to talk yourself down. In this guide, we’re going to look at some helpful tips you can take on board to keep your mental health in check as a parent. Take a look at these tips below:

mental health

Talk to your partner

There are days when you may feel completely at your wit’s end to the point where you question your abilities as a parent – and you wouldn’t be the only one. Everyone struggles from time to time, and in such as unprecedented state of events that we’re currently living through, it’s natural to feel moments of panic or uncertainty in your capabilities of taking care of yourself and your children’s needs. If this is the case, don’t be afraid to reach out to your partner for support. They should be one of the only individuals in your life who completely understand your personal circumstances and is happy to support you every step of the way. Through discussion, you should hopefully be able to come to some decisions about how to ease the burden and share responsibilities so you don’t feel overwhelmed or stressed when you are suffering from days of severe depression or anxiety.

 

Know the signs in others around you as well

If your mental health has suffered quite badly over the past year or so as a result of the pandemic, you may begin to notice when others around you are struggling in the same way. Keep an eye out for the key signs that your family or friends are suffering too. Some of the most common signs of depression include:

  • Irritability
  • Lack of confidence
  • Lack of interest in hobbies
  • Unable to sleep / irregular sleep patterns
  • Inability to concentrate

For instance, your teenager could be struggling to open up with anybody. By noticing the signs and being open about how you feel could help them feel not so alone. If, upon noticing the signs, you feel like trying to handle your own mental health issues and help your child is too much, the best option would be to seek professional help such as a counselor or treatment program. Mental health conditions can worsen without the correct strategies, and you may not have much of an idea of how to help your child get it under control. If you believe your teenager is suffering from any of the above symptoms, it would be well worth visiting depression clinics to help them get their life back on track while you also find solutions that work for you. Often clinics can give you essential tactics to cope with parenting a child with mental health issues, for example.

 

Recognize your strengths

When times get tough, and your mental health is suffering, it’s very easy to focus on your weaknesses rather than your strengths. However, remembering how great you are will certainly boost your confidence and hopefully help switch off negative thoughts that are causing you to ruminate. Instead of telling yourself, ‘today isn’t going well’ and ‘I am a failure,’ recognize what you have achieved and what you are capable of. Children are inspired by the behavior they are surrounded by, so aim to stay as positive as you can to be a good role model.

 


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