parenting Archives - Dad of Divas

Mental Health Tips for Parents

February 17, 2021 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

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:

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.

The Father Effect: 5 Benefits of Being Involved in Your Child’s Life

May 10, 2020 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

For some reason, the role of dads in parenting has been placed second to that of mothers. However, data-driven science has proven that fathers are as important as mothers when it comes to raising kids. According to several studies, including the publication, Life Without Father, by David Popenoe, dads or father figures are very important in healthy child development. Kids who have involved, loving fathers tend to reap tons of benefits from the relationship, including social, economic, and academic success. However, as a father, you need to understand that showing up is only half the battle. Apart from showing up, attending recitals, and taking them out, you also need to be actively involved in your little one’s life. As a result, your relationship with your child will help them enjoy the following benefits.

Higher Cognitive and Intellectual Abilities

Children with involved fathers do better in school and score higher on IQ tests. This can be observed right from infancy. According to a 1991 study, infants whose dads were involved when they were as young as a month old had higher cognitive scores at age one. The same was reported for preterm babies at 36 months. Another study from the University of Pennsylvania indicated kids who had good relationships with their fathers were twice as likely to enter college.

This higher IQ capability has been attributed to the way fathers interact with their children, especially roughhousing, which teaches kids to think on their own. Additionally, since fathers don’t spend much time with their kids, they are usually not aware of their child’s verbal development. They will, therefore, unlike mothers, who will stick to the words their child knows, speak unfamiliar words. This, in turn, teaches the young one new vocabulary and concepts, which plays a crucial role in enhancing their intellect.

Financial Stability

The habits that fathers can provide include simple things such as clipping coupons, saving money, responsible spending, and when age-appropriate, investing using available investment tools such as Finviz or other money management apps and websites.

Fathers play a key role in shaping their children’s financial life, according to CNBC. They do this in two ways. One, they provide financial support at home. Kids from households with fathers or father figures are less likely to be poor, according to a report by the US Department of Health. Two, dads teach their kids good financial habits that are instrumental in achieving financial success.

Better Social Relations

A paternal presence encourages children to have healthy social development. Kids with estranged fathers have a harder time making friends and are less popular in school as per the book, Do Father’s Matter. This is because children lean on their dads when it comes to developing social skills. They learn to respect sexes by seeing how you interact with their mother. Additionally, kids with involved dads are more empathic, compassionate, and have higher emotional IQ.

All Round Development

A paternal presence introduces a much needed and different style of parenting. Moms and dads have very different parenting skills. Kids need parenting differences to develop properly. Mothers tend to focus on a child’s safety and well-being. Dads, on the other hand, encourage risk-taking. They provide a much-needed versatility in social experiences. They play rougher and slower to respond to a child experiencing frustration, which consequently teaches them independence, not to mention problem-solving skills.

They can be better at teaching some things like swimming, thanks to the fact that they are less overprotective than mothers. While mothers emphasize equity, dads encourage healthy competition, which helps the kids grow. Dads foster independence and prepare kids for the challenges of life. They teach justice, duty, discipline, and objectivity. All these things help kids deal with the frustrations of everyday life as they grow.

Positive Moral Behavior

A study carried out by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania revealed that a good father-child relationship reduces teenage pregnancies by 75%. If you are involved with your child, you are much more likely to know who they are interacting with, maybe what they are up to as well. They might also be more open to speak about their relationships with you and come to you for advice. Dads can help their daughters take fewer sexual risks by being present.

A survey by the Department of Justice also indicated that kids with dads are less likely to wind up in jail. The same survey showed that more than half of the 14,000 participants were from single mom households. These studies prove that dads have an enormous influence on shaping their kids’ moral behavior. They are supposed to play a key role in teaching the consequences of doing good and bad. They should also provide protection and teach their kids a sense of self-worth and importance by treating them like they are invaluable.

Important Things to Note as You Interact With Your Child

Other benefits of a warm and loving paternal presence include the ability to use humor, better adjustment to life, and a greater capability to enjoy life and be present. It is, however, crucial to note that while spending time with your child is essential, the quality of the time you spend together is more important than the amount of time you do. Also, if you cannot be physically present, make a point of writing letters or calling your kids so that they can still feel your involvement in their lives.

Family Finance: How To Cope In Difficult Times

March 24, 2020 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Family life isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. It’s hard. Sometimes, it’s extremely hard. Of course, it’s also very rewarding – raising a family is probably the best thing that you will ever do. However, that doesn’t mean that managing is always easy – there are times throughout family life when it can seem a lot harder than during other periods. It’s important to know – that is entirely normal.

Life has this way of throwing curveballs at us when we least expect it, doesn’t it? Sometimes, all it can take is one ‘curveball’ and it can feel like everything is falling apart. Knowing how to manage when this happens can seem tricky. However, there’s always a solution – it’s just a case of finding it, that’s all.

If you and your family are struggling financially, it can feel like the end of the world. It’s extremely stressful when things don’t go right with your finances, but the fact is that you can remedy the problem, and you can learn to cope with the situation at hand. It’s just a case of learning what steps you need to take and how you can become more creative with your approach to finance.

Photo source: Pixabay

For everything that you should know about making your money spread a little further during turbulent times, have a read of the tips and ideas below!

Learn to cook more economically

A great way to cut your family’s spending costs is to get creative when it comes to how you cook. The fact is that often, the cost of family shopping can be extremely expensive, which is where a lot of your monthly income can end up going – on pricey food. However, the good news is that when it comes to your monthly income, it is possible to reduce the amount that you are spending on cooking. It’s just a case of learning to cook in a more economic way.

This means thinking about how you are cooking; and being mindful of what is going into each meal. There are plenty of budget-friendly recipes that you can opt to take advantage of – many of which are free and available online. You can also find a number of budget-friendly recipe Facebook groups to join, where people share daily ideas for keeping cooking cost-effective.

A great hack for cutting costs is to go part vegetarian; cooking with vegetables instead of meat will significantly help to cut your cooking costs. Aim to cook at least three vegetarian meal a week, to help reduce your weekly shopping costs.

Take advantage of budgeting apps

When it comes to budgeting, learning how to start budgeting isn’t always an easy task. There’s a lot that you need to take into account and a lot that you need to consider; which is what can make budgeting a little complex when you first start out.

However, the good news is that there are plenty of budgeting apps on hand to help make the process of learning to budget, a little easier and less stressful. These apps are designed to make the process of only spending what you really need to, far simpler and easier. All you need to do is input your income and outgoings and you can workout what you have spare each month to use for food shopping and other necessities.

There are a number of different budgeting apps to choose from, each of which offers a range of features – it may take a while to find the budgeting app that works best for you but it’s worth taking the time to do so. Some of the most popular budgeting apps include Bean and Dashboard – however there are plenty of others to choose from too.

Utilize voucher codes

A great way to cut costs when it comes to your family spending is to take advantage of voucher apps and websites, such as NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, for example. Here you can find a wide range of deals and discounts that should help to cut your family spending costs and keep prices low, to help make your money spread that little bit further.

A great routine to get into is, whenever you need to replace an item, such as your mop or broom, for instance, instead of going out and buying one right away, take the time to source the cheapest option, without compromising on quality, of course. Voucher code websites and apps can help to make this process easier; ensuring that whenever you buy anything, you’re getting it for the best price possible.

Just make sure that before you purchase an item that’s discounted, that you read the reviews of that item. This is important for ensuring that the item you are buying is of a good quality, and won’t be a purchase that you will live to regret.

Photo from Pixabay

Don’t be afraid to buy pre-loved

There’s often a stigma around buying pre-loved items, however there really shouldn’t be. Whether you’re in need of new household furniture or your children’s wardrobes need updating, opting to buy second-hand can be a great way to pay a quarter of the price you would need to pay brand new.

By choosing to buy second-hand, you can save yourself a lot of money, and ensure that you aren’t overspending or leaving your family short of funds for other things. Wherever you can cut costs and save money, you should do. Don’t be embarrassed to buy second-hand, it’s not only a great way to cut costs but also a good step to take to help lead a more environmental life.

There are lots of places that you can buy second-hand items from, from eBay to Facebook MarketPlace, as well as within various Facebook selling groups. Just make sure that before you buy anything, you are able to see it and inspect it, to make sure that you aren’t being ripped off.

Adopt a ‘make do and mend’ approach wherever possible

We live in a world where, far too often, if something is damaged we simply throw it away and fail to replace it. However, if you want to cut costs and reduce waste, then learning how to make do and mend old items that are failing to work properly anymore is vital.

When it comes to fixing household items – whether it’s your washing machine or a broken chair – there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and other sites that guide you through the process of fixing various items.

You could even get your kids involved in the fixing process, teaching them a number of key skills for later life.

Source extra income opportunities

It’s also a good idea to consider looking out for extra income opportunities; as by adding to your income, you can help to ensure that your finances are able to stretch a little further each month. There are lots of ways that you can earn an extra income from home, it’s just a case of working out what would work best for you.

You could opt to do some freelance work in your sector or choice, or you could consider doing something a little bit different. There’s also the option of completing online surveys for cash payouts. There are a wide number of options to consider.

There you have it, a few useful tips for how you can make coping in difficult financial times a little easier and less stressful. Getting used to being careful with money isn’t always an easy task, but once you’ve adapted to the changes, it can make life far simpler and easier.

Correctly Helping Mold The Passionate Interests Of Your Child

November 20, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

There are almost as many parenting styles as there are parents to have children. Of course, not all are good, or even valid. Many parents that care for raising their child in the most supportive context may grimace when they see beauty pageant parents making their child ‘look beautiful’ and chastising them when they fail to win a competition. We see an overly enthusiastic father trying to live through his son’s or daughter’s sports career, and think that this in itself is terrible parenting. Of course, we cannot know the full story, but having reservations about that can seem right.

But while it’s very easy to see just what we do not like in others, especially when it comes to the treatment of children or teenagers, how can we provide a necessary counterpoint, to overcompensate for this by guiding your child in the healthiest possible manner? Perhaps this is best illustrated by how a parent helps their child of about 12-17 consider their future as a late teenager or young adult. At this age, children begin to express an interest in something, and while this can change, interest and passion are two things alway worthy of encouraging.

Here’s what healthy handling of this may look like:

Do Not Force Them Down That Path

Even if your child finds something incredibly interesting and alluring, there’s no guarantee they will find it that way forever. By all means, be sure to help them explore it, but when you start defining your child by this select interest, you can have a real problem. This is why allowing them to explore that path and giving them a manner in which to appreciate it can be important, but forcing them in that direction is never okay. After all, a child can naturally develop their interests when you also give them time to, not when it becomes something they must do.

We can use an example for this, although of course, like most examples, it is not a universal rule. When scheduled to take instrumental lessons at school, it can be that lugging around heavy instruments at school, or having to attend in their lunch break, or being forced to attend band practice can lead them to feel like this interest is being artificially constricted, even if they make progress. But taking them to see an instructor after school in a private setting? They may flourish in that environment where force is not needed.

Guide Them Carefully, But Thoroughly

Even when your child or teen finds something interesting, it’s very easy for them to feel disheartened. For example, if they try sports and fail to ever score or adapt in certain ways, or if they struggle to meet a worthwhile challenge, or if they’re just not aware of the best approach going forward, it can be easy for them to feel somewhat as if this is not for them.

However, it can also be that looking at the practice in a new light may help them understand the best approach. For example, if they wish to learn martial arts, perhaps judo is not something they enjoy. However, Karate might be something they love, or maybe even boxing gives them that tactical interest they’re looking for. It’s okay if they bounce off their interest or struggle with it, as long as they take a thorough approach to it, and you can guide them in this direction.

Show Them Their Options

Taking the time to explore their options and potential routes forward may motivate them to take this up as a hobby they love, rather than something they feel is a ‘side interest’. For example, it might amaze your teen to understand that US pilot studies and aviation degrees can be applied for, and that the best services help educate you as to your options. This is a very real, lucrative career path, and though the entrance requirements are picky and it will take plenty of work, showing your child that this is possible can be all the news they need to make this a real ambition of theirs.

After all, isn’t guiding your child, no matter how old, towards something they love and enjoy always the best responsibility of a parent outside of love and protection? Additionally, if they begin to find a lofty goal such as this something to aim at, allow them to feel this is a possibility. It may nurture an ambition they might not have known they had.

Invest In Their Interests

Of course, as a parent, it’s important to help your teen invest in the things they love or wish to develop. If a child is showing a very keen interest and dedication learning guitar, for example, driving them to lessons, purchasing them a guitar for their birthday, perhaps helping them bid for that electric guitar and amp on eBay, or allowing them to practice and fail until success night after night is the loving support you give that can nurture their interest.

Think of just how many parents have chastised their children for trying to learn an instrument like a violin but playing poorly (as with the case with all beginners). The child will feel disheartened, and unlikely to continue. Who knows if they’ll try and follow a similar passion with as much interest and zeal as before? That would be a tragedy, but unfortunately, it will have happened somewhere the world. Learn from this bad example and understand that there are more important things than not listening to bad violin or its equivalent for an hour each night. Of course, if your child is practising martial arts moves on their younger siblings, that’s another story entirely. There’s nuance here.

Encourage & Support Them

Sometimes, a little word of encouragement can be enough to help a child keep at something. Perhaps despite their best efforts their team have failed to win the interschool trophy this year. That’s fine. There are more important things than being successful, such as having good sportsmanship, persevering, training to get better, trying to play as a team, and showing up to practice each day.

Encouragement can be a very worthwhile approach should you apply it in the right way. Of course, be sure that this is rational. If you praise your child for everything they do, they will not feel like they tried, or that they need to try. If you praise them for when they do try, or when they go all out, or when they go for something new, that shows you are watching them correctly, and are genuinely happy for them. There’s nothing quite like a child feeling as though they’re making their parents proud, and so giving them that compliment when necessary can help them take that extra step on the journey and see something through, provided it is well placed.

Allow Them To Change Or Try Something New

It might be that your child has played the violin for the last five years, and have played at many local concerts. Perhaps they have achieved a certain competence and skill in their grading. Perhaps now they are happy with their progress, and wish to try something new. Allow them to do that, and to start as a beginner all over again. Do not force them on one path. After all, they will be a beginner in so many areas of life and have to learn that it’s important for them to internalize those lessons now.

With this advice, you’re certain to help correctly mold the passionate interests of your child.

Tips for Prepping Your Kid’s New Room

August 22, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

However much you don’t want them to grow up, there’s inevitably going to come a time when your kids are going to want to swap their pink painted walls or Thomas the Tank Engine cabin bed for posters of their favorite bands and furniture that isn’t painted in primary colors. Much like ripping a plaster off a wound, it’s often best to go in and do a makeover on their bedroom, transforming it all in one go rather than replacing things piecemeal.

Don’t reject their ideas

Tweens and young teens often have very clear ideas about what they want their grownup bedroom to look like, and the chances are it’s not going to be an exact match for what you have in mind. Rejecting their ideas out of hand isn’t the answer; instead, you need to be prepared to compromise, which will also give your child some useful knowledge on using negotiation skills.

As an example, one of the common points of contention between parents and children is when the child wants their room to be painted black. Unless you’re a bit of a goth yourself, you probably don’t want your kids to be living in a room that resembles a gloomy cave. However, there’s no reason why they couldn’t have a black feature wall that would be easy enough to paint over when they got tired of it, or they could choose soft furnishings in black, which will look stylish anyway but are easy to change when the time comes.

Think about the layout

When you and your child are designing the layout, make sure there’s space for a full-size bed and a study area. If they like their games, you could make a separate gaming area or simply design the study area, so it’s dual purpose. Decide on the bedroom essentials first, then see what space you have left for other features. There are some extremely clever space-saving storage solutions available now that can give your child everything they need even in a small bedroom.

Involve your child

Make sure your child is involved at every stage, from planning and design to starting work, decorating, and getting everything back in. For one thing, they’re more likely to appreciate the effort involved, and for another, they need to feel invested in how their room looks. It’s important that your child likes their room and feels safe and secure. They’re just starting out on some of the most testing few years of their life, and having a sanctuary is going to be very important for them.

Declutter

Once you’ve decided on the layout and décor, you can start taking everything out of the room ready for the makeover to begin. This is a great opportunity for some serious decluttering, but make sure you work with your child, so you don’t throw out anything particularly precious! Toys and clothes that they’ve grown out of can be donated to charity, or you could try selling them to help fund the makeover. Give the empty room a thorough deep clean, and then you’re ready to begin.

Keep These Things in Mind when Having a Child

July 15, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Having a kid can be a very scary prospect for some people. You are bringing in an entirely new person into the world, and are expected to care for it for around two decades. Despite being a scary commitment, it’s still a wonderful process. There is nothing quite like a parent’s love for their child, as it is truly a magical thing. In addition, being well prepared for having a child can make the entire process much easier and stress free. However, there are many things that potential parents may not prepare for or even know about parenting. Here are some lesser known things that you might want to prepare for before you have a child.

Time and Commitment

Having a child requires a lot of time and commitment and could take away from other areas in your life. When they are young they will need to be watched at all times. In addition, they need to be fed, clothed, comforted, cleaned, and put to bed. This is something that will take a lot of time and commitment and will likely require help from your partner or other family members. As the child gets older and goes off to school the time and commitment that is required becomes less, but it is still significant. You will still have to provide them with food and care, but they will gain some semblance of independence. However, as they grow up they will become more involved in school and other extracurricular activities. This means that you’ll have to spend a lot of time doing things like helping them with their homework or driving them to their sporting events. If you’re at a stage in your life where you can’t afford to give up a lot of time quite yet, then perhaps the decision to have a child should wait.

Money

One of the biggest things that people don’t realize about having a child is exactly how expensive it is. Raising a child from birth to adulthood could end up costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars. These costs include but aren’t limited to: food, clothing, healthcare, entertainment, and education. In addition, having a child may cause you to take an extended leave from work or even put you entire career on hold. This is something that could be very costly and could have a great effect on your finances. Finally, having a child may cause you to want to move to a bigger home or safer area. You want your child to be set up for success, so you may want to move to an area with less crime or an area closer to a nicer school district. This means you may have to make a change from something like a rural area to a Boston suburb or one of the Cincinnati townhouses. This move could be quite costly and is only a fraction of the total cost of having a child. If you’re not financially stable, then perhaps you aren’t ready for a child.

Social Consequences

One thing that you might not consider when having a kid is the social consequences that could come with it. As mentioned before, a child takes a lot of time, effort, and commitment in order to be cared for. This means that the majority of your time will be spent with your family and raising your kids, which in turn will cause your social life to suffer. For some, this won’t be that big of a deal. However, if you’re still relatively young when you have your first child or are an extremely outgoing and social person, then you will likely be in for a drastic change. After having a child, you won’t be able to go out nearly as often, which could lead to some estranged relationships with friends. Friends without kids might become confused or won’t understand the time commitment that proper child care demands.

Growing Pains

One of the lesser known things about having a child is the growing pains that accompany it. No, we’re not talking about physical growing pains, but rather the mental pains that come with adapting to your new situation. There is now a completely new person in your life that demands all of your love and attention. You may have to skip sleep or meals just to ensure that your child is healthy or comforted. For a little while you may compare what your life was like before childbirth to what it’s like after childbirth. This is completely normal and does not make you a bad parent! As you adjust and adapt to your new situation you’ll be happier than ever! However, the first few months of adapting can be a little rough, so just be wary about that.

Physical Changes

For women, the physical changes that accompany childbirth may be one of the biggest side effects of having a child. Pregnancy can be very rough on your body, and it can trigger a lot of changes. You may find yourself struggling to lose weight that you may have gained after childbirth, simply because the physical changes that have occurred in your body makes it more difficult. In addition, having a child is very stressful which could cause you to turn to things such as overeating to cope. Finally, as discussed before having a child will take a lot of time and commitment from other areas of your life. This means that you likely will not have as much time to exercise and take care of your body as you did previously. All these factors could cause a lot of physical changes in your body, making for a drastic physical change after childbirth.

Resources for Dads of Teenagers

June 18, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Being a dad is a job that never ends. Every stage of your child’s development brings its own challenges, and you’ll probably never be fully prepared for them. One stage that parents everywhere are holding their breath for is that if the teenage years. This is when your not so little kids reach adolescence, and you have to start rediscovering them all over again. Nevertheless, it’s a phase that will pass, but it’s crucial you develop a trusting relationship with them the best you can. Below are a few resources for dads of teenagers.

Puberty

One of the things you’re going to need to think about is how to support them through puberty phases. This can be a scary time for both you and your teen, so being equipped with the right resources is a must. Every teen experiences puberty differently, meaning there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

Parents: You should know that you’re one of the best resources for your kids when it comes to learning about puberty. When talking to them about puberty, remember to start as early as possible, especially before they start reading and seeing information on the internet. For girls, make sure you prep them before their period comes, so they know what to expect. For boys, it may be helpful if you explain to him both about his body and emotional changes.

Books: Aside from sitting down and having the talk with your teens, giving them books to read on puberty could help significantly too. Some helpful books for girls include Period, A Girl’s Guide to Menstruation, and The Period Book. For boys, Secret Men’s Business by John Marsden and What’s Happening to Me? By Alex Frith are options to consider.

Drug Abuse

Although no parent wants to think about their child taking drugs, it’s a reality many are battling with. You can’t be with your kids around the clock, but you can educate them on the drugs out there and the implications of using them.

Online Resources: When it comes to drug abuse, your teens won’t always be forthcoming and tell you that they’re struggling. Start by educating yourself on the signs of drug abuse so you can identify changes in their behavior.

Rehab: You should have knowledge of rehabs near you just in case you ever need it.

If you live in the Georgia area, then look for a drug rehab in Georgia as they can offer personalized treatment and medically assisted detox.

Bullying

Another common challenge that teenagers have to deal with is bullying. If they’re having challenges such as acne, being unusually tall, or having a body odor, for instance, it could cause bullying from other kids.

Therapy: If your teen is a victim of bullying, think about getting them a therapist. They can help with anything from bullying to school problems or anger. In a therapy session, they could end up talking, solve problems, or do activities.

Online Resources: There is a range of online resources you can use to educate yourself about bullying so that you can support your teen. The Bully Project, for instance, has action toolkits and tips for how you can get the school involved. KidsHealth also has extensive information that could help.

Helping Your Child Cope After an Accident

May 17, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Car accidents are traumatic for anyone involved, but particularly for children. Not only will they have their own injuries to cope with, but they’ve also got to experience their caregivers being injured. Children need their parents for safety and security and seeing them injured can make them feel insecure. If your child is involved in a car accident, they’re going to need your help to recover. Here are a few ways you can help them get back on track.

Look Out for Signs of Trauma

Not all children react to such an experience in the same way. Some will be able to shrug it off quite quickly, while others may take a long time to recover. As a parent, you need to be vigilant for signs that your child is not recovering from the trauma. For younger children, it can be a return to more infantile behavior such as bed-wetting and sucking their thumb. If your children are older symptoms can include nightmares, headaches, behavior problems and symptoms of depression.

Be a Good Listener

It’s important for you to offer support by being a good listener. You might think your child doesn’t understand what’s happening to them, but if you take the time to listen to their concerns, they might surprise you. By talking about what happened and how they’re feeling, you will be helping their recovery.

Watch for Signs of PTSD

PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is something your child can develop following an accident, so it’s important you look out for the signs. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares or anxiety. Let them know it’s nothing to worry about and is a normal reaction to trauma while at the same time encouraging them to get back to their normal routine. It’s also important for you to understand that they might not recover without additional therapy and you can make sure they receive it.

Get Legal Help

Your child may need professional counseling or therapy, and they may also need medical care to help them recover from their injuries, all of which are very expensive. You might be entitled to claim for compensation, in which case you’re going to need legal help. If you want to know more about making a compensation claim for whiplash or any other injury visit www.the-compensation-experts.co.uk.

Look After Yourself

Your child may be feeling distressed after the accident, but you’re going to be feeling it too. You’re going to be better prepared to help your child’s recovery if you pay attention to your own feelings and reactions. Take positive steps to take care of yourself such as seeking support from friends, family, and professionals. Find time to relax, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and make sure you’re getting enough sleep.

It is possible for children to recover from the trauma of an accident as long as they’ve got the love and support of those around them. Sometimes all that’s required is for someone to listen. There are, however, instances when a little more support is required in the form of mental health therapy. Don’t be afraid to reach out for external help when your child has been involved in an accident. Getting help from outside the family can speed up recovery times.

How to Cope with Being a Parent and Helping an Elderly Parent

April 5, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Being a caregiver is one of the hardest jobs in the world, especially if you’re a caregiver to multiple people. It is not at all uncommon for many young to middle-age adults to be balancing their family life with kids and helping an elderly parent or relative. Because of this, it can make life difficult, exhausting, and depressing. However, it is important to remember that even though you may feel tired taking care of everyone around you, you are an integral part of their health, happiness, and mobility. Even something as simple as having a sleep chair from www.perfectsleepchair.com can help you each day.

Strategies to Help You Cope

It can be difficult trying to balance life with kids and an elderly loved one who needs constant care and attention. One of the best ways to cope is to ask for help when and where needed. If you have a spouse or siblings, tell them that you need help and that you are struggling to balance everything yourself. Let them step in when you need a break. Also, try to make your engagements with both your kids and your elderly loved ones as fun and interactive as possible. Take your kids and your elderly loved one out for a day, as this can help with mobility as well as getting them to feel happier and more connected with the world around them.

Why It’s Important to Take Some Time for Yourself

One of the biggest problems that caregivers have is that they do not make enough time for themselves. You absolutely need to take time for yourself, especially when you are juggling a family and a needy senior. Taking me-time can be as simple as going to the gym a few nights a week, sitting down to watch a movie on a day off or taking regular baths. Many people also find that yoga and routine meditation can help a lot when they are dealing with a busy, hectic life that involves a lot of caregiving. It is important that you always make time to take care of yourself and to spend time with friends and family who make you happy and get you away from the monotony of everyday life.

Creating Happiness for Everyone

You can and should also create happiness for your loved ones on a routine basis. You can help your loved ones with their mobility problems by offering solutions that will get them around the house more freely. You can also increase their happiness by offering different tools and technologies that they can use on their own when you’re not there. There are lots of different things that you can do together when working with seniors. It might also be a good idea to get your children involved so that they can spend time with their elderly relative and offer their own assistance when it is needed. Now is a great time to teach kids the importance of caregiving and how necessary it is when a loved one needs help.

Being a caregiver can be downright difficult, but there are lots of different ways for you to utilize your skills and knowledge to make a happier and brighter life for everyone involved. The key is to add stimulation to everyone’s lives each day and to provide new and inventive ways to stay connected. Offering mobility options for your loved ones as well as technology that they can utilize every day is great for when they want and need this help. You will also find that it is easy to get kids involved when there are fun activities involved. Finally, it is important to always make time for yourself so that you are able to get the rest and relaxation that you need. You can’t take care of anyone if you are completely run down yourself. Because of this, you need to find ways to rejuvenate yourself without it being a problem. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help when it is needed so that you can get the breaks that you need and the rest that you require. Caregiving is an around-the-clock job, but you will find it is a lot more rewarding when you look at it from a different angle.

Encouraging Optimal Dental Hygiene In Your Kids

March 26, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

If your kids are like most children in the world, chances are, brushing their teeth is just about the least fun activity they can think of. The good news for parents is that fewer kids are getting cavities that just a few years ago. However, the bad is that around 43% of children aged two to 19 do have tooth decay. Keeping cavities and gum disease at bay does take daily work, but there are many ways that you can make it a little more fun for kids.

It’s All in the Angle

Top electronics companies have a plethora of products aimed specifically at kids, but some (such as the Sonicare) are specifically created to make brushing a bit more entertaining.These toothbrushes come with dedicated apps featuring cartoon characters that accompany kids throughout the whole brushing process. The app does two things: ensure that children spend enough time on each tooth, and teach them the correct angle at which to hold the brush. Whether or not you rely on an app, it is vital to teach your kids where to place the brush. For instance, many kids tend to brush only the lower half of teeth, as well as the chewing surfaces of teeth. In fact, they should also target the inner and outer surfaces, as well as the gumline, which is where the majority of plaque forms. Finally, from an early age, kids should be encouraged to floss after brushing.

When to Brush?

Encourage kids to brush their teeth right after a meal, especially if they have consumed sweet foods. Carbohydrate-rich foods enable bacteria that attack the tooth’s enamel. However, if your kids have eaten something acidic (think oranges, lemons, or grapes) they should wait about half an hour, because these foods weaken enamel, and brushing too soon can cause further damage.

Cleaning Teeth with Orthodontics

Kids wearing braces and other orthodontics can be at a higher risk of developing cavities because they are not able to clean the spaces between teeth with dental floss. They should have a special orthodontic brush they can use to brush the gum line and remove lodged material from their apparatus. Devoted dads can make it easier on their little ones by feeding kids ortho-friendly foods which are gentle on teeth, avoiding foods like caramel, popcorn, and beef jerky, which can be very hard to remove when you are wearing braces.

Food Education

As mentioned above, food choices are key when it comes to promoting lifelong oral health in children. Dentists can be very useful at letting kids know why items that may seem healthy, such as fruit juices, for instance, are big cavity risks because they ‘settle’ on tooth surfaces and contain sugar, which is food for decay-causing bacteria. You can play food pyramid games with your children, encouraging to place the food in the right category, or use apps like Healthy Heroes 1&2: Nutrition for Kids, Veggie Circus Farm, or Smash Your Food. The latter is particularly useful for showing kids how much sugar, salt, and fat are hidden in everyday foods.

Keeping teeth in a healthy state is a day-to-day effort. Kids may sometimes hesitate to brush after a meal, so it is important to let them know that they need to get to their teeth before bacteria do! Finally, parents can consider fun toothbrushes that are made just for kids. These combine technology with bright designs, to get kids more inspired to brush with the correct technique.