Looking for Back to School Organization Ideas? Get Them Here!

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

School is back in full swing and with it back in full swing there comes stuff. Papers, books, pencils, glue, scissors, erasers, ect. Just a lot of stuff. In order to help you keep everything organized we found this article with ten different organization tips. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

School???s in once again and with the new school year comes busy mornings, lost homework, and a general sense of disarray. Really. Every parent dreads the beginning of school at some point simply because of the stress of getting them up and out the door on time every morning.

We???ve got the perfect solution. We took the time to gather a few organizing tips that will help you and your students get a better grip on those busy mornings. From planning what to wear the night before to keeping those papers organized so you can find homework easier, you are sure to be able to put these organizing tips to good use.

We???ve even got a way to make homework time a bit less stressful for you and your little ones. Sit back and relax. We???ve got you covered for back to school with great organizing tips that will help you to enjoy a less stressful year.

Always Plan
Planning ahead is the only thing that is going to save your sanity during the school year. If you don???t already have one, create or buy a family planner. A dry erase board, bulletin board, or something similar will do the job perfectly. You can easily create your own back to school organization station and keep track of literally everything that???s going on throughout the year. Include a calendar, homework schedules, and those little things that the kids need to take to school once in a while. You???ll be surprised how well you can save your sanity when you are completely organized.

Get Into a Routine
Above all, you have to get into a routine with your back to school tasks. Whether it???s getting the kids ready for bed at night or making sure that they get all of their homework done, keeping everything on schedule makes it so much easier to ensure that everything gets done. You can print off these amazing schedules that will allow you to keep track of things as they get done. Once the homework is finished, check it off the list and put it back into the backpack. You get things done without stress and you make sure that everything is ready for the next day.

Organize Papers with Binder Clips
Keep binder clips clearly labeled so that you can easily organize school papers. Create a label for papers that need to be signed and returned to teacher, those that are already graded, and any homework or projects that aren???t due right away. This helps you to know that you???ve gotten everything turned back into the teacher that needs to go and you???ll be able to easily tell which papers have already been graded and which ones may need to be taken back to school. Binder clips are really inexpensive and you can hang them near your organization station to keep homework ready to go.

Stock Up on School Supplies
One of the main ways that you can lose it in the morning is when your child tells you that they are out of paper or something else that is crucial to their school day. You can avoid this stress completely by keeping yourself stocked up on everything that they???ll need. Imagine not having to run out at midnight on Sunday night to get that poster board because your child forgot to tell you that she has a project due the next morning. You can even organize those supplies so you???ll always know what you have and what you need to restock. Over the door shoe organizers work great for holding pens, pencils, crayons, and loads of other supplies and your stock will take up very little room.

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Looking to promote healthy family habits? Checkout this article about healthy family habits tips that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.diyncrafts.com/7498/organization/10-stress-saving-organization-tips-back-school

Have a Kid that Loves Minions From Despicable Me? Learn How to Makeover Their Room Here!

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Despicable Me is a funny movie. There’s no way to deny that. If your child loves the movie though and would love their bedroom to reflect the movie then you’ve come to the right place. We found this article for you with design ideas. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

If your kids are looking to add a little minion fun to their bedroom decor, then take a look at these ideas that will give them the fun look they are seeking without going completely overboard.

Color Palette
Before you go online and buy every Despicable Me/Minion bed set, night light and other bedroom related decor items it is important to realize that your kids taste is likely to change faster than you can say Bee-Do. By sticking with a color theme you can get the ???minion look??? without overspending. The Minion color palette is easy to follow. To stick with the theme, focus on using shades of blue, yellow, and grey.

Curtains
Unless you want to walk in to your child???s room everyday and be greeted by an huge set of goggles with beady eyes each morning then I suggest going with a fun curtain that can remain in your child???s room long after this minion craze passes.

In addition to the aforementioned decor ideas you can also consider over-sized plush toys, lamp shades and other simple inexpensive items. Decorating your child???s room should be a fun experience, for all parties involved.

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Looking to design a small bedroom? Then checkout this article about small bedroom design ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/create-ultimate-despicable-minion-themed-kids-room/

Looking for Summer Outdoor Activities for Your Kids? Get Ideas Here!

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

In the summer kids get bored easily and they have the ability to lose knowledge they gained in the previous school year. In order to help you out with both problems we found this article on fun outdoor activities. We hope it helps!

From the article:

Summer break may be only about 10 weeks long, but during that time kids can forget a lot of what they spent the previous nine months working hard to learn. Recent studies have shown that kids can lose up to two months’ worth of reading and math skills over summer vacation — and that means teachers have to spend precious classroom time each fall bringing them up to speed. “Keeping children’s brains challenged throughout the summer is crucial,” says Craig Bach, vice president of education for Goddard Systems, Inc., franchisor of The Goddard School (goddardschool.com), a network of preschools focused on learning through play.

That makes sense, of course, but what parent wants spend time drilling her kids on math facts when there’s outdoor fun to be had? Well, good news: Summer vacation and learning aren’t mutually exclusive.

“Summer is a great time to awaken kids to the love of learning and help them discover that learning can be joyful — even if they think that school itself is not,” says Heather Staker, the author of Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools. “Some education reformers would do away with summer vacation. I take the opposite view: Summer is an important time for informal learning and discovery.”

The following activities are all expert-approved ways to stop the summer slide while having fun outdoors. Each one supports continued learning by creating opportunities for children to be creative, think critically to solve problems, count, read, or categorize or group things and ideas. Try one (or more!) today.

Try something new. “Talk to your children about a new experience they would like to try,” Bach suggests, such as sleeping outside in a tent or fort you make together, trying a new slide at the park, or learning how to do a somersault or cartwheel. “Summer is a wonderful opportunity for children to gain confidence and grow as individuals by trying new things outside of their comfort zones.”

Plan or join a community event planting trees, bushes, flowers, or a garden. “Use this opportunity to study and discuss all the benefits that plants provide for us,” says Staker. “Plan walks around areas in the city to identify the areas that are most in need of these benefits.”

Enrich outdoor adventures with a driving question. “A driving question is an overarching question that will initiate and focus discovery and learning,” Staker says. Examples of good driving questions include “How can we use a camera to persuade citizens to protect the wildlife around our city?” or “What is best route for a walking tour of our town?” Take the learning a step further by encouraging your kids to participate in developing the question, Staker adds. “Or ask kids to imagine they’re in charge of creating a campaign to get kids off devices and into the sunshine. Ask, ‘What parks and local outdoor attractions should we feature in the brochure?'”

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Looking to promote family unity? Checkout this article about how to promote family unity that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.parents.com/fun/activities/outdoor/fun-outdoor-activities-to-beat-summer-brain-drain/?socsrc=pmmtw#

Looking to Improve Communication Skills at Home? Learn The Ways Here!

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Communication in any relationship is very important. No relationship can really thrive without good communication. In order to help improve communication skills in your home we found this article for you. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

Our Top 10 Tips For How To Improve Communication Skills at Home

GIVE WAIT TIME
Most of us don’t even wait for people to finish a sentence before we chime in with what we have to say.

A good rule of thumb is to wait 5-10 seconds for your child to answer. It gives your child time to process what they want to say. This can also prevent or diminish stuttering in some children.

DON’T OVER CORRECT YOUR CHILD
If you demand that your child say a sound correctly, especially if it is a sound that doesn’t develop until they are older…

…please stop!

Over correcting is the exact opposite way of how to improve communication skills.

The more you demand they say something right, the worse it may likely get. You don’t want to make talking and saying speech sounds a negative thing, because they just might stop doing it altogether.

Analogy time: Trying to “make” your child talk or say a sound “right” is like trying to tell someone who can’t cook, to cook better.

TREAT YOUR CHILD AS A FULL COMMUNICATION PARTNER
This can be tricky to balance. You need to talk to them as if they are adults but still remember they are children.

Talking with them like an adult doesn’t mean use adult vocabulary, jokes, or information they won’t understand. It means take turns, use eye contact, and value what they say.

As for younger children, there will many times they say something you don’t understand (gibberish), but again, take your turn, make your best guess about what they are talking about and reply to them…

…even if you’re not sure what they’re talking about.

Don’t talk to them in baby talk all the time. It’s O.K. every now and again, but after they are about 9 months old, try to limit how much you do it.

BE A GOOD MODEL
I’m not talking about being a good “role model”, although you need to be that too, I mean a good speaking model.

If you want to build strong speech and language skills in your child, you need to show that you have skills yourself. A good rule of thumb for how to improve communication skills is to talk slightly above your child’s level.

That way they will be stretched enough to keep building their skills.

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Looking for ways to clean common items in your home? Checkout this article with cleaning tips that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.home-speech-home.com/how-to-improve-communication-skills.html

Looking to Improve Your Communication With Your Plugged In Child? Get Ideas Here!

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Technology and screens are everywhere. They make it more challenging to have an actual conversation with anyone, especially kids. In order to help you out we found this article with simple ideas on how to better connect with your plugged in child. We hope it helps!

From the article:

Here are some simple tips to help make better connections with your plugged-in children:

Elementary School Children
1. Make a clear plan and ask them what they want to do for the day.
2. Limit screen time when you???re in the car or forbid it entirely. If your children are under age two, no screen time at all.
3. Allow them to negotiate???more screen time at home if they cooperate and help you shop or do their chores, but no more than an hour a day on screens (all of them).
4. Take them to a park or some place where they can run, play ball or do some kind of exercise. Take them outdoors every hour! Go sledding or walking or skiing! Walk the dog! Make projects with them.
5. Listen to music they love when you???re in the car or at home.
6. Participate in screen-free weeks if your town or school has one scheduled.

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Looking for more tips on communicating with your child? Checkout this article with communication tips that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/listen-the-kids/201401/are-your-kids-plugged-screens

Looking for Ways to Simplify Your Life? Checkout These Ideas!

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Our lives are busy. Very busy. With each passing year it seems that they become even more so. If you’re looking to simplify your life then you’ve come to the right place. We found this article with 101 different ideas to help you out. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

Contentment is reaching a place of utter serenity and satisfaction with life. Many believe that the more you acquire, the happier you???ll be. However, you will often find that the more you own, the more discontented and unsettled you feel. There is too much in the world to keep us preoccupied, heightening our stress and pulling us in multiple different directions all at once. This is why many people are turning toward minimalism, striving for a simpler life and relief from all the pressures of our society.

Unlike many stories of the minimalist lifestyle you may hear, you don???t need to do something extreme like sell your car or build a tiny house to live in to see a difference in your life. Whether you???re looking for a change in your routine or ways to declutter your house, here are 101 manageable ways to simplify your life. They are sorted into categories for easier navigation.

Home
1. Ask yourself some starting questions. If you???ve caught the minimalist bug, it may be tempting to get started on decluttering your home right away, but don???t dive in before establishing your goals. What do you want to accomplish? What rooms need extra attention? How much space do you want to free up, or how much clutter do you want to eliminate?

2. Start with a clean slate when decluttering. Whatever problem area you are working on, it is best to take everything out first. Empty your closet, dump out your dresser drawers, or clean off your desk. It may be overwhelming, but sometimes things need to get worse before they can get better.

3. Sort your items into piles. Organize as you go by designating things as keep, throw away, recycle, give away, sell, or undecided. There are some items that no one else may want or be able to use, which you can dispose of with ease. If you have a local Goodwill or similar organization nearby, you can drop off some of your better stuff there. You can also sell it online through sites like eBay, or Craigslist for local pick-ups of big items. Use the ???undecided??? pile sparingly and don???t put off your final verdicts for too long.

4. Get rid of clothes you rarely wear. Clothes that are not the right size, are not a flattering cut, shrunk in the wash or have noticeable stains, or possess some other defect that makes you avoid them should be tossed. This also applies to clothes that align with an outdated fad or items you only wore once for a special occasion. Don???t hang on to a certain outfit strictly for its sentimental value.

5. Choose versatile clothing. The easier something is to mix and match with the rest of your wardrobe, the more likely it is that you will wear it. Oddly-colored or specialty pieces greatly narrow down your choices for what to pair with them.

6. Cut down on accessories. You don???t need tons of shoes, hundreds of pairs of earrings, or a purse to match every outfit. Again, keep things that are versatile, as well as your absolute favorites, then get rid of or give away the rest. This also means showing some restraint and not caving every time Claire???s has a store-wide sale.

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Looking to organize your garage? Then checkout this article about garage organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.goedekers.com/blog/101-steps-simpler-life/

Looking to Promote Healthy Habits in Your Family? Checkout These Tips!

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Keeping a family healthy isn’t the easiest thing under the sun. In order to help you identify ways your family can make better choices we found this article with ideas. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

We are happy to share with you our complete list of tips for how to change your child and family’s habits.
Changing habits can be a fun family event if you set small simple and achievable goals. Each small change does add up to a healthier child and it is best to work on one or two habits at a time.

Here is a list of our tips that

provide ideas tips on positive reinforcement

promote tips for getting starting

offer actions to follow through on change

List of Tips For Promoting Healthier Habits For Your Child And Family

Help your child set one healthy goal

Have your child track their progress.

Encourage your child to track their goals with lots of enthusiasm.

Be patient. It takes time to change habits.

Think small. You can reach any goal with one focused step at a time.

Praise your child for trying to change habits. Be encouraging.

Evaluate your family???s healthy goals.

Be positive. Smiling is good for your health.

Help your kids learn about healthier foods at the grocery store. Read the food labels.

Today make over your fridge and throw out the junk.

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Looking to travel as a family? Then checkout this article about family vacation ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.nourishinteractive.com/healthy-tips/categories/16-healthy-habits-family-health-goals

Are You a Lazy Cook? Checkout These Oven-Free Recipes!

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

It can be very difficult to come up with new recipes that your family will like, especially if cooking isn’t something that you really enjoy. If you’re a lazy cook, some or all of the time, we found this article for you. It has 15 different oven-free recipes that we hope you and your family will love!

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From the article:

When it’s hot and sticky, the last thing you want to do is pry yourself away from your precious air conditioner. When hunger strikes, there comes a time when you have to choose between starvation and sweating through cooking a decent meal.

The last thing you need is to add to the sweltering heat by turning on your oven. Isn’t all that time and energy you’re using at the stove better spent keeping yourself cool and comfortable?

Try as you might, you can’t sustain on popsicles and prepackaged snacks all summer. Fortunately, these recipes will allow you to eat well and be sweat-free, scorching temperatures be damned.

Crab Rolls

Vietnamese Summer Rolls

Cookie Dough Dip

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Looking for kids room ideas? Then checkout this article with kid room ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Checkout all the recipes here: http://mashable.com/2014/05/26/oven-free-recipes

Love Disney Attractions? Checkout These Ones That Weren’t Built!

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Disney can be a lot of fun for the entire family. For some families it’s all about planning their next trip. We found this great article with 12 different attractions that were proposed but not built. We hope you enjoy dreaming about experiencing them one day with us!

From the article:

Walt Disney once said, ???It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.??? Well, my fine-mustachioed icon, it may have been fun, but sometimes it is simply impossible. The Disney theme parks had their fair share of true never-lands and rides???and here are 12 of them.

ISRAEL PAVILION (EPCOT)

In 1980, the State of Israel signed a deal to officially become part of Epcot. The proposed Israel Pavilion would have featured a menorah in the center of the courtyard, along with archaeological artifacts from The Jewish Museum in Tel Aviv. But due to possible security issues and boycotts, the Pavilion wasn???t built. Still, Israel was featured in an exhibit at the Millennium Pavilion from 1999 to 2001. It featured a simulator-movie ride called Journey to Jerusalem, a virtual tour of historic holy sites.

ATLANTIS EXPEDITION (DISNEYLAND)

Photo courtesy Imagineering Disney This premise was a reinvention of the Submarine Voyage ride. Patrons would use a mechanical arm that extended into the water, so they could get a chance to grab some doubloons and gems. It was based on the animated film Atlantis, but due to its failure at the box office, the ride never came to fruition. In its place now is Finding Nemo???s Submarine Voyage.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ROLLER COASTER (DISNEY???S AMERICA)

Photo courtesy of The Neverland Files Due to be part of Disney’s America, a proposed theme park in Haymarket, Virginia, this roller coaster would have traveled through a turn-of-the-century steel mill. The high point of the ride would have been evading a vat of molten steel. Sadly, the park was never built, and neither was this coaster.

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Looking to travel this year? Then checkout this article with travel destinations that could be of interest to you.
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Checkout all the attractions here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/31873/12-proposed-disney-attractions-were-never-built

Wonder How Touch Screens Affect Your Child’s Brain? Find Out Here!

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

With everything so hi-tech nowadays and everything seeming to have a touch screen it’s natural to wonder what affect they will have on your child’s brain. We found this great article that will answer that question. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

Children today are surrounded by screen upon screen upon screen: second screens, third screens, screens on our wrists and even our faces. It???s not uncommon to have one in every room. Screen time???especially if you???re talking about touchscreens???is a perplexing issue all modern parents have to confront.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is unequivocal: If your kid is under 2, no screens. For older kids, two hours a day, max. But the AAP doesn???t differentiate between activities; education apps, base-jumping videos, first-person shooters, ebooks, Sesame Street, and The Shining are all thrown into the same bucket. It???s all just screen time.

Trouble is, they???re not all the same. An app that teaches your kid his ABCs isn???t the same as a television cartoon, but the AAP is probably right to be conservative with its advice. ???Researchers know almost nothing about the impact of touchscreen technology on young children,??? says Heather Kirkorian, an assistant professor of human development and family studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who is trying to find some answers. ???Our society is running a large-scale experiment with real children in the real world, and we won???t know the impact, if any, for many years to come.???

Comforting! All the more so because keeping kids away from touchscreens these days is harder than keeping them away from candy. The screens have become one of our cultural platforms???the modern agora where we get our music, movies, books, social interactions, games, and even education.

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Looking for life hacks to make parenting easier? Then checkout this article with life hacks to make parenting easier that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.wired.com/2014/04/children-and-touch-screens/