The Best Ways Your Family Can Start the Day

The importance of a good morning cannot be stressed enough. It is, after all, how you start your day. And the manner in which you start your day is going to inform the rest of your day. So it’s pretty important that you have a decent morning!

Of course, it can be tricky nailing the art of a good morning when the entire family are trying to get ready. Here are some essential tips that will help you do just that.

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Get enough sleep!

One of the reasons most people hate mornings is because most people don’t get enough sleep. It’s been recommended all over the place that you should get at least eight hours sleep. How much sleep you need varies from person to person. In truth, seven hours is generally a good number to go for.

Make sure everyone in your household is getting that amount of sleep! It will help you feel more alert when you wake up. Getting out of bed and getting ready won’t feel like such a chore!

Don’t rush

Here’s the typical image of a family on a weekday morning. Everyone has gotten out of bed a few minutes later than they should have. They’re arguing over who gets to use the bathroom first. Breakfast is rushed, if breakfast is eaten at all. Parents get a little stressed. Everyone leaves a few minutes later than they wanted to.

You shouldn’t be rushing around in the morning! It’s just going to put you in a stressed state of mind for the first few hours of your day. Make sure everyone gets up on time. Consider waking up fifteen minutes earlier to allow yourself more time.

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Eat a good breakfast

Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? Contrary to popular opinion, that question is actually still up in the air. But there’s no denying that not eating breakfast can affect the energy and concentration levels of a lot of people. This is particularly true for children.

Because mornings can be such a rush, breakfast is often comprised of a quick bowl of regular cereal and milk. Usually, that cereal is pretty sugary. Once you’ve gotten more time in your mornings, you can look into healthier options. Oatmeal, for example, is an amazing source of fiber and energy. Check out fresh cereals & oats online sale.

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Have a routine

What are the things you all need to get done before you leave the house? I trust that you’re disciplined enough to do them all. But kids are another story! So consider a list of the common morning tasks. Brush your teeth, eat breakfast, get your backpacks ready - all that stuff.

With this, you can make a sort of checklist that has to be completed on time. Tell your kids that all those tasks should be completed at least five minutes before you all have to leave the house. And if they aren’t, maybe they should have any television or video game time that night. Hey, it sounds harsh, but it will definitely get them moving! This will help you all streamline your routine.

Father's Day Gifts for Coffee Lovers That Will Make Him Full of Beans

Father's Day is just days away, and if you haven't got a gift yet, you need to hurry. There's still time to get something, though, so you can get cracking on your search. If you miss it, there's always the option of a belated present. Also, it does come around every year! Picking a gift can be hard, especially if you want to avoid tacky novelty ties and t-shirts with silly slogans. You should get Dad something he'll really love, based on one of his interests. If he's a coffee fan, there are so many presents you can buy him. Try these as a last-minute gift.

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A Coffee Subscription

Your dad (or your child's dad) might love coffee, but perhaps he's stuck in his ways. He drinks the same coffee all the time, even though he's been making noises about trying a new one for ages. Or perhaps he's tried everything he can find in the nearest supermarket and needs to expand his horizons. A coffee subscription is the perfect gift to give such a dad. He'll get a new coffee every month, or perhaps every week or fortnight. You can try Handpicked by Cafe Direct, Pact, Brown Bear, The Coffee Roasters, and more. If you're not sure which one to go with, look up some reviews online first.

Coffee-making Equipment

Whenever someone gets into a particular food or drink, the next step after consuming lots of it is making it yourself. Beer lovers often start brewing, and cheese lovers try making some dairy goodness. While Dad might already make coffee at home, he might not be doing anything too sophisticated. If he wants to make coffee from scratch, he needs to have the proper equipment. If you want to get him a gift to help out, start by looking at coffee grinders. With a grinder, he'll be able to buy whole beans and grind his own coffee from them.

New Mugs or Cups

Coffee requires drinking receptacles, and some types of coffee are better in particular cups. You wouldn't put a shot of espresso in a large mug. If he enjoys the art of making and drinking coffee, some decent mugs or cups are essential. Start by thinking about what his kitchen and other crockery look like. You might get some chunky mugs, some delicate cappuccino glasses, or some cups and saucers. You could also buy a set of fancy spoons.

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A Coffee Cupping Experience

If you loved wine, you would go to a wine tasting. If you love coffee, you should go to a coffee cupping class. Cupping is the word they use in the industry for coffee tasting, for some reason. If you want to give Dad an experience rather than a physical gift, you could send him to taste some coffee. You can find several places that do it, such as Ozone in London.

Make a coffee lover very happy this Father's Day by feeding into his passion. He'll love a gift that caters to his love of coffee.

How To Create A Safe Outdoor Play Area For Your Kids

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If we listen to recent media reports, kids are spending too much time indoors glued to electronic devices. For their health and development, they should spend a significant amount of time outdoors. One way to encourage this is to create a fun and safe outdoor play area.

Security

One of a parent’s worst nightmares is for their child to be taken. Security is of the utmost importance when it comes to creating outdoor playgrounds.

• Ensure your children are supervised by a suitable adult when playing out of doors
• Children should be taught to stay within their garden perimeter and not to venture into the street unaccompanied
• Fence off all outdoor play areas
• If possible, obscure the view of play areas from the street
• Ensure that gates are kept closed and cannot be opened by children
• Lock tool sheds and garages
• Ensure grids and drains are covered

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Removing Potential Hazards

Though we would like to, we can’t wrap our children in cotton wool. However, we can create a child-friendly home. And we can ensure we build a safe environment for them to play.

Start with what you have already and make that safe. Clear all rubbish and unwanted items from the play area. Check surfaces for problems. If your driveway is crumbling or full of holes, this could cause a tripping hazard. Update this if necessary. Exposed aggregate concrete works well as it provides a non-slip surface. It is achieved by placing the concrete and then removing the top layer to reveal the aggregate. The effect is decorative and also low-maintenance. It will also keep other family members safe, especially in wet weather.

Other potential hazards include:

• Sharp branches and thorny bushes
• Gardening tools and appliances
• Animal droppings
• Ponds, swimming pools and water features
• Glass and other debris
• Poisonous plants

Remove any potential hazards and rearrange the area for your children.

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Swings, Slides, And Climbing Frames

Children love swings, slides, and climbing frames. They will keep them entertained for hours. However, falling from a height can cause significant injuries. To prevent this from happening, teach children about playing safely. As an additional preventative measure, create a soft surface in these areas. This could be sand, wood bark, or rubber chips, etc.

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Create Zones

To make a fun and varied environment set up different zones. For example, you could have an area dedicated to swings and slides, etc. Another area could be a small plot for them to plant seeds and flowers. Ensure they have enough space in which to run around and play.

Children love to play unencumbered. A messy area outside will allow them to do this. Add a paddling pool for water play and a sand pit. Paints and clay work well outside too, and you don’t need to worry about your furniture being ruined.

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Create dens and secret areas for them with tents, playhouses, and covered areas. This will provide them with a space of their own and fire their imagination.

Safety Precautions

Putting some safety measures in place will protect your children. Insist that they wear helmets when riding bikes, or roller skating, etc. Knee and elbow pads are also wise. Whenever you buy a new toy, go through safety with them. This is particularly important for large outdoor toys such as trampolines, etc.

Once your safety measures are in place, ensure they are checked and monitored. You can then relax and have fun with your children.

Supporting Your Sporty Childs Lifestyle

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Having a sporty child can be both a source of pride and sometimes a challenge! However, you can support and nurture them in a number of ways that are both practical and fun and active.

Whatever the age of your sporty child, you can start by managing their diet and ensuring it is nutritious and healthy. When they are busy with school and training, this can be a challenge. You may be a working parent as well, so preparing fresh meals and having them ready in the freezer can be a lifeline. Have snacks prepared and ready. You can then throw them in the car along with the sports kit as you set off for another training session or game. There have been a number of studies recently that suggest the popular sports drinks are not always a good idea. So you could replace them with homemade smoothies or fresh juice. Water can never be beaten, so top up water bottles and have them ready. By keeping them healthy, you are preparing them for a healthy future. http://baseballcoaching.tips/raising-an-athlete/ has even more guidance on raising an athlete.

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Their training regime will probably be full on. Juggling school work, sports commitments and having some sort of social life can be difficult and times overwhelming. Helping them prepare and use a timetable can be a life skill they will use forever. This can be electronic and or paper based. Pinned somewhere prominent in their bedroom can be a useful reminder for both of you. Having an electronic copy can help when the coach requests an extra session. This can then be checked and recorded straight away. Time management can never start too young! here is a guide to making an effective timetable. http://www.nimblebabies.com/faqs/ here

You will probably be the taxi service and showing your child that consistent commitment is to be commended. You may, however, consider talking to other parents and sharing the load. Being there for games and other events is crucial to show your support. If you can organise a rota with others, it can help you and continue to build the bond between like-minded kids. If both of your children are on the same team or at the same club, great! This will help them bond.

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Keeping kit and equipment clean and in good repair is part of the discipline of sport. So help them with this chore. Show them clever tips to keep their things in tip-top shape. Ensure they have somewhere clean and spacious to keep their kit. Good storage is a godsend and will keep the home free from the clutter of sports equipment

Supporting your sports mad kid also means giving them opportunities outside of sport. It maybe their whole life revolves around their activity and its commitments. So you can encourage them to view the wider world sometimes. Organising a family outing that doesn’t revolve around sport. Going to the cinema or meeting friends, even a shopping trip can help keep their love of sport fresh and vibrant. Find even more ideas for days out at http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/ireland/best-day-out/the-20-best-days-out-in-ireland-1.2230733

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6 Reasons Your Child Should Take Music Lessons

The word on the street is that music is the universal language of the world. No matter where you go or who you meet, if you play an instrument, you’ll be understood. Surely, there’s something behind that rumour? Is music the be all and end all of life? No, it’s not. But it is something that has many fantastic benefits, especially for children. Ask the experts and they’ll tell you the same thing - one of the best things you can do for your child is get them music lessons.

If you’re worrying about the cost of your child learning music, don’t stress. Music lessons don’t have to be expensive, especially if you opt for group ones. Plus, you don’t have to buy them their instrument of choice, you can always hire it instead. For example, there are plenty of places offering guitar, violin and piano hire, among other instruments. Don’t let the cost be the deciding factor of whether your child is able to play an instrument.

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Still not convinced that learning to play an instrument is essential for your child? Have a read of these six benefits of music lessons for kids.

1. Boosts brain power

Research has suggested that children who are exposed to music at a young age, tend to achieve more. This is because learning to read music and play different notes helps to stimulate mental activity. This boosts intelligence when it comes to core subjects like mathematics and English.

2. Helps with socialising

If your child has music lessons where they also take part in group sessions or practices, it can help their social skills. You see, playing music with others will teach them the importance of working as a team and listening to each other. It will also help them to understand how to relate to other people’s feelings and emotions.

3. Aids memory

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It’s no secret that a lot of children struggle when it comes to their memory. The great thing about allowing your child to take up guitar, piano or flute lessons is that it will help to improve their memory power. Reading music and remembering melodies helps to strengthen areas of the brain that most children don’t use.

4. Fantastic form of expression

One of the best ways kids can express themselves is through the arts - dance, music and drama. This is what makes playing music such a great hobby for them. This can help to prevent a range of problems, including high stress levels and anger issues.

5. Gives them an educational advantage

I’ve already mentioned how playing music helps children to improve brain power, but that’s not all it can do when it comes to education. Children who play musical instruments are often more sought after students. This means that when applying to schools and other educational facilities, they’ll have a better chance of success.

6. Teaches the importance of practice

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Last but not least, playing a musical instrument teaches the importance of practice. We tell our kids that practice makes perfect but very rarely let them see this in action. If you want your child to be a well-disciplined individual, then music lessons are a great idea.

There are so many benefits to your child learning to play a musical instrument, from educational ones to social ones.