Private or Public School: What’s Best for Your Child?

As a parent there are so many important decisions to make, but one of the most important you’ll ever make is which school to send your child to. There are three main options when it comes to schooling in America; public school, private school and home school. Here, we run through some of the positive aspects of each option in order to help you make the right decision for your child.

Public School

The main benefit of public school is, of course, the fact that you do not have to pay for your children to attend. Not only is the schooling itself provided free of charge, so is the transport to and from school plus public schools usually have additional services such as after school clubs which are free to attend too. Due to being government funded, public school staff have to meet strict criteria and can therefore be relied upon to teach to a good standard. Public schools will also have to meet various other criteria such as having suitable alterations made in order to accommodate various disabilities.

In public schools, your child will be exposed to a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures, rather than in private school where the fees often dictate that only the more privileged echelons of society are able to attend. Your instinct as a parent may be to create a perfect world for your child however, by exposing them to the real world and real people you could contribute towards their development into a well-rounded, compassionate individual.

Private School

Unlike public school, for your child to attend a private school you must pay fees. Fees vary between different schools, but they do generally require a significant income from parents. If you need help raising the funds to send you child to private school, you could always take a look at getting a loan from GoBear.com. However, due to the funds you are paying, you will often find that private schools have better facilities. Class sizes are smaller than in public schools so the teaching can be more focused, and your child is more likely to get one on one attention from their teachers. It is not always the case but attitudes towards learning from their peers are often more positive in private schools, which helps when it comes to your child being able to focus on their education.

Because the students in private schools are taken from a smaller pool, the curriculum does not have to be so widely inclusive of lots of different needs as it would in a public school. Therefore, the curriculum is often more challenging in private schools than public schools. However, due to the smaller class sizes, if you’re child is struggling their needs can easily be met. Although their peers will be less diverse, it can be nice for them to be around like-minded people. Overall, private schools provide one of the safest and most supportive school environments for your child. Find options around you with a simple online search for ‘private elementary schools jacksonville fl‘ or wherever you may live to see what might suit you and your child best.

Home School

If you’re worried that your child is going to suffer as a result of socializing with other children, you could opt for home schooling until they are old enough to handle the challenge. This is also a good option if you’re worried that your child will miss out due to the lack of individual attention in public schools, but you cannot afford to send them to private school. Home schooling does require a lot of time and effort from you as a parent, but you could always hire private tutors to help you.

There are lots of benefits to each type of schooling; the one on one attention they would get from home schooling, the safe, top-quality environment of a private school and the diverse, standard driven environment of a public school. Hopefully with this information you will be able to make a more informed choice on where to send you child. For more help with parenting challenges, take a look at going-dad.com.

7 Creative Recycled Trampoline Ideas

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If you have children, you know how energetic they are. Children love jumping around and there is a high chance that you have already bought a trampoline for them to keep up with their energy.

A 10ft round trampoline is the safest outlet for your child’s enthusiasm and entertainment. But what’s more is that it gives them a method of staying fit and healthy emotionally, mentally and physically. The best part about having a trampoline is that even you can get on the trampoline and get some of that much-needed exercise.

But once your child grows older, their fascination with the trampoline subsides. If your child is 10 years old or older, you know they prefer sleepovers with friends over jumping on the trampoline. The question then arises—what do you with the trampoline?

It’s easy to donate toys and books, but trampolines are just too huge! And perhaps, you may not even want to let go of it completely because of the fun memories attached to it. If you’re currently confused about what to do with the huge trampoline in your backyard, then we’re here to help! In this guide, you’ll find some of the most exciting and creative ideas of recycling the gigantic trampoline in your backyard to keep it handy and useful!

  1. Make a Gorgeous Garden Out of It

If you’re a nature lover, then why not make a beautiful elevated garden out of your trampoline? A 12ft trampoline has plenty of space to accommodate pots! Place some pots filled with fertile soil and deposit the seeds of your favorite plants and flowers with your children. In a few weeks, you’ll have little shoots sprouting out and eventually, a spectacular elevated garden in your backyard!

2. Turn It into an Indoor or Outdoor Hammock

Do you try to de-stress on Sunday? Then there’s no better fix than lazing around in a hammock! If you have been avoiding buying one because it is too expensive, then don’t worry. Just use your old trampoline to build one!

All you have to do is remove the top, springy part from the legs of the trampoline, cover it with a rounded cushion and tie it to the ceiling to hang. Place some plush cushions and cover it up with some light net-made fabric for extra comfort. And there you have it— your very own hammock to relax on after a long day.

3. Remove Its Base and Turn It into a Huge Holiday Garland

Why discard the trampoline in your home when you can turn it into a holiday decoration? One of the most creative things you can do with your trampoline is to use it as an ornament. Simply remove the base and the bottom gets and keep the circular iron rod. When it’s the holiday season, layer it up with braids of leaves and plants, festoon it with decorative items and complete the look with a bow on top! You can ever add battery operated lights to make it shine at night.

4. Use It for Your Own Kitchen Garden

Are you passionate about gardening? Then why not grow your own kitchen garden?

Growing a kitchen garden in your home can be tough if your backyard is already planted. But here’s where you can use your trampoline to make some room for your kitchen garden. Turn the trampoline upside down and remove its base. According to its circumference, dig up the grassy ground and place the seeds of your favourite vegetables. The best part about using the trampoline for your kitchen garden is the legs that serve as a fence for the baby sprouts. The legs protect the shoots from being stepped on accidentally.

You can also place a net around the legs for extra security. And when it’s pouring cats and dogs, you can even drape the top with a heavy blanket or wooden plank to prevent the heavy rainfall from ruining the germinating seeds!

5. Use it for an Outdoor Movie Scene

If you’re not that good with DIYs, you can actually take the easy route and use your trampoline for something even better—an outdoor movie scene! With someone’s assistance, prop up the trampoline and lean it against a tree or a stand that could support it. Cover up the bottom of the base with a reflective, white cloth and its all set to go. Bring out the projector and place it at a distance from the trampoline, play the movie and enjoy quality time with your friends!

6. Use It for In-House Camping

Are you and your family members fond of adventures? Then you probably love camping! While it may be a little too risky to go camping in the heart of woodland with your children, you can still enjoy a sense of thrill with your young ones right at home!

Yes, we’re talking about converting the trampoline into a camp. All you have to do is set up the tent on the trampoline and make an elevated camp out of it. Invite your children’s friends for a sleepover and let them have some adventure!

7. Convert It into a Massive Swing Set

Are you thinking about getting an outdoor swing for you and your family? If you are, then just turn the trampoline into a swing set and save some bucks! Remove the lets of the trampoline and secure its circumference with four strong chains. Hang the trampoline by a tree branch and voila—you have an awesome outdoor swing set! The best part about this makeshift swing is that it is much more spacious than a proper swing so more than one person can sit on it at a time!

About Author:

Bec is a wife and mother of two who works part-time in the childcare industry. Bec has over 20 years in childcare and a real passion for helping children develop their motor skills. Being a busy mum, Bec is always looking for new outdoor activities, like using trampoline for exercise as well as for playing games that you and your kids can play with your friends and family.

How to Help Your Aging Parents Stay Healthy

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Image Credit: Pexels

Keeping fit and healthy can become a challenge as you age. When getting out of the house takes a lot longer than it used to and you simply can’t carry as much shopping or spend as much time in the kitchen, making healthy choices gets harder.

However, there are things you can do to help your parents continue to live a healthy lifestyle without having to spend a lot of time each week. Indeed, with just a few tweaks to your own lifestyle, you can keep everyone happy and healthy for years to come.

Home Care and Help

As we age, we all slow down a bit and things like caring for the household can fall by the wayside. Hiring a cleaner is a good way to ensure that the house stays relatively clean and tidy but you might also consider how you can help too.

FreedomCare could be something for you and your family to consider. Instead of paying someone else to go into your parent’s home to offer care and support, this company will pay you. This means that your parents will still get the help they need and you won’t have to sacrifice your job or spare time to help them.

Homemade Ready Meals

Home cooking is always the healthiest option as it rarely involves lots of additives to extend shelf life and is likely to include a lot more veg! Batch cooking is always the best way to make healthy meals and 2 extra portions is hardly going to add to your stress. All you need to do is cook as you would and then freeze the extras to take over at the weekend. Simple.

When you are cooking, you should consider foods that keep the joints strong as well as ensuring a varied diet to get all the vitamins and minerals. Encourage your parents to add their own veggies to different meals so that they can stay involved in choosing what to eat. Labeling each tupperware with clear reheating instructions will also really help.

Get Active Together

Staying active can be tough for elderly people, especially if they have trouble with mobility. However, with your help, you can get them out and about. Going for a walk on a nice day is a good place to start – just make sure that you go at their pace and you choose a nice flat route. Similarly, planning a day out is a nice idea. You can take a wheelchair so that they can sit down when they need a break and use the chair as a support while they walk.

Doing activities together will take a lot more time just because they tend to go slowly so don’t try to rush things. Make sure that you only need to do one or two things, or just go out for fun. Remember, the main point here is to spend quality time together. Enjoy talking and reminiscing with them and try to slow down too. It’ll probably do you some good!