Tag Archives: advice

Parenting

5 Things To Do With Your Kids Today to Show Them Love

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The choice to spend less time blogging about life as a stay-at-home dad and more time being a stay-at-home dad is proving to be a wise decision. There are so many wonderful things to do with your kids, and most don’t require much effort at all.

Being present with your child when possible makes a world of difference.  I know many parents work and have to have someone watch their kids all day, but the little things matter and make a big impact on your relationship with your children.

things to do with kids

Here are five things to do with your kids starting today that are simple, but will leave a lasting impression which will strengthen the parent-child bond.

  1. Tell them you love them. No matter when, where, or the time of day, just blurt it out “[Insert child’s name], I love you.” They may not be old enough to truly understand or maybe they’re older and will roll their eyes, but those three words are more powerful than any of us know.
  2. Give them a hug. Combined with number one, this will beat buying them the coolest toy on the market (only to become obsolete in a few months) and help you connect with your child on a new level. Hugging increases oxytocin, known as the cuddle hormone, and works great with your partner too.
  3. Read to or with them. Find a book, magazine, or just something with pictures to look at with your kid. Read or explain the pictures to them and ask them to point out certain words, letters, or pictures. If they need help, try giving clues first and praising them once they find the right thing or let them know it’s okay if they don’t and the important thing is that they tried. Knowledge is power and books are full of it!
  4. Simply sit beside them. Have a chat, ask them how they are doing (even if they can’t respond), play with blocks, describe your surroundings, or just embrace them in silence. Your presence will mean the world to your little mini me. This can be your fallback plan if reading doesn’t go so well or combined after you’re done reading.
  5. Go on a walk. If they’re still too young, push them in a stroller, but just getting outside with your little one has lasting benefits for the both of you. As a fan of keeping active, going on walks creates a healthy habit at a young age and is a perfect activity to do as a family. Fresh air promotes a sense of freedom and just makes you feel good. Depending on where you walk, it can be fun to explore new places or see familiar faces to socialize with.

Whether with your partner or not, these will stand the test of time as effective things to do with your kids to let them know you’re there for them and love them. Hopefully these easy tips give you something to do with your kids today, tomorrow, and every day. Going Mom and I do one or all of these every day and our family is stronger as a result.

Earn Income, Guest Post

What You Should Do After Receiving a Raise

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Getting a raise is always a reason to celebrate, and seeing a larger paycheck as a direct result of your hard work is one of the best feelings. However, raises can lead to some unwise financial habits. It can be tempting to run out and buy that new big screen you’ve been eyeing, or funnel the money into a ticket for a family trip to Disneyworld, but take a moment to pause and think about how to use your new income in a way that will most benefit you and your family in the long run.

Reassess Your Budget

Any time you experience a change in income, whether for the worse or better, it’s important to look at your budget and adjust where necessary. When looking at your new income, it’s important to assess just how much the government will be taking out of that larger paycheck. Check out your credit history and take note of the places that you seem to spend the most, whether that be travel, entertainment, or dining. After looking at your budget, take a look at accounts that could use a little bolstering, then funnel your raise income difference into these areas. Another option is to invest your extra income in the stock market, this can be a good way to grow your asset pool and learn the financial system better. Through doing research into how companies are performing, as well as the general consensus on the amazon stock forecast (or other companies you’re interested in) you can predict trends and better invest your money where it will grow. The good thing about investing your money is you won’t be tempted to be wasteful with it, in the same way you might be if it was left sitting in your checking account.

Retirement Accounts

No matter where you are in your career, it’s important to have a retirement plan, whether you are in your mid-twenties or late forties. Thinking about the future is always essential when it comes to finances, and siphoning more money into your retirement plan will leave you with a larger retirement income and may mean you get to sign out of the professional world at a younger age than you ever imagined possible. Whether you’re putting more into your 401(k) at work or making deposits into an IRA, your future self will thank you for the forethought.

Charitable Donations

Sometimes, raises can affect our taxes, effectively seeing us owing more to the government when tax season rolls around. Charitable donations are a good way to spread the wealth while also being strategically sound with your finances. Donations to qualified charities can make you eligible for lucrative tax deductions when you file taxes online, and you’ll feel great about paying it forward.

Long Term Purchases

If you do have some need to buy items on your list, make sure your raise money goes towards those things which will benefit your family and finances in the long run. It might be an energy efficient washer and dryer, an update to your backyard living space that improves the value of your home, or investing in safe stocks that can make you a bit of interest each year. Speak with a financial advisor about what might be best for your family, and make sure you keep those impulse buys to a minimum, especially in the weeks directly following your raise.

Pay Off Debt

Have you been stuck in debt for a while? It’s time to get yourself out from under this financial strain. With your new income, it’s likely possible for you to become debt-free sooner than you originally thought possible. Take a look at your accounts and put them in order of interest rates, highest to lowest. Work on paying off the accounts with the highest interest first to avoid paying more over the long run than necessary. As your debt lessens, your credit score will improve, and the mental strain that’s alleviated will be more than welcome. If you owe the government, it’s essential to put all of your efforts into paying any back taxes owed under your name. The longer it takes you to pay back the IRS, the more dire the consequences. If it’s a serious amount of money owed, always be sure to use companies like www.communitytax.com to figure out what is going to help your case quickly and efficiently.

If you’ve received a raise for a job well done, it’s important to use that money in a smart, financially sound way that will best benefit your family. Keep these tips in mind and enjoy your new income to the fullest.

Going Healthy, Guest Post

5 Healthy Summer Habits for Kids

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I’m handing the Going Dad reigns over to another stay-at-home dad who’s also into nutrition, fitness, and raising a healthy family. Sean Morris has a wealth of information on healthy living to share, and today it’s all about habits to help our kids keep healthy and have fun during the summer months.

Summer is filled with fun, relaxation, and the joy of not having a rigorous school schedule to keep up with. But summer can also mean later nights, meals from the baseball field concession stand that aren’t exactly the healthiest choices, and other poor health habits sunscreen, safety, healthy living, that can impact both physical and emotional well-being over time. Here are a few healthy summer habits to instill in your kids that will cultivate healthier habits for life.

Always Wear Sunscreen

If your child loves to spend the whole day outside in the sun, wearing sunscreen is a habit you’ve probably already developed. But even if your kids tend to spend more time indoors on their smartphones or video games, teaching them about the risks of sun damage is a valuable nugget that will help them stay healthy and well throughout their lives. The sun can cause damage even on cloudy days, so daily sunscreen application is key for all children and adults.

Check for Ticks

Ticks carry Lyme disease, and in some parts of the U.S., tick populations are growing. It’s not always possible to avoid areas where ticks are common, but you can wear insect repellent and protective clothing (with long sleeves and long pants) when you know you’ll be in an area well-populated with ticks. You should also carefully check your child’s entire body for ticks after spending time in such areas. Remove ticks properly and know when it’s necessary to seek medical attention for a tick bite.

Get Adequate Sleep

One especially useful habit to foster in your kids is getting ample rest every night. Sleep is the time your body uses to rest and rejuvenate, yet, especially during the summer, many children and young adults happily sacrifice sleep to participate in fun, late-night activities, whether they’re simply watching TV past their bedtimes or hanging out with friends. Teaching your kids now that the time they spend awake is more productive and enjoyable when they’re well-rested will prepare them to make better choices about sleep as they get older.

Stay Hydrated

When kids are having fun outdoors, it’s easy to forget about drinking water to stay hydrated. Most kids won’t think about drinking unless their bodies are telling them they’re thirsty, but they may ignore such cues if they’re having too much fun. Have your kids carry a water bottle, and encourage them to drink pure, cold water rather than sugary sports drinks. If they do have a sweet tooth, adding a splash of citrus fruit or berries can enhance the flavor of plain water, making it more appealing to some kids. Make sure they know that it’s necessary to drink more water than usual on especially hot days or when they’re engaging in rigorous physical activity.

Stay Safe Around Fire and Fireworks

Camping, Fourth of July celebrations, and other activities bring with them camp fires and fireworks displays. Kids who understand fire safety and know how to stay safe around fireworks are less likely to suffer burns or injuries. Teach your kids about the dangers of fire and fireworks, how to use child-appropriate fireworks such as sparklers safely, and safe habits to practice around fires.

Teaching your children how to stay safe in the many different circumstances they’ll encounter throughout life is no simple process. As a parent, you want to protect your child from every possible danger. While you can’t be there to keep them safe every moment, you can begin to teach them safe and healthy habits that will help them lead a long and happy life.

Sean Morris became a stay-at-home dad after the birth of his son. Though he loved his career in social work, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get to spend more time with his kids. He enjoys sharing his experiences via LearnFit.org and hopes writing for the site will help him provide other parents with tips and advice on juggling life, career, and family.

Image via Pixabay by milli_lu

Meeting other health-minded dads like Sean is always a pleasure , and hopefully he’ll share more of his tips/advice on healthy living in the future. Thank you Sean, for taking the time to create this list of handy healthy summer habits for kids!