Tag Archives: tips

5 Ways You Could Be Damaging Your Hearing Without Realising

10/22/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

hearing, health, ears, lifestyle — **Pixabay. CCO Licensed.**

Hearing loss can occur naturally with age, but there are many bad habits and poor life decisions that can also damage our hearing. Here are just five ways in which you may be damaging your hearing without knowing.

Listening to music too loud

Regularly listening to loud music could be causing damage to your ears. This could include listening to music loudly on speakers or on headphones. Ringing in the ears after listening to music is a clear sign that you’re listening to your music too loudly and causing damage. Turn down the volume a notch if you’ve noticed this.

Not wearing ear protection in loud environments

Certain loud environments can also cause hearing damage if you don’t wear ear protection. Rock concerts, motorsports events and construction sites are just a few examples. If you’re in this environment for work reasons, your employer may be legally entitled to supply ear protection. If it’s a leisure activity, then it’s your responsibility to wear ear protection. There are cool ear plugs on the market that can protect your hearing and ensure sound clarity (great for concerts!).

Using cotton buds to clean your ears

Many people use cotton buds to clean out their ears, but this can actually cause hearing problems in the long run. Cotton buds tend to push ear wax further into the ear canal, which can then cause blockages resulting in muffled hearing. It’s also possible to damage the ear canals and ear drum causing permanent damage. As a rule, never stick anything into your ears. It’s healthy to have some wax in your ears, but if you’ve got a large wax build-up, you’re better off using ear drops or asking your doctor to get it professionally removed.

Not wearing a hearing aid when you need one

Once hearing loss has started to occur, it could be a wise idea to see an audiologist and get yourself a hearing aid fitted. Wearing a hearing aid will ease the strain on your ear and could slow down or even stop any further hearing loss. There are lots of different hearing aids out there which you can learn more about online. Some hide behind the ear and are pretty much unnoticeable.

Ignoring an ear infection

Ear infections can occur for various reasons. While some infections will go away on their own, others can spread and cause lasting damage to your ears. An infection following a perforated eardrum can be particularly serious, possibly causing permanent and severe hearing loss. A few signs that you possibly have an ear infection include dizziness, hearing loss, earache and a sense of fullness in the ear. You should see a doctor immediately if you suspect you have an infection – they will be able to prescribe the best course of treatment.

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

Preparing Your Kids For Moving Home

10/14/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

moving, kids, growing up, parenting, home — Pexels

Moving home is a time of both excitement and stress. When you’ve got kids, it’s vital to prepare them properly for such a big change. While some children will handle a move well, not all children are the same, so it’s best to tread carefully. If you’re soon to be moving home with your kids, let’s consider how you can best prepare them.

Explain carefully

You will need to explain the move as carefully as you can to your kids. The way that you go about your explanation will largely depend on how old your children are. With toddlers and younger kids, the move will be harder to understand. The best thing that you can do is to use your kids soft-toys, doll’s house or trucks to act the process out. When you start packing your kids toys away, they may be anxious. Try to make it clear that the toys will be waiting for them at the new home. If your kids are older, you’ll want to explain in more detail, including the reasons for the move and ask them if they have any questions. Understand that your children may experience sadness or anger at this time. Plan lots of fun activities for your kids to distract them if they feel upset.

Use stories

Often, children’s storybooks are an excellent way to explain changes and processes. The characters in stories can help your children to feel that they are not alone in this experience. There are plenty of books out there which deal with the subject of moving home. If your kids like ‘Winnie The Pooh’ why not try the book ‘Tigger’s Moving Day.’ You could also try ‘My Very Exciting Sorta Scary Big Move.’ The book is written by Lori Attanasio Woodring and features a range of moving themed activities. You can find these books on Amazon along with plenty of other moving themed books for kids.

Keep what you can

If you want to prepare your kids for moving home, it’s a good idea to keep as much of their bedroom furniture and belongings as possible. When you get to your new place, your kids are likely to feel more at ease if they have the same furniture, bed sheets and colour schemes. Being in an unfamiliar place can be a little scary for children. Keeping their old belongings can help them to feel a sense of security. If your children are younger, it’s best to pack up the house yourself without their involvement.

With older children, you may want to get them to help with the packing. Involving them in this way can allow your kids to get excited about a new adventure. You’ll want a great removal company with many years of experience. This way, the process will run smoothly and create no added stress for your kids. It’s worth looking at this website here for a highly professional and experienced moving company.

Spend time in the new area
It’s a great idea to let your kids spend some time in the new area so that the moving process feels a little less strange. Take them to the local parks, allow them to visit their new school (if appropriate). If your new neighbors have children, it can be a great idea to arrange a play-date to help your kids to make friends.

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

4 Cheap and Cheerful Activities The Kids Will Love

10/06/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

There’s nothing better than having a couple of days off to spend some quality time with the kids. These are the moments you will cherish.

But finding something everyone will enjoy that won’t cost a fortune can be tough. You can’t visit theme parks and movie theatres every time the kids are off school.

So if you’re looking for some fun family activities the kids will love but which won’t break the bank, check out the ideas below.

activities, kids, family, parenting, fun, play — Image Source: Pixabay CC0 Licence

Playgrounds, Skateparks and State Parks

Most communities have at least one free playground for children of all ages to enjoy. Fresh air, exercise, and hours of fun for the kids, it’s definitely worth getting acquainted with all the best playground spots in your area.

More and more skateparks are popping up too. You have to make the initial investment in a skateboard, BMX or scooter. But if you’ve got adventurous little ones with a need for speed, you could set them up with a fun, active hobby for life.
If you live near a state park, make the most of it. Not everyone is so lucky! Hiking, camping, swimming and cycling will keep the whole family entertained, without costing you a penny.

In a coastal area like Venice, you could try fishing for something a bit more hands-on – fishing guide venice.

Movie Marathon

If the weather forecast isn’t so hot, why not enjoy a movie marathon? Get some popcorn in, make a pillow fort, and let Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings do the hard work.

Or better yet, crafty kids might enjoy making their own film. You don’t need a fancy camera to make a YouTube movie and stretch the kids’ creative muscles. You can write a little script, dig out some old clothes for costumes, and use your mobile phone for footage. Then use some free video editing software for the polish.

Not so great with tech? Write and perform a play instead. Acting and storytelling are great for a child’s creative development and might lead them to a career-worthy passion.

Volunteer Work

Volunteer work is chicken soup for the soul. It’s also free, a great way to introduce your kids to the community, and to get everyone out of the house.

Whether it’s visiting a lonely older person, getting outdoors for some litter-picking, taking a rescue dog for a walk, or helping out in community gardens or allotments, helping others in a great way to spend time with the family and brighten everyone’s day.

Baking and Lemonade

Cookies, cakes, pies and lemonade – whatever your family’s favourite treat, kids love getting stuck in and making their own food.
Baking can also be a great way to recontextualise that pesky math homework into something more practical. For some easy recipes kids can help with, click here.