Featured Guest, Author at Raising World Children

Drop the Dependence: How to Help Your Teen Get Over Their Addiction

We’re currently in the midst of an addiction epidemic in the United States, and unfortunately, many young people are beginning to abuse substances at a younger age than ever before. It wasn’t long ago when the worst substances parents had to worry about their teens using were alcohol or marijuana. Today, more and more young people are experimenting with harder drugs as well as addictive prescription medications, but the good news is that there are ways to help your teen get over their addiction.

Catch the Addiction Early

Addiction is a progressive illness, and this is why those who have had an addiction for years can often struggle to maintain their sobriety. As a parent, the first thing you need to do is learn the signs of addiction in teens. These include changes in your child’s behavior, interests, attitude, and social circle. It can be troubling to learn your child has an addiction, but it’s not the end of the world. Since your teen is early on in their substance abuse, they have a less severe form of addiction, and this means they have an extremely high chance of recovery and living the life that they deserve. It may be easy to turn to anger and blame your teen or yourself for the addiction. However, that anger is unhelpful. The best thing you can do for your child is to intervene as early as possible and get your child professional help. Getting your child professional help will give them the opportunity to discover why they’ve been turning to drugs or alcohol in the first place and how they can manage life in a much healthier way.

Understand Addiction

For some parents, getting help for their son or daughter can be extremely difficult because of the misconceptions about addiction. Some parents believe that by getting their child help for an addiction they’re admitting that they somehow failed as a parent. This couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s important to understand that addiction is a powerful disease, and there are a wide range of factors that can lead a person to abuse substances.

Get Your Teen Professional Help

If your child was struggling with a physical illness, you would get them help from a professional, and it’s just the same as when they’re struggling with an addiction. By getting your child professional help, you are doing all you can to help your child move past this struggle into a brighter future. Addiction counseling for teens allows your child to work with a trained professional who specializes in working with young people who struggle with addiction. Many young people feel far more comfortable opening up to an addiction counselor rather than their parents. Over time, as they continue to recover, you’ll be able to be much more involved, and your whole family will begin to heal.

Work with Your Whole Family

As addiction has far reaching affects, you should strive to learn more about how it affects your child as well as the rest of your family, so that you will be better able to help your teen at home. Reassure all your children of your love and support and work with them so that they know that they can come to you when they are struggling. You may want to consider seeking out family counseling services at least for a while to keep your family solid and able to work together.

While your child is learning how to manage their life in a new way and build better relationships with you and your family as well as themselves, you’ll also learn more about how you can support your child in their recovery to create a brighter future.

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Top 10 Fun Loving Places for Kids in India

India is a place of varied landscape and with the diversity in landscape comes the unmatched scenic beauty associated with the country. From the lofty Himalayas in the North to the deserts in the west to the coastal cities throughout the countries to the hill stations on the Western Ghats, the country has everything which you look for in a tourist destination.

However, when it comes to choosing a tourist destination in India to go with kids, it becomes a head ache for most of the parents. Most of the beautiful places you want to visit with them come with an added problem of tough travelling schedules. Here we bring you a list of places from within the countries which can act as great tourist destination as well as learning experience for the kids.

Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir

Dal lake, Photo by confused_me, CC0 1.0

Often referred to as ‘Heaven on the Earth’, the lofty Himalayas present their majestic view in the state. The northernmost part of India is full of exotic places which can be enjoyed with the kids and will also give them a testimony of how beautiful the nature is. The kids will get to learn about the lifestyle of Kashmiri people, how they work hard to earn their living and their love for motherland. Overall, it will be a memorable experience for your child.

Darjeeling, West Bengal

Himalayan toy train, Photo by donvikro, CC0 1.0

On the Eastern-most part of the great Himalayan Range is situated the beautiful hill-station Darjeeling. Located in Northern-most part of the West Bengal, the ease with which you can travel to this place is commendable. Add to that the scenic beauty, the vast stretch of tea-gardens, the opportunity to watch the glowing Himalayas and majestic sunrise and your child will never say no to this trip. There is added bonus of the memorable Toy Train journey.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Ski center, Photo by punit-sharma, CC0 1.0

The snow-clad mountains and amazing scenes of greenery will welcome your child when you take him to Manali in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh. they will get the chance to look at nature in a completely different way from what they see living in metro cities. They can enjoy snow scooter, mountain biking, skiing and many such sports which they have seen in television till now. The experience will remain etched in their memory for very long time.

Rann of Kutch, Gujrat

Ran Utsav, Photo by rannutsavonline, CC0 1.0

The wide stretch of desert is a must-go place in Gujrat. The varied art and culture, the camel rides, the local music and dance will tempt you to visit this place with your child. Our geography books make great attempts to describe the cultural diversity of our country, so why not give your child a lively example of the same? The child will love this trip and will have a lot to share with his friends about the trip.

Gaya, Bihar

Mahabodhi temple, Photo by Matt Stabile, CC BY 2.0

The land which gave India its first President is not often looked as an Ideal place to take your child. However, the historic importance of Gaya is such that you will be tempted to take your child for a trip to the place. This place was once the center of power for rulers like Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka and has witnessed rise and fall of many great Kingdoms. It is also the place where Buddha was enlightened and that makes it a religious destination of Buddhists. You would definitely want your child to see the great tree under which Siddhartha became Lord Buddha.

Puri, Orissa

Jagannath Temple, Photo by BOMBMAN, CC BY 2.0

Although the city is most famous for the Jagannath Temple, it is a coastal city which boasts of some of the cleanest beaches in India. Don’t worry if you are not a Hindu, you can tell your child about the architectural beauty of different temples and monuments you visit in the city. Overall, your child will have many memorable memories if you take him on a trip to Puri.

Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Ellora caves, kailashnath temple, Photo by Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0

The land of Ajanta and Ellora caves, Aurangabad is a good place to give your child a realistic view of what he has studied in his history books so far. The place with some great monuments like Bibi ka Maqbara and arguably the greatest piece of Indian architecture, Ajanta and Ellora caves, will leave your child in awe. You can go to see the Kham River to cap-off your trip. Your child will have great memories of the trip and that makes it a must visit place for him.

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Puppets, Photo by Jason Rufus, CC BY 2.0

The Land of Royalty, the land of Kings and the land of rich cultural heritage, Jaisalmer is one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. The Camel Rides and the Heritage hotels accompanied with soothing folk music is more than enough to make a place in your child’s mind. You can see some of the old forts and again, you can teach him some of his history lessons in most practical way. This makes the place a must visits for kids.

Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

Ramar padham, Photo by Arun, CC BY 2.0

The centre of religion and abode to one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the religious place earns a place in this list because of its historical importance. With all the parts of the city related to the stories of Ramayana, your child may learn a lot about his religion and his inclination can be increased towards religiousness (if you want it to be). Add to it the beautiful beaches without any nudity and perfect for family time and Rameshwaram makes a perfect place to go on a tour with your child.

Andaman Islands

Cellular jail, Photo by Ankur P, CC BY-SA 2.0

A place for kids, young guns and old people, Andaman is evergreen place for the evergreen people. From being the island of ‘Kaala Paani’ to being one of the most visited tourist destinations in India, the place has seen it all. You can take your child to cellular jail and tell him the stories of freedom fighters and how hard they worked to win the freedom that we are enjoying today. There can also be a lot of adventure activities and the child will get a good read of nature’s wonder. So, it’s a great place to take your child to.

Author’s Bio:

A traveler with great knack for visiting places of historical and religious importance, Rohit likes to compile various lists from the places he has visited. You can find his lists on Trans India Travel.

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10 Strategies for Cyber Bullying Prevention

In 2006, Megan Meier hung herself in her closet, just days before her 14^th birthday. The middle schooler had been the victim of a cyber bullying scheme cooked up by an adult neighbor and her daughter in the neighborhood. They created a false boy on MySpace, “courted” Megan, and then turned on her with awful statements and ridicule.

According to the CDC, suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds. Many of these suicides, of course, relate to depression and other mental illness, but a significant number are the result of bullying and, more recently, cyberbullying. Students identified as “targets” by bullies include those who are in the LGBT community, those who are introverted and withdrawn, those who are considered “nerds,” those who are not considered “attractive,” or those who pose a “threat” to a group of peers because they have looked, talents, etc. of which that group is envious.

The problem with cyberbullying is that it can be anonymous. There are also no time limitations, so it can continue all the time, especially when bullies act as a group. And the bullies have less inhibition when they carry out their activities online rather than in person – they can thus be more aggressive.

Some Strategies That Can Help

Bullying will never be completely eradicated because bullies have certain emotional conditions that will not be eradicated. A child who is bullied at home, for example, may easily become a bully at school; a child who has a deep-seated lack of self-esteem may join a group of bullies and participate in making himself feel better. It becomes a pattern of behavior and often continues into adulthood.

So, what can be done to prevent it? While this is a field of ongoing research which is still incomplete, here are some strategies that may help.

Start early with education and training. Kids need to know early on that cyberbullying is not “cool.” Many school districts are bringing older students into classrooms – students that younger kids will look up to – to talk about cyberbullying. When the captain of the high school football team arrives in a 3^rd-grade class, kids will sit up and listen.
Use videos and statements of celebrities who have joined the anti-bullying campaigns. Kids will certainly relate to someone like Justin Bieber. Do some research and find out what celebrities are seriously involved in anti-bullying and use their statements.
Dominika Carver, an educational blogger for Canada-Writers suggests making cyberbullying a part of a larger curricular program on Internet use and safety. “At the end of the unit on cyberbullying, have students sign a pledge not to engage in any type of bullying, including cyberbullying. This pledge should be signed every year.”
Students, as they move into middle and high school, need to be made aware of both the psychological and legal consequences of bullying. Many states now have laws with penalties for juveniles and for adults who engage in cyberbullying.
Involve parents: when cyberbullying is discovered, parents need to know. There are steps they can take at home. Victims must block any bullies immediately. In fact, in a recent study 70% of teen victims stated that when they blocked the perpetrators, even the face-to-face bullying stopped. When a victim takes steps to stop being a cyber victim, the bully gets no satisfaction from his/her actions and is less prone to be aggressive in person.
Treat bullies firmly but also understand that they have emotional issues that result in this behavior. Intervening with consequences should also come with help.
Continue to read the research. Teachers and parents both should read all they can about the issue and take suggestions from all sources that might provide help to stop cyberbullying.
Assign essays about the topic. Students can read or view stories related to cyberbullying and respond to them in a written piece. High school and college writing can include research papers on the topic.
Respond immediately to both victims and bullies in the cyberbullying cycle. This will demonstrate that there is a zero-tolerance policy for the actions and that you will intervene. This also provides some sense of security to the victim to know that there are empathy and support.
Victims need to know that there is someone in their home, school or even church environment within whom they can confide in confidence. That person must empathize of course but also be prepared to give that victim-specific strategy to deal with the bully. Responding in kind generally does not work. Ignoring by blocking takes some power away from the bully. This is a hard thing to do because victims can become anxious about not knowing what is being said, but over time this dissipates, and the bully cannot achieve his/her goal.

There will always be bullies of every age. They need help, and many will neither seek nor accept it. That is their choice. The choice of the victim, with lots of support, is to ignore, to not respond, and to have an outlet to express their anger, their sadness, and their anxiety.

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3 Fun Activities to Help Refine Motor Skills in Kids With Cerebral Palsy

As the parent of a special needs child you know better than anyone the challenges that come with harboring skillsets to set your child up for as much autonomy as possible. Every child and their needs are different. You’ve been to countless doctor visits, done all the exercises, physical therapy treatments and are wondering for less clinical ways to help your child find a sense of normalcy.
These are some fun activities that while at first may seem far-fetched, will not only harvest repetitive motor skills and act as a sort of physical therapy, but will also give a sense of belonging. However their performance is, showing up and trying will help them gain more and more control of their motor skills each day.

Video Games

As a parent of several children you probably have to limit TV and video game time for your able bodied children. Most parents think of video games as something fun at best. However, research has shown that in 4 out of 7 home-based studies aimed to promote upper-limb/extremity function they were able to improve the function and mobility playing Nintendo Wii Sport Resort Games. The training lasted for 6 weeks. Kids played for at least 40 minutes a day 5 days a week and had comparable results to children who had resistance training mimicking the same movements as the Wii play. Similar studies have been dine with Xbox 360 VR games. Even traditional controller games from Street Fighter to Final Fantasy help promote finger dexterity.

Some children with CP may have trouble making friends and socializing. Often schedules are filled with school, doctor visits, an array of different therapists and kids can spend more time with adult professionals than with kids their age. This play-therapy can help them regain some of their childhood. Other kids with CP may be extremely social and everybody’s friend. This is another way that you can let them hang out and socialize while they are getting therapy done. Even if unconscious. Either way, it’s a win-win. You don’t get to be the bad-guy for saying they can’t play with friends because they need therapy, they get to play, and you know they’re getting therapy anyways.

Musical Instruments

Music is a human art form that transcends language, cultures, and time. It has been part of the human experience ranging from religious rites, entertainment, and even therapy. Whether you’re looking for euphoria or relaxation, music can take you there. This is one of the reasons why kids with CP have structural changes in regions of their brains that deal with movement with they are moving to music.

Researchers have said that training musically not only has may attributes that ideal for sensorimotor rehabilitation, but finger and hand coordination as they sync audio, visual and sensory information. According to cerebralpalsynewstoday.com “Another study let 18 children and adolescents, ages 6 to 16, receive individual piano training for 18 months. The study showed that the variability of their keystroke timing was reduced. Furthermore, connections between the patients’ cerebellum and primary motor cortex — the main region of the brain that deals with movement — improved, compared to those who received conventional therapy.” So, buy your kid a keyboard. Let them play and learn at their own rate or enroll them in a local band. You’ll be surprised when after lots of hard work they perform a flute solos at a concert and you realize the therapy and music made an impact.

Martial Arts

It may be hard to think of your child doing a high kick and breaking boards when in the back of your mind you worry about them when they try to run or walk. However, that’s part of the beauty of removing limitations and expectations from what your child with CP can and can’t do. The reality is that it can vary person to person and change throughout their lifetime. Let them lead their own pace, interests, and as a parent you can do your job in supporting them. Martial arts teach endurance, patience, strength, self-control, practice, and pushing past your old physical limitations. These are all skills that can help them far beyond the mat.

Your family will filled with joy wearing matching Jiu Jitsu shirts as you attend their local championships or cry remembering when they couldn’t walk straight as you see them get a black belt. Many working adults with CP choose martial arts as a form of non-traditional occupational therapy. There is a sense of accomplishment that comes with overcoming the challenges that come with teaching your body new movements and to push past your thresholds. Luckily, your kid has a lifetime of experience over many able-body individuals already doing so.

There are plenty more activities that can have the duality of entertainment, therapy, social network and provide a sense of belonging and accomplishment. These are some of the ways that all of your children can interact and grow closer to each other. When they grow older they won’t look back at this time spent together as helping their sibling with their motor skills or therapy, they’ll just remember the fun memories made along the way.

How to Make a Vacation with Kids Feel Like a Vacation

When planning a trip with children, it can sometimes feel like the less you plan, the better. If you come up with a detailed schedule that you are determined to stick to, you are bound to be disappointed. There is always a moment, for me at least, when I seriously contemplate letting the kids run around said city and letting them stop at anything they deem interesting enough. Which would end up with us eating ice cream approximately eight times in one day, spending 4 hours at the Children’s Museum and splashing around in an old puddle with questionable organisms floating on top.

I will not pretend to have traveling with kids all figured out. I am a believer that it is borderline impossible for travel to be completely stress free. I am simply here to offer some recommendations that have made my travels a little easier, and allowed me to make peace with the fact that I will never do it perfectly.

My #1 Tip?

Pick one-three activities or sights, depending on the length of your trip, that you absolutely want to see and do and pick times for those to happen. Make reservations when necessary and possible, and know that you have a loose structure for your upcoming trip. In the event you have some free time, and no one is crying or hungry, you now have the ability to fill that time in with whatever you please!

You should also allow yourself extra time with everything. When driving, you will have to take bathroom breaks and at certain stops, there will likely be distractions. Be sure that you account for this extra time that you will need. Don’t be disappointed if the trip doesn’t go according to plan. Spontaneous trips can be even more fun, and you might end up trying things that you never expected to discover.

When traveling with kids, you must know what to pack. It is important to not overpack and must haul items around unnecessarily, of course, but you must also pack everything that you need. It is helpful to create packing lists ahead of time and to print two of them out. The first can be for the initial packing, and the second can be for the return trip to make sure that you have everything.

The most important thing to remember to pack is a supply of snacks. When traveling in the car, it is helpful to bring a bag full of snacks to keep everyone energized. It is also important to pack snacks when traveling by plane to keep everyone going through the flight. Be sure that you pack entertainment, bathroom supplies, clothes, first aid supplies, and any items that will be needed during transportation.

http://localhost/raisingworld/2019/06/11/timeless-travel-tips-for-every-familys-ideal-vacation/

If you are going on a trip that requires a flight it can especially be stressful and require a lot more planning. When flying with kids everyone needs especially when you are responsible for several people. Even just going through security can take a lot out of you…and don’t even get me started on delays. I found a list of the least stressful cities to fly to, and now work to ensure if we have a layover or are going to one of these places we make every effort to use these airports. They are more family-friendly than others and go above and beyond in serving their customers.

http://localhost/raisingworld/2019/04/16/5-awesome-travel-hacks-when-traveling-with-your-teens/

You know your family better than anyone, so you will know how to optimize your vacations. Just keep these tips in mind when planning your next trip and destination! Bottom line; planning, research and being proactive will always make for a low stress trip. As always, share how you keep vacations with your children as stress free as possible- it truly takes a village!

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8 Brain Games for Kids Essential for Concentration

Brain games for kids are important for improving focus. Concentration and focus are a vital part of completing any tasks successfully. But, with so many distractions and multi-tasking, concentration levels are gradually sinking.

Building concentration requires discipline, taking an active role, and subjecting yourself to different exercises that build your brain’s core to improve focus. The good thing is that you can check recent answers online for games like crossword and compare with your answers.

For most people, getting that much time to work on concentration is a challenge. But, with a little help from brain games, it’s possible to improve concentration levels while making the process fun and engaging.

Here are the top 8 brain games that will give your brain that much needed work out and get your concentration levels up!

Sine Line

This game involves the unending journey of an oscillating particle. Sine Line is unique in various ways. Unlike most brain concentration games, this one is fast-paced and exciting.

The goal of the game is to guide the particle through different obstacles without crashing into them. How the game works is that the longer you survive, the higher your score.

To give the game more spice, there are styles, streaks, and combos you can use to get better scores. The fun and indulging game is the perfect way to work the mental muscles for both kids and adults while kicking out some boredom at the same time.

Brain Dots

Source

Brain Dots is one of the most popular brain games on the market. Given the online reviews and number of downloads, it’s safe to say it’s also one of the most effective games.

The game is simple and straightforward. The clean design takes away most of the distractions and allows you to make the most out of the few minutes you can save for the game.

The concept is simple. Do whatever it takes to get the two dots on your screen to meet and touch! You can draw different structures, shapes, or even lines.

At first, the levels look easy, but you quickly realize that looks can be deceptive. The levels are harder than they seem.

As a reward for going through the different levels, you get pens that have different shapes, colors, and sizes.

Opus: The Day We Found Earth

Improving your concentration doesn’t have to take all your free time. With short brain games like Opus, you can make the most out of your short break to give your brain a quick workout.

The game not only works your mind but tugs at your emotional strings as well. The relaxing stargazing game revolves around finding different planets around the universe that resemble earth and naming them what you like. The main character is a smudgy robot full of ideas and is the invention of one Dr. Lisa.

You have to remember the planets you’ve discovered by analyzing the details and differences. Discovering new planets opens up new areas of the shop, which gives the game some rhythm. The best thing about Opus is that it’s engaging. It’s only ranked lower because it takes up more space than the other brain games listed here.

One-Touch Drawing

One-touch drawing is a leading brain game. It’s revered for its unique simplicity but imposing challenges.

All you need to do is draw different shapes in the game without your finger leaving the screen. To build confidence, the game starts simple and gets harder as you go up the levels.

If you prefer taking your time to understand the game and not having to rush through, this is the perfect game for you.

Take all the time you need. Analyze the different shapes and figure out a strategy. Just remember, once you touch the screen, you have to draw out the shape without your finger leaving the screen.

The best part is, you don’t have to pay a cent for this brain game. The addictive puzzle game is free and perfect for building and improving concentration.

Piano Tiles

Source

Piano Tiles is one of the oldest games on the list. The popular brain game leverages on the love for music to help players improve their concentration and coordination.

The idea behind the game is simple. You have some music playing in the background. You also have black Piano keys flying across the screen. The goal is to press the keys that are in sync with the music playing in the background to score points.

The coupling of songs and taps practices your listening skills and concentration to help you master which keys to press at what time.

Flow Free

The vibrant colors of Flow Free are perfect when you want to engage your child in some concentration boosting games. But, even adults will find the game useful.

Like the other games featured on this list, this one also has a simple idea placing most of the focus on concentration.

The game has two dots of different colors in different squares in a grid. Your goal is to connect the two dots of the same color in the grid. But, the ‘Pipes’ connecting the two dots cannot intersect with pipes of a different color.

As you advance, the size of the grid increases, and so does the level of difficulty. Flow Free is perfect for players that can only spare a few minutes at a time.

2 Cars

If you’re taking improving your concentration a little seriously, this game will be the next level for you once you master the others.

In 2 cars, you have two cars and four lanes. Two lanes for each car. The two cars speed up along their strips of road, and ahead, you will find heaps of circles and squares blocking the road. You have to collect the circles and avoid the squares blocking the lanes of each car.

It’s the ultimate concentration brain game that will test your ability to multi-task and control different events at the same time.

Dancing Line

To close down the list of the best eight brain games essential for concentration, let’s dial down a notch and help your mental muscles cool down after a vigorous workout.

Dancing Line is a straightforward puzzle game that both adults and kids will love. The game is diverse to make it a little more interesting, but the concept remains simple.

Guide the red line through different obstacles without crashing into them. The line starts slowly to help you warm up, and the speed of the line, and obstacles gradually increases. You have to keep a close eye on the screen and have quick reflexes to avoid the challenges that keep popping up.

Conclusion

Building concentration and focus in both children and adults is essential. The numerous brain games and exercises available are a testament to how important it is. If you’ve not considered it in the past, it’s not too late to start, and these eight games are everything you need to start boosting and improving your concentration.

Author Bio:

Rebecca Siggers is a Teacher and passionate writer. She enjoys writing about the Kids learning activities, Parenting tips, effects of Puzzles and Crosswords all around the globe. She has been workingas a freelance writer for quite some time now. Through her writing, she hopes to influence as many people as possible to help kids grow their mental skills.

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How Passionate Shooters Can Prevent Kids Using Their Guns by Accident

There are many reasons why gun safety shouldn’t be overlooked. Unfortunately, though, there are many parents who undermine the importance of taking all the means of precautions when it comes to gun ownership. Statistically speaking, children are killed weekly due to the attention lapse of adults, leading to tragic accidents and even deaths. In 2018 alone, no less than 73 children were killed in accidents, due to the fact that adults didn’t secure their guns accordingly.

Concurrently, according to this source, in 2017, 285 children got hold of a gun and accidentally shot someone else or themselves. Adolescents should be factored in as well. That’s because they are at a higher risk of committing suicide especially when there is an unlocked gun inside the house.

Irrespective of these staggering facts, 2 million children live in houses with unlocked, loaded guns. What should a responsible, passionate shooter do in this respect?

How to Reduce the Chances of Injury?

There are many ways in which you can diminish the likelihood of such incidents happening in your house. For one thing, you should acknowledge that the dangers are real. Children are likely to be victims in accidents when there is a loaded gun inside a house, and it isn’t stored adequately. Therefore, what can you do as a passionate shooter? Most likely you don’t want to give up on your hobby.

Safe Storage Is the Key

First of all, adequately storing and locking your guns will most likely diminish the likelihood of such tragic outcomes. In this respect, there are massive locks and high-quality gun safes that are made to provide maximum protection in all case scenarios. The good thing is that there is a wide variety of safes on the marketplace to choose from, depending on your needs. At the end of the day, there’s no such thing as being too careful when it comes to your children’s safety, is there?

With that in mind, all the guns you own should be located in a safe. Concurrently, all guns should be unloaded, for safety reasons as well. Plus, the law clearly states that as a shooter and a gun owner, you are responsible for storing the weapon/s in a secured container. In addition to that, you should also disable it with a gun lock.

Sadly, though, the reason why accidental deaths are so frequent is precisely due to the fact that many shooters overlook the importance of practicing adequate gun storage practices. In addition to that, in some states in the US – such as New York, California, Connecticut and others – the law states that you should keep your ammo and firearms separately. This is another important measure of protection that might reduce the likelihood of accidents. As for the ammunition, it should also be locked and appropriately stored.

It goes without saying that the storage location must be out of reach for children. Before placing a firearm in the safe, you should double-check to ensure that it is unloaded. Accidents can happen when you aren’t careful, so don’t take safety for granted.

Storing Your Ammo and Firearms Separately

It might seem unusual that many passionate shooters don’t keep their firearms and their ammo separately. But when you have children in the house, this is a necessity – whether the law in your state requires it or not. The last thing you want is for your children to get a hold of the gun while having ammunition readily available.

The thing is that children tend to be curious and they are normally attracted to the things they can’t understand. Guns can also seem intriguing to adolescents and even toddlers. For convenience purposes, you might choose to keep your ammunition and firearms in the same place. Still, this is contraindicated for safety reasons. This is applicable if you have children of your own or if you have families with children visiting as well.

You might say that there’s no use in having a gun inside the house if you can’t store the ammunition in the close proximity. There is a solution to this problem as well. You should invest in a container that is separate from the safe where you keep your guns.

Other Important Guidelines to Increase the Safety of Your Children

You should always store your ammo and your gun in a safe container. This is a golden rule that applies in all case scenarios. Another important piece of advice would be to avoid hiding your gun or guns around the house. Many shooters choose this approach so that they would have immediate access to a gun in the case anything happens.

In addition to that, you should never disclose the code to the safe to anybody. Of course, the only case in which you should do so is if you really trust the other person as he/she is reliable. But be cautious.

Always, but always double-check a gun before placing it in a safe. Doing proper maintenance checks is a necessity when you own a gun, especially when there are children in the house. In addition to that, although your knowledge of guns is far-reaching and you are constantly learning new things, you shouldn’t assume that you know everything. Keep an open mind and acknowledge that unprecedented situations can happen to anyone. Although practice and experience are important, this doesn’t mean you can’t exclude the likelihood of an accident altogether. Precaution is always best.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, if more shooters would embrace a responsible behavior when it comes to storing and using their guns, the numbers of accidents would be drastically reduced. It’s up for us to acknowledge this and do our best to maximize the safety of our loved ones. Doing something as important as purchasing an appropriate safe for your guns can dramatically reduce the incidence of accidents. Make sure you don’t overlook this. Stay safe!

Know the Family’s Heritage Language to Stay Rooted

Rita Rosenback is a Family Language Coach, speaker and author. Her book “Bringing up a Bilingual Child” is an easy-to-read guide for parents navigating them across the “Seven Cs of Multilingual Parenting: Communication, Confidence, Commitment, Consistency, Creativity, Culture and Celebration”. On Rita’s website www.multilingualparenting.com you can find more than 300 posts and Q&As on the topic of raising children to speak more than one language. Rita is a Finland-Swede, now living in the UK. She has two multilingual adult daughters and is currently helping to pass on Swedish to her grandson.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

My name is Rita Rosenback and I am a Family Language Coach, author and speaker on the topic of raising bilingual and multilingual children. I am originally from Finland and moved to the UK over 20 years ago. I have two adult daughters and two wonderful grandsons, who are growing up to become bilingual in English and Swedish.

Which cities have your lived in/ visited in your lifetime? Which is your favorite?

I was born in a little village on the Swedish-speaking west coast of Finland. I then moved to Turku in the southwest of Finland to study languages and also lived in Göttingen, in the then West Germany, while studying German. When my eldest daughter was small, we stayed a couple of months in Phagwara, Punjab, with her Indian grandparents.

I now live in Derby, UK. Choosing a favorite place is like answering the question “Which one of your children do you love the most? – an impossible choice. Every place has its charm.

My home village in Finland will always be very dear to me and a peaceful place for the whole family to return to every summer. The cities I studied in will forever have a magical memory of learning, growing as a human being and making life-long friends from across the world. India fascinated me with its warm people, natural beauty and vibrant communities. My current “home” city is Derby in the gorgeous Derbyshire in the middle of the UK, close to the magnificent Peak District.

Part of my heart is in each of the places I have lived – on my bed I have an embroidered pillow with the phrase “Home is where your heart is,” and in my mind I always add “and your heart can be in many places.”

What brought you to what you do ?

Family Language Coach – Languages have always been close to my heart and most jobs I have done have been somehow related to speaking more than one language. I grew up bilingual in Finnish and Swedish, Both my daughters grew up to speak the family languages: Swedish, Punjabi and later English.

My eldest daughter also learnt Finnish while we lived in Finland. When we moved to the UK, I noticed that my daughters were able to speak their father’s language, Punjabi, better than many children who had been brought up by two Indian parents in the UK.

I was intrigued by this and also saddened by the loss of the family language in many cases. While analyzing what we had done as a family to successfully raise our daughters to speak three/four languages, I noticed the differences in our approach compared to those families whose kids were not fluent.

This inspired me to start my blog multilingualparenting.com and later to write my book “Bringing up a Bilingual Child”. I am passionate about this topic and know that parents can be successful in passing on their languages. Sometimes they need a little bit of support and advice and this is where I can help.

3. What is one aspect in raising multicultural children do we need to be MOST aware of.

When raising multicultural children, the most important thing in my opinion is to make sure that they are aware of and proud of all cultures that are part of their identity. (Of course, this comes after making sure they are fed, safe, loved and educated.) Because of what I do and what I am passionate about, I will bring up the importance of sharing the family languages with our children, to the best of our ability.

For children to know the heritage language of their parents and grandparents makes it so much easier to learn about and stay connected with their culture. Knowing more language also makes children more open-minded and aware. They will be able to act as bridges between generations, countries and cultures – something what is badly needed in today’s world.

What is one personal challenge you have overcome growing up?

When I was 21, my mother died in pancreatic cancer within three months of her diagnosis. At the time I was still finding myself and my place in this world. It took me several years to find my feet again. Based on my experience I would like to tell young people that you can recover from anything.

Advice: Don’t ever suppress your feelings of grief. Ask for help and take it when offered. Speak to someone about your challenges.

Share with us two parenting hacks that have made your/child’s life easy.

It may be an old-fashioned view, but I think children should learn the importance of working/doing chores early on in life. The earlier you start, the easier it is. I have let me daughters help me since they first were able to walk! Allow them to empty the washing machine, moving on to the dish washer according to their capability. Instill the pride of doing it themselves and it will become second nature – and this of course goes for both boys and girls! If we wait on our children hand and foot when they are small, we cannot suddenly expect them to participate in chores when they are teenagers.

Another “hack”, if you can call it so, is to trust your children. I believe in giving children responsibility and trusting them to do the right thing. Of course, you must be a good role model for this attitude – never expect of your child anything that you are not able to model yourself.

What projects are you working on next?

I am writing my second book, which is a fictional diary of a bilingual mother. The book follows a multilingual family’s journey over several years and touches on the joys and challenges of raising children to speak more than one language.

What is one piece of advice you would give to children?

Depends on the age, of course, but after they are past the age of “follow your parents’ advice to keep you safe” I would say: Keep an open and inquisitive mind, keep asking those difficult questions and believe in yourself!

Tell us three things that are on your bucket list?

Just crossed off one of my bucket list items by visiting Iceland – still remaining: parachute jump, visiting lake Titicaca and publishing my 10th book!

1. What 3 books OR movies would you say changed your life?

I read Wayne Dwyer’s “The Sky’s the Limit” when I was a young adult, and it made a deep impact on my vision on life. I struggled after my mother died and the book gave me a new belief in my future. No other book or film comes even close, so I will leave it at that.

Do you have any freebies for our readers/listeners?

Once a month I hold a free live Facebook session where I answer parents’ questions about raising bilingual and multilingual children. Everyone is free to send in their questions. Previous episodes are recorded and can be accessed through my Facebook page.

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4 Activities to Help Your Child’s Social Skills

Building a solid foundation of social skills for your children from a young age can help them make friends more easily and assist them in becoming independent as they get older. There are several activities that you can have your child engage in that will help them develop strong social skills.

Board Games

Board games are not only fun, they are also educational and teach critical thinking skills and social skills. Games like chess really challenge the brain and allow children to master skills like strategizing and thinking independently, both of which can help them socially as they age.

To improve your child’s chess game, enroll them in online chess lessons. An online instructor can provide them with the one-on-one attention necessary to elevate their game without the need to add another outside class to your child’s already-busy schedule.

Reading

A child that reads can open up an entire world inside their brain. Reading not only enhances speaking skills and expands a child’s knowledge, but focused topics like making friends, preventing bullying, and handling life transitions can greatly assist them in expanding their social skills.

Going to the library with your child is an excellent way to bond with them. They can also meet new friends at programs through the library which cater to specific ages. They’ll expand their social circle while also expanding their minds.

Treasure Hunting

Searching for something, either as an individual or as a team, is a great way to develop a child’s social skills. Scavenger hunts, geocaching, and Pokémon Go are all terrific ways for children to get outdoors and interacting with their peers.

The competitive vibe of treasure hunting pushes a child to think outside-of-the-box. Keeping things fun and interactive by providing treasures that appeal to your child will keep them engaged and looking forward to treasure hunting again in the future.

Thinking Games

There are games that don’t require anything but a mind and conversation. Games like “Never Have I Ever” or “Would You Rather?” will have your child picking their brains to come up with the best possible answer. This teaches them important decision-making skills that will be crucial as they grow up and enter into adulthood.

The most important thing you can do for your child is to provide plenty of opportunities to engage in fun activities with their peers. The more they are exposed to, the more social skills they will develop.

4 Services You Need for Your Family’s Next Road Trip

Make Camping a Wholesome Experience for Little Kids

Camping is a very fun activity and it really helps to make a strong bond and connect with your kids. In this post I’m going to share with you some tips while camping with your kids.

1. Give them Jobs

Give your kids something to do as soon as you reach the site of camping.

It will keep them busy and they will not do any mischief. Especially at the beginning of camping you will have to set up the tent etc so you can give them job or something to do related to the setup. It will keep them busy and they will not bother you while you are doing your work.

This also makes kids responsible and part of the camping experience.

2. Make Rules

You should make some rules before camping or during the camping.

The rules could be as simple as “No shoes in the tent”. If you allow your kids to bring the shoes in the tent then it will make everything messy inside with dir, grass etc.

So you can set up little rules like this, it will enhance your camping experience.

Another example of a good rule is not watching anything on screen like tablet etc. You can also not take tablets with you all together.

While camping you should play board games or outdoor games and avoid digital games. Setting up rules while campaign also helps to build discipline in children.

3. Storage

Get some cheap containers and take them with you while camping.

During camping you have very little space so these containers will help a lot. You can put things in containers. This will make your camping experience very organised and avoid any kind of mess.

It is very useful especially while you are camping with kids. Also make your kids to put things in storage container at their place every time, this will build a habit of organisation in kids.

4. Make Simple Meals

While camping with kids don’t spend a lot of time preparing meals.You should get some simple meal ideas from Pinterest before camping. The meal preparation should be simple. It should take very little time and it should not be complicated and include a lot of ingredients.

5. Prepare Before Camping

You should prepare before camping as much as you can. As mentioned in the above point. You should decide your meals and its ingredients.

Carry fresh and pure water purified by a good water filter with you as many diseases spread through impure water.

If you have been camping before then remember that experience and make a list of things you should carry with you accordingly. Imagining you are at the camping, will also help you to make a list of things you should carry with you.

6. Carry Medications

You should always carry a first aid box with you while camping. Also if you or any of your family members have any kind of allergies then you should carry medicine related to it as a precaution.

7. Allow Your Kids Cook

Cooking is a fun activity. You should allow you are kids to do simple things while cooking. They will love it and will enjoy it.

It will make them apart of the camping experience. Just keep an eye on them.

8. Take Some Games with You

While camping with kids you should take some outdoor games with you. Games like football, ring toss, capture the flag are very fun to play during camping.

9. Give Children Freedom

While camping with kids you should give them some freedom. Nowadays kids spend most of their time indoors and camping is the only time to spend outdoors with nature.

So let them observe things and let them touch things. Just keep an eye on them.

___________________________________________________________________________

Akash Sharma is a blogger from India. He likes to write helpful articles especially on parenting topics. He loves camping, reading and writing.

5 Gifts Kids Can Easily Sew for Fathers

Every parent loves it when their child gives them a present, whether it’s for their birthday, Christmas, New Year, or any other holiday actually. And when that present is something that the child had made themselves, the parent’s joy is even greater, accompanied by a sense of pride and fulfillment. Here are gifts kids can easily sew for fathers.

Most of the time, kids create something for their mothers, but this time, we’ll be showing you something a little different. We’ll show you five gifts kids can easily sew for their dad. Dads also like presents, so this time, it’s all about them.

Denim bookmark

This is an ideal gift for fathers who enjoy reading and always have a book by their side when they’re relaxing. Since the material in question is denim, an adult will have to help the child just a little, when it’s time to use the sewing machine.

Necessary materials for this present are a piece of denim which you can cut out from an old pair of jeans, a piece of fabric that will act as a stabilizer, a pretty ribbon, a pair of scissors, a sewing machine and a thread.

First thing you have to do is to cut out the denim in the size you wish the bookmark to be, two pieces of almost identical dimensions, one being just a bit smaller than the other. Then cut out the stabilizer in the same dimensions as the smaller denim piece. Lastly, cut the ribbon about an inch or two longer than the denim piece and burn its endings so that they don’t fray.

Now it’s time to start sewing. Denim is a tough type of material, so you should use a needle specifically designed to pierce denim. A heavy duty sewing machine is also recommended, because it can sew with denim easily.

Position the longer denim strip first, then put the stabilizer, then the second denim strip, and finally, the ribbon, all on each other. Stitch the ribbon to the fabrics and you’re done. You can cut off the excess stabilizer material, just be careful not to cut too much.

Keychain

This one can be done by hand, which means that your child can do it by themselves. Cut out a piece of fabric in the form you wish, a square, a circle, an octagon, anything works. Then stitch a second cutout to the mentioned piece by hand. Try to make the second cutout something that looks nice, like a heart or a star, it will make the keychain look much better. Then just attach an actual keychain to it and that’s it.

Laptop sleeve or bag

Useful and pretty, a laptop bag is a great gift for dads. All you need in order to make it is a piece of fabric, a zipper or a button, and a sewing machine. Cut out two pieces of fabric in dimensions slightly larger than the laptop and then stitch them together on three sides. Insert the zipper on the fourth side, or add an overlap with a button and you can hand it out to dad.

Phone or glasses case

This is even easier than the previous gift, and is smaller in size. As long as you can sew in a straight line you can totally make this case. All you need is fabric, felt, thread and your trusted sewing machine. You’ll be using wool felt as a lining in order to both cushion and protect the phone or the glasses from scratches.

Pajama pants

This is the most complex project on this list, meaning that only older kids who have experience with sewing can make it. Steal dad’s pajama pants for a while and trace them to make a pattern or use on the free pajama pants patterns here. Then choose a nice and soft material and start cutting out the patterns. Stitch them together, insert a string at the waistline and maybe add some pockets and the gift is ready to be wrapped in decorative paper.

Check out more crafts you can make for your family here.

Now you know how to make a gift for dad and surprise him on Father’s Day. Whichever one you decide to create, dad will surely love it and treasure it.

Timeless Travel Tips for Every Family’s Ideal Vacation

Traveling as a family is both a joy and a challenge; parents may find it difficult to find a balance between their interests and their children’s. Locations that were once considered exotic are now impractical.

Don’t worry. You can still travel the world and experience what life has to offer with kids in tow, and the journey can be all-the-more magical as you get to see amazing new places through their eyes.

Before you start to travel overseas as a family, here are four tips to help make the voyage easier.

1. Arrange Travel Before You Leave

Airplane tickets are just the beginning. How do you plan to leave the airport when you arrive at your destination? You may think it’s as simple as hailing a cab, but after a long flight, finding good transport to your hotel can be overwhelming.

Instead, look up the airport you’ll be flying into and read about their transportation options. If cabs are always waiting, then you’re good to go. If you have to call out for one, get the number and have it ready before you go. You may even want to call a car service and have a ride waiting to take you to your destination. For larger groups, a maxi taxi can be a great option.

2. Pack Extra Essentials

Bring more underwear, socks and t-shirts than you’ll need. These are light-weight items that you can’t go without. Kids are more prone to lose or soil their garments, and you don’t want to be running around a foreign city trying to find new clothes at the last minute.

You should also save time at the baggage claim by combining belongings into one or two large suitcases, as opposed to every family member carrying their own half-full checked bag.

3. Accommodate Dietary Restrictions

Make sure that you research the cuisine of your destinations for those who are gluten or lactose-intolerant or have food allergies. Find restaurants in the vicinity of your hotel that offer food you can trust. You don’t want to arrive at a destination only to realize you can’t eat 95-percent of its cuisine.

4. Build an Itinerary

Wandering aimlessly is fun when you’re a lone traveler or backpacking couple, but families are better off planning an itinerary. Book guided walking tours that will allow you to take in each location’s landmarks while learning something interesting. Avoid getting lost or having the kids complain of boredom by including plenty of fun activities and excursions, from hang-gliding to horseback riding.

Planning as a Family

Even preschoolers can get involved with organizing the next family vacation. Research different locations together, and explore walking tours and sightseeing videos on YouTube. The best trips you take together will be ones that you’re all equally excited about.

Read here our tips for traveling with teens.

With the whole family on-board, even a one-hour road trip to the next town over can be a great time.

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.

Remove the Taboo of the F* Word Early in Kids

My husband is my pillar, my rock, my life partner. He has been nothing less than supportive of me and my career since we met. During that time I’ve run my own successful advertising agency and worked for Google.

I had three months off work with the birth of my first child and 6 weeks with the second. We married after the second – I have always joked I wanted to make sure he’d make a good father before I committed to him. The truth is, he’s the better half of our partnership.

Except.

One thing.

The F* word.

That’s right. Feminism.

Before I met him I started working with a charity that ran several women’s refuges and rehabilitation program mes for survivors of domestic abuse. When this took the form of gathering hundreds of presents each Christmas for the residents of the refuges.

It apparently didn’t occur to him that this was more than a charitable gesture from a white, middle class woman. When I talked about women’s rights and told him stories about survivors I’d met, he listened, nodded and I took this to be a shared feeling of the utter outrage I felt about the gender equality we live with day to day.

Then the charity I had been working with for 9 years went into administration. The refuges luckily were absorbed into a bigger network, but the high quality 1:1 counseling, the lobbying, the powerhouse that believed survivors deserved more than 30 days of support as they sought to rebuild their lives, that all disappeared.

I was very involved as the charity wound down and became a lot more vocal about my beliefs. This came around shortly before Weinstein and the #metoo movement. This is the point when I realized my husband is embarrassed by my perspective.

But it’s not just him, it’s also certain groups of family, friends, parents from school; both male and female. If I’m socializing and anything remotely related to #metoo or the F*word comes up it all gets a bit awkward. If anyone attempts to open up the conversation, or offer a vaguely provocative opinion they’re immediately put down with a combination of banter and deprecating remarks. And yes, when I say anyone, I mean me.

This realization came as I’d come to realize that charities, small charities especially, really struggle with funding; government and institutional grants require mountains of paperwork just to be considered, individual donors are being pulled in all sorts of directions for all sorts of causes. The only way to create real financial stability is for them to create a sustainable income stream.

So I set my mind to thinking. What product could we create that would provide this sustainable income stream for charities whilst also effecting change. My experience with social exchanges, or rather lack of, made me realize that to have any hope of progress around gender equality continuing we needed to change the conversation.

For the last 18 months I’ve been working on a set of conversation cards that are designed for families with kids age 5-12.

They have all sorts of questions on them ranging from Have you ever wondered what animals talk about? Or which of your teachers might survive a zombie apocalypse? To ‘Is it ok to call a girl manly?’ and ‘Who should have the last say in a family?’.

It’s working. My two girls love it and play it with their dad all the time. He barely seems to notice it covers conversations he’s uncomfortable having with me if I instigate them. Friends who get awkward when we’re discussing this around the dinner table are happily buying sets of cards for their kids.

You can read more about practical ways you can teach gender equality to kids here –

http://localhost/raisingworld/2017/07/07/teaching-kids-gender-equality/

The beautiful thing is the children themselves love the simple interaction they have between themselves and adults. It’s a small thing but I hope it can make a difference.

Conversations count.

Books for this include –

Sarah is co-founder at Together Equal, specializing in producing conversation cards which raise money for charities while having a social impact by creating conversations which challenge social stereotypes. Follow Sarah and Together Equal @betogetherequal @sarahairdmash.

You can find Us On –

Twitter @betogetherequal
Instagram @togetherequal
Twitter @sarahairdmash
Website togetherequal.com

http://localhost/raisingworld/2019/03/26/5-woman-empowerment-kids-at-home/

The Paradox of Racing Time in Parenting

To say that I’m time-obsessed would be an understatement. But it is also true that I was not like this all my life. I have always been the laid-back kid who never feels the urge to rush. I took my own sweet time to get around to doing anything.

I took time to warm up to people. I took time to understand a new concept being taught. But something about having my own kids changed my entire perspective.

The clock-obsessed lady was hiding under the surface of that calm, slow little girl. Now everything that I do revolves around the clock. I have to finish cooking by 10, sit with my son to do his homework from 4:30 to 5:30, take my daughter to a class at 6, pick up my son from his class at 4:30 and so on so forth. The time obsession has moved on to such level that I get impatient if I feel any member of my family seems to be relaxed, a little too relaxed in my opinion, especially if we are all getting ready for some event.

And of all the events, doctor’s appointments are the worst! The fact that you have to be somewhere at a fixed time can get your blood pressure raising very high. And if you add traffic in to this mix, it can really cause you to hyperventilate.

So you’re sitting there, not moving an inch, in the midst of the worst traffic of your life (to be honest, they all seem like that), one eye on the road hoping the car ahead of you will move and another eye on the ticking clock, your pulse raising with every increase of the minute hand.

You sit there wishing that you had started earlier than you did from home. You sit there trying to resist the urge to say some mean things to the guy who cut in front of you, after-all the whole point of this whole circus, the apple of your eye, your little son is sitting right behind you. You wonder why did everyone have to step out of their house exactly on the same day and at the same time when you were running late just a few minutes, only to find that now you’re running a lot more than a few minutes late. And as you have nothing else to do, you drum on the steering wheel, make loud sighing noises and the merciless clock just keeps ticking and ticking and ticking.

For a second, you wonder if all the clocks in the world should be trashed in some dumpster for mocking your helplessness and then let out another huge sigh and drum some more on the steering wheel. Finally, after what seems like zillion minutes, the traffic lets out, and you feel like you’re flying through the streets.

Your turn to mock the clock. And so the dance continues, you win some you lose some.

Neha Narayan is a 9th grader in high school. She likes biking, drawing, and, well, watching YouTube. She hopes to be successful in whatever she decides to do.

Sangeetha Narayan likes to do everything. From writing, reviewing books, and being a great mother (even if she does say so herself) she keeps herself busy. She hopes to continue writing and reviewing and become successful.

Grab Your Copy of Strong Roots Have No Fear – The book for children to thrive with strong values in a multicultural world!

5 Simple Ways to Explore Easter Traditions With Kids

In the Christian calendar, Easter is the most sacred festival. It marks both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and his promise of eternal life. Christian families choose to celebrate Easter with many activities including attending church services, taking part in fun traditions and enjoying delicious food.

Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, which is anywhere between late March and late April.

Easter traditions vary from country to country across the world. However, because Easter coincides with the start of the spring season for many, celebrations of new life are a common theme to traditions. Symbols for Easter include spring flowers, eggs, chicks, hares, rabbits, and other baby animals.

Christian children very much enjoy the Easter holiday, but for non-Christian families, Easter is also a great time to learn more about this religion and culture. Like many other festivals, it’s full of fun and color and is the perfect time to engage kids in learning about different traditions and cultures around the world.

Here are five Easter traditions that your children will love to join in with:

1. Egg painting

Alongside spring flowers, colorful eggs are a way of decorating homes for Easter. In Germany, the streets are also decorated with eggs strung from branches.

Children adore painting eggs in whichever color or pattern they choose. You can hard boil them first to minimize the risk of mess. Alternatively, make pretty garlands by cutting paper into egg shapes, decorating, then stringing them together.

2. Easter bonnet parade

Every Easter, children around the world make a game of decorating a hat and parading their designs. It is thought that this tradition originates from a time when Easter would have meant buying or making new clothes to welcome in the springtime renewal of the year.

Children start with a simple hat which they can then adorn in any way they choose. Flowers are the most traditional way to decorate an Easter bonnet, but other Easter symbols such as fluffy toy chicks, colorful eggs, and the Easter bunny often appear. The only ‘rule’ is to make your hat as fun and as colorful as possible.

3. Egg hunts

This is one of the most popular Easter traditions across the world and is a huge favorite with children, Christian or otherwise. It’s the perfect Easter opportunity to gather friends and family together for a big celebration.

According to folklore, an egg-laying bunny visits gardens at Easter and lays its eggs in the grass. The act of searching high and low for these eggs delights children. Of course, it is the parents who hide the eggs, which are nearly always made from chocolate. Once the game is finished, the feast can begin.

Many families turn this game into the main event for a big garden party. To make this gathering a success, kids party entertainers would recommend adding extra amusement centers such as inflatable castles or mascots for the kids to enjoy before or after the hunt. You can include an Easter bonnet parade into the event, too.

When you add a delicious buffet of food and some pretty decorations, you will have a certifiably fun event for all your family and friends to enjoy.

4. Egg rolling

The annual White House egg roll is one of the world’s most famous Easter events for children. The US president has been hosting this event in the White House gardens since 1878.

This a big event in the Washington DC calendar and is always much anticipated by those families lucky enough to have tickets. The principal game of the event is to roll eggs across the White House lawns to see whose can go furthest without cracking. There are many other games featuring eggs, however, and as everyone leaves, guests are handed a wooden egg souvenir.

This would be a delightful event to replicate. With the help of professional event planners, you can organize a sophisticated gathering like this in your own gardens or at a nearby venue.

5. Hot cross buns

No festival is complete without delicious food, and Easter celebrations are no exception. Aside from chocolate eggs, hot cross buns are the most well-known Easter treats.

Hot cross buns are made from a sweet dough combined with dried fruit. Each bun is decorated with a cross on top to symbolize Jesus on the cross.

Easter time is the perfect time to gather your children, friends, and family together. Enjoy the family-friendly traditions as well as some quality time together. Or, make the most of lovely springtime weather and throw a big Easter celebration.

You can read more for making Easter memorable Here –

Educational Candyless No Prep Easter Celebrations with Kids

DIY Easter Bunny

DIY Paper Basket for Easter

Returning the Easter of Magic to Families