10 Amazing Father-Son Bonding Activities

We live in a busy world. Devoted parents spend a lot of time working to provide the best they can for their children. It might seem different from the little ones, but most parents would rather spend time with them than go to work every day. However, since it is the way it is, here is a couple of father-son bonding activities, without going too far out of your way.

Teach Them to Use Tools

Share the traditional image of having a man around the house. Include your son in your next DIY project. It can be anything from fixing a leaking tap, to building a piece of furniture. Teach them to use the basic tools. Regardless of what some may believe, being handy is still a valuable set of skills. The best thing is that this type of creative work is something your son will enjoy a lot.

Build Toys Together

This is another opportunity to bond over a DIY project. This time you can create something that has a value to your child. Start with a simple project of making a slingshot, or bow and arrows. You can gradually move to something more elaborate such as making cars, boats, or model rockets.

Teach Them a Skill

It’s like riding a bike! There are some essential skills which are never forgotten, once learned. Be the one to teach them those skills. You will have a blast reaching milestones while teaching your child how to ride a bike. He will be incredibly excited once he finally manages to ride it independently. Be there for them when they learn how to swim or drive a car.

Take Him on a Camping Trip

Well, take him on many camping trips. You do not have to go far or stay for too long. It could be just the two of you or the entire family. The girls will make the trip even more fun, and they will not diminish your bonding in any way. As a father, you can teach him how to get firewood, how to start a fire, put up a tent, explore nature etc.

Go Hunting or Fishing

These are perhaps two of the most traditional father-son activities. It involves a day spent in nature working on a mutual goal. The beauty of it is that while you are trying to reach that goal, you have a lot of time for just the two of you. You can fill it with conversation. Share your relevant experiences and ask him about his expectations. These activities create a perfect setting for spontaneous sharing.

Play Golf

You could play any sport, but golf has special connotation. You can watch golf lesson videos together, and get your son involved in the game early. It will help him later in life as it has proven therapeutic effects. He will stay active while spending time socializing. It could be used as a business lunch in form of a game and a place to form connections. For now, it will allow the two of you to connect.

Visit a Sporting Event

It is well-known that sons support their fathers’ favorite teams. Don’t take this away from your child. You could watch a game at home, and you should. However, watching it live is a completely different experience. Share this amazing energy and have something to remember and talk about later.

Enjoy Music Together

You can have fun bridging the generation gap. Ask your son about his favourite bands and take interest in them. Share what you think are classics, but do not insist on anything. Your child is looking for role models for everything in life. Your music is very likely to stick with him and shape his taste. Listening to the music your son enjoys can tell you a lot about his state of mind. If you play an instrument, this is another skill your child shouldn’t miss out on.

Play Games

Play games his way, and play games your way. Anything from board games, to video games, whatever makes your child happy. It is true that life-shaping moments are the most important, but the fun ones also matter.

Find time to enjoy your son’s company. Do not wait to become a grandfather to be a role model and loving support. Let your son know you do not care for him only in a practical way, but also in an emotional way. Find occasions to tell him you love him.

 

5 Tips on How to Raise Environmentally Aware Kids

*Note from Dave:

I did not write this, but I do take environmental stewardship seriously.  I don’t believe that carbon dioxide is a pollutant, and I think that straw bands are worthless virtue signalling. I also believe anyone that says the “science is settled” on man-caused global warming is an idiot that does not understand either science in general or the specific idea of man climate change.

Actually, I dislike the tone of the opening paragraph.  However, I do thank we need to raise our children to respect the environment and to know how important it is to make the world better.  I try to raise a my son to be better than I am, but I also try to leave him a world better than the one I was left.

That being said, here is the article:

The environmental issues are not a joke. We get calls to action all the time. People from all around the world are taking the Plastic Pledge. We’re becoming more aware of the damage we’ve been doing to our planet, and we want to take it back or stop it as much as possible.

Everything starts with education. When we become aware, we change our actions. When we teach our kids to be friendly with nature, we prevent damage.

But children can be careless sometimes. You take them to a picnic, and they throw the cans of Coke in the water. You explain that’s not okay and they pick them up, but do they understand why it’s not okay to pollute the nature?

It’s time to talk with your kids. Don’t worry; you won’t be providing full environmental education that would make them bored. You’ll be teaching them how to love the nature and show that love through actions.

We’ll give you essential tips on how to talk to your kids about nature.

First, Take Them Outside!

Let’s get one thing straight: you can’t teach your kids about nature if you don’t show it to them. Sure; there are beautiful TV shows and even apps that can help you teach your kid about plants and animals. But they do not replace the real experience.

So get outside! Even if the weather is cold, hot, or rainy, you can still find a nice place to go to. Your kid might complain about the wind, but you’ll tell them that it’s necessary because it spreads seeds to help the plants grow. If it’s raining, you’ll explain how important water is for everything that’s alive.

Be a Good Example

Your kids watch your every move. They like copying what you do. So when you go out in nature, be mindful about your behavior. If you see plastic or other things that don’t belong there, pick them up even if your family didn’t throw them. Always carry bags where you can collect the trash and then throw it where it belongs.

Your kids will appreciate seeing your responsibility towards nature. They will see you making contributions, and they will want to do the same.

Take Some Nature Inside

Ula Richards, a writer for BestEssays, spends most of her time at home: “By the time I’m done working, it’s already too late to go out,” – she says. “When I don’t have someone watching my kids, they have to stay at home with me. But I don’t let them spend the entire time stuck on a screen. I always find a way to bring bits of nature inside. Rocks, sticks, shells… whatever. We also have many plants around the house, so the kids can take care of them.”

When you don’t have the opportunity to take them out every single day, that doesn’t mean the kids can’t stay mindful about nature. Playing with rocks and shells is fun! Planting herbs and watching them grow is even more fun. Using them in the food you prepare is the ultimate lesson on how nature contributes to your life.

Explain How Important the Environment Is

You won’t do this through some intellectual talk that your kids can’t understand. Simplifying works, but saying “Nature is important” simply doesn’t cut it. Instead of saying, you should start showing.

So when your kid eats a banana, you can talk about bananas. Explain how they grow and how they help your kid grow. Show them photos of banana trees, so they will understand they come from the environment. Show them what to do with the peel. They can use it to clean their teeth or treat their skin.

Nature gives us benefits beyond the obvious use of its products. Explore them together with your kids!

Teach Them to Appreciate Fresh Air

When you’re walking around the city, ask your kid to be mindful about the air they breathe. How does it feel?

Then, when you’re in nature, ask the same question. How does the air feel?

The simple thought of air is very important for raising environmental awareness. The air in the city is polluted. It doesn’t feel fresh, and it often makes you tired. The moment you step into the unpolluted environment, you feel a difference. You’re able to take deeper, longer breaths and they have an awakening effect on you.

Your kid will feel the difference, too. That alone is enough for them to start appreciating clean air and take action against polluting it. They will understand why it’s important to ride a bike or take public transport instead of using the family car all the time.

This is the planet where all kinds of miraculous things have happened and will continue to happen. Dinosaurs used to roam these lands. Where is the future headed? One thing is sure: the future will be nice only if we take care of our planet. If each one of us were slightly more conscious and less responsible for pollution, we’d be living in a better world. Everything starts from ourselves and from the way we teach our kids. So teach them well!

College Girl

4 Things to Teach Your Child before College

4 Things to Teach Your Child before College
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Last year, my son went to college. It was the most exciting year of his life. It was the most challenging year of my life.

At one point, I started feeling like a complete failure of a parent. Did I fail to prepare my son for college? I know that he’s not a kid anymore. I know that he’s a grown-up human being who’s supposed to take responsibility about his own actions. But still… I wished I’d done things a bit differently.

From my own experience, I realized it was important for teenagers to learn four things before going to college. Hopefully, I can give you some tips on things to teach your child before college.

  1. College Is Not Just a Place Where You Get Your Diploma

My son is an overachiever. I’m mentioning this as a flaw, ‘cause that’s exactly what it was.

When my son started college, most of the complaints were about studying too much. He was spending all of his free time in the library… studying. He couldn’t stand his roommates because they were making too much noise. He was only focused on classes, projects, exams, and credits.

But college is not only about the degree. It’s mostly about building interpersonal relationships.

Believe it or not, I advised my kid to take things lightly. Yes; I was the one suggesting college homework help when I realized he was spending too much time in the library. I just wanted him to find some balance between his studies and his personal life. Just as we need our work-life balance, students need their time off, too.

  1. Your Roommates Can Be Your Best Friends

My college roommates were my best friends. We shared our struggles and our joys all the time. Of course we had disagreements, but we were able to sort them out in a civilized manner. As I could understand, this was a rare case. Most students are having troubles finding common ground with their roommates.

Some of the most problems include lack of personal hygiene, messy habits, eating the other person’s food, borrowing stuff without permission, and making too much noise. My son was mostly complaining about the noise.

He told me his roommates had no idea what roommate etiquette meant. Well guess what: my son had no idea about etiquette, either. Why did someone leave a bag of chips on his bed? Why didn’t his roommate pick up the dirty socks? He turned everything into an argument instead of trying to have a civilized conversation about it.

Etiquette means leaving things in order, but it also means being as friendly as possible even when you have some remarks to share. They don’t have to argue about everything. Most people are reasonable enough to understand what they are doing wrong if you’re willing to tell them through a calm conversation.

  1. You Have to Manage Your Money

My son doesn’t cook and he absolutely hated the food in the dining hall. He was buying food every single day. He was ordering pizza most of the time. Add the desserts and soda, and there you have it – a huge amount of money being spent on unhealthy food.

As a parent, I was sorry seeing my son struggle. But I stopped sending extra money at one point. My help wasn’t teaching him how to manage his money. He had to tone his expenses down, and he managed to do that, eventually. It was a harsh lesson, but I did what I thought was the right thing to do.

  1. You Have to Manage Your Time

At college, there are four main activities to occupy your day: classes, studying/writing, partying, and sleep. It seems like too much to handle, so students are often eliminating one of these activities (it’s usually the classes or the studying part).

College students have to understand that there is time for everything. So what if the classes take most of your day? You can learn while you’re there. Just be more attentive and take your notes. Go through the notes and studying materials as soon as you get out of class, so the knowledge will stick with you. Then you’ll rest, do some more studying, and spend some time with your friends. Reserve the partying for the weekend. If you get stuck, outsource some of the writing or give up on the parties before exam week.

See? It looks so good when someone organizes your time. The problem is that you have to organize your own time, and you have to stay on track with the schedule.

Are we prepared to teach our kids how to become grown-ups? It’s a real test for parenting, and that’s an understatement.

Fly with Your Infant

How to Fly with Your Infant

How to Fly with Your Infant
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Traveling with a baby is in no way easy; instead, it might be the most daunting task of your life, if you think about it. Not only are you suppose to make sure your baby doesn’t cry but also ensure that the sound of his/her sobs does not disturb the other passengers. I think that is sufficient reason to want to pull out your hair in frustration.

However, no task is too difficult to handle when you are well prepared. With a little bit of planning, a few tricks up your sleeves, you also can be an expert at knowing how to comfortably and safely fly with your infant.

I have outlined a few tips that I think any parent would find useful when they are heading out with their little bundle of joy on a flight:

Plan Flights and Seats

Babies tend to sleep more often than not. However, the excitement of the trip can deter them from their naps at their designated times. Thus, many parents prefer to plan flights in the AMs. At that time, infants are less likely to be fussy, and you can get them to sleep quickly after the plane has landed at your destination.

Moreover, usually, people prefer to carry their infant in their arms when on a flight. However, you should consider getting your young one a separate seat in the plane and secure them in their car seat with a proper harness to keep them safe, as also approved by the FAA. If you are worried about the added expenses then you can always get discounted flight tickets from PennySaviour.

Pack Light or Not

Most people tend to go overboard and pack anything and everything they think their child might need. The trick is to make a list of things that are essential like the stroller or diapers and wipes.

Infants are known for making a mess wherever and whenever they desire. So packing a shirt or two for yourself and the baby in your carry-on might come in handy more than you realize.

The diapers and wipes are, I’m pretty sure available everywhere in the world so, you can make do with just enough to get through the flight and the next day; you can buy more when the need arises. You’ll also need a blanket for the little angel as well as a pacifier, one or two toys are an a-okay but not a bucket full.

Feed Your Baby During Takeoff and Landing

The change in air pressure causes discomfort in our ears that is incredibly painful for adults so imagine the torment it must be for an infant. Thus, if you feed your baby during takeoff and landing, the sucking and swallowing action will help keep their ears open and any distress at bay.

Best of all, if they are not in pain, they are less likely to cry and disturb the other passengers, making it a relaxed, stress-free flight.

Accept Help When Offered

Yes, humanity still exists; the passengers on board or flight attendants will lend a helping hand when they notice an upset baby. Let others take over for a change, to give yourself a bit of time to relax and unwind.

Keeping a baby happy is no easy task; you need the break to keep yourself from feeling frustrated and helpless. It will help make the flight comfortable for you and your young one.

Conclusion

These are just a few tricks to keep in mind when you plan on flying with an infant. So are you ready to board the next flight to your dream destination with a baby in tow?

How to Have a Happy Family – 7 Amazing Tips

How to Have a Happy Family
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“Family is not an important thing. It is everything.” I believe everyone can relate to this feeling.Family is God’s gift to you. Given that, it is your responsibility to keep your family happy.

Here are some of the basics that according to psychologists and thinkers are ways have a happy family.*

#1.Bond with Your Family

The world has changed significantly in recent decades. So has the structure and definition of an ideal family. You can notice various types of families living around you. However, what has maintained its essence is the importance of family.

In that sense, it becomes the responsibility of each individual in the family to spare some time to develop ties with each other.

If your kids have started living on their own, ask them to be home for weekends. And make sure, you also don’t involve yourself in anything other than family.

#2.Share Hugs

There is nothing called an overdose of hugs. Especially, when it is about family, there should be no hesitation in hugging. A tight hug can supply a powerful dose of energy and motivation to anyone feeling down.Hugging builds trust and a sense of safety and security.

Did you know that hugging can be extremely effective at healing physical, emotional, and mental stress?

Hugging is a powerful healing therapy that helps in relieving sickness, anxiety, depression, and stress. Science has also proved the benefits of cuddling. Hugging immediately increases body’s oxytocin levels and thus, neutralizes feelings like anxiety, loneliness, and anger.

Hugging is specifically helpful in developing self-esteem in children. Without parent’s touch, children feel insecure.

#3.Fun Time

Without a room for fun, there is nothing called a quality time. Movies, TV, singing, playing, running in the park, family outing, vacationing, surprise parties, and long drives are times well spent together.

Forcing kids to study or to do their homework can become a cause of their anxiety and stress (*when this is all you do)).  What you stress on is that they should spend some time playing with their friends, which will help them stay fit physically as well as mentally.

There should be plenty of laughter in the family. Watch comedy shows together.Share funny incidences from school or workplace with your family and make them laugh. Read out loud the jokes in your messenger and earn another chance to laugh together.

Family games will be a favorite memory of your lifetime.You never notice such things while they are happening. But, they will always bring a smile on your face whenever you will remember them.

A research done by the American College Pediatricians says, “Spending meaningful and fun time together as a family has a variety of benefits.”

Family fun times allow parents to lay the foundation of better behavior, less stress, and family values in children.

#4.Exercise Together

Exercising is a healthy habit. Go for a walk with your kids. Or ask them to walk the dog in the mornings and say, you will do it in the evenings.

Meet a physical trainer to figure a suitable exercise plan for each member of your family. Group exercising is such a fun. It does not let you lose focus from your fitness regimen.

Also, it is a good example of good parenting.

Participating for charity runs would be a noble cause.And you will be making your children aware of this.Build these habits in your kids without pressurizing them.

#5.Reward & Appreciation

Motivate your kids and family members through rewards and appreciations.

Every kid needs rewards and appreciations to keep doing great. And you need to keep a close look on how your kid is doing in studies, games and other extracurricular activities.

For example: If your son scores A+, then a movie outing would not be bad idea.Similarly, if your daughter wins a drawing competition, she must get a new dress, doesn’t she?

Praising and rewarding children for their accomplishments keep their motivation level high.Always talk about and appreciate the achievements of your kids in front of everyone, while praising their efforts.

While doing this all, never overlook the hard work of your dear wife.  Tell her often how blessed you are tohave her in your life.

#6.Give Surprises

Small, unexpected surprises are delightful. They are a great way to tell the members of your family you care.

What kind of surprises you can give your family members?  Something special, unexpected on the breakfast table.Ordering your requirements from a Queens grocery delivery or your city’s any grocery delivery service,so your wife doesn’t have to go to the supermarket. Taking everyone out for a long drive,this ends up into a day-long outing.

Your surprise gift can be anything, you just need to have a will.

#7.Build and Practice Family Rituals

Each family follows some kinds of rituals such as religious, familial, national and regional and even private. And if you are stressed out over some of your ancestral rituals, you can build some for your very own family.

It is not necessary to develop or follow only religious traditions; you can introduce some new-age customs as going for a movie outing every Friday night followed by a delicate dinner at a restaurant nearby.

Another ritual you can introduce is to going for health checkup as per the schedule. Regular checkups will keep track of your family’s health problems and alleviate their health risks in initial stages. However, you will need to practice those rituals wholeheartedly because they are linked with the wellness and happiness of your family.

Bottom line

It is your family that truly loves and cares for you. Rest, you cannot be sure whether they love you. In addition to unconditional love, family provides you support during difficult times when you need it most. Your family is always there for you.Valuing this very thing, you should always be open to keep them happy as much as you can.

*Dave’s Note:

When the guest author queried this article I was a little skeptical – I even asked how “How to Have a Happy Family” fit on a diy prepper site, but after reading it I realized that this is what this site is all about.  Why prep for emergencies if you don’t have anyone you care about – and if you have people you care about why not enjoy them everyday?  Don’t wait for an emergency to let your loved ones know how you feel.