Pets offer delight and companionship to children. As kids grow up with pets such as dogs and cats, they learn to love, be responsible and empathetic towards others. But getting the right pet for your kids can also be challenging. Just like buying toys, you must consider what pet is right for them, the correct size, and the number of pets they should have.

Cats and dogs are the most adopted pets for many families. However, other small pets have similar benefits and offer more convenience to the family. They also allow families to evaluate is their family is ready for a larger pet.

Taking small animals such as fish and chinchillas as pets provides the best bonding opportunities with your kids. And they have the following benefits:

1. Improve Physical Wellbeing

Small pets encourage you to have an active lifestyle. A study on children between ages two to five showed that children who had dogs had increased physical activities compared to those without.

The same case can be applied to children with smaller pets, such as chinchillas. They are very active creatures and therefore require plenty of exercise. Additionally, encouraging children to clean up after their pets also serves as physical exercise.

Research shows that living with pets can increase immunity in young children. Pets bring dirt to the home and kids interact with them, which helps build immunity against allergic reactions and bacteria.

2. Provide a Sense of Responsibility

Taking care of small pets can help build a sense of responsibility and compassion in children. Small pets can be vulnerable and may require extra care. Kids learn skills such as providing their pets with food, cleaning after them, and bathing them. This helps them to learn to be more responsible with their lives such as cleaning and organizing their rooms.

Additionally, adopted pets often experience a feeling of neglect and abandonment. By taking care of and showing the pets some love, kids will learn empathy. Subsequently, they’ll learn how to interact with others such as kids at school or their siblings. They’ll be more aware of other people’s emotions and how to form bonds with others.

3. Help With Stress Relief

As mentioned earlier, pets are amazing companions. So, pet therapy is becoming popular and an option for many kids to help them manage anxiety, stress and boost moods. When they interact with loving pets by patting or stroking them, the body will release endorphins which are hormones that help alleviate pain and boost your moods.

Additionally, pets can provide love and emotional support for kids going through tough times. For example, during divorce or the death of a loved one, kids can feel lonely and isolated emotionally. But with pets, they can feel accepted and loved.

4. Pets Can Build Self Esteem

Small pets help to foster a child’s self-esteem and confidence. When children accomplish tasks, such as feeding and bathing their pets, they get a sense of achievement. This will boost their confidence and the nature of their abilities to take on and complete tasks. Moreover, when caring for small pets, they feel like dependable and capable individuals.

Pets don’t criticize kids like teachers, parents, or siblings. Instead, it creates consistent companionship for the kid. This can create a feeling of unconditional love and acceptance. The relationship can also fortify a child’s self-worth.

5. Pets Encourage Nurturing

Nurturing is a quality developed from a young age. Kids can learn how to take care of and nurture others from a very young age by caring for their small pets. Being caregivers to pets plants the seed of good parenting early enough during childhood and this helps the kid grow to be more responsible human beings.

This ability isn’t limited to pets and animals but will go into caring for their siblings. Additionally, if they choose to be parents or guardians, they’ll have the caregiving skills and nurturing ability to care for and protect their young ones.

6. Teach The Value of Life

Pets introduce kids to the concept of life cycle in a realistic way. Small pets often have a shorter life cycle than large animals and this helps kids understand concepts such as birth, growth, maturity, and death. These concepts help children grasp the nature of life and appreciate each moment they have with their pets.

Additionally, small pets require gentle handling and care because of their small size and fragile nature. This can teach the importance of kindness and caution in their actions. The realization translates to a deeper understanding of kindness and empathy towards living things.

Conclusion

Adopting small pets for your kids is a very important step in a child’s growth. It helps them to develop physically, boosts their emotional well-being, and understand the aspects of life such as growth and maturity. Small pets have many benefits just like other larger pets and can offer convenience to the family in terms of space. Therefore, you should consider getting one for your kid.

The idea of measuring out and mixing baking ingredients with your kids may sound stressful. However, when prepared and done correctly, baking provides many opportunities for children to express their creativity and develop various skills.

Your child can practise and improve their motor function, coordination, and strength, from pouring liquids to kneading dough. It can also help them increase their attention as they concentrate on measuring, counting, and following directions.

The ways baking can benefit your kids are countless. But how do you make it less stressful, more enjoyable, and accident-free? A bit of structure can help ensure kitchen safety and make the baking experience with children more delightful. To help you get started, we compiled the following tips for creating a fun and safe baking experience with kids.

1. Use Child-Friendly Baking Tools and Supplies

Involving your children in the kitchen at an early age helps them acquire valuable skills. But it’s always essential to prioritise safety when bringing little ones into the kitchen. Sharp instruments like knives, forks, and scissors can pose risks to children.

So, before you start a baking session, set up the kitchen for your kid’s safety. Secure any loose cords to keep them from accidentally yanking small appliances off the counter. Keep dangerous items out of their reach to avoid accidents.

Investing in child-friendly baking tools and supplies is also a good idea. Many kid-friendly choppers, whisks, dough cutters, and other culinary instruments are available. You can explore My Happy Helpers’ selection of kids’ baking sets for a starter.

Such tools are specifically designed for little hands. By providing children with their tools, you can reduce the risks of accidents and make them feel comfortable in the kitchen. It’s a great way to get your children involved happily and safely in your baking session.

2. Educate Kids About Kitchen Safety

Educating your kids about kitchen safety is essential as well. Besides locking away sharp tools and other hazardous items, set some kitchen rules with your children and explain the importance of following them. Here are a few safety reminders to begin with:

• Never start baking or cooking without adult supervision.
• Fasten long hair and wear an apron.
• Always ask permission before handling anything hot.
• Wash hands often using soap and water.
• Avoid making cookie dough or batter with raw eggs or flour.
• Never place your fingers on mixer blades.
• Use only food-safe plastic trays.
• Clear up spills right away.
• Always clean up after finishing baking or cooking.

3. Match Baking Task With Your Kid’s Age

Not all baking activities are appropriate for all children. Most of them may not yet have the physical skills to handle all the tasks required in baking. Hence, matching the baking activity with your kid’s age and cooking skills is crucial.

Remember that kids don’t have to do it on their own right away. It’s worth noting that complex tasks can cause them frustration, and too easy ones may lead to boredom. You can begin with the easier ones and allow them to progress to more complex baking tasks as they grow and learn.

For instance, pouring pre-measured ingredients into a mixing bowl, rolling cooking dough, or decorating cookies are a few ways to involve kids ages 2-4 in baking. Then, you can give them more baking responsibilities as they enter the ages of 5-7.

With your help, you can let them mix some ingredients using the hand-held electric mixer or cut out cookie shapes from the rolled dough. Giving your kids age-appropriate tasks will help establish their lifelong passion for baking and cooking while ensuring their safety and growth.

4. Select Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes

Setting realistic expectations is key in achieving success when baking with your kids. That starts with selecting baking recipes that are easy and kid-friendly. Of course, it also depends on the specific age of your children.

Baking simple goods like thumbprint cookies may be fascinating for toddlers. You can allow them to mix ingredients like chocolate chips or sprinkles. Simple batter recipes, such as muffins, quick bread, and brownies, can also provide young children to measure and mix ingredients. Meanwhile, older kids may find complex baking recipes more enjoyable.

When choosing a baking recipe, ensure that it will give your kids a sense of helping you. If baking is a new activity for them, make it simple enough for their age and abilities so they can easily participate and understand the process. It’s also wise to pick a recipe that uses familiar ingredients and basic techniques.

5. Make the Baking Activity Lighthearted and Fun

Prioritising safety is vital when baking with your kids. But don’t forget to make the activity lighthearted and fun. Put on some music or share fun stories related to your recipe. Children will continue learning to bake if they find the activity exciting and fun.

Conclusion

When baking with little ones, embracing the mess and letting go of your idea of perfection is essential. Your patience is necessary when doing this activity with your kids. If they accidentally drop an egg on the floor, let them know it’s perfectly fine and part of the learning process. Trying not to get upset at little mistakes will make the whole experience enjoyable for both of you.

Top Feature Photo by Olivia Oliver Design

School holiday breaks can be excellent fun for kids and families. They get enough time to spend together, go to parks, play games, or go for a family vacation. However, this period comes with its set of challenges. For the most part, parents work during this period, and the kids are left alone without an adult taking care them.

Children are playful, curious, and love trying new things. Often these traits lead to injuries, damages, and in the worst scenarios – getting into things they shouldn’t.  Therefore, whether you’re leaving your kids at home, or travelling with them, their safety should always be a priority.

Here are some top tips that can help you safeguard your kids during the holiday breaks:

1. Enrol To Summer Camps

Summer camps and holiday school programs are an excellent way for parents to keep their children safe even when they’re away from home. First, these camps guarantee supervision as the camps are staffed with experienced counsellors who supervise the kids all the time ensuring they’re safe and doing the right thing.

Additionally, when you sign up to a school holiday program and other top programs, your kids can participate in numerous activities such as sports, hiking, art and crafts, and more. This can help keep the kids engaged during the summer break.

Finally, these camps offer educational programs that can help your kids develop their skills. Some programs offer STEM courses, art workshops, and language classes. Additionally, they ensure that students can socialize and build their confidence.

2. Ensure Food Safety

Food safety is another major concern for kids during the holiday break as they may spend more time at home eating snacks. There can be cases of constipation, allergies, or food poisoning which can be serious especially for children. You should teach your kids how to handle food safely such as washing hands to avoid contamination and monitoring what and when they’re eating.

Additionally, if your kids want to prepare food, you should monitor how they use appliances such as cookers and fryers as they may not fully comprehend the risks they carry. This will help prevent cases such as fire hazards and accidents.

You should also be careful with leftovers, raw, and undercooked foods as they may lead to stomach complications. By following these tips, you’ll ensure you safeguard your kids from any cases of food poisoning and stomach complications during the holidays.

3. Teach Kids About Internet Safety

The internet provides a good place for kids to learn new skills and watch fun videos. However, it can also be a platform for cyberbullying, trolls, attacks, inappropriate content, and predators. Therefore, you should teach them about how to keep themselves safe when using the internet.

First, you should teach them about how to be good digital users. They should learn to be respectful to others, such as thinking before posting or commenting and not sharing personal information online.  Secondly, you should monitor their online activities to ensure they don’t access harmful content and know who they’re talking to.

Lastly, it’s important to set rules on internet usage such as what websites they can visit, who they talk to, and what time they spend there. It’s advisable to include parental control to restrict what they can access to protect them.

4. Keep Dangerous Items Out of Reach

Keeping dangerous items such as medication, cleaning supplies, guns, and alcohol away from children can help protect them from self-harm and hurting each other. Kids are naturally curious and will experiment with anything.  However, they’re not aware of the danger and harm.

To ensure their safety, keep any dangerous item out of reach. For example, bottles of alcohol should be stored in locked cabinets or high shelves. Lock guns in a safe and ensure kids don’t know the password or pin. You should also be aware of poisonous plants and herbs around the house and destroy them or keep them far from your kids.

5. Protect Them When Outdoors

The holiday break is full of activities such as visiting the park, bike riding, skating, swimming, and many more. These activities keep them engaged, allow them to build their physical skills and coordination, and bond with their friends. However, it’s common for them to get injured during their playtime.

While minor injuries aren’t a major concern, there can be major injuries, such as concussion. Therefore, your kid should be protected when playing outside.

They should have protective gear such as helmets and kneepads when skating or riding bikes. If they go out swimming, they should have swimsuits and floaters and there’s should be an adult to watch over them. Such action will ensure they’re safe when having fun.

Conclusion

Your kid’s safety should always be a priority when they’re home for a school holiday break. While it’s their time to have fun and life away from books and school activities, they should do it a safe way.

Focus on what they do online, what games they play, what items they can access, and many others discussed in the article. This will safeguard them from any harm and ensure they enjoy their holiday and give you peace of mind.

You don’t have to be a Breaking Bad fan to know that chemistry is a fascinating subject. Yes, some aspects can be a bit dry, but it’s a subject that answers many of life’s greatest mysteries.  It can also help answer so many questions we often ask ourselves.

How are fireworks able to create such varied colors? Why does Coca-Cola fizz when you add mentos? Why do we cry when we cut onions?

All these questions and more can be answered by chemistry. That said, it’s not all fun and games. High school chemistry can be challenging, and it’s important that your child is prepared for it.

In this article, we will explore some of the fundamental concepts that your child should research before high school.

1. Read Up On Atoms and Molecules

Most middle school kids are aware that atoms form the building blocks of our universe. However, high school is going to go into this topic in greater detail. Your child will need to start learning how atoms are organized. The atomic structure, protons, neutrons, and electrons are all going to be explored extensively.

In addition, chemical, covalent, and ionic bonding are topics that are worth looking up. Molecular mass is a subject that’s also going to be looked at often. Molecular mass, or weight, is a fundamental concept in chemistry, and pre-learning about it can be extremely helpful.

For instance, high school students are sometimes assigned problems related to calculating the number of atoms in a molecule. If the question deals with chlorine, they may be asked to “calculate the FeCl3 molar mass.”

These questions can stump new high school students, but if your child has done some research, it should be easy. Give your child an edge by getting them a head start on difficult topics. Beyond just reading, consider hiring an experienced GCSE Chemistry tutor for personalized guidance and support. Professional tutors can help reinforce foundational knowledge and assist with problem-solving techniques.

2. The Different Types of Chemical Reactions

The subject of reactions is at the heart of chemistry. Your kid should read up on the different types of reactions as soon as possible. Having a basic grasp of the differences between exothermic and endothermic reactions will come in handy. These are topics that are highly likely to feature in lab work or on tests.

Similarly, reading up on how synthesis, decomposition, combustion, and displacement reactions work will be essential. Aspects like reaction rates, along with the factors that affect them, are commonly studied in high school. This would include aspects like temperature, surface area, concentration, catalysts, and the roles they play.

3. Solutions and Their Different States

Learning about solutions is also going to be critical. Thankfully, this is an interesting subject. Your child will have a lot of fun learning about the principles and rules related to solutions. Did you know that solutions can be liquid, solid, or gas? Most people think of solutions as liquid, but this is not true. Steel, for instance,  is an example of a solid solution.

Key aspects to read up on would be the concepts of concentration, dilution, saturation, and solubility rules. A thorough understanding of solutions can be invaluable if your child decides to go into chemical engineering, healthcare, or research.

Where to Find Reliable Sources of Information To Read Up On?

Thankfully, there are many resources available today that can help your child. While we have covered some of the most common high school topics, you should do your own research as well. Contact your school or the teacher that your child will be learning under and request reading recommendations.

With that done, you can find information more easily. The school library is a good place to start, but don’t limit it to that. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of great websites that are specifically designed to coach young kids. At the same time, remember that coaching is a massive industry, and not all institutes are equal.

Statistics show that the global market size for online coaching was valued at over $2.19 billion last year. A lot of institutions are in it for the money, so do your research.

From more reputable sources, you should be able to find workbooks and practice sheets that can be extremely handy. Proprep notes that workbooks are great at testing your knowledge and maximizing your learning.

The questions in them are often open-ended and will encourage your child to think critically. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can sign your child up for one of the many online chemistry courses.

Interestingly, university websites often have great resources, even for younger learners. It can be worth looking up some of them, as they tend to be free. Lastly, you can find tons of great tutorials on YouTube; just ensure the channel knows what they are talking about.

Conclusion

While it’s great to take an active interest in your child’s education and encourage them, do so with tact. Children today deal with pressure from multiple sources. The pressure to be competitive in school while also needing to fit in and be cool is intense.

Guide them to the right resources, but avoid becoming a helicopter parent. Trust yourself that you have raised your child well enough that they understand the importance of adequate preparation.