Building a model rocket is no easy task. You won’t get the results you want if you rush to complete this project. In fact, there’s a chance that your first attempt to make a model rocket will be a failure, which is okay, but we’re here to help. Here are four common mistakes people make when building a model rocket.

Speeding Through

The process of building a model rocket is just that, a process. You cannot speed through the steps. It requires a lot of time, patience, and attention to detail. The smallest miscalculation can result in some undesirable outcomes. Don’t plan to complete the task in a day or two.

If rocketry is a new project for your students, set aside some real time so that they can work on the task. Dedicate a whole lesson to the project because it will require a lot of focus. There are calculations you all need to review, test to run, observations and predictions to make, and safety precautions. After all, building a bottle rocket is perfect for reducing kids’ screentime so they can focus on these important calculations. Take your time and enjoy the build-up to the finale.

Improper Supplies

Don’t skimp out on the supplies when building a model rocket. You don’t have to go as big as NASA, but it’s not ideal to go cheap, either. If you want the best outcome when you finally launch the rocket, you’ll need to put a little money behind the project.

Moreover, it’s important that you have all the proper supplies necessary. There are various tools and materials you need to purchase to ensure the model comes out looking fantastic. Try to refrain from substituting certain pieces unless instructions tell you otherwise.

Overcomplicating

Building a model rocket is already complicated enough, so there’s no reason for you to add more fuel to the fire. Follow the instructions because their guidance will lead you to success. Don’t look for additional ways to impress your students like adding more power.

Building a model rocket and successfully launching it is plenty cool already. The idea alone will impress them so try to keep things as simple as possible. Find alternative ways to make the project more fun without adding extra pressure to the original design of the rocket. For example, you can always add some artwork to the exterior.

Neglecting Safety

Safety first. This is the most important. Most first-timers only focus on the safety aspect when it comes to launching the rocket. While this is important, it’s not the only time you need to focus on safety when building a model rocket.

Some of the tools you’ll use can be harmful. Make sure you follow the precautions laid out for you from beginning to end. Practicing safety also means not taking any liberties with the designs and calculations. Make sure everything is proper. When it comes time for launch day, you experience no problems. Do a couple test runs first to work out the kinks.

Building a model rocket is exciting and very educational. Watch out for these common mistakes, and you’re sure to have a blast.

Word games are one of the best ways to improve vocabulary, have fun, learn new words, and compete in a national or international tournament. To win word games, you need to be skilled in learning and using new words.

Word games expose you to new words in a fun way. However, using new words is not all you need to be the best in a word game. You also have to learn strategies and techniques to be better than your opponent in friendly and competitive games. Here are some of them.

1) Start Easy

Start playing the easy-level games first before going for hard-level games. You can start playing using smaller grids and small letter words to gain momentum and confidence.

Small grids also allow you to learn more two or three-letter words, which makes games like Boggle and Words With Friends much easier. Start playing with your friends and families first before trying to get yourself involved in tournaments.

2) Play According to the Game

You might think that all word games are the same and that learning new words can help you win them all, but that is not true. Different games require different strategies to win.

For instance, you can score more points in Scrabble using longer words. Because it gives you a better chance to score Bingos and restricts your opponent from scoring points using your words.

However, using smaller words is a more appropriate approach in games like Boggle because you and your opponent do not share a board in this game. So, using smaller words gives you more opportunities to take advantage of these words rather than your opponent.

3) Use Online Tools

Using online tools to learn and use new words in word games can also benefit you. One of the USPs of these online tools is that you can search for new words by typing letters, character length, and their initials.

It becomes easier solving letters puzzle using online tools. You can use these tools for any word games like Scrabble, Boggle, Bananagrams, Words With Friends, etc.

You can also use these word tools to improve your vocabulary only if you do not want to play word games. Search for words with different letters and character lengths daily to improve your vocabulary.

4) Run After Letter Patterns

Learning letter patterns also play a vital role in winning the word games. Anyone can find several patterns and clusters in the English language, but only a few of them spend time learning them.

It becomes easier to create new words once you become familiar with a pattern. You can start by recognizing patterns at the starting, middle, or end of a word. Here are some examples of these letter patterns

1. tion,
2. ing,
3. ion,
4. er, and more.

Learning these patterns also improves your spelling, which also plays a vital role in winning word games.

5) Prefixes and Suffixes

Adding a prefix or suffix to an existing word is one of the best ways to score more points without using more tiles. Imagine your opponent creating a new word, and you add an s or es to that and get more points.

You can also add suffixes like ed, er, ing, etc., to change the tense of the word. You can add prefixes like un, im, dis, etc., to make the words longer and score bonus points in Scrabble.

You can also click here to see a list of commonly used prefixes and suffixes in the English language.

6) Two and Three-Letter Words Are the Key

Not all games ask you to learn longer words to win them. You can also learn small words to win many word games. Learning more two and three-letter words makes a significant difference.

You can learn small words with high-scoring letters like X, Z, Q, K, etc., to score more points and use the letter tiles more efficiently.

Wrapping Up

Winning word games are easy as long as you are willing to learn. Learning new words, letter patterns, rhymes, etc., can take your word games to a new level.

You might also want to play 2-3 word games daily to keep learning new letters in a fun way.

If you have a kid heading back to school, you have a lot on your plate. There are many things to think about as the new school year begins, including your child’s mental health. You can’t be at school with them, but you can prepare them to face any challenge. Prioritize your child’s mental health this year with these tips.

Bullying

Bullying can have serious, long-lasting effects on your child’s mental health. It can lower their self-esteem and cause feelings of rejection and isolation.

Kids that struggle with bullying can suffer from anxiety and depression, which can escalate to acute stress or post-traumatic stress disorder without proper intervention. Bullying also increases the risk of your child engaging in risky behaviors, including violence and substance abuse.

Talk to the school about a bullying situation, but also explain to your child that this happens to many kids and assure them that they’re perfect just the way they are.

You can help your child by creating a list of responses for them to give when someone says something hurtful to them. This could be a calm “Leave me alone” or “Back off.” Another good response is to dismiss the bully’s words with an “OK” or “Whatever” or laugh at the comment to reduce its value. Responding with more insults will only escalate the situation.

You can practice those responses with them in role-play scenarios so they feel more prepared when they encounter them at school. You can also help build their confidence by putting them in activities and social situations where they thrive.

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can lead to adverse mental health effects, make kids do things they know are wrong, or encourage unhealthy thinking and habits. Negative peer pressure can lead to anxiety, depression and isolation. The stress from wanting to fit in and the temptation to do the wrong that comes from it can be overwhelming for your child.

You can help your child cope with pressure in a few ways. First, create open communication with them about any actions or concerns without scolding or judging them.

Also, be sure to teach your child to assert their boundaries and help them come up with creative solutions to get out of situations where they’re uncomfortable. Teach them that real friends won’t try to force them into a harmful activity and will respect their boundaries and wishes.

Don’t be afraid to share your experiences with peer pressure and what you’ve learned from them. Make an effort to get to know your child’s friends and their families so you better understand their environment. Encourage your child to seek positive relationships and friendships.

Organization

At first, it may not seem like being organized is in the same category as the other issues mentioned, but having an unclean environment can be a sign and trigger of poor mental health.

Taking time to declutter and organize your home helps your child start the school year off on the right foot by giving them a stress-free environment to begin and end their day. Teach them how to maintain their spaces so clutter doesn’t overstimulate their minds throughout the year.

Things scattered about your home can be overwhelming to everyone’s senses. The more items your eyes take in, the more overwhelmed your brain becomes. This increases anxiety.

Your home doesn’t have to be spotless, but having designated places for your items can help things seem more orderly and help your child’s senses relax.

Physical Health

Keeping your children healthy has always been a priority during back-to-school season, especially in recent years. Good physical health is closely tied to mental health  in many ways.

Missing school due to a cold or flu can be stressful for children. In addition to teaching them about good hand hygiene, you can also protect them from germs through a healthy diet. Prioritize making meals full of vitamins and nutrients that will boost their immune system.

Along with focusing on healthy food, you can also make an effort to encourage physical activity for the whole family. Going on family walks after school is a great way to boost everyone’s moods and bond together.

Social Media

Even when you closely monitor your child’s online activity, social media can still have a negative impact on their mental health.

Your child can easily fall into the trap of comparing themselves to others or setting unrealistic expectations for their life. This can lead to internalizing negative experiences and developing anxiety and depression over what they have and have not achieved.

To combat these risks, encourage your family to take technology breaks during the week. Whether you choose to do this every day or once a week, find ways for your family to spend time together without using your phones.

Parents, be sure to practice what you preach here. If you set a rule for your children not to check social media before bed, you should try to follow it, too. Not only will this set a positive example, but it will give you some relief, as well.

Prioritizing Mental Health

Prioritizing your child’s mental health helps them feel more confident and secure. You also show that you’re always there for them, no matter what the school year brings.

Help them combat peer pressure by utilizing these tips to ensure your child avoids being bullied.

Author bio:
Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She strives to live a happy and healthy life with her family by her side.

Follow Cora on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Your child may be unaware of the potential dangers of social media or how it will affect them. While social media offers a platform for a child to learn and engage with others, they may put themselves at risk, especially if they are just getting started. Add to the fact there are multiple avenues for kids to engage with others online, where does a parent begin?

Given that 49% of kids between 10 – 12 years and 32% of 7-9-year-olds are accessing social media, there’s an urgent need for social media risk management. Let’s discuss how to begin a conversation on social media safety and the best way to go about it.

What Is the Right Time to Discuss Social Media Safety?

The best time to start talking with your child about social media is before they are old enough to go online and join a social media network.  Each parent needs to decide what the appropriate age is for each their kids.  If your child shows an interest in social media, initiate an honest conversation with them about what it is. Also, emphasize safe practices when handling social media.

How to Make the Most of Your Conversation

It may be an uncomfortable and frustrating experience discussing sensitive topics with your child. But the key is creating a safe space for an open discussion, and here are some tips to make the conversation go smoothly.

Don’t Lecture Your Child: Talk to your child instead of talking at them by making it an interactive conversation, and allowing them to share their thoughts and experiences. Begin with the positives of social media and create an environment where they can freely ask and discuss questions.

Ask Open-Ended Questions: Asking open-ended questions is an excellent strategy to make the conversation a two-way street and encourage your child to think and participate. For instance, asking your kid if they have experienced online bullying prompts them to share their online experience and further the discussion, which naturally leads to more questions.

Social Media Safety Topics to Discuss with Your Children

You can cover many social media topics, but start with the basic concepts during your first discussion. As your children grow older and gain more online experience, you can adjust the content and depth of your conversation to increase their knowledge. Here are some of the topics to start the conversation.

1. Start a Discussion About Types of Hacking

Teaching your kids about cyber security is one of the first steps in social media risk management. Your children may not know how to keep themselves safe from losing their identity and information to hacking because they are easy targets. Educate them on what hacking is and to look out for:

• Suspicious gift cards that prompt them to click links. Kids can overshare on social media, and hackers can use this information to create scams that sound exciting and urgent by targeting their emotions.

• Kids fall victim to phishing attempts where hackers trick them into disclosing their personal information. They may get prompts to confirm their details or earn free money from famous brands.

Hackers make these offers look real, but they’re too good to be true. Teaching your kids about these threats protects them from becoming victims. You can also encourage them to use strong passphrases and passwords.

2. Stress the Importance of Password Hygiene

Security may not be at the top of your child’s mind, and they may commit the mistake of poor password hygiene, allowing attackers easy access. The kids might reuse compromised passwords, easy-to-guess passwords, or add sequential numbers to base passwords.

Password hygiene emphasizes choosing and managing passwords securely. Teach your kids to choose passwords that are difficult to guess, create a unique password for each social media account, and avoid writing down the password or sharing it with others.

3. Educate them on Online Predators

There are approximately 500,000 predators online daily, so your kids should learn how to avoid them. Kids unknowingly post personal information, and online predators use social media to find out as much as they can about your child. These predators create an online persona based on your child’s interests and age.

Warn them that online predators can use fake photos to make them believe they are kids. So, they have no idea who is behind a profile they are interacting with. Practice social media risk management by asking them to follow the below security guidelines.

• They must not chat or share pictures with strangers.

• Never disclose their personal information, such as their home address, school, phone number, or last name.

• Limit their social media friends to people they know.

Kids must be alert, follow their instincts, report to an adult, and block or leave an uncomfortable conversation. Once in a while, look at your child’s phone. Check for any mysterious apps installed for private communication.

4. Social Media Exploitation

Teach them how social media exploitation can occur using social engineering methods. These are employed by scammers, hackers, and predators. Parents can only do so much to ensure online privacy.  Parental monitoring only goes so far.  Once a child connects with another person online, they open themselves up to a world of potential dangers.

Social exploitation methods include everything from automated spam in the form of phishing emails and exploited ads, to personal interactions with new friends and even existing ones.  However, it may be a cybercriminal mascaraing as someone the same age as your child or a friend who’s account has been compromised.  One bad link infected with malware on social media can infect multiple connections.

Start the Social Media Safety Conversation Today

Social media platforms pose a significant risk to your kids, and they are an easy target to hackers, phishers, and online predators. Educate them on the importance of social media risk management by making them aware of the potential dangers of social media and how to handle them. Let your kids know they can come to you with concerns.

There is also great peer pressure for kids to connect with friends on social media.  Let them know that combined with the importance of staying safe online, their personal well being is just as important and kids should feel free to not engage with other friends online if they don’t want to.  Or at very least, they can reduce the time they spend online.