Children always look forward to downtime, whether it’s the summer, a holiday, or just a homework-free weekend. For most kids, this is a time of relief, joy, and freedom. For many parents, however, breaks bring additional stress and worry for a variety of reasons.

Working parents may even have to rely on additional childcare, and many parents worry about how to keep their children out of trouble during these periods of downtime. There are also additional stress points in a child’s personal and school life, such as bullying and peer pressure.

Here are some ways to help keep your kids healthy during down time.

Be Open and Honest

How can you ensure your child has a safe, fun break while also encouraging them to say no to drugs and alcohol? Experts say you can start by talking to your child about drugs. Don’t just assume that your child is getting the message from other people. You have a much bigger impact on your child’s life than you may realize. Therefore, never underestimate the power of a sincere, heartfelt conversation.

In fact, developing strong communication practices with your child will lay the foundation for a strong relationship throughout their lives, which means your child will be more likely to come to you with questions and even after missteps. Aha! Parenting emphasizes the importance of starting with trust and encouraging your child even when it’s difficult. And don’t worry if your child is older and you don’t feel like you’ve started on the right foot. Relationships are processes, and you can always work together to build these practices even later in life.

Reduce Temptations

If you or another adult in your family uses drugs or alcohol, or even uses prescription medication, keep them locked up and out of reach of children. Even common over the counter cold, flu and allergy medicines can spark an interest in kids. Kids are smart and curious. They will often find ways to get into things they shouldn’t, or friends might encourage them to sneak into your indulgences when you’re not around. Peer pressure is very powerful thing.

Keep unsupervised time to a minimum – even for teenagers. Research has shown that increased parental supervision reduces alcohol and drug use, especially in younger children. Don’t allow your child or teen to attend unsupervised parties, especially unsupervised sleepovers. If you can’t be around, hire a babysitter for younger children and tweens or pre-teens. You can also arrange for children and teens to spend time with a trusted relative, friend, or other adult during times when you are unavailable or have to work. By keeping your children supervised, they won’t be left to their own devices – and are therefore much less likely to get themselves into trouble.

You might be surprised to learn that the internet can also lead to temptation to try drugs and alcohol. As Addiction Center explains, though, 75 percent of teens surveyed reported seeing people on social media using and feeling encouraged to try alcohol and marijuana. Kids should be aware of social media best practices, and know how to implement them.

Relieve Stress

There are many ways to reduce stress in the life of your child.  Seeking professional help is one way and may be necessary, such as anxiety treatment. It can be extremely helpful to prevent unhealthy habits and addictions before they present themselves. Options include counseling, therapy, and medical integration.  There are also activities you can incorporate into the every day life of your family.

For inspiration, look at the country of Iceland. Iceland has seen some success in reducing drug and alcohol abuse among its teenage population by simply encouraging people to boost their moods in drug-free ways. Known as “natural highs,” these activities might include organized sports, music, art, dance, and more. In addition to uniting children, teens, and parents of various backgrounds and income brackets, this technique has encouraged children to find healthier, drug-free ways to relieve stress.

Exercise and physical activity have been proven effective for people in recovery, and many of those same benefits can aid in prevention. Plus, you can do them together as a family, which will relieve stress and increase relationships. Find an activity that you all enjoy, like bike riding, kayaking, running, or just a family walk. Then work it into your weekly schedule together.

Spend Time Together

Probably one of the best things you can do is to spend time together as a family. Take time to plan some healthy and fun activities you can all enjoy. Don’t just plan activities that you like; find out what interests each member of the family. Then, try to incorporate each person’s interests into your summer plans.

Planning regular time together while working from home can seem impossible, but there are ways to keep your kids occupied and be involved without sacrificing your productivity. Plan your work schedule according to your child’s age and needs, and build in time for breaks where you can take a walk together or play a game. The mental break will be good for you both!

Is there a family-friendly movie your youngest child has been wanting to see? Are you interested in relaxing on a beach? What about exploring meteorology by doing some experiments and even some storm spotting? Whatever you decide, be sure to discuss your interests as a family. Try to find creative ways to incorporate activities that each of you would enjoy throughout the coming months.

Next Steps

There is so much in our children’s lives that we cannot control. Luckily, good parenting mainly involves caring and effort. If you try to set a good example, sincerely take an interest in your child’s life, and plan activities that will benefit the whole family, you’ll set your child up for success.

Read more about educating your child about drugs.

Riding a bike is a great way for kids to get exercise and have fun. It’s also a major confidence boost for them to achieve such an accomplishment, especially when all their friends are learning as well. Some kids have more trouble than others and it can be a bit daunting for parents who are new to the process of teaching their children how to ride.

Luckily, we have put together 10 helpful tips that will make the journey easier and enjoyable.

How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike

Whatever special challenges your child may be facing when learning to ride a bike, they are not alone. Every kid has reservations and at least a tinge of fear. You can help calm their concerns by explaining that you will be along their side every step of the way, making sure they are kept safe.

1. Safety First: Check Bike Setup, Clothing, and Helmet

Before you start the process of teaching your kid to ride a bike, it’s important to make sure the bike is set up properly. The following tips will help you do just that:

• Make sure the seat is at the right height. It should be positioned so that when your child is sitting on the seat, their feet can reach the ground.
• Check that the handlebars are at the correct height and angle.
• Make sure the chain is lubricated and there is no rust on any of the parts.
• Inflate the tires to the proper pressure.

It’s also essential to ensure your youngster is wearing the appropriate clothing, such as a helmet and that they are wearing shoes that will protect them if they fall. A good helmet is an important part of preventing head injuries in the event of a fall.

2. Learn Balance Speed Without Pedals

When your child is first starting to learn how to ride a bike, it’s important to focus on teaching them balance and speed before adding in the pedalling component. One way to do this is to have them ride without pedals at first. This will help them get used to the motion of riding a bike and help them build up their speed and balance. Once they’ve mastered this, then you can add in the pedals and help them learn how to use them effectively.

3. Steering the Bike

Now that your child is able to balance on a bike, it’s time to start working on steering. This involves getting comfortable with using the handlebars to control the direction of the bike.

• Start by having your child hold the handlebars and steer back and forth while standing next to the bike.
• Next, have them sit on the bike and hold the handlebars while you push them from behind.

Encourage your child to keep steering even when they’re going straight. This will help them get a feel for how the handlebars work.

4. Put the Pedals Back On

Once your child has mastered balance, it’s time to add in the pedals. This can be a little more challenging, so it’s important to take it slow. Start by adding the pedals back on the bike. Have your child stand next to the bike, holding onto it for support.

Show them how to place their feet on the pedals and explain how the pedals work. It may be helpful to demonstrate yourself first. Once they understand how it works, let them give it a try. They may need a little help getting started, but soon they should be able to pedal on their own.

5. Braking!  Stopping Without Falling

When your child is first learning to ride a bike, you will need to teach them how to stop without falling. One way to do this is by teaching them how to brake. There are two types of braking: front and rear.

Front braking is the most common type of braking. This type of braking involves using the front brake to slow down or stop the bike. Rear braking is less common, but it can be useful in certain situations. This type of braking involves using the rear brake to slow down or stop the bike.

When teaching your child how to brake, it is important to start with front braking. This will help them get a feel for how much pressure to apply to the brake lever. Once they have mastered front braking, you can then teach them rear braking.

6. Choose a safe area to learn.

When you and your child are ready to start learning how to ride a bike, choose a safe, open area like a park or playground. This will give them plenty of space to practice without having to worry about cars or other obstacles.

7. Consider the teacher.

When it comes to teaching your child how to ride a bike, nothing is more important than finding the right teacher. Vuly play has some of the best bikes for kids on the market, and our team of experts is more than happy to teach your child how to ride.

8. Check the seat height again

Once your child is on the bike, their feet should be able to touch the ground with a slight bend in their knees. If they can’t reach it, lower the seat. Conversely, if their legs are fully extended, raise them. You want them to be as comfortable as possible while still being able to pedal and maintain control of the bike.

9. Consider a bike skills course

If you want to give your kid the best chance of mastering how to ride a bike, consider enrolling them in a bike skills course. Vuly play offers bike skills courses for kids of all ages, and our experienced instructors will help your child learn the basics of riding a bike quickly and safely.

10. Safety First, and Last

It is important to remember that safety is the number one priority when teaching your child to ride a bike. Make sure they are wearing a helmet and that the area is clear of traffic before letting them go. Explain the importance of staying safe while riding and be sure to enforce these rules once they start cycling on their own.

Summary

It can be a challenge to teach your kid how to ride a bike, but following these tips can make the process easier. Make sure the bike is the right size for your child, and help them practice balancing by having them stand on the bike with both feet on the ground. When they’re ready, have them start pedalling slowly while you hold the bike steady. As they gain confidence, they can start pedalling faster and let go of the handlebars. Soon, they’ll be riding on their own.

More to Read:

How great activities like riding a bike can boost the mood of your child.
Explore the world of kids motorcycles and mini chopper bikes.

School’s out, and that means your kids have lots of time free to spend online chatting, making plans with friends, and posting fun summertime photos—sometimes without you there to supervise. If that gives you anxiety, fear not. Here are four steps that will keep keep your child safe online this summer.

Set Rules for Responsible Use

Sit down with your children and talk frankly about why you care about their internet safety, covering big topics like cyberbullying or identity theft in a way that matches their maturity level. Then work together to define clear, understandable rules for their online interactions. Here are a few basics to consider:

• Never post personal info like addresses and phone numbers on social media.

• Avoid location check-ins and photo geo-tagging, which can be used to track where you are as well as when you are away from home.

• Be wary of free games and other goodies, which can infect your devices with malware. Keep security software up to date and scan everything before downloading.

• Use secure passwords and protect them. There are several password managers out there that can generate strong passwords and store them all in one place.

Once you’ve agreed upon the ground rules for online safety, put them into a contract to be signed by everyone in the family.

Follow Your Own Rules

This is an important follow-up to the previous rule. You want your kids not to text or go online after 10 p.m.? Shut down your phone and laptop at the same time.

Don’t want them posting embarrassing photos of you? Let them veto pictures they may not be happy with you sharing on social media, too.

If you can adhere to the rules you and your kids built together, they will feel more inclined to do so as well.

Build Your Child’s Critical Thinking Skills

In a world abounding with fake news, help your kids think critically about any content they find online. Encourage older kids especially to fact-check stories before reposting on Facebook or commenting on Twitter.

Teach them to question their own motives as well. Just because a comment will generate a lot of likes, that doesn’t mean they should post it. Even one poorly chosen post can cause problems down the line.

The Family Online Safety Institute has also developed a checklist that includes reminders to remove and untag unwanted posts, and to “accentuate the positive” by posting upbeat content.

Let Your Kids Know You Will Still Monitor Online Usage

Finally, let your kids know that you may occasionally check up on their activity. Being upfront about your plans to look at their browser history and monitor their accounts will establish a sense of trust and keep them accountable.

Also, consider working with them to limit their time spend on social media during the many free hours that come with having a long school break.  

For young kids who need a bit more oversight, there are plenty of helpful apps available to let you keep an eye on them.

Older kids and teens may not need (or want) as much monitoring, so for them, you may be able to check in less often. To really emphasize trust, you can even ask them to put their passwords into a piggy bank for use only in an emergency.

The internet can be a great resource for helping kids learn and be social during their school-free summer months, and following the steps listed here will help them do so smartly, responsibly, and safely.

Sun Safety for Kids | How To Help Them Be Protected

Time to give your kids some knowledge of cooking to set them off on the right footing? It’s amazing how many children never really learn how to cook, and when they reach adulthood, they’re not able to make any sort of nutritious or healthy meal.

You don’t have to teach them every single aspect of cooking, and nobody is expecting children to be top-class chefs at the age of 10, but it is a good milestone in their development and a way for you to check that you’re imparting the right kind of knowledge to children. Besides, it’s just one of the fun activities kids can do at home as often as they like.

What Cooking Skills Should Children Learn?

Below, we’ve explained some of the crucial cooking skills that children should learn to start to understand their way around the kitchen, and most importantly, to stay safe.

Measure and Mix

Down to the very basics. Children should first learn to measure and mix food. This is great for adults who enjoy cooking and want to have that extra bit of help in the kitchen. You can recruit your children for help with the measuring, and you can handle the heavy-duty stuff like actually cooking the food.

Measuring and mixing can be the first steps in following a recipe, and this is a crucial skill for children to get to grips with. If you are able to follow a recipe, then it is unlikely you’ll go hungry due to not being able to cook, especially as we live in the age of hundreds of online recipes for baking and cooking all sorts of cuisines.

Basic Knife Skills

A lot of parents keep their children away from knives for as long as possible in the kitchen, and it is easy to understand why. It may make you very anxious when you see your child pick up a knife, and you should only start with specific safety knives to teach them skills but also remove any risk.

By making your child proficient with a knife and teaching them about the dangers, you are making it less likely that they will have any kind of accident in the future. Basic knife skills such as chopping and filleting are relatively simple to pick up. Make sure you use safe knives and don’t go straight in with potentially hazardous ones.

Baking Basics

Baking is a great way to teach your children about the world of food. For instance, they can learn about the role of sugar in baking and what makes all of those delicious treats taste so good, or they can learn about bread, what makes it rise, and how it has been part of human history for tens of thousands of years.

Baking basics don’t usually involve too much complex chopping, and you can cook things with your children that are great fun to make and fun to eat. Lots of parents love baking cookies or even bread with their children, turning it into a fun activity as well as an opportunity to learn about food.

If someone can bake to a decent standard, they are likely to always have a supply of delicious and potentially nutritious food, so it is a good skill to start teaching while children are so young.

Bake Something Sweet

This is definitely a way to keep kids interested, too. Teaching them how to bake something sweet can be really joyous and great fun for everyone involved. Why should it always be boring food that we teach children to cook?

They might not be excited at the prospect of boiling an egg, but you can definitely get kids more involved if you incorporate sweet treats into the baking. When it is somebody’s birthday, why not get your children involved in the preparation of a cake, or even let them bake a cake of their own design?

These sorts of activities are a great way to build some of the most important kitchen skills without it becoming a chore for kids.

Handling Raw Meat with Care

Another one of those skills that may not be the most glamorous or fun to learn, but it is definitely important. If you are going to have your children around the kitchen, then they really need to learn about meat safety and what can potentially spread disease.

Handling raw meat with care, and properly cleaning up wherever raw meat has been, is a crucial lesson to make sure your kids learn straight away when you are trying to teach them how to cook.

Clean Up, Pick Up, Put Away

You’re probably asking your kid to clean up and put things away all the time anyway, right? Well, in the kitchen, it is even more important.

A poorly managed kitchen that doesn’t have a good level of hygiene and organization can be a hazard as well as make your life a lot more difficult. Though this isn’t always an easy lesson to teach children, it is important to get them involved with all of the cleaning, picking up, and putting away of food and drink to make sure they know how vital it is to keep everything in the kitchen clean.

It’s not a fun job, and we’d all rather the cleaning happened magically without us, but this is never going to be the case, so it is a good idea to learn this early.

About the Author:  Jordan River is an experienced baker, along with an event management specialist. She went into a marketing and customer care role working with JB Cookie Cutters to educate and share her experience. She has had her fair share of kitchen and cooking tools and knows exactly what works best and why.

Before she started writing and customer care, Jordan got a graduate degree in marketing and communications. She is a mom of two, so when not writing, she loves cooking and testing new recipes, improvising in the kitchen, and creating unique things that turn into family events.

Learn more about healthy ways to feed your kids and get them involved in the process.