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Father’s Day is a day set aside to celebrate fathers or men who perform the responsibilities of dads to children. It is a special day for men.  Beyond a curiosity of Father’s Day history you may also be wondering what you can do to make dad feel special this year.

First, let’s explore its origin. Originally, the American first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Washington.  Still, it did not become an official holiday in the United States of America until 1971.

It happened when President W. Wilson declared it to be celebrated officially.  However, another very special day for another family member came first.

Father’s Day Had Help from Mother’s Day

Mother’s day was a galvanizing factor in catalyzing father’s day. The Mother’s day celebration was inspired in 1860’s by the activist Anna Maria Jarvis, who was well known for her activism.

The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers did not create the same excitement.  On July 5, 1908, a West Virginia church organized the nation’s first event in honor of fathers. It was a Sunday sermon in memory of the 362 men who died in the December’s explosions at the Fairmont Coal Company mines in Monongah, but it was only a one-time affair and not an annual holiday.

The following year, in Spokane, Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd attempted to organize a Father’s Day analogue. She was the only child of a widower who raised her and her five siblings. Sonora made this effort through visits to local churches, shopkeepers, YMCA and government officials in order to gather support for this idea. Fortunately for dads she was successful.

On June 19, 1910, Washington celebrated the nation’s first official Father’s day in a state. Then, President Calvin Coolidge urged all states to celebrate Father’s day as an annual holiday in 1924. Men scoffed at this and tagged it an attempt to sensationalize the roles of fathers. However, the celebration has continued to grow in popularity even among the naysayers.

Today, Father’s day is celebrated every third Sunday of June in most countries.

Special Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s day 2022 is a special day for dads. And if you have been wracking your brain trying to decide the particular gift that will show much you appreciate your father’s special and unique parenting, then this is for you;

1. Customized 3D Photo Stand

Fathers like to decorate their desks with photos of their loved ones. This is a perfect gift for him. Every time he sees it, he realizes how much he is loved and valued by his family. This gives him a boost and even if he was having a bad day, it all suddenly changes.

2. A Father’s Day Photo Book

As much as most Fathers like to behave like masculinity and sentimentality have no relations, who wouldn’t be moved by a beautiful father’s day photo book filled with memories that can induce nostalgia? No one. This may just be a perfect gift especially for a father who is a little less showy. He wants something about you but not necessarily something to put on display. A customized photo book may contain childhood pictures of yourself and your father taking him on a trip down memory lane or favorite pictures of you which you caption with the various reasons why you love your dad.

You could create a “first year with dad” photo book or create and share a digital photo book online. It contains pictures of the first year every child had with their dad. This serves two purposes; to celebrate the father and also as a sort of keepsake for kids who won’t remember their first year. You could also record the milestones of a kid’s life with their dads. Things like “first time crawling with dad”, “first time walking” and so on, will be recorded here.

3. A Customized Father’s Day Story Book

Fatherhood is really not easy and not as celebrated as it should be. For too long, mother’s day has taken the grand stage. To correct this,  it is important that father’s day gifts show the right amount of thoughtfulness and appreciation. A Customized father’s day story book may be a great way to celebrate fathers. A customized story book may involve you taking the main character of a story and personalizing it in the form of your father. Who doesn’t want to be the hero in a book?

Fathers in general, have been real life heroes in the life of their kids and therefore, deserve this honor.  Create a book for your dad celebrating his unique strengths and weaknesses making this father’s day one of the best he has ever experienced. Create a story book for dad, make him the hero of the story, just like he is in reality and give him a Father’s day worth remembering in 2022.

Father’s day is a day worth remembering with fond memories and hopefully these gift ideas will help make it special for the dad in your family.

Father’s Day Today

Although Father’s Day began in the United States, the idea grew to become a popular day for dad in other parts of the world.  It is celebrated on different days in different countries. Many Latin countries celebrate is on commemorate it on St. Joseph’s Day, which is March 19 of each each.  This is due to influence of the Catholic faith in those countries. In many Pacific countries like Australia, Father’s Day happens on the first Sunday in September.

Whether you  showing your love to the father or father figure in your life on the third Sunday of June in The United States or Europe, or on a different day entirely, there is one thing we can all agree on.  Dad is special and we want to show how much we appreciate all he does for us.  For those whose father’s have passed on, it is still a day we can think of him with fondness and remember the he person he was and continues to be in our hearts and mind.

Happy Father’s Day!

Gen Z is currently the second youngest generation, occupying the years between 1995-2010. They’re the most diverse generation, having 48% of its members nonwhite. They identify as LGBT+ 20% of the time, double the rate of any other generation. And they’re posed to be the most educated generation in the near future.

These are all important facts to know when considering the fact that by 2031 Gen Z is projected to reach over a quarter of all global income. This equates to over $2 trillion in earnings, an amount greater than even millennials. This is all to say that Gen Z’s opinions and consumer habits matter.

So what are those habits and opinions? What do members of Gen Z value in the brands and products they consume? The answer seems to ultimately lie in values. Gen Z have the lowest trust in institutions at large, the least loyalty towards brands, and want to find brands they can morally trust.

Gen Z Values

In practice this means 65% of Gen Z research a product before they buy it. Above all 63% of Gen Z trust friends’ recommendations, but regardless of where they’re getting their info, they’re looking for a specific set of values in brands and companies.

These values are sustainable business practices, affordability, ethical business practice, overall shared principles, and inclusivity. And in contrast, the values selected against are any form of sexism, racism, homophobia, and scandals at large. Gen Z is likely to completely refuse to buy from companies who exhibit any of these negative values and will create public outcry against those same companies as well. These same values are also influencing their career motives, which will ultimately determine their spending power.

Gen Consumer Loyalty

Two factors that deserve a little more attention are definitely sustainability and inclusion. While 73% percent of Gen Z consumers will pay more for sustainable products, 54% even saying they’ll pay more than a 10% increase, only 25% consider the environmental impact of a business at large before purchasing. This means that sustainability in products and specific examples is worth more than sustainability at large.

On the other hand inclusion is definitely a more overarching and comprehensive desired value. While there are specific desires, such as 65% of Gen Z consumers wanting options to search for clothes without specifying their gender, most are more general. For example, 51% of Gen Z wants brands that support inclusivity initiatives and 87% believe there should be better gender equality within the fashion industry.

These are just two values that members of Gen Z consider before supporting or buying from a brand. Beyond values, the market of social media and advertising specifically to those on their phones is also getting much larger. There’s many ways for brands to alter themselves and appear more desirable to Gen Z, and the time to do so is now before the consumers of Gen Z become the dominant economic generation.

Top 4 Real-World Applications of Predictive Analytics

Kids fear many things, including a visit to the dentist. A mere mention of a dental checkup freaks them out, making them anxious and nervous. As parents, you are responsible for easing the minds of your children. A proactive approach is necessary. Take note of the things mentioned below to eliminate dentophobia.

The Importance of Dental Health

Proper dental health through oral care is a must-have for children. It impacts their overall health. Poor dental conditions can result in other problems, such as those related to breathing, feeding, and speaking. It can also cause low self-confidence, discomfort, pain, and embarrassment. Not to mention, it is also linked to poor school performance and attendance.

Tips and Tricks to Overcome Dentophobia

Unfortunately, a lot of kids are immediately frightful once they learn that they will be seeing a dentist. Ideally, the first dental visit should happen on the eruption of the first tooth, according to the American Dental Association. When they grow up, kids will get used to the feeling of seeing a dentist, so there can be a lesser chance that they will be scared.

But if you missed that chance, there’s no need to worry. Help them overcome their phobia by doing the following.

1.  Choose the Right Provider

Children have strong perceptions regarding dentists. So, finding the right dental professional is a must. Looking at the credentials is crucial, making sure that you will bring your child only to a qualified professional to care for your child’s dental health.

Aside from experience and expertise, the dentist must also be able to establish a good and friendly relationship to deliver effective treatments while combating fear. Find one who is great with children, such as a pediatric dentist or a family dentist.  When looking for professional pediatric dentistry services in your area, consider checking reviews and asking for recommendations from family and friends. In most cases, word-of-mouth can be your best resource.

2.  Role Play

Role-playing is one of the most effective ways to teach children. You can also take advantage of such in eliminating their dental anxiety and phobia. Act as the dentist and your child will be the patient. Mimic the procedures that happen during a dental visit. Take this as an opportunity to explain what happens during a checkup or treatment. Talk about how important these treatments are for oral care and times they may need to visit an emergency dentist. In turn, it can better prepare  you child and make them more comfortable during the actual visit.

3.  Talk to Your Child

Take the time to talk to your kids about the importance of oral care. This way, they will know why visiting the dentist is essential and they should never fear such. Be careful with your choice of words, making sure that they are assuring instead of frightening. Avoid using words like painful and other terms that can scare kids. Be open and prepare to answer questions that they might have. The more they know about the importance of dental health, the more you can encourage them to see a dentist.

4.  Accompany Your Child to the Dentist

Provide moral support by accompanying your child to the dentist. Take the time out of your busy schedule to be with your kids during the checkup or treatment. When you are there, stay calm. Kids can pick up your anxiety. So, if you are nervous, it is likely that your kids will be nervous as well.

5. Play Music

Music and mood are related. It is effective in the reduction of anxiety and stress, including dental phobia. It helps in regulating their emotions and making them calm. Before or even during a dental visit, play your child’s favorite music. This can be effective in relaxing the body and calming the mind.

6.  Reward Your Kid

Reward kids for their bravery. If they are afraid of seeing a dentist, replace their fear with anticipation. Give them something to look forward to. For instance, you can offer a visit to the museum or a nice meal once they are done. They will think of what comes after, which can help make them feel at ease once they are at the dentist.

7.  Consider Sedation

In some instances, sedation will help in calming children, which can help eliminate dental phobia. Knowing that they won’t feel the pain can be encouraging. It uses different types of medication to calm the patient without being asleep. It is especially common during arduous and painful treatments. More so, it is often done on patients with special needs or those with high fear of dental care.

The Bottom Line

Dentophobia is common in children. As parents, you must be proactive in eliminating such fear. To help promote proper dental health, oral care is critical. As such, a regular dental visit should not be something that they are anxious about. From finding the right professional to offering rewards, consider the things mentioned above to calm the minds of kids when seeing a dentist.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222359/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3075993/

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Pages/Music-and-Mood.aspx

Whether you are a parent assisting kids for the first time at home in a distance learning situation, or a regular homeschooler, home classroom management strategies plays a major role in a students success.  Or you may be a parent who simply wants to supplement what your kids are already learning in a regular school classroom.

Whatever your situation, here are some valuable tips to help you enhance your child’s “at home” learning experience. We will cover home schooling structure to ensure kids stay engaged, as well as teaching ideas for parents which can be implemented on a daily basis. Throughout the article you will find helpful resources to equip your home school with the latest educational resources available to ensure an effective learning environment.

Learning Strategies at Home

Some learning strategies happen naturally at home.  Providing quiet areas for independent older students who need to work on a paper is important, especially when younger siblings are being loud.  Enhancing the learning environment and making it more conducive to study can also help.  Using music, games, role playing or charts to present information are excellent ways to engage students.

You can take it one step further by having them help create the games or make the charts to further engage through in active learning while teaching at home.

Breaking up the lesson into twenty-minute segments can help.  Before returning to the lesson, review what was learned before moving on to new material.  And of course, one should always give prompt specific feedback about a student’s work.

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Allow for Flexibility Within Structured Learning

Interacting with adults is much easier to do at home, but teachers in classroom have also seen success in allowing students to move away from their desks and interact with classmates.  This can be done in a form of activity or allowing the student to freely go for a drink of water throughout the day.  At home, this is a good example of keeping things free flowing within a structure.  Getting up and moving around allows for blood to flow and keep the mind alert.

This brings up another important point about exercise. While you may not be able to have structured sports daily, make sure to include some kind of exercise routine throughout the day. It can be simple floor exercises or going for a walk.  If you find that your kids are having trouble paying attention, it may be a good time to stop the lesson and so some kind of physical activity for five minutes. It also brings additional benefits such as reducing screen time to ensure more balanced life.

The Importance of Asking Questions

There are other strategies that might not occur so naturally at home, such as allowing three to five seconds of wait time after asking questions throughout the presentation.  These pauses allow students to process the information before, during and after the presentation of the new concept.  It will also help you determine what the student knows and correct any misunderstandings.  Don’t be afraid to adjusting your presentation to re-teach anything that needs clarifying.

As kids get older be sure to ask questions that involve critical thinking, such as…

Do you agree with why or how something happened or is the way it is?”

How would you prove is there a better solution?

How would you rank the importance of various situations or options?

This helps students develop critical thinking skills.  Using words like “evaluate, justify, support and critique” when discussing material can help them make judgments about reality.

Remember too that the high school student is naturally interested in questions that challenge the status quo. In subjects such as Social Studies, kids care about whether a proposed course of action was expedient or inexpedient.   They care about whether someone deserves praise or blame.

If any of these suggestions are making you feel overwhelmed by the sheer notion of having to supplement or replace the teaching your child was receiving in school, start with the fundamentals; Language, Reading and ways to homeschool math.

Educational Games

Educational games play an important role in helping kids get a grasp of their subject, help them see how things actually work through gameplay, and enable them to learn subjects at their own pace. Moreover, educational games help kids feel rewarded after completing a task / exercise as in-game rewards serve as gratification after they finish games and score well in after-game questions, which encourages them to think critically and try to find the right solutions. These games also help them keep a track of their lessons and mistakes, and help them assess where they need improvements. Such games do not bore kids and keep them interested for long without making studies feel like a burden.

There may be innovative educational resources that are already in your home.  This is a great benefit to parents working hard to bring new teaching ideas and techniques into the homeschooling experience. Consider opportunities outside of daily teaching routines, such as the introduction of educational video games.   For your children who already play online for entertainment purposes, you can engage their interest during “school hours” by allowing game play during the day with an educational focus.  

The Importance of Continuous Discussion

Whether or not asking questions leads to a discussion about a topic, creating an environment for open discussion throughout any lesson is vital to keep students engaged and even excited about what they are learning.   Discussions can help participant learn and stay interested in a way listening to a lecture doesn’t.

A focus on starting a discussion can also be what it takes get the ball rolling into kids asking the questions they may not even be thinking about.  While this is going on, students are working out what they believe about ideas and concepts while being an active participant in learning.

Whether kids are receiving online teaching or tutoring through distance learning, parents can always enhance the education of their children.  After all, the most important reason we educate our children at home is to form their minds and hearts. This can’t be done without conversation, so the best learning strategy is to talk to your children.  It can often be easier to begin any discussion within an educational framework as simple as when you are helping them with homework. 

A Word About Online Jobs in Teaching

If you are a parent with teaching credentials you may want to consider exploring online jobs in teaching.   Let’s face it, your consistent presence at home with your kids prevents you from working in a traditional teaching job.  However, there are various opportunities to teach online.  These include teaching English as a second language (ESL), as well as seeking out educational jobs in an administrative role.