Category: Parenting

Those who volunteer spend an average of 52 hours a year helping out their communities. Volunteering helps you feel good about using your talents for others’ benefit, and it brings a lot of joy to your life. Volunteering can even help you develop new skills or gain experience in a new field.

Volunteering is especially beneficial for children. Young people don’t have the life experiences to understand that different people have challenges and difficulties they haven’t thought about. Encouraging volunteerism in children not only improves our world in the present, but for generations to come as kids pass a legacy of serving others on to their future families.

Here are just a few of the benefits of arranging for your child to volunteer in your community.

Increased Compassion

It’s easy for any of us to see things only from our own perspectives. We get caught up in the details of daily life and forget that there’s a bigger picture. Children are especially susceptible to this because they simply don’t have a lot of life experience.

When they volunteer, their eyes are opened to the different life experiences people have. It helps young people be grateful for their own blessings and be more compassionate to others.

A higher level of compassion will help your child interact better with their peers, avoid pitfalls like cyberbullying, and give them a better perspective on their future.

When children spend time helping others, they start to understand that they can make a difference. They may even come up with creative ways to solve other problems in the community. It’s empowering to realize that your actions matter and that you can make a difference in the life of others.

A Consistent Routine

Going to school gives most kids a consistent routine five days a week during the school year. However, what about weekends and summer? There’s definitely a benefit to unstructured time, but too much of that can cause boredom.

A consistent volunteering schedule can help your child stay on track even during the summer or shorter school breaks. It gives them a reason to get up in the morning and something to structure their day around.

Just as it’s important for adults to balance work, school, and other activities to be successful, so too is it for kids to do the same. And it’s up to parents and guardians to help them learn to do so. Overscheduling a child too far in one direction and can cause stress, burnout, and lower academic performance.

Done well, consistent volunteering can be something a young person looks forward to and enjoys.

A Sense of Purpose

We all sometimes wake up and wonder, “Is this all there is?” We can get lost in the mundanity of our job, bills, and chores and lose sight of the bigger picture. Children often feel the same way about their daily lives.

When we volunteer, it gives us a sense of purpose. Whether it’s helping with the dogs at the local animal shelter or helping an older friend or family member with spring cleaning and other household chores, we get a lot of satisfaction from making a difference. Help your child create a spring cleaning checklist they can realistically manage to act as mini housekeeper for your friend.

Kids are the same way. They enjoy taking their time and talents and using them for someone else. The smiles, gratitude, and sense of pride a child gets from volunteering can carry them through a tough week at school or other challenges.

There are many services for the less fortunate that wouldn’t be able to operate if it weren’t for volunteers. Knowing that they’re part of what keeps things moving forward is a huge boost for your child’s self-confidence.

A Leg Up for College

Getting into college is more competitive than ever. Most young people plan to go to college, and most jobs require a college degree. However, going to college isn’t as simple as moving to the next grade in school.

In college, you need to know what you want to study. You need to have some idea of your interests and what you want your future to look like. Volunteering can help your child shape those ideas.

Does your child love animals? Volunteering with a local animal shelter can help them decide if they really do want to become a veterinarian. Does nursing call to them? Volunteering at a hospital can help them know what to expect and get them started building compassionate relationships.

On top of that, volunteer experience is something they can discuss on their college applications. It might help your child stand out from other applicants and be selected for admission or even a scholarship.

Volunteering Connects Children with Their Communities

It’s vital that all of us, including our kids, take time to step back from our daily lives and remember that we’re part of a larger community. Volunteering can do that. Volunteering as a family can benefit everyone while building strong relationships and great memories.

Volunteering also helps increase social skills, get practical experience, and gives kids a chance to explore their passions. There’s no reason not to have your child volunteer! Why not find out what they love and see if an organization in your area is looking for help today?

When looking into moving homes, we observe multiple aspects in choosing which neighborhood we want to move our families. There is price, distance, housing quality, and other characteristics that ultimately decide which place we are most comfortable in picking. But perhaps no factor is more important than the neighborhood’s school district.

There is ongoing change happening around our country, along with diversification programs that are thankfully gathering more momentum within multiple sectors. With the transformation of neighborhoods due to population growth, school district funding can change based on numerous local, state, and national factors.

However, planning out your family’s future school district isn’t as simple as statistics on a page.  You don’t have to be a school administrator or a real estate appraiser to educate yourself with this helpful information. Looking into both the way public school districts are funded and the particular school district you have in mind will help ensure that your children have successful educational futures.

Public School Districts

A properly funded and well maintained public school system is what to look for when examining your children’s future school district. First, we’ll be making a clear distinction between private and public schools and observing the latter when it comes to school districts. With private schools, a parent pays a clear tuition fee that the private school operator collects.

Public schools, by comparison, are regulated by local, state, and federal law. Thus, they are operated from a mixture of locally-, state-, and federally-collected and distributed funding. Less than ten percent of total funds come from the federal level (through Title I and other means), with the majority coming from locally- and state-collected funds. About half of these total funds come from local property taxes.

Funding must then be circulated into individual districts. They can then hire appropriate staff, purchase necessary equipment and supplies, and maintain their operating structure (and, if able within their funding, construct new additions to their schools). These days, choosing a new school for your kids has a lot to do with school funding is about distribution, and if a community is progressively or regressively allocating its funding to the students who need it the most.

Progressive School Funding

What does it mean, then, to classify a public school district as “progressive?” Well, there are a few indicating characteristics. An Urban Institute study in 2017 found that there are 35 states–70 percent of the country–that specifically target low-income students with public school funding. New Jersey and Connecticut are examples of states that have progressive funding systems in place at the state level–though this can sometimes result in problems at the local funding level regarding income disparity. When this occurs, states will attempt to correct public school funding that it believes is inequitable.

In particular, New Jersey makes up for this by balancing its local and state public school funding, making it progressive to the amount of $1,453 per student. States differ in terms of progressive vs. regressive public school funding due to economic disparity, as well as differences in legislation. No matter which area you’re moving to, it’s essential to be aware of how your school district is funded on the state and local levels.

Tips for Changing Your School District

We’ve examined the overall way that school districts are funded these days. Still, careful research into your move itself is vital to ensure a comfortable adjustment for your children. It’s essential first to look into a few tips crucial to making the moving process, and changing school districts, an easier one.

You’ll want to be aware of any waiting periods to enroll your child in a certain district’s public school. You’ll also need to ensure that you have your children’s immunization records and medical forms on file, which is more necessary these days than ever before. Look into extracurricular activities such as virtual creative groups, which will help your child expand their new community of friends.

Additionally, email your child’s future guidance counselor about this recent move, and how it (as well as changing schools) may be taking up a large degree of their mental space. This will inform them and make them aware of a possible situation where your child finds it difficult to adapt to the new experience.

But more than anything, it’s vital to take a look into the individual districts in terms of teaching, subject proficiency, transportation management, funding allocation, and other informational aspects to determine for yourself how you view its quality of schooling. We’ve discussed public school funding and its distribution, but that’s only part of the equation.

Schools may rank highly in math proficiency, for example, when compared to the state average. (New Jersey’s math proficiency is 42 percent, for example, while its top five schools in this category all rank at 95 percent or higher.) However, if your child has special needs or is seeking a program that focuses on foreign language immersion, these rankings may not be as useful to you.

Additional factors to consider during your future school district search

Take the time to ask yourself some questions:

What is this school district’s subject proficiency in the topics I want my child to excel in?

What is this school district’s graduation rate?

Which school districts per state have the highest spending per student, and how is it allocated?

Which school districts have the lowest teacher to student ratio?

As parents, we naturally want the best for our children. Moving is never easy and choosing the best neighborhood for our family can be a monumental task that takes dedicated planning. With knowledge of the public school system and having a few tips on hand for the move, you can do your part in researching the district of your future neighborhood and setting your child on the right path for their educational future.

About the Author
Jennifer Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beach goer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

With the rise of online banking and payment services, it’s important to teach your children how to use online finances responsibly. Unfortunately, more digital transactions mean greater risk for young people who are unaware of how to keep their data safe. This article shows you how you can protect your children.

The Rise of Mobile Banking and Finance

Mobile banking has risen quickly over the last decade. In 2012, only 21% of cell phone owners around the world used digital banking services.  While some people are still more hesitant to use online-only banks, that figure has grown to 89% of all Americans. The number of those who access their own bank’s digital services is growing as users ditch paper statements to reduce paper waste.

Digital finance is a growing trend among young people as well. With the increased popularity of digital investment apps, online loan services, and accessible payments via social media and other services, the generation that grew up online is content keeping all their finances digital. The pandemic has also elevated their use of online financial processing.

4 Ways to Teach Your Kids To Protect Themselves

While there are plenty of opportunities for kids today to manage all their money virtually, there is also plenty of danger. Compromised or stored passwords, threats from hackers, and online companies selling data are just some of the threats they face. Here are four ways you can help your children to protect themselves.

1. Teach Your Kids About Online Security and Safety

No matter what age a person is, everyone should be aware of how vulnerable their data is when they are online. Their information can be shared, stolen, or manipulated. Even their very identity is at risk.

Teaching your children to protect their online profiles is your first priority. For example, help them to develop good password management habits, including writing strong ones and keeping them safe and secret. They can also download software that helps them keep their passwords secure.

Even with a robust password, kids need to understand that his or her data is not necessarily private. Companies store and use profiles from social media and other apps for marketing, demographic information, and more. They may also sell that data to third party firms.

It’s important to know that since the pandemic, both children and predators are spending more time online. Your kids can be targeted whenever they are on social media or online gaming. Teach them to practice good internet safety habits, such as not sharing personal information with strangers and avoiding suggestive screen names.

Mastering these internet privacy skills is important as your children expand their use of online finances. Show them how to use technical tools to protect themselves, including cookies, private browsing, and antivirus software.

2. The Pitfalls of Online Shopping

Online shopping today is even simpler than placing an order at Amazon. Maybe too simple. Money can be sent in the blink of an eye, without needing excessive verification. That also means it’s easy to give your money to the wrong people or to send money unintentionally.

One of the most valuable things you can teach kids about is the dangers of online shopping. Walk them through an online shopping experience: teach them how to double-check the cart, why it’s unsafe to store credit card data, and what information they should never give out. For example, a legitimate online shop will not ask you for your social security number.

3. The New World of Electronic Payments: Facebook and Venmo

Be aware that your children might send money to an online vendor through Facebook, such as buying an item that a friend has made. While Facebook has its own security measures, teach them only to purchase from people they know in real life to protect their money. You should also teach techniques to secure their Facebook accounts, such as two-factor authentication.

Venmo is another popular app for online money transactions, however, you must be 18 years old to use it. Parents should know that Venmo transactions are public and, therefore, visible to everyone. If they make an accidental purchase, it can be more difficult to get their money back, so instruct your children to be highly cautious when using this app.

4. Helping Your Kids Avoid Bad Debt

Digital apps are now available that allow everyday people to invest or take out loans without a lot of experience or collateral. To protect them from unsound financial decisions, you need to teach your kids about debt. Explain concepts like the importance of credit scores, how to manage a budget, and why debt can have a good or bad impact on their financial future.

Teaching them to manage their bank accounts is important too. Paper bank registers may be a thing of the past, but online banking applications offer a variety of aides that can keep your children on top of their accounts. Tools like alerts and automatic savings deductions, along with regularly keeping track of online statements, can help your kids safely manage their money.

There are also budget management apps available. These can be useful but remember to tell your kids that the more apps they use for fiscal planning, the more they are vulnerable to theft. Limiting financial apps to a very few is a good way to keep your child’s data safe.

The rise of mobile banking, online shopping, and digital family financial planning provide a lot of options for your children to manage their money. However, they also put them at great risk. Teaching them safe financial practices can help them make wise choices while keeping their data and money safe.

Equipping kids how to resist consumer debt in general goes hand in hand with raising them how to be responsible consumers through all the stages of their lives.

Child development happens partly as traits emerge from within, but another big part comes with children learning from the adults in their lives. Role models convey values, acceptable types of interaction and behavior, and ways of living in the world to kids. Providing good role models for your kids is a key part in supporting their positive development.

How do you find role models for your child? You can be a good role model yourself, of course, but children benefit from the presence of additional adults they can look up to and seek advice from. Here are some resources for giving your kids positive role models.

Historical Figures

When you’re not yet sure what your kids’ interests are, start with well-known contemporary or historical figures to see who catches their attention. There are plenty of well-known men, both historical and in contemporary culture, for boys to look up to.

And when it comes to raising daughters, there are lots of positive role models we can point to both in present times and from history. Check out this curated video playlist of powerful women in history to share with your older kids.

For younger kids, even Matel has created dolls based on historic women. It really helps your cause to point to people who actually lived: their lives, their challenges, their triumphs, and their struggles. It might just be inspiring, and at the very least, it will be educational.

As your children express interest in particular well-known people, you can start looking around in your own community for in-person role models, too.

Community Members

Ask your kids what traits they admire in those famous figures and think about people in your life who embody those qualities. You can look for role models who have the types of careers your kids are curious about, but better than that, find people who display desirable traits like compassion, integrity, and motivation. Younger kids learn what kind of people they can be from their role models. When they’re older, it’s more suitable to help them connect with people in professions they may want to pursue.

Who do you know at your children’s school, at your workplace, at church, in your own social network, or in your family who might want to form a relationship with your kids? Are elderly people they could learn from?  Think about who you admire; chances are the same qualities will make that individual a good role model for your kids.

Fictional Figures or Celebrities

Though there are some limits to fictional role models, your kids may at some point idolize a fictional figure, so better to prepare for it and send good options their way. Discuss with them what they like about their favorite characters and how they see themselves being similar or different.

When choosing media to watch with your sons, consider these shows with strong male role models. Trying to find books for your daughters that aren’t just about princesses or romance? Here is a helpful list sorted by age group (from preschool through teen years) of books with strong female characters.

Be prepared for your kids to come home one day wanting to be exactly like a celebrity they saw on YouTube. The most important thing in this situation is how you talk to them about these role models. Rather than discouraging them from their infatuation, ask them what they like about their new favorite person. Keep the conversation going by asking your kids what that celebrity is up to over time (and give yourself more opportunities to discuss poor decisions said person might make).

Yourself

You are the first and most potentially powerful role model for your kids. Your children are watching and learning from you before they can even speak—and your actions will convey more than your words. This will also result in good online behavior as well.

You can’t do everything perfectly, but there’s a lot you can do to show them what kind of person you hope they’ll become by being that person yourself. For instance, one tip  is to take good care of yourself, which will help you better care for your kids while demonstrating the value of self-care.

General advice is great, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to convey positive traits in day-to-day life. For instance, how do you teach your kids about healthy eating without simply telling them what to do? Try to include them in the food shopping and give them choices about what they want to eat.

Once you start exploring, you can find positive role models for your kids in all kinds of social circles and fields. A good mix of people—historical figures, community members, and fictional characters—gives your kids plenty of opportunities to identify different facets of being human they want to emulate and can provide you with ample material for discussion.

by Hilary Thompson