Category: Parenting

Relocating your entire family  can be a challenge, moreso if you are looking to continue your child’s education during your cross-country move. However, it is possible to do so with the right determination and planning. Here are some tips to help you prepare your child for their mobile learning experience, while keeping the trip enjoyable along the way.

Get Your Kids Ready For The Move

Before you pack the kids in the car and bring them to a new home in a different state, you’ll want to mentally prepare them to see new people and transition to a new school. It’s important to sit your child down and explain the changes that will be happening and answer any questions they may have. If they have friends in town, and con-during-a-cross-country-move/ming back is realistic in the future, then explain to them that this isn’t a permanent goodbye and that they’ll see them again. However, they’ll also be able to make new friends at their new school.

It will also help to tell them that since they’ll be continuing their education during the trip, they won’t fall behind when they get to the new school. A lot of kids fear being an outsider, and this fact may help them to feel better.

Once you have discussed why you are relocating with your children and what to expect, there are a variety of steps you can take to make moving with kids easier.  First of all, you want to plan the best route to ensure that you can get to your new house in a timely manner but also ensure your kids have time to study. Plan for convenient stops at hotels and make your reservations ahead of time so you know a room will be available when you arrive and you don’t need to go through an extensive check-in process.

You can further eliminate the stress of car problems during your trip by bringing your vehicle in for a check-up before you depart. Have the mechanic give your car a complete inspection and request that they check the fluids and brakes and rotate the tires if necessary. Also, pack an emergency kit with first aid supplies and extra snacks in case of an emergency.

Keeping The Kids Connected

One of the benefits of continuing education on the road is that you can use travel as a learning tool. Use the destinations you come across during your trip as lessons. If your child is learning about nature or sustainability, stop at a national park and provide hands-on lessons. If they’re currently learning about the ocean and sea animals in school, then bring them to an aquarium so they can see the fish in person.

Although it’s ideal to learn in a dedicated space to help kids focus during online learning,  advancing technologies have also made it so your child can read online books and watch instructional videos from the backseat of the car. You no longer need to be directly wired to get on the internet. Most phones these days have a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot function that provides instant internet almost anywhere. If your child is using a tablet for their online learning, they simply connect to that network and are good to go.

Many modern vehicles also have car Wi-Fi built into them, which is like your mobile hotspot, only bigger. If you’re enrolled in the service, you simply sign in and connect your devices. Most cars with this functionality have a secure enough line to hook up multiple devices.

If you or your child uses Wi-Fi in hotels or restaurants, they must follow the same internet safety tips as at home. Enable privacy settings that prevent unnecessary data sharing, never reveal your passwords to others, and don’t use any Wi-Fi connection in a public place unless you have verified with management that it’s the correct network.

Having an Enjoyable Trip

Depending on how far you’re moving, your family could be in the car for days or weeks, so emphasizing comfort is key if you want to survive the ride.

While your kids may be preoccupied with their studies a lot of the time, they will inevitably take breaks. After a while, they may become rambunctious. To prevent over-excitement and keep the noise level under control, bring along plenty of fun activities, like activity books, markers, and stickers, and plan for some road trip games. There are plenty of easy and free games to play, including I-spy and a license plate game where you compete to see who spots the most plates from the most states.

It’s also important to keep your kids hydrated and full with healthy snacks that you should pack in advance so you don’t have to stop a lot and spend money on expensive roadside food. Try to pack plenty of brain foods that will help your kids get through their studies. Greek yogurt is great because it provides plenty of proteins that produce healthy brain cells. Nuts and seeds are also packed with protein. Plus, they have vitamins and minerals that help to keep your kids satisfied and their moods in check.

Finally, if your kids are taking a lot of classes that involve watching videos or listening to audio-based lessons,  then you’ll also want to pack suitable headphones so they can listen to their lessons without bothering you or their siblings. Make sure to charge them during your stops so they don’t run out of juice when you need them most.

A cross-country move can be tough on everyone in the family, especially youngsters still in school. You just need a good plan. Help your child stay on top of their studies while moving on to the next exciting chapter of life.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

It is fair to say that parenting a child in 2023 is vastly different from parenting a child in 2013.  Nowhere is this truer than in the realm of special educational needs, such as autism. There have been many changes in parenting tips and styles in this area over the last ten years. Thankfully, technological assistance and apps have emerged.

It is now easier for parents to help a child who has autism to manage day-to-day life.  However, it can be a bit tricky to know where to start and if you want to invest in technology to help your child to develop.

So, this article will guide you through some key steps which can help you to parent your child with greater ease and better long-term outcomes.

Select Appropriate Apps

Many children’s apps are bright, loud, and have a lot of movement. That is fine for the average child, but if you have a child that is on the autism spectrum, these things can be overstimulating and can cause them to become overwhelmed. So, aim to find an autism app that is appropriate and can help them learn easily with encouragement but, of course, without being too bouncy or loud.

It’s also worth researching parenting apps aimed at parents of children with autism, as these can provide you with tips on how best to manage your child in day-to-day life without reading like an instruction manual.

Select Tools That Match Your Child’s Level

All children have different reading and educational levels. So, when it comes to choosing the right tools to help your autistic child, make sure it is matched to their requirements. Of course, the majority of educational apps will be aimed at improving your child’s reading, writing, or arithmetic, but if you start with an app or a program on a computer that is too advanced, it can lead to your child becoming frustrated.

If you aren’t sure what your child’s educational level is, it is best to talk to their teachers and come up with a plan so that you can help them to advance their skills via technology.

Use Communicative Technology

Technology and apps that are aimed at younger children will focus on helping them to develop their speech. However, this is a feature that phases out as the age rating on the apps increases. Children who have autism spectrum disorder, however, often have issues with clear and concise communication. So, it is best to find an app or a game that will focus itself on helping them to communicate, identify emotions and express themselves.

 Set Time Limits

Ah, yes, the dreaded screen time conundrum that all parents dread.

Children generally love spending hours upon hours on a computer, watching videos and researching. However, this is not good for their eyesight, for their social development, or for their mental health. So, aim to set time limits on devices and ensure that your child is aware of them prior to you setting the timer and reminding them when it is coming to an end. Then, ease them onto another task; this will prevent frustration, and meltdowns and will also set a boundary on your end.

Internet Safety For Children With Autism: A Comprehensive Guide For Parents

As adults participating in various activities, we are well aware of the importance of eye protection. Still, it’s easy to neglect when trimming the grass with a weed whacker or playing squash. Unfortunately, parents think even less about it for their kids. It’s not for lack of caring; rather, child eye safety is simply not promoted and is often taken for granted.

Whether your child plays sports, enjoys woodworking, or loves to get involved in a Nerf battle with their friends, fitting them out with a pair of safety glasses is a great idea. But with so many different types on the market, how do we know which to choose? Below is everything you need to know.

Basic Kids’ Glasses

Clear, rimless safety glasses can help protect your kids’ eyes from all sorts of hazards – look for models that are scratch-resistant and have been fully tested to be ballistics resistant and feature an anti-glare coating. It’s a good idea to choose a pair for your child that’s lightweight, too, to ensure wearing comfort – the last thing you want is for your kid to pull them off as they feel too heavy or are pinching.

There is a wide range of kids’ safety glasses available, from cat eye glasses to more simple designs, so be sure to select a pair that has been fully tested and certified to all the required safety standards.

Kids’ Safety Goggles

If your child’s eyes need an additional level of protection, goggles are likely to be the way to go. Goggles provide protection in the classroom science lab, during water play, Nerf battles, and much more – and give parents peace of mind, too. By sealing off the area around the eyes entirely, there’s no risk of a nasty or irritant of any kind finding its way into your little one’s eyes.

Good quality kids’ safety goggles will be scratch resistant, offer a wide field of vision, and feature a soft silicone seal to fit comfortably on your child’s face. Ideally, look for an anti-fogging option to prevent the lens from misting up. You’ll find goggles in lots of different colors, so you can choose the shade that’ll best appeal to your kid – meaning they’ll hopefully be more amenable to wearing them!

Blue-Light Blocking Safety Glasses for Kids

The blue light emitted from our devices can be a menace, causing problems such as sleep disruption and even exacerbating hyperactivity – this can be a particular issue for kids with ADHD or who are otherwise neurodiverse.

Blue-light-blocking glasses for kids feature orange lenses that are effective in blocking out the majority of this harsh blue light, which can also cause eye fatigue.

Nerf Gun Compatible Kids’ Safety Glasses

If your child loves nothing more than getting involved in a Nerf battle with their friends, then Nerf-compatible safety glasses are a must! This type of eyewear comes in different colors to identify which team each child is on – and looks cool, too.

Ideally, Nerf-compatible glasses should have anti-fog lenses, be in a wraparound style, and feature soft sponge edges for comfort no matter how long the battle lasts. These kinds of kids’ safety glasses are often suitable for other activities such as cycling, skiing, lab work, woodworking, construction, and more, too.

Kids’ Protective Face Shields

For face coverage that extends beyond the eyes, consider a protective face shield. Typically featuring a strap that goes around the forehead, to which is attached a single piece visor to cover the face; these types of shields are often reusable. You may wish to choose a protective face shield that incorporates a slide adjuster so you can easily ensure a snug, comfortable fit and firm foam pad designed to provide a suitable space between the strap and your child’s forehead.

Kids Sports Glasses

When training for and playing sports like football, hockey, and basketball, kids are likely to need a little bit of extra protection for their eyes, and that’s where sports glasses come in. Tough, lightweight, and impact-resistant, sports glasses usually incorporate a strap to keep them securely in place so there’s no risk of them flying off during a game. As with many of the other types of safety glasses on this list, sports glasses can usually be fitted with prescription lenses if necessary.

Cycling Safety Glasses for Kids

For outdoor sports such as cycling and running, your child will need protective eyewear that will eliminate glare and protect their eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. In terms of the latter, look for glasses that incorporate 100% UVA and UVB protection.

Ideally, choose glasses that feature soft, adjustable silicone nose pads to achieve the best fit and comfort level, anti-slip arms, and durable, lightweight frames.

Safety Eyewear that Fits Over Glasses

If your child wears prescription glasses but needs safety eyewear, you have a couple of options. You can either choose safety glasses that can be fitted with prescription lenses or opt for a type of safety eyewear that can be worn over the top of their regular glasses.

If you decide on the latter, take care to ensure that these ‘over glasses’ fit comfortably, and don’t put too much pressure on your child’s prescription glasses or cause pinching.

Choosing the Right Safety Glasses for Your Child

When choosing safety glasses, it’s most important to ensure that the pair adheres to all the necessary safety regulations and, where appropriate, has all the relevant certifications.

There is a huge range of kids’ safety glasses available, so whether your child is a sports fanatic, an avid Nerf warrior, or could do with some specs to cut down on eye fatigue, you’ll be able to find the perfect pair.

Child custody battles can be emotionally draining and legally complex for parents going through a separation or divorce. The outcome of these battles significantly impacts the well-being and future of the child involved. Unfortunately, many parents make common mistakes during custody battles that can negatively affect their chances of obtaining a favorable custody arrangement.

This article aims to highlight some of these mistakes and provide guidance on how to avoid them.

Putting Personal Interests Above the Child’s Best Interests

One of the most significant mistakes parents make is prioritizing their own desires and interests over the child’s well-being. Custody decisions should always be made, considering the child’s best interests. Experienced family lawyers know that courts consider factors such as stability, emotional and physical well-being, and the parent-child relationship quality when determining custody arrangements. This is one of the reasons why parents must demonstrate their commitment to the child’s welfare rather than pursuing a custody battle out of spite or revenge.

Failing to Communicate Effectively

Communication breakdowns can escalate conflicts and make custody battles more challenging. Parents need to communicate effectively and respectfully with each other, particularly when discussing matters related to the child. Avoid engaging in heated arguments or using communication to criticize or belittle the other parent. Instead, focus on transparent and constructive communication around the child’s needs and well-being.

Additionally, speaking negatively about the other parent in front of the child or to others involved in the custody battle can be highly detrimental. Courts value the child’s right to maintain a healthy and loving relationship with both parents. Disparaging the other parent can damage the child’s perception of their parent, impact their emotional well-being, and create an unfavorable impression in court. Refraining from making derogatory comments or engaging in any form of parental alienation is crucial.

Ignoring the Importance of Documentation

Documentation plays a vital role in custody battles. Many parents do not maintain thorough and accurate records of relevant information. Document significant interactions, communications, visitation schedules, incidents, and any child welfare concerns. These records can serve as evidence and help substantiate claims or disputes during custody proceedings. Navigating the complexities of a custody battle without proper legal guidance can be detrimental. Many parents must consult a family law attorney specializing in child custody cases. A knowledgeable attorney can provide valuable advice, educate parents about their rights and responsibilities, and guide them through the legal process. Professional representation can significantly improve a parent’s chances of achieving a favorable custody outcome.

Violating Court Orders

Parents must adhere to court orders and custody arrangements established during the legal proceedings. Failure to comply with court orders can reflect poorly on a parent and may lead to legal consequences. Respecting and following the established custody schedule, visitation arrangements, and any other court-mandated requirements is crucial. Violating court orders damages the parent’s credibility and negatively impacts the child’s stability and well-being.

Also, many parents make the mistake of refusing to cooperate or engage in a power struggle with the other parent. Courts favor parents willing to work together and maintain a positive co-parenting relationship. Putting aside personal differences and focusing on effective communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making is crucial for fostering a healthy co-parenting dynamic.

Custody battles require parents to navigate emotionally charged situations with careful consideration and strategic decision-making. Parents can increase their chances of achieving a favorable joint custody arrangement by avoiding common mistakes and focusing on the child’s well-being. It is essential to prioritize effective communication, respect court orders, document relevant information, engage in successful co-parenting, and seek professional guidance when needed. Ultimately, by prioritizing the child’s best interests, parents can create a foundation for a healthier and more positive post-divorce or separation co-parenting relationship.