Category: Parenting

Navigating the transition to adulthood can be daunting for any teenager, especially when confronted with overwhelming social pressures. As a parent, it can be difficult to know how to help guide your child toward making positive—and sometimes difficult–choices in life. There are numerous challenges that a parent will face throughout their child’s teenage years.

Some of these issues include societal norms dictating where teens should go to college or what jobs they should aim for, as well as understanding how best to support your teen as they branch away from familiar paths. These concerns require thoughtful consideration and an awareness of their goals and ambitions, and how they may or may not line up with your own expectations.

In this blog post, we’ll explore ways you can help your son or daughter find their own meaningful path while empowering them through these formative years of adulthood.

1. Understand Your Teenager’s Social Environment

As your child enters their teenage years, awareness of their social environment will become increasingly important. Adolescence is a time of immense growth and development, much of which occurs within social interactions. Understanding the dynamics of your teenager’s social world can help you guide them toward healthy relationships and provide support when needed.

It’s important to remember that the teenage years can be turbulent, and your child’s social environment can impact their emotional well-being. By listening to your teenager, observing their interactions with friends, and advocating for their needs, you can help them navigate this important part of their life with confidence and resilience.

2. Talk About How to Handle Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a real challenge for all teenagers. While it’s very natural to want to fit in, of equal importance for your teenager is for them to understand that there are different types of peer pressure and ways to manage them effectively.

Encourage your teen to talk openly about any difficulties they might face regarding peer pressure. Discuss the importance of setting boundaries and standing up for their beliefs when handling social media addiction and bullying, as well as navigating relationships with peers or older people. You can also check in with your teen periodically to ensure they feel supported and empowered when making decisions reflecting their values and goals.

3. Encourage Independence and Self-Reliance

It’s our nature as parents to strive for the best for our beloved children, yet that instinctive need to shield them can often lead us into excessive hovering. Encouraging independence and self-reliance is essential for your teenager’s success. It starts with accepting that they are becoming their person. Allowing your teenager to make decisions empowers them to take ownership of their choices, successes, and failures.

Empathize with their struggles and provide guidance, but always remember that their path is theirs to discover. As they learn to make decisions, they will become more confident in themselves and develop the skills they need to succeed on whatever path they choose.

4. Set a Good Example with Responsible Decision Making

You want your teenagers to make good choices that lead to success. However, teaching responsible decision-making is easier said than done. It’s about guiding them to find their path rather than dictating it. One should never underestimate the power of leading by example. It begins with making smart choices ourselves. Share past experiences where you messed up, as well as admitting current failures. This will show your teens the importance of taking responsibility for the consequences of our actions, past and present. Encouraging our children to think critically, weigh their options, and make informed decisions will reward them throughout their lifetime.

5. Help Them Find Positions of Responsibility and Leadership

Every parent desires success in their teenager’s future endeavors. One way to achieve this is to help them find positions of responsibility and leadership. Whether it’s joining a club at school, volunteering in the community, or pursuing internships, these opportunities will most surely help your teen develop important skills. The valuable experience they gain will serve them well when faced with the challenges life will throw their way. By encouraging and supporting their endeavors, you can help your teenager find their path towards success and a fulfilling future.

6. Celebrate Achievements and Offer Support During Struggles

As teenagers navigate the complexities of adolescence, finding their path can be a challenging and overwhelming experience. However, as parents or mentors, it is important to celebrate their achievements and offer support during their struggles. Celebrating their accomplishments, no matter how small, can boost their confidence and motivate them toward further success.

Meanwhile, during times of difficulty, it is crucial to provide a safe space for them to open up. This will create opportunities for you to offer guidance and provide options for solutions. By respecting their journey and offering unconditional love, teenagers can feel empowered to discover their unique path toward fulfilling their dreams and aspirations.

Supporting and guiding your teenager as they grow into adulthood is an ongoing and iterative process. Even as they gain new skills and confidence, it is vital to always be there by their side, offering a hand to hold, an open ear to listen, and a constant reminder of admiration. Give them the tools necessary to make successful decisions for themselves when the time comes, while teaching them to understand that success does not come without failure.

With inflation still stubbornly high, the idea of being able to save for your child’s college education can seem scarier than ever before. You want to be sure you can give them the best experience possible, afford their top-choice school, and help set them up for their future, but how can you accomplish that goal?

We’ve got many ways that you can start saving money today, building your child’s college education fund slowly over time. So, let’s take explore the most useful tips.

Cut Back on Expenses – Free Up Cash for Savings

Whenever you’ve got a savings goal, a good place to start is with the budget. You need to know how much money you can save and be realistic about your goals. If you aren’t currently able to put that much aside, try looking at areas of the budget that can be reduced. Are there any areas that you are overspending on?

Some tips for saving money on monthly expenses include:

• Cut back on entertainment expenses
• Drive smarter not more often, always map out your route in advance
• Use energy-efficiency tips to save on electricity expenses
• Stop dining out or ordering food in
• Cut back on how many streaming services you are subscribed to
• Find a cheaper cell phone plan and provider

The more you look at your budget the more savings can often be found. Sometimes it just takes a little creativity.

Start Saving as Early as Possible

And because you may not be able to save a lot of money at once, you’ll want to start saving as early as possible to secure your child’s future. Perhaps your child is very young right now and college is the last thing on your mind, well this is the perfect time to start a savings account for them. Be sure to look at a variety of savings plans taking into account the interest, if they offer any tax savings or incentives, and if any are sponsored by the state or federal government.

Consider Investing in the Stock Market

The stock market can also be an avenue worth pursuing. While there are no guarantees when you invest in stocks, there are those that are a little safer if you don’t mind being in it for the long haul and not expecting quick returns.

Worth consideration is monthly dividend stocks because as the name implies, they offer a constant income. Some companies will issue a dividend monthly, which can help you track savings a little better. It’s worth noting that the majority will pay quarterly or yearly, so finding monthly payers can be a little harder. It’s also important to research the company you’re investing in to ensure it’s a wise decision.

Supplemental Income Can Grow the College Fund Faster

Any effort to reduce your need to borrow money for college will pay off in reduced stress after you graduate. If think you’re going to be applying for a student loan because you are unable to save enough, don’t be discouraged.  Anything you can do today to reduce your monthly loan payment, when you begin working in your chosen career, will be well worth the effort.

To grow a college fund faster than some of the other tips allow, coming up with ways to earn supplemental income outside your regular employment really helps to add to your bottom line.  This is extra money not needed for any current bills, which means every penny you make can be put aside and earmarked as savings.

Money earned that goes direct to savings can be very motivational. Working an extra job for a few years can result in a sizeable savings amount, and then you can let it sit in a savings account and earn interest until your child needs it. This is a labor-intensive savings option and won’t be easy, but it’s also incredibly effective.

Supplemental income can include anything from apps and online income platforms, to a part-time job or side hustle. Brainstorm ideas with your family. Try to think about something you excel in or that you love doing so that it won’t seem like such a hardship.

You Can Make a Big Difference

Even if you’re not able to save for your child’s entire college education, any bit you can offer will help and will make a huge difference.

Parents need to teach their children many lessons as they grow up, including how to follow directions. Some kids may need help learning how to follow instructions to the absolute letter, but there are ways that you can help them get better at this. Here are five ways to help kids learn to follow directions.

Ask for Their Undivided Attention

You can help your kids learn how to follow directions by asking them for their undivided attention. Ask them to look at you and tell them that it is important that they listen to what you are saying.

Otherwise, you will likely have no luck if you give directions when they seem distracted. Try to keep yourself in their line of sight or kneel to their level so that they will focus on you.

Make the Directions Simple

Another way to help kids learn how to follow directions is to make the way you give them instructions as simple as possible. Try to keep your wording clear and avoid saddling it with too much information. These extra words may confuse your child and end up causing them to misunderstand what you want them to do.

Limit It to One Direction at a Time

Although adults may find it easy to take directions that involve multiple steps, such instructions can be harder for young children to follow. They may end up feeling confused about what they are supposed to do, and ultimately skip a step. You can help them by giving only one instruction at a time.

As your kids get older and gain more practice in following directions, you can start to group more requests together. For example, you may give them a direction that involves multiples steps by saying, “Go outside, get the mail, and remember to close the mailbox.” Older children will be better at following instructions that involve doing one thing after another.

Let Them Process the Directions

You can also help your children learn how to take directions by giving them time to process the information. After you have explained an instruction to them, give them a few seconds to work it out in their brain.

This will help them get better at processing directions in the future. If your child still has questions, make sure that you answer them calmly and patiently so that they can better understand what you want them to do.

Sign Them Up for an Activity

Finally, you can help your kids learn to follow directions by signing them up for an afterschool activity when they reach the appropriate age. For example, one of the ways gymnastics helps improve your kids’ social skills is by putting them in structured classes where they listen and learn new skills during each session. That provides them with an ideal environment where they can practice following directions.

When you teach your kids how to follow directions, you will help them learn skills that will benefit them later in life during school and in their careers. Try to be a positive role model for your kids so that they can learn from you and eventually use the same methods to teach their own children how to follow directions.

If you have a baby or a toddler, you are likely well aware of the progression of their growth. One moment they are babbling and cooing, drinking only milk or formula, and depending on you for everything. In the blink of an eye, you have a walking, talking toddler happily chewing on solid foods and sharing their thoughts and opinions on the world around them.

Babies grow fast—you can say in the blink of an eye. With such growth, their needs also change rapidly, and you have to adapt to each new phase of life.

But when exactly does a child transition from a baby to a toddler? We delve into the critical baby vs toddler question and share everything you need to know about their development, diet, and other important details. This will help prepare you for your child’s growth and know what to expect.

Growth and Development of Babies

Babies are infants between the ages of 0 and 12 months old. At first, they behave instinctually to express their needs—they fuss or cry when hungry or uncomfortable. They respond to touch, and their movements are mostly reflexive.

As your baby’s brain develops over time, they will be able to think more clearly and be more deliberate about their behaviors and actions.

Babies have very good hearing and listen to and soak in language, speech, and information. They will soon start responding to loud, high-pitched sounds. Your baby will also begin interacting and communicating with you through facial expressions, signs, gestures, and sounds. As they learn, they will be more precise about their feelings and emotions.

Baby vision develops very quickly, too, but is still weak at this stage. They start by exploring their fingers and toes and entertain themselves with whatever they can get their hands on.

Babies also quickly form attachments to their parents and primary caregivers. They develop emotional and social skills as they build bonds of love and trust with those around them. How their caregivers interact with them will set the foundation for their associations with others.

Some of the things that babies can do as they grow include smiling, clapping, waving, crawling, picking up things, and babbling. By the time they are five to six months of age, they can sit up with little to no support.

As months pass, your baby will also learn to reach out, focus its vision, stand up, and walk with support, if not independently. They will start recognizing objects by their names and understanding basic verbal commands.

Growth and Development of Toddlers

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that toddlers are between one and three years old.

At this age, your child would have grown to about triple their birth weight. You’ll see so many other changes in your toddler besides physical development. Toddlers will begin to utter a few words and connect more objects with their names. They also become more independent and learn to do things on their own.

Toddlers’ motor skills improve very quickly, and they will be able to walk unassisted, including backward and sideways. But the movements may still be uncoordinated and unsteady, which is where the term “toddling” comes from.

Your toddler will soon be able to climb up and down stairs, jump, squat, throw a ball, and play simple games. They will master the alphabet, recite rhymes and songs, and distinguish between different colors and shapes. During this phase of life, toddlers are incredibly curious and absorb everything quite quickly.

Most of this development seems to be accelerated when toddlers turn one. Kids of this age also begin to sleep through the night for eight to 12 hours—they will no longer wake up hungry in between. They still need a nap or two every day for healthy growth and development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that toddlers should sleep for a total of 11 to 14 hours every day. Although your child’s active exploration and independence may mean they will resist naps, they will still most likely sleep uninterrupted for most nights.

What Are the Common Diseases Among Babies and Toddlers?

Some illnesses are to be expected in childhood and affect a vast majority of babies and toddlers at some point or another.

Here are the most common childhood conditions:

• Fever
• Cold
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Skin rashes
• Earache
• Asthma
• Bronchiolitis
• Chickenpox
• Measles
• Mumps
• Croup
• Urinary tract infections
• Scarlet fever
• Whooping cough

Caring for a sick baby or toddler can be stressful. Consult your pediatrician for advice on your child’s illness. They will diagnose your child’s condition and prescribe the correct medication and treatment.

What Are the Recommendations for Feeding Babies? 

Babies need constant care and feeding to ensure optimum growth and development. It also lays the foundation for a healthy life for the following decades.

Breastfeeding

During the first six months, breastfeeding is best for babies. Breast milk has a unique blend of nutrients that make it the ideal infant food.

Some of the nutrients in breast milk include:

• Lactose
• Fatty acids
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Amino acids
• Enzymes

Breastfeeding promotes healthy digestion, brain development, and immunity. It protects babies from respiratory and ear infections and other illnesses.

Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding as it reduces the risk of the following illnesses:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Hypertension
• Diabetes

You can continue breastfeeding until your little one is a year old (and even after that if both of you are willing). If you begin the weaning process before your baby is a year old, make sure that you feed it iron-fortified infant formula.

Exclusively or predominantly breastfed babies need to supplement their diets with vitamin D, which is crucial for strong bones. They can easily become deficient in this nutrient, more so during the winter when they get low sun exposure. Babies must get 400 IU of vitamin D every day. Consult your pediatrician and ask if you need to think about supplementation.

Breastfed babies eat more often than formula-fed babies—their meals are spaced out between one and three hours. Be prepared to feed your little one on demand, which should be around eight to 12 times around the clock.

Infant Formula

Infant formula is healthy, safe, and an excellent alternative to breast milk.

Pediatricians may also endorse it for breastfeeding mothers in certain situations:

• Low milk supply
• Sore or painful breasts
• Certain illnesses
• Breast surgery

If you choose infant formula, make sure that your product of choice meets the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) stringent safety standards. It should also contain all the nutrients that your baby needs for optimum health.

Note that formula-fed babies usually don’t need vitamin supplementation—infant formula should have all the essential nutrients they need.

Babies fed with formula may go a little longer between feeding sessions than breastfed babies, around two to four hours.

Soft Foods

Once your baby is six months old (time flies by fast!), you can start feeding them soft foods, such as mashed peas, potatoes, carrots, etc. Once they reach this stage, feed them healthy, nutrient-dense foods. They will hopefully learn to appreciate a wholesome diet at a very early age, laying the foundation for a healthy lifestyle in the future.

What Are the Recommendations for Feeding Toddlers?

Here are some important recommendations for feeding your toddler:

A Regular Diet

Once your child is a year old—officially a toddler—they should join you at the table for meals. This will help them learn what mealtimes are: the opportunity for the family to bond and share food at regular intervals each day. Ensure that your toddler eats different kinds of foods, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, and dairy.

Many toddlers are very picky eaters. Don’t be surprised if your toddler likes a particular food one day and hates it the next; do your best to roll with their moods.

Serve your toddler small portions of different food groups and colorful, flavorful foods so they will enjoy mealtime. Encourage them to enjoy the flavor, color, and texture to develop a lifelong appreciation of food.

Toddler Formula

Toddler formula is a great way to supplement your child’s diet with essential nutrients. It is especially handy for picky eaters who make a fuss about certain foods. It ensures your child gets all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need for their growth and development.

Toddler formula is designed for kids aged 12 to 36 months.

Note that toddler formula should not be your little one’s sole source of nutrition. Use it to complement your child’s transition to a regular diet of healthy solid foods and milk.

Else Nutrition: Something Else, Something Better

If you’re looking for the highest-quality products for your child’s health, check out Else Nutrition. This plant-based toddler formula is organic, non-GMO, dairy-free, soy-free, and chemical-free.

98% of the formula only contains three simple, healthy, and natural ingredients: buckwheat, tapioca, and almond. The remaining 2% is derived from responsibly sourced natural ingredients.

Together, these tolerable and easily digestible ingredients give your toddler all the essential nutrients. There is little to no risk of unpleasant intolerances, sensitivities, and allergies.

Choose a healthy, clean, sustainable toddler formula for your child’s nutritional needs—choose Else Nutrition.