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Productive Parenting

We get it. Parenting is tough. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. Parenting makes you sometimes want to pull your hair out…unless your child has beaten you to the punch on that one. We’ve scoured the web for some tips that may help get you through the day…. productively. Let us know what you think, or if you have some tips to add to the list!

  1. Wake up…earlier!

Everyone knows a morning routine with kids is in no way simple. There are kids to be dressed, teeth to be brushed, breakfast to be made, and sanity to be maintained. Sometimes the key to being productive simply means having time to focus on you before the craziness begins. This might mean a cup of coffee or some reading out of a good book. The choice is yours, but it starts with waking up early to get a head start on the day!

  1. Keep that routine

Structure helps to keep children in order, and a regular routine helps that structure. Kids like to know what to expect and when to expect it. The same can be said for adults, especially adults with small children. Write down the routine in a place where everyone can see it. This way everyone knows what, when, and where they are supposed to be at a given moment!

  1. Presenting a hobby

Sometimes all it takes for you to get your work done is for your child to be kept busy…and to enjoy that source of busyness. Moms can relate in that if your child is restless, sooner or later you will be entertaining that restlessness!  An easy way to avoid this is to find something your child enjoys doing and put that to use! Just like you may have had a go-to-hobby when bored (once upon a time?), give your child that same source of joy. Does your child enjoy instruments? Give them an instrument to play with every day. Interested in painting? Give them a variety of things to paint. Think creatively and out of the box as well!

  1. Bored? Boredom doesn’t exist

What if nothing else is working and you are trying to finish the laundry and the little one walks in whining those dreaded words — the familiar, extended tone of, ‘I’m borreeed.’ These two words carry a lot of meaning. For most parents, it means that your child wants your immediate attention and that whatever you might have been planning for the next hour has just gone out the window. One saying has the potential to break the cycle: “There is no such thing as boredom.” Parents have attested that while these words may seem arbitrary, telling your child this and then going on to instruct them to be productive or use their imagination has actually helped the ‘case of boredom.’ It puts the problem of not having anything ‘fun’ to do directly with the child. Try it out and see for yourself! You might end up being more productive yourself as a result.

  1. The choice is theirs

What if your child is not bored, has finished their activity of the day, and it’s a Saturday off from the usual schedule? You’re cleaning up from lunch and your attention (and only your attention) is required…so much so that it’s hard to finish cleaning the kitchen. Give them a choice: “You can stay and help me do chores, or you can leave and play.” More often than not, you either earn yourself a little helper or you get the job done ten times faster (as your child skips away from responsibility).

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Minnieland Academy provides early childhood education and care for infants through school-age children. We believe in learning in a loving environment.

Founded in 1972 by Chuck and Jackie Leopold, Minnieland Academy has provided Virginia families with the best early childhood education and care for over 40 years. We have over 60 schools that serve infants through school age children, helping them develop in a loving environment. We believe that learning is fun, and our Kid Steps curriculum provides age appropriate education at every level of their growth.

Come visit one of our schools and become part of the Minnieland Academy Family! https://www.minnieland.com

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5 Tips on Keeping Kids Healthy

  1. Set the example

It can be hard for your child to appreciate those carrot sticks when you’re busy emptying the Dorito bag. Remember to set an appropriate example of healthy eating and your child will most likely follow suit.

  1. Working together

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to become the supreme ruler of broccoli and kale. There are delicious recipes out there that are actually healthy and fun to eat. Get some input from the kids and see what kinds of foods they will actually eat on their own.

  1. Cook at home

There is no better way to know what is in your food than to make it yourself. As the chef, you control the recipe and thus the ingredients. There is also no need to keep a lid on the creativity; the sky (or maybe the kitchen) is yours!

  1. Limit snacks

You’ve just finished your five-course meal, (that will no doubt impress the nutritionists out there) but your child just finished scarfing down a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. Turns out that there’s no more room in that belly for your top-notch dinner. Limit the snacks and there is a better chance the little one will be ready to eat at mealtime!

  1. Rethinking the saying: “Finish your plate!”

This is a saying that goes back to the dawn of the dinosaurs, but one should be weary of it. Teach moderation to your children, not just the idea of finishing the helping that they are given. While the idea behind this saying is meant to give you a sense of security that your child is eating enough, it may have a negative impact on their future approach to mealtime.

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Minnieland Academy provides early childhood education and care for infants through school-age children. We believe in learning in a loving environment.

Founded in 1972 by Chuck and Jackie Leopold, Minnieland Academy has provided Virginia families with the best early childhood education and care for over 40 years. We have over 60 schools that serve infants through school age children, helping them develop in a loving environment. We believe that learning is fun, and our Kid Steps curriculum provides age appropriate education at every level of their growth.

Come visit one of our schools and become part of the Minnieland Academy Family! https://www.minnieland.com

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Morning Routines for a Stress Free Start to Your Family’s Day

Mornings set the tone for the whole day.  When you’re balancing your to-do list and getting the kids ready in time for daycare or school, they can be a challenge. What’s the difference between a good and bad morning? It’s simple: having a routine.

The Importance of Routines
Routines are your daily habits – something you do at the same time every day. They provide a sense of consistency and stability in your day because they let you know what you’re supposed to be doing. For kids, the also help them feel secure because they know what’s expected at certain times. Having a routine also fosters cooperation and a sense of independence because it gives them an active role in how their day plays out.

Working with your child to establish a morning routine is important to help them set expectations and follow through with them. Here are some ideas for a smooth morning:

Set a bedtime
Good mornings begin the night before! Making sure everyone has had enough sleep means they’ll be less grumpy when they wake up and more ready to start the day. Even though it’s tempting to let them watch an extra episode of TV or another game, having a consistent bed time will help them know what to start getting ready for bed. Part of that bed time routine can also include getting their backpacks, belongings, and clothing ready for the next day –it’ll be one less thing to do in the morning!

Set a wake-up time
Similar to having a dedicated bed time, making sure to wake up at the same time each day is important in creating routines. Especially if you have multiple family members getting ready in the morning! You can stagger the times so that everyone is able to get ready without fighting over the bathroom.

Create a morning routine chart
This can be a great activity to do together! Talk to your kids about what kinds of tasks and chores need to be done in the morning and get their input on what they want their mornings to look like. Younger kids may need to use pictures so they still know what they need to do before heading off for the day. Some things to include on the morning chart:

  • Brushing teeth
  • Taking a shower
  • Combing hair/ putting on clothes
  • Eating breakfast
  • Double checking backpack and items

Once you’ve planned a morning routine, go through all of the steps with them talking about each one as you run through your morning (in case you need to change or re-order a step). Encourage your child to take ownership of each task to create a sense of independence! It may be easy sometimes to do it for them, but in the long run it will become a part of their routine.

Use the “We-Then” Approach for Not Fun Tasks
While morning routines make getting ready easier, your kids may not like to do some tasks (or will want to jump right ahead to their favorite one). One technique to use is called the “We-Then” approach, brought to us by Amy McCready of Positive Parenting Solutions.

The When-Then technique helps kids stay motivated to get through the “not fun” tasks in the morning by putting them first. They are an incentive for their favorite activity, like a delicious breakfast, which can only be done after they’ve completed everything else.

Figure out which part of your routine your child loves (picking out clothes, breakfast, etc.) and make it conditional on the other tasks being finished. For example, if your child loves eating cereal for breakfast, you can explain that “WHEN you have made your bed, brushed your teeth, and have been dressed, THEN you can have cereal for breakfast”    . It’s important to stay consistent with the approach so they learn that all the morning tasks need to be done.

With a solid routine, mornings can run smoothly and set the tone for a great day ahead! Work with your children to create their own routine and watch them take ownership of their day.

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Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Veterans Day

Did you know why it’s always celebrated on November 11th?

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, in the 11th month, the armistice to end World War I (known then as the Great War) was signed in 1918. The next year, President Wilson declared an Armistice Day to honor those who fought in the war. In 1971, President Nixon changed it to Veterans Day to honor the veterans of all wars.

Veterans Day is a great time to give thanks and support to our family, friends, and community members who work to keep our country safe. It’s not just another day off, but a day to show some gratitude during the month of November.  Have your kids join you in thanking them for providing us our freedom and rights. It’s a great way to teach them that you’re never too young to help.

Here are some ways to get your children involved and give thanks to a Veteran:

  1. Observe a moment of silence at 11 am: it’s a great time to reflect and silently remember those who served and the sacrifices they have made
  2. Make a donation to an armed forced affiliated non-profit: there are a variety of local and national organizations that help veterans and their families. Find one and get involved- whether through volunteering, financial donations, or items they are in need of
  3. Many restaurants and businesses offer Veterans Day discount to military family members. If your family is included, enjoy a treat from the community. If you see a veteran in a restaurant, offer to buy their meal for them
  4. Thank a veteran: Even a simple “Thank You” can go a long way
  5. Visit a local VA/military hospital with your family and draw pictures or write thank you cards. Ask them about their service experience and spend some time listening to their stories. It’s a great way to connect and show appreciation for their sacrifices
  6. Educate your children about the meaning of Veterans Day and how it honors all members of military – those who have served, and those who are currently serving.
  7. Visit one of Virginia’s many national cemeteries and volunteer to place flags on the headstones. You can also choose a soldier to learn more about their life and pay tribute to them. This is also a great tradition to continue every year.

While Veterans Day is a special day set aside, the best thing you can do is to remember our Veterans all year long and find ways to support them. If you’re a service member who’s reading this, THANK YOU from Minnieland Academy!

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Vavada – Idealne Kasyno dla Polskich Graczy

Vavada to jedno z najpopularniejszych kasyn online, które przyciąga polskich graczy swoim wyjątkowym podejściem, szeroką ofertą gier oraz atrakcyjnymi bonusami. Kasyno to zdobyło uznanie dzięki dbałości o potrzeby użytkowników, wysokim standardom bezpieczeństwa oraz możliwości szybkich i wygodnych transakcji. W artykule przyjrzymy się, co wyróżnia Vavada, od oferty gier, poprzez opcje bonusowe, aż po metody płatności i wsparcie klienta.

Bogata Oferta Gier w Vavada

Vavada to kasyno, które doskonale rozumie, jak ważna jest różnorodność dla graczy. Dlatego oferuje bogatą bibliotekę gier, która spełnia oczekiwania zarówno miłośników automatów, jak i klasycznych gier stołowych. Vavada współpracuje z renomowanymi dostawcami oprogramowania, dzięki czemu gracze mają dostęp do najwyższej jakości produkcji.

  1. Automaty do Gier – Vavada zapewnia szeroki wybór automatów online, od klasycznych po nowoczesne video sloty. Gracze znajdą tu popularne tytuły, takie jak Book of Dead, Starburst, czy Gonzo’s Quest, które oferują wciągającą rozgrywkę z darmowymi spinami, symbolami specjalnymi i dodatkowymi funkcjami.
  2. Gry Stołowe – Fani tradycyjnych gier kasynowych będą zachwyceni wyborem klasycznych gier, takich jak blackjack, ruletka, baccarat i poker. Kasyno oferuje również różne warianty tych gier, dostosowane do różnych poziomów zaawansowania graczy.
  3. Gry na Żywo – Vavada oferuje także gry na żywo, które umożliwiają graczom interakcję z prawdziwymi krupierami. W tej sekcji można znaleźć takie gry jak ruletka, blackjack czy baccarat, transmitowane na żywo w wysokiej jakości, co zapewnia realistyczne i wciągające wrażenia.

Bonusy i Promocje w Vavada

Bonusy to jeden z największych atutów Vavada, który przyciąga zarówno nowych, jak i stałych graczy. Kasyno oferuje różnorodne promocje, które zwiększają szanse na wygraną i sprawiają, że rozgrywka staje się jeszcze bardziej emocjonująca.

  • Bonus Powitalny – Vavada oferuje atrakcyjny bonus powitalny dla nowych graczy, który zwykle obejmuje bonus od pierwszej wpłaty oraz darmowe spiny. Dzięki temu gracze mogą rozpocząć swoją przygodę z dodatkowym kapitałem, co zwiększa ich szanse na wygraną.
  • Regularne Promocje i Darmowe Spiny – Dla stałych graczy Vavada przygotowuje regularne promocje, w tym darmowe spiny oraz bonusy od kolejnych depozytów. Takie promocje motywują graczy do aktywnej gry i sprawiają, że zabawa w kasynie staje się jeszcze bardziej atrakcyjna.
  • Program VIP – Vavada posiada również program VIP, który nagradza najbardziej lojalnych graczy ekskluzywnymi nagrodami, wyższymi limitami wypłat oraz dedykowanym wsparciem klienta. W miarę awansowania na wyższe poziomy VIP, gracze zyskują dostęp do jeszcze bardziej atrakcyjnych korzyści.

Bezpieczeństwo i Uczciwość w Vavada

Vavada przykłada dużą wagę do bezpieczeństwa swoich graczy. Kasyno posiada licencję z Curacao, co oznacza, że spełnia surowe standardy regulacyjne i działa zgodnie z prawem. Wszystkie transakcje i dane graczy są chronione dzięki technologii SSL, która szyfruje wszystkie wrażliwe informacje, zapobiegając ich kradzieży lub nieautoryzowanemu dostępowi.

Dodatkowo Vavada dba o uczciwość gier, współpracując z renomowanymi dostawcami, których oprogramowanie jest regularnie testowane pod kątem losowości wyników. Dzięki temu gracze mogą być pewni, że każda rozgrywka jest sprawiedliwa.

Wygodne Metody Płatności

Dla graczy z Polski Vavada oferuje szeroki wybór metod płatności, które są nie tylko wygodne, ale i bezpieczne. Gracze mogą korzystać z tradycyjnych kart kredytowych, e-portfeli oraz kryptowalut, takich jak Bitcoin, co zapewnia pełną elastyczność i wygodę.

  1. Karty Kredytowe i Debetowe – Popularne metody płatności, takie jak Visa i Mastercard, są dostępne w Vavada, umożliwiając szybkie i bezpieczne transakcje.
  2. E-portfele – Dla graczy preferujących bardziej nowoczesne metody, dostępne są opcje takie jak Skrill, Neteller i ecoPayz, które gwarantują szybkie przetwarzanie wypłat.
  3. Kryptowaluty – Vavada akceptuje również płatności kryptowalutowe, co jest idealnym rozwiązaniem dla graczy poszukujących anonimowości i bezpieczeństwa.

Dostępność na Urządzeniach Mobilnych

Vavada kasyno jest w pełni dostosowane do urządzeń mobilnych, co sprawia, że gracze mogą cieszyć się swoimi ulubionymi grami na smartfonach i tabletach. Mobilna wersja kasyna działa płynnie na systemach iOS i Android, a wszystkie funkcje dostępne na komputerze są również dostępne w wersji mobilnej. Dzięki temu gracze mogą grać w dowolnym miejscu i czasie, nie rezygnując z jakości ani wygody.

Obsługa Klienta

Vavada oferuje profesjonalne wsparcie klienta dostępne przez całą dobę. Gracze mogą kontaktować się z zespołem wsparcia poprzez:

  • Czat na żywo – Najszybszy sposób na uzyskanie pomocy. Czat jest dostępny przez całą dobę, a konsultanci szybko odpowiadają na wszelkie pytania.
  • E-mail – W przypadku mniej pilnych spraw gracze mogą skorzystać z kontaktu e-mailowego, a zespół wsparcia odpowie tak szybko, jak to możliwe.

Dlaczego Warto Wybrać Vavada?

Vavada to kasyno stworzone z myślą o polskich graczach, które oferuje wszystko, czego można oczekiwać od nowoczesnej platformy hazardowej. Dzięki szerokiej ofercie gier, hojnym bonusom, bezpiecznym metodom płatności i profesjonalnemu wsparciu, kasyno zapewnia wysokiej jakości doświadczenie. Niezależnie od tego, czy grasz na komputerze, czy na urządzeniu mobilnym, Vavada gwarantuje płynną rozgrywkę i pełne zadowolenie.

Dzięki licznym promocjom, wygodnym płatnościom i wyjątkowej obsłudze klienta, Vavada stało się jednym z najlepszych wyborów dla polskich graczy online.

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How to Identify If Your Child Is Being Bullied

 

Bullying can have long-lasting effects on a person’s life, and in recent years, it has intensified due to the internet. It is painful even to adults to be on the receiving end of hurtful words and actions, so can you imagine how a child feels when they are made to feel inferior during their formative years?

Parents and teachers both need to be alert when it comes to detecting bullying. Bullied children often don’t say anything about the emotional or physical abuse they experience because they are afraid or embarrassed. So, it is up to adults to be vigilant enough to detect when something isn’t right, so they can minimize, and hopefully prevent, the effects of bullying.

The first step is to be more aware of the signs that could indicate your child is being bullied. Here are some common characteristics bullied children display:

  • Often lose their things in school, parks, or other places where they are around other children. This could indicate things are being stolen from them.
  • May have a sudden drop in grades.
  • Have visible cuts and bruises on their bodies that seem to lack explanation.
  • Low self-confidence.
  • Often appear lonely or have a sudden withdrawal from people.
  • May have few friends at school.
  • Often complain of sickness to avoid going to school.
  • Have a change in attitude or behavior.
  • Do not want to join other classmates in activities.
  • Do not want to ride the bus with their classmates.
  • Resist going to school.
  • Do not eat well.
  • Do not sleep well or may even cry at night or in their sleep.
  • Wetting in bed.

If you have identified signs, it’s time to take action. Talk with other parents and teachers to address your concerns and find the root cause of the bullying. Keep in mind that every bully has some sort of insecurity, pain, or sadness they bear, so they take it on others. If you can help address those problems and build a support group for all of the children, bullying can be minimized.

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Mistakes to Avoid When it Comes to Disciplining Your Child

However, as much as we know guidance and discipline are important to our children, there are instances when we may actually be doing it improperly. Here are some examples below to be aware of:

  • Yelling at them – Yelling happens, but of course it is not ideal as it can cause our children to fear us. Yelling can convey to our children that we are not listening to their frustrations and encourage shouting as a way to enforce will versus talking through things. As a result, kids can actually become
    more rebellious. Talking through why you are upset, or why a behavior is bad helps to teach cause-and-effect and reasoning skills.
  • Nagging – Do you want to repeat yourself over and over again? Do you love hearing someone repeat themselves over and over again? Neither do your children. Nagging will only frustrate you and encourage your children to tune you out. Creating a system of warnings and results if your requests are not met is another great way of teaching cause-and-effect to your children. For example, “If Mommy has to ask you to do something 3 times, X will happen because you did not listen.”
  • Giving in instantly – What’s the use of setting rules only to bend them? Kids learn pretty quickly how we work, and can get very good at outsmarting us! If you always give in to them whenever they whine or cry. There is really no point of putting effort into discipline. Your children will only find a way to break the rules. Hold fast, even when the crocodile tears start to well up.
  • Expecting a lot from your children – Kids will be kids and since they only know and experience a little, they will stumble along the way. Expecting too much from them will only discourage them and can make them overly cautious and guarded for fear of disappointing you. Be realistic and understand the limitations of your children. Work with them to encourage them – and of course, reward positive behavior when it occurs, and tell them why.
  • Becoming inconsistent – Are you allowing them to slide once in a while? It may seem “kind” for parents to let the kids slide from time to time, but doing so will only make them realize that it is okay to make mistakes or not follow the rules if they feel they can get a mulligan.
  • Being negative – Excessive negativity can have a powerful impact on the development of your child. Be mindful of the words you use. Instead of focusing on negative reinforcement for bad behavior, use positive reinforcement for good behavior. Kids love praise from their parents – just be sure to explain the ‘why’ as children are inquisitive by nature while they work on figuring out how the world around them works.