Saturday, October 28, 2017

CoffeeUSA.com Review

So if I were still an office manager like I was back in the day before having kids, I would hit up Coffee.org (merged with another company to form CoffeeUSA.com) for sure for coffee and supplies for the office! They recently sent me over a huge box of different coffee to try out and my family is IMPRESSED!


COFFEE HEAVEN!
I loved every variety of coffee I received, and I am actually pretty picky. Everything was amazing black (my husband can vouch for that), but also with cream and sugar, which is how I take it and have since I started drinking coffee in 1987 when I got my first job as a waitress at Waid's restaurant in Fairway, Kansas!

You've got to check out the website and stock up!

The Top 5 Benefits of Gardening With Kids

Please enjoy this guest post today while I'm moving to our dream house in the country! And stay tuned for our adventures in the country starting a garden from scratch!


We all know that being outside brings plenty of health benefits to us all, and we know that gardening is seen as being therapeutic. Both of these are good for adults, yet gardening has benefits for kids to help them develop as well as become healthier.

You do not have to be a green-fingered gardening genius; you can be a complete novice. Being in the garden with your kids can benefit the both of you.

Engaging the Senses
We all know how curious kids are, they ask questions and run around looking and playing with things. When gardening kids can touch and feel the dirt as they plant seeds, they can see the many different colors of the flowers and the vegetables. Kids can hear sounds as they harvest the ripe vegetables. They also smell the various aromas of the vegetables and herbs that surround them.
All their senses will be used, and they go on to learn all the different concepts that go along with gardening. As well as these senses they can enhance their fine motor skills as they help. From scooping earth and placing it pots with the seeds, to watering the pots. It all helps them develop motor skills which will help them in other areas when they are older.

Different Concepts
Gardening is one of the best ways to introduce the concept of science to kids if nothing else their curiosity will be put to the test. Gardening is not a one trick pony when it comes to the scientific concepts on offer. It covers a full range of chemistry, biology, and botany.

From that first seed they plant, kids will be curious about what happens to the seeds. They will eagerly monitor the progress of the plant as the seed germinates and grows larger. This is an excellent way for them to learn necessary steps of a scientific process without them realizing it.

When kids become older, they quickly determine the effects of water on sunlight and how it affects all the seeds they have planted. Your kids will be exposed to a full science class without ever leaving the garden.

Responsibility and the Environment
When you are outside gardening with your kids, they start to understand how important it is to take care of the environment. Once they want their vegetables to become big and strong, it opens the door for a long conversation how and why pollution, recycling, and pesticides affect us all.

Once your kids have filled their pots and planted their seeds, they now know they will have to tend to them on a regular basis. As they check and water their plants as necessary, they start to become more responsible for their actions.

To help them on their way, you can create a simple checklist for them to make sure they do as they should on a regular basis.

Patience, Planning, and Organization
Regular gardeners know about planning and organizing a garden, and they also know it can be a time-consuming process with a little artistic license thrown in. Understanding vegetable growing times, from planting seeds, to harvest time. It all helps kids to become involved with their planning and problem-solving skills.

Not only will they be able to enhance their organizational strategies from an earlier age. It will also teach them the importance of patience. We all know that young kids seek instant gratification and can get bored very quickly. Once they see something happening with their vegetables, they will learn to become more patient. As they become excited watching their vegetables grow, kids will see not everything has to be right there and then.

Healthy Eating
This is the one thing that all parents would be happy with when kids help with their vegetable garden plants. All parents know how important it is for kids to eat healthily, yet getting them to do this is somewhat more difficult. The good news is that kids are more likely to eat something they have grown. They no longer see cabbage and broccoli as something you are forcing them to eat. Now they have a sense of pride and achievement for everything they have grown or helped to produce.

Kids will have at last helped to create something, and they will understand how important healthy eating is for their growth. All you have to do is be prepared for the dinner table, and your kids say “can you pass the carrots please, Mom.”


BIO: Tim Graham is the YardandGardenGuru.com where he writes about his passions in life getting outdoors, gardening, yard care and his family.


Surviving A Breakup: Self-Care Tips That Will Get You Through

Going through a breakup is one of the toughest things you can do in life. When you first start dating, relationships may not mean that much. But when you find somebody you think you could spend the rest of your life with, everything changes. If you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, you’re married, or you have children, it may feel like the world is crashing down. Nobody can bounce back immediately, but with time, you can muddle through. Here are some self-care tips that will help to cope with the aftermath of relationship breakdown.



Coming to terms with the situation
One of the hardest things to do is to come to terms with the situation you’re facing. Just last week, you may have thought everything was fine and dandy. And now, a few days later, you’re facing an uncertain future. The nature of the breakup can also make it difficult to face up to what has happened. Perhaps your partner has sprung the decision on you out of the blue. Maybe you discovered they were dating other people. Or maybe it was you who made the decision, and now you’re wondering whether it was the right thing to do.

With any life-changing situation, it takes time to get your head around what has happened. It’s sometimes impossible to process so much information in a short space of time. You may have hundreds of questions running through your mind or an endless stream of thoughts.

If there are issues that are up in the air, try and seek closure as soon as possible. Some couples make a clean break while others have a chance of reconciliation lingering in the air. Being in no man’s land can be confusing and upsetting, especially if you want different things. Be honest and open with each other, and make a decision either way. Once you know where you stand, you can start to move forwards, even if you just start with baby steps.

If you plan to meet up with your partner, take a list of questions or comments with you. This will help to ensure that you say everything you want to say at the time. In the heat of the moment, it can be hard to remember what you wanted to ask. You don’t want to go away afterwards and suddenly remember important questions. Be prepared to get answers you don’t want to hear. It may be hurtful, but it’s always best to hear the truth.



Dealing with emotions
When you break up with somebody, you’re likely to experience a whole spectrum of emotions. You may feel desperately sad one day and incredibly angry the next. You might feel vulnerable, confused or betrayed. You may be scared of being alone or worried about telling other people. It’s normal to feel all these emotions, so don’t try and suppress them or ignore them. For many people, splitting up is like a grieving process. You had plans, you had a future, and now that’s in jeopardy. You thought you loved somebody, and now everything is different. It’s understandable to feel distressed, upset, and frustrated.

People deal with emotions in different ways. Some will lock themselves away and cry for days on end. Others will bottle everything up and put on a brave face. Some people will scream and shout. Others will look to friends and family for comfort and advice. There’s no right or wrong way to cope after a breakup. But if you can, try and get things off your chest as soon as you feel ready. If you keep things to yourself, they can bubble away for months, and they may come to a head.

Talking can be really therapeutic because it enables you to get what’s going through your mind out in the open. Some of us feel more comfortable talking to the people that know us best. For others, it’s much easier to open up to somebody we don’t know. If this sounds familiar, you may be interested in having some therapy sessions.



If you struggle to get your feelings across, try other outlets. Some people find it beneficial to write things down. If you have questions swirling around your mind, or you can’t switch off, write down exactly what you’re thinking. If you can’t do this, try painting or drawing. Expressive activities give you that canvas to work with and provide you with the freedom to fill it with whatever you want.

Exercise is a very effective means of tackling negative thoughts and getting rid of frustration, tension, and anger. There are lots of different activities you can try from running or playing tennis to kickboxing or martial arts. Working out is a constructive way to deal with your emotions, and it also provides a cathartic release. When you come out of a session, you’ll feel much better and stronger.



Sorting out the practicalities
When you’ve built a life with somebody, you won’t just experience emotional stress and sadness when it all falls down. There are also practical considerations to bear in mind. You don’t need to rush into seeing a family law attorney right away. But it’s wise to tackle practical issues before they start to get on top of you and cause you more stress. If you have children or you own a home or business together, there are important implications to consider. You may want to apply for custody of the children or a share of funds generated from sales. If you’re married, and you’re sure that the relationship is over, you may wish to file for a divorce.

Coping with the fallout of breaking up can be incredibly tough, especially when children are involved. During this time, make sure you have the best legal team and people around you to support you. Your representatives will do all they can to get you the best settlement. But you’ll also need friends and family there to reassure you, and help you get through difficult days.



Search for the silver lining
The saying goes that every cloud has a silver lining. It may take you a long time to find the positives, but there are bound to be some. It’s never as easy as simply saying to yourself that you need to think positively. There may be days when you feel that you’re never going to be happy again. But there will be a time when you can identify advantages of your new situation. Being alone can be scary. But it can also open new doors. Be brave, and when you’re ready, start embracing this new opportunity. Spend your time doing what you want. Catch up with friends or make an effort to make new ones. Go traveling to those places you always wanted to visit or take the plunge with a business idea you’ve been mulling over. A fresh start can be daunting, but it’s also a very exciting time.



Look forwards not backwards
When you’ve been with somebody for a long time, it can be very difficult to think about a future without them. It’s much easier to dwell on the past and think about what went wrong. It’s beneficial to identify problems that lead to the breakup. But once you’ve processed this information, move on. It’s not healthy to spend your time obsessing about the past. Start looking forwards. It can be confusing, and you may wonder what on earth you’re going to do with your time. However, it can also be refreshing. Write yourself a list of goals. What do you want to achieve in the next few months? Do you want to look for a new job or find a new home? Do you want to book a vacation with the girls or learn a new language? Are you keen to get back to the gym after a break or join a local sports team? The world is your oyster, and now is the time for you to take control and make decisions. Surround yourself with people who care about you, and have fun. Take on new challenges and do things that make you happy. Gradually, you’ll build confidence, and gain a new lease for life. Time can be a miraculous healer.


When you break up with somebody, it can be incredibly tough to imagine a day when you feel happy again. The good news is that you will heal, and you will move on. The bad news is that it can take a long time. Everyone is different, and we all respond to life’s curve balls in different ways. Take your time to process what’s happened, and keep a network of friends and relatives close by. Get the answers you want, and try and deal with your emotions in a constructive way. Be kind to yourself. When you’re ready, start to look forwards, and don’t dwell in the past. Spend time with people you love doing things that make you smile. Eventually, you’ll realize that every cloud does have a silver lining.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Make Extra Money For The Holiday Season With These Apps

The McKids, Christmas 2013

We are living in the mobile age, and from useful tools to photo editing to generating extra income there really is an app for everything. Given that we carry our smartphones with us everywhere including the bathroom for some, why not make use of them in your down-time to earn a bit extra every month? Although you're not going to get rich quick there is money to be made usually in the form of cash or vouchers and there’s a huge variety of methods to chose from such as blogging, online trading, freelance writing to name a few, read on to hear about some more in detail...

Survey and Task-based Apps
Surveys are a staple of armchair income, allowing you to use the web and complete questionnaires for prizes. Now you can use your smartphone both to survey form your browser, or directly through mobile apps. Next time you’re on your lengthy commute, why not keep your mind stimulated with questions to compile points for cash? Here’s a rundown of the top picks in survey apps.
  • Swagbucks is a mainstay for iOS and Android survey users, offering points for completing surveys and polls, watching advertorials, shopping, playing games and more. You can earn points from referrals and there are multiple rewards and bonuses to be won. You typically earn 50 cents (70 Swagbucks) per survey.
  • i-Say is a popular app system which offers you points for finishing surveys. With prizes of up to $13 in Amazon vouchers typically won a month, you can earn between 7 cents and $2.30 for a single survey.
  • Qustodian is a great little app that allows you to earn money by viewing adverts. Simply download the app and create a profile of your interests; Qustodian then forward you adverts to watch and questions to answer. It pays both via PayPal and direct to your bank account in multiples of $13.
  • Google Opinion Rewards. This one is more restricted, but if you are using an Android device, here you can earn Google Play credit for answering simple weekly questions. Surveys are very short and sweet, with the equivalent of 8-80 cents earned per answer.
  • Toluna is another app for taking surveys. It features a healthy community of users and a rewards scheme that offers some 15 points per one-question task. With a range of gift cards and sweepstakes, you can slowly earn money over time, with a $46 PayPal voucher costing 185,000 points.


Re-sale
Selling on the go in now so much easier; from eBay to Gumtree, there are innumerable apps that allow you to compile and sell your unneeded belongings online as you commute or lounge at home. Local Facebook groups and the app-based Facebook Marketplace, however, really allow you to make the most of your second-hand items. With no fees, you get all the profits where other apps take a slice of both your sale and p&p.

Market Research
  • Field Agent is a unique app which allows you to mystery shop from your smartphone. By completing short tasks such as checking stock availability online, you can earn up to $7 on the go in one task. The mystery shopper feature also allows you to experience and rate anything from products to pubs for free! It is competitive of course, but if you enjoy the idea of being a "secret" agent, it's worth signing up in case big tasks — and big rewards — come up.
  • Streetspotr is an app that pays you for market research, or "treasure hunts". The tasks pay roughly $7 each and involve everything from photographing supermarket displays to checking menus in cafes or restaurants. If you are already out walking the high street, simply load up the app for a chance to earn rewards.
  • Task 360 is another research task app, allowing you to help companies solve logistical problems - from informing sat nav companies about new road directions, to checking if a public poster advertisement is viewable. It pays about $7-$13 for 15 minutes recon work and is best accessed before 9am


Job Spotting

Job Spotter is another unique in-app experience for earning extra money. Launched by job site Indeed, it rewards you for taking pictures of job vacancies you see in windows along your commute. They pay you in Amazon vouchers rather than cash, but it all adds up!

Back to School ... as an Adult

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Many of us don’t have clue what we want out of life when we’re young. Some people forgo higher education altogether, whilst others may study the wrong subjects because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Either way, it can be frustrating looking back and wishing you had chosen a different path.


Fortunately, it’s never too late to go back and study. There are now courses open to all ages. The only obstacle may be that you’ve now got commitments and funds to consider. Here’s how you can negotiate going back to school as an adult and get the education you’ve always wanted.


Have a clear goal


On top of deciding which course you want to take, you should have a valid reason as to why you want to take it. Will it set you up with a specific career? Is it simply a personal challenge? Either one is a valid reason, just make sure you know which one you’re doing it for. If you’re looking to follow a specific a career, you may want to consider a specific course related to that career - now, is not the time to choose something general that will open up your options. If it’s a personal challenge, feel free to take on any course you want. It could be something you already have a keen interest in, or something that’s always troubled you that you want to conquer such a Maths A level or an English GCSE.


Work out how to fund your studies


You’ll need to fund your studies and still be able to fund everyday life. You could save up money through work, or as most people do – take out a loan. In many countries, mature students are still allowed to take out a student loan like everyone else. For pre-graduate qualifications, there may be grants. You may even be able to start a fundraising campaign on a site like Kickstarter. There are even pay-as-you-go methods when it comes to college and university fees – if you’re working alongside studying, you may be able to more easily pay off your fees than in huge tri-annual payments.


Consider online courses


Online courses allow you to work from any location, meaning you don’t have to visit a campus or college and attend lectures and seminars. This can work well for many people with commitments such as a job or a family as it offers the flexibility to study when and where you want. It also gives you a huge selection of courses to choose from around the world opening up your options when finding the best course for you.


You can do all kinds of courses online these days. You can even get a nursing BSN to MSN online. If you do choose one of these online methods, be careful to not take on too much at once. Doing a full time job and a degree at the same time is possible, but not easy. You may be better off taking on less work or waiting until kids are in school.


Consider low-cost programs


Some universities and colleges around the world are now bringing in low-cost programmes for older students that can make getting an education more feasible. These may only be available at select institutions, so your options may be more limited.


There are also sponsored courses, which some companies may offer. These may be offered to new applicants as an incentive to join the company afterwards or they may be a reward for older employees to help boost their skillset. These will likely only be short courses and small qualifications, but could still be valuable. That said, you should only really do this if you really want to work for the company offering this course.


Another option could be an accelerated course, which may be completed in a shorter period of time. These are sometimes cheaper because they are shorter, but may involve having to cram in information at a faster rate than a standard course. If you think you can handle such a course, this could be a good option, allowing you get the qualification you need fast. However, if you’re not a fast learner, you may find such a course too difficult. You may be able to ask the people taking the course on their recommendations.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Are You Trying to Rent a Home in a Foreign Country? Consider These 4 Tips Before Signing Your Lease


Are you planning to move to singapore? Each year, thousands of people make a move to a new country looking for job opportunities or a new start. While moving can be very exciting, a lot of work will need to go into planning out this process. One of the main things you need to be concerned with when moving to a new country is finding the right housing. Usually, there will be no shortage of options when it comes to homes and apartments to rent in a new country. Without a bit of time and research, you face the risk of making serious mistakes. Below are some of the things you should think about before renting a home or apartment in a new country.

1. Start Your Search Online
Getting an idea of what type of housing is available in a particular country is easy with the use of a powerful search engine like Google. By searching for long term rentals in a particular country, you should be able to get list of available properties. Before going any further with a particular property, you will need to take the time to properly vet the company with the listing. Taking the time to do a bit of research will allow you to figure out whether or not a particular real estate company is legitimate or not. Failing to do your homework before dealing with a particular real estate can lead to a number of problems and may lead to you being scammed.

2. Avoid Paying For a Rental Sight Unseen
If you are looking for a home or apartment to rent in a foreign, you have to avoid paying for it sight unseen. Unfortunately, there are a variety of scams out there involving real estate rentals. If you pay for a property without looking at it first, you are putting yourself in a very compromised position. Before making a decision regarding where you are going to move, you need to plan a few trips to the country in question. Not only will this provide you with an opportunity to get a feel for the country itself, you will also be able to look at the various rentals. Getting this type of firsthand look will allow you to decide which housing options in your new country is the right fit for your particular needs.

3. Call Vacation Rental Companies
In some cases, finding rental properties in a new country can be a bit difficult. If you are having a hard time finding a home, then you may want to contact a vacation rental company in the country in question. Oftentimes, these companies will have a number of long-term rentals they can offer. Contacting a variety of different companies is the best way to keep your options open. The amount of time and effort that is put into this research process will be more than worth it when you are able to find the right rental property.

4. Read Over the Lease Carefully Before Signing It
Once you have found a property that you want to rent, make sure to read over the lease agreement carefully. The last thing you want is to get wrapped in a long-term lease with a variety of stipulations. If the contract is written in a foreign language, you should find a translator to work with. By doing this, you can get to the bottom of what the lease is and whether or not you need to sign it. Rushing through the lease signing process will generally lead to a variety of mistakes being made. Rather than regretting this decision later on, you should work hard to understand everything that is in a lease agreement before signing off on it.



Working with real estate professionals in a new country is a great way to find the best properties available. Research each of the agencies available to you is the only way to ensure the right choice is made. 

TV package options to keep all the family entertained

Watching the Kansas City Royals play 2015.

It may now seem like a distant memory, but it was only around 15 years ago when most of the country only had access to five TV channels. Nowadays, most of us expect access to hundreds of hours of on-demand family entertainment whenever we require it. While this explosion in choice is welcome, it does make choosing the right family entertainment package a little trickier than ever before. Many broadband packages are now bundled with subscription TV products - these solutions can provide excellent value, but with thousands of individual packages now available, how can you be sure that you're choosing the right one?

That's why we've put together this guide to some of the best family entertainment options out there. Read on and we promise you'll find something to keep your loved ones entertained this Christmas and beyond.

Do you have the need for speed?

Many of the TV package options that we'll be discussing are delivered over your broadband connection. That means that you'll need fast internet service in order to make the most of them. A fiber service is the best option but, unfortunately, fiber is not available in all areas. A good comparison website such as Broadband Choices will be able to let you know what services are available in your part of the country. Just enter your ZIP code and telephone number to see the results.

The big two: Sky and Virgin Media

When you think of subscription TV companies, you probably think of Virgin Media and Sky. The cable and satellite operators used to have total dominance over the industry, but the emergence of a number of upstarts like EE and TalkTalk TV as well as the explosion of Netflix has made life a little trickier for these two players in recent years. The good news for customers is that this means that much lower prices are available. It's now possible to get a great family entertainment package that includes movies and a galaxy of kids' channels for under £50 a month including your broadband and line rental.

If you go with Sky, you may be able to take advantage of Sky Q, which allows you and your kids to watch the programmes you've recorded on tablets in the house and out and about. Trust us, we're sure this will be a very popular option with the little ones. Virgin Media, on the other hand, will be able to offer you their latest TiVo box which gets to know the programmes you love and offers Netflix support.

The other options

TV options from the other major providers such as EE, BT and TalkTalk are a good compromise between the cost of Sky and dumping your TV altogether and going with Netflix. They'll still allow you to watch live TV on channels like BBC One, ITV and Sky One but they also come with a huge on-demand library. All of these services offer Freeview Plus functionality which allows you to pause, rewind and record around a hundred of the most popular TV channels straight to the hard drive of the device. Most also support Netflix and other popular streaming services like BBC iPlayer and the ITV Hub.

Cutting the cord

If you feel you can live without any live TV then you could save a bundle by only taking a subscription to Netflix or NowTV. Netflix's library of content continues to grow every month and there's now a substantial library of kids' movies and TV shows. Don't forget that some shows do expire so you do risk your little ones' favourite show suddenly being unavailable one morning. Sky's NowTV service has recently launched a kids service that allows you to enjoy several of the biggest kids' TV channels and a whole library of on demand content for well under £10 a month.

The range of on-demand TV options is changing all the time and every month brings more options for keeping the family entertained. Hopefully, we've cut through some of the jargon and confusion and you'll find one of the options we've discussed will be perfect for you and your family during the holiday season and beyond.

Monday, October 23, 2017

How to Reconnect With Your Teen

A little vacation or getaway is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your teen ... and other kids as well!
When the kids are little, you almost look forward to the teenage years. Parenting a baby or toddler is tough. They need you, for everything, all of the time and it can be overwhelming. You long for the days of them being able to do things for themselves and growing into their own independence.
Yet, when it comes, it brings its own challenges. 

Parenting never really gets any easier, it just changes. Teenagers today are faced with insurmountable pressures at school and from their peers. They feel they need to look and act a certain way to fit in, they are inundated with pictures of beautiful people online, with perfect lives that they need to emulate. It can all get too much. The pressures of being a teenager, as well as hormonal changes, can lead to negative behaviors and mood and quite suddenly your once lovely child that needed you, is someone that you don’t quite know how to be around. 

But, having a positive relationship with their parents can help them negotiate their teenage years without issue as well as enriching your own life. Here are some great tips to help you to reconnect with your babies.

Go for a Walk

We complain that our children spend too much time on phones and tablets. But, if we're completely honest, this is something that most of us are guilty of. Try to go on regular family walks and impose a tech ban on this time. Being outdoors, away from real life can sometimes be all it takes to get them to open up to you again.

Start a Hobby Together

Teenagers have a habit of thinking that they are alone in their feelings and that they are the first person to have them. Starting a new hobby, something that you can share and do together is a great way of bridging that gap. You could build a website together or try a new exercise. Try to make it something that neither of you has any experience in so you can have fun learning together.

Take a Break

Taking a vacation is the best way to escape from the real world and leave your troubles behind. Visit Zion National Park Hotel for a relaxing break away from all of your stresses. Spend some time exploring nature, playing games and eating together as a family.

Try to Keep in Touch

The passions, interests and even vocabulary of youth seem to change all of the time, and it’s certainly very different from when you were younger. Try to keep in touch with what your children like and who they are. Ask them about things and show a genuine interest. They’ll love getting to teach you something for a change.

Trust Them

Trust is a big thing for teenagers. Showing that you trust them will help your relationship massively. But, make sure there are clear rules and boundaries and consequences if they break them.

Parenting a teenager can be difficult, there’s no denying that. But, it can also be great fun. As they approach adulthood, family time together will be limited. Enjoy it while you can. 

Today I trusted my son to drive himself and my daughter to homeschool co-op and home!!!

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Tips for Harmonious Traveling With Kids During the Holidays


Traveling with kids can be a challenge, to say the least, especially on holidays. Factoring a child’s needs into your travels involve a lot more than bringing in lots of snacks and making toilet stops.
In this article, we’ll provide real-life advice on travelling with kids in tow so you can enjoy your holidays without all the unnecessary fuss.
Give extra time. Whether you’re at the airport, sightseeing or getting from one place to another, you need to take your time. Kids love to explore and don’t actually care for the time pressure when travelling, so accept it to retain your cool. Factor in the gawping, faffing, stalling, and occasional tantrums into the timeframe.
Book ahead of time. It pays to book ahead whether you’re staying in hotels or camping. You cannot retain the spontaneity of travelling that you had before having children. Oftentimes you’ll find yourself in situations like arriving at your destination with tired, hungry kids melting down in the backseat.
Provide them with a camera. Providing your kids with their own user-friendly and robust camera encourages them to observe their environment and focus on what interests them. It also preoccupies their time and gives them the chance to appreciate your travels more. You’ll be surprised at the results from their view of things. Rocks, ants, random animal poo, gutters. Awesome!
Prepare for any climate. This may be a simple advice, but children dressed comfortably for both weather and terrain will enjoy their environment better. With all the gear available, there’s actually no excuse for kids using suits that are ill-fitting.
Use apps to your advantage. There’s little need to cram toy boxes into hand luggage when travelling wherever. Simple bring with you a tablet and download loads of apps and games for in-flight or on-road entertainment. Just remember to set rules and it’ll be a comfy ride for everyone.
Bring medicine. Whether they’re jet-lagged, eating less healthily or having runny nose due to the change in climate, kids always seem to catch illness during holidays. Pack an easy-to-swallow medicine and other essential medical items with you, including plasters, wipes, sting treatment, thermometer, etc.
Avoid sweets. Giving in to the temptation of feeding your children sweets can backfire during your journey as it can make them hyper for hours. Pack a mixture of savoury snacks like breadsticks, cheese cubes, bagels and fruit – anything to avoid arriving at your destination with children in the middle of a sugar rush.
Check your passports. Passports have a habit of running out when we’re not looking, so allow at least four weeks to renew them. The cost of a last-minute passport is huge, and irritating if you only realise it’s essential when already in the queue at your destination.
Secure a travel insurance for everyone. Any traveller worth his or her salt – or parent/s travelling with kids for that matter, must not skimp on a good travel insurance. The good news is that most insurers provide complimentary travel insurance cover for your dependent children, which means they will receive the same type and level of cover as you, although some benefits may not apply.
End Note That’s it. Remember, the key is right planning and sticking with your plans, including itineraries during your holiday trip. Make use of these tips to have a harmonious holiday with your children in tow. Have fun!