Summer 2020 Reading List (plus more) by The Kerrie Show Blog

Yes, friends, family, fans and freaky fast readers, it's that time again, and I don't know about you, but I'm excited to get crackin' on The Kerrie Show Blog's Summer 2020 Reading List!

Not sure what your part of the world looks like right now, but our library system here in the middle of America is a little bit still on lockdown and has been for a coupla months. That means I've been digging out some buried books from my closet as well as ordering some new ones from eBay … and then sitting by the mailbox in a chair waiting for them to arrive. My husband thinks I have a problem but, hey, when I'm reading I'm out of HIS hair, right?!

Conversely, find me on Goodreads and let's connect so you can see what I'm reading and I can see what you recommend! And here is the 2020 Summer Reading List!

I have to admit I already started this one. I get bored with it, then something perks me up and makes perfect sense. I read it to Sam the other night and it made him sleepy. He's 10. Anyway, my goal is to get unstuck from a whole lot of writing projects as homeschooling slows down and summer hits my household full force.

Make Homeschooling A Little Easier For Yourself

Homeschooling is a wonderful way to ensure that your kids are ready for life. If you have been homeschooling for a while, then you will know that there is a lot involved in it which you might not have expected. Of course, a lot of people are turning to homeschooling now that they are in lockdown, and it looks as though it might become very important this year to be able to do it well and know what you are doing. Whether you are new to homeschooling or not, you will always be keen to make it as easy on yourself as possible, and there are many ways in which you can be sure to do that. In this article, we will take a look at some of the ways you can make homeschooling that much easier for yourself, and more effective for the kids.

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Make A Plan

You will quickly learn the value of planning when it comes to homeschooling your children. There are many things that you need to plan, and you will want to start on these as soon as possible in order to feel that you are ready for what lies ahead. You will need to plan what you are going to teach and in what order, for a start. That might follow a national guideline or syllabus, or you might want to think of one yourself. Either way, make sure it covers all the necessary ground. It’s vital in ensuring that your children actually get the education they need.

You also need to make sure that you plan out individual days, as well as what the week is going to look like. Be sure to include everything you need, including lots of breaks for both of you. The more that you plan, the more ready you are going to feel, and you will find that you are much less likely to simply get stressed out by it all.

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Supplement Your Gaps In Knowledge

Just because you are homeschooling your kids doesn’t mean that you are expected to know everything about everything. That’s just not possible, and you are always going to find that there are the occasional gaps in your knowledge. All you need to do is have a contingency plan for when those things come up. You can spend some time beforehand learning the information yourself, for example, and then teaching it to your kids. Or for those really tricky topics and subjects you could think about calling in some outside help, whether in the form of an online math tutor or a physics teacher, or whatever the subject might be. There are always ways to supplement your own gaps in knowledge, and you should make sure that you are always doing so if you want the education to be as full as possible.

Find A Teaching Style

Everyone who tries to teach soon finds that they have their own teaching style, and you should make a point of trying to find yours as soon as possible if you want to make the homeschooling process considerably easier on yourself. It helps you to settle into a groove which feels natural for you, so that is something that you are going to want to consider. As long as you can do that, you will find that your teaching is much more natural and easygoing, and that your children are going to respect that a lot more than you trying to copy someone else’s teaching style instead. The style can be strict or easygoing or whatever in between, so long as it is effective and it is one which seems to work for you well, and for your child well.

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Make It Fun

The more that you are able to make the learning fun for your children, the easier it is going to be for you. Making it fun is actually easier to do than you might think, and it is mostly just about ensuring that you find a way to capture their focus and intrigue day by day. Because they are your own kids, you probably know how to do this better than anyone else, so that is something that you are going to want to think about. If you can make it fun, you will find that you are going to have more fun yourself, and all of you will be glad to be doing it. That is the kind of situation you are probably looking for here.

Here's How To Prepare For An Awesome Family Trip

Are you planning on taking the kids camping? If so, then there are definitely a few things to consider. Here are the important factors to keep in mind to ensure that your camping trip does go off without a hitch. 

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Check The Tent 

Before you head out camping you do need to make sure that all your equipment is working effectively. This is crucial to ensure that you don’t run into issues when you arrive at the campsite. Believe it or not, this can happen. One of the most common mistakes people make is thinking the tent will be okay because it’s been in storage for a while. Well, that’s just not the case. The reality is that a tent in storage can develop numerous issues, particularly if it wasn’t put away the right way. Use a dry run to check the tent before camping. Look for issues with leaks and other issues that could cause you problems when you’re out for a couple of weeks in the wilderness. 

Get The Right Equipment

You also need to make sure that you have all the right equipment for a fantastic camping trip. You’ll probably find that there’s more to purchase here than you might expect. For instance, you do need to make sure that you have all the right cooking supplies. Cooking outdoor equipment is definitely not the same as what you probably have lying around your kitchen so don’t make the mistake of just relying on this. You also need to think about whether a power supply will be necessary for your camping trip as well. 

Research Campsites

It’s definitely worth researching the different campsites that you can go to because there are a lot of choices that could suit your needs. You could think about the different activities that are available nearby. You might also want to consider whether the campsite in question is suitable for your requirements. For instance, some will provide electric outlets for devices while others will not. Some campsites will have lakes nearby that are going to be ideal for those interested in exploring some fun water sports. 

Prepare For The Best And The Worst

You might also want to think about the worst situations that you could encounter when camping. Specifically, you need to consider what you’re going to do if the weather takes a turn. This can happen, even if you are planning to go camping in the middle of the summer. There need to be contingency plans in place for this. If the weather makes it impossible to continue camping, make sure that you know where the nearest hotel or shelter is. You might also want to ensure that you pack some fun activities for those rainy days in the woods. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the best ways to prepare for your next family camping trip the right way. If you take this advice, you can guarantee that you have a fun-filled adventure that is sure to bring you closer together. 

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Are You Still Busy during the "Shelter in Place" Order?

Every now and then I'll interact with someone who thinks I have a lot of free time on my hands now that we are "stuck inside" due to the shelter-in-place guidelines which are in place all over the country and the world. (We are actually NOT inside all the time; we are outside quite a bit because why move to 8 acres of land with a pond and stay inside in the springtime?)

At the beginning of this whole thing, I put a lot of things on hold to make sure I was checking up on the virus numbers and checking in on the press conferences by the governors on both sides of the state line, checking in on my own city's Facebook page and county's website. I realized some things were starting to suffer and it was taking its toll on me and how I lived my life and how I was steering the lives of my children.

How to Prepare Homeschooled Kids for College

Preparing any child for college can be extremely daunting, we only want what’s best for them and will do all we can to help them achieve their goals. For conventionally schooled children, their high-school will often help them to handle their college preparation process, but for homeschooled children, the task often lays in the hands of the parents. So what can we do to prepare them? 

Think about it early

In school, student counselors recommend that parents and children start to think about college and university as early as the 8th or 9th grade. There’s a lot to think about, including finances, career options, degree paths and of course which college or university your child wants to attend - do you want to pursue a Grand Canyon University accreditation or are you thinking about a bachelor degree in Finance?. Thinking about the process early will help to take away some of the stress that both your or your child may feel as deadlines start to approach.

How To Help Your Child Choose A Career

As parents, we only ever want the best for our children. Unfortunately, we also believe we know exactly what's best for our children and often, it's without asking the children what they would like to do. Children are not our puppets, and they're not our chance to "get it right." We cannot live our dreams through our children, and it's tough not to live vicariously through them! Children have their own goals and desires, and we need to cherish them and nourish those dreams - not push ours onto them.

The thing is, children will come and ask for help. As little ones, they'll tell you that they have desires and dreams of becoming explorers, adventurers, nurses, and doctors. They'll talk about saving the world as a superhero and achieving the impossible. However, they'll hit their teens, and their real interests come through. Some kids will grow up and want to become astronauts, Googling all that they can about going to space school and put their heads into their education to do something real and meaningful. Others will stick on that path of medicine, aiming to be doctors. They'll learn about the different medicinal avenues that they could take, and they'll quickly learn that there are types of social workers to choose to become. It's a massive world of career choices, and your teenager is about to face that world for the first time. The best thing that you could do is help them.

There are plenty of ways that you can help your teenager to navigate the decisions they make to further their education and choose a career to start their lives with. Below, we've got some helpful tips to enable you to assist them in navigating this decision.

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Tip 1: Remember, They're Not You

Let's keep in mind one important rule - your child is not you. Helping them to navigate which career to choose means asking them what they are interested in and giving them the tools to achieve it. If you want your child to be a doctor, but they want to be an artist, swallow your dreams for them and look at everything possible to be a successful artist. You can really get into your child's head and support them if you just take a moment to listen to what they want. You have raised a unique and brilliant human being; let them discover and explore the things that make them who they are. They could surprise you with their exceptional talents!

Tip 2: Help Them To Discover Their Strengths

Many teenagers go through a mini-crisis between the ages of 14-16. This is because they are still discovering who they are and what they want from life. If you honor their discovery of themselves, you're going to find that they have a considerable number of strengths lying beneath their teenage angst. It's up to you to ensure that you bring the best out of them, and assess their behavior and mood and discover their talents. If you want to help them accurately determine who they are, take them to a career counselor. 

You'll be shocked at how helpful it can be to have an impartial person come and talk to your teenager about their hopes and dreams. Careers counselors also have insider knowledge of the industries and schools in which they may be interested. They can brainstorm with your teenagers to help them get the best future. If you can understand your child's strengths, you can help them to channel them into the best career for an excellent start in life.

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Tip 3: Offer Opportunities

Exposing your child to as many opportunities in what they are interested as possible is going to help them out. Expose them to nature and to science, to museums and animals. Give them as many chances to learn what they love, and see what really piques their interest. If there is something that they show excitement towards, embrace it! Let them know that you are there for them, and you will support their choices. Children need as much support from their parents as possible. You can be their first support and their biggest champion if you ensure they have enough opportunities in life. Most of the time, a specific career is chosen based on the chances that your child had before them.

Tip 4: Be The Example

You want to show your children that they can have the best possible career, and in doing that, you need to show them that you have one, too. You cannot show them how to have a fantastic job if you're not setting that example. Children often follow in their parents' footsteps, so it's up to you to show off to them how it's done. Their future will depend on you and your example, so the only question you really need to ask yourself is: are you ready to be that role model they need?

The time is now to set the best possible example and cheerlead your children all the way to their career goals. Life is messy, but children who have steady, open, and happy parents are children who are going to thrive. If you're not showing your children the good things that they could have, what are you doing? You are their person, and they admire you. Help them to grow and succeed, and you will have achieved something exceptional in your life while you help them to achieve the extraordinary in theirs. 

Parents, it's time to show your child how to live life well. Take them to career festivals and support them throughout their academic career, too. You'll only ever see positivity in your children if you know that they are achieving their dreams. Make their dreams a reality. You will have achieved having happy, healthy, and whole children living the life they've always dreamed of having. Your support is imperative: offer it now and watch them grow, and your pride will grow with them.

Different Things You Can Do During Self-Isolation

With many of us now either in self-isolation or facing the fact that we might need to at some point during the near future many people are worried about feeling cooped up indoors without their normal freedom to get out and about. It’s normal to worry about self-isolation, however, there is plenty that you can do to keep yourself occupied and still feeling like yourself. 

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Although it’s not nice to think about not being able to leave your home, your home is your safe place and it is full of things that you can do to keep yourself focused, let’s have a look at some of the things you could be doing if you have to self-isolate: 

Cleaning 

If you’re not feeling great then, of course, your health and recovery is ultimately the most important thing to focus on. But, if you’re feeling fine and are self-isolating not because of symptoms but because it’s necessary to do so you could take advantage of the time at home to complete some deep cleaning. Many of us take some time each year to perform a more thorough clean of homes, so why not do it now. If you’ve managed to grab yourself some cleaning supplies why not think about cleaning out your cupboards, cleaning your carpets and floors, and washing all the materials in your homes like your bedding and curtains. Not only will this help to eliminate any hidden germs, but it will also keep you busy. 

Recreational Activities 

There is no reason you can’t use this time to relax and distract yourself from all the seemingly bad news that we seem to be getting at the moment. Think about all the activities that you enjoy doing. Whether it’s completely large puzzles, playing online slots games, reading a book, baking, watching films or baking there is bound to be something that you enjoy doing that never seem to usually get the time to do. 

Exercising 

Exercise is essential for keeping us physically fit and mentally well. This means that you should try to still get the daily recommended amount of exercise while you are in isolation. Have a look online on platforms like Pinterest for some exercise routines that you can complete at home. You could even turn it into a little challenge if you are isolating with other people. Or if you have been meaning to dedicate some time to get fit, why not take advantage of this time to start your journey on becoming fit and healthy. Chances are you’ll probably have less access to fast food and temptation like goodies in the stores so this will naturally go hand in hand with your new exercise routines.  

When self-isolating, never forget that there is support if you need it. Make sure you let your family and friends know that you are in self-isolation and if you need anything ask them to drop it off at your door. If you’re worried about been cut off from people, make sure to make an effort to speak to them each day. 

These are just a few of the many things you could do if you have to self-isolate, do you have any other recommendations that you could add to the comments below? 

The Best Gift Ideas whilst on Vacation

Anytime you go on vacation, it is always a fun idea and something nice when you bring back gifts from your travels. It is a way for you to explain your travels and what you go to do, and also gives your friends and family a little flavor of the location you just visited. But, it can always be a little tricky to find the best gift ideas for all your family members, this is where this article comes in!

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Gifts for the Kids

It is always difficult to buy presents for the children. Depending on their age it can be really tough. Teenagers may be a lot less receptive of a sentimental gift, but will also not be very interested in a gift that is suited to younger children. Younger children will not really understand a fully sentimental gift but would love something like a soft toy. Something that is always a real treat, is to surprise them with a present of something like a soft toy and explain in layman terms the location of where you brought it. Then in years to come when they see that toy, they will remember it was the gift they brought me from Argentina, for example. At the end of the day, young children and children alike love gifts, so whatever you decide to get them from your trip away will be sure to excite them!

Also, do not forget, kids are very intelligent. They will want to hear your stories, whether they will remember them straight away is a mystery, but it will stay with them, and a gift is a perfect way to keep that memory alive as it is something they can touch and feel.

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Gifts for Friends and Family

When it comes to your friends and family, this is where the sentiment and cultural education comes in! After going to explore a new part of the world, or maybe visiting another part of the world you have seen before. Gifts from these places will always mean a lot to those who receive them. Some ideas may include some tobacco from Florida Tobacco Shop, to maybe a new book from a book store in Europe. Or maybe a great gift could be something that connects to the heritage of the location you had just visited. The best gift ideas no matter whether you got them whilst on holiday, or just on a random day of the week, are gifted with meaning. 

It gives you a chance to again, share your experiences, and involve your friends and your family during your vacation. Tell them of the wonders that you saw, and the stories that you can tell.

Lastly, do not get yourself stressed over what is the best gift to get anyone. At the end of the day, this is your vacation, no one else’s. If the perfect gift is the perfect gift, it will make itself known to you. So, just relax, enjoy, and take in the sights and smells of the location of your choice and leave the gifts to when you are getting ready to leave and make your way home.