Better Your Child's Education With These Top Tips

August 2016 start of a new co-op school year

Education does not begin and end with school. There is so much more to life that one has to learn if they want to be successful. How to take care of themselves, how to be healthy, how to work in a team, how to lead, how to research, and so on. There are so many traits and skills that simply cannot be taught in a classroom. You need to combine a great education with real-life learning, and to help you better your child’s education in this way you need to use these top tips today:

 

Get Them to Help with Chores

Yes, chores were probably one of the things you hated growing up. So much so that you don’t want to force your children to go through the same ordeal. What you might not realize, however, is that by letting them get away with not doing chores you are inhibiting their ability to live independently. You need to teach them how to clean properly, how to do their laundry, and especially how to cook healthy meals. Without these key life skills, your child will very likely suffer once they move out to attend college, which in turn will hurt their academic performance and make it harder for them to find their footing. That’s why you should instead make chores a family activity. Cook together, for instance, and you can not only teach your children, but you can also bond.

 

Support Their After-School Activities

If your child has a talent that cannot be fully developed at school or home, then you have to find a program within your community. From community classes to local sports teams, there are so many options when it comes to after-school activities. If your child loves doing something and is talented, do all you can to support them – even if that means forcing them to continue after a rough patch. Just because your child’s team lost doesn’t mean that he or she shouldn’t continue to play, after all.

 

Enroll Them in a Great School

That being said, if you choose a school that is not only academically excellent but also has a wide range of extracurricular activities your child can have a well-rounded education without you needing to drive them to and from practice. Most extracurricular activities occur after school, meaning you will only need to pick them up once, saving you time and even money. They can make new friends, try out new things, and learn crucial life skills at the same time. It is for this reason why you should choose Southbank IB School in London or others like it. Their commitment to learning isn’t just about tests and book-knowledge, but about developing as a leader.

 

Learning is so much more than reading from a textbook. Your children need to become strong, well-rounded and most importantly independent adults if they are to have the tools they need to succeed. By helping them diversify their interests and teaching them how to take care of themselves properly, you can ensure they will have the best shot at life.

Are These Fears Holding Back Your Career?

Fear is a weird thing. As much as the right dose can propel us to greatness, too much of it will hold us back forever. Think about your career – does it match the goals you set out in the very beginning? People that answer no should be aware that there are various reasons why this may have happened. It can have nothing to do with fear whatsoever should you have a baby, for example. Still, fear plays a major role for millions of employees around the world. Before you can address them head on, it’s important to know which ones apply to you personally.

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Fear Of Failure

We would love to achieve greatness and climb to the top of the corporate ladder, but failure stares us dead in the face. Let’s face facts and state outright that the best of the best have an incredible amount of skill, drive, and energy. Not only that but they use their time incredibly efficiently. Due to the equality of outcome, everyone has to follow the model to reach their levels and it’s a scary prospect. After all, the media is happy to say there is only one Steve Jobs. What they don’t mention is that failure is a stepping stone to success because we learn from our mistakes.

Fear Of Rejection

This can take many forms. For example, we fear that our job application will not get a response. Or, we are scared a higher education program won’t pick us because there are expert candidates. In these cases, our brain makes an easy yet effective case: what’s the point? It seems pointless applying in the first place when the application will get rejected anyway. Remember that some people and organizations are willing to help. Do you know that healthcare degree you always wanted? Well, third-party companies will put you in contact with colleges. Agencies and recruiters can do the same for employees looking for a change of scenery.

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Fear Of Disappointment

We finally have the chance to land a job of a lifetime yet stop short. Picture the scene. The application goes well, as does the interview, and there is an offer. The thing is, the role can’t be as good as we imagine it in our heads. Even with the job specification and the perks, there is bound to be a let down at some point. Again, this backs lots of us into a corner where logic dictates we’re better off staying put. Although it may not be everything we ever wanted, even if it’s a couple of percentage points better a switch is a wise choice.

Fear Of The Unknown

Anything can happen when human beings take risks. We suddenly have the balls to change employers and industries and then they go under. How anyone can put food on the table at this point is hard to fathom. So, most of us decide it’s best to stagnate for the good of our families. Unpredictability is impossible to gauge, and the only way to find out the answer is to dive headfirst into the deep end.

Are there any other fears which hold you back from being successful?

Your Guide to American Home Shield Warranty

A home warranty can provide you with coverage for certain things that home insurance cannot, such as your furnace or kitchen appliances. There are lots of different companies that offer these warranties, but not all of them will be able to provide you with exactly what you need. When you are looking for the right coverage, it is imperative that you make a point of looking into what American Home Shield has to offer. American Home Shield reviews are among the most positive of all home warranty companies.

Coverage Services

You will find that American Home Shield Warranty offers warranties for appliances, plumbing, and electrical systems. These things can be extremely expensive to have repaired, which is all the more reason to look into these coverage services. Homeowner’s insurance can be useful, but it doesn’t cover broken appliances, furnaces, HVAC, plumbing or electrical. American Home Shield has been helping homeowners save money since 1971, and they have served over 1.7 million customers all across the United States.

Benefits of American Home Shield

There are a huge number of benefits associated with getting a warranty from American Home Shield, including the numerous plan options that are available. You will also have multiple service fee levels to choose from, expanding your options quite a bit. There is no home inspection required before you can get coverage, which makes this process a lot easier as a whole. With all of the different items that are covered under these plans, you should be able to find an option that suits you perfectly.

Choosing the Right Plan for You

Because there are numerous coverage plans that American Home Shield offers, it is important that you take the time to select the right one to match your needs. There is a System plan and an Appliances plan that you can take advantage of. The Appliances plan covers just about any appliance you might have in your home, including refrigerator, stove, clothes washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc. Since it is certainly not uncommon for these appliances to break down, you might want to think about taking advantage of this plan.

There is also the System plan, which covers major home systems like heating with ductwork, water heaters, garbage disposals, plumbing, and electrical system. Even a simple problem with one of these systems can prove to be extremely expensive. If you don’t want to spend more money than necessary on these repairs, this plan could be hugely beneficial.

You will want to keep in mind that each plan has a term of 12 months. You will be able to cancel anytime you want after 30 days. If you decide to get a refund, it will prorated with an administrative fee charged. There is absolutely no limit on covered repairs, but there are coverage limits for certain items. Your coverage will officially go into effect 30 days after you purchase the plan.

Pricing

One of the reasons for all of the positive American Home Shield reviews is that this company offers plans that are affordable for the average person. There aren’t specific prices for each of this company’s plans, but you can easily get a quote online. You will be asked which plan you want as well as the total value of your appliances. If you choose to build your own plan, you’ll need to submit detailed information about the appliances you want coverage for. The quote that you receive online will be accurate, so you can get a good idea as to whether or not it’s within your budget.

There is a service call fee if you ever need any repairs done. The monthly premium you pay as well as your deductible will depend on the plan you select. You will find that service call fees can be as cheap as $75, though it depends on what you need repaired and your plan. Paying more each month will lower your service call fee, so that is something to consider. It is important to find out if you are subject to any coverage caps, as it depends on what you are having covered under your plan.

Exclusions

Anyone who is interested in the home warranty services that this company offers will need to know about their exclusion rules. You will not be able to get a claim filed if your home appliance or system breaks down due to lack of maintenance or acts of God. There are some circumstances in which you won’t be able to get the repairs you need covered, and you can call the company for detailed information on this matter.

Claims Process

The entire process for filing a claim with American Home Shield begins with logging into your online account and creating a service request. This is a fairly simple process that you shouldn’t have much of an issue with. Most people report that they didn’t have any problems with filing their claims.

Once you have filed your claim and paid your trade service fee, the company will assign a technician to the job, which usually takes around 24 hours. The contractor will contact you directly to set up an appointment. You will be able to choose whichever day and time works for you best, which is very convenient. The contractor will inspect the broken appliance or system to see what is wrong before getting started with the actual work.

How to Purchase American Home Shield Warranty

You will be able to purchase a home warranty from this company by calling their toll-free number or going to their official website. It is highly recommended that you get a quote and take a close look at the plans they offer before making any final decisions. This will provide you with the information you need to make the right choice based on your own requirements. There are many American Home Shield reviews, and most of their customers have nothing but positive things to say about them. This is certainly one of the better home warranty companies in this market today.

Learning to Save Money

I save money by getting my Starbucks already ground at Target for $6 a bag, and
I get a fancy creamer at Aldi. I treat myself and save money!

As an adult, you have to learn how to save money. While everyone wants to win the lottery, this should not be your go-to plan for life. Life will throw you responsibilities in the form of bills that will need to be paid. Bills will not wait for you to win the lottery. That being the case, it’s important to learn how to save money. Saving money comes instinctively for some people, but less so for others.

Distinguishing between a want and a need is the first step towards learning how to save money. If you’re on a tight budget and that item you want is incredibly expensive, it is not ideal to purchase it. There are even ways to save money on food. No, this does not mean eating less. Rather, you could limit the number of times you buy food while at work and eat out less.

How to Provide Stability for Your Children

If you are in charge of raising a young family, it is important that you are doing everything in your power to support your children. The experiences that they have at a young age will inform the people that they grow up to be. If they have been raised in an unstable home, it is extremely likely that they will struggle in later life. However, if they have been raised in a calm and collected environment, it is much more likely that they will thrive as adults. Don’t worry; it is never too late to turn things around. Regardless of your current parenting style, there is always room for improvement. Simply work your way through the following eight steps.

Take responsibility for your behavior

The first step is to take responsibility for your behavior. As a parent, it can be tempting to focus all of your attention on your little ones. However, every now and then, you need to take a step back to evaluate your own choices. If you are going to provide stability for your children, you need to confront your issues head-on and then work hard to find a suitable solution. For instance, if you are struggling with addiction or issues with your mental health, you should research residential treatment centres. Although this will involve spending time away from your loved ones, however in the long-term, this could be your best chance of providing them with a parental figure they can rely on.  

Invest in a family home

The next step is to invest in a family home. Even if you are not yet in a financial position to do this, now is the perfect time to start saving for your purchase. Moving into a home that is truly yours is another great way for you to provide stability for your family. Why run the risk of being priced out of your rental area, when it is possible for you to put down firm roots? Investing in your own property is also a brilliant way for you to avoid throwing money away on rent. You might be left with a large mortgage to pay back, but at least the money won’t be going into someone else’s pocket.  

Get your finances in order

As you are moving forward with your plans to purchase a property, you should also be thinking about getting your overall finances in order. If you are raising young children, you might not think that they have any perception of just how important money can be. However, even if they don’t understand the value of money, they are likely to pick up on household tensions whenever it is running low. That is why you should endeavor to set up multiple savings accounts. You should also go the extra mile by setting up an account that is dedicated to emergency situations. Family life is full of ups and downs, so it is essential that you always have plenty of savings to fall back on.

Introduce a set sleeping pattern

Next, you should introduce a set sleeping pattern into your family home. This sleeping pattern shouldn’t just apply to your youngsters; it should be taken up by all of your loved ones. It might take a little getting used to, but ensuring everyone is asleep by a certain time is a brilliant way for you to take control of your home. It is also a sure fire way to improve the quality of sleep that everyone is enjoying. Instead of being kept up by loud television shows or trips to the bathroom, your kids will be able to settle down into a good night’s sleep. They also won’t have to deal with the fear of missing out, as they will know that the entire household is winding down.

Take care of your family car

Another great tip is to take care of your family car, which is an especially important step to take if you are regularly carrying out the school run and driving your kids to their many appointments. If you are going to do this without a hitch, you will need to schedule in regular MOTs for your vehicle. You will also need to think about upgrading it every few years. That way, you will have reduced the risk of poor performance and breakdowns. If you are struggling to manage busy family life, the last thing you want is to end up stranded on the side of a highway.

Evaluate your relationships

If you are truly determined to offer your children total stability, this may involve making some personal sacrifices. You need to evaluate whether or not you have people in your life that are negative influences. Perhaps you have a family member who always makes inappropriate jokes around your kids. Or, maybe you have a close friend who encourages you to take up bad habits. While it might be a little harsh to cut them out of your life completely, you should seriously consider taking a step back from these relationships. Then, you can focus your attention on connecting with your fellow parents or individuals who put your children at ease. 

Sit down for regular meals

You can also make an effort to sit down for regular meals with your family. There is no better way for you to reconnect with your loved ones and to find out about their days. If you don’t already sit down every evening, you might find that your children are irritated by the thought of switching off their technology and getting up off the couch. However, underneath their protests, they are sure to appreciate your efforts to spend time with them. You could even involve them in the meal preparation process, and drive your whole family into the kitchen.

Always have a backup plan

Last but not least, you need to ensure you always have a backup plan in place. If you are going to be there for your kids at all times, it is important that you prepare for the occasions when everything goes wrong. Whether you get stuck in traffic or held up in an important meeting, you need to meet the situation with solutions rather than excuses. No parent can be perfect at all times, but planning ahead will certainly help you help.