4 Reasons to Consider Homeschooling Your Kids

Homeschooling in the USA continues to grow at a strong pace, with more and more parents shunning traditional schools in favor of teaching their kids from the comfort of their own homes.

Data from the National Centre for Education Statistics suggest that the number of kids taught at home is growing by 3 to 8 percent a year since the total hovered around 1.8 million in 2012. That puts the upper estimate of those being home schooled at around 3.5 million children.

So why are so many parents turning to homeschooling their kids? Here are four reasons to consider homeschooling your kids.

It will help your kids love learning

For many of us, school is synonymous with suffering. That suffering comes largely from the pressures of passing tests and completing homework by deadlines. You are made to learn at the same pace as everyone else with no respite. It’s no wonder so many kids end up hating learning as a result of their school experiences. With homeschooling, you have none of that. They can learn at their own pace without any pressure. Most important of all though is that it can make learning fun. If your kids are among those making soccer more popular than MLB among 12-17-year-olds, then get them working out points scenarios and outcomes as part of their math work. If your kids find learning fun, they will learn to love it and that will set them up for life.

Samuel, age 8, in full soccer gear!

You can move with the times and teach your kids the stuff that matters

All too often, schools are stuck in a certain way and method of teaching. They will often deal only in established facts and when a new discovery is made, it can take years for that to filter through and for kids to find out about. With homeschooling, you are free to teach what you want. If there is a Jawbone Discovery that changes what we know about the history of the human race on a Tuesday, your kids can be learning about it by the Wednesday. You’ll also be able to knock on the head skills like calculus problems which hardly any of us have to use in life, instead focusing on skills like budgeting and personal finances which we all need in adulthood.

You can help your kids focus on what they are good at

Your kid might be a talented artist, particularly gifted at music or have a flair for writing. Homeschooling can let them flourish by focusing more on the skills and talents that they are good at, rather than the ones they are not. If they have a genuine chance of being the next Pablo Picasso, Taylor Swift or JK Rowling, then homeschooling can help them achieve their dreams.

They’ll avoid the bullying of the school playground

Bullying is a big issue and it happens in virtually every playground in every school in the country. Even President Obama gave a speech about bullying in 2011. There are people who have a utopian idea that every kid in every school can get along fine, but if we can’t do that as fully mature adults then why should be expect our kids to be able to do it? Homeschooling removes the threat or prospect of your kids being bullied, making them far happier at the same time.

Giving Nature A Real Home In Your Garden

Most people are well-aware of the fact that we’re encroaching more and more on the spaces that many of the species besides us consider their home. As we do so, however, we are creating the potential for new habitats and ecosystems that many of them can live happily in. The sad reality is that not enough people are helping to create that habitat. If you have a garden, then consider doing your part to share it with some others.

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Our feathered friends

This isn’t a hard one to convince many of. Most people love seeing birds in their garden and enjoying their songs throughout the day. Feeding them with seed holders and birdhouses are the easiest ways to see more of them around. Ponds or birdbaths will give them even more reason to stop around more often. Don’t be worried if it takes them a while to catch on to the hot new property. Wildlife are naturally cautious around new additions and environments.

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A winter guest

There are some creatures closer to the ground that might like a safe haven in your garden if you were to build it for them. One of the most common is the hedgehog. Many people already build homes for them to spend the winter in and it’s as simple as creating a wooden hut with some insulation and an entrance big enough for just them.

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Get back to the wild

If you love your garden then you probably consider wildflowers as nothing more than weeds. When you have designs of your own then it is true that you need to economise your soil and fight off unwanted guests. Instead, consider partitioning off a wildflower haven with plenty of distance from the other parts of the garden. It’s easy to get packs of wildflower seeds that contain up to 20 different species that can add a real variety to the garden.

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Pond life

Ponds are fantastic ways to add a bit more life to the garden. Fresh water will attract not only birds as we mentioned. Frogs, toads, newts, and dragonflies seek them out for breeding, as well. Of course, you can have your own fish in there living happily as well. But it might be important to consider pond pumps at discount prices to keep the pond fit for the life inside it as well. You need to think about what kind of life you want in there, as some fish species can be rather greedy in eating any other kind of wildlife that try and breed there.

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Keep the outdoors outdoors

Some people show a little trepidation about creating a wilder garden because it threatens the sanctity of the home and they expect it will bring about all kinds of new pests. It’s not entirely untrue, either. You have to make sure your home is well-sealed with bug spray around cracks and crevices. If you’re worried about pests eating plants in your garden, then companion plants can serve as a more effective and more environmentally friendly way to get rid of pests. Instead, they invite predators like spiders or ladybugs that eat the pests.

Unless we adapt our ways, we can expect that the list of endangered species will continue to grow even in our own surroundings. Do a bit of good and give nature a home in your garden.

School Bus Safety Tips

 

Here are some of the safety tips to ensure when your child is using the school bus to school every day.

 

1.         Always walk with your child to the bus stop, wait until the bus arrives and your child gets into it before leaving. Repeat the same procedure every day until you feel like they are comfortable doing it on their own.

 

2.         Prepare your child early enough to allow enough time to get to the bus stop. Rushing to the bus stop might likely cause injuries when your child falls over.

 

3.         While walking to the bus stop, don’t let your kids listen to iPods or play video games because they will cause distractions that might lead to serious injuries.

 

4.         Advise your child not to speak to any strangers around the bus stop or enter into a stranger’s vehicle. If a stranger offers to pick them up, advise your child to run back home immediately.

 

5.         When the school bus is approaching, the children should stand at least 3 feet away from the curb and approach the bus when it stops completely.

 

6.         When alighting or boarding the bus, the children should always use the handrails.

 

7.         If the children drop their personal items when entering or leaving the bus, they should inform the driver first before attempting to pick them. That way, the driver will see the items and become aware of what the child is doing before driving away with the bus.

 

8.         Inform your child to find a seat immediately when they board a school bus and face forward when the bus is moving. They should also fasten their seatbelts immediately.

 

9.         Review the rules set aside by the school district and set by the driver with your child to make sure your kid understands and follows them completely.

 

10.       When choosing a bus company you should use one with a GPS solution that keeps track of the bus. Some nowadays even provide offerings with historical videos, live streaming and up to date GPS as part of their school bus security solution.

 

11.       When in the bus, the kids should talk calmly instead of screaming or yelling to avoid distracting the driver.

 

12.       When in the bus the children should not throw things in the bus or out of the windows.

 

13.       When the bus is moving, the children should be seated and know where to place their arms, feet and hands. Make sure they don’t place their arms or heads out of the window.

14.       The kids should always follow the instructions set by the bus driver

 

15.       The kids should never alight the bus unless it comes to a complete stop

 

16.       When picking your children at the bus stop, you should wait on the same side of the street where they alight to prevent them from crossing the street on their own.

 

17.       The children should be advised not to walk behind the bus since the driver might not see them.

 

18.       If your child is crossing the street after leaving the bus, they should take 6 steps in front of the bus and make sure the driver can see them. They should only cross when it’s safe.

What You Need To Know About Living In Singapore

If you're looking to join a thriving expat community, then there are few locations as attractive as Singapore. Before you start to pack your bags though, there are some things that you'll want to know. Today's post is all about what you need to know when living in Singapore, so read on:

 

Things To Look Forward To

 

-Singapore Was Designed For You

 

Singapore's origins are steeped in trading and commerce. The influx of citizens from many countries make the city a natural place for an expat community to flourish. On any given day you have a good chance of running into someone from a country that you've never been to before. You'll be exposed to new ideas and people in a way that you never could back home. This is the ideal situation for any expat, and after a little bit of time you'll begin to believe that Singapore was specifically designed with you in mind!

 

-A Hub For Adventure

 

For many of you that become expats in Singapore, you'll be looking at your first ever exposure to Southeast Asia. You're in for a treat, and Singapore is the perfect place to travel out of. In particular, you can get quick flights to countries like India, China, and Australia. These are huge countries with literally thousands of adventures waiting to be had by someone like you. Smaller countries are easy to access as well. This is where the whole "born as a trading hub" thing really comes in handy.

 

Within the city itself, travel can seem a bit difficult at first. You need to have a specific certificate from the local government before you're even able to begin shopping for a car. For the price that you'll end up paying, many expats choose to just forgo a car altogether. That's for the best, as the public transportation system within the city is one of the best in the world. You won't spend too much out of pocket either.

 

If you're the type that likes to work out, cycling is extremely popular in Singapore as well, both as a sport and means of travel. You'll be able to get where you're going AND get in better shape!

 

-A Sense Of Security

 

When you first get to Singapore, you're going to notice that things are a lot stricter than you're used to. It's an adjustment, and can be annoying at times; but you'll be happy once you see the payoff. The strict rules and organization of Singapore make it one of the safer cities in the world. As an expat, you'll never feel afraid to go out at any time, or to any place.

 

Things To Keep In Mind

 

-Cost

 

You're going to be spending quite a bit to indulge in the luxury of living in the city of Singapore. The latest estimates by the EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) has put the average cost of living at about 50% higher than that of New York City. That will seem like a culture shock to some; but most of you expats won't bat an eye. As of 2015, most expats who moved to the city were making well over 6 figures per year. Affordability shouldn't be an issue long-term.

 

-Routine

 

Singapore is not known for being a sprawling place with endless things to experience. Once you've settled in and visited a few places, you're going to end up falling into a routine. Outside of travelling (which is easy to do as mentioned above), there really isn't much to Singapore itself. A lot of people like that, and come specifically for a simple routine that they can get used to. If you want adventure and new experiences, then you're going to have to go looking for it.

 

-New Laws To Adjust To

 

When you move to Singapore, you're going to have to play by their (sometimes very different) rules. Some of these are going to seem strict as you go through your adjustment period. For example: you cannot chew gum or smoke in public. You cannot connect to a WiFi network that isn't your own without being accused of hacking! Perhaps most restrictive is that LGBT rights are currently NOT a thing. This takes getting used to, and Singapore is moving forward (slowly). Be prepared for some adjustments. You will also need a visa to live there - companies such as Immigration Solutions can help with that.

 

The Verdict

 

Singapore has earned its reputation as one of the top 5 destinations for expats. You're going to go through an adjustment period, particularly when it comes to the local laws and culture. What you get in return though: the luxury, the adventure, and the expat community are all worth it.

Startup Businesses: Risk and Adventure

There is no comfort available in a start-up business field. It is filled with obligations. But one must be daring enough to take these risks and move forward. Only taking the risks in a positive way can prove to be the only path to success. So, the millennial thought totally teaches the beautiful aspects of this great platform. Here are some of the healthiest tips that can surely make someone a great entrepreneur if tried with all the positive hopes.

RISKS IN START-UP BUSINESSES

There are a number of risks in entrepreneurship, these include the following:

·         This field may be a hectic one because there is never a guarantee that the business will actually work out. This may result in a total loss of the money that was invested. Once the money is lost, it can be never regained.

·         A person who has earned a degree in entrepreneurship may try to start a business with this degree in order to open the company of his dreams. But this may not result in a total success. This may turn someone to face loss.

·         There is always a risk to end up in nothingness once there is something false in the business which is pointed out by some other authority.

The most important factors that are needed in this field are money, labor, land and also skills. These factors must be taken much care while opening a business. There is often a lack of such resources in countries that are either developing or underdeveloped. So, the people working in these fields can totally be upset because the country is not in their support. Entrepreneurship is a better or in the countries that are financially strong and provide a better scope to the citizens.

INTRAPRENEURSHIP- A TOTALLY DIFFERENT IDEA

Often people are totally confused about the difference between the two, those are the entrepreneurship and the intrapreneurship. The latter deals with the idea of entrepreneurship which is an established company. It has a wide thought about how to deal with tee management in a proper method. They are basically dealing always with the ideas like the flexibility, innovative ideas and also taking utter risks as the main key to their success. This is needed because it will allow them in the formation of a better and security firm. The remaining idea that is applied here is to track down how good the product is for establishing the innovation. It also includes the idea of how advantageous the possibility of the newer idea will be. This is a great point to note in order to not face the utter risks that are beyond imagination.

HOW TO AIM FOR BETTER RISK TAKING?

With the start of a new business, a young entrepreneur has to face a number of challenges. The way shall be too bumpy where there shall be many ups and downs. One needs to take the first attempt, mold it in a great way and then present it to the audience. The audience has to go through the important positions of business and also find the meaningful problems. Whatever may be the condition; this must be kept in mind not to deter away from the point. This will just prove to the others that the fellow is a loser who was not built for being a good entrepreneur from the very beginning.

HOW TO CHOOSE WHETHER ONE IS BUILT FOR BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR

There is a great risk to determine whether one is ready to take the risk or not. For this, self-questioning is a great option. The questions must relate to the following things:

Ø  One must ask himself whether he is ready to tolerate the primary humiliations and also the risks.

Ø  Whether one prefers for unlimited earnings in return for the risk.

Ø  There are several new responsibilities each day. One must be quite careful about this.

Ø  Whether one is totally dedicated to the point of tee business or not is very important to know before taking the risk.

Ø  Decision making is a great need. One needs to check how good he or she is at making decisions. A number of decisions related to a business may make one care about how good he is with the decision making.

One needs to go with the risks only if he or she finds the potential in the fields. Without being potential, it is not a good one to venture into these fields. One must have an idea about how to deal further if there are other alternatives popping in mind, one must find out the people to discuss. There is a need of having a decision with the trusted peer group and collect the feedback. These will help make a better decision about how ambitious a person can be in the business.

HOW TO MAKE THE PASSION A PROFITABLE ONE

Having a passion is a good one, but when the passion is about business, there must be a standard. The goal one must fix needs to be compliant with the present market standards. Just exploitation of the opportunities in the market and trying to build a successful life may not prove to be fruitful in the long run. The most important thing to remember is that the business must be the “passion.” This is not at all a mere traditional job that has been assigned. It is better to give up the idea of entrepreneurship if the business was built with just a temptation and the popularity of the field in the market.

When one lacks the practical ideas about the platform, he or she shall have no clue left as to how to deal with the obstacles. Dealing with obstacles is very dangerous and will prove to be fatal if one has no skill about the matter.

CONCLUSION

Decision making is a great quality that helps to choose a perfect leader. A leadership quality is determined by the way one move on his way to success choosing to walk with great values added to it. Similarly, for being a great entrepreneur, there is a need for having a brain to actually decide what is right and wrong and what the merits and the demerits of a particular plan can be.