How to Cultivate Your Child’s Musical Talents

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Mom

Music, they say, is a universal language. It crosses borders and spans social classes. No matter what age you are, or which corner of the world you come from, you are sure to groove to the beat whenever you hear a drum solo. As a parent, you may want to make your child plunge into this music pool. So, how can you cultivate his interest in music?

You can start him off with musical toys. Maybe a toy keyboard, drum set will be good. Get him those educational toys which make music.

Even if you haven’t been blessed with an angelic voice, don’t let this keep you from singing songs with your child. Your repertoire can include simple ditties such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or any easy-to-learn folk song. This will develop in him a keen interest in music.

When is the right time to get him started on formal music lessons? When your kid turns 5 or 6, and knows how to read, that would be a good time. If you feel he’s not ready yet, he can always start at a later age. Kids do have different capacities for learning.

Once he starts taking music classes, you have to do what you can to promote his interest in music. If you can, go to class with him. When he learns a new song on the guitar, reward him with guitar pickups. When he has a recital, be there for him.

Whatever you do, don’t force him into doing something he’s not interested in. Be patient if at first, your child doesn’t seem to show any progress with learning a musical instrument. Just remember to support him all the way.

How Green is Your Laundry Cycle?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Momma

Laundry takes up plenty of time, and mums know it can be a chore carting armfuls of clothes, nappies and linen around the house every week. A tumble dryer is just one of those essential appliances that you can rely on when it’s raining or to get through a large number washes quickly.

It’s important to remember that tumble dryers consume a high amount of energy – higher than fridges and dishwashers – and if yours is on every day it will inflate your utilities bill. One way to remember the environment when doing your washing is to take advantage of warm days and hang your sheets out to dry in the sun every now and then.

Another appliance that affects your power usage is your washing machine. Heating water amounts to the majority of a washing machine’s power intake. By simply lowering washing temperatures to 30 or 40 degrees, you can conserve power. At the same time, remember to always fill up your washing machine as the clothes become clean by friction.

Mums know to carefully read product labels for harmful additives, particularly in children’s foods. It’s also important to check detergents for phosphates, which can create algae that depletes oxygen in water and harms aquatic life – although in recent years detergent companies have greatly improved their use of harmful chemicals.

However, it’s important to still be vigilant. Labels such as ‘organic’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’ are not always sufficient – look for companies that are affiliated with environmental agencies or that have refined their products for washing at lower temperatures. Soaking clothes in stain remover before washing can combat particularly stubborn stains.

Keep an eye out for concentrated detergents as not only are these lighter on your pocket, but they have less packaging and a reduced carbon footprint as well.

Mothers need Sleep Too

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Momma

All parents will be aware of the havoc modern day life can cause on our mind and bodies. Working 9-5 is a thing of the past and sleep is now done where and when the opportunity arises. Family, children and work commitments can all have an effect on our mood, feelings and health. Looking after a new born baby can be an exhausting and gruelling part of your life. Not only do people need to adjust to this new routine and lifestyle but people’s homes need to also.

Houses now need to effectively block out any unwanted sunlight at sociable times of the day; a difficult task when using mainstream window treatments. Blackout roller blinds however may offer mothers and babies a realistic solution to this problem.

A person’s biological clock can work in mysterious ways. All sorts of factors can affect it, such as temperature, sunlight and sleep patterns and so it is important to ensure that you are getting enough sleep and total relaxation at the time of needing it. Blocking out any unwanted light is desirable for most people who are attempting to catch up on much needed sleep; a function that blackout roller blinds has. Mothers, and babies alike, can wake up feeling fresh and re-energised at any time of the day.

Light is not the only distraction that will affect sleep during the day. An increase in noise and temperature is felt throughout daylight hours. Although it is not practical to completely shut out all outside noise, blackout roller blinds can certainly reduce it due to the thickness of the fabric that is used to make them.

It is hard to believe but this type of blind will also save you money on your heating bills, meaning more money to spend on you and your little one. Again, due to the thickness of the fabric and the closeness of the blind to the window pane, cold air filtered through the glass will become trapped, leaving your room warm and cosy. Also, if heat is being circulated around the room then the blinds make it extremely difficult for it to pass through the window, again, keeping your home snug.

Roller blinds are available in a wide range of designs and colours; this also includes the blackout blinds. The perfect style for your home can easily be found meaning you do not have to sacrifice style for practicality.

Becoming a mother is the most rewarding duty known to any woman, however sleep deprivation can mean some new mums spend these first months sad and moody. Ensure that your home is well equipped to suit a busy, hard working mother like yourself.

Chinese New Year Giveaway

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Momma

Gong Xi Fa Cai!It’s time to ring in another Chinese New Year.

To welcome the year of the water dragon, I have teamed up with The Coffee Chic and some other awesome bloggers to bring you the Chinese New Year Cash Giveaway. Try your luck and enter the rafflecopter form to win $100 Paypal Cash or Amazon Card (Winner’s Choice).

Just like the Facebook pages, follow Twitter Accounts, add Google pages in your circle and Subscribe via Email for a chance to grab the prize. Winner will be randomly selected and notified via email or FB message. He or she will be given 48 hours to send a response. Otherwise, his or her winnings will be forfeited and a new participant will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to Prepare Your Child For a New Sibling

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Mom

Change, whether good or bad, is always stressful. When changes in the family happen, it affects everyone, most especially the kids. One such change is when you’re expecting a new addition to the family.

With the coming of a new baby, everyone is naturally excited and just about ready to trade in their prized stainless steel necklaces for a bag of diapers and feeding bottles. Everyone’s attention is directed towards getting everything prepared for the baby’s coming.

More than the upcoming baby’s physical needs, you should remember to consider the needs of your other kids. Feelings of jealousy are normally going to come up, and your child may start to act out.

As a parent, you can help make your kid ready for this change by involving him in the preparations. Make him feel important and include him in some decision-making. For instance, he can help pick out colors of the newborn baby’s onesies.

Discuss your pregnancy with your child, in terms he can understand. You can probably explain how the baby is starting to grow inside your belly.

Read books about welcoming a new baby into the family to your child. There are a lot of picture books out there which have characters your kid can relate to.

Family Dinner Topics

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Mom

There are never enough hours in a day. Many a parent has spoken those words. With our careers and other daily preoccupations taking up most of our time, moments when the entire family is able to get together for dinner become few and far between. So when a rare opportunity for a family dinner comes up, you may find yourself grappling for conversations starters, especially with the kids. Don’t lose your bearings just yet. Help is on the way. Here are some things you can talk about at the dinner table.

Although it seems mundane, you can each talk about your daily activities. Ask your kids what things they did today, or how their Math exam went. Try avoiding questions which elicit only a yes or no answer. Encourage everyone to share something interesting that happened to them during the day.

You can talk about the news. Even the kids will have something to say about current events, especially those on pop culture. Be sure to listen to what each one has to say without passing judgment.

As parents, you will certainly never run out of stories about your childhood, or about how grandma used to always sass the neighborhood paper boy. You kids will find those anecdotes highly entertaining.

Just keep the conversation flowing. Sooner or later, your kids will always look forward to dinners together.