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.

The one sure thing which paints ear-to-ear smiles on children’s faces is receiving Christmas presents. Nothing’s more exciting than finding gifts under the tree on Christmas day. A surge of adrenaline shoots through children’s bodies as they eagerly tear open those colorful Christmas wrappers and unravel their hearts’ most ardent desires.

Although the essence of Christmas of course, is the birth of Christ, it doesn’t hurt to foster this culture of gift-giving among all members of the family. It encourages everyone to live out the spirit of giving and sharing in this most joyous of seasons.

If you haven’t already done so, why not arrange a kris kringle within your family? The younger ones don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune on presents such as heated clothing for mom and dad, as they can put their artistic skill to good use and craft something up to give them instead. Anything made with love will be greatly appreciated.

It takes no rocket scientist to figure out that times are hard.  We live in an economically-challenged era, that penny-pinching has become a dire necessity.  For most families, both mom and dad have hit the workforce, with hopes of augmenting the family income.  For some though, the role of breadwinner is still left with just one parent.  Dad drives the rundown Chevy to work every day, while Mom puts the chicken casserole in slow cooker mode as she vacuums the living room floor.  So, is it at all possible to comfortably live on only one family income?  Yes, it still is.

Calculate your monthly living expenses.  Sit down and have a good think as to which extras you can do away with.  Do you really need an extra cell phone plan?  Can another cable TV company give you better services for less?  Try to enlist the help of every family member when it comes to cutting down on electricity costs.

Eat out less.  We are oftentimes unaware of how the cost of eating out accumulates and makes a huge hole in our wallets.  A Quarter Pounder here or some Chinese takeout there seemingly doesn’t hurt, but it does.  You’ll save more money by eating in more.  Maybe once a month, you can still eat out with the family- you don’t necessarily have to deprive them of that occasional luxury.

Both parents do not need to go to the office and leave the kids alone at home just to earn a decent living.  With a little sacrifice and some smart budgeting, you can be physically present for your kids and still live the good life.

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