We all want our kids to be happy and successful when they grow up. No two kids are the same. Some are motivated enough to sit down and do their homework right after school, while others would rather play with their friends or go on the computer and engage with virtual reality.

No matter what type of child you have, it is your responsibility to help them make the most out of the opportunities presented to them through education. Remember that we are extremely lucky in the Western world, having access to free education.

It is, however, what you make out of it that matters. Below you will find a few tips on how to support your child through every stage.

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Communicate with the School

It is important that you know what is going on with your child when they are not at home. Learn about the different subjects they are learning about, and the exams they are taking.

If you know what is expected of your child at school, you will be able to work on a strategy with them and the school to achieve the best outcomes short term and long term. You need to know what they are learning, what their strengths and weaknesses are, so you can put the right level of support in place.

Get Involved In Learning

If you want to show your child that you care about their education and are there to help, you might want to pick up their books more than once a term. It is important that you discuss the topics and check that they understand what they are learning about.

You cannot just assume that they are old enough to let the teacher know that they are struggling with a subject; you might want to check their knowledge in a playful way; so they don’t think that you are testing them at home.

Help Them Cope

It is crucial that you monitor your child’s peer relationships and emotional wellbeing. No matter if you worry about bullying, you have a hypersensitive child, or they have learning difficulties; you will need to help them make the most out of the time they are spending at school.

If they have issues with their hearing or their vision; you will need to let the teachers know that they require some adjustments. However, it is your responsibility to arrange eye tests and hearing aid maintenance regularly; so they can learn as effectively as possible.

Get the Right Health Assessments

No matter if you suspect a behavioral issue or a learning difficulty; you will need to sit down with your child’s teacher and get the right support for your child. It is often easier to get a specialist appointment if you get a school referral. Especially if you show that you care about your child’s behavior and the quality of their education.

In case you suspect that your child has a disability or health condition, you should ask an outsider’s expert opinion.

Healthy Diet

It is important that you provide your child with a healthy and balanced diet. You need to avoid processed food and sweets as much as you can. However, you also have to monitor what they eat in school.

In case you are the kind of parent who just gives them money for lunch, without checking what they ate. You will  need to start paying more attention. Kids are under a lot of peer pressure; eating salad or fruit in front of their friends might not be something they choose to do- unless you explain to them why it is good for them.

Reward Them for Extra Work or Improvement

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Learning should not stop at the classroom. You should get into the routine of checking your child’s homework. Until you can be sure that they are responsible enough to get on with the work.

At the same time, you might want to set up sessions at home to supplement your child’s school education. You can watch documentaries together related to what they are learning about, and discuss what you saw.

You might also give them some challenges on educational gaming sites. This will keep their knowledge fresh and get them more involved in the topic.

As a responsible adult and a parent; you have to make sure that your child starts life and education with the best chances of success. Support them, get involved in their school work, and communicate with their teacher to help them on their learning journey.

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As you move through life, there are all sorts of big decision which you will need to make. Each choice that you take will then go on to have a ripple effect in influencing other aspects of your life, so you need to make them wisely. At the same time, you don’t want to remain paralysed in indecision, as some of these big choices need to be made quickly. The following set of questions are just a few of the general ones which you can ask yourself as a way of making your mind up about whatever decision is currently troubling you.

Is There a Time Limit on Your Decision?

Some big life choices need to be made quickly, while there are plenty more which you can take your time over a little bit more. So, it is worth working out which category your current dilemma falls under. When you have a deadline, this means that you know how pressing the decision, so you know how much thinking time that you have in front of you. Of course, there are some major life decisions which require you to set your own deadline. For example, you may be weighing up whether or not to change careers. If you don’t set a time limit for yourself, this can end up dragging on indefinitely.

Have You Done the Research?

The internet is the perfect tool that allows you to conduct research in a whole host of different areas. For example, the choice before you could be whether or not to have kids. So, you could start reading about becoming a parent and the pros and cons involved. You could also do some research into practical matters like the financial cost that you will have to bear. And you could also look into the different options out there when it comes to conceiving. Just take a look at ConceiveAbilities as a starting point. Doing the proper amount of research can really help you out when it comes to making the right choice when you are struggling.

Is There Anyone You Can Talk to About Your Choice?

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Getting some advice from someone who has already been through your current situation can end up helping you out in a big way. So, consider your social circle to determine whether there is anyone who you think is up for the job of giving you some advice. Don’t rule out people who you don’t know all that well as it can sometimes be easier to talk to them on a deeper level. Otherwise, perhaps there is someone who can help you out in a professional capacity. For example, if you are thinking about starting a business, you could turn to a professional consultant to give you the guidance that you are looking for.

Have You Written Down Your Goals?

Life has a habit of not working out quite as you expected it to, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t think about your goals in the long-term. Try to work out what you want to five, 10 or even 20 years time to determine how your current decision falls in line with this. If nothing else, the simple act of writing things down can help to stop things jumbling around in your head and clarify your thoughts in a positive way.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Your Options?

And while you are writing things down, you can start to analyse each of the different options that you have in front of you. One of the best ways of doing this is with a simple pros and cons list. Obviously, some of these things are going to be hypothetical as you can never be 100 per cent sure how something is going to work out. But once you have all of these advantages and disadvantage in front of you, you may find that one choice is leaping out at you ahead of all the others.

Have You Thought About the Risks of Not Making a Decision?

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When you are trying to make a decision, it can be very tempting to do nothing about it at all. But have you considered that this is an option which comes along with its fair share of risks as well? After all, change is an inevitable part of life and if you simply avoid it all the time, you could find that your life is stuck on stand-still rather than moving forward.

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If you want to have a change in your career this year or you are fresh out of school and don’t know where to start, business could be a great option for you. Business is a wide field of work which can include anything from project management, sales and even marketing. There are ways which you can get into any field you like and show off your skills to the world. Here are our top reasons why you should be studying Business this year.

Grow your knowledge and skills

The first and most obvious reason why you might want to study a subject such as business or management is the fact that you will be able to grow and develop skills in a vast wealth of areas. You will learn how to communicate with people, how to organize your time, deal with money and potentially how to run a small business of your own. There are many different areas you can succeed in and this is what makes it a great option for you this year.

Open up a wealth of opportunity

Every industry in the world is different. Some require you to be analytical and precise, others need you to be a creative and free soul… however the business industry can be more diverse than any other industry in the world and this makes it a great option for you to study if you haven’t quite nailed down what you want to do in life. It will give you the ideal opportunity to hone some skills in a wide range of areas and you will have many different doors opened up to you once you are done.

Make more money

The perk of taking an accredited mba program online and using it to further your career is the fact that people will pay you more for your services. When you take the time to earn a qualification such as this in your own time you are showing a sense of organisation, dedication and the ability to use your initiative. It is highly sort after by employers and therefore they will be willing to pay the big bucks to have you on their team.

Network and build friendships

Studying any subject can be a great chance to meet new like minded people, and business is no different. The beauty of studying business and making friends with fellow students is the fact that you can use these connections later on in your career if you ever need advice or help with your venture or your career. Having connections in the business world can be awesome for you and your prospects.

Start your own business

Perhaps the most exciting prospect of all for someone working in the business industry is the fact that you will have the chance to make a name for yourself and the skills to start your own business. You can say goodbye to bosses and strict hours and start up a venture for yourself to make your career dreams come true on your own terms, this is the greatest privilege you can have in the business world.

If you already know with confidence that your children will absolutely be attending university, then you will probably be doing everything you can to prepare them for that time in their life. But knowing how to do this is another matter altogether, and something which will often take a lot of patience and effort on your part. Nonetheless, there are certain things you can do if you want to make sure that your children are going to be as ready as possible for their university years, and it’s worth considering some or all of these as soon as you can. If you do, you will be giving your children a much better chance of success with their further education.

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Start The Learning Early

One of the best things you could do for your child is to help them begin their further education early. As well as joining a university, it is also perfectly possible for them to gain some knowledge in other ways first so as to improve their chances of doing well. One of the best ways to do that is to find a online course through an institution such as the St. Bonaventure University where they can begin their learning in a part-time manner, so as to get a head start with whatever they are going to be studying. You can either encourage them to study something from within their field of discipline, or something separate which will supplement it nicely. Either way, it could be the perfect head start your child deserves.

Get Them Reading

Even if you still want to allow them to have a full summer break without official learning, you might still want to think about getting them reading to some extent so that they can start to flex their critical muscle. This alone could be all that they really need to get off to a great start, and you might want to think about putting together a good reading list with them which they can then begin to work their way through. This is a great way to get them ready for university, and it’s one which the majority of children will take on board pretty easily and quickly. Make sure that they also find one or two things to enjoy for the sake of it, so that they don’t get bored with the process during the summer months.

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The Emotional Side

As well as the educational side of things, it is also important to remember that there is an emotional aspect to university, and the better you prepare them for this the more likely it is that they will be able to make the most of their time there. The best way to do this is to simply be there for them in the way you normally would as a parent; you will probably find that that is enough to keep them happy and relatively worry-free. The emotional side of things is the most important in many ways, so that is worth remembering if you want to really prepare your child as best as possible.

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Finding your way to where you want to be on your career path can be quite difficult. Particularly if there are things in your way that you are unaware of. If you don’t know they’re there, how do you fight against them? How do you tackle them? The simple answer is that you can’t, and instead you simply have to continue along the path hoping things will change when you could be hitting the same invisible wall over and over again. But what bricks make up this wall and how can you bring it down? These are the questions that we’re going to answer today.

Bad References

You might have put a few references on your resumes hoping that past employers are going to have absolutely no problem talking you up to a potential boss but is this going to happen? You have to be very careful who you use a reference. It’s crucial that you do think about any mistakes that you might have made working for that company and any blunders that might cause them to give you a negative review or warn a business owner about you.

Be aware that putting down no references won’t save you from this. An employer is perfectly capable of sifting through your history if they choose too and finding out exactly who you have worked for in the past and indeed what type of service you delivered.

This is why it’s so important that you take any job seriously and make sure you are always delivering the best possible service that you can.

You can’t fix references but what you can do is choose and select the ones you use carefully to make sure that these are the recommendations potential employees focus on.

Embarrassing Past Mistakes

We’ve talked a little about past mistakes before but we’re specifically talking about issues with the law. It’s not just criminals that get in trouble with the law, everyone can make a mistake. Now you might have worked to get court records expunged. But on-demand court records or ODCR can stick around after an expungement and if you think this might be a problem, speak to a specialist legal team. They might be able to make sure that that records of a misdemeanour disappear once and for all, ensuring they don’t prevent you from being hired for your dream job.  

Discrimination

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Finally, don’t underestimate the danger of being discriminated against when applying for a job that you are completely qualified for. This could be a problem with age, gender, race, weight or any other personal trait you can think of that has nothing to do with job performance. If you do think you have faced discrimination when applying for a job, you can pursue legal actions, however, be aware this is often very difficult to prove. The good news is that not every business will discriminate against you and you should ask yourself, would you really want to work for a company that treated you like that anyway? It’s best to instead wait for a business who will respect you and appreciate the benefits you could bring to their company.

Being a mom doesn’t have to stop you from learning. While you’ll learn new things every day as a mother, you might find that you want to continue with other forms of education too. Whether you’re revisiting your education after a break to enjoy motherhood or you’re seeking opportunities that weren’t available to your before, it’s never too late to learn new things. If you’re concerned about managing motherhood and education, take a look at these top tips to help make it work for you.

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1. Make a plan

The best way to be able to juggle motherhood and education is to make a plan. Much like when you were at school, you’re going to need to work out a schedule to fit in the required hours around looking after your family and taking time for yourself as well. When you’re tied to classes on certain days and times, you’ll have limited flexibility and will need to be prepared in advance.

Getting your family on a schedule will be a big help to help you all stay on track. A wall planner that details who’s doing what and when will help you all to manage your time so that you can fit in your classes without missing anything important at home.

2. Do some pre-studying studying

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If you’re nervous about returning to education or are worried about fitting it all in, then a test-run could be what you need to build your confidence and help you get back into the swing of it. You don’t have to begin with anything too difficult, reading a textbook or doing some quizzes can help you settle back into learning habits you might have forgotten about and prepare you for returning to education.

Doing some preparation will help you work out if this is really the best way forward for you. It will help you to get into the habit of studying while managing your other responsibilities.

3. Get organized at home

Now that you’ll be dedicating some of your time towards your education, you’re going to need to get better at managing chores. There are some great life hacks for moms that can teach you some great tricks, but there’s a lot to be said for forward-planning and preparation to help you stay on top of things. Batch cooking meals on the weekends will save you time preparing food during the week, and you might need to get some extra help with other chores around the house.

Multi-tasking will be a new way of life for you, so think of ways you can manage the laundry, cleaning and other chores while studying to help you stay on top.

4. Get help with childcare

Managing childcare with your education can be difficult, but there may be some good options you can consider to make it easier. Getting friends or relatives to help you out could ease some of the pressure, or you might need to consider some paid childcare to help you out while you’re in class. There may be times that you’ll have no choice but to miss a class because of a lack of childcare, but having that discussion with your tutor in advance could help them be more understanding.

If concerns about childcare are holding you back from starting your education, you might want to think about taking evening classes instead so that your partner can take care of the family while you’re in class.

5. Try distance learning

The great thing about education today is that it’s flexible – perfect for those who want to study while juggling other commitments. Undertaking a distance learning course online can help you achieve qualifications and learn new skills while being able to do so at your own pace. There are some good examples of institutions that are perfect for mothers wanting to further their careers. Our Lady of The Lake College teaches online Bachelor of Nursing degrees for registered nurses which allow for flexible, effective learning. On their website, they ask – ‘what makes Our Lady of the Lake online RN-BSN Nursing unique?’ The answer is pretty simple – the combination of high-quality materials and supportive learning environment are two great reasons to study online.

You’ll be surprised at the volume of institutions that offer distance learning, covering a range of subjects that could help you to boost your career.

6. Be a good student

Unlike your school days where you seemingly had endless periods of free time, when juggling a family your free time can be in short supply. Rather than putting things off until the last minute, get ahead of the game and get your assignments and studying done early. Forming good habits from the very beginning will make it easier for you to manage your workload, and will give you time to ask questions and take things at a good pace – rather than feeling the pressure when it’s almost deadline time!

Remember if you’re struggling that most institutions will be understanding of your needs. Seek help at the earliest opportunity, and they might be able to offer you some flexibility with deadlines as well as give you extra help if needed.

7. Enjoy it!

While there is a lot of preparation to be done to ensure that you manage motherhood and studying successfully, it’s important that you enjoy it. Studying can be a great way to do something for yourself and shift your focus away from work or home pressures and just enjoy using your brain differently. If you weren’t the studying type in school, you can help yourself to love studying and make it something to look forward to. Whether you’re studying to better yourself or to progress in your career, there’s no reason why you can’t make it fun.

Juggling motherhood and education doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds. Women manage it every day, and the gains for your career can certainly be worth the short-term pain. There’s a lot of great advice out there for finding the balance between home life and a career, and there’s no good reason why you can’t have it all. It may be a rough road, but you’ll be glad you did it if it means creating a better future for yourself and your family.  

People now live longer than they ever have before. That means that people often get more time with their parents and grandparents (and even great-grandparents), but it also raises a number of issues. With people living longer, it can mean they have longer retirements, which means they need more money. A long life also isn’t necessarily a healthy one, and many people find themselves facing health problems in their senior years. You can find yourself helping elderly relatives through these issues, as well as having to consider them yourself as you get older. These are some of the major issues you might need to think about.

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Making Big Decisions

As you get older, there are some big decisions you might have to think about. They can be difficult to confront, and many people might just ignore them until they can’t any longer. But it could be too late by then. Some of the big decisions you might need to consider include what sort of care or treatment you would want if you’re unwell or unable to care for yourself. You also need to think about things like when to retire, where to live in your senior years, and writing a will. These decisions can all be tough to face, but it’s much better to do it sooner rather than later.

Loneliness

Feeling lonely is a huge problem that affects many seniors. They can easily become isolated if they can’t leave their home or if they begin to lose their friends. Even couples who live together can still feel lonely because they don’t see anyone else. It’s important for family to help out, but they can’t always be there all the time. Other company is necessary too, whether it’s from neighbors or other seniors. With www.seniorsforseniors.ca, even a caregiver can provide company and socialization. Often it can be hard to connect with a carer as they seem more like an employee than a friend. However, companions who are the same age can offer a different service.

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Finances

Money becomes a huge issue for many seniors. Firstly, people living longer means that many aren’t saving enough to support them in their retirement. And that’s before they need to consider the cost of care and support they might need if they have any health problems. Thinking about money long before you retire is a smart thing to do. However, if it’s too late for that, it is possible to find financial help. You can find advice at www.bankrate.com.

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Loss of Independence

One of the things people fear most as they get older is losing their independence. Having to rely on other people to help you do everyday tasks can be devastating for your self-esteem and confidence. There are strategies that can be used to help people feel like they still have their autonomy. Some people might consider different options for their living arrangements, for example, so they can choose one that allows them to be as independent as possible.

It’s essential to think about these big issues if you have elderly relatives or you’re contemplating your own aging.

We all know how much it costs to send our kids to college these days. Indeed, that is why most parents will open a savings account while their children are still young. You have to think about tuition fees, accommodation, and more. However, many people overlook the essential purchases they’ll have to make before their kids leave home. To ensure that doesn’t become a problem for you, I’ve listed some of the most critical items below. All teens need these products if they want to make the most out of their college education. So, you should add these items to your list as soon as possible. Your child will struggle if you don’t.

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A new laptop computer

It’s almost impossible to complete a current college course without the use of a laptop computer these days. Regardless of the program they select, all students will have to perform a lot of research. Unless you want your child to spend most of their time in the library, that means they need reliable internet access. Spare no expense when it comes to buying the best device your money can afford. The computer will have to last for between three and five years in most instances. For that reason, they are going to require something fast with a large hard drive. Just make sure you shop around for the best deals.

A smartphone

Smartphones are vital for college these days for many reasons. Firstly, the device will help your child to keep in touch during their busy schedule. However, lots of companies now release useful apps for students. PeopleSoft Campus Solutions and other tools are known to help increase success rates. They also assist teens in monitoring their progress to ensure they aren’t falling behind. I’m not going to make any recommendations as to which smartphones are most suitable. New products reach the market every month, and so it’s sensible to perform your research when the time comes.

Student menu planning is a part of this school’s program. Here a student is shown using a basic nutrition textbook in her high school economics class in December 1971. Photo courtesy National Archives and Records Administration.

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Books, stationery, and other equipment

You might think that books and stationery aren’t going to break the bank. Still, that depends on which courses your child plans to complete. Some textbooks can cost hundreds of dollars, and they are essential for achieving a passing grade. Companies like Campus Books can help, but you’ll still have to find the money. If your loved one has to borrow the books from their friends, they might fall behind. They might also struggle to locate the information they require at the right time. That could cause many unnecessary problems. So, whatever happens, make sure you put some cash aside to pay for items of that nature. While your teen might get a part-time job, it isn’t fair to make them pay for everything.

You should now have a good idea of the type of products you will have to purchase for your child. Try to remember the advice from this article if you still have a couple of years to wait. If you do that, your loved one should have the most enjoyable time possible at college. If you overlook anything important, you might put your kid in an adverse position. No parent wants that to happen when their child is trying so hard to better themselves.

Summer is just around the corner and kids are counting down the days until school’s out. While they might be more than a little tempted to just watch TV and let all the knowledge from the past year leak out of their brains, you need to make sure they make the most of the summer by getting some fresh air. It might also be good for them to learn a skill or two. After all, education doesn’t begin and end in the classroom. Here are some suggestions for fun activities you can do with them, and they won’t even realise they’re learning something.

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Hands on learning

Sometimes children can learn best when they choose which activity they’d like to try for a day. Even practical activities such as dancing, gardening, and playing with their friends will help them develop social skills and coordination, and gardening will teach them about the cycle of life and where their food comes from. This approach to learning is often called the Montessori Method, which encourages children to choose their own interests and activities to work on each day, with a healthy mix of both indoor and outdoor work. You can learn more at BecomingMontessori.com and use some of these principles to help your kids keep learning throughout the summer. Ultimately, you only need to provide children with some sort of hands on activity, and they will get something out of it.

Explore the wilderness together

There is a lot to be learned from nature. If the weather forecast looks promising, you could take your kids camping for a few days and teach them how to survive in the wild. They can learn everything that’s taught in the scouts, but under the assumption that they’re just spending time with the family, and maybe a friend or two. As you’re going to be out and about, you can also show them a few first aid tricks in case anyone gets hurt. If you only have one day, you can still take them for a walk in the nearby woods and give them a quick crash course.

Travel

As the world becomes increasingly global, it would be a shame if your kids missed out on educational, yet fun, travel experiences. If they’re learning a language at school, take them to a country that speaks that language so they can practise. Traveling is a good supplement for history lessons, because every country features in both modern and ancient history. You give them a head start on the curriculum, then use your holiday photographs to help them study for exams.

Encourage sports

Sports activities not only teach kids how to play the game, they also teach kids how to work as a team toward a common goal. Your child does not have to join a sports team to become active in sports; because many recreational centers have spontaneous games that people play just for fun. You can also organize a game for your child’s friends in your backyard.