Ways You Can Boost Your Child's Education Outside School

School offers you some of the best and most unique experiences that you can have during your younger years. With fascinating subjects to learn and a variety of activities to do, school is a place for people to enjoy and know more. But even though you are outside of the school, there are still many opportunities to learn.

International schools in the Philippines tend to hold some educational activities out of their campuses, which helps their students to get immersed into the activity more. You can also help your child look for educational places and activities even during school breaks or weekends. Here are some activities and places that can help boost your child’s education while they are out of the school.

1.   Go to a museum

One of the most educational places that you can go to outside of the school is by going to museums. There are several museums that you can go around in Manila, like the Mind Museum in Bonifaio Global City, MuseongPambata along Roxas Boulevard, The Metropolitan Museum near Vito Cruz, and the National Museum in Ermita.

These museums offer you a look into diverse pieces of history, art, music, science, and culture. Some of these museums also have some interactive activities that your kids would enjoy.

2.   Unlocking some mysteries

If you want an activity that you can do with your family, while also getting your minds to work, then unlocking a few mysteries might be your cup of tea. Mystery Manila gives you, your friends, and family the opportunity to become detectives for a day, and solve some mysterious puzzles together. There are a variety of mysteries to choose from, and all of them would definitely give you and your kids a fun time.

3.   Science, anyone?

Another fun activity that you can do with your kids is to experience some science. Places like the Nido Science Discovery Center and the Exploreum in SM Mall of Asia. These places offer you some immersive experience for your kids, like hands-on activities that involve chemistry and physics. They also have exhibits like holograms and simulations which enhances the experience more.

4.   Experience nature

If you want to experience a bit more of the outdoors, you can go to nature and adventure parks like the Zoobic Safari in Subic, Manila Ocean Park, and Ocean Adventure (also in Subic). These places give you and your kids the chance to see different kinds of animals, and even interact with them. Other than some fascinating animal attractions, these places also offer some fun and exciting activities as well, all of which let you experience a few things that they don’t offer in schools.

Key Takeaway

Learning is one of the few things in life that never stops, as there is always an opportunity to experience something new every single day. Having you and your kids enjoy some nice fun, yet educational activities that give them some experiences that they would not see inside the comfort of their classrooms.

Related article : Active & Giving Family Living

About the Author:

Esther Diaz

A 22-year-old graduate of graphic design, DIY enthusiast, make-up lover and has a love-hate relationship with desserts. I dream to be soon one of the known bloggers.

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More Than a Number: Why You Shouldn’t Fixate on BMI

It can be tricky to keep track of your family’s health, especially as children grow up and their bodies and habits change so quickly. There are many different ways to measure and track body weight and composition, and one of the most popular of these is BMI, or body mass index. BMI uses the relationship between age, weight, and height to determine if a person’s weight is in a normal range for their age and size. 

But, while BMI is more detailed than just body weight, it’s still a very simplistic method of measuring health. Your family doctor will likely use BMI to make sure your children are growing at a healthy rate, but their overall health is about much more than just relative body weight, like eating a variety of healthy foods and getting regular exercise.

Issues with BMI

First off, muscle weighs more than fat. So if your child is athletic then their BMI will seem higher because their overall weight is heavier, even though they’re getting plenty of exercise. According to their BMI, many professional football players are technically obese, even though they spend their days exercising and have healthy diets. Second, depending on gender and ethnicity, different bodies store fat differently, and it can be hard to compare across these categories when looking only at BMI. Third, sometimes health is about more than weight, and your child’s emotional and mental wellbeing is far more important than a number on a scale.

Obsessing over the scale will only make your kids feel insecure and can lead to bigger issues later in life. It’s much better to focus on making sure your kids eat whole foods in healthy-sized portions, and get some exercise everyday. Let BMI remain a tool your doctor uses to get a quick snapshot of your child’s health when they need it.

Understanding Your Family’s Health

If you want a more accurate picture of your family’s health than just bodyweight, a better option is body composition. This kind of measurement identifies how much of a person’s body is fat, which is a good indication of overall health than BMI. However, it’s important to note that children’s bodies change rapidly as they develop and go through puberty, so spending time obsessing over their weight and body composition isn’t always productive unless a doctor has recommended it.

Instead, spend your energy cooking healthy food and helping your kids find exercise they enjoy, and not only will their physical health benefit, they’ll become better able to independently take care of their health in the future.

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What to Do When Stuck in the Middle of a Riot

Throughout the years, a large number of news showed incidents of violence. They are on the streets, within homes, and even in well-known peaceful places such as Paris. The thing is – violence has become constant – with people fighting for their own ideologies and principles in the form of anger. And though there may be peaceful protests, you cannot always determine the flow of the activity; hence, it is important to prepare for surviving riots.

Should the unwanted happens – which is being stuck in the middle of a riot – you should remember these tips:

#1 Know your area. Being familiar with your place helps a lot in so many ways, which includes being stuck in a riot. But before that even happens, it’s best to walk around your area to collect information on every street, back alley and dead end that you have in your place. If you’re commuting, it will also be helpful to know the area where you work and the different routes you could use to go home. Of course, also look for escape routes and safe areas you could run to, to secure safety. After gathering all these information, make sure to mark those key points on a map to record them.

#2 Do not panic. This is actually the best piece of advice you could use in case you’re stuck in the middle of a riot – do not panic. Keep your emotions in check as being afraid will only make you part of the ‘establishment’ that rioters hate.  Instead, keep your head down to avoid confrontations with the rioters and remember to walk at all times to avoid attracting unwanted attentions especially with the police that could mistake you for a threat.

#3 Blend in. If you haven’t found a way to escape the crowd, make sure to blend in. Remove any signs from your clothes that could make the rioters think that you are not one of them or at the very least, cover yourself. But while it is important to escape from the rioters, it is also important to look innocent in the eyes of the police to avoid getting arrested.

However, if someone from the rioters try to converse with you – make sure to mirror what they tell you so as to sound like you’re one of them. Just go with the flow, and… find your way out.

#4 Avoid direct interaction with the police. Although in your eyes, you are just someone who’s caught up in the riot – to the police, you are a probable threat. As frustrating as that may sound; you can’t cross the line and ask for their help.

#5 Be alert. Always keep an eye on your surroundings to avoid sudden attacks. It may possible, even within the crowd of the rioters – thus, watching people’s body language will help you know what to do next. Plus there’s a huge chance that you will be able to escape the riot unharmed.

Key Takeaway

With all these tips considered, it is important to realize that to survive a chaotic situation – it is important to start with yourself: prepare no matter how impossible it may happen to you, keep calm if it does, and stay alert to further avoid harm.

About the Author:

Laurel Santos may be a 24 year old adult but at her core she is just a little girl full of wonder. She lives in the city and works as a freelance photographer in the Philippines. She manages a small pet shop inside her village. She has a big heart for animals, especially stray dogs. She is an avid traveler because she believes that life is not lived within the borders of your own home.  Despite her busy schedule she always finds time to do one thing that she is very passionate about and that is writing.

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Build Your Own Indoor Garden With These Ideas

One of the best things to add in your home to make it look better, and give it a down-to-earth look, is by adding a garden. Having a garden at home allows you to grow your own plants, which can allow you to raise your own fruits and vegetables. It also gives your home a calmer atmosphere, which is good for removing some stress. It is also a nice DIY project for your home that you can do with your friends and family. But sometimes, your home may not have enough space for a garden. Fortunately you can create your own humble indoor garden with the right amount of materials. Here are some ideas to keep in mind when building your own indoor garden.

1.   Mason Jar Garden

Mason jars have become one of the most popular items to have on your home recently, and people have been using them for many different things, such as drinking glasses, stationery holders, and even as plant pots. For the latter idea, you can use mason jars as a makeshift vase for the plants inside your indoor garden. All you need is a few mason jars, and a stand or shelf where you can place them. Keep in mind that mason jars do not have holes in the bottom to drain the water, so do not overwater the plants.

Indoor1

2.   Tabletop Succulent Garden

One of the most important parts of the garden is the planter to place your plants. One of the best planter ideas to do is making a tabletop version of it. The material that you need for your tabletop succulent garden is a glass or ceramic container to place your succulents.

3.   Gutter Planter

While gutters are more known for their ability to redirect the flow of water on your rooftop, it can also be used as a planter for your indoor garden. For this project, you need a few sections of the gutter, some strong wires, and some screws. Once you are finished, all you need to go is to hang them on your wall and put some plants. This is great for those who are looking to grow their own fruits and vegetables indoors.

4.   Hanging Bottle Gardens

Another wonderful hanging garden idea, using some of your old bottles as your planters is a wonderful way of repurposing them. Like with the Gutter Planter, all you need is some wires and screws, and some glass or plastic bottles. This would give your home a more rustic feel, especially if you put flowers on your bottles.

5.   Wine Bottle Holder

Other than using bottles as your planters, you can also use wine bottle holders as well. These bottle holders work well as planters, as they are really intended to be hung on the wall. The materials that you need are nails and screws to place your bottle holders. As for the plants, you can place flowers and small fruits and vegetables.

Key Takeaway

Having an indoor garden is a great way to freshen up your home. You are not only decorating your home, but you are also able to grow your own plants as well. With these nice and simple indoor garden ideas, you are bound to give your home a nice new look. 

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