How to Ensure Your Children are Confident Swimmers

While there is a lot of attention paid to the dangers of water, there is also something to be said about knowledge and confidence around water. The problem with swimming lessons alone for your child is that they may miss out on important lessons about behaviour around water. Teaching your child to be a confident swimmer does not always mean getting in the water. It is important to teach your child how to understand different types of water – from rivers to the ocean, so they are prepared to swim in anything.

Familiarity with WaterOne great way to get your child familiar with water is to take them fishing or to go out in a boat. This will give them a chance to understand water even if they are not the strongest of swimmers. It is more about showing water respect rather than fear.

Another way to get children more comfortable with water is to involve them in all aspects of maintaining your pool, if you have one. It is not appropriate for a child to handle the chemicals and pool cleaners, but they could certainly have other responsibilities around the water. Just make sure that they are supervised.

Swimming SportsSwimming sports are a great way for your kids to have fun and learn how to swim at the same time. While many sports will require some knowledge of swimming others will teach your child as they go. It is a pretty cool idea to get your kids some diving toys and other fun things to do in the pool.

Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons from a professional are very important and these other ideas are intended to be as well as, rather than instead of swimming lessons. There are always swimming courses run at local pools. Junior life-saving organisations can be a great source of professional support if you live by the ocean. This will give your children valuable knowledge about being in the surf, as well as some great fitness on the sand. It will also provide them with a bit of healthy competition.

Swim with ThemGeneral swimming safety at all times when your children are young is essential. This will mean swimming with them or having another adult swim with them. This will help them learn from you and provide someone for them to grab onto if they feel scared or out of their depth.

Pool SafetyYou should also make your child feel safe around pool areas by paying attention to pool safety. Make sure your pool is secure with the correct fencing and a pool cover in winter time. Always check the status of your pool safety equipment if you have a pool in the backyard. If you live near water sources, be sure to let your children know never to go there alone.
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Family Cycling Holiday – The Benefits of Family Travel Holiday

If you're looking for an eco-friendly, cost-conscious holiday with the kids, a family cycling break could be just the thing you're looking for. Spending time with the family is more valued than ever and there is a great range of holidays on offer, which don't need to cost the earth. Active cycling trips will also help you to remain fit and healthy whilst enjoying all the treats of a family break. This kind of holiday means travelling to destinations is just as enjoyable as the destinations themselves.

Why cycling holidays?

Everyone enjoys family holidays, but it can be difficult to find something that suits all without breaking the bank. Hotels are expensive when it comes to multiple rooms. Self-catering accommodation and beach resorts are fine if you're happy to stay in one area, but what about the spirit of adventure and exploration that parents want to nurture in children? Cycling trips allow families to spend time together, whilst being fit and healthy in the outdoors. They are flexible and allow you to explore, motivate each other and experience the landscape, local attractions and culture up close. They also help to engender positive qualities in everyone and encourage teamwork, creating more memories than simply sitting on the beach for two weeks.

The family that cycles together...

For teenagers, cycling offers freedom of expression. Family holidays abroad often involve spending a lot of time together in close proximity, which can either be highly enjoyable or rapidly become stressful! With bikes, the family can either explore and travel together or go off in pairs on local excursions. Bikes also mean that teenagers can have travel freedom without relying on lifts, which offers parents equal freedom! Younger children can either sit in specially made passenger seats on their parents' bikes or ride tandems so they don't get tired. The adults can rapidly discover forgotten muscles and experience the pleasure of physical fatigue, particularly if they are used to office jobs and sedentary lifestyles. The kids can burn off that excess energy. Certainly, no pint of beer, glass of wine or local trattoria lunch tastes better than when it comes after an exhilarating bike ride in the beautiful great outdoors.

The price is right

Cycling is also cost effective, particularly when combined with camping or caravan breaks. These needn't be overly basic either; there are some great holiday camps available for holidays abroad offering excellent facilities, on site shops, restaurants and plenty more. Cheaper holidays take the stress away from the process and make them all the more enjoyable. It also means that you have more money when you get to your destination to spend on all the treats and excursions you need to explore the local area to the max.

Get some prep in first!

As with any new sport, it pays to take things easy and be prepared. Launching into miles of cycling if you've not sat on a bike for 20 years may not be the best idea! Build up some training whilst you are at home and develop basic endurance and cardiovascular health before embarking on long distance cycling whilst on holiday; you'll enjoy it all the more and dodge the taunts of your teenagers!

Leanne Rowe writes regularly on cycling holidays and family holidays abroad for a range of cycling, sport and holiday websites and blogs.

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10 Ways to Calm Your Baby

Babies cry as a form of communication. It’s their way of letting you know something is not quite right. A child has lots of different cries and learning to understand your baby’s calls will help you find the right solution. If your child continues to cry, he/she might need a trip to the doctor. But if you know your baby is simply hungry, teething, tired, scared, or restless, try these tips to calm them down. They may not all work for you, but it’s worth a try!

1. Milk

Babies love milk! If your baby is hungry, a feed might be in order, whether at your breast or from a bottle. While you shouldn’t automatically feed your baby every time he or she cries, milk can act as a soothing comfort. If you find your baby stops crying after they’ve been fed, their crying probably related to hunger or frustration.

2. Dummies and Teething Toys

If your baby is crying because they’re in pain from teething, consider using a dummy or a teething toy to calm them down. These come in all shapes and sizes, from giraffes and bracelets to fruits and rattles. Chewable foods like carrot sticks and teething biscuits can help, too.

3. Singing

Though your baby can’t talk, it can recognise you by sight, smell and the sound of your voice. If your baby is on a crying tirade, singing might help. You can sing almost anything – lullabies, nursery rhymes, rock songs – it’s the sound of your voice that could help to soothe your little one.

4. Music and Sounds

Babies are also attracted to sounds and music (other than you singing). See if you can find a music CD that helps calm them down. They might like classical music, nature sounds, funky world music or even pop music.

5. Holding Positions

Holding your baby in different positions can help to comfort them and it can also help relieve gas. Try holding your baby on his/her back, resting their head in the crook of your elbow or holding your baby in a seated position, with his/her back against your chest. To help relieve gas, you can rest your baby on your shoulder or hold his/her in a ‘superman’ position, face down, and rock them back and forth.

6. Soothing Movements

If you’ve tried holding your baby in lots of different ways and nothing is working, perhaps your baby needs some movement. Instead of walking, try rocking them back and forth, or using a swing or rocking chair if you’ve got one. You can also try bouncing them lightly in the pram or pushing them around in their pram. A sense of calming and constant movement could be all your baby needs.

7. The Car

Ever taken your baby for a ride in the car and found that he or she’s fallen asleep? The constant motion of a car often puts babies at ease. If you’ve got a car and you’ve tried a few, unsuccessful remedies, try taking your little one for drive. The change of scenery might also distract them. (Don’t forget to take your baby bag, too, just in case!)

8. Bath

Some mothers claim that giving their baby a quick bath when they’re upset can work wonders. Many adults love swimming or taking a spa as a form of relaxation – and babies are the same. See if your crying baby responds to the therapeutic effects of water. You never know, they might just want to splash around!

9. Massage

The soft touch of your hands can relax a baby instantly. Try massaging your baby in soft, small, circular strokes over his/her body, using baby oil or moisturiser. You can massage his/her head, temples, arms, legs, chest and back. If your baby squirms, move on to a different spot until you find something they like.

10. Stay Calm

Do you find that your crying baby frustrates you, or makes you feel worried or upset? Your baby can also sense how you are feeling – the more upset you are, the less likely they are to calm down. Remember, staying calm will help soothe your baby, too.
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Cool Baby Gifts for You

Getting things together for the arrival of a new baby is something that becomes routine after the first child but when it is your first child, you may not consider everything that needs to be purchased. Some feel as if they are going to get by on just a few of the essential items, such as baby blankets or a burp cloth. When the baby arrives, however, they quickly learn that these items are used regularly and they may not have enough on hand in order to keep them available without doing laundry every other day. That is why these items make such an excellent choice for baby shower gifts. This is true, even if a registry is available and they are not included on the registry. Of course, it would be a good idea for you to pick something up that is requested but you can add in some hooded towels or other items that will help make your gift unique and it is something that will be appreciated, once they actually start to use them.

It is also possible for you to purchase these items in a way that makes them even more unique. Many people enjoy having monogrammed items, regardless of whether they are blankets or bibs and there are also many of these which can be purchased with funny sayings. In that way, you will be able to purchase something for the parents as well as the child with their personality in mind. It is something that will help them to remember your generosity, each and every time it gets used.

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Should You Holiday with Relatives?

Planning to travel with relatives can be tricky if it’s not done properly. Some people simply choose not to travel with extended family because of the potential stress, while others find it to be a highly rewarding experience. The following are some tips for how to change the idea of travelling with relatives from mildly terrifying, to enjoyable.

Should You, or Shouldn’t You? 
Sometimes, when it comes to travelling with relatives, there is no choice in the matter. Family reunions, weddings and funerals are events that you will have to attend alongside relatives whether you want to or not. Holidays, on the other hand, are a completely different matter. If you know without a doubt that having a voluntary holiday with your relatives is going to be a nightmare, then maybe you really should consider not doing it. If you are one of the lucky ones who get along well with your relatives, then you have nothing to worry about!

Have a Meeting 
To make your holiday a success, sit down with your relatives beforehand and plan out as much as possible, so that everyone will be on the same page when the holiday arrives. Planning in advance will also highlight and eliminate any possible bad situations that could arise once the holiday has begun. The following are some things that should be discussed:

1. Plan your accommodation. Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to where you will all be staying. Serviced apartments and bed and breakfasts can be the best options because everyone can have their own private space, but communal areas are available as well. It is also worthwhile considering a holiday location such as an all-inclusive resort, because this will eliminate a lot of the guesswork once your group arrives.

2. Set a budget. One of the biggest hassles when travelling with relatives is handling the finances. Work out the things you may want to have a communal budget for – such as petrol, meals, and other travel expenses – and the things that you will be paying for individually. Determine an efficient system of cost-sharing in order to avoid playing the “who owes who what” game.

3. Make an itinerary. Try not to plan everything down to the last detail, as this is a recipe for disaster. Instead, make a general itinerary based on what everyone would like to see and do. This will ensure that outings involve everyone, while respecting the wishes of each person.

4. Think about meals. Mealtime is also a biting time of the day when dealing with large groups of relatives. Not everyone is into the same type of food, and everyone will have their own idea of what is too expensive. Talking about this beforehand will clear the air and help you avoid awkward mealtime decisions. Be frank about what meals people will want to share, and for which meals people should go their separate ways.

Spend Some Time Apart
Perhaps one of the biggest threats to a good holiday going wrong is if you and your relatives are spending way too much time together. Going your separate ways once in a while will help the success of the holiday in the long run. It will make things more fun and interesting at the end of the day when you all get back together again and are able to share stories of your individual adventures.

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Planning a Secret Surprise Party

Life is full of surprises, and when you have someone in your life that you want to do something special for, then a surprise party can be a very fun and thoughtful way to treat them. Throwing a successful surprise party is all about being able to execute well-planned details in secret, so that on the big day the guest of honour has no idea what is coming. The following tips will help you plan such a party for your special someone, and to help make sure it is a party to remember.

Know the Inner Circle
The very first step to planning a surprise party is to know all of the important people to invite. The longer you have known the guest of honour, the easier this step will be. Planning a surprise party requires a lot more interaction, so you should be ready to get in touch with all of the guests yourself so that you can clue them in on the details.

Plan for Good Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to surprise parties. You need to be absolutely sure as to when the guest of honour will be arriving to the chosen party location, and then have all of the party attendees arrive well before then. Another important aspect is choosing the day that both the guest of honour and the invitees are available. To ensure the guest of honour will be ready for a party, it is wise to make a fake plan with them so that they aren’t surprised in a bad way.

Decide on a Theme
As the organiser you will have all the responsibility for planning, but you must be careful not to plan the party as if it is yours. This is the tough part of planning a surprise party, as you really need to focus on what will be most enjoyable to the guest of honour. Keep reminding yourself that you are planning a party for someone else, and that your sole job is to organise the details. If you are at a loss, you can get together with some of the invitees who know the guest of honour well, and do some brainstorming about what kind of party would be best.

Invitations
Invitations are useful for any kind of party, but are especially important for surprise parties. Since timing is so important, an invitation with the time, date and location on it will ensure that all invitees are at the right place at the right time. On the invitations, state whether people should bring gifts, food or drinks or anything else with them. It might be a good idea to arrange catering, or pick up a few gourmet hampers for a tasty and diverse selection of cheese, wine and other great party snacks.

Eye for Detail
On the day of the party, start early to make sure all the loose ends are tied up. Have the food ready, as well as any party favours or decorations that you want to include. If you have caterers or a DJ, give them a call to confirm the time that they will arrive. Last, but not least, have a small gift or bouquet of flowers ready to give the guest of honour when they finally arrive to their party./image:theoutlethome.com/

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Colder Days

It's my late Blue Monday post. How's your weekend anyway? Last long weekend was a boring one for me. My husband suffers insomnia for the last few weeks; he wakes up when I sleep and he just can start to sleep in the morning. I was alone during the day. Fortunately I’ve got several tasks that I should be done. Though I wanted to relax on the whole weekend; I didn’t complain as I need the money :)I felt cold this Monday afternoon. We’ve got rainy days recently; it makes the weather is colder than usual here. I hope a mug of green tea can give warmth to my body. This blue mug is my late father’s mug. Now I use it every day. The rain is still falling outside and I’m enjoying my hot green tea. What will you drink when your body need warmness?Blue Monday

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