Sit and Stand

 This honey bear lives inside the Ragunan Zoo (Jakarta, Indonesia). Honey bears can be identified by the light-colored fur on their upper-chest.

Camera Critters

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When should You Teach Your Child to Swim?

Regardless of whether you have a pool and the pool supplies to match, it is essential that you teach your kids how to swim. Too many children die each year from drowning; in fact, drowning is the number one cause of death for children under the age of five in Australia. If your child is under two years old, giving them swimming lessons may scare them away from swimming altogether. If you wait too long, however, it may be too late to teach your child, as they may have moved on to other activities. So let’s take a look at the perfect age to teach a child to swim:

Is There Such a Thing as ‘Too Young’?

Many people believe that there is no such thing as ‘too young’ when it comes to teaching children to swim. But generally speaking, anywhere between the ages of two and four is a good time to teach your children how to swim. Just remember to be present when your child is first learning to swim, as it is a very dramatic experience.

Buy Safety Equipment

To start, make sure you purchase all the required water-safety equipment. Some parents and children feel more comfortable when using floaties, whereas others think that it’s a crutch that will stunt your child’s swimming progress. It’s really up to you how you approach this situation.

Avoid Dependence on Pool Gear

As mentioned above, there is a danger of your children becoming overly dependent on floaties and other water-safety gear. If you want to use floating devices to help your child get in the water initially, make sure you slowly wean them off when they start showing signs of confidence. If you take too long, they may be dependent on the devices forever. Also ensure that the area around the pool is clear of any unnecessary equipment such as Frisbees, buckets, hand tools, or any other objects found in the backyard.

Be Confident

If you don’t exude confidence when teaching your child how to swim, chances are they won’t be confident in the water either. If your young ones know that Mum and Dad can help them if they are in trouble, they will be much more comfortable in the water. It goes without saying that it is very important that you yourself know how to swim. If you don’t know how to swim, then this is the perfect time to learn.

Pool Safety

Teaching your kids to swim is only half the battle; you should also teach them about being safe around the pool. This means no running or sliding around the pool, no backflips or dangerous stunts, no swimming without an adult present and no dunking. It’s a good idea to teach your child CPR once they have got the hang of swimming.

Swimming is lots of fun and a great way to keep healthy. During the summer months, millions of Australians of all ages spend their weekends relaxing by the pool. So the sooner your kids know how to swim, the better!

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Learning from Michael Masterson

Learning from the experts is one of the most effective ways that someone should do during the journey toward successful life. I believe that there’s no one in this world who wants to become a looser and a burden of others. Every one, including you –of course- wants to achieve financial freedom and become a winning person.  

So, how’s your existing life? If you want to change your life into the much better one, you can learn how to do it from Michael Masterson. For you who haven’t yet heard much about Michael Masterson, let me explain a little here. Michael Masterson is a best-selling author of the Wall Street Journal, business consultant and successful entrepreneur.  

 

As an entrepreneur, he started it since he’s so young, 11 year’s old. With his huge   -almost four decades- entrepreneurial experience, you surely can learn a lot from his broad knowledge and expertise. Even Katie Yeakle, director of American Writers & Artists Inc, described Michael Masterson as a polygamous entrepreneur; as he’s ever run or consulted many successful businesses in a large variety of areas.

 

Michael Masterson shares and conveys his advice, proficiency, point of views and experience through his books that you can get easily at Amazon.com. He’s also written poetry and fiction books, but his books on business, wealth building and copywriting got the most reader’s attention. Anyone who craves to reach financial independence and know how to be an automatic wealth-builder should read his books titled Automatic Wealth for Grads and Automatic Wealth. He wrote several other business books; all are worth-to-read ones!

Michael’s last business –at his age of 50’s- is EarlyToRise.com, an online company that offers business advice and training to more than 200,000 consumers. Not only as the Founder and Editor Emeritus of EarlyToRise, Michael Masterson also writes regularly concerning starting and growing small businesses on his online journal. Check out EarlyToRise.com/michael-masterson-journal to catch and discover more his latest writings.

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Hiring a Caterer for Your Party

Planning a big event requires extreme organisational skills and attention to detail, especially if you are planning to serve food. Whether you are planning a personal family get-together, a gathering with friends or a business affair, hiring a caterer should be on your to-do list in order to pull off the event successfully. Having a professional event caterer will save you a great deal of time and stress during the party planning stages, and will help you feel like a guest at your own party.

Start Early

If you want a caterer with the best reputation and food for your party, you will have to book them early. Finding the caterer should be one of the first things on your to-do list, so that you can take your time choosing one. Make a list of caterers in your area and begin making appointments with them so that you can discuss your event and find out which company will be best suited to your needs. Also, it is worth asking around in your circle of friends if anyone has any recommendations for caterers, as that is the best way to get an accurate opinion on their service.

Broaden Your Search

The largest and most expensive caterer in town is not necessarily the one that will meet your needs the best. Instead, look for new or smaller companies who are more likely to go the extra mile to get your business, and may be able to give you better deals and more outstanding service than some of the larger companies. Smaller companies also tend to make their food from scratch as opposed to using canned or frozen food, and a newer company is more interested in building a good reputation, so will go above and beyond for you.

Visit in Person

Calling the caterer is fine for getting a price estimate, but the only true way of knowing whether a company will work out is by going in person and talking to them. During your appointment, you will have a chance to sample their food and discuss the particulars of your event, while getting a feel for the type of service you will get from them. Although price, date and food are the most important things to get out of a caterer, you also want to know that they will display the level of professionalism that you require.

Budget and Payment

When you’re making your party-planning budget, it’s wise to overestimate how much the caterer will cost as they usually exceed their quoted price. Most caterers will also ask for half of their payment up-front as a deposit, and the other half after the event is over, so make sure it’s in your budget. Additionally, every caterer has a different cancellation policy, so you should clarify how much notice they would need in order for you to get your deposit back. Knowing these details will allow you to more precisely budget for other party supplies you may need.

Saying Thank You

When the event is finished, and you are satisfied with the caterer you chose, it’s in good taste to send the company a tip as well as a thank-you card and even a bouquet of flowers if you were particularly happy with the service. The better your relationship is, the easier it will be to plan your next event!

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How to Improve your Concentration and Productivity

Everyone knows the importance of concentration for succeeding in life. If you cannot concentrate on the work that you're doing, you won't be able to give it your complete input which will result in partial success or failure. Often we lose our concentration in the middle of the job. This post, I will explain five simple tips to improve concentration and stay productive. Remember, concentration takes a lot of time and effort. You will have to make a conscious effort to be able to improve your concentration.

Make a good plan

Making a good plan is very essential to stay focused and concentrated. You should create a good plan for even the very simple of tasks. Many people fail to do this and are not able to succeed in what they're doing. Your plan should be realistic and achievable. Do not plan for the impossible because it will lead to failure which will lead to frustration. Overall, it will affect your concentration and make you less productive.

Take rest

Taking rest is very important to stay focused. In fact, many studies have indicated that taking rest is necessary for concentration. You cannot keep working on the same thing hours at a stretch and at the same time expect to give your maximum output. Preferably, you should take a small break every hour. This way your mind will be refreshed and you can stay focused. If you have any hiccups, taking a look at them from a fresh perspective after a rest break can give you new ways to tackle them.

It is also important that you get adequate sleep at night. Studies indicate that adequate sleep is very essential for the brain to function normally. Ensure that you get at least eight hours of sound sleep every day.

Keep your work environment very neat and clean

This is very important because if your work environment is not neat and clean, you won't be able to concentrate on your job fully. You might have observed that larger companies spend a lot of money on having the best office environments. They don't do this for show but because it improves the efficiency of their employees. Keep your office clutter free and professional and you will see increased concentration and productivity.

Meditation, yoga and exercise

Your mind will function properly only when your body gets the right kind of exercise. Exercise on a daily basis. You can also practice yoga. Meditation is also a good technique for improving your concentration and staying focused.

Think positively

Last but not the least, always be positive about life. Everyone has to see failure in life at one time or another. Failure is a part and parcel of our existence. Do not let a temporary setback to affect your long-term goals in life. Be positive and you will be able to concentrate and focus on the job at hand and increase your productivity.

About the author:

Aditya Venkatesh is a computer-enthusiast who is fascinated by computer technology, gadgets and the Internet. He writes frequently on computers and other topics on www.AdiWebs.com. He also maintains a website on feng shui. In the past, he worked as a technical writer at a leading web development company in Hyderabad, India. His other interests include photography and DIY projects.

/image:thelessoncloud.com/

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How Can You Ensure Senior Citizens in Your Family Have Safer Visions on Roads

Driving above 60 can prove to be hazardous. And this is not only true for the speed, but for the age as well. Research shows that drivers above the age of 60 tend to make more mistakes than young people who drive. People in this age bracket are termed as “senior citizens”. Another fact that further demonstrates the inability of senior citizens to drive properly is the fact that auto-insurance companies raise the premium for the elderly!

Of course, this is not difficult to comprehend. When you are old, you lose your energy and your reflexes. Moreover, the eyesight also becomes weak and it is difficult to view objects moving at a high speed. Senior citizens also tend to drive really slowly. All these factors can affect, sometimes greatly, other drivers on the road as well. Whether there should be an upper age limit for driving or not is a topic of constant debate.

Driving, of course, is every person’s right which cannot be taken away by force. However, certain are associated with old age driving which cannot be brushed aside. The driver will not only suffer him/herself, but may also put the lives of others on the road in danger. Old age, unfortunately, comes with a package of problems that also include weak eyesight.  These issues have to be kept under consideration when senior citizens are trained for driving.

Meanwhile, senior citizens and their loved ones can take a few protective measures, such as:

Using Eye Glasses or Contact Lens

This the most common way of adjusting issues of weak eyesight. Using optics or contacts can improve vision problems in older people, helping them to make fewer mistakes while driving. To save money, one can use discount offers like the GetLenses discount code. A GetLenses discount code will help you to purchase quality contact lenses at lower prices. Plus, the eye color can also be transformed. You can avail this offer and purchase products for your elders relatives.

Have Eye Checkups Regularly

Even if there is a slight clue of a vision disorder, seek immediate help. This will keep you aware of any problems that can put you and other drivers at risk. Disorders like macular degeneration can cause eye problems that are notable, and they can serve as indicators for a checkup. On a general level, all age groups, and not just senior citizens, do not bother to have their eyes tested from time to time. This is a habit that leads to growth of vision problems in the US. Senior citizens must therefore put in an extra effort.

Realize your Inability

Ageing only looks good if you are referred to as a “senior” or “experienced” person. Otherwise, most people have a hard time accepting they have become old. The word itself has negative connotations. However, when personal eye care and the lives of other people are in question, such an attitude is simply not acceptable. Senior citizens must realize that their bodies, especially the eyes cannot perform in the same way as they used to do. Do not get frustrated if many people tell you that your driving is not up to the mark. Rather, accept your condition, as acceptance is the only thing that leads to solutions.

Drive on Familiar Routes

This is a great way to counter the annoyance of a growing number of tickets, as well complaints of friends and family. When you drive on familiar routes, you tend to make lesser or even no mistakes at all. In this way, you can fulfill your desire to drive while keeping yourself and others safe. Driving on new places, on the other hand, can put your under pressure, something that also becomes to handle in old age. So avoid any inconvenience by only driving on roads that you know well.

Keep Your Vision Field Clear

Faulty eye sight can be doubled with stained glasses/lens and dirty windshields. Moreover, driving in snow and rain can also hinder vision. Avoid driving under these circumstances. If you are driving at night, do not look at sharp lights as they can damage your vision for some time.

Drive Slow and Maintain Distance

This is recommended for all age groups in order to avoid accidents on the road. However, senior citizens with weak eyesight should follow this principle like a law to compensate for fading vision and slow reflexes. 

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Unique Ways to Help a Charity

You probably have a favourite charity or cause. It might be a local church or a hospital, a cancer research program or a program overseas that’s tailored towards helping impoverished communities or endangered animals in remote continents. If you donate regular earnings to your charity, then that’s fantastic! But what are some other unique ways you can help them out?

Volunteering in Person

Volunteering in person is a great way to help your charity out and creates more of a personal connection between you and your charity. You could volunteer as a one-off or ‘yearly’ effort or more regularly, like once a month.

If your charity is located overseas, see if you can get involved with your local base. It’s a wonderful way to meet like-minded people and develop new contacts who are interested in your cause. 

Behind the Scenes

If getting out in the open isn’t your style, how about volunteering for your charity behind the scenes? Could you help them out with printing flyers or maintaining their website? Many charities often look for ‘behind the scenes’ helpers to help run and manage the business, from admin staff to delivery guys, so open your options and look for unique ways to help out behind the scenes. 

Sourcing Supplies

Got a bit of spare time on your hands? Another unique idea is to spend some time sourcing supplies and goods for your chosen charity. You might find ways to source food hampers for those in need or even things like desk supplies for the local office. 

Selling Goods

Similarly, selling goods can also help raise a bit of extra cash for your charity. Other than selling your own goods, one idea could be to collect donations from others and sell them at garage sales or over the internet, via platforms like Gumtree or eBay. You might want to consider starting your own charity shop! 

Charity Credit Cards

Do you use a credit card often? Many charities these days are starting to brand their own credit cards. Every time you pay for something on the card, the charity gets a small fee. It’s a concept that’s slowly gaining popularity in Australia, but it’s a good one. Just think of the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Visa Card, GE Money’s Eco credit card or Bendigo Bank’s RSPCA credit card. Spend money and support your charity, all at the same time!

Special Occasions

Special occasions often call for special efforts when it comes to charities. Use holidays like Christmas and Easter to help spread the word about your chosen charity. You might want to buy charity Christmas cards, for example, for your friends or colleagues or run an Easter Egg Drive at Easter to collect chocolate for those who can’t afford it.

Using the Internet

In this digital age, the Internet is indispensible when it comes to helping your charity. But beyond their main website, what else could you do? How about organising a ‘donate by clicking’ email campaign or posting advertisements on social media sites like Facebook and Flickr. Alternatively, making a YouTube video for your charity is fun and unique way to create awareness and promote your charity.

 /image:gograph.com/

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