Best Educational Apps for Kids

In today’s generation, kids have more access to information more than ever. With the internet being more accessible to everyone, information can now be received just a few clicks away. Along with information being accessible, education has also improved. More children around the world have access to the best education available out there. With more and more children having access to the internet, it is important that this should be used for productive activities. One of the best ways to keep your children productive is by using apps. To keep your child productive and educated at the same time, here are some of the best educational apps for your children.

Flow

Photo Courtesy: appsafari.com

One of the more popular mobile games on this list, Flow is a simple but engaging puzzle game that taps into your child’s spatial and analysis skills. The goal of the game is to connect two lines of the same color in a grid. The puzzles start out as simple, and as the game progresses, it gets more challenging. With lots of levels and challenging gameplay, Flow is a game that your child will enjoy.

Drawing Pad

Photo Courtesy: mzstatic.com

If you want your child to tap into his artistic and creative side, then this app will definitely help hone those skills. Drawing Pad is a nice way to have your child do some drawings and painting, minus the mess that would come with actual art supplies. This app lets your child develop their art skills, which helps in the child’s creative thinking skills and focus. Although simple, Drawing Pad is an app that can provide enjoyment, and artistic expression at the same time.

iStoryBooks

Photo Courtesy: play.google.com

Having your child spend time reading is always a good activity, and a great way to get your children interested is by have them read stories. Having children read stories can improve their reading and understanding skills. iStoryBooks is an app that gives you some of the most popular children’s stories in a single place. With colorful and lively illustrations, even voice narration, this app can give your child a fun and productive time reading which they will enjoy. 

Hooked on Phonics

Photo Courtesy: play.google.com

If you want a fun and entertaining app that also helps develop your child’s reading and grammar skills, then Hooked on Phonics is the app your child would enjoy. The app provides a wide variety of lessons, games, and songs that help your child learn basic reading, grammar, and phonetics skills. The lessons contained in the app are progressive, which means that your child progresses through these games and activities as he/she improves their skills.

PBS Kids Video

Photo Courtesy: pbskids.org/apps/

With more children interested in watching videos from the internet nowadays, it is best to have them watch videos that they can learn from. PBS Kids Video offers a wide selection of educational cartoon videos that offer a large variety of lessons. Parents can also monitor the videos that their kids are watching through a parental tracker. With a good amount informative content available at your child’s fingertips, this app will help them learn, while also be entertained at the same time.

As mentioned earlier, with the diversity of information children can get from the internet, it is best to make sure that they are getting the ones that help them become productive and help them hone their skills. These apps would not only entertain your children, but also educate them as they learn new information and skills.

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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5 Ways to Prepare for the Upcoming Engineering Board Exam

After years of working on and earning your engineering degree, a new challenge faces you. Completing your degree was the first step in your engineering dreams, becoming a licensed engineer is the next step. Students from some of the best engineering universities in Manila and beyond now spend weeks upon weeks preparing for this big examination. Preparing for this exam requires a rigorous amount of studying and preparation, and some discipline. To help you prepare for the upcoming board exam here are some tips that can help you get ready.

1.   Taking a refresher course

Have an important lesson or topic that you need some intensive reviewing for? Or have a lesson that you have a tough time remembering? If the answer to both question is a yes, then going back to school and taking a refresher course is a good way to help you prepare for your exam. Refresher courses are a great way to familiarize yourself with some of your lessons in college again.

2.   Creating your review schedule

Reviewing for the board exam can be hectic at times, with so many topics and lessons to review, you may end up getting confused on where to start. To prevent the confusion, it is best to make your own review schedule. Having a review schedule makes sure that you are able to review all the important lessons and topics evenly, and ensures that you have the right balance of reviewing and relaxing.

3.   Find the right study place for you

Finding the right place to review is a challenge for most students. Most students look for a nice quiet place that is conducive to learning. Sometimes, nothing beats the comfort of your own home, while other students go to places like libraries and coffee shops for a nice cold place to review for the exam.

4.   Get rid of distractions

One of the most important qualities you need during your examination review period is discipline. Being disciplined means being responsible enough to follow your review schedule and routines without being bothered by the unnecessary distractions. These distractions can be activities like playing sports or video games, or even browsing social media and the internet. Removing yourself from those distractions can help clear your mind, and remain focused on your goal to pass the examination.

5.   Setting your mind

This is perhaps the most important item on this list. Setting your mind into reviewing and passing the board exam is your biggest priority. Having the right mindset would help along the way, as you have the focus, the drive, and the determination to take and pass the board exams.

Passing the engineering board exam is a tough task. With a lot of people failing the exam every year, it is no surprise that people are taking every step and precaution when preparing for the exam. With the country’s engineering students gathering up every year for this big day, it is best to know the essential tips and advice on passing the engineering board exam. 

Author bio:

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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Mistakes You’re Doing to Your Home Appliances

Buying the best appliances doesn’t immediately guarantee that they will last for a long time. There are a lot of common mistakes that people do that shorten the lifespan of their equipment. Here are some of them and their effects:

Washing Machines

-       Placing heavy objects and standing on it as well as washing clothes with objects in their pockets will damage the unit

-       Using hand-washing detergents instead of washing machine detergents will create too much foam which will break the unit

-       Not cleaning the rubber parts and dispenser of the machine encourages mould to grow inside.

-       Not removing finished loads right away damages the drum.

-       Not performing cleaning cycles or using the automatic cleaning cycle function causes grime to form inside.

Refrigerators

-       Not making sure that the refrigerator stays upright during the delivery or turning it on less than 15 hours from the time of arrival will make the compressor oil leak.

-       Placing it too near a wall will make the coils dirty which will reduce its effieciency

-       Not defrosting it twice a year deteriorates the interiors.

-       Placing too much items inside prevents air to flow properly inside

Slow Cookers

-       Using it while the outside walls of the pans are wet or leaving the inside of the lid wet after usage will break the unit.

-       Rinsing grains with the pan scratches the pan.

-       Going over capacity with ingredients will overwork the unit.

Dishwashers

-       Positioning dishes right-side up is an inefficient way to use it.

-       Putting unclean plates inside and not removing stickers on dishes and cups will clog the filters.

-       Using the washer while the dishes inside are touching each other will hinder the rotations of the water sprinkler.

-       Using dish washing liquids instead of powders and tablets causes malfunctions.

-       Not making sure that small objects are placed in the unit properly leads to them to scatter which could block its rotation parts.

-       Not putting salt and rinser in the dispenser tray prevents a long life for the unit.

-       Not cleaning the filters makes the unit struggle.

Microwaves

-       Not putting a class of water inside while heating lightweight consumables allows more microwave radiation.

-       Blocking the ventilation grills when in use make the unit inefficient.

-       Using the microwave while it is empty damages the magnetron.

-       Placing items above the maximum weight capacity inside will damage the interiors.

-       Heating unsuitable material could cause a fire.

Toasters

-       Using it near water and flammable objects could cause hazardous events.

-       Using it to cook scones will break the unit.

-       Not cleaning the inside from crumbs once a week causes mould.

Blenders

-       Blending hot food will break the unit.

-       Not keeping the motor housing dry could cause a short circuit.

-       Leaving a submersible blender plugged in when not in use causes overheating.

-       Blending dry ingredients like crackers will directly damage the blades.

Although you use these items every day and they feel like tanks, not maintaining them well could shorten their lifespans and even cause hazards at your home. Be safe and smart and don’t make these mistakes.

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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Healthy School Lunch Ideas

Bento boxes

By using mini personalised bento boxes inside your child’s lunch box, you can make it fun for them to open up their lunch. During the spring and summer, fill one pot with their favourite salad items, and you could even make a smiley face with the ingredients! Add in some pasta for a yummy pasta salad, and your child will be thanking you when they get home. Use your bento box to include natural yoghurt with honey, some cherry tomatoes, or a honey-mustard dip for carrot and cucumber batons.

Sandwich Alternatives

Sandwiches can get boring, and they’re also not too healthy! They can contain up to 20% of your daily intake of sodium, plus the choice of fillings may be upping the calories and fat percentage. Choose wholemeal bread with healthy fillings, or go for a wrap! They are quick and easy to make - just pack with plenty of salad and some lean protein for an extra tasty school lunch. Bagels with low-fat cream cheese make a delicious alternative to sandwiches too.

Tacos

Use whole-wheat tortillas with low-fat refried beans to create healthy mouth-watering tacos. Just add some lettuce and grated cheese, and there’ll be smiles all round. Perhaps a side of salsa might go down well too!

Healthier Versions Of Foods

Instead of giving your children crisps in their lunch box, try sweet potato chips, vegetable crisps or other savoury snacks. They still taste great, but they’ll be so much healthier than your usual brand. If you want to stick with your kid’s favourite crisps, you could give them half a packet emptied into a container, therefore decreasing the amount of junk food they are consuming.

Fruit & Veg

A piece of fruit is vital to any healthy lunch. Don’t let it get boring though – give your child a new piece of fruit every day or every other day in their lunch box so they can look forward to trying it! This is also a great way to get 1 or 2 of their 5 a day consumed within one meal. Strawberries, cherries, grapes and slices of apple are great additions to any lunchbox.

Sweet Treats

Alternatives to high-sugar chocolate bars can include popcorn or flapjack, each with a drizzle of chocolate on top. It will satisfy their sweet tooth while being a lot healthier for their growing bodies.

Mix & Match

Fill a bento box with pre-cooked pasta, and other smaller containers with the toppings – for example, tomatoes, chunks of mozzarella, yummy fresh basil, chicken and a healthy pasta sauce. The kids can then be in-charge of which toppings they choose to add when lunchtime comes around. They’ll also be enjoying the taste so much that they won’t even notice it’s healthy!

Need more ideas? Read this also : 111 School Lunch Ideas

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