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Duration: This giveaway will run from May 21, 2013  until June 11, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST. Please feel free to complete the entries at your own pace. Remember, you can always come back to enter daily entries. The more entries you submit, the better chances of winning!

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Educational board games like Scrabble might be a great game for learning new words, but they can also be boring for younger kids. You can actually modify the rules to make it more interesting for your little ones. This game can teach your kids both reading and math skills.

Other games that have been around for a long time like dominoes, pickup sticks, and barrel of monkeys are also fun games for kids that parents can also enjoy. Your children’s motor skills will be developed through these games. A game of charades or Pictionary can also stimulate creativity. Just like Scrabble, however, you have to scale these games down to a level that your kids can successfully manage. Not knowing what the words are or having difficulties drawing their clues could make the games frustrating for young ones.

More active alternatives help improve your child’s physical development. You can actually engage in a sport that both you and your child love. A father and son tandem can throw some hoops or go out to the football field to practice their tosses and tackles. Playing team games is also a great way for bigger families to share quality bonding time. A game of tag in the backyard is also a fun and simple way for kids and parents to get some exercise.

There are also games for kids that you can play on the road. Singing games and guessing games are great for keeping your kids from getting bored during longer road trips. Play a game of movie trivia by thinking of famous lines and having your kids guess the character who said those lines and the movie where it was taken from. Take your cues from your children. Be creative and be ready to switch things up to keep them interested. Active minds and bodies will have less time for mischief or tantrums.

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Photostock – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Contrary to the dependence that this theory seems to encourage, the children who are raised using this parenting technique actually grow up to be more secure and independent. They are also found to have the ability to form more meaningful social relationships when they reach adulthood.

Goofying on cam is one of our bonding moments.

Attachment parenting is founded on several principles that revolve around nurturing the connection between parents and children. The process starts during the early stages of pregnancy when the parents are taught to eliminate negative emotions about pregnancy. Parents have to be ready for the emotional and physical demands of carrying a child for nine months and delivering a healthy baby into this world. The positive mind set developed during this stage will carry on through the baby’s birth. Breastfeeding and co-sleeping arrangements are welcomed as part of sound child rearing practices. Parents seek to understand cries and other expressions of emotion. These are treated as efforts to communicate. The understanding that ensues strengthens the bond between parents and children. Other practices like baby-wearing and regular family time are also part of this parenting technique.

When children feel that their parents are around to support them, they are able to understand their surroundings better. Advocates of attachment parenting have found connections between severely mal-adapted children and the failure to form secure attachments. There is what is referred to as the reactive attachment disorder or RAD which is diagnosed in children who are deprived of physical and emotional care. While this kind of disorder develops only in severely neglected children, there are similar instances of lesser magnitude observed in children who are not as emotionally attached to their parents. Parents who want to adopt this parenting style should be ready to devote time and attention to their children. Resorting to modern conveniences like the availability of child care services as well as feeding and childcare tools as a means to compensate for lack of parental time are not encouraged at all.

There are plenty of information materials that focus on how to put this parenting style into action. The most important part of childrearing, however, is the parents’ commitment and dedication towards raising happy, well-balanced, and self-reliant children.

Build Sand Castles!

Challenge everyone in the family with these fun summer activities, to create sand castles and sculptures that are photo op-worthy! Don’t settle for the shapeless mounds that you used to make, with tools such as a small bucket, a small shovel and carving tools to help you, you can create a fortress that all of you will be truly proud of!

Beach Camping

For a change, opt for a beach camping rather than the usual hotel resorts that your family usually book and reserve. The kids will have the grandest experience setting up and sleeping inside a tent. You may also use camping stoves and cook set to prepare your food. You can teach your kids to be more conscious about the environment as you tell them to collect the garbage and to dispose them properly too. These summer activities can make your kids’ vacation exciting and worthwhile.

Treasure Hunting

For a kid’s wild imagination, the sea and the sun can be synonymous with pirates and treasure hunts! While at beach, give your kids a special mission to find the most unique shells or draw up a treasure map that they can easily follow. Cap the day with a reward and a sumptuous feast of fresh and yummy seafood!

Stargaze at Night

Down at the beach is the best location for stargazing and catching falling stars for a wish! Take advantage of the wide open sky that’s perfect for sky watching and star gazing. Point out constellations and try to name them in a contest. Catch falling stars and make wishes before they’re gone.

Try Out Beach Sports

The fine weather and the time you have could be the best combination you need to try and learn new sports that you will enjoy. Frisbee, beach volleyball and beach soccer are just some to name a few that could interest you. If the beach you’re heading has really nice waves, it could be the perfect setting to learn surfing, no waves? Try skimboarding!

When it comes to snacks, you want to find things that are healthy, tasty and nutritious. This might seem easy, but when you are travelling in a car for hours on end, you also need to consider the mess factor! If you’re planning on going away with the whole family for a car adventure, here are 4 mess free snack ideas for your kids while you’re on a road trip.

Fresh Fruit Slices

While some fresh fruit can be messy, if you stick to pre-prepared slices of apples, peeled oranges, small strawberry segments and grapes, you have the chance to give your kids a fresh healthy snack that won’t get smeared throughout the car and onto their clothes. Just remember to refrigerate the fruit prior to leaving, keep the segments in a zip lock back and preferably store it in a cool bag to keep it fresh and firm. A packet of wet wipes is great to have on hand to stave away any sticky fingers after the snack.

Homemade Potato Chips

Making your own potato chips is a quick and healthy alternative to other highly coloured and processed savoury snacks. Simply slice the potato finely, lightly season, then bake in the oven with a light spray of canola. Once crisp, remove and leave to cool before popping into small Tupperware boxes for the trip. Your kids will love the feeling of having a treat, and you can relax knowing that they’re snacking healthily.

Whole Grain Sandwich Snacks

Sandwiches and crackers can get messy on long trips, so try these bite sizes whole grain snacks instead. Using a moist whole grain bread reduces the amount of crumbs, and cutting the sandwiches into small bite sized pieces means less opportunity for the filling to spill. Keep it simple, ham and cheese is a firm favourite, as is peanut butter and jam for the sweet tooths in the family.

DIY Trail Mix

Making your own trail mix is a great way to keep an eye on what your kids are actually snacking on. Rather than trusting commercial mixes which can be high in sugars, make your own from your kid’s favourite dried fruits and nuts. Package these into small portions and seal in zip lock bags for a quick, easy and tasty treat for even the longest road trip.

When planning a road trip with the kids, the last thing you want is sticky fingers and smeared food mashed into the beautiful upholstery of your brand new Suzuki Kizashi. To avoid heartache, stick to these simple and mess free snacks that your kids will love, without redecorating the interior of your car! These wholesome and healthy treats are easy to make and are tasty enough that your kids will really enjoy their special road trip snacks for the whole duration of your adventure.

About the Author

Amanda is mother of 3 young boys who is an active blogger amongst the online mothering community.

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ImageryMajestic – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

For you and your tweens to spend time together, you need to adjust your idea of having a good time and treat them more maturely. Suggest bonding ideas that they won’t be embarrassed about such as travelling, food tripping, watch blockbuster movies together and others. After school or over the weekend, you can take your kid over the latest pancake or donut joint and then take the opportunity to ask what they have been up to lately. You may also try watching the newest movies and they sure won’t feel any insecure when they’re so engrossed on what’s playing on the screen. While you’re at it, stop yourself from being too affectionate so they won’t shy away and will want to spend more time with you.

Teenagers love to explore and learn new things the cool way. Even if it’s not vacation time, you can take your kids away for a weekend and head somewhere you haven’t been to before. Turn family trips into an adventure worthy of Tomb Raider movies and your young adults will surely love the activity. Just avoid taking too much family pictures so your kids won’t be embarrassed to upload them online. To keep them grounded and if they’re so inclined, you can teach them new skills such as cooking or how check the car. This way they feel that they are trusted, responsible and grown up. Another is participating in volunteer works and fun runs that donate to charity. Doing something for a cause is a great bonding activity that will not only teach your kids to care about others but will also make them proud to be part of.

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Photostock – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Plan On Trading In Your Current Vehicle

Your current vehicle could be worth a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars. The value of the car that you drive now can help you create a plan to purchase your next car. If you have a car that is worth a lot of money at the moment, you may want to plan on buying a car now to take advantage of the excellent trade in value that you car has.

Start Investing Today To Buy Your Car Tomorrow

If you put $10,000 into an investment account today, you can have $11,000 next year. You then invest the money again to create an even larger return on your initial investment. Eventually, you will generate enough interest to be able to make your car payment each month. This allows you to buy a car without having to use any of your savings to pay for it.

Get A Second Job To Save Money For Your Car

It may be a good idea to get a second job to help you pay for your next car. The money that you bring in can be put exclusively toward the cost of your new car without ruining the rest of your budget.

Cut Other Expenses To Free Up Extra Money

You could transfer your credit card balance to a card with a lower interest rate. That alone could save you hundreds of dollars a month. That money can then be used to make a car payment. Getting a roommate to share your apartment can be an easy way to lower expenses as well.

Negotiate A Good Deal On Your Next Car

Whenever you shop for a car, you should pay less than the sticker price. If you have a down payment, you may be able to negotiate an even lower payment each month because the dealer will get more of their money upfront. Since you are doing them a favor, the dealer may be willing to do you a favor by giving you a better deal. If you can cut an extra 10 percent from the cost of the car, you can get your car that much faster.

Budgeting for your next car doesn’t need to be complicated. Investment interest or getting a second job can make it easier to pay for a car while getting a good deal on the price of your car can make it easier to pay for as well. As long as you prepare ahead of time, you should have no problem getting the car you want at a decent price.

Author Bio: Jack has been a mechanic for 10 years and is a complete rev head. He has 5 cars to his name, and his past time hobbies include redoing old cars, travelling, going to car shows and writing blogs about cars.

Lovingly touching your babies help them grow stronger and troubled children tend to feel less anxious and restless when held. Many hospitals and birthing homes practice the “kangaroo wrap” by placing newly born babies in their mother’s chest or abdomen to provide the most skin to skin contact. It brings mother and child emotionally close and attached.

Babies communicate by crying and being touched reduces crying. Increasing mother and baby contact provides a greater sense of security for babies especially at the age of six weeks. There are parents who hesitate at carrying their baby more for fear of spoiling them, but this is not the case. The more the baby is carried and the less they will cry. So pick up your baby each time he or she cries to for them to know that you understand their needs. Touch therapy like stroking her head and rubbing her back tenderly while talking or singing reassures your baby that you will always be there.

Mothers and fathers also have different touch techniques with their babies. A mother’s touch tends to be calming and soothing. Moms touch gently, softly and hold babies with much tenderness. On the other hand, fathers engage a lot more physical touch in forms of play. Fathers would bounce their babies, raise them playfully in the air and roll with babies on the bed or on the floor. These types of touching contribute to a baby’s healthy development. Parents will soon learn to read their baby’s likes, dislikes and emotions. You will know the best time for playing, relaxing and cuddling.

Your touch is very important for your babies. It is our first language and touching constantly will help create a strong bond or attachment between you and your baby. With this, your baby will feel more secured and cry less. For you to create that nurturing bond with your child, touch is very important!

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Praisaeng – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

While sleepwalking doesn’t usually have an adverse impact on a child’s health, it can be hazardous to youngsters, so it’s important to try employing these measures to help mitigate any risks to your child and encourage a night of safe, sound sleep.

Make the Room Safe

To ensure the risk of injury or damage to your child or his/her surroundings are minimised you should try to make sure the bedroom is safe and free of potential hazards before bed.

For sleepwalkers it is best to avoid sleeping in loft beds or the top of a bunk bed, to avoid any falls. You should also ensure that the floor is free of clutter and there’s nothing left out that’s likely to cause a trip or fall. If space is any issue, consider investing in lo line bunks as they aren’t quite so high and are unlikely to cause your child any harm if they get out of bed in the dark.

Dangerous or sharp objects should be stored out of reach and any breakables should be removed or secured somehow, to avoid breakages if your child does sleepwalk. It may even be worth securing some furniture to the wall if it’s possible that a sleepwalking child may try to climb onto it, like bookshelves or a TV stand.

Prevent an Exit

Make sure the windows are locked or you have safety screens fitted. You should also make sure any doors to outside are kept locked and you may need to consider installing safety locks if your child has a habit of venturing out of the house while sleepwalking. Needless to say, this can be very dangerous.

You can also install safety gates outside your child’s bedroom door or at the tops of stairs, as a precaution that may help avoid roaming.

During Sleepwalking

It can be frightening and confusing for your child to be awoken while sleepwalking and this can cause a shock and an unnecessary disruption to the sleep cycle. For these reasons it is recommended to simply guide your child back to bed gently if you encounter him/her during a sleepwalk, without waking him/her.

Preventative Steps

Often sleepwalking can be caused or exacerbated by a disrupted or irregular sleep schedule, or by fatigue or lack of sleep, so it’s important that you implement a regular bedtime and sleep routine for your child, which includes a regular wake-up time.
Another way to avoid fatigue is simply to make your child’s bedtime a little earlier – if your child is not excessively sleepy when he/she goes to bed it may help to prevent the sleepwalking behaviour.

Avoid caffeinated drinks before bed and try to limit the amount of liquids consumed before lights out. Encourage your child to go to the toilet before bed too, as a full bladder may contribute to sleepwalking.

You should also make sure your child’s room is a safe, cool, quiet place to sleep with as few disruptions or distractions as possible, to ensure a solid night’s sleep, free of interruption.

These are simple steps to take and in most cases these are all you need to do to simply encourage sound sleep and deal with the occasional sleepwalking instance. If sleepwalking persists into the late teens you may wish to consult a doctor to make sure there are no health issues either causing the sleepwalking or being caused by it, but for the most part sleepwalking is a fairly common phenomenon that will pass in time. Until then, simply support your child, create a safe environment, and never underestimate the power of a sound night’s sleep.

- Written by Katie Jones

Check out the top 5 restaurants in Melbourne:

1. High Tech Burrito: Treat your mum for Mexican cuisine by taking her to High Tech Burrito. High Tech Burrito offers a wide variety of finger-licking good food. This restaurant specializes in healthy, Californian-style Mexican cuisine. At this restaurant, guests can enjoy eating food that’s delicious and healthy. All the items on the menu are prepared with the freshest ingredients, and processed ingredients are never used. High Tech Burrito offers numerous culinary options, from traditional yet healthy burritos to vegetarian and gluten-free options.

2. Bistro Thierry: Your mother will feel like a queen at this fine establishment. Bistro Thierry is a French restaurant that is dedicated to serving the most succulent options to its guests. All of the food is prepared by the hands of skilled chefs who have a passion for what they do. To top it off, the ingredients are always fresh, never frozen. On top of offering spectacular food, this restaurant has a superb environment that is warm and classy.

3. Bluestone: Bluestone is a spectacular restaurant that offers a classy dining experience. As soon as you walk through the doors of this restaurant, your jaw will drop at the sheer splendour of the décor. All staff members treat the guests with sincere kindness, which makes the environment extremely likable. Bluestone specializes in preparing dishes with an Australian twist, and the pizza at this establishment is to-die-for. Your mother will enjoy every minute of dining at Bluestone, and so will everyone who walks through the door.

4. Moroccan Soup Bar: The Moroccan Soup Bar offers a fantastic environment, and you won’t have to spend a fortune to make your mother feel special. As the name implies, Moroccan Soup Bar offers Moroccan cuisine that boasts all the traditional flavors of authentic Moroccan food. Finding the right balance between health and taste is difficult, yet all the dishes at this restaurant accomplish that. The menu at this restaurant is 100% vegetarian, and all the food is made out of top-notch ingredients.

5. Cutler & Co.: Warm ambiance, delicious food and an easy going vibe are a few reasons why this restaurant is considered one of the top eateries in Melbourne. Specializing in traditional French food, Cutler & Co is recognized for its succulent dishes that contain nothing but the best ingredients.

Jessica is a stay a home mum and when her kids are at school she loves the art of flower arranging in her spare time. She loves sharing her tips and tricks with other fellow green thumbs and trying new things with her garden.

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Stuart Miles – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net