Family

It can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of divorce. Although you and your partner are fighting a battle, it is important to protect your children at all costs.

As a parent, you will have to consider many factors like custody arrangements and splitting financial responsibilities for each child. Many parents express that the most difficult part is telling their children about their divorce.

Here is some advice on how to prepare your children for your divorce.

Practice What You Are Going to Say

The last thing you want to do it make your child(ren) feel like they should be worried or scared. Practicing what you are going to say beforehand will not only calm any nerves you may have, but it can also help reassure your child that things are going to be ok.

It can be a good idea to draft out a co-parenting plan with your ex-partner, so you can determine living arrangements and work together to try and keep things the same for your children. This will help give them reassurance into what is going to happen during/after the divorce process.

Avoid Blame

It is best to avoid blame during divorce proceedings. You should not speak negatively about one another in front of your children as it can create a hostile environment for them. Try to shield your children from any conflicts or arguments that may arise, as this can frighten them and triggers feelings of anxiousness.

Find Good Support

Divorce is hugely difficult, and some children may struggle to cope with it more than others. It can be hard to feel like you’ve got full control over what is happening but reaching out and seeking professional advice can take off some of the strain. It can be extremely useful to find a good child custody attorney who can help guide you in the direction of what is best for your children.

Manage Behaviours Effectively

Children can experience a lot of different emotions during a divorce. There may be times where you are faced with a spout of anger or bad behaviour. Understanding and good discipline are essential in these circumstances. You should make sure that you are providing love towards your child. These situations are the perfect opportunity for you to encourage your child to open up about their feelings. You can highlight why certain behaviours are not acceptable. By working together, you can find alternative solutions towards feelings of anger and help manage certain behaviours.

Look At It Through Your Children’s Eyes

It might sound simple but it is something that so many parents forget to do. Take a step back from time to time and look at the bigger picture. Your children didn’t want their parents to separate, and they may feel like they’ve played a part in it. They may be scared that they will lose you so just remember that it is important to let them talk about how they feel about the situation. Your children could seek a lot of comfort if they feel their feelings are validated.

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Birthday parties are always an anticipated event in any household. There are so many fun things you can do, and every year there’s a new idea or theme to consider. Whether you prefer a more traditional approach to plan a party or would like to experiment with trendy themes, here’s our list of ideas that will make an upcoming birthday milestone an unforgettable event.

Go all out with a carnival-themed party

Fairground rides are always popular, especially with kids. If you’re thinking of planning something grand and big, why not hire rides and stalls that everyone will enjoy? Rental companies like https://www.wearetricycle.co.uk offer a range of packages depending on the size of the event. Also, you can choose rides that will fit your theme. For instance, if you anticipate mostly young kids, then it’s best to rent child-friendly rides and activity stalls. You can also rent food carts and booths, which means less work on your part when it comes to catering and food preparation.

Escape-room themed event

Escape rooms have been around for quite some time now, but we’ve yet to see it become the next big trend for birthday parties. It’s the perfect option for tweens and teens who are expecting something more exciting. Also, it’s a step away from the conventional party themes everyone has gotten used to throughout the years. However, if you’re planning to go to an escape room for a party, there’s only a maximum number of people you’ll be allowed to accommodate. An alternative would be to create your own escape room scenario at home or a rented venue. But, know that this will require more planning and a lot more work on your part.

A simple drive-by around the neighbourhood

For those looking for something simple yet still memorable, a drive-by might be the one for you. This idea is perfect for the current circumstances, especially since most large gatherings are discouraged due to the pandemic. Don’t worry, because, with a bit of creativity, you can make a drive-by birthday fun. For example, you can make a big streamer and put it outside your car. You can also add balloons and streamers while blasting fun tunes. If you’ve notified people about the party, they can simply drop-off presents at your door.

Virtual birthday party

Since the world is still in the middle of an ongoing pandemic, most families try to avoid holding big gatherings, even if it’s to celebrate a birthday. Fortunately, many have started experimenting with virtual parties using video-conferencing platforms. It’s a great idea because some of your relatives may still be on lock-down and can’t come over to visit. A virtual party held at home will allow you to invite as many people as possible. For kids, you can set up a simple birthday table with cake and balloons and have everyone log in at the same time to greet the celebrant a happy birthday. You can also play games online to make the event more exciting. When it comes to presents, guests can send them over by courier or mail to avoid unnecessary physical contact.

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When you are looking to book a holiday, it can be difficult, especially if you have young children to consider. There are many different places in the world that you can travel to and as a result, it can be hard to decide on a destination that is suitable for children. Since many people struggle with this decision, we decided that to make things easier for you by putting together this handy guide on how to plan a holiday with children. From deciding where to go to navigating the airport, click here for some handy tips and tricks to help you get the holiday of your dreams.

Choosing the Right Destination

When you go on holiday with children, it is important that you find a destination that is suited to both children and adults so that you can keep the whole family entertained. There are many different destinations that are suitable for children, however, you need to consider the age of your child and how far the destination is. For example, there could be a brilliant resort that is suitable for children, but you will need to take into consideration how long the flight is. If you take your child on holiday, usually you want to make sure the flight isn’t too long so that your child doesn’t get too restless after sitting down for a long period of time.

Deciding on the Best Time to Go

Another tip on how to plan a holiday with children is making sure you choose the best time of the year to go. This is important because you want to make sure you choose a time of the year that will be suitable for the whole family and it won’t be too warm for young children. If you have children in school, it is also important that you choose the best time that won’t interfere with school and the work they have to do, in this case you should check the school holiday dates.

Getting to the Airport

Another tip on how to plan a holiday with children that you should take into consideration is how you are going to get to the airport. There are many different options for you to choose from when it comes to getting to the airport. If you have children, one of the easiest options that you should consider is driving and parking your car at the airport, this is because it means that you can bring things to keep your children entertained and when you get to the airport, they can be left in the car to then use on the way back for entertainment.

If you are flying from a busy airport such as Heathrow airport you might find that Heathrow airport parking can be difficult because there are so many cars going in and out every day. To avoid not getting a space, you should make sure you book spaces before you go to the airport. This is because if you book then spaces before you arrive, you can be sure that you will get a space that is suitable for you. For example, you can get a space that is the size you need and also get parking for great prices especially if you book well in advance. This parking is available for you so make sure you follow the link and get booking today.

Keeping the Kids Entertained During the Flight

When it comes to the flight, you want to make sure you can keep your child entertained, in order to keep your children entertained during the flight, you could bring some smart devices for them to play on and watch movies on while on the flight. You could also bring toys and other items that you can put in hand luggage for your child to use to keep them entertained.

In Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of things you need to think about when you are planning a holiday with children. It might have been easier when it was just you and your partner but it is now extremely important that you think about the needs of your children too. You don’t want to go away anywhere where they could overheat and you also want to watch out for term dates and other things that might affect the dates of the holiday.

Overall, the most important thing you can do on such a holiday is plan. If you are able to sit down and work out as much of it as possible before you go away, you are going to be much more prepared when the day of travel comes. Take a look at things like pre-booking your parking to speed up everything and then get ready to enjoy your holiday. It is bound to be loads of fun!

To read more on topics like this, check out the family category.

If your passport is current and you’re itching to travel to a new, exotic destination, continue reading to discover 3 must visit travel destinations which are worth adding to your bucket list.

The Top Travel Destinations:

Israel:

Israel is an underrated tourist destination and offers picturesque beaches, endless historic and cultural sites as well as modern restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs.

If you visit Israel, make sure to visit the Western Wall, which is located in Jerusalem and is better known as the Wailing Wall. The Western Wall was built in 19 BC and attracts thousands of Jewish pilgrims each year. Who visit the wall in order to pray as Jews believe that god’s presence never leaves the Western Wall which is all that is left of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Some individuals even write down their prayers on small pieces of paper which they roll up and place in the cracks of the wall. Even if you’re not religious, it’s a moving experience to watch individuals from around the world gather at the wall in order to pray.

After spending some time at the Western Wall, you may want to book a day trip to the Dead Sea. Which many people believe can cure a wide variety of ailments. Just be careful not to put your head underwater as the Dead Sea has a high salt content and can permanently damage your eyes.

Thailand:

Not only is Thailand an inexpensive country to visit, where you can stay in a four or five star resort on a budget but Thailand is also an incredibly friendly nation and is often referred to as the land of smiles. Better yet, Thailand boasts a wide variety of idyllic islands many of which haven’t been overrun with tourists and which are ideal for romantic getaways.

While in Thailand, it’s also a fun idea to ride in a traditional tuk tuk and to purchase handcrafted souvenirs and tasty snacks at one of Thailand’s bustling markets. Just remember to practice the art of haggling as in Thailand buyers and sellers negotiate on the prices of items and you’re not expected to pay the first price which you’re quoted.

While the majority of tourists who visit Thailand visit Phuket which is located on Thailand’s stunning coast, it’s also worth venturing further inland in order to visit one of Thailand’s elephant sanctuaries. If you’re passionate about animal welfare you also be interested in volunteering at an elephant shelter for a short period of time.

India:

If you’re not afraid of venturing off the beaten tourist track, it’s well worth booking a plane ticket to India. On a tour of India you’ll be able to visit Mumbai, which is the home to Bollywood, which is India’s equivalent of Hollywood. If you’re lucky you may even get to be an extra in a Bollywood film. Another experience which is well worth seeking out on a trip to India is traveling across India on a luxurious steam train. Which will allow you to see India’s countryside and villages from the comfort of your train.

Lastly, it should go without saying but no trip to India is complete without visiting the Taj Mahal, which is one of the grandest buildings in the whole world.

So if you’ve caught the travel bug and are itching to book your next international adventure, you can’t go wrong planning a trip of a life time to India, Thailand or Israel.

If you’re always keen to spend more time as a family, continue reading to discover a few fun activities to tick off as a family. As you’ll be sure to make lasting memories with your kids, that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life!

Fun things to do as a family:

Visit your nearest ice-skating rink to teach your kids how to ice-skate:

Whether you’re proud of your ice-skating skills and can perform a few impressive tricks or you’ve never step foot on an ice-skating rink in your life, it’s well worth teaching your kids how to ice-skate. If you’re not fortunate enough to have an ice-skating rink in your city, you may want to consider planning a fun family trip to a family friendly desitnation which boasts an ice-skating rink. As an example, imagine how much fun your kids would have ice-skating around the ice rink at Rockefeller Center in New York in November or December.

Visit your local library as a family:

If you have young kids, it’s well worth checking if your local library offers free storytelling sessions, which young kids love. One of the bonuses of visiting a library as a family once a week, is that every member of your family will be able to choose new books to check out. Even if your family has young elementary school age children as well as older teens.

Play video games together:

Instead of leaving your kids alone when they want to play their favorite video games, it’s well worth playing video games as a family once a week. Especially if your kids enjoy playing co-op games, which will allow your family members to work together as a team.

Collect decorative seashells at your local beach:

Not only can you collect beautiful seashells as a family during summer but you can also bundle up in warm winter gear, in order to search for seashells during fall and Winter. If your family has a pet dog, it’s well worth seeing if there are any dog friendly beaches in your area. As you’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone and to search for seashells, while walking your dog.

Volunteer:

Volunteering as a family is a wonderful idea as you’ll be able to teach your kids about how they make a difference in the world. If you foster a love of volunteering into your children at a young age, they’ll be likely to grow up into caring, empathetic adults. One way to get your kids excited about volunteering is to volunteer at an organization that they are already interested in.

As an example, if your kids love animals, you may want to volunteer at your local animal shelter. Even if your closest shelter isn’t currently accepting volunteers, your kids may be keen to fundraise for your local shelter. So that they can purchase essential items such as pet food. For example, if your kids enjoy baking, they may want to set up a little stall outside your house selling freshly baked cookies to raise money for their chosen cause.

Create home made DIY slime:

Instead of purchasing ready made slime, it’s well worth purchasing all the ingredients which you need to make slime at home. As half of the fun of slime, is making it.

So what are you waiting for? Children grow up in the blink of an eye and it’s well worth spending as much quality time with your kids while you still can. Hopefully you’ve found a couple of activities which you can’t wait to share with your kids and partner!