Lynds in Real Life

A Lifestyle Blog

Kids/Nannying Lifestyle

5 Reasons Why STEM Toys Might Be the Best Option for Your Kids

By Leave a Comment

https://www.pexels.com/photo/focused-little-girls-with-microscope-in-room-5063442/

Photo by Monstera from Pexels

The US will need to fill over a million job positions in the next few years, once senior workers who have established the American STEM industry retire. At the same time, an increasing number of students avoid apprenticeships and work experience that might allow them to enter the industry without student debt and that could truly help them achieve their career goals. 

STEM job roles – or those in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – are always more sought-after and well-paid, but the number of candidates interested in these jobs is decreasing. While you should not force a certain career or study path on your little ones, it could be beneficial to encourage an interest in the STEM field from a young age. And, the benefits of STEM toys go far beyond this!

They Stimulate Their Problem-Solving Skills and Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking is a type of practice that encourages children to come up with several solutions to the same problem. This ensures cognitive versatility and dynamicity and allows your little ones to face future challenges with resilience and motivation. 

Today, an increasing number of schools and educational bodies have started to recognize the benefits of this technique, and they encourage parents and teachers to ask a question and prompt the children to come up with as many answers to the problem. STEM toys can be essential in helping them practice divergent thinking and refine their problem-solving skills. And, these skills will be helpful to them inside and outside the STEM industry!

They Enhance Creativity

You might not choose a career or study path for your little ones, but you can give them all the tools they need to have the best chances in life! STEM toys can help them better understand how to solve problems and allow them to understand important mathematical and scientific principles. 

But even more importantly, these games allow your kids to give space to their creativity and use it to create something new. Don’t forget that the cognitive and creative potential of your little ones is infinite – but it is your responsibility to encourage them to explore it. 

They Prepare Them for a Future Workplace

The workplace of the future cannot be foreseen. However, an always greater part of our daily life relies on technology. Because of this, it is safe to foresee that in the next decades, the jobs that will allow us to build and develop that technology will be among the most sought after. While your little ones might end up studying Literature or Law in the future, they might still retain the principles of how important technology works. 

They Introduce Them to Future Technologies

The economy is changing and, with it, many industries are developing. It might be impossible to foresee these changes, especially as technology develops so quickly. However, you can use certain STEM toys to encourage your little ones to become more familiar with technologies that might be part of their everyday life in the future. For example, toys such as transforming supercharged Astra at Alphatoys.com can help them better understand robots, and simulators can help them understand the basics of coding and programming.

What do you think about STEM toys for kids?

Thank you for reading!

Kids/Nannying

3 Steps To Take To Give Your Kids The Best Chance In Life

By 1 Comment

The thing that we all want most in life is to give our kids the best possible chance. Sometimes circumstances mean that our kids are going to miss out on certain things, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do everything you can to ensure they have all the opportunities possible. However, it’s not the things that cost money that mean the most to kids, it’s the things that their parents do and say to them. It’s for this reason that if you want to give your kids the best chance in life, it starts with you. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do to give your kids the best possible chance, so keep reading if you would like to find out more!

Image Source – CC0 License

Encourage Them 

The first thing that we’re going to be looking at is being sure to encourage your kids. There is absolutely nothing worse than having parents who don’t encourage their kids to do whatever it is that they want to do (within reason, of course). From the time they are young, you should be teaching your children that no matter what the goal is, if they are willing to work hard and do everything in their power, they are going to be able to achieve it. You want to raise confident children who are sure of their choices and feel good about them. This is far better than children who feel like they have to question every single thought they have because it might not be the right one. 

It’s not difficult to ensure that your children know they can do whatever they want if they put their mind to it. As long as they’re willing to put in the effort, eventually, no matter how long it takes, they’ll be able to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. Keep reminding them of this when they get older, because it’s when they are in their teen years that they are going to need to hear this the most.

Get Them The Right Help

Another thing that you should always be doing is getting them the right help. If you know that your child needs some form of help, it is your job to get it for them. There are a number of things that they may need, from some kind of medical attention to speech therapy. It doesn’t matter what it is, if you want your kids to have the best chance, then you need to make sure that they are fully equipped for life. Now, you’re not always going to be thanked for this by your children when they are younger, but when they grow up they will see that you have only ever done what is best for them. Try to keep this in mind during the tantrums that are inevitably going to be thrown your way.

Support Their Decisions

This one is kind of like encouraging them, but it’s one step further. It’s one thing to tell your kids they can achieve anything, and an entirely other thing to support them when doing so. Even if they are doing things that you wouldn’t choose personally, you need to support them. Having the support of your parents is important to a lot of people, especially when you have a good relationship with your kids. We don’t want you to end up not speaking to them over a choice that they made that you refused to support.

Your kids are entitled to make their own choices about where they want their life to go. You have already chosen yours, and now you’ve got to let them make their own. Keep in mind that they are happy, even if you would’ve preferred they had done something else. It isn’t your life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your opinion, as long as you make it clear that you are still supporting them, no matter what they do or where they go.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do to give your kids the best possible chance. It’s mostly about the mental/emotional than anything else, and doing everything you possibly can to give them what they need to succeed. Good luck, and we hope that your kids get everything that they want out of life!

Thank you for reading!

Kids/Nannying

Baby Under The Weather? Here Are The First Steps You Should Take

By Leave a Comment

If you have a baby that seems under the weather, it’s natural to want to make them feel better as quickly as possible. However, there are some first steps you should take to help your baby and give yourself peace of mind. Read on:

Give Them A Fuss

Your baby could be any number of things – hungry, sleepy, or teething (depending on age). Give them a fuss, swaddle them in their favorite blanket, and see if they begin to relax. They may need a little milk to help them relax depending on their last feeding time, so you may also want to see if a little extra helps. 

Give Them A New Toy

Your baby might be distracted by something colorful that makes noise. A new toy might give them the novelty that they need to be distracted from crying. If they are teething, then a teething toy might be just the ticket. Sophie the Giraffe is a very popular teething toy for babies. 

credit

Make Sure They’re Not Sick

If your baby is under the weather suddenly, it might be best to double check that they are not sick for your own peace of mind. Check their temperature and make sure they don’t have a fever, and have a quick look for a rash, too. Try not to panic, as it could be any number of things and your baby is likely fine. If you’re unsure, visiting a pediatrician or trying to get your baby a doctor’s appointment might be best. They may prescribe some baby cold medicine to help, or simply give you advice on how to proceed. It’s always better to have peace of mind. 

Send Them To Sleep

Send your baby to sleep to see if a nap soothes them. This can be tough if they are really wound up, but rocking them in a chair and playing relaxing music could help. If not, you could always try taking them for a drive in the car, as many babies love the gentle rumble. 

Try Baby Massage

If your baby is tense and cranky for no apparent reason, baby massage can actually be a wonderful method to help both you and them to relax. You need to make sure that your touch is firm enough not to tickle them, but should still be gentle enough to soothe them. 

Sing To Your Baby

Sometimes, the only sound that will soothe a baby is the gentle singing voice of their mother. You don’t need to be Mariah Carey to soothe your baby – they love you and your singing voice even if you’re out of tune. They are very biased. Try singing some lullabies to them to see if this helps. 

Having a baby who is feeling under the weather can be very stressful. You want to make sure you don’t overreact, but you also want to make sure you’re doing what is right by your baby. You know your baby the best, so make sure you take further steps to ensure they are ok if you feel something else may be at play. 

What helps to soothe your baby?

Thank you for reading!

Kids/Nannying

How To Make Education More Fun For Your Kids

By Leave a Comment

Image by free stock photos from www.picjumbo.com from Pixabay  

There comes a time when kids realize that they are learning and suddenly become disinterested in it. They see it as a chore, something that they have to do in school and not something they want to continue doing at home or in the school holidays. However, there are some sneaky ways you can keep your kids learning all the time, and they won’t even realize it, they’ll just think they’re playing, here are a few to help you out if you’re struggling to get your kids to get their heads down and learn.

Write A Quiz For Them

You would have to make this fun so it doesn’t appear like a test, but more of a ‘pub’ quiz without the ‘pub’ bit. Choose a theme where you can either weave in things that your kids are struggling with and need to focus on more, or simply quiz them about the film they have just watched or the day trip you went on to help them with their memories and to keep their brains sharp. You can also weave in spelling questions without them realizing, for example, one question could be a word they’re finding difficult, type it into a word unscrambler to see what other words can be made out of it. Write these down and get them to guess the original word. 

Invest In All The Right Tools

Do you ever find that you’re more excited to get to the gym if you’ve treated yourself to some new trainers or gym gear? Well, kids are the same, if you invest in all the right tools, fun pens, highlighters, paper, and sticky notes, then your kids will be keen to use them and spend more time learning. 

Make It A Game

Turning any lesson into a game will always make learning fun, and again, your kids won’t even know they’re learning. You don’t have to spend all day prepping a game to play; there are loads of pre-made games you can buy, which will teach your kids all sorts of skills, while they’re still having fun. The most popular, fun, and effective games are usually the simplest, though, so don’t overthink it. Make sure you play with your kids too, show them that it’s fun and you’ll all have a great time and learn loads too.

Ask Your Kids Make Their Own Board Games

This is fun as it keeps them busy, but you also get a good game at the end of it. Ask your kids to choose a topic or theme that they love, so it could be Disney, cats, football, anything they like. Then get them to design a board game around their passion. This activity requires your kids to research their topic, work out the rules, and write simple directions for others to follow. So they learn a lot from it without knowing it, and then everyone gets to play afterward.

Learning can be a lot of fun, so make sure you don’t take the fun out of it!

Thank you for reading!

Kids/Nannying

Kids’ Kitchens: Play Time

By Leave a Comment

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/cook-boy-kid-pizza-holding-1773658/

Kids’ kitchens have been popular amongst children for many years now. The reason for this is that the majority of kids seem to love role playing toys. They love the chance to let their imagination run wild – they can be whoever they want to be and make up different scenarios, too!

The reason why kids’ kitchens, in particular, seem to be a good role playing option is that children see their parents cooking on a daily basis, and they want to join in, too. They want to feel like they can do whatever you do, and a kid’s kitchen allows them to do so.

If your child already has a kitchen, then the fun doesn’t have to end there. There are some fantastic accessory kits and kitchen sets that are available to utilize alongside their favorite toy. Make sure you choose with care. Any personal injury attorney will tell you that child injuries can often suffer because of unsuitable toys. Take a look at our list for the top kids’ kitchens accessory sets available today!

KidKraft Wooden Pastel Baking Set

This wooden baking set is simply adorable. It features a color scheme of pale pink, baby blue, and sherbet lemon – making it a great toy for any kid who loves those colors! The accessories that you can expect to find with this set are as follows; a rolling pin, mixers which lift in and out of the mixing bowl, cooking pan, two chocolate chip biscuits, a spatula, a measuring spoon, and a rolling pan. Furthermore, it is also worth noting that this baking set is suitable for children age three and up.

Tidlo Kitchenware Set

This set is perfect if you are looking for a starter kit for your child, as it provides all the essential tools needed for cooking up a storm – a great way to teach them about healthy cooking. The style of the pieces included in this set feature stainless style effect options, as well as blue and white decorated pieces. The design is so that the necessities look like they could be utilized in a real kitchen. The pieces included are as follows; an oven mitt, a frying pan, three pots, two lids, and six other kitchen utensils including a spatula, a soup spoon and more.

All in all, if you are looking for a kitchen set to buy your little one this year, then you should certainly consider one of these two options – they’ve certainly proved highly popular with a lot of children so far. Of course, there are plenty of other different toys that go well with kitchens, too, so it is worth doing a bit of shopping around.

•Do your kids have a play kitchen? What kind?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Kids/Nannying Las Vegas

SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium, A New Kids Attraction, Comes to Las Vegas + GIVEAWAY

By 7 Comments

Are you traveling to Las Vegas and looking for kids activities? Do you live in Las Vegas and want to entertain your kids off the strip? You’re in luck: SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium just opened at Boulevard Mall (Official Grand Opening is the last weekend in April), and it is AMAZING.

Disclosure: I received a free family membership to SeaQuest Aquarium as part of a blog partnership. No monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

SeaQuest is a 28k square foot interactive aquarium inside Boulevard Mall in Vegas. Interactive = “if you can reach it, you can touch it.” There are several exciting exhibits, ranging from fish to parakeets, to snakes and sharks. I visited SeaQuest with the kids I nanny, and we had the best time (they said it was the most fun they’ve ever had)! We were able to feed fish and ducks, sit in an aviary with the birds, and pet the sting rays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sting rays were probably my favorite. We were feeding them, and they kept “jumping up” for more! I pet them a few times and they’re really slimy. They were so cute! I also really liked these fish that dig themselves into the sand.

There’s also a big sulcata tortoise and a tiny baby tortoise. The baby tortoise was so small, he fit in my hand. I loved them!

 We saw a huge snake and I got to hold a starfish!

A Few Facts:

  • Second location in the US (first location in Utah)
  • You can snorkel with the sharks!!
  • Famous mermaid @TheMermaidShannon can be found swimming in the aquariums!
  • All teachers get in free with ID
  • They host field trips and overnights
  • Nighttime tours available
  • Licensed vendors bring the animals
  • Animals are quarantined first to make sure they’re safe
  • There’s a marine specialist on-site, and a vet off-site
  • Nothing is native to Nevada (not allowed)
  • Base is 12 years and under, but it’s for everyone!



 

 

 

 

 

// GIVEAWAY + DISCOUNT \\

I’ve partnered with SeaQuest to offer a discount and a giveaway.

Discount: Use code lyndsinreallifeday25 for 25% off daily admission (expires June 30, 2017), to be purchased online only at www.seaquestaquariums.com.

The giveaway prize is one FREE BIRTHDAY PARTY at SeaQuest Las Vegas for 10 guests!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Terms and Conditions: Giveaway ends April 28, 2017 at midnight (PST). Open to residents of the US, 18 & over only. No purchase necessary.  Winner will be selected by rafflecopter.com and be notified by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note that Lynds in Real Life is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are in no way associated with this giveaway.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone.  I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.
Seaquest Aquarium
Boulevard Mall
3528 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89169
702.906.1901

www.seaquestaquariums.com/vegas

 

 

Single-Day Admission:
Ages 2–11: $9.95
Ages 12+: $14.95
Ages 55+, Military: $12.95
  • Have you ever been to an interactive aquarium?
  • Who would you host the birthday party for?

Thank you for reading Lynds in Real Life! To receive new posts in your inbox, please subscribe below:

[subscribe2]

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter