Fun Activities

First up on the list we’re going to be taking a look at planning fun activities. If you look up the place where you are going, you will find a whole load of information on the fun things that they have to do there, or around that area. It’s important that you do your research and look into things that you think you and your kids would enjoy doing together, making magical memories while you are on your trip away.

It’s a good idea to try and plan at least one activity specifically aimed at each of your children, and then a few things that you will all enjoy. This way it’s nice and fair for everyone, which is what you should be thinking about at all times.

Somewhere Nice To Stay

It’s also important that you find somewhere nice to stay. If you have a budget that allows for an apartment, this is probably going to be better for your family than being crammed into a hotel room. You can look into Driftway riverfront luxury apartments or something similar as a special treat while you are on your holiday, giving yourself somewhere lovely to stay.

Of course, researching all of your options is still in your best interest because you want to find the best place at the best price. Take your time, but make sure that you have booked in advance so that you are secure in your knowledge you have a place to stay.

Set Your Budget

The last thing that we’re going to mention is that you should be setting your budget. You need to know how much you can actually spend on your trip while still being able to afford things like food, activities and gifts while you are away. You want to ensure that you are not worried about constantly running out of money throughout your trip, and that you can enjoy your time to the best of your ability. The only way this is going to happen is if you have thoroughly planned your budget, and can keep on track with it.

Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now have a better understanding of some of the things that you should plan out if you want to head out on a family trip. It’s important that you are planning as much as you can to ensure that you have a fabulous trip, so please take your time with this. If you rush, there is more chance of things going wrong.

The post Maybe It’s Time To Get Away: Planning A Trip For Your Family appeared first on InstantELLA.

Protection

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The ground is a dangerous place for your feet. If you’re the average person, you’ve stubbed your toe at least a few times and know how painful that can be. Sometimes a stubbed toe won’t just scrape off skin but it will also crack your toenail and bruise your foot. The toe of your shoe could save you from a nasty stubbing.

As inviting and carefree as the grass at your local park may look it is actually filled with tons of hidden things that could hurt you like sharp twigs, trash, or even broken bottles. Shoes provide you with a level of protection so your poor foot isn’t the first thing to come into contact with what may be lurking unseen on the ground.

Infection

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Along with defending your foot from the scrapes and bruises of life, your shoe will also help to ward off pests and infections. Back in the early 1900s, there was an awful problem with people getting hookworms in rural places like Mississippi. The worms would bore into peoples bare feet causing them to get terribly sick. Once people were educated about the importance of wearing shoes the problem took care of itself, but that doesn’t mean the worms are gone.

Not only do you want to keep your feet safe from things like hookworms, but you also want to defend them from infection. If you do get a scrape or cut on your foot and you don’t keep it clean you run the risk of the wound getting infected. Infections that aren’t treated can cause more severe problems and, in extreme cases, can lead to the need for amputation.

Grip

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Most shoes have been designed to help you have a better grip on the ground during certain activities. If you’re out hiking your shoes will grip the rock. Running track with spikes will help your feet to grab the track giving you the push you need. Your shoes can even help with an everyday thing like driving as they give you a better grip on the petals and greater control of your car.

Support

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This is not true for all shoes, but shoes that fit you correctly and have a sturdy arch inside will give your entire body better support. Many people don’t realize this, but your feet affect almost all of your movements. If you don’t have the foot support you need you could be causing yourself unnecessary back, hip, knee and even neck pain. If you are experiencing pain that could be related to conditions of the foot, you should contact an orthopedic foot specialist about your options.

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Going barefoot will likely not kill you, but it is important to understand the risks you are taking with something as simple as not wearing shoes. Enjoy the warmer weather and keep your feet safe!

The post 4 Reasons To Avoid Going Barefoot appeared first on InstantELLA.

See how many of these things you can do before the summer ends.

1. 1. Go camping off the grid. Don’t go to a well-groomed campground. Pack up your gear and hike out into a forest to camp where no one else has been.
   2. Spend an entire day at a water park. You always wanted to do this as a child. Now you’re an adult and can do whatever you want! So go for it!
   3. Play slip’n’slide kickball. Get a few tarps, some kiddie pools, a beach ball, and a bunch of friends and you’re set! Just be careful not to knock out a tooth or you may be paying a visit to the dentist.

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1. 1. Sleep under the stars. Take a hammock out or just some blankets on a warm night and sleep under the stars. Find someplace quiet and dark where you can enjoy the serenity that a calm night offers.
   2. Do a fun-run. There are tons of fun 5ks everywhere throughout the summer. Whether you want to do a color run or an obstacle course, get a couple friends and sign up for one before the summer is done.
   3. Live like a tourist in your hometown. Visit all the touristy hotspots in your town. Maybe you’ll finally see the appeal in why all these people visit.
   4. Go white water rafting. If you’re inexperienced, make sure you find a location where a guide can take you out on the water to be safe (trust me, it’s still just as fun).
   5. Have a water balloon fight. Water balloons are not just for kids. Find an open field, put up some cardboard or wooden “bases” to hide behind and bring a couple hundred water balloons.
   6. Spend the day at a lake. Go swimming or fishing in the lake. Have a campfire and roast hot dogs and marshmallows. Just enjoy a break from the busy world.
   7. Go on that fair ride that you always chicken out on. You know the one I’m talking about – the one on the bungee cords that shoots you up into the air. You’ll regret it if you don’t.
   8. Learn something new. Take a cooking or pottery class. Learn to ride a motorcycle. Get chickens for your backyard and learn how to take care of them using an automatic chicken feeder. I don’t care what it is, just learn to do something you’ve never done before.

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1. Go on a biking trip. Back a light bag, get a couple friends to do the same, and just take off on your bikes and see where the road takes you.
2. Spend a day thrift shopping with a budget of $50. See if you can find any real treasures worth keeping.
3. Build a sand castle. Go to the beach, whether it’s at a lake or on the coast, and build the biggest sand castle you’ve ever seen. Make it a group effort or have a contest with your friends.
4. Spend a day reading in the sun. Make some iced tea or lemonade, lay out your beach towel or lounge chair, and relax in the sun while enjoying a book you’ve been meaning to get to.

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Don’t wait for the summer to pass you by. Start making it count now!

The post The Ultimate Summer Bucket List for Adults appeared first on InstantELLA.

Don’t be overwhelmed just yet. If you play your cards right, summer vacations can be a time of fun, learning and rediscovery of your own youth! Here’s how you do it.

Create a Routine

It does not end with planning a drive down to the beach or renting the perfect beach-house getaway. I’d recommend chalking out a schedule, planner or routine of activities even before summer starts. That way you will not only be prepared on day #1 but you would have been able to pre-register and save a spot for all those outdoor summer activities as well, you know what they say about the early bird. Obviously, having a plan would also ensure you’re making the best use of time and opportunities during this vacation.

A quick tip on planning the summer for your kids – include a mix of activities because children get bored easy and love variety. While a large part of summer is about the kids, it’s not all about them. Remember that you need to be relaxed and having fun too. Don’t cram your calendar with activities 24/7. Not only will that burn you out (and may burn out the kids too) but it leaves no room for re-adjustment or tweaking, and that’s no fun! Lol. Take on only as much as you’ll logically be able to handle and save room for downtime.

Having said that here are a couple of activities you and your kids can include in your summer routine.

Interactive Learning

Summer is all about Fun and so is Interactive Learning.  It involves a PC, tablet or other devices, interactive software, immediate answers to queries, virtual rewards and badges/ titles for performance and even online competitions. Sound like a video-game? Yes, because it pretty much is and that is exactly why kids find it so much fun. Except they’re learning along the way too.

American educational technology companies like IXL, through their online tools and website, offer students a chance to practice educational material. Often affiliated and recommended by the Public-School System, they provide students an engaging yet focused environment in which to excel. Sign-ups are free, through the affiliated school and students like my kids can use them throughout the year. Hint: even during summer

Registering your kid(s) at the Local Library’s online Summer Reading Programme is another great example of interactive learning. These programmes include several other exciting activities that go along with reading. My kids, for example read “The giving Tree” and then completed the lesson by planting a sapling in our backyard. They also enjoyed building their original Legos after reading a book on Lego design; and made their own tin can- robots after attending a book reading at the library which focused on robots and machines. Find IT Virginia and similar free online resources provide opportunities for e-reading and learning.

The possibilities are truly endless and I would have killed to have these opportunities growing up, but am happy my kids have them now. Better late than never.

The great outdoors

Physical activity is as important as mental health. My husband and I start our day with a jog around the neighborhood, while the kids do 2 laps each on their bicycles. It doesn’t matter who beats who to the house first, but we all return awake, alive and hungry. Whoever gets home first kills time playing some good old-fashioned basketball outside.

We take it easier on the weekends and substitute the jogs and bike rides for a day of mini-golf, bowling or the park.

And while a trip to the beach is a must, if you’re looking for local activities, Facebook Events  and Groupon Coupons could be a good place to start. Explore local events and workshops , take the kids to the amusement and water parks or the local fare, state-parks and museums, buy putt-putt, laser-tag, roller-skating and arcade game coupons for the family on Groupon at a discounted rate. Save some money, Explore, and thou shall find!

And don’t forget, your own backyard can be an ideal place to spend some time – if you’ve got a pool, make sure you search for a pool service near me to keep it clean and hygienic, but even without a pool, your own outdoor space can be a fantastic place for some truly wonderful adventures. 

Help Around the House

With great fun comes serious responsibility. If you haven’t already, take this time to teach the kids the nuances of laundry, doing the dishes, helping fix a meal and generally cleaning up after themselves.  It will go a long way in teaching them responsibility and preparing them for success as adults. Initially, I used to get a lot of pushback from my kids. It started with the “do we have to?”  but after gentle persuasion it’s slowly shifting to “can I help?”. Why surely, you can!!

Get a Pet

Now’s as good a time as any to get a pet for your kids to play with. My kids brought home 2 hermit crabs – Hermie and Sebastian – from the beach this summer. They had been after us for a while to get them a dog or cat. Since these cute little crabs are low maintenance, we figured it would be a good compromise. The bonus is the kids learn a little responsibility. They have researched how to take care of the hermit crabs and decorated the crab tank on their own with minimum supervision from us adults. Who knows, if the crabs survive a couple years, they might earn their puppy or kitten one day.

Indoor Fun

Ever heard the phrases “What do I do now?” or “I’m bored” from your kid(s), implying that you as the adult, are automatically supposed to come up with a solution to fix the ‘boredom’? Not anymore. This year I invested in arts & crafts, board-games, books, Legos and DIY projects to keep the kids engaged and entertained all summer long.

Some of the more interesting games that both kids and adults can play include, Connect Four, Jenga, UNO, Scrabble, and Monopoly. These never get old. Lego building is another activity that the boys and my husband enjoy and have organized several competitions around them.

We have family game nights where in addition to playing board games we all descend into the basement for a game of Pool or tag team Video Gaming. Other nights we chill over Netflix. Choosing Trilogies and other movie series like Aliens, The Godfather or Star Wars may work well during the summers when you can watch the series back to back and the kids don’t have school the next day.

Execute the Routine

Having created a schedule, it’s important to execute. The easiest way to do this is working as a team. After drafting the schedule, my husband and I discussed it with the kids to get their feedback and buy-in. Once everyone agreed, I had the kids replicate the schedule on a calendar in their room. Now they too share responsibility in keeping track of daily and weekly activities.

While some kids can be stubborn or rebellious, I honestly believe that all kids want structure and do well when given clear directions. Creating and executing a daily routine during the summers help build structure and discipline into the day. The kids have fun, parents can manage their time better and it’s a win-win all around. You know you’ve hit the nail on the mark when reminders and instructions become fewer and smiles and laughter greater!

Remember to have Fun!!

Summer comes along once a year and so it’s important to remember to have fun, irrespective of the activity on the routine. The routine is just a guideline meant to organize the day, not to limit fun. The routine should be flexible. If at some point activities need to be rescheduled, removed or added to the plan, go ahead and make alterations to the routine. As long as everyone is on-board and having fun, you’ll be fine.

It’s been just a few weeks of summer for my kids. Not only have I survived, but I must admit I’m actually looking forward to the weeks ahead. My secret lies in creating a balanced routine that includes having all out fun while learning, growing, being creative and unlocking hidden talents together!

The post Beach More, Worry Less : Smart Tips & Activities To Keep Kids Engaged This Summer appeared first on InstantELLA.