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School-aged kids threaten to skip town over things like not wanting to do their homework, wanting more screen-time or in hopes of a later bedtime. Other times the threat is said in anger or as a way to manipulate you. Your child knows that it will break your heart if he says he wants to leave. Whatever the reason, laughing it off, getting angry or taking it personally won’t help the situation. Kids run away all the time, most run away experiences are brief and are concluded when the child realizes that hiding at a friend’s or the park is actually boring and sometimes a little bit scary, and maybe the whole leaving home thing was a bit of an over-reaction. Parents watch with gratitude and relief, but also sometimes mixed with anger as their son or daughter sheepishly returns home, shoulders slumped, defeated. Despite the intensity of the emotions you are experiencing as a parent, it is important to keep calm in order to have the necessary energy to take the needed step to figure out why this happened in the first place and come up with a solution that will ensure that it never happens ever again. In cases where your child threatens to run away, stay calm, tell him that you would really miss him and you don’t want him to run away. By doing this, you are making them feel like they do have control and that you are hoping they make the choice to stay with the family. But don’t roll over and give in to his demands. This is not advisable because then every time he wants something he will threaten to leave home if he doesn’t have it. You cannot say things like “I would really miss you if you run away so you can watch TV as much as you want, just don’t run away”. However, you can negotiate terms. To kids, running away is like taking a long, dangerous timeout. They may use it to avoid some difficulty at home or to hide from their parents after doing something wrong. It could be a power struggle because kids will often run instead of taking responsibility for their actions or complying with house rules. Above all, as a parent, remember, what you don’t want to do is to give this new habit, or threat, power. Why Would Your Child Tend To Run Away? This is the lead question you need to answer if you are going to solve this problem in the first place. Sometimes, a child becomes extremely emotional often disproportionately to the actual incident and feels a need to fight or flee. Knowing that the fighting is certain to end badly, fleeing becomes a far better option for him, hence the running away or threatening to run away. Here are different kinds of kids to try to run away from home: 1. The refugee This child has had enough and just wants to be left alone. Sometimes parents are overbearing, [...]

Do not underestimate the ability of your kids, they are more educated, enlightened and tech savvy than you were at their age. An opportunity to get your kid into business is great because it teaches them a lot about responsibility, confidence, perseverance, and independence. These lessons are not taught in schools and that is why entrepreneurship is a great way of bringing out the best in them. So, if your kid comes to you with the idea of starting a business during the summer, do not hesitate. You never know what might come out of that venture. Below are ways in which you can help your kid discover the business that is best suited for him or her. 1. Passion In whatever your kid does, there needs to be a passion for it. He or she has to love the activity because passion is one of the driving force to continuity. As a parent, find out what your kid is passionate about and transform that into a business idea. This could be anything, ranging from reading, sale etc. always have an open mind towards the ideas they express and don’t impose your idea on them at the initial stage. This can be done later to guide them in making it better. 3. Plan plan plan In anything we do in life, we must plan. To start a good business, you need a plan to work with. Hence, your kid will learn the importance of planning and it is a way to keep them engaged in everything, so don’t do all the planning alone. You may ask them to make a list of the equipment and supplies you will to start the business. Also, you will estimate cost and management of time. You may also have them write out what they intend to achieve, in the long run. 4. Be their investor When the above step has been followed, give them the money they will need to start. There should be a financial record so that you are able to note exactly how much you spent. You may at times fund only a portion of the project and ask them to use their allowance or birthday money or savings to add up. This encourages a feeling of ownership. 5. Open a bank account Set up a joint bank account which would be used to save the money which the business generates. This will encourage them as they see their money grow each week. 6. Legality Make sure that the business which you have set up for the kids are within the laws of your locality or city. Check all laws relating to child labour and ensure that your kids business are not violating any laws by ensuring that you pay any rate or dues needed. Finally, your kids should learn that we are going to fail a few times but they need to know that failure is not a bad thing. In case the business fails, share one of your awesome [...]

It should not come as a surprise that once children discover the internet, they want to learn how to create a website. Well, sometimes they are inspired to create something or have this idea they want to explore. You just never know where your kid's idea may lead to so why don’t you help create a website with the simple steps below. 1. Choose a topic This will require some brainstorming because you will need to answer questions of what would your child's website would cover? What theme? The design and layout, etc. Don’t think for your child, help them to discover what they are passionate about or what interest the most that they would want to talk about of showcase on their website. 2. Find a web host There are lots of free web host that you can use to build your kid’s website, but the downside of these types of website is the range of pop-up’s and banner ads you can’t get rid of. Paying for a web host service gives you more control over everything including the ads you want on the site and you could select your domain name too. 3. Learn web design Do a little research about web design to understand basic HTML and graphics software, with this knowledge you will be very good at helping out your kid to design his or her website really nice. You could use a free template for your child’s site in the initial stage to kick-start the process. 4. Decorate the site Your web design skills will come in handy at this point. You and your kid this together and have loads of fun snapping pictures and getting creative in a whole load of ways. If your kid has an artistic mind, he or she could draw or paint and use these on their site. 5. Safety rules Websites are public domain and so it is very important that you keep your kid's identity safe. You can password protect her site, which would require visitors to login in order to use the site. Set up basic internet rules that he or she is to follow relating to what to publish and also what time is to be given to the website. Finally, remember that it is a platform of expression so let your kid have fun doing so and if he or she loses interest in the website, there are many other options out there. Give your kid all the motivation and encouragement that he or she deserves.  

As kids grow, they develop an interest in various activities like games, sports and sometimes even business. In this fast developing world, kids are capable of so many things once they are given the opportunity and aid by adults, most especially their parents. So if your kid comes to you with the idea of starting a dog walking business and you just realized that you don’t know anything about it, don’t panic! This article will give you all the tips you need to help your kid begin his or her business. Steps 1. Check the laws governing child labour in your area to determine how many hours he can work each day walking dogs. It is very important to note the laws governing activities kids may do, so that your kids business would be legit and to avoid problems. 2. Open a custodial account with your child where she may be able to deposit her business profits. This will help her develop an attitude of saving and accountability. Make sure to create a budget worksheet where she or he may record here earnings and manage expenses. 3. Create business cards and flyers that will aid in the advertisement of your kid's dog walking services. Make the cards attractive with photos of dogs and contact information of your home. Do not let potential customers call the kid directly on their cell phone, due to safety reasons. 4. In relation to safety, work out a route for your child to follow when picking and walking dogs. This tip must be explained to the child so that he or she is aware of the reason and follows the route whenever he or she walks the dogs. 5. If your kid doesn’t have a cell phone, provide him or her with one. Or you may give him or her a GPS monitoring device so that you will be able to keep track of their whereabouts when visiting houses and walking dogs for customers. 6. Finally, help your child distribute his or her dog walking advertisement to potential customers in your neighborhood. Some suggestions of distribution techniques would be to go door to door, post flyers on community bulletin boards and visit dog parks to find clients. This distribution should be limited to trusted community members and try to screen potential customers too. Remember that it is about helping your kid to do what he or she loves and by doing so, you will help them develop their potentials.

Kids can be so obsessed with books and have little or no time for writing. Writing is very important because it is the medium by which we can express ourselves and also put forth through stories, poetry, drama and so many other things. It is not easy and so it requires practice and that is why it needs to be emphasized at home. If your kid isn’t doing well at writing or perhaps he or she has an interest in writing but feels lazy to write? Here are tips on ways that you can promote writing at home. 1. Be an example Parents are role models to their kids and so they take after you because they learn through actions and not just by word. Therefore, begin to write yourself, it doesn’t have to be a great novel but maybe just a story to show how exciting writing could be. This could be done in different ways, like a powerpoint presentation or a poem or even a work memo. All these are to arouse the interest and excitement of the kid towards writing and the impression you give to your kid is very important. 2. Make it part of family time Family time is very important because it helps the family to spend time together and also to bond more. This is because, at this time, everyone is doing the same thing. If you didn’t have a family time, now is the time to create one. It is an opportunity to get the whole family involved in a writing activity including yourself, of course. It could be a brief summary of the events that occurred to each of you during the day or week and this could be read aloud. 3. Make it competitive It is not a secret that kids love to compete, whether at home or at school. If you want to control the TV on Saturday night, give the kids a writing assignment and let them have fun. Just remember to give them a good effort even if it is not the best example of creative writing. This will encourage them to keep writing. 4. Get rid of the Grammar Police Do not emphasize too much on grammar at the initial stage. Criticism can hurt and discourage children who are just building up their confidence and interest in writing. So the goal is to encourage them and help to improve their writing skills as they get more involved. Learning to write will help your kid greatly in the future, regardless of the career they want to pursue.

Coding is a trend that is getting quite popular among kids these days and there are many programs there for kids that want to learn how to code. You may not know anything about coding but that should not stop you from helping out your kid if they should come to you for help. There are many products in the market that you could get to teach your kid coding but before you do so, make sure you follow the tips below: Find out your kid's learning style and the degree of commitment to learning to code. You could ask them about their interest in coding and why they want to code. So by getting to know your kids learning skills, probably through interaction with their teachers or by doing their homework at home, you will know the best way to teach them coding. Learn about coding yourself. There is nothing wrong in a little personal development, your knowledge of coding will help you interact with your kid better and not just be oblivious to the things he might say about coding. So, take a little time and do some research on it. Choose the right method and product. There are many methods that you can use and we will treat them accordingly: 1. Code language This works with a computer, so get your kid one if he or she doesn’t have. One of the most acclaimed languages to teach kids how to code was developed at the MIT Media Lab. It is called Scratch and uses visual blocks that you stack together to create a programming online. In addition to this are Tynker, Minecraft, and many other programs. 2. After School and online coding school If your kid likes to learn with others around then start looking for after school coding programs. 3. Using physical Objects If sitting down in front of a computer or being in a group discussion is not your kid’s thing then there is another way, which is coding with physical manipulable. It is believed that by doing things with real objects in the real world you learn to code. Some of these are the Osmo Coding Awbie or Lego Boost which you can buy for your kids. Finally, as your kid begins to advance you may want to get him or her coding kits which may include coding devices to best suit their developing skills.

It is very inspiring to watch your kid put a lot of effort into something as creative as writing a book. This activity is quite rewarding financially and mentally. Encouraging your kid to write and publish their very own work gives them a unique opportunity to learn, grow and explore the boundaries of their own potential. Before you go along to get your kid to publish a book, get to know the importance of doing so first and the steps that you will take to publish the book. Importance of writing The first reason why your kid should write is to exercise his/her creative mind and practice using their imagination. It helps them develop the skill of coming up with alternatives and broadens their thought process which can lead to so many successes. Not only are their minds exercised but they develop the ability of self-expression. Your kids may have difficulty just like many other children with understanding and expressing how they feel. But through writing, they have a safe place to explore and express their feeling. It helps to boost their self-confidence as well because it gives them more opportunity to look inward and get the voice to speak out through their writing. Furthermore, a well-written piece has a lot more to it than imagination because it involves a lot of thinking, planning, organization and use of grammar especially for kids that are age 12 and above. I believe you have realized that our creativity diminishes as we grow older, as reality sets in. We no longer believe in fairy tales and another fairy like tales involving magic or so. Therefore, encourage your kid or children to continue to believe at their young age in order to help them use their imagination to the fullest and praise them when they do. With all of these benefits that your kid gets from writing, there is no doubt that this activity is great for your kid and that is why their work needs to be published and you will have to help them do it. Here are a few reasons why you should publish your kid's book when they come to you for help: 1. It motivates them Your kid will get motivated and excited about writing when they know it is for an authentic purpose. Knowing that their work will be published gives them a reason to prove read and edit their work making them efficient in what they do. Kids need this same motivation because when they know their work is to be published they take care and do it better. 2. They feel appreciated When you publish your kid's work, you send a powerful message, that they are worthy of publication. You are putting value to their effort and imagination and indirectly validating their creativity. It is a lot for a kid to feel appreciated so don’t miss the chance to do so. Steps to take when publishing a book There are several avenues where you can get [...]

Babysitting jobs are quite popular and everyone gets the gist of what it is and what your kid is required to do. However, it is tricky when your kid comes to you and tells you that he or she wants to start a babysitting business and you just realize that you do not know how to go about it. It is quite normal to feel overwhelmed but if your kid loves playing with children and is responsible, then babysitting is an ideal way to make money. Babysitting will expose your kid to many life lessons and practical experiences which she will carry with her for life. Here are some reasons why you should let your kids babysit: 1. Life-Skills Apart from the cash, babysitting offers your kids plenty of life skills which they can take for life. They can learn how to change diapers, how to burp a baby etc. You learn a lot about responsibility especially if you are responsible for toddlers, babies, you quickly or automatically learn how to take care of others and that is something you can’t just easily learn on your own or in a classroom. It is because babysitting is a practical activity where you practice acts of care so you quickly begin to learn. 2. Responsibility By babysitting, you learn to set limits and boundaries for the kids that you are looking after. And you also are capable of making decisions on the spot when the kids don’t follow the rules. This means you are getting matured and being more accountable. 3. Independence Babysitting brings about a sense of independence at a time when they may feel like they have little control at home. So, if your kid is babysitting, you are letting him or her have a little independence and freedom. 4. Empathy It gives them an increased sense of empathy towards others and the ability to see things from a different perspective. By caring for kids that cannot help themselves and depend on older people, it helps your kid to feel empathy when needed and this will help them to render help in situations that demand it. Depending on the age your kid is babysitting, they may form a bond with the kid and this will help them have a smooth relationship. 5. Career skills By getting into the business, you kid gets to learn career skills. These include the ability to negotiate salary, hours etc. Probably if he or she were shy, they will be able to open up as they interact with clients. 6. No running out of business Babysitting is a common job taken among teens and brings enough money and will always exist because kids will always be around and would need to be taken care of. Their parents will go on dates, or out for an event or another and even travel. So, there is no running out of business in this business. 7. Patience By babysitting your kid will to be patient and to exercising it [...]

There are a lot of things kids want to do if it gets their attention. At their young age, they are adventurous and excited about almost everything. As the summer draws closer, lemonade stands can be one of the most ideal businesses that he or she may want to get into. This is a great way to keep them engaged and also help them earn some coins. Helping your kid set up a lemonade stand will help them improve on their social skills and communication. Your kid will learn about responsibility and accountability plus good customer service through the way he or she interacts with customers. Apart from these, this could be fun for your kid with you helping out, there is sure to be some more bonding between you both. Below are easy tips to use and help your kid start a lemonade stand. Benefits of a lemonade stand: 1. It exposes them to success Running a successful lemonade stand motivates your kid to do better. Once they get a taste of achievement, your kid will want to do bigger things and even better. This will encourage them to try out new business ideas which could range from making a great product or organizing a sale etc. 2. It puts their imagination to work It takes hard work and commitment to put up a lemonade stand. It also takes their imagination at work to make it a reality. The posters, signs or flyers created are all form a point of imagination. All of these are efforts that they put in to make the lemonade stand attractive. And then kids have to think of ways to attract customers. These just put them on the spot all the time. It is important to always nourish your child’s imagination. 3. It helps them understand finance With all of the planning and sales conducted, understanding finance is a benefit your kid will surely get from the lemonade stand. And this benefit is lifelong because as they grow up, in everything they do, there must be finances tied to it. With the lemonade business, they will get an early understanding of the way in which money is acquired and controlled. They will get to appreciate money and see how hard it is to earn it. Of course, your kids will look forward to the money that they will make from their sales. Earning coins will teach your children at an early age all about commerce and economics. 4. It builds independence and self-confidence If you can help it, let your kids do all the work and just support them by giving advice unless of cause if you just have a single kid. But try to limit your involvement if you can help it, they will learn to be capable and how to work towards a goal and achieve great things. Your child will certainly be empowered each time a customer says “thank you,” or “wow, this is some really good lemonade.” Also, running a lemonade [...]

Summer is drawing near and you are thinking of an activity you can all do together as a family but something that’s also profitable, then garage sale could be the best option to select. Just like other summer activities like pool parties and barbecues, garage sales bring the family together and there is a lot of fun and memories shared. So if your kid is urging you to help him or her have a garage sale, do not hesitate because it isn’t as hard as it sounds and you will help your kid get some money for himself. You might be wondering how your kid will help out in a garage sale or if they could actually do anything at all? Well, they have a lot to help out with and so, you can do the sale together. If the sale is mainly about your kid's stuff especially if the sale is about his items then, he has a lot to learn and do as well. Here are some ways that you and your kid can work on a garage sale. 1. Have your kids pitch in You can ask your kids to help in pricing the items they want to sell. They could even tagitems with their prices. This will make them be a part of the sale from the onset. They will know how to price things and keep it simple, not too expensive or confusing. For example, younger children can be asked to put a particular size of an object in a cart that’s already tagged with a price. 2. Matching your child’s funds One of the ways to motivate your kid's participation in the garage sale could be by offering to match up whatever they make from the sale. You will see your kid bringing out all their old stuff from every nook and cranny just to make the sale a success. It is also a way to reward your kids effort too. 3. Teaching your kid to give So, it is a fact that garage sales will bring cash for you and your kid but it is not just about making money. It is also a way to teach your kid how to give charity or to invest in something else other than just buying new items again. Garage sales are not too easy and involves a lot of commitment to make it a success. Therefore, it is a great way to teach your kid about mindful spending and using the money to put into a worthy cause. Your leftover items may be donated too so that there is nothing left to waste. So when planning that garage sale for your kid, you should take into account a lot of details as the success of your sale depends on it. You may want to take your kid along for some survey around your neigbourhood to get some ideas from other garage sales.  However, there is a plan that you can follow to help you conduct an [...]