Traveling with children can be frustrating and sometimes a little frightening. The challenge of keeping children occupied for long periods of time in a confined space is not one most parents are eager to embrace. However, in today’s world, there will be times when it is necessary to travel with children. When this happens, it is best to keep a selection of toys particularly suited to travel. This can help keep your children occupied and entertained for the duration of your journey. But only if you pick the toys and games you will pack with care.
It’s going to be tempting just to grab favorite toys and games and throw them in the care. This may seem like a good idea, but in reality it’s the worst thing you can do. Familiar toys will be played with and discarded within the first few minutes of the trip. Instead, collect new toys that will only be played with during travel. Don’t give these toys to your children before the journey starts, and don’t give them all at once. Space them out, perhaps one new toy or game an hour, to give the children something to look forward to.
Another benefit of not taking favorite toys is that there is no risk of leaving something behind. There is nothing worse than getting home only to realize a special toy, game, or blanket has been left behind. Avoid the entire situation by leaving familiar toys and games at home.
What to Take on a Trip
The back seat of a car or even airplane seats are confined areas. Not all toys work well in such a situation. Choose items that are small and portable as well as entertaining. Consider allowing the children to color or doodle. Crayons and coloring books are cheap and easy to find. Older children might enjoy puzzle or activity books. Even blank paper can present the opportunity to be creative and quiet in the back seat. If you have a budding writer in the family, pack pads of paper and pencils.
For those children who love reading, books and magazines can be just the thing to make a long trip more bearable. Just make sure you pack age appropriate books. Infants and toddlers are best served by having plenty of picture books to look at. To save yourself a headache, choose cloth or board books that cannot be destroyed by simply tearing a page. Older children might enjoy short stories or even novels, depending on their age and interest. Have several new books waiting in the car for each trip. To reduce your costs, you might want to check a local used bookstore or even a thrift shop.
If you have children who love to play board games, purchase a few magnetic games. These are often advertised as “travel games” and feature magnetic pieces to prevent them from being scattered across the car. Read any age restrictions carefully, as the smaller pieces are not usually recommended for children under 3 years of age. Travel games have become quite popular in recent years and many different games are available. Look for favorite titles such as Snakes ‘n Ladders, Checkers, and even Monopoly. Some games even have multiple games in one package, so look for these as a way to save space and money.
Children love toys, so no journey would be complete without some toys for your children to play with. When games have been put away and the children grow tired of reading or drawing, they’ll appreciate the chance for free play with some new toys. Pack small groups of toys in plastic bags and dole them out when the children get restless. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get new toys. Check your local thrift shop or discount store for cheap toys that will entertain and amuse on your trip. Younger children appreciate anything new; they won’t care if these toys come from the thrift store.
When choosing these toys, think about your own sanity. Don’t purchase toys that make a lot of noise if you’re certain you’ll become irritated after five minutes. Remember that children make noise already, so loud toys will only increase the volume. Choose those toys that are quite but still have the ability to engage your children for at least fifteen minutes at a time.
Age appropriate toys and games can be the difference between an enjoyable trip and one that everyone remembers are torture. Keeping a selection of toys and games ready for your next trip can help ensure that everyone has a good time.
Teenagers are tricky to handle at the best of time. There will always be inevitable conflict between a teenage boy and his parents. However, it is the responsibility of the parents to keep the child safe, even when that child is a teen and beginning to exert his own independence. This expression of independence is important as he begins to mature into the man he will one day be, but he is still a child. And children, no matter how big they’re getting, still need ground rules.
Determining these ground rules can be difficult. It’s hard to balance the control you need to exert as a parent with letting go. In order to avoid stifling your teenage son’s emotional growth, it’s best to stick to the very basics. Pick your battles, and most other things go.
The Rules of the House
Homes have rules, and your teenage boy is not exempt from these rules. Draw up a set of rules and expect that everyone, including your teenager, abide by them. These rules should include the appropriate use of language, chores, and other responsibilities that you want your son to have. Keep these rules simple, focusing on one or two things. For example, you might have the following rules:
- Make your bed
- Clean up after yourself
- Keep your room tidy
- No foul language
Choose those things that are most important to you as nonnegotiable. Don’t single your son out, however. Everyone should have to abide by the rules. If the rule is no one goes out until their chores are done, then that applies to your son, your daughter, your spouse, and even yourself. Respect runs both ways, and teenagers will rebel when they don’t feel they’re properly respected and listened to.
The Rules of Dating
Most teenage boys date. As a responsible parent, you should allow your son to explore the world of romance, but it has to come with rules. You cannot control every aspect of your son’s various dates, but you can dictate some basic rules.
Start with a curfew. Explain that you understand that he wants to be out late with his dates, but that it’s inconsiderate to come home at 2am, waking everyone in the process. Set a firm time that he must be home by and ensure he sticks to it.
You’re not going to be able to control everything that happens once he walks out the door, so don’t try. Instead, make sure you know where he’s going and who he’s with. Make supplying these crucial pieces of information mandatory, and don’t let him leave without supplying them. Also have a conversation about how ‘romantic’ he can get on his date. This will probably involve some discussion of sex, so be prepared.
The Rules of Money
For most teenage boys, money comes up at some point. They want money, they want it now, and they want a lot of it. Whether they work or they get an allowance from you, they probably won’t be satisfied with the money they have.
You can’t really control what a teenager does with his own money. But you can limit how much money you give him. Establish some firm rules regarding how much money you give him and when you’ll give it to him. Also explain what the money is for. If you give him money for new jeans and he spends it on junk food, don’t run out and buy him new jeans. He made a choice that you couldn’t really control. But you can control when the money is doled out.
The Rules of Driving
There are few moments as frightening to a parent as when their teenager gets his license. As a parent, you have some control over this, but exercising too much control will only lead to resentment and rebelling. Instead of exercising control, exercise caution. Discuss driving with your teenager before you let him get his license.
Make sure he realizes that it’s a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. Explain that once behind the wheel, he’s responsible for his own life, the lives of the other people in the car, and the lives of everyone on the street. If he doesn’t take this seriously, put off getting that learner’s permit for a few months. Make him understand that driving isn’t a right. It’s a privilege, and privileges can be taken away.
There are so many rules you could come up with to try to control your teenage son. However, in the end, you will have to realize that he’s growing up and will soon become a man. He has to learn to take responsibility for himself and his actions, and it’s your job as a parent to teach him this. Set the ground rules, impose consequences for not following them, and then let him grow up.
Painting puppets by hand is exciting, relaxing, and a wonderful experience all at the same time. Children love it, but this delicate does require a measure of skill, patience, and practice. It’s not as easy as picking up a paintbrush and painting whatever first comes into your head. If you want to master the techniques and styles used to created hand-painted puppets, you’ll have to be prepared to take your time.
The hardest part about hand-painting puppets is not starting right away. You have to form an image in your mind, visualize the end goal as clearly as you can. You might want to sketch your ideas first just so you know what you’re hoping for. This will give you a final goal to work towards. This is particularly helpful for children.
Once you know what you want, prepare the tools you’ll need for your work. Pick your paint carefully. Acrylic is usually your best choice. It dries quickly and resembles oil paint, but it doesn’t stink quite as much. It’s also less toxic, though you should still work in a well-ventilated area. Acrylic also works on most mediums, including wood and paper machete.
Your paint will often determine the type of paintbrush you select. Check each paintbrush you’d like to purchase carefully, ensuring it is meant for the paint you’re using. Make sure you purchase many different sizes and styles, especially the smaller brushes. You don’t want to be mostly done and then realize you can’t paint the eyes because you didn’t buy a small enough brush.
You’ll also need somewhere to mix your paint. You could use a professional palette, large piece of plastic, or even cardboard. What you use doesn’t really matter, as long as you can mix the colors you desire. Also consider having an assortment of other items on hand such as sponges, rags, and anything you’d like to use for texturing. These items can usually be found around the house.
Once you have all your materials, you can begin to explore the techniques and styles for hand-painting puppets. How you do this will be based primarily upon what material you’re painting. Most puppets are built using wood or paper machete. Whichever material your puppet is made of, take the time to create the image of your choosing. Use the techniques and styles that appeal to you and will give you the results you desire.
One of the best ways to paint a puppet is to use layers. Start by using your sponge to create your base layer. Use the color of your choosing (or mix a unique color) and dab it onto the surface of the puppet. You can add additional colors to create something truly unique. From there, you can use your paintbrushes or other items to create the face and other details necessary to finish your puppet. Pay attention to the small details and don’t be afraid to be creative. A paintbrush may be your primary tool, but don’t limit yourself to that. Try toothpicks to paint freckles, a sponge to create texture, and a rag to smooth out rough areas.
The exact nature of your puppet will determine the specific styles and techniques you will employ. Out of necessity, painting a marionette will be far different than painting a hand puppet. Feel free to explore both established techniques and create some of your own. With time and practice, you will master the art of creating hand-painted puppets.
Black boots are generally considered a wardrobe staple in every woman’s closet. They are versatile, classic and fun. With so many styles to choose from, and the option of dressing them up or dressing them down, the black boot is the perfect piece of footwear.
Black high-heel boots of many styles are ideal for a thousand different settings. When paired with a fitted skirt suit, high-heel boots can enhance your look at work; if it’s cool outside, consider adding leggings or tights. For a more casual look, wear jeans and a T-shirt. Fitted jeans are perfect for tucking into your boots, but boot-cut jeans can give a more relaxed feel. It can also be cute to have just the toe of your boot sticking out from beneath your wide pant leg.
This boot style has endless possibilities and, when done right, black high-heel boots can be sexy, sensible, cool, or anything in between.
If you prefer a heeled ankle boot, you’re in the perfect position to be trendy. Pair your boots with skinny jeans, a fun funky T-shirt and you’re ready in a moment for a night on the town. Get a little dressier by exchanging the T-shirt for a fashionable blouse. A blouse and dress slacks combined with a black ankle boot is perfect for most work settings. Black ankle boots can be set off with light-colored trousers, if you desire.
For those who want to make their legs look long and slender, a pair of leggings or tights that match the boots can lend an air of sophistication.
Knee-high black boots are something of a fashion statement and, with the right heel, can truly accentuate the legs. Taller boots look great with wide leg jeans or even a short skirt, if you like to show off your knees. For those women who enjoy the vintage look, knee-high boots fit very well with wrap dresses and jumpers.
The problem with these different boot styles is that they all have heels. For the woman who can’t walk in heels, is too tall for heels, or simply prefers flatter footwear, flat black boots are available at many retailers. These can be of a variety of heights and are extremely comfortable.
The taller boots work well with A-lined skirts; the shorter versions match slim or boot leg jeans almost perfectly. You can also purchase more rugged-looking boots for a down-to-earth look. The possibilities are endless with flat boots.
For the fashion-conscious woman, at least one pair of black boots is a necessity. Choose the style that works best for you, your body type and current wardrobe — and get creative. With a pair of black boots, you can embrace any color that strikes your fancy and dress for any occasion.
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