Schoolio Joins Google Canada Cloud Accelerator

I am so excited to share that the word is OUT and we are all over the press this morning with the news of the new cohort with Google Cloud Accelerators! In the next three months, the team at Google will help us design our AI and Machine Learning backend to power our digital platforms. So, its official, Schoolio joins Google Canada!
Who’s excited!?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sathishbala_startup-startups-buildwhatsnext-activity-6912084310707589120-N-ku?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web


This brings a big spotlight on us, puts us in the Canadian tech community AND brings credibility to our AI and ML features. We are thrilled to be a part of the Virtus famiily! .. TO THE MOON! 

If you would like to share to your networks, here is the link..https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/startups/google-cloud-announces-startups-for-canada-accelerator-cohort

Image:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BXvnxO60wEHwMnls_zbiE_pE8s_u6ptf/view

Linkedin Post:https://www.inkedin.com/posts/sathishbala_startup-startups-buildwhatsnext-activity-6912084310707589120-N-ku?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

Signs That Your Child Needs a Tutor.

Is your child struggling with their grades? Are they having constant meltdowns whenever they do homework? Does school cause them to feel immense amounts of stress? These may be clear signs that your child needs a tutor. Children everywhere benefit greatly from tutoring; some of these benefits are that tutoring can help boost their academic performance, and they have the opportunity to develop learning and study habits. So, how can you tell if your child needs a tutor?

Signs that your child needs a tutor.

Declining grades.

Have you noticed that your child’s grades are steadily declining? Whether that is in a particular subject, two, or all subjects. This is a clear indicator that your child needs help.

No progression in school.

Is your child struggling to keep up with what they’re learning in class? Has your teacher noted that your child is falling behind their level? If you’re homeschooling, have you noticed that your child can’t understand the concepts taught?

Taking too much time to complete assignments.

Does your child spend hours trying to complete a homework assignment? Even if it’s a simple assignment, that should take less time. This is another one of the signs that your child needs a tutor.

Constantly having tantrums and meltdowns when doing homework.

When it’s time to do homework, does your child have meltdowns? Are nightly homework assignments ending with your child hugely frustrated or in tears?

Lying about tests and homework assignments.

Does your child tell you they have no homework or upcoming tests to study for? As a result, they don’t study or complete homework assignments, which causes poor grades and concern from you and their teacher.

Having a poor attitude towards school.

Does your child dread going to school? Do they constantly say phrases like “I hate school”? Does your child not like a subject that they used to enjoy?

They are struggling to manage their time.

Are there not enough hours in the day for your child to finish their work and assignments? Are they having difficulty completing what they need to when needed?

Low self-esteem.

Does your child lack confidence when it comes to a particular subject? Or school in general? Have they stopped applying themselves to their schoolwork? Whether in class or at home?

Anxiety and meltdowns when going to school.

Are you finding that your child is getting very stressed, upset or anxious before school in the morning? Is your child complaining of headaches, stomach pains, or other symptoms that only occur before school?

Demonstrating signs of learning difficulty.

Is your child having difficulty writing, reading, math, or another area of study? Despite your efforts, are they still showing little to no improvement? Is your child having difficulty behaving or paying attention in the classroom or during learning?

Struggling with organization.

Do you know your child is intelligent and understands assignments but cannot prepare for what needs to be done? This could be another one of the signs that your child needs a tutor.

Doing an excellent job with homework but failing tests.

Getting high marks on papers, assignments or in-class participation but failing a test can cause significant frustration for your child. Test preparation is a skill; not every student can focus on what needs to be done before a test.

How tutoring can help.

A tutor can provide additional support that a teacher or parent may not be able to give them. Tutors can help slow things down by teaching your child how to adequately schedule their time, prioritize which assignments must be completed first and customize learning to meet your child’s needs. A good tutor will take the time to teach your child the skills they need. Tutors also have the unique ability to focus on one or two skills that can significantly impact the child’s education.

Not every child needs a tutor to succeed in school, but for some students, a tutor can make all the difference and help to change the outcome of your child’s education. Tutoring doesn’t need to be a permanent solution, as just a few sessions with a tutor can positively impact your child and provide them with the necessary tools.

Learn more about the Schoolio Digital Platform and how it can help your child get back on track. 

The Schoolio Digital Platform is the perfect addition to help children get back on track. Whether the child is working with a tutor, a parent, a teacher or independently, the Schoolio Digital Platform can help. With 4,000+ video lessons, worksheets and activities. Your child will thrive with this program. 

Click Here to learn more about the Schoolio Digital Platform. 

 

Aren’t sure where to begin? Book a Concierge Call.

If you aren’t sure how to get started or what programs would best suit your child’s learning needs, then you can chat with one of our experts on a one-on-one Concierge Call, completely free!
Click here to book a Concierge Call. 

10 of the Best Parenting Podcasts

Podcasts are unique because they’re informative, educational and effortless to use. You can listen to podcasts anywhere and at any time. All you need is your cell phone! You can play podcasts in the car while running errands, or at the gym with headphones, and even when your kids are watching a show or you’re doing dishes or laundry. Podcasts are the most excellent education and personal development tool for a parent. So let’s check out 10 of the best parenting podcasts.

10 of the best parenting podcasts:

Good Inside

We love this podcast because it genuinely empowers parents to feel stronger and more prepared to manage the many challenges of parenting. Dr. Becky Kennedy is the creator and host of the Good Inside podcast. She is also a clinical psychologist and mom of three. Dr. Becky was named by TIME Magazine “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer.” The Good Inside podcast immediately rose to #1 on the Apple Podcasts “Kids & Family” chart when she launched it in April 2021. Learn more about The Good Inside podcast or stream it directly on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Motherhood in Black & White

Another one of the best parenting podcasts is Motherhood in Black & White. This excellent podcast is hosted by Gen X moms Kanji Irby and Tara Campbell. They come from completely different worlds but have become extremely close friends through their shared experiences as ‘boy moms’ and working women in a male-dominated workplace. They also share their love of 90s hip-hop. You’re sure to enjoy this podcast as Kanji and Tara chat with each other as well as with guests about parenting, pop culture, and the tragedies and triumphs of motherhood. Learn more about Motherhood in Black & White, or stream it directly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

The Dad Edge (formerly The Good Dad Project)

Formerly The Good Dad Project, The Dad Edge Podcast is legendary to all dads. Their mission is to help dads become the best, strongest, and happiest version of themselves. They are hoping that you can better guide your child to be the best version of themselves through their podcast. The founder of The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast), Larry Hagner, breaks down everyday challenges that dads face, helping them overcome and understand. Learn more about The Dad Edge Podcast or stream it directly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher.

We Are Family

The We Are Family podcast is brought to us by the people at Parents. It’s easy to see why it is one of the best parenting podcasts, celebrating diverse families of all shapes and sizes, with Co-hosts Shaun T and Julia Dennison. Shaun T is the creator of the Insanity workout and dad to twins with his husband, Scott Blokker. Julia Dennison is a single mom and the executive editor of Parents.com. Shaun T and Julia explore everything from adoption, IVF, LGBTQ, and blended families on the We Are Family Podcast. Check out more information on the We Are Family Podcast or stream it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and everywhere that podcasts are available.

The Mom Hour

Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers are busy mamas that discuss everything related to parenting. This podcast is worth listening to with topics like mom-shaming, potty training, puberty, sleep deprivation, and more. The Mom hour has created a supportive community for mothers everywhere, with over 300 episodes. Learn more about The Mom Hour Podcast, and stream now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more.

The Doctor Dads

Dr. David Wardy and Dr. Nick Jensen are the creators and co-hosts of The Doctor Dads Podcast. This podcast is dedicated to helping you learn the strategies for optimal living. You’ll enjoy their discussions about things everybody needs to hear to experience daily growth. The Doctor Dads Podcast aims to help you become a better version of yourself every day by improving mental/emotional, physical and biochemical health. To find more information about The Doctor Dads Podcast, stream now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The Genuine Mom Club

Hosted by yours truly, Jaymee Davis, The Genuine Mom Club Podcast is all about helping parents unlearn this flawed idea that we have to have it together all the time. Each episode is filled with real-life content and tips to help parents have the best parenting journey. With expert guests worldwide and topics like living with a depressed spouse, top guilty pleasures of parenting, parenting hacks, keeping your child from spiralling, parental burnout, and balancing work at home – homeschooling life. There’s something for everyone! Learn more about The Genuine Mom Club Podcast and stream it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting

This is truly one of the best parenting podcasts and a gem for parents everywhere. Covering topics like when your kid is dumped by their friends, what keeps kids from being honest, how step-parents should fit in, bribing your kids and more. This podcast with Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan is one of the greatest by far. Dr. Lisa Damour understands that raising kids can be challenging, stressful, and uncertain. This is why her podcast brings a sane, informed, and practical perspective to your parenting questions. Learn more about Ask Lisa: the Psychology of Parenting Podcast and stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Stitcher and anywhere else you might get your podcasts.

The Balanced Educator

This weekly podcast hosted by the co-founders of Educalme, Kailey Lefko and Josianne Barnabe, aims to equip teachers and parents with practical, concrete, social-emotional learning and mindfulness strategies. With a further aim to empower them to feel calm, balanced and joyful when teaching or not. You can learn more about The Balanced Educator Podcast and stream it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

The Child Repair Guide

Pediatrician and dad Dr. Steve Silvestro brings insights and wisdom from the world’s best childhood health and wellness experts. He aims to equip parents with the best tools possible to raise healthy, confident and, most importantly, happy kids! Rather than Google your health concerns about your child, you can turn on one of these fantastic episodes. With topics like bedtime routine tips to get kids to sleep on time, your COVID Vaccine PB&J Questions, learning how to manage parental stress better, and raising cross-cultural kids. This podcast is wholesome and knowledge-filled. Learn more about The Child Repair Guide Podcast and stream episodes now on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

We hope that you enjoyed learning about 10 of the best parenting podcasts and that you thoroughly enjoy listening to them! Let us know which one you liked the most and what other podcasts you’d recommend! We love to hear from you!

 

Need more helpful information about homeschooling and parenting? Check out more on our blog! 

Spring Break On A Budget

It’s almost spring break, a much-needed break for traditional and homeschooling teachers. Along with conventional students and homeschooling students. Many of us dream of heading to a tropical destination to bask in the warm sun while sipping Pina Coladas and listening to the sound of the ocean waves. While a tropical vacation may remain a dream, for now, spring break on a budget can still be fun.

Fun ideas for spring break on a budget.

Visit museums.

Did you know that during spring break/March break, many museums offer discounted or even free activities to help keep kids learning and entertained? While you may have to pay an admission fee to enter the museum, the fun activities are well worth it. Not to mention, when the activities are complete, you can explore the museum with your child. To prepare, you can look up museums in your city or a city near you. Then check into the activities that they have planned for spring break! Super affordable and straightforward.

Have a scavenger hunt.

The weather is warming up, so get outside for a fun scavenger hunt! Don’t worry; you don’t even need to plan anything out. Print off this Fun Scavenger Hunt by CBC Kids, grab some pencils, bundle up, and head outside! Once you’ve completed the scavenger hunt, you can stop at the local coffee shop for some nice hot chocolate to warm up.

Go tobogganing.

If you live in a colder climate, you probably still have some snow at this time of the year. This is perfect for outdoor fun and will tire your kids out while giving them fun memories to cherish forever. And if you actively participate in tobogganing, the cardio from going up the hill will also benefit you!

Make some fun crafts!

Most kids get joy from creating and crafting. There’s something so fun about having supplies and a billion ideas about what you will do with them. Letting your kids freestyle when it comes to crafting can be fun. However, having a plan for crafting time can also be very beneficial. Don’t worry; finding crafts to do is as simple as popping on Pinterest and typing in ‘easy crafts.’ Remember to hit the local craft store to get some essential crafting supplies.

Crafting supplies, you need to keep in your home for spring break on a budget:

  • Coffee filters
  • Paper plates
  • Paper cups
  • Popsicle/wooden craft sticks
  • Toilet paper rolls/paper towel rolls
  • Styrofoam balls
  • Buttons
  • PomPoms
  • Beads
  • String
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Feathers
  • Rocks
  • Yarn
  • Tape
  • Glue
  • Markers
  • Card stock
  • Construction paper
  • Magnets
  • Google eyes
  • Washable paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Tissue boxes
  • Egg cartons
  • Clothespins

Check out a Maple Sugar Bush.

If the weather cooperates, a sugar bush near you is likely in full operation. Many sugar bushes offer tours during Spring break. This will allow your family to take a guided tour to learn about the unique process of making maple syrup. Most sugar bushes offer free parking and admission, so research the best one to visit for your family.

Go for a free swim at a local pool.

Many local community pools offer free swims during spring break. That means that you can take your kids for some fun splashing activities for free. Find out if your local community centre is hosting a free swim.

Attend a free ice skating event.

Many communities offer free ice skating events during spring break also. Some community centres have ice skating rentals, so if you don’t have a pair, check in first!

Head to the library.

Libraries are great places to visit at any time of the year, especially during spring break. Most libraries offer free activities, crafts, reading sessions, and more. Check into your local library’s schedule and see when these activities occur. And make sure to pick up some fascinating reading material for your learners while you’re there.

Have a make-your-own pizza night and taco night.

On two different evenings, you can have two separate celebrations! One night could be make-your-own pizza night and the other make-your-own taco night! Get your kids to prepare the toppings for your pizza and taco nights. Then let them choose what they’d like to put on theirs! Make it even more fun by using a map to look up countries where Pizza and Tacos are popular options. And learn some fascinating facts about these places while you enjoy your meal.

Let your kids write and perform a play.

Tell your kids that they can create a one-of-a-kind performance. Their timeline: At the beginning of the week, they can start dreaming up their plans, working together to make them great, and coming up with a script and costumes. By the end of the week: it’s showtime! Have a cherished family member or two and friends attend. Make sure to record their play for future memory purposes.

Have an indoor pool party.

I promise this isn’t as scary as it sounds. This can work if you have an inflatable or small kid pool. Head to your local dollar store and buy some plastic paint sheets, then spread those down all over the floor and place the pool and an inflatable pool toy you might have. Play some tropical music and vacation snacks. Spend the day lounging by the pool. This would work even better if you have an unfinished basement. Use the bathtub if you don’t have an inflatable or kid pool!

Bake some treats.

Baking together is an excellent way to find entertainment, learn, and share something yummy. Bake some banana bread, muffins, cookies or bread! And enjoy!

Have a staycation.

Check your family into a local hotel for a one-night staycation if the budget allows. You can utilize the hotel pool, comfy beds, and change of scenery for an affordable price.

Do puzzles and games.

There are so many fun family games and puzzles that you can do over spring break. And some are even available for loan at the local library. Have a family game day with puzzles, popcorn, and games!

Dive into a Special Interest Unit.

Spring break on a budget can be fun with a special interest unit. There are many fun special interest units and novel studies to choose from. Would your child enjoy learning about Bees and Honey? How about Earth Day, Pirates, Spring Activities, or an Evidence Investigation? These and many more Special Interest Units are available on The Schoolio Marketplace!

 

Explain the War in Ukraine to Your Child.

Over the past two years, children have struggled to understand the COVID-19 virus, shutdowns, school closures, and why they couldn’t see friends and families or do sports and everyday activities they love. Many parents became exhausted by trying to help their children feel normal while explaining the pandemic to their children. Now that the pandemic has begun to slow down, we are met with another crisis—the war in Ukraine. For many of us, this humanitarian crisis is in another continent. However, social media, the news, and the internet can make it feel very close to home. Which has likely caused you to question how to explain the war in Ukraine to your child?

What’s the best way to explain the war in Ukraine to your child?

Even though we’d all like to assume our kids are oblivious to what is happening, they aren’t. Many children are well aware of the Ukraine conflict, which is causing a significant amount of anxiety for many children. Many children have big feelings and questions about what is happening. So, how can you explain the war in Ukraine to your child without causing more anxiety or dismissing it like it’s nothing?

Don’t dismiss their feelings.

Many parents today watched the events of September 11 on the T.V. Trauma has stuck with us. To avoid the anxiety that comes with it, we often dismiss our feelings about such things and tell ourselves, “this isn’t happening here, so it’s fine.” While we may be quick to ignore our emotions, we must be careful not to do the same to our children. You should give your child the time and space to express their feelings. You must acknowledge their feelings and let them know that it’s ok to feel that way.

It’s normal to feel angry, worried, sad, and frustrated. Allowing your child the time and space to explain their feelings is beneficial. And also, your child needs to know that you have feelings about what is happening too. Please know that feeling sad, frustrated and mad about the events is healthy. When you acknowledge your feelings, your child will easily accept theirs. Suggest writing or creating art if your child struggles to explain their feelings.

Let them ask tough questions.

Your child has big feelings, thoughts and questions. They are individuals growing up in a challenging time. Your child needs to know that their concerns, ideas and questions are taken seriously. When your child brings a problem or question to you, it’s important to approach their questions sensitively and honestly. We all assume we must sugarcoat everything for our kids, avoiding topics and discussions about such events.

Many parents don’t realize that allowing their children to ask questions, have these sensitive conversations, and answer their questions honestly and to the best of their knowledge is essential. If you’re struggling to understand something or do not have the answers, you should explain to your child that this is a highly complex situation that not everyone understands. But many are working tirelessly to find solutions and end this war.

Utilize a map or globe when you explain the war in Ukraine to your child.

When explaining the war in Ukraine, take time to help your child understand the geography of the situation. Show your child where you are on the map, then Ukraine and Russia. Take the time to explain and emphasize the countries worldwide that are helping. While also showing them the countries that are not supporting Russia and are actively working to help end this crisis.

Help your child fact-check media.

This is especially important for older children who may have access to social media. It can be tough to figure out what is real and not regarding social media. Anyone could post something, and others can accept it as fact. Remind your child to check sources, and rely on safe domains and trusted people on social media.

Here’s a helpful resource to help your child fact-check.

Common Sense Education – Help Your Students Fact-Check the Web Like Professionals

Teach your children to look for helpers.

In the famous words of Mr. Rogers, “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” While the war in Ukraine is filled with terrible things, we can help our children focus on helpers. Like those at the borders of Ukraine assisting refugees by providing them with food, shelter and clothes. There are always people willing to help.

For older children, help them learn the facts.

Some very reliable resources are available to help our older learners understand what is happening in the world right now. You can help your children learn about what is happening and why, along with reliable, updated information on the current situation.

Check out CBC Kids News for more information.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If your child is struggling to understand, don’t be afraid to ask for help from professionals trained to listen, understand and help your child process their thoughts and feelings better. Additionally, you can utilize the Thoughts and Feelings: Learning how to Manage How I Think and Feel Special Interest Unit to help your child navigate the big feelings they are feeling. Remember that we are all navigating this crisis together; it’s difficult to explain something that we may not fully understand, so remember to be patient with yourself.

Together we can help children in Ukraine.

Explain the war in Ukraine to your child

For March, we donate a portion of all sales to the Save the Children Ukraine Crisis Fund.

Remarkable Women Who Changed History That You Should Teach Your Kids About

March 8th is marked annually as International Women’s Day (IWD). A day to celebrate women’s achievements while raising awareness about women’s equality. International Women’s Day has been celebrated globally for over a century. With it was first recognized in 1911. Educating our children about International Women’s Day is essential. We wanted to share with you some remarkable women who changed history.

Remarkable women who changed history that you should teach your kids about.

Throughout history, we have seen some extremely vibrant, unique, powerful, and intelligent women who inspire your heart. These remarkable women range from scientists, leaders, inventors, Queens, activists, and politicians. All of these had the same common goal, to make the world a better place. This is why they’re included among the remarkable women who changed history.

Maya Angelou 1928 – 2014

First, Maya Angelou

She is known as one of the most influential women in American history. Maya Angelou was a poet, memoirist, singer, and civil rights activist. Maya had a difficult childhood as a black woman growing up in Stamps, Arkansas. She experienced discrimination and racial prejudices throughout her entire life. Her trauma was so deep that she was a virtual mute for many years in her childhood. However, she found her voice and used it for freedom; she worked as a civil rights activist for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Additionally, Maya was an educator and Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.

Maya was the author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” an award-winning memoir. She is an inspiration and an example of how you can still rise above and use your voice for good, even throughout the darkest circumstances.

Learn more about Maya Angelou.

Anne Frank 1929 – 1945

Second, Anne Frank

Anne Frank wrote one of the most powerful, honest and saddening accounts of World War II. During the German occupation of The Netherlands, Anne Frank wrote in her diary about her family being in hiding for two years. As a result, her diary became classic war literature. When Anne turned 13, she received a red-and-white plaid journal in which she wrote her deepest thoughts. Her diary has been translated into more than 65 languages. And is also the most widely read diary of the holocaust.

When Anne was writing her deepest thoughts, she had no idea that they would one day become the most-read diary of all time. While her life was cut short, she still significantly impacted history. She truly is someone worth learning about.

Learn more about Anne Frank.

Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks 1913-2005

Third, Rosa Parks

In Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks chose to sit in the front of the bus when she boarded it. Knowing that the back of the bus was for African Americans, she decided to protest by sitting in front. Soon the bus began to fill up with white passengers, and the bus driver told Rosa Parks to move to the back. She refused. By doing so, her resistance caused one of the most significant social movements in history, the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Rosa Parks is an incredibly inspiring woman that has left a strong legacy of resistance against racial discrimination and injustice.

Learn more about Rosa Parks. 

394033 03: (FILE PHOTO) Amelia Earhart stands June 14, 1928

Fourth, Amelia Earhart

The amazing Amelia Earhart was born in 1897 and passed away in 1937. Amelia was adventurous and independent as a child. Following the First World War, she entered a program at Columbia University in New York City in 1920. Then in 1921, she purchased her first plane, a Dinner Airster, before she even had a pilot’s license. In the mid-1920, Amelia moved to Massachusetts, where she worked as a social worker at the Denison House. The Denison House was a settlement home for immigrants; while working there, she continued to work on her passion, aviation.

In April of 1928, promotors selected Amelia as the first woman to fly across The Atlantic Ocean. Besides being a fantastic pilot, she was also known for encouraging women to reject social norms. Instead, pursue the opportunities they’d like, especially in aviation.

Learn more about Amelia Earhart.

Remarkable Women Who Changed History That You Should Teach Your Kids About
Marie Curie 1867 – 1934

Fifth, Marie Curie

When Marie was a child, she was well-known for her incredible memory. She was the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne, and in 1910 her fundamental treatise on radioactivity was published. Following that, Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the isolation of pure radium. Furthermore, she with her daughter Irene devoted themselves to developing and using X-radiography during the First World War.

She is an extreme example that you should never stop learning and always stay curious, being the first woman to have been enshrined in the Pantheon in Paris because of her achievements.

Learn more about Marie Curie.

J.K. Rowling 1965-present

Sixth, J.K. Rowling

She went from being a single mother living on benefits to an author making millions, all within just a few short years. J.K. Rowling received multiple rejections from publishers and finally secured a print run of 1,000 copies for her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She has sold over 400 million copies and started an entire film empire. Her story is a clear example of why you should never give up on your dreams.

Learn more about J.K. Rowling.

Malala Yousafzai 1997-present

Seventh, Malala Yousafzai

When she was only 15 years old, Malala survived an assassination attempt. When Malala was 11 years old, she gave a speech: “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” Which was published throughout Pakistan. Following this, all girls’ schools in Swat were to be shut down. In 2012 Malala was shot by a TTP gunman on the way home from school. When she recovered, she returned to her studies and activism.

Her bravery is admirable, and her determination to advocate for girls’ education is breathtaking.

Learn more about Malala.

What can we learn from these women?

While we only listed seven remarkable women who changed history, it’s important to note that there are thousands of others you can learn about—names like Edith Cowan, Viola Desmond, Queen Elizabeth I, Princess Diana, and Oprah Winfrey, to name a few.

Each woman has a unique story that inspires us and future generations to be the best they can be. Learning about them and sharing their stories is a way to honour them and keep their incredible legacies alive. Happy International Women’s Day!

Add a fun history unit to your learning journey! 

Ten Ways to Help Your Child Eat Healthier.

Getting your picky eater to make healthy choices and eat healthy foods can be a significant challenge. This is why jumping on the Nutrition Month train is so essential! If you didn’t know, the month of March is Nutrition Month. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sponsors a fantastic campaign each year. They aim to highlight the importance of healthy food choices while developing sound eating and physical activity habits. And we’d like to help by exploring ten ways to help your child eat healthier, along with four fantastic recipes and a free meal tracker.

Malnutrition and Obesity are genuine threats.

According to Global Nutrition Report, North America is experiencing two extremes: the population is either malnourished or overweight. Furthermore, North America is experiencing severe malnutrition among children under five. The other extreme is that 9.1% of the childhood population is overweight, much higher than the global average of 5.7%. In addition, it’s no surprise that the adult population also struggles with malnutrition and obesity. With 8.7% of men living with diabetes and 6.7% of women. Along with 39.4% of women and 38.3% of men living with obesity.

How can we break the trend?

We all want our children to live healthy and wholesome lives. We should also want that for ourselves. You may feel intimidated by uprooting your family’s go-to menu and switching things up to help your family avoid such things as malnutrition and obesity. And while you may feel overwhelmed, please know that it’s possible! Making small changes to your family’s eating habits will have lasting and impactful results on everyone’s well-being.

Ten ways to help your child eat healthier.

It can be tempting to stick to the meals you know they’ll eat when you have a child constantly saying no to foods, especially new ones. When you gain the courage to get your child to try something new, it can result in a very stressful and frustrating mealtime for the entire family. Let’s try these ten ways to help your child eat healthier first!

1. Remember that food is more than nourishment.

Food has been uniting people since the beginning of time. A family meal can bring us together at the table each day. Additionally, food is almost always the centre of most celebrations! Food is life; food can improve health, keep us well, and prevent disease. Good food is a gift in more ways than one. Helping our children understand the gift of food is an essential first step.

2. Eat together as a family.

We live in a fast-paced world. As a result, we often find ourselves exhausted by the end of the day, which can cause us to gravitate toward the TV for mealtime. While this is ok here and there, it’s essential to sit down together as a family to eat at least one meal a day. According to Stanford Children’s Health, sitting together to eat as a family helps your child handle the stresses of daily life.

3. Involve your children in food prep.

There are many simple tasks that your child can partake in regarding kitchen tasks. Giving your child age-appropriate tasks to help prepare a meal for the family is a good practice. Your child can wash the fruits and vegetables, push buttons on the microwave, get ingredients together, tear lettuce and more. When you involve your child in meal prep, it boosts their interest and curiosity around food. While also setting an example for a healthy lifestyle.

4. Plan meals together.

Give each of your children one day a week when they can help choose a healthy meal for the whole family. Doing this helps reinforce good eating habits while helping them understand the importance of preventing food waste.

5. Give them choices.

Kids are always looking for ways to establish their independence. This is especially true when it comes to food. Like you don’t enjoy being forced to do something, neither do they. Instead of giving them one thing, provide them with a couple of options. When your child chooses between pear slices or apple slices, they get the autonomy they desire. You’re still in control of your child’s nutrition, but they also get a choice. It’s a win-win!

6. Allow your child to make their plate.

Allowing your child to make their plate is another fantastic way to build their independence while keeping them interested in new healthy foods. The results might not be immediate. However, most kids will be much more willing to make healthy food choices when given a choice.

7. Offer healthier snack options.

Kids seem to gravitate to sodium, preservative-filled foods. There’s just something so satisfying about crunching on your favourite snacks. But many times, these traditional snacks that kids love are filled with sugars and ingredients you can’t pronounce. We get it; it’s so easy to hand your child a bag of their favourite goodies. As you can probably imagine, this isn’t the best option for them. Your child’s snacks should be rich in fibre and protein, as this will help keep your child full for longer. Try giving your child healthy snack options to choose from instead.

These can look like this:

  • Apple slices with peanut butter.
  • A cup of nuts and raisins.
  • Veggie sticks with hummus.
  • Lightly salted popcorn.
  • Hard-boiled eggs.
  • Grapes and Kiwi.
  • Whole-grain crackers with cheese.

8. Be a good role model.

Who has the most influence on your child’s eating habits? You as their parent. Your attitude towards food and healthy eating habits will affect your child. If you find yourself cringing when eating a particular vegetable, they will too. Additionally, if your go-to snacks aren’t healthy, how could their choices be better? If you choose a can of pop or juice instead of a glass of water. How could we expect them to choose differently? Always remember you are the most outstanding example for your child.

9. Always offer but don’t force it.

I understand that offering your child healthy snacks or meal options can feel pointless when you know they will still gravitate to less healthy options. Don’t give up! Keep offering. If you’re making your child’s plate for them, still add the vegetables they don’t like. Alternatively, if they’re making their plate, advise them to choose at least one protein and one vegetable for their dish. Always be sure to offer healthy options for your child. However, be cautious that you never force or battle over food. This can cause them to have a greater aversion, and the dislike becomes a more significant issue.

10. Don’t give up.

Getting your child to make healthy food choices can ultimately feel overwhelming, especially if you have a picky eater. Don’t become discouraged; you’re doing an excellent job helping your child make the best choices. The easy road would be to hand your child the snacks they want and avoid offering them the healthy snacks they dislike. But the easy road never leads to anything significant. Don’t give up! Keep offering, keep trying, and keep offering.

This free meal tracker is a bonus to the ten ways to help your child eat healthier!

Sometimes kids love to track what they are doing and eating; try out this FREE Meal Tracker downloadable pdf. To encourage healthy eating habits and adequate water intake throughout the week! Print and go!

Four fantastic recipes to get you started.

We hope that the ten ways to help your child eat healthier were helpful for you. You can get creative with mealtime by adding unique meal ideas to your meal plan to help your kids enjoy their food. Try out these four amazing recipes:

Photo by: She Likes Food

Lentil Meatloaf Cups

These delicious Lentil Meatloaf Cups by She Likes Food are perfectly paired with mashed or roasted potatoes.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups brown lentils, dry
  • 3 cups vegetable broth or water
  • One teaspoon of olive oil
  • 1 cup small-diced carrot
  • 1 cup small-diced celery
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
  • One clove of garlic, minced
  • One teaspoon of chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/3 cup bread crumbs, gluten-free if necessary
  • One tablespoon of ketchup, plus more for the top
  • One flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax mixed with 2 1/2 tbsp water, let sit for 2–3 minutes)
  • Two tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking spray

She Likes Food Vegan Lentil Meatloaf Cups Instructions.

Charlie Gillette – Broccoli Cheesy Bread

Broccoli Cheesy Bread

This fantastic recipe boasts that even the pickiest eaters can’t resist it.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups riced broccoli
  • One large egg
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
  • Two cloves of minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tsp. freshly chopped parsley
  • Warmed marinara for serving.

View the full recipe by delish.

Taste of home – Gnocchi Chicken Skillet

Gnocchi Chicken Skillet

If you’re looking for an easy, wholesome dinner in a hurry, this is it! Just throw it together, prep a salad and go!

Ingredients:

  • One package (16 ounces) of potato gnocchi
  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 1/2 chopped onion
  • Two tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 jar (26oz) spaghetti sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Shredded Parmesan Cheese

View the full recipe on Taste of Home.

Country Living – Tuna Noodle Casserole

This meal is simple, filling, quick and nutritious. And most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry!

Ingredients:

  • 6 oz. egg noodles
  • 2 (4oz) cans of tuna in water
  • One tablespoon of canola oil
  • One small onion, diced
  • Two stalks of celery, diced
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 (10oz) cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup frozen peas

View Tuna Noodle Casserole Directions here.

 

10 Of The Best YouTube Channels for Kids

An excellent source of education and entertainment is YouTube, which makes it a fantastic tool for boredom. It can feel like an overwhelming task to try to find the best content for your child to watch as you try to sift through thousands of channels. And unfortunately, if you’re not using the Youtube Kids app, your child could find something that isn’t suitable for them to watch. So we have made a list of 10 of the best YouTube channels for kids to subscribe to.

10 Of The Best Youtube Channels for Kids

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQSECrMIygg
Homeschool Pop – The Sun for Kids

Homeschool Pop

When it comes to 10 of the best YouTube channels for kids, Homeschool Pop is one of the greatest. Homeschool Pop has many amazing educational clips for your child to choose from. They cover many topics from History to Geography to Math to Biology and even Social Studies. This channel has taken great care to explore many different areas of education. Homeschool Pop can provide an excellent boost of information for your child with videos like Oceans of the World, Antonyms, Helen Keller for Kids, Rosa Parks for Kids, The Sun, Rocks, Analog Clocks and more. HomeschoolPop is a fantastic channel created in 2015 with over 856,000 subscribers and 116 million views.

More Homeschool Pop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcUX6eNT2j4
Crash Course Kids – Succeed by Failing

Crash Course Kids

The excellent Crash Course Kids channel was created in 2014, with over 73 million views and 680,000+ subscribers. It’s easy to understand why it is a preferred choice of parents as it boasts of being one of the best kid-friendly YouTube Channels. They offer bi-weekly shows all about grade school science. These unique videos take a deeper look at Earth, Space, Engineering, Habitats, Chemical Reactions and more. With fun host, Sabrina Cruz. There are new uploads every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s no wonder Crash Course Kids describes itself as “Science with a side of awesome.” This channel is perfect for helping your child gain more interest in how the world works.

Find more Crash Course Kids Page

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1aQVApevDM
Nat Geo Kids – Discover Dinomania

National Geographic Kids (Nat Geo Kids)

Nat Geo Kids is a child-friendly version of The National Geographic Network. Furthermore, each video is kept short and simple while being packed with information for your child. In addition, Nat Geo Kids aims to make exploring the world fun through weird, wild and wacky videos. These fun videos vary from cool science to funny pets to unique animals and more. Nat Geo Kids was created in 2014 and now has over 120 million views and 612,000 subscribers.

Find out for yourself why Nat Geo Kids is such a hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3mSkMFZ44c
WordWorld – Boppin’ with the Bug Band/Shuffleword

WordWorld

Designed to help your child learn words, this channel is specific to younger children. Obviously, this channel is a fantastic find for parents with young learners. Additionally, this channel offers weekly episodes that last 30 minutes each. Furthermore, each episode has a different star of the show, the star being the words. Therefore Word world is an excellent channel for encouraging reading, writing and spelling. Created in 2012, this channel has over 10 million views and 82,400 subscribers.

Find more WordWorld Videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz6o8b2bFd0
Storyline Online – The King of Kindergarten Read by Terry Crews

Storyline Online

This YouTube channel is a total gem! Storyline Online by the SAG-AFTRA Foundations award-winning and Daytime Emmy-nominated children’s literacy website. Storyline streams unique videos that encourage your child to use their imagination. Additionally, stories are read by actors like Allison Janney, Justin Theroux, Viola Davis, the late Betty White, and more. As a result, Storyline Online is one of the best kid-friendly YouTube channels; founded in 2011, Storyline Online has over 304 million views and 535,000 subscribers.

More Storyline Online Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wJoG7Uuw_s
TVOkids – My World Kitchen – Pippa’s Zimbabwean Nyama

TVOkids

Some of the best kid-friendly YouTube channels are the ones that feature other children. And TVOkids offers a variety of fantastic video series for your child to choose from that features other children. Like My World Kitchen, All-Round Champion, Family Fun Time, Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures, Abby Hatcher, Odd Square Mobile Unit, The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, and more. Consequently, TVOkids aims to help children prepare for school, life and the world through the power of learning. Created in 2015, TVOkids has over 81 million views and 210,000 subscribers.

Check out TVOkids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeNuj2GH8xg
FreeSchool – All About Stars for Kids: Astronomy and Space for Children

FreeSchool

Providing age-appropriate videos on subjects like Language Arts, Science and History FreeSchool is a preferred YouTube Channel by parents. Particularly, FreeSchool offers a safe and friendly learning space that teaches children about famous art, literature, natural science and classical music. As a result, many parents describe FreeSchool as educational, entertaining and enriching. FreeSchool was created in 2014 and had 513,000 subscribers and over 165 million views.

More FreeSchool Videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt2q1cHsH6E
Kids Academy – Community Helpers for Kids, Joys & Occupations

Kids Academy

This fantastic Youtube Channel, Kids Academy, was created in 2016 and now has 545,000+ subscribers and 160 million views. Additionally, kids Academy has a large selection of educational videos. Moreover, these videos help kids learn important lessons that can be very useful in school as well as, their videos are short, informative and interactive, keeping kids engaged and learning.

More Kids Academy Videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBvcMMuBsHQ
Simple History – The Great Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall (1964)

Simple History

This unique channel helps visualize the past by bringing history to life through neat animations. It should be noted that Simple History is geared towards older children. And will help your child learn about how people lived throughout history. While also including lessons on their culture, epic battles and events and developments in technology. Additionally, they’ll know what it would’ve been like to be in the trenches of the First World War? Or to be a pirate in the Caribbean or a factory worker in the Industrial Revolution? This channel was created in 2014 and now has more than 955 million views and 3.75million subscribers.

Simple History for older children videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9N7QaIOkG8
TedEd – Why is it so hard to escape poverty?

TedEd Lessons Worth Sharing

Why do parents love TedEd for their older children? Because it’s phenomenal and filled with incredible lessons. Without a doubt, one of the heated channels with videos like ‘Building the Impossible: Golden Gate Bridge,’ ‘The Dark History of the Overthrow of Hawaii,’ ‘Spaceship vs. Space Elevator.’ Furthermore, TedEd was created in 2011 and has 16.4 million subscribers and over 3 billion views. Apart from its popularity, this channel is committed to creating carefully curated educational videos for your older learners.

Find more TedEd videos.

Things to remember when searching for educational content for kids.

We hope you enjoyed learning about 10 of the best YouTube channels for kids. It should be noted that while the media listed here are loved by parents and children worldwide, it’s important to remember that all kids respond differently to content. Furthermore, your child might be more advanced for some younger learner videos. In comparison, for some of the older children’s videos, your child might be overwhelmed by some of the content.

Unquestionably, you should always watch videos before your child does and gauge whether or not the video would be something that your child should watch. Indeed these channels come highly recommended; however, only you can determine whether or not your child should watch a channel.

Schoolio After-School

Learn more about Schoolio After-School

Benefits of Tutoring

Many parents understand the frustrations of watching their child struggle in school. You are just unsure how to help them, so you take a closer look at tutoring. Only then you’re faced with questions like, “How do I choose a wholesome tutoring program that will work well for my child?” “How will tutoring help?” “And what are the benefits of tutoring?”

How does tutoring help a student?

Parents choose to get tutoring for their children for a variety of reasons. Some of them are that their child is struggling in school, they aren’t challenged enough, or they need a little extra help to master a particular concept. A personalized learning experience with the gift of one-on-one attention can give your child the support they need. This help translates into better study skills, a massive increase in their knowledge and a love for core subjects. While also igniting a passion for learning.

When deciding which tutor your child needs, it’s important to consider critical factors about your child, like their age, grade, and any diagnosed or undiagnosed learning disabilities. These all can impact what type of tutor your child needs. This is why it’s essential to get familiar with the tutoring company you are looking to use and meet with the tutor beforehand to discuss.

Which children need tutoring? And what kind of program should you use?

Tutoring isn’t just for children that are struggling in school. Most children can benefit from one-on-one tutoring. While it’s true that children struggling with a learning disability or struggling with a particular subject will benefit the most from tutoring, children who are doing well in school can also greatly benefit from the fantastic boost that tutoring will provide them with.

When looking for a suitable tutoring program for your child, you should look for one that focuses on your student’s needs. A program with customizable learning solutions and one-on-one sessions is essential. If your child is struggling in school, then it’s necessary to find a program that has a supportive environment. This way, they can have the freedom and flexibility to work through those complicated concepts in a specialized course that works for them. Avoid large classes with little to no one-on-one help because a program like that will only cause your child to struggle more and feel behind.

Programs like Schoolio After-School check all the right boxes (more information below).

Benefits of tutoring:

First, one-on-one attention.

A good tutor will get to know your child while learning about their learning style and needs. The tutor will then adapt their teaching strategy to match the child’s learning style. They are acting as your child’s private teacher.

Second, improved academic performance.

Your tutor has the skills to prepare your child for necessary tests and exams. While also working with your child’s problem areas. You will see an improvement in your child’s grades and understanding of the program subjects when working with their tutor.

Third, unique and individualized learning.

Through tutoring, your child will have the opportunity to receive an individualized learning experience. This unique experience isn’t always offered in a traditional classroom. Your child’s tutor will work to customize lessons and activities to meet your child’s needs.

Fourth, it significantly improves your child’s attitude toward learning and school.

Learning will become fun for your child when your child has access to one-on-one tutoring through a unique tutoring program like Schoolio After-School. The tutor will encourage and praise your child, which will help your child not feel frustrated and overwhelmed by school.

Fifth, it can encourage self-directed learning.

Your child will benefit from learning at their own pace. When working with a tutor, your child will learn how to take the initiative with their school. While also learning how to control their own learning pace.

Sixth, improved study and work habits.

Your child will learn critical study and work habits. These crucial habits will prove to be useful throughout their life. These skills will help prepare them to succeed when working to achieve their goals. These results will be seen both inside and outside of school.

Seventh, a positive impact on self-esteem and confidence.

When a tutor provides your child with the resources and skills they need to excel in school, you will boost your child’s self-esteem and confidence.

Eighth, responsibility and independence are encouraged.

One benefit of tutoring is the ability to do schoolwork independently. With a tutor’s help, your child will soon do school work independently while noticing their personal growth.

Ninth, creating a positive workspace for ideal learning.

An environment free of distractions, with fewer or no other students, will help create that positive workspace that your child needs. One without the disruptions the classrooms are usually full of. This will help your child to focus better on their learning.

Tenth gives your child the encouragement they need while helping them feel confident enough to ask questions.

Sometimes children may feel uncomfortable when asking questions in front of their peers. A tutor will work on helping your child feel comfortable about asking questions and doing so without feeling self-conscious.

Eleventh, it teaches them how to overcome learning obstacles.

Your child’s tutor will take note of the areas your child is struggling with the most, whether math, writing, or reading. Then your child’s tutor will target the learning area they are having the most trouble with.

Twelfth, it helps them improve their behavioural and social skills.

A good tutoring program will help your child develop better communication skills. While also allowing them to form better relationships with their peers. And help them to make more behavioural and social adjustments.

Thirteenth, it helps your child manage their learning.

Tutoring helps your child become more capable in their learning. While also allowing them to be more successful when managing their schoolwork.

Fourteenth, it helps children who are bored in school.

Some children may appear to struggle in school when they are bored and under-stimulated. One of the benefits of tutoring is that it will help your child reach their full potential.

Fifteenth, it can better prepare your child for what’s ahead.

One of the other benefits of tutoring is that it will help them prepare for what’s ahead by creating crucial study skills and learning superior time management skills for more advanced grade-level plans.

Try the Schoolio Digital Platform for free! 

The Schoolio Digital Platform has 4000+ videos and interactive lessons to help your child excel in their learning. Whether you are a parent, teacher or tutor, this program is the perfect fit. 

Sign up for your free 14-day trial today! 

 

20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Were Homeschooled.

TL;DR: Which famous people were homeschooled?
Many successful celebrities, athletes, and world leaders were homeschooled, including Ryan Gosling, Serena Williams, Thomas Edison, and Billie Eilish. Homeschooling allowed these individuals the flexibility to pursue their passions—from acting and sports to scientific innovation—while receiving a tailored education that supported their unique career paths.


Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

Imagine what the world would be like if everyone prioritized being kind to others. Our society praises students for being innovative, getting good grades, and succeeding. But kindness goes widely unappreciated. Could you imagine if parents and educators emphasized the importance of being kind to others? Imagine how cool it would be if kindness were as valued as intelligence. You can start teaching your child about the benefits of being kind today! With 21 random acts of kindness ideas, plus you can download the ‘My Kindness Goal’ for your child!

5 benefits of being kind to others:

Being kind is beneficial for both the giver and the receiver. When you give kindness to someone, you usually receive kindness back. There are many excellent benefits of being kind to others; you should utilize them while teaching your children. Some seem somewhat predictable, while others are a little shocking! Nonetheless, Science continues to find more ways that our mental and physical health are impacted by each other. So, teaching your child about random acts of kindness and the benefits of bringing others joy is essential.

1. Kindness can boost your immune system.

Our brain’s feel-good hormone, Oxytocin, reduces inflammation. You are probably familiar with the fact that inflammation is linked to many diseases in the body. These are diabetes, chronic pain, obesity, cancer, and migraines. Being kind can boost your body’s oxytocin levels, which then helps to decrease inflammation. You don’t have to wait for someone else to promote your oxytocin; you can do it today! By spreading kindness like confetti!

2. Kindness creates a sense of belonging.

Being kind and helping others is considered a way to help people create, maintain and strengthen social connections. Face-to-face activities like volunteering to help someone can reduce isolation and loneliness.

3. Kindness helps you feel in control.

It’s easy to resent someone always trying to push our buttons. When this happens, we often feel like we don’t have control or stability around those people. You know that no one should be able to control your mood, yet you find it extremely difficult to stay calm when they push your buttons. When you choose to instead act with kindness, you will gain the self-respect of not letting other people push your buttons.

Remember, if someone never seems to change and is always aiming to make you upset, it’s best to avoid these people.

4. Kindness helps you find your people.

People are genuinely attracted to kind people. If you’re at the grocery store and someone kindly holds the door open for you, you will feel more attracted to that person—Vs. The person that slammed the door in your face. We were born with kindness in our hearts, so we tend to gravitate toward the people that demonstrate empathy. A kind mom at a playgroup or homeschool co-op is much easier to be around than someone constantly making you second-guess yourself.

5. Kindness can give you a mental break.

Stress doesn’t give your brain a break. Because when you’re feeling chronically stressed, all you can do is focus on the things you’re concerned about. When you focus on the joy you are bringing to someone else through the random acts of kindness you do, you also give your brain a much-needed break from figuring out all your problems.

The mental break is similar to the brain break you get from a cardio session, healthy sleep, or meditation. You are giving the analytical, thinking part of your brain a rest and, simultaneously, awakening the creative and feeling side of your brain! When you focus on someone else’s happiness, you forget your problems for a little while. That in itself is enough to give you a boost.

You should teach your kids about the power of random acts of kindness.

We all want our children to live their very best life. As you read through the five benefits of being kind, I’m sure you would also want each one of those benefits for your child. Being kind isn’t something you have to wait until your child is older to learn. You can start teaching your children about bringing others joy by spreading love with random acts of kindness. And, of course, the ultimate way to teach your children is to model it.

21 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas that your children can be involved in:

  1. Compliment others.
  2. Pick up litter at the park.
  3. Let someone take your spot in line.
  4. Insert money into someone’s parking meter.
  5. Buy flowers to hand to people on the street.
  6. Write and leave letters of encouragement on people’s cars.
  7. Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru.
  8. Use allowance to donate to a charity of your child’s choice.
  9. Hold open the door for someone.
  10. Write letters to the elderly.
  11. Shovel snow from a neighbour’s driveway.
  12. Do someone a favour without expecting anything in return.
  13. Bake cookies for the neighbours.
  14. Encourage your child to show the ‘new kid’ around their school.
  15. In the summer, hand out water to people at a park.
  16. Send a letter to a loved one instead of a text.
  17. Tip your waitress generously.
  18. Make breakfast in bed for a family member.
  19. Write a kind letter to a parent.
  20. Leave kind comments on people’s social media posts.
  21. Be kind to yourself.

Random acts of kindness are what the world needs.

Every single person that you meet needs kindness. Your child needs kindness; your spouse needs kindness; your family members need kindness; the clerk at the bank needs kindness; the debt collector needs kindness, the customer service rep from the company you purchased a product from needs kindness. Every single person that you come in contact with needs kindness. Including the person that is looking back at you in the mirror.

All of us need extended grace for our shortcomings and thoughtfulness when needed. You have the power and ability to give kindness to others while also teaching your children how important it is to spread kindness to the world around us.

Download the Free My Kindness Goal Sheet

Download the ‘My Kindness Goal’ sheet for your child to complete. You can choose from either the colouring sheet or the written word sheet.

Learn more about Random Acts of Kindness Day:

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

 

Check out this FREE, fun task list for kids by Schoolio. 

Parental Burnout

As parents, we often put ourselves at the bottom of the list regarding self-care and needs. Many parents stress that everyone is well taken care of but forget themselves. The dangers of continually doing this can lead to parental burnout.

You are hiding your feelings while neglecting your needs.

When you constantly put most of your energy into your children and their needs while neglecting your own, you can become more susceptible to parental burnout and compassion fatigue. A huge indicator is when you feel like you have absolutely nothing left to give to your family because your exhaustion level is high. Hiding your feelings and neglecting your needs significantly affects your mental health.

It can be easy to indulge in parental guilt when experiencing burnout. We tell ourselves that we should have it all together; we shouldn’t struggle. Because many of us think that our problems are exclusive to ourselves, everyone else must be perfect, right? That’s a false belief that needs to be corrected. This is why it’s important to note that burnout affects parents around the globe.

Savanta ComRes conducted a recent poll in 2021. The results showed that 45% of parents feel burned out. In the 1980s, Belgian psychology researchers identified parental burnout for the first time. Researchers Moira Mikolajczak and Isabelle Roskam were the first to describe parental burnout. They first described it as “an exhaustion syndrome, characterized by feeling physically and mentally overwhelmed.” The cause? Being a parent. As this syndrome was discovered in the 1980s, we can prove that generations before us have also struggled with parental burnout. It’s not exclusive to you, so don’t feel guilty.

Symptoms of parental burnout:

It’s important to remember that burnout can look very different for everyone. While some people may experience physical symptoms, others may experience emotional symptoms. And others may experience both!

Looking at the most common symptoms:
  • Feelings of hopelessness, self-doubt and helplessness.
  • Exhaustion or sense drained all the time.
  • Headaches, muscle aches, neck pain.
  • No motivation for basic tasks.
  • Distinct changes to sleeping habits and appetite.
  • You feel like you are detached from others and alone in the world.
  • Irritability.
  • Behaviours that are isolating.
  • Brain fog and confusion.
  • Forgetfulness.
  • Significant increase in stress levels.

You may be more prone to parental burnout if you have chronic parenthood-related stress. This chronic parental stress can come from several sources. Including the pandemic, virtual learning, school closures, children with special needs, health complications, homeschooling, single parenting, a lack of support, or parenting while working from home. These are just some of the risk factors.

Risks of leaving parental burnout untreated:

Many complications can occur if warning signs of parental burnout are left untreated. These complications include overwhelming exhaustion that is hard to cope with. Parents with young children usually tend to be physically tired. At the same time, parents with older children will usually experience emotional exhaustion. They are generally resulting from conflicts with their teens.

Additionally, burned-out parents will begin to distance themselves from their children. They are doing so to preserve their energy. Following this, many parents who suffer from burnout notice a loss of fulfillment in parenting. The consequences of parental burnout are different from common job burnout. As you already know, parents don’t get a vacation, unlike a job. Additionally, you cannot just leave your parenting roles the way someone can leave an occupation.

Burnout can cause parents to become violent or even neglectful toward their children if burnout is left untreated. I’m sure you’re aware this doesn’t just negatively affect the children; it also causes parents to feel shame. Shame they will dwell on, causing them to sink deeper and deeper into these negative feelings.

“Parental burnout is the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion one feels from the chronic stress of parenting.”

Dr. Puja Aggarwal

Pandemic parenting is incredibly exhausting.

Recent research by a UK children’s charity showed that more than 80% of parents struggle. These parents share that they have at least one symptom of burnout. The pandemic has adversely affected children’s education and mental health. And even more so are those effects on children when parents are burned out and inadvertently put their stress onto their children.

Luckily, parental burnout isn’t a life sentence. And with time and the right tools, you can overcome parental burnout and get back to being the parent you want to be.

Overcoming parental burnout

If you have noticed that you are experiencing some symptoms of burnout, then you must do the work now to get a handle on it before it gets out of control.

Some simple changes include:

Improve how you communicate your feelings.

Communication is key. If you are beginning to feel burnt out, your first step needs to be communication. Communicate how you feel to your partner and let them know you need extra support right now. We like to think that our partners can read our minds and know exactly what we need. But they can’t! So communicate. If you’re a single parent, try talking to a friend or family member you trust.

Be mindful of what you’re fuelling your body with.

If you’re feeling horrendously exhausted, the easy fix would be to grab more coffee or a sugary snack to bring your energy back up. This will provide you with that temporary boost of energy that you were looking for. However, it will also cause you to crash later. Try to break the habit of getting more coffee and sugar. And instead, choose to fuel your body with foods rich in nutrients. Aim to include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins in your meals.

Exercise.

You don’t have to do very much research to learn that physical activity can boost your energy and raise your feel-good hormones. Exercise also can reduce stress, anxiety and even depression. Exercising is an essential tool for fighting off parental burnout. Please don’t feel intimidated; you don’t need to go to the gym daily or run marathons for this to work. It can be as simple as taking a 15-20 minute walk around the neighbourhood. This will help clear your head and boost your energy while moving your body and breathing fresh air.

Stop feeling guilty for caring for yourself.

Never feel guilty for taking time for yourself or your partner. Focusing on your needs and relationship doesn’t make you a bad parent. It’s the opposite; taking time for yourself and practicing healthy self-care will make you an even better parent.

Talk to a mental health professional.

If you have concerns about your mental health, energy levels, or well-being, please don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Mental health professionals are trained to give you the tips you need to improve.

Use the Burnout Blueprint method.

In collaboration with Dr. Ben and Dr. Ashley, Daddy’s Digest has designed tools to help parents overcome parental burnout. These fantastic tools have come from Dr. Ben and Dr. Ashley’s 14 years of experience and have been tested on thousands of patients. The Burnout Blueprint has years of research, papers, and testing condensed into 11 unique modules designed to support burnout sustainably.

You can learn more about The Burnout Blueprint here.

You aren’t alone.

Parental burnout affects millions of parents around the globe. If you are struggling with it, please don’t feel ashamed. It doesn’t mean that you are a terrible parent. Or that you aren’t strong enough to manage it all. You are human, and you have needs. If you are struggling with parental burnout, please be kind to yourself. And take the necessary steps to get better.

Once you start feeling better, always be sure to add specific habits to your routine to keep parental burnout from popping up again because it is preventable with the proper steps.

Some simple ways to prevent parental burnout from taking over include:

  • Ask for help.
  • Communicate your needs.
  • Hire a babysitter from time to time.
  • Exercise daily.
  • Practice self-care.
  • Be kind to yourself.
  • Only set realistic expectations.
Resources:

Dear Exhausted and Burnt Out Parents, We’re Here to Help – Healthline

The Impact of Parental Burnout – American Psychological Association

COVID-19 is Still Causing Parental Burnout- Do you Know the Symptoms? – World Economic Forum

Book a Concierge Call.

If you aren’t sure how to get started or what programs would best suit your child’s learning needs, then you can chat with one of our experts on a one-on-one Concierge Call, completely free!
Click here to book a Concierge Call.