1. We give our kids creative names

Thor may have been your favorite superhero as a kid, but leave him where he belongs - in ancient Norse mythology and comic books. If you want to give your child an unusual name thinking s/he will be more noticed, choose a name that has fallen out of favor at the moment.

2. We teach them to be themselves, no matter what

What we believe is that we are teaching them not to bow to peer pressure when they get older. Your child may not listen to you about washing his/her hair more often, but let the kids at school say something and it'll be done. A University of Virginia study in 2009 showed that teens who bowed to small amounts of peer pressure were more socially adept as adults.

3. We force them into sports

You want your kid to get physical exercise; you want your kid to learn good sportsmanship and cooperation. Sometimes, they learn some not so good things too, depending on the coach, especially one that thinks, "Win at all costs."

4. We want them to be the brightest little preschoolers ever

We work, so off to daycare they go. And we are very careful about that daycare. Actually, studies show that we should pick a daycare environment for its loving and nurturing approach, and leave the academic program for when they actually start school. If learning is forced too early, it can turn kids off to school later on.

5. We helicopter

Kids need to fall down and skin their knees; they need to get more than 10 feet away from us. That may be an exaggeration, but letting them climb that piece of playground equipment all on their own, without hovering, is a good thing.

6. We do their homework

There is a difference between helping a child learn something and just finishing it out of frustration because it is bedtime or we have other things to do. And as we help, particularly with math and writing assignments, we can be pretty poor teachers. If we are not good at writing ourselves, then we need to get some resources and start learning.

7. We need to rescue them

No one wants to see his/her kid in pain or in trouble. Our first reaction is to step in. But we have to let them work through some things on their own. If we don't, they become dependent upon us to be their problem-solvers - not a good thing as they move into teenage years.

8. We hurry them

Our lives become busy and hectic, and often, we are in a hurry. We have deadlines; we need to get errands run; we are running late. And so, we impose that "hurry up" on our kids. Too many activities with schedules that are too tight for everyone in the family are destructive.

9. We are their social directors

Are they meeting and befriending the "right" kids? How can we manipulate things so that they do? God forbid they should have an empty weekend on their calendars. So we orchestrate social activities whether they like it or not. It's for their own good - not.

10. We force an introverted child to be outgoing

Introverted people have wonderful qualities - they are thinkers; they are creative; they often become movers and shakers as adults. We may be outgoing and extroverted, but we must never impose that mindset on our kids. When we have a kid who prefers a book to playing "Barbie's" with her friends, so be it.

11. We obsess over stranger-danger

In this age of predator awareness, of course, we must teach our kids about strangers and how they are to respond. We can go overboard, and our kids can grow up with the belief that anyone who looks different or acts differently is a danger. This narrows their perspectives at a time when the world is getting smaller.

12. We give too much praise

Those little egos need nurturing. And so we do all that we can to heap on a praise for even small accomplishments. Reasonable praise, given for definite improvement or accomplishment of a goal, is worthy praise.

13. We put our kids in front of educational videos as infants

The whole Baby Einsteinvideo craze is finally over, thank goodness. We were sold a bill of goods actually, plopping our one-year-olds in front of a screen to be bombarded with new words. If we want our kids to be little Einstein's, then we have to take the personal time to engage with them.

14. We impose our interests on our kids

We may love working on cars; we may love painting, decorating; we may love football, etc. Trying to impose that interest on our kids, and acting offended or disappointed when they do not share it, is telling them that they are less valuable in our eyes.

15. We live vicariously through our kids (or try to)

We have baggage that we take into adulthood. Whatever it takes, we are bound and determined that our child will excel in those areas. This makes us "pushy" and focused on ourselves, not on our kids' strengths and talents.

16. We get too text-bookish about our child rearing

We need to rely on our instincts more than we currently do. If something that we are doing "feels" wrong, no matter what the experts say, then we need to follow our instincts.

17. We don't let our kids get bored

When kids complain about being bored, we hop to it and come up with solutions for them. It is during periods of boredom that kids are forced to use their creative problem-solving skills. If they depend on others to entertain them, they will never be content to just be by themselves, and be comfortable in their own skin.

The post 17 things parents need to stop doing for their kids appeared first on FamilyToday.

As kids get older, their dreams and thoughts are about what they want to be when they grow up. They usually think about becoming a cop, firefighter, nurse, astronaut, football player, teacher, and so on. Then when they're a little older, it could be they want to be a doctor, own a business, or become President.

Kids look to you for leadership, inspiration, and motivation. And parents have a lot more influence over whether their children will achieve their dreams and success than they know. They mistakenly think their kids' dreams are not viable, and that's their pessimistic side showing. Parents always need to believe in their children because they surely have faith in themselves.

1. Consider your child's dreams a possibility

All children dream big, and their mom and dad did the same when they were young. As parents get older, it's harder for them to remember what their dreams were. So, they assume their children will also forget theirs. This is the wrong way to look at it. You need to identify with the kids and believe what they believe. Realize that kids' dreams are not about their mom and dad. To kids, anything and everything is a possibility, which is as it ought to be. Their dreams should never be denied or their chances to achieve them will be weakened.

2. Talk to your children

Kids are curious so help learn why a particular thing makes sense by talking through it. If they don't want to do a chore, see it through their eyes first. Then, respectfully, discuss with them why this duty is so important. Maybe one of them is too tired to clean their bedroom. Suggest that it would be good to rest for a while and clean their room after dinner. Then comment on how well they cleaned it by putting away all of their toys and straightening their desk. When you compliment them, go into detail. It makes them feel proud of what they did accomplish. By talking to the kids about how well they do their chores provides motivation for them. Instead of offering a reward for something they're supposed to do, surprise them with a trip to get ice cream after they've finished. This keeps them on their toes and motivates them to do a good job because they don't know when the next surprise will come.

3. Helping with their homework

Kids have a lot of homework these days and parents need to make it as easy as possible for them to complete their assignments. When the kids are younger, they'll need more help, and it should probably be done before dinner. When they get home from school, let them have a snack and send them outside for some free time. Most young children do their homework in the kitchen while dinner's being prepared. That way, mom is there if help is needed.

As the kids get older, let them find a quiet place and do the work on their own. But stay close by in case they have a problem. Then, check to make sure they've finished it all. Parents play a significant part in the teaching of their children and easing any homework stress is a bonus for the kids.

4. Make your kids proud of you

As parents, never forget to set a good example for the kids because they'll do, say, and act like their mom and dad. Children are proud of their parents, and they see their accomplishments as a typical way of life. If children are raised in a prosperous environment, they embrace this way of life in their future. That'll be their typical way of life. The opposite will apply if kids grow up in a poor and unsuccessful environment. This means that you are the source of the success of your children. Parents must do everything they can to ensure their child's success now and in the future.

5. Challenge your children

Create challenges or games to give the kids a chance to complete things in small ways. Or talk to them about any small goals or dreams they'd like to achieve sooner. Use this information as tools to teach them how to do it. When children realize they can complete small things, they'll know they can do the same with bigger dreams and goals. Attaining a goal is done through intensity, organization, determination, and motivation. By helping them reach their smaller goal, parents show that if their dream ever changes, their success will not.

Everyone has internal motivation including children. But they still need to be motivated by their parents. If mom and dad are on their side, there's no such word as "impossible." Always be there for them with an optimistic outlook and support as they grow into adults.

The post 5 things to help your children be more motivated appeared first on FamilyToday.

Life is not a straight line. The human spirit moves through all sorts of highs and lows. There are great successes, big failures, personal crises, shining celebratory moments and periods of grief. During the lows, words from pastors, political leaders, authors, scientists and philosophers can offer hope and inspiration.

Here are 20 inspirational quotes from people of all backgrounds that will be sure to help you survive your worst of times.

1. "When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'" -Sydney Harris

When your life is hardand you are going through extreme difficulty, think about the millions of people who would love to have your difficulties. Their hardships may be living in a tent in a refugee camp.

2. "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." - Lao Tzu

Change is hard. However, it is often in giving up the things we cling to that new possibilities for growth and success appear.

3. "Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others." - Winston Churchill

Think about this for a moment. It takes courage to be honest, to have integrity, to strike out on one's own, to push through grief and to pick oneself up after failure.

4. "The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." - Vince Lombardi

We can learn anything we need to learn. It takes desire. But beyond that, achieving success takes a persistence only willpower can provide.

5. "Don't worry about failures; worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try." - Jack Canfield

Thomas Edison certainly would agree; so would Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, J.K. Rowling, Walt Disney and Colonel Sanders. Had they all given up after their first failures, look at what we'd be missing today.

6. "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard

The great thing about life is no matter how bad things have been and no matter how many mistakes we have made, we can begin anew at any time and write new chapters in our life book.

7. "Life has two rules: #1 Never quit; #2 Always remember rule #1." - Unknown

When we really feel like throwing in the towel, that is when we have to muster up the courage to go on.

8. "Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it." - Joe Clark

If you swallow your defeat, you own it. It becomes a part of you. And it sits there to remind you every day that you failed. If you don't own it, then you can discard it and move on.

9. "The best revenge is massive success." - Frank Sinatra

Rather than spend energy and time trying to come up with some devious plot, focus on a new plan for success. That is what Walt Disney did: instead of being a fired newspaper reporter, he built an empire.

10. "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run." - Babe Ruth

How we need to look at failure is all rolled up into this single short statement. Each failed attempt brings you closer to that "home run" in your life or career.

11. "I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It's because of them I'm doing it myself." - Albert Einstein

When you are told no, how do you respond? Don't you retreat. Call upon your courage.

12. "It's not whether you are better than anyone else-it's about whether you are a better person today than you were yesterday." - Wayne Dyer

When we compare ourselves to our former selves, we don't have limits-we go after what we want to achieve, not what someone else has achieved.

13. "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." - Beverly Sills

If you are looking for shortcuts, you won't achieve permanent success. Do the time; you will be grateful you did.

14. "You become a champion by fighting one more round. When things are tough, you fight one more round." - James J. Corbett

Find inspiration to take one more step.

15. "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Your true strength is shown when you refuse to give up in the face of struggle.

16. "If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill

We all have those periods of time when things are so difficult and devastating that we do not know how to get through them. If you keep moving, you will get through it. Today's horrible crisis will pass.

17. "If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative." - Woody Allen

People who make a difference in this world are those who run with their ideas. They take risks; they fail once in a while, and still they pursue their dreams.

18. "Some people come into your life as blessings. Others come into your life as lessons." - Unknown

Look at the difficult people in your life as great teachers; you will learn patience, courage and strength.

19. "This too shall pass away." - Unknown

No matter what you may be going through now-death of a loved one, unemployment, abuse, etc.-it will pass. Sometimes you must take action, but it will pass.

20. "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a butterfly." - Barbara Haines Howett

When thing are at their worst, if we are patient and calm, the good will come.

The post 20 awe-inspiring quotes that’ll help you survive anything appeared first on FamilyToday.

Studies show there are both "hard" and "soft" capital factors when it comes to whether or not a child will move up or down the financial ladder.

Hard capital refers to the socio-economic status into which a child is born. As expected, these factors-household income, educational background of parents, neighborhood and schools-have a big impact on a child's future.

Soft capital refers to those conditions within a family itself that also affect a child's socio-economic status as they become adults. While these soft factors do not always have the same impact as the hard factors, they prove significant. Both will be outlined below.

The hard capital factors that follow first are the lifestyles and experiences of children who live in low-income households versus their peers, according to Dr. Ruby Payne, author of the book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty in America.

Household location

(hard capital factor)

Children growing up in middle- or upper-income households live in stable, low-crime neighborhoods. Everyone in the neighborhood tends to be a longer-term resident; so, kids form peer relationships with others from similar backgrounds, attend schools with other children in their neighborhoods and have a social setting in which middle-class values are upheld and supported such as paying bills, saving for the future, college education, hard work, etc.

Children growing up in low-income households live in unstable, high-crime neighborhoods. There is a great deal of mobility among residents in their neighborhoods, making long-term relationships with peers and adults hard to come by. These children learn where the food and clothing banks are. They learn how to use duct tape to fix almost anything. They become street smart at a very young age.

Education outside of school

(hard capital factor)

Children who live in middle- or upper-income households have experiences that broaden their formal education. They visit museums, science centers and zoos. They take vacations which are both recreational and educational.

For kids coming from low-income families, the experiences that broaden their education are not found in museums and on vacations. Their experiences come from the realities of welfare, food stamps and free health clinics.

Types of schools

(hard capital factor)

Kids coming from more well-to-do families attend public schools that are well-equipped, attract better teachers and have higher levels of performance on state and national tests. If students fall behind, there are resources within the schools to address their learning issues, and parents can also seek and secure outside tutoring services if necessary. Many also have the option of attending private schools.

Private schooling is a large factor in whether kids will be financially successful as adults. Privately schooled kids go to college in much larger percentages than their public school peers.

For children with low-income families, their public schools tend to not have the tax-base of schools in more affluent neighborhoods and are therefore not well-equipped. They do not have the benefits of the best teachers; but, rather, they have teachers who could not qualify to work in middle- and upper-class neighborhood schools. Typically, their schools are lower-performing on tests, and if kids should fall behind, the resources are not as available. Outside tutoring at parental expense is out of the question.

Involvement of parents with education

(hard capital factor)

Middle- to higher-income parents tend to be more involved in their children's schools and are able to press their demands for improvement. They are also willing to pay higher taxes for school improvements.

Low-income parents tend not to be as involved in their children's schools. Many work long hours at low wages, and many have more than one job. There is a larger proportion of renters than home owners in poor neighborhoods. A more transient population results in less pressure on boards of education to improve schools and on residents to vote for tax increases that will provide the funds to do so.

Parents as examples

(hard capital factor)

Children in these wealthier households see parents who go to work every day, pay their bills, maintain and improve their property, and engage in generally healthy leisure time activities.

Going to college is pretty much a given in these well off households. It is discussed a lot. Parents try to save for their children's educations. Plans are made for college in advance, helping children feel the necessity of post-secondary education.

In lower socio-economic homes, parents have low levels of education and do not have a mindset of the value of post-secondary education. Their goals for their children are to graduate from high school and either get a job or go into military service.

Reading

(soft capital factor)

Children in homes in which parents read to them have a greater chance for socio-economic stability. When children see reading as a valuable activity, they will read more in school, have a higher vocabulary and have better writing skills. These things result in grades and test scores that make higher education possible.

Family structure

(soft capital factor)

Stable family structures are vital if a child is to have a greater chance of growing up to be well off. Unfortunately, children who live in poverty tend to also live in far more unstable family environments-single parents who work exhausting, low-wage jobs and who are often incapable of the nurturing that is given to middle-class children.

However, in middle-class, single-parent homes, the parent tends to have enough time and money for self-renewal and so is better able to give quality time to his/her children. More often in these homes, children see their other parent, and both parents may ultimately marry again. Single mothers in poverty have more transient relationships that do not end in marriage.

Meal time

(soft capital factor)

Sharing meals together, even in single-parent households, also seems to play a role in future financial success.

In a recent book titled, Family Values: The Ethics of Parent-Child Relationships¸ UK Professor Adam Swift and American Professor Harry Brighouse reported the results of research regarding soft capital factors. What they found was that what happens within_ families is vitally important to children's financial futures.

Swift and Brighouse agree that kids living in poverty have a good chance to move into middle-class adulthood if the right soft family factors are present and if those values and factors are reinforced in the schools they attend. However, children from well-to-do homes, without the soft factors, have a greater chance of having less money than their parents.

The post The surprising reason your child is going to grow up poor appeared first on FamilyToday.

As parents, we all wish to ensure our child learns and succeeds at it. We want them to be happy in the classroom setting as well as be there for them when they need us most. However, sometimes using technology together to learn is more efficient than just scanning through their textbooks.

Here are our nine favorite websites that both you and your child will enjoy.

1. Scholastic

These wonderful book publishers have been made famous through literature as simple as "Clifford the Big Red Dog" to more advanced, yet child-friendly literature, such as "Harry Potter."

The website is a great go-to for your children because it offers many educational games and stories. All of which encourage your child to learn and grow with their favorite book characters.

That's not all, as a parent there are pages here for you to visit as well. Scholastic has many forums on which you can talk to other parents about your child's progress, and gain insight and advice from the other parents. There is also no shortage of blogs for you to read, which will always give you advice on how to help your child succeed.

2. Flylady

This blog has quite possibly saved many people from complete insanity. In a home with children of any age there will be messes, and no matter how much they help, it will never be enough.

Flylady makes cleaning easy and fun by encouraging the "baby steps" process. Do a little each day and soon it will all be done. This works great for parents of small children because they have such a narrow timeframe during the day that sometimes they honestly believe that they don't have the time. Take some of Flylady's advice; you'll be happy you did.

3. Trust my paper

This website is a fantastic resource if you want to help your children complete homework assignments in writing. Their website posts instructions and insights on nearly every type of paper to exist. The website is all in an easy to read and understand format for both the parents and students to read. Trust my paper is an excellent resource for getting help with particular projects.

4. Pinterest

This is a probable favorite for most parents. Pinterest is filled with tips and projects that make life easier, especially with kids. With the tips on Pinterest, you can find a way to make use of that wine rack you picked up from a garage sale years ago, and with a few extra pieces transform it into a supply caddy for your child's room. Or perhaps you want something practical and decorative as well? That's not a problem! Do you have a hideous cabinet? With a little work and paint that cabinet can quickly become the greatest play kitchen on the block.

5. Prongo

Prongo is a great website for children ages 3 and older. It has a wide variety of games and puzzles that teach your kids math and thinking skills. All activities depend on their age and learning levels of course. As a parent you can use this website to play games with your children and watch them learn, print out flashcards to help them study, and so much more.

6. Bedtime

Are you having trouble getting your kid to go to sleep at night? Or for your elementary schooler to read at all? Is there a constant reason for disliking books statements like "They're boring" or "I've already read that one!"

I feel their pain. Most of the time books that have been read over and over start to become dulled out and predictable. Yes, they may want to read those stories again in the future, but when you're low on funds simply going out and buying a book can be difficult. Bedtime is a wonderful website because of this. For the price of free, you can go through their myriad of stories, with many being approved and added each day, and select a tale for your child to read. If your child is creative with words, they can also write their stories and post them on the website.

7. Smithsonian

One of the most famous museums has a website made just for kids. Here you can explore the wonders of science and history with your child. The Smithsonian also offers fabulous projects one could try for their local science fair and even information about whatever your child may be studying.

8. Kids in mind

Your children will ask you if they can see movies, and, to be honest, viewer ratings IE: TVY7 or G, simply aren't enough to go by anymore. There are simply some things that you don't want to expose your children to, and this is where Kids in Mind can help you. All movies are reviewed by the people who have seen them, and rather than giving them a X/10 rating they go into further detail by telling you what you may like or dislike about the film and how much is in it.

9. Artful parent

This website is one of my personal favorites because it gives parents so many ideas. Your child is a creative art center, and that should be encouraged. However, there are times when old projects become dull, and they desperately may need something new. Artful parent is filled with many different art and design projects that you and your child can enjoy.

The post 9 websites that are major game changers for any parent appeared first on FamilyToday.

Lots of people develop "bucket lists," i.e., - things they definitely want to do before they die.

This list may include all sorts of things that the person has dreamed of doing. At a certain time of life, hopefully you will be able to focus on accomplishing as many of them as possible. Some things on the list may include: write a novel, run with the bulls in Spain, or travel to every state in America.

These lists are usually made by people from mid-life forward. But everyone should really have a "bucket list" for various phases of their lives - experiences they want to have before they move into the next decade.

Here are some things that every woman just might want to do before she reaches 30. Read through them and see if some of them don't whet your sense of adventure:

1. Eliminate boring and negative people from your life

Now is the time to learn how to do this. If you don't, you'll lose your nerve as you get older. If you practice it now, you can do it for the rest of your life, and it's actually pretty healthy too.

2. Go to Cuba

Now that American tourists can travel to Cuba, you have a chance to see this country as it has been since the 1950's, when time literally stopped for society there. It won't stay that way for long, now that American businesses are "eyeing" setting up shop there. So before the McDonald's and the KFC's buy up the quaint real estate, see it now. You'll have wonderful pictures to show your grandkids someday. Plus, it's only 90 miles off the coast of Florida, so it's not going to cost a fortune to get there.

3. Become a palm reader

Yes, do it. Read a book on it. Then go to a flea market, set up shop, and charge people to read their palms. Dress up like a gypsy and play the part - what fun!

4. Shock total strangers

Find something really bizarre (but legal) to do. Find a public place and do it. One suggestion? Fill a mayonnaise jar with vanilla pudding, go sit at a sidewalk café, order something to drink and proceed to eat that pudding right out of the mayo jar.

5. Attend a protest and carry a sign

What are you passionate about? The environment? Dirty money in politics? Mistreatment of animals? Join an activist organization and participate in a rally or protest. Everyone should have this experience.

6. Quit a job

There is something liberating about quitting a job that just does not "cut it" for you. There may be a little planning involved, so that you can eat until you find a new one, but there is nothing like making a decision to keep yourself motivated to get out there and really pursue what you want to do.

7. Get a tattoo

It can be a really small one and in an inconspicuous place. But there is something just a little devilish and fun about this adventure.

8. Run for a city office or school board

Younger and younger people are now running for local offices. Why? It doesn't take a lot of money because campaigning at this level is really more related to meeting people in small groups and one-on-one. It's a great experience and, even if you lose, you will understand how local politics works.

9. Get an online minister's license

Yes, you can actually get one from the Universal Life Church. It allows you to marry your friends and visit prisoners in jail. These may be two extremes, but it is what real ministers do every day. Experience what it is like.

10. Perform a significant random act of kindness

We all know about random acts of kindness - small things you do for strangers, like pay for their coffee or let someone go ahead of you in the checkout line. Think in bigger terms and plan to commit a really significant random act. Adopt an entire family for Christmas and take care of the whole thing anonymously.

11. Book a seat on the orient express

Yes, it still does run, and yes, they still stage a murder during the train ride, because of the movie. You can ride in luxuryfrom Paris to Istanbul and have the time of your life. Of course, you'll need to save for this one, unless you have a rich uncle.

12. Have a re-do of your favorite summer vacation as a kid

Go to that lake cabin or beach; go back to Disney World as an adult, ride the rides and hug Mickey and Pluto. Nothing like it.

13. Get your family together and audition for Family Feud

Auditions are held at various places around the country. Steve Harvey may have crowned the wrong Miss Universe, but he's a pretty funny guy, and it would be fun to be on his show.

14. Go skydiving

You'll never have the guts to do this after you turn 30, so do it now. They video these things now, so you will be able to prove to everyone at the old folks home that you really did do it.

15. Sing karaoke in a bar

Get a friend to sing with you if that will make you more comfortable. There is just something about being on a stage that everyone should experience. After you're 30, you might think you're too "mature" for this sort of thing, so do it now.

16. Travel abroad and stay in hostels

You'll never get to do this once you are married with kids. But "roughing" it now is easy. You're young and strong to carry a heavy backpack, and you will meet some very cool people from all over the world.

17. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

This is a very cool organization, and you'll have a chance, while you are young and strong, to make a difference in people's lives. This is a huge "feel-good" experience that you will never forget.

18. Go to a nudist beach

You can go alone, so no one else will ever know. But you will have that experience and your own little secret for the rest of your life.

19. Start a little side business

What have you always had a special talent in or had a special passion about? Before life gets too "heavy" with other responsibilities, test the waters to see if you can indeed make money doing what you love. And if you can? All the better! You are now your own boss.

20. Find some wet cement and put your hand print in it and write your name

Admit it. You always wanted to do this. Now is the time, because later you will lose the nerve. And you can walk or drive by that place and know that you have been immortalized.

Most importantly? Have fun, and don't take things too seriously!

The post 20 things every woman needs to do before she reaches 30 appeared first on FamilyToday.

In just a few short weeks, Christmas gift exchanging will occur. This means that now is the time to find the perfect Christmas present — a present that the recipient both needs and appreciates. It is also, hopefully, a gift that reinforces the connection between the giver and the receiver.

But how do you exchange presents with the ones you love, and express your feelings of affection toward others when it is hard to make ends meet?

Fortunately, there are many creative and thoughtful gifts that you can give to loved ones over the holiday season. Here are just a few of them that help show your love to friends and family.

Gifts of time and expertise

How do your loved ones view you? Are you viewed as the family computer expert? Are you the one that the family relies on when it is time to barbecue at a family gathering, or to plan an upcoming family gathering? If you are, your loved ones may appreciate receiving a gift that reflects your time and expertise on a specific subject. For example, you could give an awesome gift to a relative simply by offering your expertise to a loved one. If you are a computer expert, your gift to an elderly person in your family could be to spend an afternoon showing him or her how to create and use social media accounts or streaming videos. If you are the "chef in residence" in your family, you can offer the gift of a personal cooking lesson, along with the ingredients needed to create a gourmet meal.

Gift baskets

All too often, generic gift baskets are boring. But if you take the time to get to know the recipient, you can assemble a gift basket that is truly thoughtful. Here are a few examples of items you could include in a gift basket that you create for a loved one:

• Tickets to see a favorite local musician

• A few favorite candy bars or other snacks the person wouldn't buy for him or herself

• Some of their local hometown favorites, such as regional sodas, chips or other snacks

• Travel-sized versions of the recipient's favorite lotions, soaps and scents

• Gift cards for points and other bonuses on games played on Facebook or other social media sites (Especially when you and the recipient play these games against one another)

• A blanket - an inexpensive, yet well-made microfiber blanket is a great addition to any gift basket.

A cookbook

Cookbooks can be expensive; however, if you do not have a lot of money to spend, cookbooks are still a great gift idea.

Local churches and other organizations often sell cookbooks to support their various causes, and they often sell for less than $20 each. Many times, these books are even dedicated to holiday recipes. Or, if you have a collection of favorite recipes, try turning it into a collection to give to friends and family.

Soaps and bath bombs

If you look for them at discount stores, or even in discount bins at mall stores, you can find bath bombs and pretty little hand soaps at a very low price. If you are willing to make them yourself with molds and other supplies from craft stores, the cost is even lower (provided that you plan to make the items in bulk).

Once you have the soaps and bath bombs on hand, you can use creative packaging to create an even more special gift. For example, you can give soaps in lace-wrapped mason jars, or give bath bombs that have been individually wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a decorative box.

Food

Food gifts are always appreciated. And even better, there is such a wide variety of items that you can give, and you don't need to be an established gourmet to put a food gift together. One option would be to assemble the ingredients needed to make a dish and present them in a creative way. Pinterest is full of examples explaining how to package homemade chili mixes, vegetable soup kits, brownie mixes and other items in decorative jars that can also be used for display. If you do choose to cook baked goods, there are candies, handmade chocolates and snack mixes can be made without spending too much money. Again, you can package these in creative ways to make them even more special when you present them to the recipient. Finally, the holidays are an extremely busy time for everyone. A ready-to-cook tray of cinnamon rolls, a breakfast casserole or a lasagna is a perfect gift for somebody who is hosting family on a hectic Christmas morning, or who simply needs an easy meal to serve over the holiday season.

Manage your holiday gift spending

Holiday shopping does not have to lead to money spending and financial stress. If you prepare in advance and learn how to budget your holiday gift spending, you can easily dazzle those on your gift list on a budget.

The post Creative holiday gifts that won’t break the bank appeared first on FamilyToday.

Obviously, we cannot go back to a time when watching television cartoons, usually after school and on Saturday mornings, was the only "screen time" kids had. And, if we look at the millennial generation (18-34 year-olds) we can see the impact of technology on personal and professional lives. So, what is in store for this next generation? Certainly an amazing amount of Internet screen time will continue to be a big part of life along with who-knows-what additional technology to come.

Seeing the benefits

Because we constantly hear of the negative effects of technology and the Web, it is easy to discount or forget the tremendous benefits the Internet also offers our children. If we can focus on those positive aspects with a healthy consideration of online safety, the Internet can provide amazing opportunities for the upcoming generation. Here are 7 benefits we should keep in mind.

1. Obtaining education

There isn't a classroom in the nation today that does not have computers for teacher and student use. Teachers use computers to track student progress, homework completion and grades. And the extensive, growing use of computers for student learning is delivering more personalized education that cannot be achieved in a traditional classroom environment. Consider all of these educational benefits:

• Computer-assisted instruction: Research shows students learn best when actively involved in learning. Internet sites and cloud software can provide highly interactive experiences.

• Access to the world: Children no longer have to learn about far-away people and places via textbook pictures. They can go virtually anywhere and experience them, even in real-time.

• Helpful for children with disabilities: Cloud-based software can deliver content orally, which is particularly helpful for children with visual impairments or reading disabilities. Children with autism can participate in online gaming with other kids and begin to develop social skills.

• Ability to research: The Internet provides endless resources for research, which is especially helpful for children in rural areas without libraries close by.

• Access to online classes: Online coursework is a life-saver for home-schooled students, students with conditions preventing them from physically attending school and college students who need a less-expensive method to earning a degree.

2. Staying in touch

A child separated from a parent by long distances, either due to divorce or military service, suffers emotionally. Likewise, a child transplanted to a new city because of a family move suffers from losing touch with close friends. Technology such as Skype allows face-to-face communication with loved ones, and the mental health benefits of this are huge.

3. Making friends

Yes, there is valid concern about kids communicating with strangers online, but consider the benefits for a child with social anxiety. As long as parental controls are in place, kids connecting with other kids on safe sites gives these children quality practice in interpersonal relationships and allows important friendships to form.

4. Getting confidential help

Particularly for teens, issues of all kinds come up which kids do not want to share with parents and even friends. There are great sites that offer opportunities to discuss problems with others who are facing similar issues. Again, with parental controls, access to these healthy and safe forums is really helpful. Of course, it is impossible to protect teens from everything bad out there, so teach them from an early age how to make good choices.

5. Pursuing creative activities

School budgets and course requirements often mean kids participate less in art and music. However, online there are art and music coursework, forums, contests and more. Kids can even create their own websites or blogs to share their interests with others.

6. Staying current with technology

Most parents, and certainly grandparents, marvel at the tech ability of their kids. While it is a bit scary at times, the child, who is entering a world filled with careers in technology, will have amazing online communities and resources that will keep him/her current with new advances. This is career education that can begin as early as middle school!

7. Pursuing fun

The Internet can be a great source of fun as well as long as it is used safely. Gaming, YouTube, and social media are things that kids and teens can use for healthy entertainment.

Maintaining Safety

We are all aware of the dangers of the Internet. We do not want our kids on risky or adults-only sites. Fortunately, technology allows parents to set up controls that block sites by keywords and keyword phrases. Here are a few other safety tips and things to consider.

1. Put the computer in a family room or kitchen where use can be monitored.

2. Set up email and social media accounts together, so you have the password too and can monitor what goes on. Help to make sure privacy settings are in place.

3. Have important discussions about giving out personal information (last name, address, phone number, etc.), communicating with strangers online and what to do if strangers want to meet in person.

4. Check your child's online history every once in a while.

5. Be aware the home computer is not the only computer your child may have access to. In the case of young children, it is a good idea to check with parents of your kids' friends to see if they too have parental controls and access to their child's Internet activity.

Read:4 ways this crazy digital world can help save your marriage

The negative effects of children and teens spending too much time online are undoubtedly present: we hear about them every day. However, we should never forget the wonderful benefits the Web has brought and will continue to bring to our kids in the exciting world of ongoing advances.

The post 7 reasons the Internet is super healthy for your kids appeared first on FamilyToday.

Positive thinking can make it easier to take necessary actions to increase your wealth. It can also make it easier for you to bounce back after a financial setback, better able to make and stick to a financial plan, and less likely to suffer from self-defeating anxiety and stress over finances. Positive thinking can be used as one tool that will help you as you work toward your financial goals.

Here are five ways you can use positive thinking to contribute to your path toward wealth:

1. Start with a grateful attitude about your current situation

Spend some time looking at your own life and the world in which you live. Take a moment to consider the blessings of modern technology and medicine. We live in an era where diseases that can cause death and devastation have been largely eradicated or can be treated with medication. We can learn new things and easily communicate with one another. Do you have access to education, clean water, food and safe travel? If so, you have many things for which to be grateful.

This doesn't mean that you have to be perfectly satisfied with your current financial situation. There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve. But improving is easier if you start from a place of gratitude instead of a place of resentment and anger. It is much easier to feel hopeful about the future if you can find something to appreciate now.

2. Visualize with a purpose

Professional athletes, CEOs at multi-million dollar companies, even students at Ivy League colleges use visualization to help them obtain their goals. The key is to use visualization with a purpose. This means avoiding general visualizations, and instead picturing yourself successfully taking steps that will result in increasing your wealth. The more specific the better. Here are some examples:

• Visualize yourself shopping and sticking to a budget. Then, visualize putting the money you save into a fund to take a vacation.

• Visualize earning a bonus at work and then putting that money into an investment fund.

• Picture yourself avoiding daily temptations, such as expensive morning coffees and going out to eat for lunch. After that, imagine that money going toward a savings fund.

• Visualize an emergency, such as an unexpected car repair, and then imagine having savings to cover the cost of it.

3. Say it out loud

Take your visualizations one step further and add your voice. It has been proven that the more senses you involve, the more you are going to incorporate information and thinking into your behavior. Again, the point is to be specific and focused. Things like, "I am wealthy," "I am financially sound," or "I make good financial decisions" aren't going to do much to contribute to your financial situation. However, if you affirm out loud that you are going to save at least 10 percent of your income, for example, or that you will place your tax refund into a savings account, you will actually be more likely to follow through when it is time to take action on your intentions. Write these things down as your goals. This will result in your bringing the fruits of your positive thinking to reality.

4. Write down your financial successes

Financial advisers will tell you to keep a financial diary. The purpose is to track income and spending in order to get a better idea of your financial habits and behaviors. This is great advice, and you will benefit from following it.

However, this is not the only financial diary you should keep. Keeping a diary of your financial successes will help you leverage your positive thinking about your financial situation into something tangible. It's great to think about — and be able to see — the things you have done right when it comes to building wealth and prosperity. If you grow your personal savings account by 25 percent in three months, write that down in your financial success journal. If you have managed to go a month without breaking your budget, write that down. This will help you to maintain your positive energy when you are feeling discouraged.

5. Spread all of this positivity by giving it back

This list began with an encouragement to count your blessings. And it is going to end with an encouragement to pay your blessings forward to other people. As you are going through your own financial journey, encourage others throughout theirs. As you visualize, say your affirmations or record your financial accomplishments, ask yourself what you have done to make a positive contribution to others. Provide real, tangible assistance to people who need help and support. Then, once you have done this, you can encourage others to use positive thinking to have the prosperity that they deserve.

The post 5 positive thinking methods that can make you rich appeared first on FamilyToday.

If you know a child who has low self-esteem, you may have assumed that the damage to their confidence was inflicted maliciously. As parents, we cannot imagine ever doing things to cause such hurt and damage to our children.

But here is the unfortunate truth: without realizing it, sometimes we are those parents.

Children can grow up in homes free from any physical or emotional abuse but still reach adulthood greatly damaged. These children may doubt their own worth, feel unable to stand up for themselves, mistrust their own judgment and believe they deserve to be mistreated in relationships.

Of course, no parent wants this for their children. However, small frustrations, societal pressures, stress, and repeating the mistakes of our own parents can cause us to do things that harm our children's souls. We don't cause damage through one large act. We cause it by many small acts. To avoid this, we can make sure that we don't commit the following 6 parenting sins:

1. Constantly Targeting Them with Small Criticisms

It is impossible to raise children without ever correcting or criticizing them. Unfortunately, many parents constantly criticize their children from the time they wake up in the morning, to the time they go to bed. In many cases, the parents don't even realize they are doing this.

They may feel as if they are giving constructive suggestions, or that their remarks simply are not that big of an issue. The fact is: when parents criticize it stings, even when the criticism is delivered as gently as possible. It hurts even when the parent has no intention of making it hurt. It is worse for the child when there isn't nearly as much praise and acceptance being expressed compared to the criticisms.

2. Mocking or Belittling their Interests

Every generation of children has hobbies, interests, and ways of passing their time that their parents may not understand. It would be wonderful if these parents would simply accept that kids have new ways of enjoying themselves and even new ways of communicating with one another.

Unfortunately many parents mock or demean their children either as individuals or as members of a generation. They post and share memes ridiculing kids as slackers who do nothing but text each other, play online video games, and watch Netflix. Parents even loudly make snide comments to their friends communicating the same sentiments. Of course, all of this is done under the guise of being funny.

Unfortunately, things can be even worse for the self-esteem of children who actually do have interests that are unusual. Not only are these kids given a hard time by their peers, in many cases, they also receive self-esteem damaging flak from their parents. Again, this hurtful feedback is often couched in humor, or are compliments that are dripping in snarky patronizing.

Who hasn't witnessed a pre-teen or teenager turn three shades of red as one of their parents describes their interests in mocking or patronizing terms? Instead, we should always be positive and encouraging when it comes to our children's hobbies.

3. Discounting Their Emotions

"You're only 16; you don't even know what falling in love means." "It's just a little toy; let your little brother have it." "You're too old to be scared to go down to the basement by yourself?!" "You can just sign up for cheerleading again next year, stop crying." "You have nothing to be anxious about; you're only 12 years old."

How many times have we as parents said similar words or heard those words spoken by other parents?

Why do we assume that just because children have different experiences and expectations as they age that the emotions they feel right now, are not genuine or worthy of respect? They may view their situation differently when they get older, but it doesn't mean the emotions they are currently feeling are not 100 percent real. Instead, focus on teaching our children how to express and regulate their emotions.

4. Publicly Shaming Them as Punishment

We've all seen this: the viral videos posted on Facebook of parents screaming at and berating their children for the world to see. We've seen children tearfully answering embarrassing and pointed questions or holding signs announcing their misdeeds. We've even seen kids given humiliating haircuts on these videos! Parents have even had their children stand on street corners holding signs that labeled them as liars or thieves.

These things may seem horrific and humiliating to us. We may even openly criticize the parents who do these things, but before we pass judgment, many of us should examine our own interactions with our children. How many times have we expressed exasperation and displeasure with them in front of their friends? How many times have we loudly scolded them in earshot of other adults, not for their benefit, but to ensure that other parents knew that we were handling the situation?

5. Not Letting Them Do Things for Themselves

People reading this may be thinking that this is about helicopter parenting. They are right to an extent. Micromanaging children can damage their self-esteem by making them feel incapable and helpless, but helicopter parents aren't the only parents who are guilty of hurting their children in this way.

Some parents do this by focusing only on the mistakes the child is making while learning to do something new. Other parents spend their time fixing their child's minor errors rather than focusing on the child's efforts. When we keep our mouths shut, our exasperated sighs often convey our disapproval and sting just as badly, or worse, as our words.

6. Not Having Conversations with Them

Many parents spend lots of time talking to their children. They deliver instructions and orders. They issue corrections, and they levy criticisms. They also lecture and explain. What they do not spend enough time doing is simply communicating with and interacting with their children by having conversations with them.

Worse, many parents will take what could be a conversation and turn it into a lecture simply because a child handled a situation differently than they would have. The children in these situations are left feeling dejected and discouraged. Not only have they been the target of harsh criticism, they have been shown that their parents are not interested in interacting with them.

When we speak with our children, help them learn, accept, and value their emotions. We will not only help them feel more confident and secure, but we will help them do better, in all aspects of their lives.

The post 6 Parenting Sins to Avoid appeared first on FamilyToday.