Caregivers are the heart of many families and facilities. Most caregivers are responsible for both the physical and emotional care of their patients. From various illnesses, disabilities, or injuries to handling financial and legal affairs, caregivers do it all, often without much recognition. If you’re looking for meaningful gifts to give a caregiver, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at 5 unique Christmas gifts that are perfect for caregivers in 2021.
Custom Photo Prints
Memories can fade, but photos make a moment last a lifetime. Give a caregiver a custom photo print from a special moment that they treasure. Every time they look at the picture, it will trigger those fond memories that will stay with them for years to come.
Religious Trinkets
Being a caregiver is not always easy. Gifting a caregiver with a religious trinket may help them feel motivated and inspired throughout their day. If you know a caregiver who is dedicated to their faith or one who would appreciate a spiritual boost, this gift idea is definitely the way to go.
Floor Cleaning Robot
Most caregivers are tired and exhausted at the end of the day. A floor cleaning robot is an exceptional gift choice. While they’re busy tending to the needs of others, their floor cleaning robot will be busy making their floors spotless. This gift is perfect for caregivers who move in and out of their homes quickly.
Engraved Chairs
Engraved children’s chairs are great gifts for caregivers who enjoy spending time with their grandchildren, Godchildren, nieces, and nephews. Most people who love spending time with children like to ensure they have a comfortable space while they’re away from home.
Engraved children’s chairs are beautifully handcrafted with solid maple. Allowing them to be comfortable and sturdy. This gift is not only unique but it is also timeless because it can literally last a lifetime. Add the family’s name to the chair and enjoy seeing it be passed down from generation to generation.
Self-Care Basket
Self-care baskets are ideal gifts for all caregivers, although women may appreciate them just a tad bit more. Whether you’re searching for gifts for women or men, a self-care basket is a great choice. Here are a few items you can put in a homemade basket to encourage your favorite caregiver to pamper themselves every once in a while:
Bath bombs – Bath bombs are great for unwinding after a long day
Cocktail glasses – Perfect for solo wine nights at home or intimate date nights in the living room
Candles – The right scent, like lavender or eucalyptus, can provide excellent aromatherapy
Body oil – Most caregivers do not wear heavily scented fragrances while at work. Body oil is a great way to moisturize skin while also adding a subtle scent to the body that isn’t too strong
Snacks – You can’t go wrong with snacks! Add a few of your caregiver’s favorite snacks to their self-care basket, they’ll enjoy having something to munch on throughout the day
Wooden Sign
Coming home to an uplifting wooden sign in the perfect place is a great feeling. Gifting wooden home decor is tasteful, timeless, and appropriate. Because of their unique look, wooden signs can effortlessly be placed in any room – regardless of colors or themes. Help your favorite caregiver make their house feel like a home with a beautiful wooden sign this Christmas.
If the gifts on our list didn’t particularly catch your eye, there’s no need to worry. Regardless of whether you’re choosing a gift on this list or not, the top two things you can keep in mind are:
Pampering gifts – Everyone needs to take care of themselves, but especially those who work tirelessly to take care of others.
Gifts that make life easier – Gifts that make life easier are a dream for most caregivers. Imagine not having to worry about a clean floor at home after spending the day cleaning up after others or instantly feeling encouraged when you enter your home
We hope this list is helpful and you have a wonderful time Christmas shopping for a caregiver who has impacted your life.
It’s no secret that winter is long, cold, and dark. So long that you may be feeling a bit at your wits end with all of the cabin fever and are desperate for something to do with your kids.
According to Baby Steps, Compulsively active kids need a lot of energy burned off. Sometimes it’s just too hot, too rainy, or too cold for outdoor activities. What do hyperactive children do when they’re stuck inside? Well, sit in front of the television all day? We’ll show you an array of indoor activities to keep your child entertained!
Kids can have a lot of energy and may find sitting still problematic and frustrating. A way to help release that built-up energy is to play dress-up. Here are some ideas for playing dress-up with kids:
Put some clothes on the floor or a chair, close your eyes and then tell the kids to get dressed. When they are dressed, open your eyes and guess who is who. Sometimes you can get them to do funny poses for their photos.
Get the kids to dress up as their favorite storybook character – with lots of accessories! Then act out the story.
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It is not only a fun way for your kids to get some exercise doing something that’s all about touching and moving their fingers, but it can also be an excellent way for you to teach them about their body parts – like the hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders they use when creating these prints.
You’ll need:
Printable hand-print art template
Construction paper in various colors, or plain white paper for painting later on.
Sharpie for writing on the hand-print template
Glue sticks
Scissors, sharp ones – just in case you have a craving to be a surgeon. They’re also helpful in cutting out letters, numbers, or shapes.
Construction paper in various colors, or plain white paper for painting later on. Sharpie for writing on the hand-print template Glue sticks Scissors, sharp ones – just if you have a craving to be a surgeon. They’re also helpful in cutting out letters, numbers, or shapes. How to make hand-print art:
Get your kids in a comfortable position and have them place their hands on the construction paper as you see pictured above. If they are four years old or younger, it’s best to have an adult do this with them – if they are over four, you can let them do it independently. Have the kids trace around their hands with a dark black Sharpie marker.
Then have them trace over the outline of their hand to make a printable hand-print – follow the directions on the hand-print template and try to make their print as large as you can. It is a good time for you to talk with your child about all of the different parts of their body involved in making this print (the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, etc.) Encourage them to join the folds of their hand with the folds in the paper – this is called “blending” and makes a more fine print.
Once your kids are happy making prints, have them go over to their art table, and you can have them paint over their hand-prints. It will give them a chance to feel what it’s like to use different colors and glues.
3. Make an indoor path w/ foam blocks
You will need duct tape, which you can use to stick the foam blocks together, creating a big path. You could also use paint and stencils to decorate the track making it even more fun. Please make sure you get different colors for the blocks so that they can tell who they are when they’re finished.
The next step is to lay the path wherever you want it but make sure it’s in a flat place. We used the kitchen floor because it was easy to clean and got rid of all extra tapes. It was a bit messy, but it was worth it!
Now your path is ready! You can stand in front of it and let everyone walk around it, or you could make it bigger by adding more blocks.
It’s a bit cold outside to be building forts, but you can make the insides of your house the perfect setting for creative play.
For a musical fort, cut holes in the walls and windows of your bedroom or living room, then cover them with blankets, couch cushions, and pillows. When your child is in the fort, they can pretend they’re conducting an orchestra. For a blanket fort, place sheets over couches and blankets on tables to make a tent underneath.
As you’re making these forts, invite your child to create their imaginary worlds and characters. By making different worlds, it gives them a chance to use their imaginations.
5. Create a family tree
Every family has a different story, and when you create a family tree with your kids, you can explore all the branches that make up your family’s tree. You may think this is something only adults want to do, but nothing could be further from the truth. Besides learning about where they came from, kids enjoy researching what their grandparents did before they were born and seeing how their lives are intertwined. So, why not begin the activity by starting your family tree that will turn into an album as your family continues to grow.
There is nothing more impressive than making your kids feel connected to all their ancestors; you can have them research information about where they live and who their ancestors are. When researching, children can read books, listen to CDs, and even YouTube videos on this subject. And when they are ready for a genealogy lesson, the Internet offers up endless information for free about origins.
Advantages of Keeping Your Child Entertained at Home?
There comes a time in every child’s life where they are bored. It is a usual part of growing up, but parents shouldn’t let their children suffer from boredom. Engaging your child in an entertaining activity can help you spend quality time with them, help them learn new skills, and even bond with them.
Children can get bored quickly, and parents don’t want them to go off the deep end with their boredom. If you feel your child slowly loses interest because of boredom, try to find a way to entertain them for a while. You can play educational games, read an exciting book or even have them watch an entertaining movie.
Children may also get bored because of too much TV. While there are some great advantages of having a TV in your home, it can be more beneficial to have television out of reach. You don’t want to cut them off from the world completely, but you don’t like to offer up more screen time either.
You can teach your children creative skills while you entertain them with games and activities that they will enjoy.
Not every kid is interested in playing an educational game with you, so there are some ways to pull them into learning. Please make it a competition between children and the consequences of losing can be something fun. You can play games like matching memory games or memory races. Even simple card games are fun because they teach children to be competitive and learn how to win and lose. You can also involve your child in more physical activities when they are bored.
As you can see, there are a lot of creative and fun things you can do with your kids indoors. Give them a chance to explore their imaginations and learn about different things that they never knew before. Let each of the activities run smoothly, and make sure you keep their attention. If your kids are having a good time, it’s easier for them to learn and grasp new concepts. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to make sure they are safe and entertained while teaching them.
These ideas are just a tiny sample of what you can do indoors with kids this month. The possibilities for your kids indoors are endless; they don’t have to play inside just because it’s cold outside.
Now, I’d love to hear from you! If you have additional suggestions for hyperactive kids’ indoor activities, leave a comment below or send me a message at brigid@nannysavvy.com.
Caring for your overall physical health is very important and requires a lot of good choices and habits, habits we need to help our children learn, as well. One important aspect of health is ensuring that you are properly caring for your teeth and oral health. Here are five easy tips to teach your kids that can help them develop healthy habits for their teeth.
One of the most important factors that can influence the health of anyone’s teeth is whether or not they brush and floss their teeth each day. Kids and grownups, alike, should aim to brush and floss their teeth at least twice per day. Ideally, this should be done after eating breakfast and before bed. To ensure that your kids build good habits, you should start helping them with this as soon as they start to grow teeth. This is then a habit that they will carry with themselves for the rest of their lives, which can ensure they keep their teeth clean between dental visits.
Make it Fun
While dental care is important for all kids, they may find that it is not very fun and inconvenient when they’d rather be doing other things. Fortunately, there are tips that you can follow that can help to make it more fun for your kids. Some of the ways that you can do this are by using kid-friendly toothbrushes and toothpaste or even playing some of their favorite songs while they are brushing and flossing at night. This could help them create a positive association with keeping their teeth clean and healthy.
See the Dentist Regularly
You should also make sure that your kids receive proper dental care. Seeing a dentist is a great way to ensure that your kids are properly cleaned and that all plaque is removed. It can also help you to identify and care for dental challenges and issues before they turn into larger problems. You should try and have your kids see a dentist at least twice per year. Doing this will help your kids start to build habits of seeing healthcare providers, which can offer a range of benefits for years to come.
Don’t be afraid to get your children’s teeth straightened
Eventually, your child may need to have their teeth straightened. It’s very common for teeth grow in without being completely straight. To ensure that they are able to enjoy a healthy smile while also avoiding more serious dental challenges in the future, having their teeth straightened may be a good idea. Make sure you look for a reputable and reliable practice and don’t be shy to ask lots of questions before making a decision.
Focus on Diet
One of the most important factors that will influence the health and appearance of your teeth is your diet. Those that eat a healthy diet that is full of fiber, calcium, vitamins, and lean protein will develop stronger bones and teeth. Those that eat too much sugar and do not clean their teeth properly afterward could see their teeth start to rot and decay. Eventually, this could result in cavities and other challenges. By encouraging your kids to think about their health when eating food and avoid too many unhealthy snacks, you could help them form habits that will keep their teeth strong and healthy for years to come.
Helping your kids develop healthy habits is always very important. This is particularly true when it comes to ensuring your kids have healthy teeth to enjoy their entire lives. Hopefully these five tips can help your children build healthy teeth habits.
Homeschooling can be a very rewarding experience, and it can also be stressful. You will want to make sure that your child does well, and sometimes you can get overwhelmed when you start looking at resources. Some things are just outrageously expensive, and if you take the time to purchase tons of books, you could find out that your child is not being engaged very well. Fortunately, there are many online resources that can help you to educate your child for a fraction of the cost and create a learning environment that is fun and engaging for your child. Finding the best online resources for homeschooling can help you to have a stress-free time when homeschooling your child.
No-Fuss Tutors
The No-Fuss Tutors website offers you a wide variety of lesson plans, worksheets, study ideas, and more. From mathematics to writing, you are covered with this website. For example, if your child needs help practice drawing the alphabet, you can print off letter A worksheets that are fun and will help to encourage your child to learn how to write.
Teach Your Monster To Read
Teaching your child how to read can seem difficult. With the Teach Your Monster to Read app and website, you will have no trouble encouraging your child. In this fun-filled learning experience, your child will create their very own monster that they play a series of games with. The app for this game is inexpensive, and if you play via the website, it is free.
Reading Eggs
This is another site that will help to encourage your child to read. This site has various stories and games that are geared to be fun. There are cute characters that interact with your child that will help him or her learn how to read. Reading Eggs is relatively inexpensive and well worth the investment.
At Khan Academy, your child can access many different subjects, including math, grammar, astrology, and more. This site is completely free and will do the entire lesson for you. When your child logs on, they will be instructed to go to the latest project they are working on. There they will have worksheets they will have to do along with watching instructional videos.
NASA for Students
On the NASA for student’s website, you will find a wide variety of different information, including worksheets and helpful videos that are geared to get your child interested in science. They will learn all the history of NASA and space exploration.
This website is dedicated to having completely free literature for your child to read. Just about any book can be found on this website. There are over 60,0000 free eBooks that your child can download onto their device. This makes finding something for them to read very easy.
Duolingo
If your child is interested in learning another language, you should definitely consider Duolingo. This free site is available both via the web and an app. There are a broad variety of languages that can be chosen. The interface is easy to use and encourages children to learn a broad variety of languages.
Homeschool.com
At homeschool.com, there are a wide variety of resources at your fingertips. Things like printables and articles on how to homeschool can help to encourage your children and you. When you homeschool, you need the support of like-minded people. On homeschool.com, you can find these people and get the advice that you need.
Being in charge of your child’s education is never easy. You may often feel like you are not doing enough and may question your decision constantly. Instead of doing that, work to ensure that you are fulfilling all your child’s educational needs by visiting the resources listed above. With many of these resources being free, you cannot go wrong by using them in your homeschool curriculum.
Playing is more than just a way to have fun; it’s also an essential part of healthy childhood development. As parents, you can adapt any space at home and design a playroom where your kids can explore, get creative, and learn. When designing a playroom, it’s crucial to think about it from a kid’s perspective. Our guide shows you how to create a fun and functional kids playroom that your children will love for many years to come.
Brainstorming with Your Children
While you’ll have most of the say about the design of the playroom (after all, this is your home), it’s important to let your children provide some input before you set up their new playroom. Ask them about their favorite subjects in school and what type of things they’d like to have in the room. From furniture and toys to kids’ entertainment, sit down and write out a list of all the most important things to your child. When you brainstorm together, you’ll ensure that the final result is something you and your kids will both enjoy and appreciate. Make sure you design a space that’s “evergreen” and one that will grow and adapt as your child gets older. This is the best way to make the most of the playroom and keep it functional and useful over the years as they develop and mature.
Pick a Theme
Choosing a theme for your new playroom can make it fun and exciting, but keep in mind that certain themes might not be appealing to your child in a year or two. Try to stick with themes centered around their favorite activities rather than characters from movies or TV shows. Here are some tips to help you develop the perfect theme for your child’s playroom:
Theater / Dance
Add a small stage to the room where your children can practice their acting and dancing skills. Stock the room with various costumes so the kids can play dress-up and do a little bit of theater right at home. If your child likes to dance, install a large mirror on one wall of the room. Bring in a stereo system or a record player so they can enjoy their favorite plays and dance to music.
Music
Fill the playroom with various instruments like a small drum set, a keyboard, and a tambourine. Stock your child’s playroom with sheet music if they’re skilled at playing the piano or other instruments, so they always have something new to learn. Display some music-themed décor in the room like oversized music notes, framed sheet music, or artwork of images like people or animals singing and playing instruments.
Set up a roomy, sturdy craft table where your child can paint, draw, and work on a variety of arts and crafts projects. Stock the playroom with watercolor and finger paints, an easel, paint brushes, scissors, glue, and construction paper. Find a place where your kids can display their art, such as a large bulletin board or a magnetic board for easy hanging.
Sports
Decorate the room with items that display your child’s favorite sports like a framed picture of a baseball field, a hockey stick hung on the wall, or a picture of their favorite player. If you’re feeling brave, install a ceiling-mounted cargo climbing net so your child can play and let off some steam indoors. Bring in some books about sports so your child can read about their favorite games and expand their mind whenever they’re not on the playing field.
Game Room
From cards to board games, you can easily make your child’s playroom a fun game room by stocking it with a variety of games geared for their age group. Paint a tabletop in a checkerboard design so the kids can play a game of checkers or chess anytime they want. If you have space (and the budget), bring in a large game like a foosball table or ping pong table to serve as the room’s focal point.
Furniture
Once you’ve chosen a theme, it’s time to pick out some furniture for your kid’s playroom. Here are a few tips to help you get started and ensure that this room is functional and fun to use:
Stick with neutral furniture that’s not too loud or colorful. The more neutral the furniture is, the better the odds are that your child will grow with it instead of out of it.
Choose furniture that’s durable and easy to clean and aim for multifunctional furniture that includes storage like an ottoman or storage bench.
It’s important to ensure that the entire family feels welcome in this room. While kid’s furniture is excellent for little ones, consider bringing in a full-size couch and table so your older children and the adults will feel comfortable in this space, too.
To add a pop of color, bring in some rugs, curtains, and décor to fill the room with bright and cheerful hues. Leave the wall color neutral so it’s easy to adapt the room as your child grows.
Make sure that this space has flooring that’s easy to clean and maintain. Linoleum and vinyl are both good options, and they don’t require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking new. Protect the floors (and your child’s knees and elbows) with some soft, machine-washable area rugs.
Storage Space
Your child must have fun in their playroom, but it’s also important that this part of your home stays clean and organized. With the right storage, you can keep everything neat, tidy, and in its place.
Use Mason jars with a lid to store and organize small craft items like buttons, beads, and spools of thread. Cubbies are perfect for larger toys and games, and you can easily put them on a shelf or stash them under furniture. Baskets and storage bins work well as a catch-all to toss stuffed animals and other toys in one place. Add a storage bench or ottoman, so the kids have a place to hide their shoes, board games, and other medium-sized items. Make sure your playroom has at least one bookshelf for reading material, sheet music, or art supplies.
To make the most of your playroom, break it up into different zones. Each zone can be designated for a variety of activities your child enjoys. Put a small desk in one corner of the room for homework, and place shelving with art supplies and a craft table on the opposite side. Keep kid’s toys, games, and accessories in constant rotation so that there’s always something new for them to enjoy. As your child begins to outgrow certain items, donate them to a local nonprofit organization or your school. Make sure there is one part of the playroom designated for home use, such as a spot for a comfy sofa and TV set.
Get Creative
There are many fantastic add-ons you can bring into the playroom to make it more functional and fun to use. Here are some inspirational ideas to help you get started:
Add a swing. Hang a swing from the ceiling of the playroom so your child can swing as they listen to music or watch television. Make sure the swing is anchored securely and that you’re always nearby whenever they use it.
Add a nap station.Naptime is particularly important for younger children, so create a “nap zone” with a comfy mat, cot, or sleeping bag along with a blanket and some pillows so they can take a snooze after playtime.
Create a dress-up corner. Use a rack to hang costumes and accessories in the playroom and add a freestanding mirror in the corner of the room so your kids can have fun playing dress-up.
Add a slide. Bring a sturdy, small slide into the playroom for your younger children. If you really want to go all out, install a tube-style slide that will whisk your child from one floor to the next for a great entrance.
Create a chalkboard wall.Paint one wall with black chalkboard paint so your child can sketch and doodle to their heart’s content. If you’re not keen on painting a wall this way, bring in a large freestanding chalkboard and place it against one wall.
Make a slime station. Playing with slime is lots of fun, but it’s also messy. Make a special “slime station” with all of the supplies so your child can have some slimy fun, and then put everything away when they’re done.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to design a fun, functional kid’s playroom. There are plenty of ways to DIY and get creative by using items you already have lying around your home. The key is to make sure that you’re having fun while you plan and decorate the playroom. Use these kid’s playroom ideas as inspiration to help you create the perfect space. When it’s finished, everyone will want to come over and play at your house.
This article was originally published at Porch.com
NannySavvy 